towerofanimus | CLOSED - forward dated to New Year's Eve

Entry tags:

CLOSED - forward dated to New Year's Eve

Characters: Saber (Alter) and Catarina Amanto
Setting: 11th Floor
Format: Action (cause I'm lazy today)
Summary: A majestic floor, a beautiful woman and the knight that may or may not be courting her.
Warnings: Catarina is her own warning, but nothing expected

[The knight had spent some time trying to find the right floor for this evening, so she had already been through the overwhelming specter of this floor with the flowers along the ceiling, the impossible waterfalls that pooled in the center and the open air about them.

If only it wasn't so cold. Saber wasn't cold, but she was worried about the succubus. That would be why Catarina would find it far warmer when close to Saber than away. The knight extended her prana into the ambient air around her, but without form it was only a few inches from her body.

Stepping out onto the Eleventh Floor and all its beauty, Saber turned and offered Catarina her arm.]

This is our destination tonight. I hope it pleases you.

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Wizard. Such funny creatures.

I am not. I-

{Catarina froze as Saber's hand touched near the pin, her eyes raising to follow her hand up]

[Pale yellow eyes move from the pin to Catarina's face as the woman froze. Slowly, she took her hand away, letting the back of her fingers to brush along her cheek as she did.]

Forgive me. It is a pretty pin, and one I had not seen before. It holds some magic within it...

Protective, if one can use such magic. [She turned her head, letting her lips trail across Saber's hand]

... angels can.

As can many magi. [Once her hand was free, she turned it over and offered Catarina her hand.]

I am surprised you would wear something that was made for the angels. Unless I am misunderstanding its origin.

[Catarina instantly took the hand, raising it to her lips in a quest for comfort]

I do not wear something holy or angelic. It's a human relic. But I am... intimately aware of an angel that has used this before.

[For a moment, the use of the word 'intimately' threw Saber off. She had been under the impression that angels and demons could not touch without the demon falling to harm, and yet if the succubus was using that word, it takes on a certain specific connotation. In the end, she decided she didn't care too much about the specifics, knowing what she knew from previous conversations and Catarina's defensiveness over a certain topic...

Gripping Catarina's hand, she took it and her own from the demon's lips and wrapped it back about her arm so they could resume walking.]

It is quite pretty. Were you gifted it as I was my crown?

I was. Unlike the necklace, there is a practical reason to keep this one. [Her hand gripped Saber's arm tightly in contrast to the light tone of her words]

Do the people of your world always anoint such things as your crown in such ways?

It depends on the customs of the land. When I became King, Britain followed the old religion as it was less a cohesive nation and more a collection of clans. It had once been a great nation, but when the Romans started the expansion of their empire, they displaced many people - the Saxons, the Gauls, the Franks and other Germanic people.

Britain is an island so many of those people, barbarians, crossed the sea to settle in Britain as the Romans had taken their land. They did not mingle well with the many people of my land. The Scots, the Irish and the Britons are a proud people... A warring people when stirred such. Some more than others. [Lancer was an example of that.]

My father was beginning to bring Britain back to the glory from before when he died. When I took the throne, I vowed to return Britain to the nation I knew from my lessons. Several years into my reign, Christian missionaries came to Britain and I chose to follow the faith. [The Holy Grail legend kind of does that to a person.] I felt my people would prosper better under the watchful eye of God.

Upon my conversion, Britain became a Christian nation. We still held to a lot of the old faith's tenants, but they did not interfere with Christianity. And to seal my conversion, my crown was blessed by the holy men and thus by God.

[Catarina stopped looking at her halfway through, her teeth gritting. Not completely in anger, though there was enough of that. No, out of a sense of betrayal, from what Saber said. She could feel what Saber meant by Christian, God, and the such. The words coming from a woman like her, the darkness...]

[It hurt.]

...I was never a very good Christian, even as the silver knight. I did what I thought was best for my people. Perhaps had I stayed with the old faith, I would not have failed. I would not have been betrayed.

[She gave a mirthless laugh.] I was seen as something more than human. I recall there was something in the scriptures against false idols...

I belong to a different 'god' now. I belong to the World and the Holy Grail I pursue is not the Christian relic - though I did once foolishly quest for that in my other life. It is simply named after it.

[A pause and when she speaks, there is a bit of sorrow in her voice that she tries to cover up.] And as I am now... purely holy artifacts are something I can no longer touch. They reject me due to my corruption.

[Catarina's free hand came up, touching Saber's face. She caught the sadness, and she offered a small smile in return] The darkness is not something to be ashamed of, dear king. It's not something to be sad about. It's not something bad. It's merely... different than what you are used to.

I know. [She leaned a bit into the touch.] But it means Avalon will never keep those important to me safe as it once had. It is a sacrifice I accept, but it is one that does sadden me.

My sheath had powerful healing magic.

There are other such things that can do that. Things that will accept your darkness as it is. Things that we can find here.

Perhaps something like that will cross paths with me. I still lament the loss of something that was mine. It was stolen from me in my other life and upon coming here found it again... only to find it rejects me.

[She shakes her head some.] But enough of that, lest I ruin our evening together.

[Catarina leaned in, giving her a little kiss]

If you wish not to speak of it, then let's continue on what has been planned.

[Catarina could feel a small smile from Saber as she kissed, even as brief as it was.]

Mm. Yes. [Back to walking toward the water, the mist close enough to be felt.]

Tell me, my dear, what do you think of this floor and the waterfalls?

Before this day? Stunning but useless. Lovely, but I had no reason to be here.

[She looks over curiously as they draw close to the pond's edge.] And today?

A beautiful scene framing a beautiful woman. A memory to keep in my heart, to keep me warm in cold times.

[The knight made a slight sound in the back of her throat when she was called a woman, but didn't say anything. She still did not see herself as a woman, even if she didn't deny being female, but she would allow Catarina to do so. Especially since she gave the succubus her real name.]

Perhaps I can add to that memory then. [She removed Catarina's hand from her arm and then walked forward right into the pond before them.

...only she did not step into the water, but walked upon it as if it was as solid as the ground. She turned back to the demon and held out her hand.]

Would the lady like to join me?

[Catarina watched this, her breath catching as Saber walked onto the water.]

My dear king... I will sink.

Take my hand and you will not. I give you my word.

[She beckons with her fingers, the hand barely within reach should Catarina stand at the very edge of the water.]

Though, before you step out to join me, I ask one thing of you.

What... is this one thing?

[She didn't step closer, not yet. She was curious first what Saber would say]

[A slightly smug knowing smile touches her lips then.]

I ask that you do not become overwhelmed by what you will feel. I believe you strong enough, my dear.

Of course, my knight.

[She came closer, edging out to grip Saber's hand]

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