Agathon (Ἀγάθων)

Something good, the good

"Which one should I wear today?"

Luka paused in brushing her hair to see her soulmate holding up two different colors of eyeshadow. One was a bright pink, just a shade peppier than that of her hair. The other was a glittering gold.

Gakupo hadn't worn eyeshadow in a while. Luka considered them both, before she decided that a decision was boring.

"What about blue?" she asked, taking out an eyeshadow she'd made herself but never really worn in public. The color was blue, nowhere near as beautiful as the shade of his eyes, but it was an attempt to mimic it.

He set aside the choices he'd held up without a second glance towards them. "Paint me?"

Luka gathered the necessary brushes as he sat on the ground to put his face in her lap, and then gently pushed aside his long hair from his face. He was handsome, always had been. There had once been a time, though, when he had decided to learn from performers how to paint his face the way they did to make her smile.

"Why the eyeshadow?" Why now, more specifically.

Ever since he realized that it had made her relax around him – back when she did not trust men, did not trust anyone, not even herself – Gakupo had worn face paints flamboyantly, and dressed in women's clothes. Or, because his build limited him, had tried, and ended up settling for wearing women's robes around his broad shoulders because that had been how Luka set them on him after bursting into genuine laughter for the first time in years at seeing him.

It never shamed him, but Gakupo was a Paean. At heart what mattered to him first and foremost was her preferences – her, to be more exact. If she was happy with him as he was, if she just wanted his presence at her side in a comfortable quiet, then he saw no need to have to waste his time bothering with face paints.

Gakupo smiled up at her.

"Am I not allowed to seduce my wife?" he asked, lowering his voice into the pitch that she liked – the one that caught in her ear in all the good way and sent a delicious crawl down her spine.

It was a good thing he'd been pondering over eyeshadow and not lip paints, Luka reflected after about five minutes, because it meant that both their faces weren't stained.

Her chance to get in contact with Miku came sooner than later.

After the initial rush of meeting people, and waving and smiling at strangers cheering her and Len's new title for a day, there was the issue of them needing training. As a Chorister her education had been about the basic subjects – math, history, language, literature, music, and in her case, the Force.

As a Diva and a Paean, they needed to learn how to fight.

Ironically, the place she had spent the last few years of her life in was the best place for it. Rin found herself staring at the very familiar entrance of the Choral Academy, and then a startled giggle burst out from her lips.

Len looked at her quizzically.

"Sorry," said Rin, trying to wave it away. "It's just – one of my plans for the future was to be a Mentor. I thought, after the Ceremony of Ascension, that would be the only way I'd really come back here."

Not having the same knowledge of her plans – now scrapped – or, well, her weird sense of humor, Len did not share her mirth. Slightly embarrassed, Rin cleared her throat.

"Let's go," she said. She knew her way around here, and with the certainty she lacked in her own future, as well as in her and Len's relationship, she began walking down the familiar halls, Len following her closely.

Three Mentors were waiting for her in the classroom that she once took history lessons in with other girls. Mentor Cul was the same as always, giving her a bright grin and a wave that was the same as the ones she'd given back when Rin was a Chorister. Mentor Mew retained her same politeness from after Len's debut, and gave a bow towards them.

Mentor Galaco, the woman who taught math and students with Mana, was more like Mentor Mew. She too bowed in greeting before jabbing Cul's side with her elbow.

"Ow," complained Cul without much heat. Galaco, who was a follower of the path of magic and held less regard than most for social niceties, moved on, as if to say she'd done what she could.

"Welcome back, Diva Kagamine, though I believe the circumstances are much different than when you left," she said.

Rin nodded.

Galaco grinned slightly at that, the smile she got when one of her students made a witty joke. "Nonetheless, some things don't change. Treat these halls as a place of learning as they always have been for you."

For about three months, the lesson plan was, she and Len would train. They already knew she had the Force, so she could split time between here and the Temple if necessary, and also delve into the powers of a Diva. Whatever that would be, because honestly Rin didn't feel much different from before except more well-fed and now in possession of a living, breathing shadow at her side constantly.

Meaning, it was the addition of Len that they would focus on. His strengths, weaknesses, the combination they would make, the strategies they would learn so that in actual battle they could move smoothly like flowing water together instead of against each other. His fighting style, her fighting style, their fighting style together as a Duet.

"Because you have the Force," said Mentor Mew, "your primary aid and contact would likely be me, or any other Temple associate of your choosing."

Rin's mind immediately went to Mikuo at that, though logic caught up afterwards. At the very least, this was something she needed to ask him in person about before deciding on her own for him.

Cul waved. "And my boss – Diva Sakine – says that I'll be your contact with her if you don't get a chance to meet her in person in about a moon or so."

That made her tense in surprise. The Duet Sakine – the Diva and Paean of the Fiery Verse – was the oldest and most powerful of all the Duets in Hamartia. And here Cul made it sound like – she wanted Rin to contact her?

"She's pretty chill, when it comes down to it," said Cul, like she didn't speak of someone who had been a hero and inspiration to everyone in this kingdom since its creation. "And she's always up for helping out the newbies, so don't be shy. She'll love it if you make the first approach."

"Similarly," said Galaco. "Divas Megurine and Utatane has let me know that if you wish to contact either of them, then I am to be your liaison."

Again, it made sense. The two Divas who were known to be genius mages, would naturally have connections with a Mentor who taught magic. Right.

"While not a user of the Force herself," said Mew. "Diva Morine has also sent me a letter asking that I be a route should you be in need of contacting her."

"She's not a Force user?" Then why Mew?

Mew gave a faint smile at that. "Her Paean is blessed with the Force, and Diva Morine has always been one who prefers the role of support, rather than direct fighting."

Right. So she could contact the Divas – the living, breathing incarnations of the goddess that every girl looked up to, that every person in Hamartia knew about through the songs and stories – through her former Mentors. Because she was now one of them.

Rin discreetly pinched herself in the same place where she'd been going for her regular checks of reality, and found that unfortunately it was still not a dream. The bruise in that spot was starting to get tired of being used to draw pain.

"And," said Mentor Mew, "I have someone you might like to meet."

Rin's heart soared in hope at that, because there was only one person that she could possibly mean.

"Rin!"

"Miku!"

Miku was, between the two of them, the one more in touch with her own emotions, the one that was not afraid to wear her heart on a sleeve, the one that was extroverted and social and touchy and open. Rin did not like letting her emotions come out openly on her face, at least not in front of people that had not made it past her boundaries, and she didn't really like prolonged physical contact with those she wasn't sure she could trust.

None of that mattered right now.

Rin threw her arms around Miku, and Miku threw her arms around Rin, and they both nearly hit each other in the process. Narrowly avoiding the accidental assaults to the faces, they hugged each other tightly.

"I thought," admitted Rin quietly, muffling her voice into Miku's hair. It tickled her face but she continued speaking anyways. "I thought you'd hate me."

She was so afraid that things would change. She had replayed simulations of meeting Miku as a Diva.

Miku, coming into the room, talking to her with respect and reverence and politeness in a way one would direct to their social superiors – and therefore placing a distance between them that physical steps could not possibly close.

Or Miku, looking at her with jealousy and blame in her eyes, for Rin's being chosen, for Rin's betrayal.

It had been unfamiliar, that kind of Miku, but Rin's imagination had decided that now was an excellent time to discover a talent in simulating the worst possible outcomes, and chosen source materials from her worst, most feared nightmares.

But the moment Miku had raised her head when Rin stepped into the room, her eyes had lit up with pure glee and joy, and she had sprung up from her seat without any hesitation and next thing Rin knew, Rin was also throwing herself forwards with the kind of enthusiasm, the kind she usually didn't have but came with ease now along with sheer relief.

Miku made a sound like an offended donkey into Rin's shoulder, and Rin had to stifle laughter.

"Did you hit your head during the Ceremony?"

"No."

She didn't. Did she? Did the struggle of panic when Len wrapped himself around her in that cave count?

No, Rin decided, and let go of Miku. Miku did the same, and they leaned back just a little so they could look at each other.

"You look the same," observed Miku, and Rin knew what she meant. The clothes that were far more expensive than anything she would have ever bought for herself, the accessories that were provided for her, the luxurious baths available in their suite of rooms at the palace that was probably her favorite part of being a Diva – none of that seemed to make her a Diva of legend. She was just Rin, even now.

Every time she looked in the mirror she felt like a fake.

"I know," she said instead of voicing out her insecurities. "You would think I'd get a little taller."

Miku burst out into giggles, and Rin took that as a personal victory, one that cushioned the sharp self-doubt in her stomach making themselves known with their edges.

But now that her greatest fear had been dealt with –

"Miku," she said. "This is Len."

It felt too short, just saying his name. What did she add? My Paean? 'My' felt too possessive. 'The' Paean felt too distant and formal, which Len didn't deserve either.

While Rin faltered at what to say and how to identify Len and who he was to her, not just by the title the world would know him as but who he was to her as a person, Miku, who never had any issues with social interactions like Rin did, beamed at Len.

"Nice to meet you!"

"Len," Rin said lamely. "This is Miku. She's, um, my best friend and adopted sister."

Miku gave Len the same bright smile she gave to everyone she was introduced to, the smile that lowered one's natural defences against meeting a stranger and put them at ease. It was always so effective because Miku was always genuine and had hope in the good of humanity.

Len, however, looked at her the way he had at Princess Ia. That is to say, he looked at her like she was any other person, unimportant and unnamed to him regardless of anything else.

Not that it affected Miku – or rather, not that she let it stop her.

"Please take good care of Rin," said Miku. "She's smart, she really is, but sometimes when it comes to taking care of herself she gets so careless and-"

"Miku oh my god it was once," Rin blurted out before Miku could tell Len of That One Time that should never be spoken about out loud. "I never did it again."

"I actually wasn't going to talk about it, but you know what, now that you mention it-"

Rin flailed because she did not want that story ever being repeated to someone else, especially if that person was going to be Len, who was going to basically be with her for the rest of however long her life was going to be.

"What about Mikuo?!"

The change in topic was a correct choice. Miku did not expose her greatest secret out loud.

"He really wanted to be here as well," she said, and Rin knew this wasn't just a flat comment with little meaning given out of social obligation because it was Miku saying it about Mikuo. "But two days ago there was that outbreak up north, so…"

So as a warrior with the Force, he was called to assist with the fight, and to deal with the cleanup.

Despite not seeing Mikuo in person, Rin wasn't as anxious about his reaction after seeing how Miku was unchanged. Mikuo might have been choosier about people than Miku – said like that, the bar was really low – and he had a temper that he wasn't afraid to aim at those he didn't like, but he'd also been family to Rin growing up, and he and Miku had the same kind of attitude towards family. There was probably a snowflake's chance in hell that Mikuo would try to hold her on a pedestal.

Although now she had to worry about his safe return.

Wait.

"Do you think," she began, and then wondered if she was getting too far ahead of herself. "Um."

Miku gave her a curious look.

"If I could, maybe get Mikuo to work for me instead of just being associated with the Temple?"

It was honestly a lot of responsibility, and just the thought made her stomach turn at being responsible for Mikuo's life. If she messed up, if she wasn't good enough, it was already bad enough that the entire kingdom was going to be looking at her with the same expectations as the other Divas, but Mikuo's life? Under her responsibility personally?

The thought made her stomach curl in on itself.

But it made Miku brighten. "Oh my goddess, that's perfect! That way he can make sure you're taking care of yourself, and keep an eye on you and-"

Well, there was no taking back her words now. From what she had picked up, each Duet had a team of sorts that assisted them when they went to kill the demonic beasts – a team that was smaller and more efficient than having to make a squad of Force-users and other combat-capable fighters to make up for the lack of a Diva and a Paean's raw power. The team's primary purpose was support, not direct engagement and combat, so by being on it Mikuo's life would be at a lot less risk. If she really needed to, Rin would make him her secretary.

"What about you?" she asked, because if she was going to get Mikuo to work with her, then she might as well grab Miku too.

Interrupted, Miku looked at her with wide eyes before she beamed.

"Maybe in the future," she said. "Unlike Mikuo, I don't have as much experience, so I need to work some more in the temple before I can say I have the skills to really be working for a Diva."

Years of Mikuo and her worries and Miku was finally realistic, and there was something so deeply satisfying about this that Rin didn't even mind having her offer turned down. Rin said as much, and Miku pouted.

At least Miku would be safe, even while working in the temple. Unlike Mikuo, Miku would be working as a healer, not a fighter. She would stay in the cities and learn how to use the Force to heal those who were injured or ill. Far safer than having to leave to fight demonic beasts.

AN: So introducing etiquette is that the higher ranked person is said first, and if both are equal then the person you know better is said first, which is me just writing that either way you look at it Len still has a ways to go if he wants to be higher ranked than Miku in Rin's rankings.

(Readers: I thought you said you were writing all your Vocaloid OTPs
Me: yeah but also my platonic female friendships need to be written)