towerofanimus | (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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[Saber nodded.] It is near time. I would like to return the shinai to my room... and give you something from my possessions before we join Kazumi.

[A curious look crosses Irisviel's face.] Oh? What is it?

[Saber frowns a bit, looking down. Again, it's almost an ashamed look.]

You will see...

[And Iri's hand still in her own, shinai in the other, the knight leads her out of the meadow back to 1-09.]

[Irisviel follows without hesitation, seemingly content enough to not break that small bit of contact, but that concerned look does flash across her face when she sees Saber's own expression.]

Is everything okay, Saber?

...I cannot properly answer that. Please be patient.

[ELEVATOR!]

[That... yeah, that's just making her worry grow. She falls silent on the trip up to the dormitory floors and remains that way up until they reach Saber's room.]

... You know you can talk to me if anything is bothering you, right? [She knows that it's difficult for Saber to talk about herself normally, and she can't imagine how this Saber must feel... but she has to make that clear.]

I do.

[Except she can't. There are some things she simply cannot talk to Irisviel about. Opening the door, she leads the other woman inside and, upon finding her roommates out, shuts the door behind them.

She walks over to her trunk and opens it, returning the shinai to it.]

Please have a seat.

[She then waits until Iri is before moving the clothes she possessed to pull a familiar box out. The box was closed, though it wouldn't take Irisviel long to recognize it. Kneeling down, Saber offers it to Iri.]

I do not know if it will protect you any longer for it rejects me, but it is yours.

[Despite having seen it before numerous times and magically hiding it within her for almost the entirety of the Holy Grail War, the sight of Avalon still manages to take her breath away. But she doesn't have much time to marvel at it... not when Saber says something so peculiar.]

Reject you... because of the corruption? [It was truly that foul? That, more than anything, caused Irisviel's desire to help her fallen knight. She's not sure how just yet, but... there has to be a way.]

I believe so. I have been touched by all the evils of the world, Irisviel. And yet I still exist.

Avalon... it is good. Pure good. I cannot even lay a bare hand upon it. Take it from me, please.

[A flash of sadness crosses the woman's face at that. Saber may seem unusually accepting of her current situation, but that didn't make it any easier for Irisviel to hear.]

... If that's what you wish. [Reaching out, she gently runs her hand along Avalon like she did what seemed like so very long ago, before gently lifting the sheath out of its case. It wasn't really until now that she realized that she's at quite the advantage with this in her possession, even without a formal contract between herself and Saber... but she doesn't dwell on that thought for long. Even if it didn't have its incredible healing factor, if Saber wanted her to take Avalon, she gladly would.]

If you ever find a way for Avalon to accept you again... [If she ever finds a way to break the corruption's hold on her, that is.] You only need to say the word, and I'll return this to you.

[Saber hadn't felt anything wrong with her current state of existence... until Irisviel arrived. Then she couldn't help but be acutely aware of it.]

Even then, I would rather it stay with you. It can protect you.

If I understand correctly, and the dangers in this tower are high... there may come a time when you need its power too.

[Typical Irisviel. Always putting the priority of her loved ones first.

Closing her eyes, she took a moment to focus. The sheath in her hands glowed softly, and then just... disappeared. Sunk right into her, without so much as a flinch from the woman.]

I will hold onto it for as long as you wish, but if the day comes that you might need Avalon's power... please do not hesitate to tell me.

[Saber held her breath as Irisviel took Avalon into herself. It made her wonder how Shirou never realized it had been inside him...]

I will keep that in mind. No one but you and I know Avalon is here. I wish for it to stay that way.

Of course. [A light smile returns to her face.] I kept that information hidden for as long as possible last time. I don't see why now should be any different.

[Saber takes Irisviel's hand in her own and squeezes them.]

Thank you.

[Irisviel laughs softly, returning the squeeze. She's still marveling a little, at how her strength has so miraculously returned to her in this place.]

You're quite welcome, Saber, but... you don't have to thank me. Really. I'm just doing what I can.

[Even this. If taking Avalon will help put Saber a bit more at ease, help calm her and push back that darkness inside of her... well. So be it.]

Regardless, I will.

[Saber then gets to her feet.] Let us head to the cafeteria for dinner. I hope you like pumpkin...

Pumpkin? [She raises her eyebrows.] That seems like an odd thing to have for dinner. Is that all this tower provides?

The Tower seems to provide random things for food. I do hunt meat for Kazumi when none is available. But right now... there is mostly pumpkin.

... A strange main ingredient to have in most dishes. But this is as good a time as any to try something new, I suppose! [With a laugh she gets to her feet, linking her arm with Saber's and giving her a gentle tug towards the door.] Shall we?

[Already trying to make the best out of her current predicament... a good sign, probably.]