towerofanimus

Entry tags:

110

Characters: [OU] Shinji, [AU3] Archer, & OPEN
Setting: Cafeteria (CLOSED), Floor 14, Various
Format: Starting in action, will follow tagger's lead!
Summary: ~Master and Servant bonding~
Warnings: None come to mind...?

I. Floor 1 - Cafeteria [CLOSED]
[It isn't exactly out of the ordinary to run into any given person in the cafeteria over the course of the day, all things considered. Shinji just isn't used to the idea of Servants actually eating, and especially not something as mundane as a hamburger. But... Archer sure is there, and he sure is sampling this month's menu.]

[It's a little strange, having to greet his own Servant over lunch. It's certainly different than how things worked in the Moon Cell, at least, and he isn't quite sure how to go about it. After some deliberation, he decides that the Servant should be the one to greet the Master, so he flops down across from Archer without saying anything, chewing his hot dog as imperiously as such a thing can be done.]

II. Floor 14 - Media Room
[Archer grumbles almost crossly to himself and drops his head as his player character screams in defeat on the TV screen. He doesn't even have to think about how many times he's lost at this fighting game because his Master was ... well, Shinji.]

[For his part, Shinji puffs up, as boastful as ever. Like Archer's repeated losses, this is not exactly a surprising turn of events.] Hah, well, you tried. Don't feel bad, though! I doubt there's anyone here who could manage to beat Asia's reigning game champion.

[With just about anyone else, Archer may have given an unimpressed look, or at least thought of it. But his little Game Master is amusing and entertaining when he's in a such a good mood, which in turn helps with lifting his own. With an overdramatic sigh, he sets down the controller and turns on the couch to look at the boy.] I know exactly how to improve my mood. [There isn't any time to process what that means before he acts, flopping ungracefully on top of Shinji.]

Wh— H-hey! [The requisite squawking is accompanied by quite a bit of flailing, Shinji's little fists thumping against his Servant ineffectually.] Get off of me, you flashy buffoon...!

III. Various
[This is the second time Shinji has been carted around on Archer's shoulders like this. He is handling it somewhat better than he did the first, perhaps because of course his Servant should carry him this way. From his perch, he surveys their surroundings as best he can, trying to catch sight of the rarely seen daytime monsters they're hunting for.]

[(Riding on his shoulders this way is actually kind of fun, if he lets himself stop and enjoy it. Archer can move so much more quickly than a human, after all.)]

[Into the evening, the two of them can be found all around the Tower, sometimes with Shinji seated on Archer's shoulders and sometimes with the child trailing behind, scrambling to keep up as they hunt by foot on one floor or another.]

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[Kariya's not sure if Archer's joking or not, but then, he's never been very good at detecting jokes, too used to actual insults. So he decides this must be one as well.]

Don't threaten me. I'm not afraid of you.

[Archer does actually make him nervous, but that's beside the point.]

I'm concerned for Shinji's well-being. Just what are your intentions, Archer?

[Because Kariya doesn't trust him.]

Edited 2013-07-04 06:15 (UTC)

Don't bother. He's good enough at punishing himself for his idiocy on his own.

[...His tone is maybe a little harsher than it would be if it was just him and Kariya, but the sentiment is genuine. Whether Shinji likes that fact, on the other hand...]

[But, this is clearly not the conversation to have while he's lying against a couch, so hops to his feet. He isn't sure he quite understands what the deal is between the two of them, but—]

Calm down, you worrywart. He's my Servant.

[He juts his chin out as he says so, as if daring Kariya to argue with him.]

[Not afraid. Kariya simply saying such a thing just makes Archer smile that much more, because he knew that he made the man uncomfortable; he had rather thoroughly set that expectation with their first meeting.

He remains seated on the sofa armrest as Shinji climbs to his feet, taking a moment to listen to how the two speak to each other before smirking at Kariya.]

You see? There is nothing to worry about here.

Yes, there is. Because I don't trust you. And I don't believe you'll be a good influence on him.

[The veins in his face twitch as the worms shift, but he tries his best to put the sickening, violating feeling from his mind. He can bear the pain. He does it all the time.]

A Servant can be dangerous, Shinji. To his Master as well as those around him.

[Kariya does speak from experience, having been all but torn in two by his own Servant. That had been a different matter, true, but just because a Master and Servant are contracted, that doesn't mean the Master is safe. He's also worried about what they might do. He's not sure if Shinji will take this as seriously as he should. He knows that Shinji has a good heart, at his core, but... People could be hurt.]

[Unfortunately, an adult talking about anything being a bad influence is just about the quickest way to make Shinji tune out whatever their argument may be. His defiant expression melts into a scowl.]

Give it a rest already. It's my decision, and I'm not going to change my mind!

You should be happy for him, Kariya. [He practically drawls Kariya's name in an indolent manner, smiling easily; Shinji's attitude was quite enjoyable to watch.]

I do not make a contract lightly, especially in a place such as this.

[He saw no reason to say more, as Shinji was already speaking his mind.]

Shinji... I'm not saying it isn't your decision, I'm worried about you. [He doesn't think it's a good idea for Shinji to have so much power, for one thing, but he doesn't say that. He doesn't want anyone to get injured, for, even worse, for Shinji to injure people. He's seen what cruelty can do to people. It rots them inside. He doesn't like to think that Shinji could turn out like his actual family. He's just a child. He needs rules, limits. He's sure Archer can't see that.]

No, I'm not happy. [Why would he be happy? This is terrible.] Lancelot and I can look after Shinji. He doesn't need you.

I'm sure you don't, but that doesn't mean I have to trust you. I'll be keeping an eye on you, Archer.

I don't want you to look after me like some helpless baby! [He blurts it out, half-shouting. His hands ball up into fists at his side, and in his anger, he doesn't realize that his response might be more revealing than he would like.] You— If you were really worried about protecting me, you would be happy! Or do you want me to watch you get a limb chopped off again?!

Or have your good eye gouged out.

[Archer is the most helpful Servant.]

I don't think you're helpless, I-- [He turns away, his eyes stinging. It's clear they don't want him here, and that's fine, but he'll say what he has to.] I know you're very strong, but I do want to protect you. [More than anything. He wishes Shinji felt he could trust him, but he's not sure if Shinji will want anything to do with him now. Not that he'll care about him any less.] That's what people do, when they... But there's more than one kind of danger.

I'm truly sorry that you had to see that, but I'm fine. Lancelot helped me, and we weren't hurt. [Other than the whole arm thing, but he wasn't killed, and Shinji wasn't hurt, and that's the important thing.]

[He stops to glare at Archer, coldly. Why would he speak that way in front of a child? His words remind him of the kind of thing that might be said to him at home, in "jest".]

That might happen. All of us here are in danger of being harmed, at all times, no matter what we do, and it's terrible. I fail to see how your comment is helpful.

[As angry and frustrated as he is now, that does little to mollify him, and especially not when he has been so aware of how powerless he is in this place. If the Tower were something like the Moon Cell, that'd be one thing, but in a place like this...]

[Kariya saying that they weren't hurt is almost too galling to bear.]

Weren't hur— What do you call that stump, then?! What, have you started going senile or something, gramps? Maybe that's why you're having so much trouble with cause and effect right now!

["Cause and effect," meaning, "If I have a Servant, I'll be able to protect myself and be proactive and protect you, too," but he doesn't come right out and say that, of course.]

[This was quickly turning into an argument between the two -- and the way that Shinji was talking to Kariya now, Archer found himself reminded of the person he had been referring to when they had spoken in that makeshift barricade.

Lame-brained wreck.

He looks at Kariya as the revelation occurs to him, and then tilts his head to laugh softly at seemingly nothing at all.]

It doesn't matter what happens to me!

[Kariya blurts this out without really thinking. (As usual.)]

As long as you're safe. This is fine! [He looks at his arm. He knows, as he does so, that it isn't fine, and he doesn't think to protest that at least it was his bad arm, as he has in the past.] It's not permanent.

[He's not senile, but he knows he has trouble remembering things and thinking clearly due to the damage he's sustained. Not that he's about to admit to that in such mocking company. He shoots another glare at Archer.]

I remember everything fine.

[If anyone is expecting Kariya to read between any lines, anywhere, they are probably going to be sorely disappointed, as agitation isn't good for his brainpower.]

[Fine. Good! It's not like Shinji cares, anyway!!]

Fine! If it doesn't matter what happens to you, that means I don't have to care, either! So you can just buzz off, because it's not like your feelings matter, right?

[Despite the glare that Kariya aims at him, Archer returns to focusing on the conversation at hand with little problem. At Shinji's declaration, Archer smirks and makes an observation.]

Do you hear that, Kariya? You have convinced him that your life does not matter. All by yourself.

I'm not going anywhere. I-- [Of course, it hurts to hear him say that. He'd thought they were getting along better, that things were different. Why can't he do anything right? Sakura's gone, and now Shinji's leaving him, and it's all his fault, somehow.] I care about you, so I won't go.

[Kariya is flustered and confused, but he stubbornly remains where he is.]

Be quiet. That's--not what I meant. Everyone's life matters, and no one should have to die. I meant that Shinji's more important.

[Someone who cares about him, and thinks he's important...]

Then—

[Shinji's hands ball and clench as hard as they can at his sides, his shoulders tensing and his face flushing. He feels flustered and frustrated all at the same time, and he isn't sure what to do or say.]

Then why won't you just...!

[Maybe leaving Shinji Matou at a loss for words is a victory in and of itself, but...]

[With a faint sigh, Archer stretches and stands up, walking over to Shinji's side to ruffle his fluffy hair. He rests his other hand on his hip, turning to look at Kariya.]

Is it not obvious what he wants? Or have that worms eaten what passes for your brain?

[This time, Kariya ignores Archer. If all he can do is insult him, then fine, let him.

It's almost enough to make Kariya laugh. Does he think he can say anything worse than what Zouken's said to him a hundred times already? He couldn't possibly. Not even this terrible Servant could be that cruel.]

Shinji... we had fun together, didn't we? We've done a lot together. I know you're angry with me, and I'm sorry, but if we could stay together, I think that would be better. For all of us.

[For once, instead of responding to Archer's hand tousling his hair with flustered anger, Shinji sighs and deflates. Kariya's words still make him feel cross, and he lets out a puff of breath when he hears them, but it's not enough leave him tongue-tied.]

You really don't get it at all, do you? It's not about that.

[This time, Archer remains silent, his hand remaining on Shinji's head like he means to lean on the boy. But he watches Kariya patiently, as if that will somehow make him come to the right conclusion.]

[Kariya responds with a wary look, but he deflates as well, as he stands facing Shinji and Archer. He feels decidedly outnumbered.]

What do you mean?

It's not about— It's not about you. Okay? So stop acting like it is.

[There's something awfully amusing about a child having to chide an adult like this. But, by now, Archer is familiar enough with Kariya's stubbornness that something like this is almost expected.

So he just clucks his tongue in an irreverent way, but otherwise quiet.]

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