[closed]

[wirefu]

Characters: Irisviel (wirefu) & Archer (swordedpast)
Setting: Floor 38
Format: Action
Summary: Archer blows his cover. Things are Awkward.
Warnings: Prooobably none?

[Unlike some other residents of the tower, Irisviel hadn't reacted too negatively to the sudden harsh drop in temperature yet. Honestly, it didn't bother her at all for the first week! She had been brought into this world by a family that hid themselves in the far north, amidst a sprawling forest of never-ending winter, where the harsh blizzard winds would cut easily through old stone walls. She was used to this cold. But then the temperature kept dropping, and soon enough, it began to even bother her. But she never once complained! Even after wrapping herself up in her thick fur coat and hat, she still projected quite a sunny disposition.

The cold didn't even stop her from going about her normal business. Not that she really had much of a schedule to stick to, outside of spending time with Saber... but she was still moving about the tower without much reluctance. Take now, for example... she was currently situated in one of the chairs closest to the windows, eyes drawn upwards towards the clouds not too far off. Even after spending her entire life in that winter forest, Irisviel never tired of watching the snow slowly falling...]

Comments

[swordedpast]

[The fact that she hasn't actually shown any distress doesn't stop Archer from being concerned. The thought of this woman who was once beloved by Kiritsugu Emiya tugs at his mind, and he finds himself unable to entirely leave her alone--and also unable to confront her openly. The oncoming cold has only given him an excuse to step up his cautious surveillance.

He's been good at hovering just outside the range of her perception, invisible to human eyes, whenever he's hunted her down and come to check on her. But that was before the unthinkable happened. Before he found himself blinking blearily, his head hazy, his body heavy, his throat hot and scratchy.

He's had to catch himself a few times on the stairs to avoid falling. He should have stopped then. But he's convinced himself that if he's ill, it's all the more important to keep closer watch on those he's responsible for protecting, in case something even worse has happened to them. His Master seems fine so far, as much as she ever is, but what about the woman with the silver hair and the gentle eyes?

Which is why Irisviel, for the past hour or so, has been able to pick up faint hints of a Servant nearby, on and off. He's wobbling in and out of her range no matter how he tries to stop himself. And finally--]

--CHHHHUU.

[A sneeze bursts out of him, and he's so startled he drops back into visibility, clutching at the nearest chair as he staggers.]

[wirefu]

[Irisviel visibly jumped at the sudden noise, jumping out of her seat and spinning around. She raised her arm, preparing to pour mana into the wire reels on her wrists. She had only been momentarily caught off guard - if a monster was approaching, she could...

... Oh. It's just him. Her look of surprise changes to a look of confusion.]

Archer?

[swordedpast]

...

[He's caught. Archer fixes a haunted stare on the woman who's discovered him.]

Irisviel. You should stay far away from me.

[Well, it's actually not so much haunted as it is bleary. He leans heavily on the chair.]

[wirefu]

[One silver eyebrow raises at that. She doesn't seem angry or upset... just a bit confused at the warning. Or maybe she's amused?]

That seems like a silly thing to say. I had no idea you were here until you accidentally revealed yourself.

[swordedpast]

[...a grimace. Does he maybe look a bit sheepish?]

It seems I'm not at my best today.

[He tries to draw himself back up to a straight posture--but he fails and winds up grasping for the chair again.]

I thought...I should be certain that you were not also suffering. I see I've made a mistake. You don't need my help at all.

[wirefu]

[... Well. She wasn't really expecting that.] Thank you for your concern, Archer. I've been quite lucky so far... [And that's when she finally frowns.]

But if you're not feeling well, your primary concern should be yourself. [She didn't think Servants could get sick, but here's proof that it's possible...] Why don't you go back to your room and rest?

[swordedpast]

My primary concern...?

[He gives her the blankest stare, like she'd just told him to swim to the moon. Then he scowls faintly.]

Don't mistake me. This tower may have inflicted some aberration on me, but I'm still a Servant, and I doubt I can truly get sick. It's the humans here who are worth worryin--

[And he promptly doubles over coughing, trying desperately to cover his mouth.]

[wirefu]

[She waits for his coughing fit to subside before speaking up, a look of concern on her face.]

If you think it's the tower doing this, then perhaps it would be best to be cautious. We don't know the full extend of the administrators' abilities just yet, so for all we know, they're able to use some sort of magic that enables Servants to fall ill.

[After all, to employ the Second Magic on such a large scale... they have to be incredibly powerful. Maybe even more powerful than the three great families. And that would mean that they can possibly use magic nobody has ever seen before...]

[swordedpast]

[It takes him a while, but finally, he straightens up, trying to look serious.]

So, that's what it is, huh...? I'm still not sure I believe it. This is just "falling ill"?

[Even when he was alive, he wasn't exactly familiar with sickness.]

[wirefu]

[... Irisviel just can't help but giggle a little at that reaction. The way he talks about it makes it seem like such a strange, foreign concept...]

It certainly seems like it. Which means you're going to have to make an effort to take care of yourself, or risk it getting worse.

[swordedpast]

Take care of myself?

[Maybe it's just that the sickness is wearing on him, that gets him to drop the mask of smug sarcasm. Because he just looks honestly baffled by that suggestion. Only belatedly does he realize how that might have come off.]

Naturally I can do that, but I doubt it's serious. This is probably some kind of trick the people in charge of the tower are playing.

[He folds his arms over his chest and tries to stand up tall and straight. But he keeps wobbling.]

[wirefu]

[Oh Archer....]

That's even more of a reason for you to be careful, isn't it? [She reaches out, intending to help him steady himself.] If the ones who brought us here really are responsible for this, then being cautious is a wise idea.

[swordedpast]

[But he draws back from her touch and reaches again for something else--his hand lights on the edge of a chair instead.]

Are you an idiot? If I'm ill, you shouldn't touch me.

[He seizes on that excuse to explain his need to draw away. But his voice is half-hearted.]

[wirefu]

If a sickness is spreading within a confined space like this, then it is likely that I'll catch it one way or another. [Besides, nobody's really heard of a homunculus getting sick. Then again, with a Servant getting sick...] You don't need to worry yourself over my condition, Archer. I'll be fine, I promise.

[swordedpast]

And yet you're concerned for me.

[He gives a weak little shake of his head, his eyes bemused, as if that's something unthinkable.]

[wirefu]

Why wouldn't I be? Just because we haven't known each other long doesn't mean I can't be concerned for your well-being.

[swordedpast]

A strange thing to say. Regardless of how long you've known me, I'm still only a Servant. Haven't you been taught to see us as nothing but tools? Jeez, you'd almost think it didn't take.

[wirefu]

You're not just a tool. [Her voice is surprisingly firm as she says this. It's... not really a sore subject for her, but it's one she feels strongly about. After all, until she met her husband, she was treated the same way by her own family.]

... That's one of the few things I really disagreed with Kiritsugu on, you know. You, Saber, all the other Servants... you may be the spirits of people who are long gone, but I don't think that makes you any less human.

[swordedpast]

[His mouth turns down at the firmness in her voice on that point.]

It's not that I disagree about Servants, but you're truly different than most magi in saying so.

[But before he can marshal his slightly fuzzy brain to antagonize her further about this...]

Wait. You knew Saber?

[And he immediately curses himself inwardly for even saying it. Of course she knew Saber; she was Kiritsugu's wife, and Saber was his Servant. Saber never got along with Kiritsugu, so someone had to stay at her side during the war. It's only natural that it would be this woman.]

[wirefu]

[Some magi might be offended at being seen as different from the norm, but not Irisviel. If anything, the light smile on her face implies that she sees it as a compliment.]

Of course. I have nothing but fond memories of Saber during her short she was summoned for.

[To match her words, her voice takes on a fond tone as well.]

[swordedpast]

[Normally he'd be quicker. He'd cover up his slip easily, or he wouldn't have made it at all. But he's hazy from the illness and surprised that he's ill at all. It takes a bit of a toll. So he blinks a few times at Irisviel's words, before realizing that he needs to distance himself from there.]

I see. What a shame that she's my enemy in the war I was summoned for, then.

[wirefu]

[And, of course, Irisviel smile fades at that. It was one subject she was incredibly curious about, but it was also something she forbade herself from questioning Saber on. The knight had so much anger and bitterness inside of her as a result of fighting for the Holy Grail that she just... didn't have the heart to ask. She didn't want to hurt the girl by asking her to bring up old wounds.]

Of course. You were both Servants, so it's only natural that you were enemies. If you were hoping to shock me with that information, than I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you.

[swordedpast]

But I wonder why she never reached the Grail that time.

[This woman is too understanding. Too kind. Maybe if he pries, she'll back off. She'll be less gentle.]

At the side of a woman who supported her, and commanded by one as efficient as Kiritsugu Emiya, it should not have gone wrong. She would never have needed--

[He almost says too much. She would never have needed that stupid kid. He cuts himself off, shaking his head.]

She would never have needed another war, right?