towerofanimus | [ 05 ] ✿✿ [ Closed ]

Entry tags:

[ 05 ] ✿✿ [ Closed ]

Characters:

Archer
Setting: Floor 32
Time: Backdated to December 28th
Format: Quick
Summary: Rin "disappears" and Archer hunts her down.
Warnings: Implied things

[ A wonderful night. That is what took place the eve prior and now she lays curled up in a clearing of the forest. It's cold, but she doesn't find it to be bothersome. There's only peace to be found as a result of what took place.

This is why she doesn't think of her Servant. In these woods, she feels a peace that she's never felt in her life. Maybe at one time when she was a little girl curled up in a bed alongside her sister, but since then? There was that time with her Archer.

No, her Servant. Groggily, she'll be lifting her head with hair full of branches and leaves without bothering to brush them free. For now, she needs to find him before he finds her. On her own terms. Unfortunately for her, it'll be Rin with E-Rank Luck instead of her Servant. ]

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That doesn't make it better. That only makes you look more of a fool. I--

[ Wait, what the hell did she just say?! He's not quite sure. His brain won't let him hear it. But he knows it was something unacceptable. ]

Don't say absurd things!

What's so absurd about it?

[ Honestly, he's already seen her naked. What more incentive does he need? ]

You're joking, right?

[ He steals a glance back at her, and then hurriedly looks away as his face heats up again.

But then he remembers the feel of her sitting on his lap, and that only makes things worse. ]

I'm your Servant. It's my duty to protect you, and nothing more.

[ Never mind that he's long since stepped past duty. ]

Is that what it is? Lancer thought it better to protect me by aiding me with the things I can't help, but if you're insisting that I would be better off learning restrai-!

[ Her tone's dangerous at the thought and she stops abruptly, holding a hand against her chest. No, stopping isn't really an option for her. Not anymore. ]

Ugh, then you'll have to help me in another way. [ One that involves finding her a "buddy". ] Maybe that boy with the thin arms. He doesn't seem the type to get a girlfriend ever, right?

That won't work.

[ Archer dismisses Lelouch as an option without a second thought. ]

That kid is too sharp, like you. You need someone who'll remind you of being soft--

[ Wait, what is he saying?! ]

What do you mean, the things you can't help?

[ A troubled look is creeping onto his face. ]

[ Isn't it sad, Lelouch? ] Oh, so he's not suitable either? Most people are too sharp in this tower, Archer. It's a result of losing their world, isn't it?

[ Lelouch was the only other person besides Saber, she should tell him, but instead she keeps that thought to himself. Listening to him, it finally clicks in her mind that he has no idea. ]

You don't know?

Most people don't believe that their world is lost. So, it's not that bad--

[ He doesn't know. The signs have been there, of course. He should have figured it out. He knows that something is up. But for this thing, he'll manage to sustain the tattered shreds of his denial. ]

...yeah. Whatever it is, I don't know.

[ He suddenly doesn't sound so certain of that. ]

It has something to do with your muddied memories, doesn't it?

[ Suddenly she's a lot quieter. ] Sorry, I should tell you. As my Servant, it's something you'll need to know.

You need it, don't you?

[ He might as well say it. ]

I don't know why. The taint on you, or the Matou magic I don't know much about...well, either way.

I could go without, but it becomes increasingly difficult. You already think I'm ornery enough as is.

[ She could always show him, but then what would he think of her? ]

[ He's silent for a long moment, not quite looking at her. ]

Then that's something I need to help you with.

[ He can't let himself think about what he's saying. He has to find something else to think about-- ]

Um, Rin. Who was it this time...?

[ That's not a very good option either. But he's said it now and it can't be taken back. ]

Don't be stupid. [ Lancer did, but he was also the hero known for laying with half of his country. It's only natural he would leap at the chance to be with her. ] I can do it... the normal way, right? Court someone, then move from there.

Er, that is the way it's done, right? [ Asking for dating advice from an ex-eroge protag, you go Reen. ALSO LOOK AT HER DODGE THAT QUESTION BY ATTEMPTING TO EMBARRASS HIM. ]

Court someone? Jeez, if you know how to do that, you're far more different than the Rin I know than I imagined.

[ Distraction is a success! For now. ]

I, I probably don't know how to do anything of that sort.

[ Hanging her head. ] You really ended up with a pathetic Master, didn't you?

[ His cool expression unchanging, he kneels to be on level with her. He forces himself to forget that she's naked. (For now. It lingers in his mind--) ]

You have never been pathetic, Rin. You've been difficult, and you've been quite the pain. But pathetic? You were always above that.

I was?

[ It surprises her to hear that, but also takes a burden off of her back. One she thought she might always have to carry with her, but he calms her with words she never thought she would hear. ]

Look at you.

[ And look at him, evading her question. ]

I'm certain you're cold, so here.

[ He unhooks the capelet from about his waist and tosses it at her. ]

Use this while you get back into your clothes.

[ He hesitates a moment longer, then finally speaks again. ]

When my Master back home summoned me, I thought she was pathetic. She didn't even do the summoning right...

But that was because I was a fool. I learned quickly that she was powerful and clever, with a true heart.

[ He can't remember much of how he learned this. The memories still swim around in confusion in his head. There was that first unexpected command spell--he knows that much. But beyond that, what...?

All that matters is that he's certain of it. ]

You have that heart as well. It doesn't matter what's been done to your body--hah, well, it makes me angry, all the things that have been done to you. I'll kill whoever did them if I get the chance. But none of them make you pathetic, you know.

[ Her tiny hands clutch at the fabric as she lingers with holding it near, not wanting to have to return it. So she'll take her time in getting dressed all with the intent of keeping something of his in her possession. ]

I, I know that! [ Stubbornly she defies him by trying to not let his words sink in. They do though and she thinks of herself as having some strength. ] I was just confused a moment again. I don't do well when I first woke up and here you are having a serious conversation with me.

Geez, I would only make that sort of mistake when I'm this tired. [ Grumbling, she finishes pulling her clothing on over her form and remains seated with his garments in hand. ] I won't let you kill him though. None of them.

I chose this. [ She reaffirms. ] So you'd have to kill me for doing this to myself.

[ He looks away as she dresses. He's already seen enough, and the images planted in his head are worse. But he can pretend. ]

Yes, I'm being a difficult sort of Servant again. My apologies, Master.

[ But that won't stop him from being sarcastic. ]

If it comes down to that, it'll be just as I said at the start. If that foolish girl who's making the choice to save her sister instead of herself shows up here, I could kill her. But you're long past that point, so there's no point in hurting you.

You could hurt me to put me out of my misery. [ Rin reminds him of that. ]

Hm, although you would have to hurt the tower administrators to ensure I didn't return from the dead. Sounds like too much trouble for either of us.

[ She's still not offering to return his cloth. It's too nice to hold and she's a bit selfish in her embarrassed state. ]

...I can't hurt you.

[ He says it simply, but after a moment, he realizes his mistake and hurries to add, with an awkward glance at her: ]

I am your Servant, after all. I'd be doing a bad job of the role if I hurt you.

Sometimes a Servant has to hurt their Master in order to protect them from an even greater threat.

[ Adding on playfully: ] Maybe I really like it when my Servant is a bit forceful ufufu.

Is that so?

[ Inwardly, he congratulates himself on not stammering. He had to catch his breath for a moment there to avoid it. ]

Then you won't mind if I take that.

[ And he reaches out to try to take his capelet back. Except he's still not quite looking at her, so he winds up awkwardly grabbing at her shoulder instead. Oops. ]

--I meant my coat.

[ ?1 ] Wha-?

Your coat... [ Even if he's holding onto her shoulder, she does find the courage to look up towards him. ] It's pretty chilly, so why don't I wear it until we make it out of this floor?

[ Where she finds courage, he loses it. In an instant, he lets go of her shoulder, as if its head was suddenly scalding him. ]

That's only natural. In that case, why don't we leave?

[ He's suddenly all too eager to be free of the heavy weight of his ordinary humanity, here in this forest without powers. ]

[ Rising to her feet, she nods in agreement as her hands move to hold the fabric back up over her shoulders. ]

Let's leave together, Archer. [ Expecting him to fall into place at her side, she'll begin walking off without waiting. ]

[ And without another word, he falls into place behind her and at her side, like a shadow trailing after her. It feels right. It feels right despite what he's learned here, and even though she's not his Rin.

She's still the only thing he has to follow in this place, so he follows her. ]

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