Caster (Tamamo No Mae, Fuyuki Ver.)Street Nearby a Certain Bar.The Nexus was one strange city. It was a jungle of concrete, a land apparently governed by the Will of Humanity, but in there resided not only humans - countless beings of the supernatural, Spirits, Monsters, Dragons and whatever mythical entity could fit into the many mythologies riddling history's page were present. They were not oppressed, they were not being removed from the system – they simply were. Walking about the pavements, driving in cars and tending to their own business like regular inhabitants of the city... this would've been no different from Tokyo or any great metropolis of the 'present' world, if it wasn't for the fact that some humans were replaced with phantasmal beasts and monsters of all kinds.
It had been a while since that time. A while since through some inexplicable phenomenon, the Servant Tamamo No Mae had been thrown into this dimension, a realm bordering between the physical and spiritual, never having a definite existence, fluid and ever changing. As much as Tamamo had tried to get used to it, which she did for the greater part actually, there still was the lingering feeling that even by her standards, this realm was more like a fantasy than concrete reality.
This really looked like these contrived crossed universes that spawned every time the audiences wanted interesting clashes between characters of different settings.
Truly a cliché scenario straight from fiction.
“Aiya... maybe that I'm being a bit too aware of things,” Caster thought to herself as she walked down the road, appearing fairly 'normal' to anyone that would cast an eye on her.
Well, that's what she hoped for.
The young woman wore clothes that, in theory, were meant to help her meld into the crowd. The term 'in theory' should note as important, for while her theory was quite good, Caster's tastes in civilian clothing were quite flashy... and excessive flashiness, as sad as it is, rarely melded in with the adjective 'stealthy'.
Caster had a magenta tube top with white outlines, exposing the entirety of her shoulders and a portion of her gorgeous cleavage. On top of the tube top, was an unbuttoned, somewhat large casual shirt, checkered patterns of a white and pink color making up the textile of the cloth's surface. A long light-blue jean fit tightly against her legs, following their gentle curves, and her footwear consisted of a pair of white laced boots.
She might've been better off on some sort of fashion model show rather than the streets of the Nexus, especially since quite a bunch of less refined individuals made shady advances on her or whistled as she walked by... but then, Caster did like looking pretty. '
A good wife has to, like, actually look good for her husband!'
So she thought.
Nevermind that she was more like a mother to her Master than an actual wife.
Caster walked on while letting out a sigh, somewhat exasperated that her Master was still such a young man. '
Too much of a young man,' she felt like complaining sometimes, but she acknowledged it wasn't her right to complain – her wish had been granted, so maybe that rather than being reactive, she should be proactive and cultivate the matter to its best potential...
The bags of groceries Caster held gently swayed in synchronicity with her every step, and her long waist-length hair flowed with a hint of transience as a gentle breeze blew. The hair was usually worn in a high ponytail, but Caster thought that she'd best change her hairstyle a today to something new. Having the same outfit on a daily basis would naturally be boring and a sign of her lack of creativity, which Caster didn't want.
'Hmm, I should hurry up back home, yes.'Musing about her looks, while important for a woman that had to keep their dignity, was an act that needed to cede place when priorities such as '
What will I cook for the Young Master's meal tonight?' were at hand. Caster picked up the checklist she had stashed in one of the multiple plastic bags hanging from her arms, and thought of what interesting dish she could make.
Just as she was about to read though, Caster picked up the familiar scent of alcohol from nearby. It seemed to come from a building a few meters or two ahead. Raising her head, the pink-haired beauty noticed the board on which the establishment's name was written –
“Prickling Prickle Cornerclub...” Caster mumbled to herself as she walked up to it.
It was a fairly small tavern, its inside packed with all kinds of patrons, ranging from normal humans to shadier, strange beings that were clearly inhuman. These kinds of places, Caster generally avoided with care, but the Servant noticed something interesting being offered here -- on the menu displayed at the entrance, the alcoholic drinks that were sold at this tavern were relatively cheap in comparison to the shops where she went to get these most of the time, and this '
Prickling Prickle Cornerclub' did put brands of high quality on sale. Caster could use some wine or sake to cook up her special recipes of Teriyaki sauce and Honey Glazed pork. Her Master really liked these dishes... not that he knew that there was alcohol in them, but a then little of spirits didn't hurt much, had it ever?
Caster faked a cough before walking into the pub. She already told herself that she' make her business and stay here as short as possible.
But well, things rarely go according to plan.
Wanderer
...
"Excuse me, ma'am, but might I have the bill? Oh, and if this man decides to keep drinking, please, allow me to cover it in advance."
I reach my hand into my pocket for several golden coins. My politeness now is mostly so that I can get to the location of my brother as soon as possible. If it is who the presence indicates, certain ...events might not be so far off. A blond man is trying to get me to come over, but I can't spare much more time in this location. I nod to him, absentmindedly, considering what I should do. Perhaps, if it really is my brother, I might have to go for a ride.
The moment Caster entered, a mysterious figure quickly walked by her. There was a strange feel to that entity, one that was quite unsettling. It left a hollow cry in her ears, like the one armies fighting on a battlefield, clashing in blood, pain and death – a very unpleasant reminder of what she actually experienced when the existence known as 'Tamamo No Mae' killed over ten thousand soldiers by itself.
Caster froze still at the doorstep, eyeing this man that had the makings of a traveler. She did not know why she suddenly felt a certain sort of strange compassion for him – was it perhaps because he vaguely had an aura like hers, like an existence that had caused misfortune and death by merely being next to others?
Maybe that it was still such a kind of existence.
'
Misukume, focus on what you're here for!'
Trying to stick to what she had told herself she'd do, that is, not spending a very long time in this place, Caster brought her attention back to inside the shop and headed towards the bartender.
Buying alcohol for home use in a pub was generally unheard of, but Caster couldn't really afford to pass on such an occasion to get some cheap drinks, as the store where she had managed to get a job at had recently had the courtesy of closing down - it was a mere two weeks after she got in, and all thanks to
some idiots.
