And thousands of demons stopped me to say

[swordedpast]

Characters: Archer (swordedpast) and OPEN.
Setting: Floor twelve this afternoon, the dormitory halls tonight, and the cafeteria tomorrow morning.
Format: Action, but I'll match the preference of taggers.
Summary: Archer broods, fights, and then cooks breakfast. It's a typical day and night for him.
Warnings: Violence and angst.

[ floor twelve, afternoon of January 1st ]

[ Last month offered Archer many things to think about and little time--or presence of mind--to think about them. Now, though...?

Now he stands silently in the center of this endless panorama of looping destruction, his face expressionless, his hands limp at his sides. He's been to floor five, with its more personal visions of destruction, and sees no need to return there. He's not sure what to do, anyway, with the feeling it brings to his gut that the force that binds him eternally to the protection of his world is gone, as gone as all the rest of that world. If he's not careful, he could enjoy it.

But standing here, watching the annihilation of unfamiliar worlds play out, all he can think of is that if it's true, it means that he failed. He failed in the one thing that was left for him to do with his existence. The Tower must be his punishment. And isn't it perfect for that? Here, the only two people left in the world that he cared about at all are twisted and darkened, and whoever's in charge inflicts hellish torments on all of them. Yes, it makes sense to think that he failed, and all the worlds really are destroyed.

Even if he'll never admit that he believes it.

Now and again, he might give a little shake of his head and make a frustrated noise to try to drag himself out of these dark thoughts, but he always fails, and soon enough he lapses back into silence and stillness again, simply watching the morbid movie unfold around him. ]

[ the dormitory halls, night of January 1st through 2nd ]

[ It may not be the smartest of moves, but Archer seems to have devoted his night to roaming the halls of the dormitories. He isn't merely wandering, though--he's fighting. Whenever a monster appears, he makes no effort to escape from it. Instead, twin swords flash into his hands, and he sweeps in to attack.

Anyone making their way through the halls this night is likely to come upon the knight in red vengefully hacking apart any monstrous creature that stands in his way, even if it tries to flee. Only grim determination shows on his face: no fear and no mercy either. ]

[ the cafeteria, morning of January 2nd ]

[ Though he spent the night chasing monsters through the halls of the dormitories, nothing about Archer's demeanor now suggests anything like it. He's secluded himself in the kitchen of the cafeteria--and he doesn't seem eager to be recognized, as he's wearing something quite different and simpler than his usual flashy outfit...along with a pink apron.

But why?

Well, he's cooking. He's busy making Japanese-style omelets, and he seems quite intent on that task. He doesn't look particularly happy--but then, he never looks particularly happy. He simply looks quite serious about his current business. ]

Comments

Cafeteria

[scorchedchivalry]

[Oh. Food.

...it's been a while since Saber had this particular cook's food. So, she sits down and waits to be served.]

[swordedpast]

[ At first, he's only dimly aware that someone has sat down in the dining hall just outside the kitchen. He's focused on the food. He makes a note that someone will need to be served, and he'll probably have to snap at them a bit to make sure they don't get used to it or think that he's some kind of cook. After a little while, when enough of the tamagoyaki are done, he puts them onto a plate and turns to take them out into the hall.

He gets about two steps out of the kitchen before he comes to an abrupt halt, standing there and staring at Saber. ]

[scorchedchivalry]

Oh, good, you are done. I was starting to think you were expecting someone, you were taking so long.

[She pointedly looks at the plate and picks up her utensils. Chop chop, boy.]

[swordedpast]

[ He summons up a defiant glare, standing there in his apron with the plate full of omelets in his hand. ]

Do you think I was cooking for you?

[ That's funny. He says that, but his feet drag him inexorably forward, and he sets the plate down in front of Saber. ]

1/2

[scorchedchivalry]

[The moment he asks that question, big yellow eyes look up at him. He was going to... to... refuse to feed her?]

[scorchedchivalry]

[Oh. That was better. Saber smiled and speared a piece.]

Thank you. Are you going to be making some for yourself? I can wait until you are done.

hallways!

[angramaintsu]

[ Speaking of monsters, it's only inevitable he happens upon his Master wandering the hallway. Her eyes are barely open and is she... sleep walking? ]

Mm.

[swordedpast]

[ He automatically raises his hands at the sight of something his gut tells him is dark and wrong, and the twin swords appear in his hands. But that happens in an instant, and then his heart catches up with the deeper processes that guide his fighting instincts, and he realizes who and what it is. ]

Wake up, Master.

[angramaintsu]

I'm awake. [ Grumpily said. ]

I heard the noise and felt your familiarity, so I thought I should come check it out.

[ Lifting a hand wearily to her face, she rubs her eyes in an attempt to stir some motivation into her body. ]

[swordedpast]

[ He glowers at her. The swords haven't disappeared from his hands yet. After all, he might need to protect her at any moment. ]

What help could you have been while half-asleep, Rin? You were only putting yourself in danger.

[angramaintsu]

[ She pauses to think over what she just said (his familiarity) and realizes that she's not quite fully awake yet. ]

I wasn't doing anything of the sort. Even while asleep, I can destroy worlds. [ Remember? She doesn't. ]

[Dorm halls]

[kindofademon]

[When Archer passes by the room he's been assigned to, he'll find his very favorite roommate leaning on the wall there. He waves lazily.]

You look busy. Having fun?

[swordedpast]

[Favorite roommate hasn't quite been his actual favorite ever since Waver spilled the beans on the whole "serial killer" thing. Archer would pass right by that room, but he has to stop to cast a cold stare at Ryuunosuke.]

Fun isn't the right word. Well, it's little surprise you think it is.

[kindofademon]

Hey, it's stress relief. And it's more fun than most things in the tower unless you're really fond of dying horribly.

[Which Ryuunosuke is!]

[swordedpast]

[ He hadn't let his swords disappear from the last monster he fought, when Ryuunosuke called out to him. There's still blood on them. Now, he lowers them to his side, but still keeps them there. ]

And how is it you have fun in the tower?

[kindofademon]

[Shruuug.]

I watch romantic comedies a lot more than I used to.

cafeteria

[chainsawn]

[ One moment there's just Archer standing there cooking by himself..

.. But then there's a head peeking in from the door, staring curiously - maybe she got here by following her nose towards the food - before the rest of the body enters the kitchen as well. And with Urotsuki being weird as shit her usual self, she just stands there and blankly stares at him first without speaking up. As if he's some animal in a zoo to stare at. ]

[swordedpast]

[ He's intent on the food, so it takes him a couple of minutes to realize that the person who glanced in at him isn't leaving. Finally, he pauses to look and see who it is.

Oh. It's her. ]

You know. Staring at someone who's cooking is also strange.

[chainsawn]

... Really?

[ She does look a little surprised. Or. Well. If you can tell the nuances in blankness, either way. She blinks at him at the very least with wide open eyes.. ]

But I thought people do that all the time. Aren't those what the cooking shows on TV are for..?

[swordedpast]

[ He actually looks kind of indignant at that. ]

Do I look like a celebrity chef?

[ But he doesn't take his attention off the eggs. ]

[chainsawn]

[ She hums a little, as if she's genuinely pondering the question. ]

Hm.. you are a little cool.

Dorm halls--let's settle this

[whiteblackknight]

[With the sound of a body being torn apart, that annoying young man in white appears.]

...oh, hey. It's you.

[That jolly ol' tone many have heard from him is nearly gone. Even the smile. But nonetheless, the word should imply otherwise.] Still angry about something?

[swordedpast]

[Archer pauses only to give Allen a distant look. He only vaguely remembers meeting this kid.]

I'm only practicing. That doesn't make me angry.

[whiteblackknight]

[His eyes remained locked on the older man.]

Practicing wouldn't make you angry, but the other way around.

[swordedpast]

[A flicker of a smirk.]

You're wrong. Anger shouldn't drive anyone to practice their skills. That's a bad path to take.