37 (Yes I've started counting. Shut up)

[lamb_of_gold]

[So Mu appears, amidst a pile of what looks like dull, metal rubbish, along with three large stone jars, the Aries Cloth and what look like a hammer and chisel in his hand. He sets the latter two objects on one of the jars, then kneels down and begins to sort through the crap, making about 6 piles into which things seem to be placed indiscriminately. When all the pieces (some no bigger than a fingernail) have been sorted, Mu sits back and sighs very heavily. He reaches towards the pile closest to him, sliding it closer and grabbing at the pair of tools. He spares a look for the Golden Ram standing next to him, smiling a small bit.]

This could take awhile.

Comments

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Kind of curious about that... but more contrite than anything.] If you say so.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Sighs a bit, and sits back, looking at Ryoutarou squarely] You must understand this. A Saint walks with death every day. It is not something to fear, but nor is it something to embrace. It is something we are prepared for, but not resigned to. Saints fight until their last breath for Athena, and we do so without regret or remorse. Few of us see our thirtieth year, but that is just how it is. We live and die for Athena, and for the safety of the world.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[He listens, but then looks away when Mu is finished.]

Is it normal? ... For there to be so few, out of so many.

[lamb_of_gold]

No. Especially not at this time - we're nearing a Holy War, and if history speaks true, we've usually a fair deal more.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

A Holy War?

[lamb_of_gold]

Every two hundred and fifty years or so, Hades, god of the underworld, reincarnates into the body of a chosen human and wages war on Athena. We Saints stop him.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[... o___o]

And now.. there aren't as many Saints as there usually are for that.

[lamb_of_gold]

No. Many have died in the last year or two for various reasons.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

... What are you going to do?

[lamb_of_gold]

Carry on as we have always done - fight and die in the name of justice.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Do you think... you'll be able to win? The Holy War?

[lamb_of_gold]

We always do.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[After a moment, he nods silently.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[Affords him a small smile before settling again and grabbing a sharp piece of shrapnel with which he proceeds to slit his wrist. He holds the bleeding cut over the pile and waits.

1/3

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[3... 2... 1...]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Flail.]

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

Wh-what are you doing??

[lamb_of_gold]

Giving this cloth the life force it needs to revive.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

With your blood...?

[lamb_of_gold]

There is no other way. Think of it as a blood transfusion - one donates blood so another may receive it to live.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

I see... [He frowns a little.] How much blood is needed?

[lamb_of_gold]

About a third of the body's blood.

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[slfnlds]

A third?!

[lamb_of_gold]

[Nods] Fatal to most, but I am a Saint - it's merely an inconvenience to one such as myself.

[But that being said, Mu is looking rather pale, and his eyelids have drooped considerably. The cut heals as though by it's own accord. Mu all but lurches forward, using telekenesis to piece together the shattered remains. The pieces seal together when they touch, and as the cloth slowly rebuilds itself, it seems to come to life (as much as a still-inanimate object can), and Mu smiles, still assembling the pieces.

When he finishes that, he lurches to his feet and drags all three of the stone jars closer, sliding their tops off and taking handfuls of the insides, which he proceeds to sprinkle on the cloth. His smile grows as colour begins to return to it - a soft white and grey scheme which accents the shape - that of a Dove

[saythistostart.livejournal.com]

[Ryotarou watches in quiet fascination. His attention is split between Mu and the Cloth; worry over the Saint keeps him from looking away for too long, but the Cloth being repaired is too interesting to ignore.]