"You're going after Assassin?" Kali asked. Worry painted her face.
"I must push Assassin out of Menagerie, Mrs. Belladonna," Sanson replied. "I will not engage any more than I have to and will make certain that this place is safe."
The young boy named Sun Wukong suddenly got to his feet. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go! Come on, Blake! Let's kick some Servant butt!"
Ghira Belladonna didn't even need to try to keep his daughter from going. Blake's hands were trembling. Her cat ears were drooped down.
"Blake?" Sun asked.
She shook her head. "No," she said, weakly. "I—I'm not going."
"What?" Sun sounded offended. "What do you mean you're not going?"
"I bring trouble wherever I go, Sun. I can't put any of you in trouble."
"That's nonsense! Look, I get it. Beacon was hard on all of us but this isn't the White Fang! Sure, these Servants are probably too tough but we got our own." He gestured to Sanson. "We'll be fine. We'll play support."
"No!" Blake was certain in her decision. "I am not going. I don't want to be involved anymore!"
"Blake, come on." Sun reached out but Sanson had stopped him. "What?"
"Let's go, Mr. Wukong," he said. "Wait for me outside if you insist on joining me."
For a moment, Sun would have protested as he looked at Sanson then at Blake and back. Eventually, he complied but that didn't stop him from mumbling on his way out.
Sanson approached Blake. She looked at him defiantly. She probably hasn't noticed but she hid behind her father like she was a small child.
"Blake." He kept his voice as gentle as he could. "I promise you this: I will not let any harm befall this household. I swear it."
"Thank you," she replied. "But I'm still not going."
"I understand." Sanson bowed. Then, he addressed Ghira and Kali. "I will take my leave."
"Stay safe, Sanson," Ghira commanded. "Don't push yourself too hard."
The doors soon closed behind him. Next to it, Sun Wukong didn't have the best moods. The monkey faunus stood taller than Sanson even as he was leaning against the wall.
"She's not coming?" Sun asked.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Wukong," Sanson replied. "It is perhaps better this way. The less people around means less targets for Assassin." That also meant less people for Sanson to look after.
"Hey, I'm not a child."
"It is a good thing, then. Assassin is looking for children. Assassin will fight back if they feel threatened. I must ask you again: are you truly certain of this?"
"Yeah, this Servant business isn't mine but if my friends are going to be in danger because of it, you can bet I would be there to protect them."
Sanson gave a warm smile. An admirable trait and one that he will make sure will stay. Such joys and hope should always be celebrated no matter how bleak the world may seem. Sanson was getting sentimental. "You are a positive influence on Miss Blake. For what it's worth, you have my approval."
"Hey, Blake and I are just friends." That didn't stop the slight reddening of his face.
"Come." Sanson leapt onto the roof. Sun needed to jump to follow suit. "Assassin operates in the forests."
"Wouldn't your sword's length be a problem? Doesn't look like it's meant for stabbing. Might get stuck on the branches and vines."
"I do not swing wildly," Sanson replied. "But merci."
As the two were making their way towards the forests, Sun kept on with his conversation.
"What's with the fancy wording, by the way? Never heard of it."
"It is French, Mr. Wukong. The language of France."
"What kind of kingdom is that?"
Sanson was about to answer before he paused. "It was a different time," he managed to say. "I'm certain it is not a kingdom anymore."
"What happened? The leaders lost their heads or something?"
"Yes." He was keeping away from any eye contact. The leaders certainly lost their heads alright, along with thousands of many others. His eyes traced the edges of his sword.
Sun must have noticed his current mood. "Hey, sorry if I opened any wounds. Must have been hard to lose your leaders like that."
"You could say it was difficult… witnessing their deaths." It wasn't just them either. Hundreds by his own count. "I've also seen those who have taken their place. Promises of better futures only to be much worse than those that came before."
"It must have been terrible."
"It was. It was a reign of terror."
The screams of both agony and damnations. Those who insisted on their own innocence and those who believe themselves just. How many? How many lives? Just how many were there? He shook his head. With hopes for a better tomorrow, how many had to bare their necks for the blade? He could not change that past. He just had to make the days ahead better in this one.
Slashing the branches and vines away, the trek in the forests just outside of Kuo Kuana proved itself to be a mild hassle for one's feet at best. Thankfully, the ground was dry and absent of any mud. There were a few insects that flew by here with some being unfortunate of landing onto either himself or Sun. Sanson himself wasn't affected by it but these are habits of life.
Finding Assassin's tracks was the difficult thing. It didn't reach too deep into the forest before Assassin's marks vanished. Dematerializing didn't necessarily hide a Servant from others but Assassins have Presence Concealment. It is their advantage and it allows them to go after the more vulnerable Masters in a Grail War.
However, that wasn't Sanson's focus. The claw marks he received may have healed by now but there was no mistaking that was another Servant. Not bound by a Master, that had to be one of the Companions as well. With him already being the Companion Assassin, that cat had to be of the other classes. There was no Master that would bind that cat to them. But that didn't mean that they hadn't found one that would make that contract.
"Archer of Mistral, Berserker of Atlas and Mantle, Saber of Evernight," Sanson whispered to himself. "Four of us are in the League. That leaves Rider, Lancer, and Caster."
He wasn't the most deductive of individuals but he felt confident he could at least remove Lancer from that list. Not every Companion came at the same time. Sanson himself only came about later on, around the time of the Vytal Festival's beginning, and only learned of the others sometime after. If there were any other Companions, they must have come after Beacon's fall. He didn't get much contact with the others before the fall and thusly fell behind on information.
Speaking of Beacon's fall. "How terrible was it?" Sanson asked. "Beacon's fall."
"News didn't get to travel this far, huh?" Sun, while still down, didn't seem too bothered about it. "Honestly, I still couldn't believe it, you know? That sort of thing happening, I always thought it would be in the movies or the history books but never experience it."
"Aren't you training to be huntsmen?"
"Yeah, I suppose so. Still am, don't get me wrong. But like, it's a hard thing to imagine when you're still a student. You'd think that sort of thing would happen later on. Maybe after years in the field and all that."
"It must have been especially hard on Miss Blake."
"Yeah, it was." All that was left of Sun's cheerfulness were like smoldering embers. Sanson internally apologized for bringing up a heavy topic. "Her team got one of the worst of it. There was a team that got hit harder and there were probably more that had it much worse but Blake's team is practically separated by now. Some teams are lucky they stuck together and RWBY isn't one of them."
Sun told Sanson about the separation of Blake's team, RWBY. He even mentioned that other team, JNPR, who were apparently really close to them like a sister team. What had caught his attention however was the mention of a pillar of light.
"…that was when this lady appeared, calling herself Lancer." Sun exaggerated his gestures. "It was crazy! Bet you that if I told anyone else, they wouldn't believe me. Heck, I'm still having a hard time believing it."
Sanson pondered on Sun's words, though he was glad that some of that joy returned. So one of Blake's team members was the Master of this Grail War's True Lancer. It is something to keep note of for future reference. He may not be obligated to aid any of them but if Ghira and Kali wanted someone to look after Blake, then he might as well consider himself Blake's Servant even without contracting her. The two of them were kind enough to house him when no one else would.
Further in the forests, Sun and Sanson were fortunate that there wasn't any rain in recent days. With the amount of shade this part of the unconquered part of Menagerie, it would have taken awhile for the mud to dry if the roots weren't absorbing the water fast enough. Sun nearly stumbled when a root forming an arc was just above the ground.
Sanson raised a hand, signaling to stop. Sun readied his weapon in its staff form. Sanson was no stranger to the peculiar weapons that huntsmen possess. He could not see it yet but he was certain that there were some mechanisms that allowed these weapons to turn into a firearm.
There was a presence that Sanson felt. This was not Assassin. Try as it might, other Servants would struggle to hide themselves especially when around other Servants. But this one, this Servant was hiding its own intent. They were near. The trees weren't rustling and the branches weren't bending. There was no scent that could be picked up and Sanson was certain that there was no disturbance in what wind managed to find its way towards them.
For a moment, Sanson reached out his hand only to stop. Part of him was warning him that he would be stepping into enemy territory. He could say with certainty that while this part of the forest seemed just fine, there was more to it than meets the eye. He couldn't see what it was that was out of place but given that their operations were held somewhere in this forest, there had to be some advantage to be had here.
Just to be certain, he reached out a finger. A loud pang was heard by both he and Sun. It was bad enough that he had to deal with two Servants. It would be much worse if he fought them in their own territory. Sanson wasn't about to give them that advantage. Shame that he himself wasn't a Caster, he would have done something about Menagerie to protect it from the enemy.
Bounded Field? he thought.Territory Creation? Caster. He turned to Sun and said, "let's leave." Looking around him for any landmarks, he made a note of it and have it placed on a map.
Sanson kept looking back at the general area. That part of the forest was the territory? There was some distance between that and the outer edges of Kuo Kuana. This must be specifically where they retreat after their search. It was a dangerous turn-based game where one side would move into the enemy's territory only to have the inverse occur soon after.
Sun, by contrast, was focused on everywhere else. His faunus senses must be on high alert as every part of him was startled by the slightest disturbance. An admirable effort but it wouldn't do well against Assassin. The Caster perhaps but even that one is proving itself to be sly in the presence of non-Servants.
Returning to the edges of Kuo Kuana, Sanson surveyed the rest of the town. Much like it had been the past days, it still had that same abandoned look to it. The townspeople locked themselves in their homes. No children went outside to play and not one person went out to buy or sell. Those that did leave the false security of their homes went to the oceans to catch what they could. Only one person per household had left to gather what food they could find and always are they in groups.
While Sanson's time here was initially met with suspicion, in time, he was able to gain their trust and his presence here was somewhat of a comfort. Assassin may be an elusive character for its short appearances here in Kuo Kuana but Sanson was able to put himself between them and everyone else. Only the added presence of the other Servant brought unease but Sanson kept that hidden from them all.
Leaping across rooftops wherever he could, he made sure that everyone could see him, unfitting for his class but Kuo Kuana's people needed what reassurance that they could. It will pass. Assassin will have to leave for another location soon. That Caster would have to move its territory as well. If not, it was at least on equal footing again.
A disturbance was heard coming from one of the alleyways. Sanson dashed for it, leaving Sun behind.
"Hey!" Sun called out. "Wait up!"
Sanson did not wait. Speed was of the essence and unfortunately for him, Assassin possessed greater speeds. He could not say the same for the Caster; he had never had a chance to properly gauge them.
A trash can had fallen over and its contents spilled out. This was not the result of the wind for there wasn't even a light breeze. Even if there was, it was located between two buildings and if it blew in this direction, it wouldn't be strong unless it had been a hurricane. Someone had come through here.
It didn't take long for Sanson to find out where they had gone next.
"Hey!" Sun cried out. "Where do you think you're going? Get back here!"
Sanson had never pushed the limits his own speed more than he did here. It was bad enough that he had to deal with one enemy Servant but two? There was no chance for him to win. He wasn't a combative type of Servant to begin with and neither was he known for being a warrior in life. Those two Servants wouldn't even need to try too hard against Sun.
Those nearby were already shouting and gasping. Two Servants, one in the shape of a little child. Her hair was red and the skin was pale like the whites of the Grimm. The other was a purple-colored cat with checkered patterns. Sanson was immediately between those two Servants and Sun who readied to defend himself, for what little that Sun's weapons would do against them.
Sanson did not hesitate as he swung his sword aiming for the neck of Assassin. One of his feet was extended outwards as he let the momentum of his swing pull his foot as he aimed at the cat. Keeping those two away from the populace was what he had needed.
Quickly readjusting himself, Sanson went for the cat this time who was closest to Sun.
"Hey now!" they cried out. The cat kept their distance and Assassin refused to move closer. "There is no need to be so harsh, my fellow Companion. We're just here to look for someone and I promise you that there is no merit of winning over you here. I'm sure none of us have any stakes in this Grail War other than our own. Though, I suppose that since you're this place's companion, the safety here should be the stakes, no?"
"You will not find the child here," Sanson said to Assassin. "The child is not a faunus." He raised his blade at the cat but kept an eye for Assassin. "Why?"
"Ah, yes," the cat replied. "We are after all, Companions, aren't we? Curious thing, that word. Companion. You know, that means friend, right? And that friends should help each other, no?"
Behind Sanson, Sun commented, "gee, some friends you have."
"Right," the cat continued. "But wait, where are my manners? First time here in Remnant and I haven't so much as introduced myself. Ever After's Companion Caster, Curious Cat, at your service."
"Curious Cat?" Sun asked. "Like the fairytale?"
"The same one!" Curious Cat grinned widely at the mention of it. "Oh, I really need to get me a copy of that book. I dying of curiosity about how I am portrayed in that one!" They laughed at their own pun.
"Am I eligible for some royalties, I wonder? Oh, I can deal with that later. Now then, where was I?" Curious Cat returned to the topic at hand. "Right, Companions. I am only doing my part and helping out as we are supposed to."
Sanson sighed. Curious Cat must have come late. Even if they did come early, he wasn't certain that they would follow suit at all.
"Did I miss something?" Cat asked.
"Only that by helping Assassin," Sanson replied. "Or rather, Assassin's Master, you have made yourself a traitor to every Companion. Our purpose here goes against Assassin's Master."
Assassin reeled back. Sanson only had a little pity for the Servant. The Companions' concern was with the Master of Assassin, not Assassin herself.
Curious Cat feigned despair. "Did I now? Oh how terrible of me! I suppose this is what I get for being a little late. I knew I shouldn't have gotten myself distracted but what can you do? This is just how I am: I can get rather single-minded for knowledge you know?"
Assassin managed to speak up for once. "I'm scared, mommy! I'm scared, mommy! I'm scared, mommy!"
"Forgive her," Curious Cat said. "She doesn't get to say much. She could take the forms of those… she visited last but she still could only say the last words she heard from them. Shame. We could have tried something else but you know, these things happen."
Sanson's grip on his sword tightened. As Assassin continued to speak the last words of its latest victims, he was being reminded of his own failure. For a moment, his eyes drifted to one of the houses that had a grave nearby. The latest dug grave and reminder that he had been too slow. There hadn't been another but that didn't stop the grinding of his teeth. What made it worse was that it perfectly imitated their voices.
His sword began to tremble as Sanson's eyes burned Assassin into his memories, pity or not. He should not be too hasty. There were others that he needed to protect. Sun Wukong was a friend to Blake Belladonna and she was the daughter of the two people that housed him and gave him shelter. Them above everyone else if he had to. No. Everyone in Menagerie will be protected.
"Leave Menagerie," he managed to get past his lips. "You will not find the child here. I can assure you that much."
"To that, I can agree," Curious Cat bowed courteously. "Come now, Assassin. Clearly, there is nothing left here for us but to pack our things and leave. I apologize on behalf of both my Master and my apparent misunderstanding on our little Companionship. Ever After isn't exactly around here. It took a while for me to get here."
"I'm scared, mommy!" Assassin kept repeating. For a moment, Sanson wanted to swing his blade once more.
"You're just going to let them go?" Sun asked. "What about everyone here? They just lost their family! Their friends!"
"And they will lose more if they stay, Mr. Wukong," Sanson replied coldly. "Those they have lost were only because of one Servant." What two could do, Sanson didn't need to say.
"I can help you out," Sun protested.
"And it wouldn't take long for Miss Blake to mourn for you soon after. It is only a matter of how long I will last before that happens."
He looked to Sun with a serious expression. Servant he may be but the other two were the same. Sanson himself wasn't one of the strongest ones either but he is the most capable out of everyone here. That responsibility is his to take.
Curious Cat stretched themselves. "Well, this has been quite the satisfactory arrangement and I get to satisfy my own thirst here. Fancy thing, this Servant business is. I like it! Ta-ta for now!"
Both Curious Cat and Assassin soon departed for the forests. Sanson followed them until the edge of it and waited even after the rustling and the breaking of branches turned distant with the only thing disturbing the peace was the blowing of winds. Still, he watched for them. He did not let his guard down.
"Why did you let them go?" Sun asked. Had he been behind him this whole time?
"Not in the middle of Kuo Kuana," he replied. "Far too many people and the casualties is something I cannot allow to happen. I cannot chase after them either, they have made the forest their territory. If I must fight them, Mr. Wukong. It has to be here in the edges of Kuo Kuana."
"I still think we could have taken them." Sun was set in his belief. "If Blake were here, I bet you that we would have won that for sure!"
"Confidence is a good thing to have, Mr. Wukong." Sanson patted him on the shoulder. "But I advise that you make the distinction between it and arrogance. I may not have heard much about Beacon's Fall, but I tell you that there was an arrogance there."
Sun would have made to argue by the looks of him. But after some thought, he was able to see Sanson's point. "So what do we do now? I don't know about you but I don't exactly trust them to begin with."
"If I could convince them," Sanson replied. "I would have everyone evacuate Menagerie. However, I do not know where we could go." With the White Fang, a mass number of faunus suddenly appearing on the shores of any of the kingdoms would cause a stir. At best, there would be distrust and general avoidance. It was more likely that scuffles and fights would occur.
For now, Sanson would continue his watch over Kuo Kuana. There was little else that he could do here.
/-/
"Blake," asked Kali in the most comforting voice that she could muster. "Is there anything you wish to tell us?"
"I'm fine, mom." Blake replied.
"It's just that you've always looked for... excitement."
"Well, I've had a lot of excitement that I want a little break, you know?"
"Blake."
Rather than stick around, Blake left. She didn't leave the house, mind you, but she would still rather not have to deal with it anymore. Many times that she had been involved, someone always got hurt. What made things worse for Blake was that she would drag someone along even if she didn't want to. Her team really cared that much. It was better this way. It had to be.
She could hear the noises close-by getting farther and closer. Sanson and Sun must be making quite the rounds as they did their investigations. Her fist tightened on her breast. No. She will not go with them. Not now nor would she anytime soon. She will defend her house and her home certainly but she will not go after them this time.
"Blake." Ghira said as he entered the room. "Are you alright, kitten?"
"I'm fine, dad." She sighed.
"I know. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Just letting you know that if you ever do, no matter what decision you'll make, we'll always be here for you."
Blake took a moment before she answered weakly, "thank you."
"Now," Ghira said, sounding more relieved. "I actually wanted to ask a favor. How about helping me and your mother in the kitchen? We got quite a large catch recently. It's Tuna."
Blake turned around, trying to hide the slight excitement at the mention of it. She's not supposed to be this childish. "You went out fishing, didn't you?"
Ghira only raised his hands in surrender.
In the end, she still followed to help with her mother. There wasn't much that she would do really, most of the work was still done by her parents. At best, Blake was only really a taste tester, just like those days.
Eventually, both Sanson and Sun returned. Neither seemed to have been harmed with Sanson not even appearing winded. Sanson and Sun were of no exception to the interrogation with Ghira being the one to make sure that they really were who they were. Blake had a feeling that Sun was interrogated a bit more than Sanson for reasons that weren't exactly because of what was happening in Menagerie.
Despite the serving of what is essentially the most heavenly of foods, Blake noticed the rather sullen look on Sanson's face. He had always eaten away from the rest of them. The fact that neither her mom nor her dad were inviting him over told Blake that he would stick to this distance that he keeps from them.
To some extent, Blake found a kinship to that. She stood from her table, eliciting questions from her parents only to be silenced once she chose to be next to Sanson. It surprised him though, that much had been certain from his face alone.
Blake asked him about his little investigation and while Sanson did reveal that they had met with the enemy Servants, they, at least verbally, gave their word that Menagerie would be left alone. The sound of such news made Ghira and Kali absolutely relieved but neither Sanson nor Sun really shared in that jubilation.
"Their goals aren't found here," Sanson said. "But that doesn't mean that they don't have any other plans for Menagerie. Curious Cat had set his territory in the forest."
"Curious Cat?" asked Blake.
Sanson then proceeded to give Blake an explanation about the presence of the Cat. He also mentioned more about how Heroic Spirits are formed by their legends and myths. With Curious Cat being from one of Remnant's most well-known tales, it was inevitable that they would be here.
"But wait," Blake insisted. She read that story. "Didn't the Cat help Alyx? Why would they be aligned with the enemy now?"
"That is a question I will have to leave to the Cat," Sanson replied. "Perhaps Assassin's Master had given the Cat an enticing offer." He looked away as he said so. He didn't sound convinced of his own guess.
Rather than press further, she let it go. She knew a thing or two about keeping secrets. It would be rather terrible her, now more than ever, if she demanded that Sanson share. Besides, they weren't that close.
Word of that didn't reach out to the rest of Kuo Kuana. Sanson advised against any sort of hope though Blake had heard hints of encouragement to leave.
"We can't have them leave all at once," said Ghira who seemed open to the idea. "With the White Fang's attack, I can't in good conscience send these people to be harassed and accused of things they did not commit."
"Have them arrive slowly," Sanson suggested. "Maybe in separate groups. No amount of defenses would be able to protect this place from whatever plans they have."
"I'm sure they will not harm us anymore. You said it yourself that their goals won't be met here."
"Perhaps. But I speak from experience when I say that promises could just be words."
Blake caught Sun's look. He stared at Sanson. His eyes focused on those features on Sanson's face. Blake couldn't figure it out. Did the two have some important conversation during their investigation?
More ships needed to be repurposed or built for that. Menagerie wouldn't be able to fit its population on the seafaring vessels available. A dark part of her nearly thought otherwise because of the graves that were present. The view she had from her home gave her enough to think that.
Sanson kept his watch even as night came on. Had he even rested at all? This would be at least two nights straight that he didn't so much as take a nap.
Rather than be inside the home, he was on the balconies. His own ears were on high alert as his still form would have made anyone mistake him as a statue. Blake only knew this because she herself was awake. She had to pretend to be asleep just so that her parents could leave her alone and rest themselves. Though, a part of her was certain that both Ghira and Kali knew that she was only pretending but let her do her own thing.
"Miss Blake?" Sanson asked. Blake didn't really try to hide herself. She was standing by the doorway. The breeze from outside was blowing inward. The night sky was clear with the broken moon giving light for anyone below. Some of the homes have candlelight by one window.
"It's cold outside," Blake said. "You sure about this?"
There was a blankness in his eyes. "Yes."
He looked over the different homes. There was a weak smile that he had.
"How much?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"How much have you seen? Deaths?"
"Too many, Miss Blake." He looked downward. If Blake were to guess, he was focusing on the graves. "Far too many. You've seen it too, haven't you?"
"Read about it," Blake said. "I was also told about it. Maybe experienced a few."
"The Faunus Rights Revolution," Sanson guessed.
"It was a terrible time."
"I'm sure it was."
"What about yours? Was it that bad?"
Sanson sighed. "I never wanted to be an executioner. It was… a family tradition. I myself never fought in any war. All walks of life. Everyone, regardless of status. Death is inevitable and for many, death bears my face."
"How did you deal with it?"
"Depends on the person."
"You remember their faces?"
"I couldn't forget them if I tried. There were those who were guilty. But I know more than anyone, that there many others who have been innocent."
"Did you stop them? Reasoned with them?"
"They would have put me there themselves. Despite their need of my services, they disdained my family. They spat on my name. I do not wish to find out what would happen if they took the reins to the guillotine, if they would keep using it at all."
Sanson turned around. Rather than go inside, he looked up, aiming to be on the roof.
"Get some rest, Miss Blake," he said. He was soon on the roof, leaving Blake alone on the balcony.
/-/
"I'm scared, mommy! I'm scared, mommy!"
"Yes, yes, we know. Yes, the child isn't here. I could trust Sanson enough of that. But that is not our goal here. Our next is simply… to wait. We need a bit more combat power ourselves and something is better nothing. Why don't you go on ahead while I think about giving ourselves a better vessel. A… Curious Servant, if you will. Our fellow Companion certainly has some burdens I wouldn't mind relieving him off. Let's leave him to simmer for a while, shall we?"
AN: Weird trivia: Sun is taller than Sanson. 1.83 meters to 1.78.
Response to guest review of last posting: funny you should mention the Hunter's Children and comparing to Dioscuri. I thought similarly. Only problem is that I still have no idea on what skills, NPs, or class they would be (I initially thought Archer just to round out all Seven Classes). They, along with other pieces of RWBY lore, are put to the side in the meantime until either inspiration strikes me or I just come back with a fresher mindset. It would be cool if we had a confirmed allusion to them because so far, all I heard is more fanon in that Hunter's Children might be TMNT.
Curious Cat was the most difficult one to make stand out among the trio. With Rusted Knight, I was thinking of "anime AF" fancy and flashy moves and skills. For Jabberwalker, I was thinking of "raw strength and power but nothing flashy."
The two had direct combat in mind as opposed to Cat, making them the most difficult one to approach out of all of Remnant's Heroic Spirits thus far. I was looking at clips of Curious Neo and my thought process went something like this:
Curious Neo? I guess that's nice, possessing living people. Salem would be the obvious big choice but I'm not feeling it. Curious as a Servant. Curious as a Servant... Curious as Servant... Curious... Servant...? Hang on.