towerofanimus | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Characters: Irisviel von Einzbern & YOU!
Setting: Room 01-01 -> Meadow -> Library
Format: Action, but I'll match!
Summary: Another awakening in the tower. Confusion and many tearful and angsty reunions and meetings are had.
Warnings: Spoilers for the end of Fate/Zero. Also angst. Lots of angst.

[Room 01-01]

[It was a strange thing, feeling your consciousness returning to you after you accepted your death. The last thing Irisviel remembered was the feeling of drowning, of suffocating, of being dragged by cold, clammy hands into an inky, muddy blackness that she knew she could not escape. This was her fate. There was something so wrong about this dark, evil feeling surrounding her, but she could do nothing to fight against it. She could only accept it.

But then the strangest thing happened: she opened her eyes. She took in the sight of surroundings she had most certainly never seen before. She couldn't move, but that didn't faze her one bit - she had been completely immobile since she had given Avalon to Kiritsugu.

... And then another strange thing happened. There was a slight tingling sensation, and then all of a sudden... she could feel the soft surface of the bed under her. She could feel the material of her clothes clinging to her. Slowly, with an expression that certainly appears to be disbelief, she raises a hand, and slowly curls it into a tight fist. There was strength in this movement. But how...?

Any roommates already in the room are free to call her out on her behavior. Any roommates that walk in at a later time will see her up and out of bed, slowly stretching and looking extremely surprised at being able to do so.]

[Floor 25]

[Irisviel isn't really doing anything on this floor. She's simply wandering about, sleeves of her shirt rolled up and thigh-high boots abandoned back near the stairs, humming softly to herself. There's still a bit of tension in the way she carries herself, but the more time she spends here, the more relaxed she seems.]

[Floor 4]

[There is a lady sitting at one of the computer terminals! A very pretty lady. Nothing out of the ordinary, right? Nah, not really, except the look of absolute confusion on her face. It's likely that she knows what the device in front of her is, judging by the way she taps away at a few of the keys, but when nothing happens, she looks almost amusingly panicked.]

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When the Holy Grail manifested, there were only two Servants left - myself and Archer. I stood before it...

[...]

...the Holy Grail was destroyed.

... Destroyed? [And she can't hide her complete shock at that. Everything they had fought for, the sacrifices that had to be made... they were all for nothing?] But... how?

[And that was when Saber could not look at Irisviel anymore. She turned her head to the side, the muscle along her jaw clenched. Her hands balled into fists at her side.

Her teeth ground for a moment before she spoke, her eyes focused on something in this distance (though it was really the memory she was thinking back on.]

I destroyed it.

You... what?

[There's no anger or even disappointment in Irisviel's voice. Only confusion. She shifts a little so she can still look at Saber's face - even if she can't look her in the eye - and slowly reaches out to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. Even though Saber had shied way from her before, maybe a steadying hand will help her relax a bit.]

Saber... what happened?

[The moment Irisviel puts her hand on Saber's shoulder, she can tell the knight is practically vibrating with rage. Saber keeps her eyes away from the other woman, but what little of the pale yellow that is visible makes it very clear the depths of the emotion in her. And she used to hide the emotion so well before...]

He commanded me to destroy it. Twice.

[One command spell she could resist, and resist she did, but when her master used TWO for the same command, she was powerless but to comply. Screaming and protesting the whole time, the greatest break of her stoicism, she could do nothing... but destroy her salvation.]

Kiritsugu...

[She had managed to avoid the pain that flared in her chest at the passing thought or two of her husband in earlier conversations, but now... the memory hurt. It also hurt seeing - feeling - just how angry Saber was with him. She knew there was no way for these two people she loved to ever see eye-to-eye, and she could sadly accept that, but this... this was different. Very different.

Her grip on Saber's shoulder tightened ever so slightly, and she did her best to remain calm even in the face of such anger and frustration.]

There had to have been a good reason for him to do that.

Do not make excuses for him. He betrayed me. As always, he felt absolutely no need to include me in his plans or thoughts.

[She had been nothing more to him than a tool to be used. It was why she'd assumed the same of Kiritsugu's son when he summoned her.]

I'm not making excuses for him. I... just know. [It's then that her voice takes on a firm tone to it.] We worked so hard for this. Took so many risks. He did... such horrible things... [She still couldn't get the end of the fight with Lancer and his Master's fates out of her head.]

He wouldn't have wanted to see the Grail destroyed if he wasn't absolutely certain that it was the best course of action.

That does not make it any easier to accept, Irisviel. I know now why he did it. At least, it is the only reason I can fathom he would.

[She looked back.] The Holy Grail is corrupt. Somehow he must have learned that during the Fourth. I did not discover this until the Fifth.

Corrupt...

[A cold, heavy feeling settles in her stomach. At the same time, it's like a light being switched on in her head. Everything she had seen and felt in her final moments... it must have been this corruption inside of the Grail. And Saber's assumption... she's sure that must have been her husband's reason for giving her those orders. Destroy the grail to destroy the corruption. He gave up his own chance at happiness to save the world, and that just made her heart ache even more at the thought of the tragic man she loved.

But... wait. Something didn't add up.]

If the Grail was destroyed... how did a Fifth War come about?

I do not know. I faded the moment I destroyed the Grail and a large explosion occurred from it. Then I was summoned to the Fifth, the last Servant, by accident to Kiritsugu's adopted son.

I can only assume that I destroyed only the physical form of the Holy Grail, not the full Grail as both Archer and I still existed at the time.

His... adopted son?

[That revelation gives her mixed feelings. She's happy, because knowing that meant that Kiritsugu survived. That can most certainly put one worry at ease. But at the same time... it made her sad, knowing there was a new addition to her family that she never got a chance to meet...

Irisviel sighs heavily, and her shoulders seem to slump a bit.]

This is all so much to take in, and yet there are still so many questions...

I am sorry. I can only answer so many of them.

[Saber reaches a hand up toward Irisviel, but hesitates. Her fingertips just barely touch some of that beautiful hair before she lowers her hand.]

And I am not the knight I once was. I will... understand. If you. Wish me to... leave you. Alone.

No.

[She reaches out to take that hand in both of her own. There's strength in her grip, more than Saber might remember her having.]

I can tell you've changed. You're... different. [Darker. Even more emotionally tortured.] But you're still my knight, Saber. I would certainly feel safer with you around. And... [A warm smile crosses her face.] Perhaps we can use this as a second chance, of sorts.

[Saber stared at their hands, partially marveling at the strength in Iri's, for a moment. She didn't feel worthy to be the pure woman's knight any longer. But, if Irisviel wishes it so... It stirred something inside Saber that she'd done her best to ignore during the Fourth War. She tried to ignore it now, but it was harder. And she wasn't sure she wanted to.

Her eyes shifted to Irisviel's. A second chance...? No. It wasn't acceptable. It wasn't supposed to be. She needed to...

Saber raised her hand up, bringing Irisviel's hands up toward her face. She bowed her head a bit as if to kiss them, but stopped short. Her breath washed over the woman's hands and bits of her hair brushed against Irisviel's skin.]

I will protect you, serve you, as I have before. I will not lose you again.

[One step at a time.]

You are my Lady.

[If it was possible for Irisviel's smile to get any brighter... well, she could probably light up a room now, with the way she's beaming. Honestly, she could care less that she has someone who was willing to protect her from the strange things lurking in this tower. What mattered the most was that she had one of the people she loved here by her side.

She was a very optimistic person. She was sure that, with the two of them together... things will be okay. Somehow. Not great, but okay. And that's the best she could ask for right now.]

And in turn, I'll support you however I can. Is that acceptable?

[Pale yellow eyes looked up from her bowed position to gaze upon Irisviel. That smile was brilliant, beautiful... It didn't have the level of affection she wished for... but it would do. It would have to do, just as it always had before. One step at a time.]

As you wish, my Lady.

[Straightening back up, Saber took a deep breath.]

I apologize in advance if what I am now ever scares you. I do not wish you to ever fear me, but I am a fallen knight.

... You could never scare me, Saber.

[The thought never crossed her mind. Yes, she was different, and Irisviel was sure there were many aspects of the woman she had yet to see, as close as they were... but she has a hard time believing that she would be fearful of anything Saber does.]

You say you've fallen, but talking as we are now... it feels no different than any other time we've talked. I can't see that changing.

I pray that remains true. I have a hard time containing my rage.

[She gestures to the mark on her cheek. It seems smaller than before...]

[Curious... so the strength of the corruption can fluctuate? And the mark on Saber's face is an indicator of that? Irisviel will have to keep that in mind...]

Well then... [She laughs softly.] I suppose I'll just have to do my best to keep you calm.

[That manages to get a small smile out of Saber.]

Not too calm, I hope. There are many dangerous things here, other servants and masters... As tempting as it is, it will not do to lull me into complacency.

Edited 2012-11-12 05:53 (UTC)

Oh, no. Of course not. I'm aware that we can't fully let our guards down in this tower. [She may have complete trust in Saber's abilities, but still... it wouldn't do to not watch her own back.]

But... perhaps... we could spend a little time each day here on this floor? It's quite calming, in my opinion, so it might be good for both of us if we visited at the end of the day to ease away any stress we might have.

I would like that. Very much.

The monsters do not come here. It is the only floor they never do, as far as I can tell. We could enjoy the setting of the sun... even if it makes no sense here in the middle of the tower.

[Oh! Before she forgets...]

My room is 1-09. We are required to reside at night in our own rooms at least once every few days, but other than that, you are welcome to stay with me. Then I am not too far away when you are sleeping.

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, but I certainly can't complain.

1-09? [Ha, what luck!] I woke up in room 1-01, so it seems we won't be too far away from each other either way! How lucky.

That is fortuitous. [So Saber thinks now...] Have you met the others in your room yet?