Her thoughts concluded. 'This must be Chaldea… which means that master is here.'
Even before the bright light faded in the summoning room, she understood. It was started by a simple question, asking only if she desired to help a group of survivors to save humanity. She wasn't told explicitly it was them, but she knew. It seemed like only moments before that she had been delivered a humiliating defeat by Chaldea's master, and she did not let grudges go easily… but she wouldn't let humanity fall extinct either, even after all she had done.
Medb had desires, and she always aimed to meet them.
The rider's eyes readjusted to the surrounding room, which was dimmer than the supernova of light that had encompassed her. There were only two servant presences in the room, and they felt guarded. Her new master's presence was nearby, and was slowly approaching. Even if she had no plans to have her revenge at this moment, she would just bide her time for an opening to achieve her desire. Humanity could be saved, but that didn't mean she had to do it by following Gudao's orde-
"Hello! Welcome to Chaldea! Thanks for answering the call!" At the sound of a female voice, Medb looked in front of her in surprise. With her eyes newly adjusted, she finally noticed that the uniform-clad master was definitely not Gudao. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, but the approaching orange-haired individual kept her clearly forced smile on her face. Medb found her curiosity growing by the second as her urge for revenge settled momentarily.
Further behind Gabrielle, the figures of Scathach and Tesla quietly watched, and both were in their battle attire; She couldn't blame them for the vigilant welcome. On the other hand, this unknown master still attempted to be pleasant, though she kept her hands clenched behind her back. The rider decided to finally ask, "…You're obvious not Gudao, so Chaldea has more masters… Who are you?"
The master blinked in surprise before sighing. "Sometimes it's the servant who introduces themselves first… Oh well, it's okay! I'm Gabrielle Rutherford, second master of Chaldea, but you can just call me Gabby. I don't mind. It's nice to meet you, Medb."
"Then you know who I am," the rider declared as she stood up a little prouder. It always miffed her she was rather short, and even Gabrielle was a few centimeters higher than her; Intimidation was always tough by visual means. "Yes. I am Medb, Queen of Connacht, and I shall grant you some thanks for the welcome."
Medb stared at Scathach as she approached with an apprehensive glint in her eye. The rider clicked her tongue as she stared back at the master, "It's clear Chaldea doesn't trust me."
To her surprise, Gabrielle's smile faltered and she sighed. "It's not- …Honestly? I don't personally… but I'm trying to be nice and fair to you. Gudao and Mashu said I'm too confrontational with people who he's faced in the past."
"But has she attacked us yet? … A servant chose to answer the summoning, so it is best to give them a chance. They just suggest you put your grudges aside until you've gotten to know them a bit better," Tesla affirmed from behind the console. Now that she looked at it, he seemed far calmer than Scathach.
"Can you blame me though!?" Gabrielle glanced incredulously to him, making him smirk. "Some tried to kill my best friend! No shit I'm going to hold a grudge against them! It's not easy for me to keep my emotions in check when my best friend's life is on the line you know!?"
"As much self-control as when half-naked men are around…" Tesla mumbled under his breath so she wouldn't hear, but she did.
Medb heard too, and her eyebrow quirked in curiosity. She had never met the female master before her, but she was quickly earning her curiosity. Medb watched as Gabrielle bickered with Tesla, much to the archer's entertainment and Scathach's exasperation. As she observed the rather lively and emotional master, she couldn't help making a few connections as inquiries bubbled through her mind. She found herself smiling curiously, drawing the currently pouting master's attention back to her.
With a giggle, Medb approached her new, curious master and tilted her head playfully. "…You said I could call you Gabby?"
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Fragment 56: Needs of the Queen
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Medb stirred in the bed, feeling the sleepiness lift from her eyes in the dark room. However, she still kept them closed and relished the warmth of the soft pillow and blanket. Combined with the added layers of an oversized pink shirt and white yoga shorts, she was satisfied in her temporary cocoon. The beautiful butterfly merely hugged the smaller pillow in her grasp and considered falling into renewed hibernation. Even as the bed shifted from her partner's movements, she only kept smiling with pure satisfaction.
"Ugh! Medb! You're hogging the blanket!"
The Queen of Connacht scrunched into her warm ball further. "Too bad~! I'm warm~!"
"I wanna be warm too! It's my day off!" came the swift reply, followed by tugging on the quilted blanket. With a giggle, Medb held tight, ensuring the blanket didn't go anywhere. A surprise, fierce tug made her gasp lightly in surprise as she lost some of her prized territory; No one took the queen's land! With a light pout, but still giggling, she yanked the blanket back to her side. There was a light-hearted groan, followed by the queen's laughter. "Medb!"
"You gotta fight harder than that if you want the bla-AHHH! GABBY STOP!" the queen yelped as she felt the precision work of her attacker. The master, clad in her own loose white shirt and pink panties, refused the queen's demands. Gabrielle's giggles filled the room but did not blot out Medb's laughter. The female master's hands were quickly working the rider's weak spots, sending her into an uncontrollable tickle fit. Her flailing grew out of control, allowing the master to yank most of the blanket to her side of the bed.
In response, Medb quickly grabbed her pillow and began assaulting the female master with fluffy hits. A laughing Gabrielle responded in turn, hitting the rider with her two pillows. The war between the two Irish girls continued amid giggles, snorts, and pleased yelps. They had forgotten the spoil of war, which wound up on the floor as Medb finally forced Gabrielle onto her back with a precision swing. Not able to control her own smiling laughter, Medb fell backwards onto the bed.
As the moment's mirth warmed her like a vacation sunset, Medb sighed blissfully. "…So much for sleeping in."
"It was nice coffee though," Gabrielle replied happily as she sat up. She took a rainbow hacky sack from the nearby nightstand and threw it at the light switch, turning the lights in the master's room on.
With a sigh, Medb followed her lead, sat up, and quickly began reorganizing the scattered pillows into a sensible order at the bed's head. Gabrielle reached over the side of the bed and plucked the blanket as Medb threw her legs over the side to sit. She stretched her arms before her with a small smile. It was only seven, but there were other ways to enjoy a day off besides sleeping the morning away in Gabrielle's bed.
Medb hummed to herself as Gabrielle began folding her sheets. It was rather ordinary for Medb to wind up sleeping in someone else's room considering how many times she did it in her past life. She had her own room, but she had no qualms about spending the night after a nice session with a strong man; The morning after feeling was always heavenly. Sleeping beside Gabrielle was a nice change of pace too, however, since she offered a different kind of feeling after their nighttime slumber parties. However, she did it a bit more often recently to ensure her most recent stalker was keeping their distance.
No one in Chaldea, not even her, could have anticipated how fast she and Gabrielle became another set of best friends.
Gudao was Gabrielle's first and foremost best friend, but Medb had easily claimed her spot as the female counterpart. After becoming curious about Gabrielle's lack of emotional control and learning more about her, the momentum of their chemistry only continued to grow. Within the following half hour, any possible irritation or mistrust had completely vanished and they were soon discussing fun topics like the quality of male wildlife to admire. By the end of that day, they were definitely friends, much to the absolute horror of Scathach.
Medb would definitely remember that dumbfounded expression.
Ever since then, they did quite a lot of things together. Sleeping over at Gabrielle's room gave her someone to talk on a rather even basis. Medb found her powerful and regal mentality slipping when she was with someone so reminiscent of when she was young. Talking with Gabrielle was almost like talking to a little glimpse of her child self before being cast into the political arena… and she loved it. Whether they were considered the highest tier of friends or siblings didn't actually matter; Medb had gained a genuine friendship that filled a need she never knew she yearned for.
How many years had she campaigned, treating others like tools and keeping them at bay? She would let one close at times, but then quickly discard them when they were unnecessary; Even Fergus did not escape this fate. Yet just the thought of doing it to Gabrielle unnerved her. If the absolute need arose with no alternatives, she could easily cast Gudao to a terrible fate, but then that would make Gabrielle sad and that didn't sit well with the queen either. While she needed to meet her own needs, she cared for her friend's own too.
Medb stood up and walked towards the master's closet to pick from the wardrobe. Since she was over so often, some of her clothes remained with the master; There were others in Fergus' room too. As the queen slid the closet door open, the female master placed the blanket down on the edge of her bed and got up. While she stretched her arms above her head, she walked towards the bathroom with a sigh. "I feel like I should get two cups this morning…"
"Some early morning fun in the sheets can do the trick too~!" Medb chimed with a small smirk, making Gabrielle laugh and shake her head. "My offer with Fergus still stands, you know."
"I know, but as nice as a one night stand is, I'd rather-"
"Have the satisfaction of someone sweetly cuddling me to sleep at night and ravaging me with love in the morning," Medb finished with her, making the master stop and turn. They both burst into another giggle fit as Gabrielle reached for the hem of her shirt. Walking once more, she disappeared into her bathroom as Medb considered the hot pink crop top and ripped skinny jeans in her hands. It was too bad Gabrielle was a little taller and bustier, otherwise she could borrow more of her clothes than she already did.
The toilet flushed. "I'm taking the shower first because you took the blanket!"
Medb laughed. "That's fine with me."
The artificial rain began as the master's discarded sleeping clothes flew carelessly out the door and onto the floor. Medb eyed it briefly as a thought crossed her mind. She smirked and quickly tossed her chosen attire onto the bed. Hearing Gabrielle hum in the shower, the rider quickly moved towards the open bathroom door as some steam already began forming. With swift movements, the queen removed her loose shirt and yoga shorts, leaving her completely bare since she never wore underwear to sleep. She disappeared into the bathroom with barely contained giggles.
"I'm saving time! Make room for the queen~!"
Gabrielle yelped as the sounds of splashing water was soon joined by the girls' laughter. "Medb! Close the door before the bathroom becomes a lake!"
"Oh who cares? The robots will get it~!" Their mirth intensified. If their early scuffle didn't prematurely wake Scathach, this would have… if she wasn't being a guess teacher for Brynhildr's lancer class this morning. Ah well, there were plenty more mornings to come!
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"I'll meet you there, Gabby! I'm going to get another necklace from my room!
"Bring that fashion magazine you found the other day!" came the master's reply as the door slid closed.
With a smile and hum, Medb reached into her jeans pocket and retrieved her small music player. In truth, it was one of Gabrielle's but she let her have it whenever the rider wanted; The master usually just used her phone. It was still a marvel to her that modern entertainment could be contained to such tiny devices. Countless songs were at her literal fingertips as she scrolled with her thumb. This was leaps and bounds having her bards and musicians come in and setup whenever she wanted to be entertained.
Entertainment was just one of the many needs the Queen of Connacht needed. Ever the shamelessly spoiled and pampered individual, she had a list of desires that needed to be fulfilled. Failure to do so within a reasonable time, a week at most, would leave her in a pretty poor mood. To her delight, Chaldea made it rather easy to accomplish her goals. If anything, it was almost a daily assurance, but still something she mentally kept checked.
She tapped the screen of the Walkman to start the song as she pushed her hair behind her ear elegantly with the other hand. An ear bud was quickly popped into place as she hummed to the playing pop song. After locking the device, she pocketed it again and began strolling down the hallway with her thumbs resting in flanking belt loops. Her hips swayed with her commanding strut, unconsciously practicing the more refined movements that Mata Hari had taught her. There was no doubt in her mind she was beauty and perfection incarnate, but there was no harm amplifying it further.
Her golden orbs glanced towards a nearby corridor as she heard the gentle footsteps of a tiny animal. As a robot appeared from one side of the approaching intersection, it eyed Chaldea's white mascot as it scurried around the corner. With her smile growing, she stopped and watched the furry thing move down the other side of the hallway. It eyed her curiously before coming to a stop a few meters away. She was barely resisting the urge to walk up and pet the furry littl- "Kyuuu?"
Restraint shattered. Cooing happily, Medb walked over and wrapped the little ball of fluff in her arms before it could think about escaping. "It's punishable to be that cute, you know?"
"Fou? Fou!" it chirped in her arms as it shifted into a more comfortable position. She pet it happily with one hand, and it gently rubbed its head into her palm.
"Ah… I guess I did manage to catch up to him after all." Medb looked up curiously to see the male master walking down the corridor with a small smile. With one hand on a clipboard, he waved to the other as Medb petted the critter. "Morning, Medb. I guess you slept over Gabby's last night?"
"Mhmm," she responded evenly. Between the good music, the fluffy critter, and Gudao, her mind was in three places at once. "Fergus was having a late night with the boys, so I thought I'd go bug my gal pal."
"I don't think she ever considers it bugging," Gudao chuckled as he came to a stop before her.
"True…~" Medb hummed as she eyed the male master. For her, there wasn't anything particularly enthralling about him, though he did earn quite a bit of respect from her for handing the queen a defeat. She had long since dropped any grudge held against him for the act. Truth be told, if he hadn't been so curious about the master program in Chaldea, she wasn't sure if Gabrielle would have come here of her own accord. One way or another, he was the one responsible for introducing her to the greatest friend she could have ever hoped for. "Forgot something in your room?"
"A sheet or two. Mashu and I were in a rush this morning."
Medb eyed him coyly with a sly smile. "Sounds like Gabby and I weren't the only ones staying up late last night."
Gudao took it calmly and coolly with a simple smile. "You're not wrong. We finished moving her in with me last night."
"Oh, I thought that was tomorrow," she responded as Fou leapt from her arms onto Gudao's face. She giggled as he groaned, meanwhile Fou happily repositioned itself onto his head.
"It was, but we figured we'd push it up so Rama and Anishka can move into their new rooms today," Gudao supplied as he slowly began walking away. "See you later, Medb."
"That's Queen Medb to you, Gudao," she teased back playfully. She laughed as he quickly bowed, making Fou squirm on top of his head and bark for no warning.
The two parted, leaving Medb to ponder briefly on the possibility of moving in permanently with someone else. She was always very picky about which days she wanted the entire bed to herself or didn't mind sleeping with someone else. Her royal chamber's bed made it easy enough for her to decide on the spot, and so she had it replicated for her own room. However, she usually went to Fergus or had a slumber party with Gabrielle so it was admittedly a debatable addition.
Though no longer, Medb used to wonder what it was possibly like to share a bed with someone she held true feelings for. Queen Medb, the woman of many affairs, had often questioned if she had ever truly fallen in love. Truth be told, she knew what she wanted, and she knew what excited her, but she was never sure if it was actually the heartfelt emotion. It didn't help many often described their favorite activities, people, and things by using the word so casually. Until now, she had only been guessing about what it meant to be in love.
She had Fergus to thank for changing that.
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Meals at the cafeteria were always loud and bustling, which was exactly why one would never find Medb there; Even the hot men couldn't keep her around that obnoxious noise. She would get the food and go to the Salon instead. There she would sit at a far end on one of the many regal couches where she was least likely to be bothered. Even if it was a new life, the queen still held some high standards for herself, and that included eating in peace and luxurious comfort.
With the earbud still playing her music, Medb clicked her tongue as she set the plate of the pair's food down on the coffee table. They were definitely going to eat together for breakfast but… "What is that girl doing?"
The rider turned towards the doorway, trying to see past the potted plants rather than just use her spiritual senses; It was rough being short. Instead of Gabrielle, she spotted Kuro curiously looking around the place as Marie's staff went about their business. She had both hands in the pockets of her jean short shorts, allowing full view of a winking smiley face on the front of her pink t-shirt. The tanned Einzbern spotted the queen, grinned, and waved to her. "Morning, Medb!"
The queen waved back as the little archer approached. "Well if it isn't the daring Einzbern sister. Where's your other half, Kuro?"
"She went to get Jackie and Alice. We're gonna play a new board game while eating breakfast," she responded quickly as she finished skipping towards her. Without asking, she casually plopped down on one side of the couch beside Medb, though the queen never minded. The two had quite a curious bond after she found out how much less innocent this girl was compared to Chaldea's other children. Never did she ever think there would be a child almost as daringly provocative and casually manipulating as her, yet that was Kuro.
"You're eating all that alone? It'd kill your figure if you weren't a servant," Kuro teased with a smirk as she eyed the three bagels.
The queen half-glared at her, but smirked back. "You have no idea how wonderful it is not to watch my weight."
"I can imagine… I'm jealous you never need bathroom breaks," Kuro complained as Medb giggled lightly. Both continued to stare at the falling snow which fell like a waterfall this morning. It reminded the queen of many terrible winters in Ireland, and she knew it was also reminiscent of the Einzbern's former home… or what Kuro still remembered of that Germanic castle.
Chevalier d'Eon, with uniform prim and proper, glided over smoothly with a tray under one hand. The blonde saber smiled and bowed lightly. "Madam Medb and Madam Kuro… Would you like glasses of water?"
Another great thing about the salon was being served hand and foot. "Two waters, if you'd be so kind. I'm waiting for Gabby to get here."
Kuro shook her head with a smile. "No thanks. I'll wait for my sister and friends to get here."
The saber nodded and quickly walked away as Mozart and Sanson laughed about something by the piano. Kuro turned back to look at Medb. As always for her station, she sat perfectly on the couch with a straight back; Medb always looked like a queen, regardless of what manner of clothes she wore. Kuro tried to imitate her briefly, making Medb raise an eyebrow before the two burst into soft giggles. The archer shook herself free first to implore, "Spending the whole day with Gabby?"
She shook her head politely. "Just for breakfast, a massage, and the party later. I already spent the night at her place."
"Sounds like fun. Illya and I used to have a lot of sleepovers too," Kuro admitted as she sighed with growing dejection. Sensing an unusual tinge of sadness from her friend, the queen turned quietly to face her. "…Medb? …Do you ever miss your old life?"
Giving advice or comforting another was definitely not among her strong suits, but she had been getting better thanks to Gabrielle's tendency for mood swings. She nodded. "Of course. When one was as powerful as I back then, how could I not? I don't get as much respect here as my court gave, but there's no going back… It's only natural to miss the good days you once had. You miss your friends?"
"Illya and I miss them often," Kuro frowned. Medb honestly couldn't relate, but she was secretly impressed at this child's sense of control. If she had been ripped from her own timeline without proper closure, there would have been hell on earth in her new world. For her to be so mature about it was both admirable… and more than a little unnerving; She was still a child.
Then again, she could relate on some level. She had been thrusted into the political arena and robbed of much of her own childhood in preparation for that. While it had been a terrible act, it did open the door to who she became. "Just wait, Kuro. You've got a lot of friends and family taking care of you here. Who knows what might happen in the future after we save humanity? Maybe we might end up bringing them here if they're as strong as you and Illya?"
She thought she did well, but it never was her strong suit. Kuro shrugged, but thankfully chuckled. "Miyu would be… but I can't imagine the others fighting to save anything. Even their pride."
They both chuckled, but Kuro's smile quickly returned. "Sorry about that… It came out of nowhere. I shouldn't bother a queen with personal stuff."
With a hand to her chest, she raised her chin in teasing superiority. "It shall pass this time, young one. Be appreciative you are loved by the Queen of Connacht and she has nothing worth her time… until the shamelessly late Gabby gets her Irish butt over here already!"
Kuro laughed at Medb's temporary loss of patience with her friend; Gabrielle knows how much she hates waiting, but she'd always wind up forgiving the master anyway. She just hoped it wasn't a delay caused by Erik again... Kuro grinned, "Then how about I pass the time with fun information since my sister is being tardy too? You know how Anishka gets flustered easy? Marie thinks she might be a prude!"
Medb raised her eyebrows slowly at this almost offensive piece of information to her ears. Her exasperation was only held in check by the growing, devious smile that grew on both her own and Kuro's faces; This was definitely tease worthy material to use on her. "Please, Kuro. Go on."
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With the creation of the Outdoor Spa in Fantasia Resort, the originals in Chaldea had fallen into near complete disuse. Rather than let them sit in neglect any longer, their allocated space was being converted into something useful to safeguard the employees during a crisis period. Thanks to that, the Outdoor Spa became the undisputed place for anyone to receive royal treatment. It unfortunately meant the outdoor springs were to be shared with regular people, but she had long since gotten over that.
Medb just couldn't imagine how unbearable that mundane spa would have been compared to this paradise.
With her hair tied up into a loose bun, Medb sighed in bliss as the steaming waters surrounded her. Smooth stones formed the large, organic pool that sat just outside the cabana-style building made for changing; There was another built for the males separated by a fence. Situated deep in the tropical woods and beside the rocky boundary of the resort, it allowed for some small waterfalls to pour from stylized rock formations to continually refresh the spa. The feint ambience of quiet conversations and a variety of birds allowed her to lose herself as she always had in a spring.
Granted, it wasn't the same spring she loved, but it was spectacular and far surpassed her bathing requirements. Two female employees chatted farther away, but the large size of the space made it easy to ignore them. Had she been her more regal and queenly self, she would have forced them out on sight; It still astonished her how much she allowed herself to change, even if she still held herself above the rabble. So long as she got what she wanted and needed, there was never an issue.
From her past legends to how people still spoke of her today, none would deny Medb was a powerful individual. She knew how grand she was, and she did nothing to hide it. She relished in it with every waking moment she could in whatever way she pleased. Be it men, riches, or treasures, whatever she wanted became hers to dominate unconditionally. After her childhood, she had grown up knowing this was fact and that she was destined for greatness.
Perhaps that's why it was still so very strange she was walking around Chaldea enjoying what can only be described as an ordinary life. Her lust for brave men was practically uncontrolled around so many arousing legends, but that would always be the case. It was bizarre to acknowledge she was fine with not plotting to wrest control of the facility or steer humanity to its salvation through her own dominating means. Instead she was following the masters and exploring a lifestyle she never knew she could find so interesting, yet luxurious and near flawless.
Maybe it had to do with getting to ride the reins of power in the fifth singularity. She had gotten everything she wished for, including her idealized version of Cu. That overwhelming masculine fantasy had her shivering with every glare and glance while her dominating armies had her cackling with acknowledged strength. It was a fun, plunder-rich time granted to her by Solomon, but she did acknowledge it was a fleeting dream; If she had succeeded, or if he found victory, then all of her desires and lusts would vanish.
Like hell she would let that happen… but Solomon could answer for that later.
For now, the Queen of Connacht was going to enjoy what she always adored in her old life. With a content sigh, Medb sank lower into the waters until her chin touched the steaming surface. While the hot springs caressed her bare form, she closed her eyes and hummed gently to herself, just like she always had to do in her past life. At least the scenery was far lovelier and she didn't need to bathe in it for her health, but rather indulgence.
Light footsteps approached her side of the pool, but she didn't care. Usually she would be a little agitated someone might inconvenience her precious bathing time, but this woman was one of the few exceptions. She heard the sound of discarded cloth falling to the stones beside her towel before the naked newcomer gently slipped into the warm waters. As she released her own satisfied sigh, Medb giggled and looked towards the newly arrived Shuten. "You bringing out your fruit?"
The oni's ever sultry smile could have been all the answer she needed. "When have I not? Thy desires and mine overlap, Queen of Connacht."
Both servants giggled as Shuten materialized a mouth-watering plate of assorted fruit on the stone bank behind them. With delicate fingers, she plucked two sets of grapes and offered the rider one. Medb easily took it and smiled; There was no doubt these would be alcoholic. "A delightful tribute."
"When has the gift of mine indulgence ever failed to deliver?" Shuten asked teasingly as she took in one of the grapes.
Instead of answering, Medb merely smiled and plucked one of the juicy orbs from the stem. "Did you find a bonsai tree you were looking for the other day?"
"None that mine eyes appreciated," the assassin sighed, but her smile remained as she summoned some cups of sake for them to enjoy. To Medb's delight, it was on a conjured floating tray before them where she could lay down her grapes. "Kintoki obtained one at the other markets. That handsome boy is always looking out for mine pleasure."
"Sounds like Fergus. I just wish this Cu would do the same… or go further than friendly conversation and ravish me for once."
"You'll ensnare the boy yet, Queen of Connacht," Shuten reassured with a devious smile as she handed her a cup of sake. "Time is thine ally for domination."
"I'm glad we think alike," the rider winked as she clinked her cup against Shuten's own. They both drank in quiet bliss, allowing the queen to savor the warmth that filled her belly just as it surrounded her. With a satisfied giggle, she handed the cup to Shuten to refill. "We Irish are holding an impromptu drinking party at Club Cove tonight thanks to Fergus' haul. It's open to everyone, and I know a certain someone who loves those kinds of things."
Shuten giggled. "How could I not indulge myself? I shall pass this along to Ibaraki as well."
Their conversation continued to twist and turn on a whim, but it was always comfortable. While Gabrielle was unbelievably close to the queen, there were a few things she could relate with Shuten on a much more personal level. Their mutual love for indulgence and uninhibited desires was where they laid the foundation for their friendship; There was even a bit of kinship involving domination. It was surprising, but her bond with Shuten allowed them to share some things they couldn't relate with others.
At other times, it just fell into continuous mundane topics. Medb clicked her tongue, "So there will be no gambling in the Arcade they're building?"
Shuten giggled. "Dear Medb… What do we possess to gamble? We servants have little money, and the employees yield none."
"We could get creative with some of the luxuries and special items… Maybe we could gamble for one of the masters' rare golden tickets?"
"The employees still hold nothing of worth. Every luxury is a Chaldean guarantee for the masses," Shuten giggled. "Thou yearns for another outlet to dominate?"
"Can you blame a queen for wanting more wealth?" Medb sighed. Perhaps they could make a gambling hall after Chaldea returns to its proper place? Maybe after they built that new gaming room? She found her curiosity shifting back to the arcade. "Are those dance games really fun?"
"I would not participate otherwise," she responded as she took another bite of an apple. "Those boys understand how to have a good time."
Though everyone had different means of doing so, there was a way for everyone in Chaldea to enjoy themselves. Surprisingly, even Mephistopheles seemed to have found a more appropriate means of entertainment. Medb almost felt bad for Okita since her warlord rival had found a mutual hobby with the crazy caster. As long as they didn't plant a prank bomb on her, she didn't care though. Watching the commoners mess with each other was another point of amusement, but she still preferred peace and quiet.
Thankfully her next activity was going to provide just that.
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Located on a tiny hill, the cabana styled, open-air structure gave a gorgeous view of the ocean resort. For any patron to the massage building, it offered an uninhibited panorama of a tropical paradise. Combined with the tropical breeze, the new bird automata, and a premium masseuse, it had earned its place among the best luxuries of Chaldea. It was where Medb and Gabrielle decided to spend some of the afternoon in total peace.
Since the structure was open-air, the entire forward wall was removed so one could view the resort in peace; A special bounded field made it look like the rooms were empty to stop peepers. Roofed with palm leaves with wicker façade walls, the room they were in was similar to the others. This was one of the few stations that allowed a pair to enjoy the scenery together, and it came with all the wooden amenities, drawers, and tables for the masseuses to work. Discarded clothes were neatly folded and placed into a wicker shelving unit alongside other towels and a small enclosed shower.
The building gently creaked with a new breeze, but Medb continued to stare happily forward on the cushioned massage table. Gabrielle did the same on another table as they laid face down. Only towels covered the lower halves of their naked forms as the masseuses did their work. Medb appreciated how pampered she felt receiving this treatment, especially since her masseuse was different than the usual.
Gabrielle sighed in bliss as a redesigned Chaldean robot went about its task. At the end of two arms were eerie appendages that mimicked the human hand; It did look pretty strange on the floating robot, but it was surprisingly just as good as a veteran masseuse. Medb stopped complaining about them a while ago, but she would still prefer her current one any day; She came with a few other personal benefits to bolster the rider's pride.
"How do you feel, Medb? Am I doing alright?" The French Queen beside her, dressed in a pristine white sundress, was doing rather phenomenal work with her hands.
"No complaints, Marie," the Irish rider responded with a pleased expression. "You would have known if you did."
Taking it as a compliment, the French Queen giggled. "Okay, thanks~! I'm still getting the hang of this, but practice makes perfect!"
As she felt the queen's hands knead perfectly into her bare lower back, Medb let a tiny smirk slip. Though she had lowered herself, she was still the prideful Queen of Connacht, and she relished any subtle hint of superiority. Even though it wasn't voiced, and Marie didn't care, Medb liked to pretend this was a form of submission. A French Queen happily pampering and serving the Irish Queen without any hint of dissatisfaction was quietly believed to be a form of subservience. It probably wasn't the case since Marie was just enjoying a hobby, but the Queen of Connacht still wished to pretend it was like that.
"So what else do you two Irish Queens have planned for today?" Marie playfully teased, making the two giggle. "Watching the wildlife?"
Gabrielle laughed harder at the nickname for the two's favorite past time. Medb snickered. "I will be, but woe is me, my fellow Irish troublemaker will not be."
"I haven't gotten to play with Jackie, Alice, Kuro, or Illya in a while, and Anishka is playing Hide and Seek with them later as part of her bonding regime," Gabrielle explained with an apologetic smile. "I'll just have to ogle Cu's or Diarmuid's wonderful abs another time."
"As if you haven't done enough for a lifetime~!" Marie chimed in with a light laugh. "There's other wildlife too if you want to 'mix it up' as they say! The birds are so cute!"
On cue, a scarlet macaw flew into the open wall that provided this section's view; Helena's crafted Automata seemed to just ignore the subtle bounded field. It flapped its wings and landed on one of the empty tables by Medb. It cawed lightly and walked itself along the table in search of possible food. Medb raised an arm from her side and offered it to the bird, making it tilt its head in confusion. It let out another caw before continuing to look around.
"There were never birds this colorful in Ireland," Medb mused as the bird took flight.
It flew out of the room as Gabrielle repositioned her head to look at the riders. "Ireland has puffins, right? They're in Helena's guidebook too so she must have made some."
"Robin would know where to find them with all his bird watching," Marie pointed out as she pulled part of the towel higher to cover Medb's lower back. She began working her shoulders, making the Irish rider release a pleased purr in response. "Did you ever get massages in Ireland, Medb?"
"My servants had no idea what they were doing compared to this," she found herself admitting blissfully, making Marie squeal lightly with barely contained joy. Though sometimes she didn't feel like a true royal here, there were other times she felt even more pampered than her previous life. It was a fair trade.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Clang! "A little slow on that one, Fionn!"
The other's laughter echoed amid the frosted training grounds as the two battle-clad warriors stood ready amid heavy snow. "Aye… Tuigim, Cu, but I've yet to start shining!"
Fionn's ornate, black and silver weapon deflected off of Cu Chulainn's scarlet spear, but he was gone like a mirage. Cu barely had time to dodge beneath Fionn's horizontal swipe. Caught in midair, he was forced to twist to avoid the lateral strike that quickly followed with a flick of the blonde lancer's wrist; Cu was notoriously fast, but Fionn was too. They vanished amid the snow with their blinding speed, with only a feint gap in the snow showing where they once stoo-
Smash! Cu had clearly predicted a thrust and closed in for push with the flat of his weapon. Fionn was sent staggering backwards thanks to Cu's honed instincts, but he was not out of the fight. He leapt over Cu's attempt at a leg sweep, giving him the perfect angle for an overhead stab. The blue-haired lancer moved a mere inch to dodge the strike before thrusting the back of his spear into the air, but Fionn had disappeared again.
Medb stood on the sidelines, quietly observing a battle as she always loved to do. She had changed into her battle attire to let her fluffy coat take the brunt of the snow-filled wonderland rather than her casual clothes. Her tiara glinted with the falling flakes, but it did not gleam brighter than the excitement in her eyes. The clash of their weapons matched the pounding beats of Medb's heart as she watched the duo's battle on the sidelines with Diarmuid.
She found entertainment in many things, but there was nothing more exciting and arousing than watching strong men do battle. It was the perfect display of masculine physique and a primal show of dominance at its finest; The strong survive the battlefield and cull the weak from future generations. Without a doubt, if she could only live day after day doing one thing in her life, it was watching brave warriors fight. It was even better if they fought for her affection.
Unfortunately, that was never the case for the blue-haired lancer. He was always exhilarated by strong opponents and the call of battle, even when her warriors finally managed to defeat him in their past lives. It aggravated her to her no end, but there was a thrill in the hunt. He was a top tier prized trophy that she continued to desire as part of her unyielding wish to make all the brave warriors hers. Chaldea just made it that much easier to choose her personal targets of affection.
While there were many targets, there were also those she did not wish to deal with. There was no faster turn off than a man who fell jealous rather easily; Fionn was definitely among them, despite being very handsome and strong. As hypocritical as it was for her to say considering how she treated men, she was no trophy to claim. She was destined to go from one strong man to another, and it simply came with the package of being her companion. Almost no one in her past life appreciated her willing affairs, but to be fair, she couldn't blame their emotions when they had a perfect Irish goddess in their hands.
She kept her eyes focused on the battle even as footsteps approach her and Diarmuid from behind. "Oh! So you've come to join the sparring today, Medb?"
Diarmuid chuckled as Medb let out an exaggerated sigh. "No, Li. I'm not sparring with anyone. You ask this every time I come to watch."
The Chinese Lancer, whose vibrant red cloth shined brightly in the snow-hazed mountains, let out his unique laugh. "And I always ask, how does the queen intend to take the Hound of Ulster if you never take the field?"
She sighed, but smiled at the Chinese lancer. There would be no answer, because to be honest, she was never quite sure how to get Cu. She tried many different approaches and even had Gabrielle's help a few times. He was completely adamant at keeping her at a set distance though; It didn't help Scathach kept a vigilant watch on them too.
With an eager smile, the red-haired lancer turned to Diarmuid, who materialized both his spears with a smile. Medb and Diarmuid laughed when Li thrust his fists into the air and let out a vibrant cheer, "Great, great! It makes me happy when I don't need to ask!"
"You do hate searching for strong sparring partners," Diarmuid shrugged with a chuckle. "Which stance are you going to use today?"
"The unknown is part of the fun!"
"You're using your fists. Got it," Diarmuid laughed as Li's expression fell for guessing right.
Medb offered while keeping her eyes locked on her blue-haired stallion. "Enjoy your spar you two! Don't get tangled with the other boys… or please do. It might be hot."
"Don't get too excited," Li joked, though the responding wink made him laugh. "Diarmuid! Did I tell you? I finally got to spar with Beowulf and Nightingale yesterday! Quite the funny duo!"
While Diarmuid jogged to his position, he called back. "Ah? You've been looking forward to that for-"
The question was asked to drop his guard. Li dashed through the snow like a comet. A shockwave erupted, sending snow hurdling from the point of impact when the bare palm collided with two blocking spears. Li smirked as Diarmuid shook his head with a chuckle. The Irish lancer's expression turned serious as he swept with his golden weapon, forcing Li to gain distance. He vanished in a flash, reappearing on Diarmuid's flank to throw three blinding jabs to his exposed side, but his opponent was already a safe distance away.
As her eyes shifted between the two fighting groups, she sighed in utter bliss… until a fifth voice interrupted her pleasant thoughts. "You really should spar sometime. It will keep whatever combat ability you have sharpened."
Medb slowly turned to face the approaching Scathach with a dry look. It was met with an equal expression from the lancer in maroon combat tights. The Queen of Connacht scoffed, "I don't need to sharpen anything! My fighting ability is like my beauty-"
"It doesn't degrade, and you let your spawned soldiers do the fighting for you," Scathach finished with a roll of her eyes. She leveled an exasperated glare at the rider. "If you put half the amount of effort into fighting as you do making yourself look good, you might be a decent fighter."
"A lovely and charming queen does not need to lift a finger when there are others to do the dirty work for me."
"I suppose you're right since your parameters were never that beautiful to begin with."
Medb was snarling now. It was almost a common occurrence every day between her and Scathach. It was antagonistic between her and the fellow Irish woman… or so many called her for some reason; She was really Scottish for crying out loud! Fairly often, she wanted as little to do as possible with this fighting woman who had a knack for outright infuriating her. They were both powerful women who were impossible to dominate, and that would often lead to their conflicts of subtle superiority.
However, just like with herself, Medb saw there were some positive changes in Scathach. The Scathach she knew from the American singularity had kept her secret love for battle contained, but now it was more freely expressed. She was also often dressing to look attractive but only playing it off subtly instead of fully denying it. Scathach was even smiling and enjoying herself more often than the rider had ever considered, which had been a curiosity to her and a curious stepping stone that might lead her to understand the lancer better.
Apparently their bickering would always take precedence over possible mutual understanding between the two unconquerable women. Poor Gabby always did so much to try and keep things civil between them. Medb huffed and crossed her arms. "You're just jealous I've gotten to spend lots of quality time with Gabby today!"
"I only have a problem with it when you undo some of the teachings I painstakingly passed to her."
"As if she would lose any of those just admiring sexy men with me!" Medb shot back with a pout. "Honestly, just let her be herself sometimes! You should do that too!"
"Oh?" Scathach asked as she placed her arms akimbo and quirked an eyebrow. "And since when did the Queen of Connacht care about my well-being?"
"Why do you have to take offense to everything I say!? You are so insufferable!"
"You reacted the same way when I suggested you spar, so drop the offended act!"
As the two women bickered loudly, they didn't see the four men had stopped sparring to gather in a small cluster and smirk at them. Li chuckled, "This time? You think they'll finally break into a catfight this time? It would be great to watch them spar."
Diarmuid laughed. "You ask that every time, Li."
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
While most were content with the cafeteria or eating at the beach, Club Cove was a fun house. It was only expected when the Ulster Cycle servants were involved. The disco ball was in full swing and a few tables were on the dance floor. Some employees and servants were mingling around the open space and bar. Partygoers were outnumbered by dozens of red cups, and the smell of alcohol wafted through the air.
However, the center of attention remained at the very center where a beer game tournament was going. Several of the tables had different games, and teams would fight each other depending on what the spinner determined. Beer pong was the most well-known, but there some new additions after they were 'thoroughly researched' by Fergus and Cu. Medb and Gabrielle found themselves playing the newest against the Japanese duo.
The two onis pondered their next move carefully from the other side of a neck high divider that hid their side of the table. Medb's eyes glanced between Shuten in a blue kimono and Ibaraki in a yellow one. She was used to gauging her opponents during a fight to determine their confidence. Admittedly, it was usually done to see how fast a brave warrior was falling for her. This time, it was done to unsettle them with a confident smile that radiated over the intensity of their close match.
Gabrielle waited with a small smirk beside her, hands on the seat of ripped jeans that matched hers. She had her Christmas present shirt from Scathach on full display, and Medb always had to admit it was a rather accurate statement; She should get a pink version of that to match her favorite master. Gabrielle leaned towards her with a smirk, "We got this."
"You have me at your side. Victory was assured in war," Medb nonchalantly boasted as she moved a bang of hair behind her ear.
The two chuckled as Ibaraki pouted at them from over the game's dividing wall. "The war is far from over! We fire at B8!"
Medb looked down at their side of the board with a snicker. On the divider and table were matching grids with numbers and letters. Some cartoonish ships were placed on the table's grid with holders that held shots of beer. Three of their smaller ships were already empty, but the marks on the divider's grid showed there was nothing to be worried about; Gabrielle and Medb had managed to guess four of their five ship's locations already.
"Miss!" Gabrielle and Medb cheered together, making Shuten giggle and Ibaraki groan.
"Shuten! We're losing! Our pride!" the berserker cried out incredulously.
"There is little lost in our campaign. We defeated are indulged with the blessings of more alcohol. Is that not rewarding?" Shuten calmly retorted, ever looking on the bright side of festivities.
"Then we'll gladly give you more to drink! E6!" Medb proclaimed without consulting Gabrielle.
Ibaraki paled as she stared at their board. "Shuten! They got our patrol boat!"
"Victory for the Irish Queens!" Gabrielle laughed as she hugged Medb. Ibaraki pouted while Shuten happily took the last shot to drink.
The laughing rider returned Gabrielle's gesture as the remaining onlookers cheered; They would be making it to the semifinals. It wasn't actual war, but Medb would take her gains where she could. Her competitive side was massive, which made keeping her dominating urges under control one of her biggest weekly needs. She could live in Chaldea just fine, but she needed an outlet for conquering. Thankfully games like this helped to smooth them over.
However, their competition from here on was going to be stiff. Medb passed a glance through some onlookers to spot their next opposition as they waited by the bar. She had to resist the urge of shivering from excitement from seeing how alluring Cu looked in anything. He and his teammate Diarmuid were drinking by the bar in equally casual attire. Fitted jeans that hugged all the right places… tight black t-shirts with green four-leaf clovers that caressed the outlines of their gorgeous core muscles…
Yup. The hard part for them would be trying to concentrate and not mentally undress the two boys. Truly difficult opposition.
¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨
Like any other, the bathroom was relatively plain. A few neatly ordered perfume bottles on the modern-styled sink made it seem like Medb's bathroom, but it was not. They were joined by a few deodorants and hair gels from the true owner, but those were mainly for occasional styling. The bathroom was still relatively steamy and the glass shower door lay open to air the dripping interior.
Running a towel through her hair for the final time, Medb ensured it would be dry when she went to bed. She stood before the bathroom mirror, eyeing herself with overflowing pride. Her eyes shined beautifully in the light, matching perfect skin to exemplify her presence as nothing less than divine. The silky white nightgown hugged the bare body beneath it and ended far higher than publicly acceptable; She preferred easy access. The Irish woman was enticing by the very definition, but her expression remained blank.
As she stared, she watched the muscular figure of the Ulster Saber stride into the bathroom. Clad only in blue sweatpants, it let his flawlessly toned body shine in the bathroom's light. She threw the towel behind her to land perfectly on one of the metal hangers and smiled upon seeing his surprised grin. "This is new. Absolutely flattering for your curves too."
"I thought you'd like it," the queen purred as she leaned back into his chest. She savored feeling her skin against his as she ran a hand slowly up his chest. Her touch passed over some of the vivid scars that only made him that much dreamier to her.
"Any present from you I'll always enjoy," he admitted with a chuckle as she giggled. He reached to her side to grasp her other smaller hand in his. "Everything looks sexy on you, but this is a whole new level. They could put you on a pedestal and show you off!"
"I prefer center stage over any pedestal, dear... Maybe I should push Erik out of his lead role in Shakespeare's play?"
Fergus chuckled. "Planning to usurp his play and give a personal show instead?"
She winked playfully. "You know those personal shows are only for you. It's straight to business with everyone else."
"Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to deserve you," he laughed as he placed he placed his other hand gently on her side, though the words had an unintentional effect on her: There was a pang of guilt.
Medb, the Queen of Connacht, rarely ever felt guilt, but it nearly overwhelmed her for weeks after she arrived. In her past life, she had discarded Fergus so casually and allowed him to be murdered without a care in the world, yet he held no sign of ill will towards her. He had forgiven her completely in his absolute willingness and dream to forge a new life with her. As proof of that, he was at her beck and call whenever she wanted, and it had made a lasting impact.
Few times had Medb's heart ever felt so heavy with shame, and she wished to get rid of the terrible feeling. She was the queen of domination and lust, and regret had no place in her endlessly desiring heart. Medb had apologized profusely, but he merely waved it off with a grin and reassuring words. It was then she realized just how stupid she was for toying with what was probably one of the best people in her life. She made a promise to him they'd find a new way together.
Since then, Medb was on cloud nine.
She was still capable of chasing all the strong and dreamy warriors her heart desired, but her perfect partner would always be there for her. They were in a legendary open relationship, where either could see whoever they wished without the other gaining even an ounce of jealousy; If anything, it brought extra excitement and spice into their lives on the occasion they shared someone. Fergus was perfect for her, and she was ashamed it took this long to figure it out. She was just glad he was there waiting the whole time.
Medb was never certain before then if she had ever felt true love, but Fergus ensured she finally found the right love for her. With him in her heart, she had become far more attentive and concerned with the saber's wellbeing, just as he was for her. He slid a hand gently past her side to rest gently on her stomach. Quietly, he turned her around as she met his gaze. He offered a small smile and inquired, "Something's bothering you, babe. I'm listening."
No. She didn't want to mar a pleasant day by revealing she felt a pang of guilt for her treatment of him again; He never cared and would always reassure her. Instead… Instead she'd keep things lighthearted by complaining about something much more trivial. She pouted, "Fergus! Cu and Diarmuid dressed sexy on purpose so we couldn't concentrate! That tournament was ours! Gabby and I should have claimed victory!"
Fergus burst into laughter. "Medb, I thought it was something serious!"
"What!? No, silly!" Medb playfully slapped his chest, but followed it up by leaning in and planting a quick peck on his muscular chest. She smiled fondly, "…but thanks for being concerned… Sorry if I made you think otherwise."
"Anytime! What kind of lover would I be if I didn't look after that sexy smile of yours?"
Her smile filled with seductive intent, making Fergus' grin turn lecherous. One of her hands eagerly pressed against his firm abs as another snaked its way down his side. Her fingers teased the rim of his pants before slipping inside. With a purr, she allowed his hand to glide down her back and gently slip underneath the hum of her thin attire. She bit the bottom of her lip as he caressed her derrière, shivering with anticipation when his rough hand grasped her gently. "They got me worked up…~"
"I can tell, but that's something I can handle just fine," he winked as he quickly lifted her up. He eagerly pushed her against a nearby wall to extract the first of her countless moans of the night as they locked lips, no longer reserving their overflowing cravings; There was no need for silly games or tempting teases when her lust was already groaning against his own. With her carnal desires about to be fulfilled tenfold, her final need would soon be met. The Queen of Connacht was pleasantly satisfied...
…at least for a few days.