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

[angramaintsu]

[ Then it's time to show Archer just what kind of Monster holds control over him. Provided he can stomach the strange marks that creep up along her face and the dangerous aura that comes with it. ]

I think they're running away.

[swordedpast]

...!

[ He has to fight the sudden unbearable sense that she is his enemy. He fights it, and for the moment, he wins. ]

They're probably afraid of me.

[ His smile widens into a grin. ]

I mean, I just got really mad...

I'm really mad, Rin. That you have to look like this.

[angramaintsu]

That I have to look like this? [ Rin repeats it to reaffirm the line in her mind. ] I thought I looked alright for a girl my age.

[ The full meaning of his words doesn't click with her. That it's abnormal for a teenager girl to be frightening to a tower full of monsters and to the hero who's seen his fair share of destruction. ]

[swordedpast]

Most girls your age haven't seen the things you've seen.

[ His voice is quiet, though the grin still hovers about his mouth. ]

I don't think I want to give you a head start. I think I want to kill all the monsters so you're the only one left standing. Maybe then the urge to hurt you will go away.

[angramaintsu]

You want to hurt me?

[ It's the logical thing, but Rin can't help but feel the sting that comes with it. Her Lancer wanted to do the same thing as well. ]

It must be a knightly thing.

[swordedpast]

[ All humor finally fades from his voice. He looks pained and haunted by regrets. ]

It's a hero thing.

[angramaintsu]

Shouldn't a hero want to rescue people in despair?

[ She doesn't realize what she's just admitted to in her despair. All she can think about is losing the loyalty of a Servant she just started to understand. ]

[swordedpast]

[ His shoulders first slump, then shake a little as he realizes what she just said. ]

Yeah. That's what I always thought a hero should want. It's complicated, isn't it?

[ But then he stops and gives a slight shake of his head. ]

What am I saying? It's not complicated at all. There's no question of whether I kill you, or something like that--not after what I've already done. What I've already let happen.

It's really easy. I'll rescue you from despair, or I'll die trying.

[ The smile is back. It's disturbingly sincere. ]

Who knows? Maybe with the world destroyed, this death will stick. See, it's a happy ending either way.

[angramaintsu]

I don't believe in happy endings, Archer. [ Solemn when it comes to the topic, she doesn't relent as she continues. ] That kind of fairy tale stuff is for heroes like you and for girls who are more like princesses.

Me? I'm more like the ugly witch everyone wants to banish. So it's alright for me to do these things and scare away monsters. When monsters run away from you, it's because you're fighting to protect people. When they run away from me, it's because they realize this is my territory and I'm only allowing them a presence here. So, so that's why you shouldn't think about death! I won't let you and besides, if you do end up killed, I'd follow after you.

Not like a Romeo and Juliet thing, but because I'd be in so much trouble without you that I'd just end up tripping over my own feet or something. [ Rin sounds so desperate at the thought. Then again, she did just lose her Servant a few weeks ago. ] So you better not die! I'll be sour with you and I'll hold a grudge forever!

[swordedpast]

[ He falls silent as she speaks. There isn't a thing he can say to stop her from that onslaught of denial. He waits until she's done, until she's poured out all that desperation. ]

Well, you're right that there are no happy endings. It's probably foolish of me to hope for one. But I think so long as you're here, calling yourself a monster, I'll have to continue being a fool.

[ It's more true than he lets on. His duty as a hero, a protector of his world, was all he had left, no matter how he hated it, and now he's here, being told that he failed and that world is gone. Rin is very nearly the only thing left of it.

He can't save the world, so he has to at least save the girl. It's not something he's choosing. It's the only path. ]

Do you think protecting people is something I'm proud of, Rin? It's not. Being a lie of a hero is worse than being a monster, so don't think you can scare me off with talk like that.

[ He fights the sense of threat that still hovers within him every time he looks at her, and he makes the swords disappear from his hands. He lifts one of them--

--and he only means to point, but the things she said in the forest creep into his head. The memory of her in his lap creeps with them. His fingers touch her cheek. ]

Mm, you'd be an admirable woman if you were really embracing your monstrousness without regret, but you aren't.

No, don't look now, because you just admitted you need me to save you from it. And you won't let me die doing it, either. What a pain.

[angramaintsu]

[ All she can do is recoil at his words. How dare he talk to her as though she needs to be saved. Maybe she does need saving, but admitting it outright is something she never wants to do. So instead she stands there red in face and with her teeth gritting down hard. ]

Shut up, Archer. Just shut up!

[swordedpast]

[ It's good that she recoils. He doesn't know what he'd have done if she didn't. As it is, it's easy for him to quickly drop his hand back to his side and look away. The fight starts to drain out of him. ]

That's right. I have some monsters to defeat, don't I? Some other monsters.

[angramaintsu]

Instead of hunting monsters, you should look for something for us to eat. [ Rin blurts it out with a frown, her fingers digging into the palms of her hands. ] I, I want you to start preparing meals for my uncle too! He has trouble getting around, so please!

[swordedpast]

What?

[ The speed of that topic change nearly derails him. He blinks at her. ]

Your--ah. That Matou I'd never heard of, he's the one you call your uncle? Kariya. Jeez, are you going to make me take care of him too?

[angramaintsu]

Yes.

[ This isn't something he can argue so if he chooses to do so, he just might lose her. ]

[swordedpast]

[ A smile flickers briefly over his face. ]

This isn't the way to trick me into thinking you don't care. Very well. I'll help you with him.

[angramaintsu]

Who said... who said it was a trick?

[ She's actually taken back by this. If he's a Matou and she's a Matou, then it's acceptable for them to "care" about each other. ]

I want my uncle to have the best care. Unlike my body, I suspect he is in a lot of pain.

[swordedpast]

[ But of course Archer doesn't see it that way. Caring for those close to you is only the ultimate way of being soft. ]

A lot of pain, huh? Jeez, Matou magic must be rough.

[ And he tries to pass the comment off with a shrug, but bitterness twists his mouth downwards. ]

[angramaintsu]

No, it's not that bad.

[ She quickly lies to him. It's easy for her to do that still. ] I have no problem with it as you can see.

[swordedpast]

[ He's not used to her being able to lie to him. So after a moment of frowning, he simply nods. ]

He's simply a poor case, then? How unfortunate.

[angramaintsu]

It is rather unfortunate which is why we should work together to make things easier on him. He's the only individual in the world that understands me even though...

[ Rin stops at that. Why should she care about Kariya when it's clear that he only cares for Sakura? Even in this place, she has no allies other than her Archer who she feels pities her more than anything else. ]

Well, just take meals to him too. If you can only spare one meal due to time constraints, I rather he eats over myself.

[swordedpast]

Hmph. I feel slighted.

[ But his flicker of a smile is bitter. He doesn't understand her, of course. He knows some things, he's sure of that, but there's still plenty that remains a mystery to him. ]

It's fine. I have all the time in the world here, so I'll make both of you meals, even if he seems like a fool.

[angramaintsu]

He also wants to meet you. While you're feeling pushed off to the side, find a suitable enough date to present a good meal for the three of us. It'll be as though I'm introducing my suitor to him, so you better be on your best behavior.

[ Not best as in the "kill Shirou the moment you see him" kind either. ]

[swordedpast]

Your suitor? What a rude assumption. But I see what you're talking about. I'll try not to insult him needlessly, or attack him if he irritates me too much.