towerofanimus | [closed]

Characters: Team Girl Power (Ruler (

sageprincess))
Setting: Room 01-09
Format: Action
Summary: After a recent arrival at the Tower, Ruler believes it's time to let Arturia in on a certain secret of hers.
Warnings: ... They might be talking about Caster at some point. That should probably be a warning on its own right there.

[To say that Ruler has been on-edge for the past few days would be an understatement. A serial killer ex-comrade of hers has been let loose in the tower, and while part of her was happy to see Gilles in the flesh, that happiness was vastly overwhelmed by concern. Even though she had made him promise not to hurt the other residents, she wasn't sure just how long that could last, so she had to stay alert.

She was also... nervous. After receiving a letter from Saber, she knew that the truth had to come out. She had to tell the other woman who she was... and considering the things Caster had done, she wasn't sure how Saber would handle it.

So, after asking Zelda for aid in sending a reply, they retreated to the princess's room, and waited.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Naturally, when she checked her mail that day, the very first thing Arturia did was go to Zelda's room and knock on the door. Hopefully, the other two would be in there since she doubted she would be able to keep Caster contained by herself.

It took all the Servants working together to defeat him the last time and here she did not have Excalibur. Dear as Caliburn was to her, it could not match up to that second blade as it had meant more to be a King's Sword, not a Knight's.]

[Goodness, this 'Caster' is making quite the stir. But far be it for Zelda to question Ruler or Arturia when it comes to the matters of Servants and the Holy Grail War. The Princess opens the door for Arturia when she knocks, gesturing her inside.]

Hello, Arturia. Come in.

[Inside, Ruler is actually pacing. Well... maybe not fully pacing, but she can't stay still in one spot for very long. She hates this, this nervousness and uncertainty... but she can't help it. Here were the only two people in the tower that she could genuinely call friends, and she's about to tell one of them that the man who murdered so many children did it because he thought Saber was Ruler.

But she couldn't hide that fact either. So it was best to get it out as soon as possible.]

Thank you for coming. I apologize for asking to meet you so suddenly, but... with recent trouble, a talk like this cannot be put off for long.

Is this about the letter I sent you both?

[No reason not to get to the heart of the matter.]

... In a sense.

[Zelda offers, more hesitatingly, glancing between the two women with more than a bit of uncertainty in her eyes. It's Ruler's place to explain, not hers, so she quietly makes her way to her bed and sits, watching.]

[A nod, and Ruler stops her not-pacing. After taking a steadying breath, she turns to face Saber, a mask of neutrality crossing her face.]

What I'm telling you now is something I've told very few people in this tower. For reasons you will understand, I'd like to keep what I say here a secret. [It's not like she's afraid of revealing her identity. It's just... a habit as a Servant. Besides, she doesn't really want to deal with any potential swarm of attention she might get from her true name being revealed in public.]

You said that Caster found "his Jeanne". You are worried that he, in his insanity, has latched onto another poor woman. Your concern is admirable, but... unneeded. [Another pause to take a deep breath before she squares her shoulders, drawing herself up to hold herself with the same pride that she held while facing her armies, with only a brief flash of uncertainty in her eyes.]

Caster did indeed find his Jeanne. He found me.

[Ruler is Jeanne? Ruler is Jeanne? For a moment she wants to question her, ask her why she would be friends with someone as insane as Gilles des Rais, and yet....

Well....

Look at a few of her own knights. Arturia stares at Ruler for a few moments and catches that brief moment of uncertainty. Does she think Arturia will hate her?

So, to lighten the mood, she decides to latch onto something else and gives Ruler a long, critical look before speaking:]

Why would he confuse me for you? We look nothing alike.

[~~Lies. They at least look like they could be sisters.~~]

[Remembering how poorly the last time she witnessed this reveal, Zelda holds her breath, waiting, watching as Arturia examines Ruler so intently...

... and then releases it when she finally speaks. Thank the Goddesses, she really didn't want to deal with the tension between the three of them if Arturia reacted negatively.]

Perhaps... even the slightest resemblance would be enough for an addled mind?

[Ruler, too, had been holding her breath as she waited for Saber to respond. And when she did--

That. That wasn't what Ruler was expecting at all. So despite the previously tense atmosphere and the nervousness she had felt.... she laughed. Actually laughed.]

I was worrying terribly over what you'd have to say when I revealed my true identity, and that's the first thing you asked... [She's not sure whether to be relieved or confused. She'll go with the former for now.]

But yes, I think Zelda is right. Though we are far from identical, there are some similarities between us. It would not be impossible for someone who is not in his right mind to mistake one of us for the other.

I suppose with how his eyes bulge, all he needed was "blonde hair and approximately the same height" to think I was you.

[Considering how much she trusts Ruler? Arturia knows she can handle Caster. If anything, Ruler bursting out laughing only makes her relax all the more about this. Yes, trusting Ruler with this will be the right thing.]

Why would you worry? It was Caster who did those monstrous things, not you. Considering my own past I have no right to say anything about the friends you have made or what became of your own comrades.

He caused such trouble for you because of this mistake, did he not? I would not have blamed you if you were bitter in any way over that.

[... Suddenly, Ruler is very glad that the Saber in black was not around for this. She probably would have been angry.]

Truthfully, I am bitter over it. However, as I said, those actions were Caster's doing and not yours. If anything I am pleased you are she because that means he will legitimately listen to you.

[Maybe? Hopefully.]

... I certainly hope so. [Obviously, Ruler is having her doubts. She sighs, running a hand through her hair.] The way he acted when we met, it certainly seems like he'll go along with whatever I have to say.

[There's a nervous pause, before she looks from Saber to Zelda.] He even wishes to... ah... help. Help us.

[Zelda blinks at suddenly being addressed, having been content to simply listen given how little she knows of the situation and history regarding this "Caster."]

Ah... does he, now.

[Quite the puzzle, that. From the sound of it, this man is one Ganondorf and his ilk would be quite happy to accommodate should they reject or anger him, but... his presence will no doubt bring tension to any effort he is part of. ~~Unless they're the orange collar research team apparently.~~ Hm.]

... I only know what you both have said regarding this man. What do you suggest?

Ruler knows him better than I. When I met him he was nothing but a madman who kidnapped and murdered children and very nearly destroyed a city. It was through sheer luck I was able to stop him at all.

[Luck, and Diarmuid being willing to break his spear so she would be able to hold Excalibur.]

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