lights out

[sicharia]

Characters: Anyone not running supplies or helping with the Jason situation!
Setting: The infirmary (and anywhere else, potentially)
Format: Any
Summary: For Part 3 of the Into The Abyss event. The lights are out and Jason is coming, and not everyone can play the hero...
Warnings: Standard event warnings; label your own threads

[Well, you've gotta pass the time somehow.]

Comments

[sicharia]

Ah, Kirei.

[She looks up from her work as he addresses her. She doesn't smile, but in spite of their last conversation, there's no hesitation in her expression or reply.]

Assassin needs a replacement for her cloak.

[god_damned]

[ He has already grown used to the absence of her smiles. It was hard for him to remember her face, but he did recall her enthusiasm and her persistent warmth. The Tower, or their differing paths, seem to have robbed her of that. ]

Assassin? I see.

I saw her in the Tower.

[sicharia]

Did you? [At that, at least, she starts to brighten, but then she stops as though something her occurred to her.] Did you talk? I hope you two [...] got along.

[She isn't sure who she wants to have made a good impression on whom more.]

[god_damned]

As well as can be imagined.

[ He debates a moment before he adds: ]

She pressed the matter of our annulment.

[unhealing]

...Ah. [Claudia laughs, awkwardly, at that addition.] Is that what we should call it?

[There probably isn't a pre-existing word for what their situation, but even so, Claudia doesn't consider herself to be the woman he had married. That being so, "annulment" doesn't strike her as the correct choice. It seems like an unimportant quibble now, though, so she doesn't argue or comment further than that.]

I'm sorry, I should have said something to her... It just didn't occur to me to do so.

[god_damned]

I do not know what other word to use.

[ He cannot call them divorced. He supposes it comes down to semantics. ]

It's no matter; she accepted the explanation easily enough.

She is different from the Assassin I summoned.

[unhealing]

[She nods, the gesture automatic and a little stiff.]

Still... She needn't have troubled you with it. [Though the truth is simply that she hadn't expected Assassin to concern herself with the topic.] What was the one you summoned like, then?

[The thought that their Servants had been different doesn't strike her as odd, but it does make her curious.]

[god_damned]

My Assassin had no single form or voice.

[ He hesitates a moment, debating, before he continues: ]

Is there anything I can do for you?

[sicharia]

[She means to ask after the given description, but the question Kirei presents her with instead stops her. She hesitates, her eyes falling back down to the half-finished cloak in her lap, not quite knowing how she should reply to that.]

...Oh. Mm, no, I don't think so. I don't need anything myself. Just... As long as you don't get hurt.

[She can't ask anything more than that.]

[god_damned]

[ He does not argue; it would be pointless to start a discussion over this once more. However, now he wonders... ]

Claudia. Did you ask Assassin to defend me?

[sicharia]

[Her lips purse together for a moment, and then she says:]

I asked her to look out for you when she can, seeing you have no Servant of your own, so I suppose I did. I hope that isn't a problem.

[There's a certain firmness to her tone that seems to say that she won't apologize or retract the request, even if he says it is.]

[god_damned]

It was unnecessary of you to ask. [ But he does not sound chiding or upset; simply honest. ] Your Servant should stay with you.

But I cannot override your commands as her Master.

[unhealing]

Of course. I need her protection much more than you do. [Her tone is a little dry as she says that.] I doubt she would give priority to you even if I told her. I just asked her to keep you in mind as well, that's all.

[glassceiling]

[Assassin, bundled in the corner with her bed sheet, hears a few snatches of the conversation. Now, she walks over, her sheet trailing behind her.]

Claudia is telling the truth. I would give priority to her. But as she is my friend and my partner, I will obey her wishes.

...And if she wishes for you to be safe, I will protect you.

[god_damned]

[ Kirei is surprised to hear Assassin's voice -- and how she shows herself is not the way he expects. ]

I see. [ Spoken after a small pause. ] Although it seems beyond your power to do so at the moment.

[unhealing]

It's only temporary.

[Claudia is quick to cut in—almost defensively so. Of course, she can't say that for certain, but if nothing else, she's sure Assassin will revert to normal if killed.]

[...But that's a callous, fatalistic thought, so she doesn't dwell on it.]

We just have to make do like this for now.

[glassceiling]

I am sure...that it will be temporary.

[Assassin's voice wavers a little. It has to be temporary. She doesn't even want to imagine the alternative.]

I am sorry to have to trouble you like this, Claudia.

But, Kirei, I will protect her even in this state. It is my duty.

[god_damned]

You are well-intentioned, but I am unconvinced.

[ Assassin's bundled form does not exactly build confidence. ]

Perhaps I should stay, until Assassin recovers.

[unhealing]

...If you choose to do so, I won't tell you to do otherwise. But you don't need to go out of your way for me, Kirei.

[As capable as she knows him to be, she doesn't encourage him to stay with her. This is a purposeful move on her part, but it isn't because of the desires Kirei has confessed to her; she simply doesn't want Assassin to feel worse for her current state than she already does.]

[glassceiling]

[Assassin frowns and tightens her grip around her sheet. Kirei's comments make her feel her current weakness keenly.]

If it will not be too much trouble, then yes, please stay. I am very glad that there will be someone here to help protect Claudia if I cannot do so.

[She certainly doesn't sound glad, what with the way her voice is getting strained and how she's biting her lip.]

[god_damned]

[ It's amusing him, and he knows it shouldn't.

Assassin's weakness and her obvious discomfort are one thing, but it's worse (better?) that her emotions also fall prey. She frets over her Master and her ability to protect her. She doubts herself and feels guilt, and his lips want to turn upward.

He resists that and merely nods. ]

I will stay then, until Assassin recovers.

[ A pause, and then: ]

Assuming she does.

[unhealing]

[Claudia's lips purse together, and when she speaks next, her tone is more curt than she intends.]

Thank you, Kirei. We appreciate it. [Then, more sharply:] It's only temporary.

[When she addresses Assassin next, her voice is considerably softer.]

Assassin, I need to make sure this doesn't need any adjustments so far. Would you mind? Ah, and of course it wouldn't be proper for Kirei to see you in such a state, so... Kirei, would you mind?

[glassceiling]

[Assassin relaxes slightly as she hears Claudia's words. At the same time, a small blush starts appearing on her face as she realizes she might have to remove her sheet.]

Yes, Kirei, please look away. I do not wish to scare you.

[god_damned]

[ He does not miss Claudia's sharper tone. It should discourage him, but in fact, that treacherous amusement only spreads.

The request is not strange, considering Assassin's concealment. If Heroic Spirits are particular of their identity, their secrecy is no shock. ]

I am not certain you could frighten me -- but I will do as you ask.

[ Kirei bows his head, then turns away. ]

[unhealing]

[Claudia considers telling him to stand elsewhere, so that she can speak to Assassin candidly, but for the time being, she'll let it go. There will be other opportunities to speak to them both.]

[So, instead, she smiles at Assassin, moving her pilfered sewing kit aside so that she can stand with the half-completed cloak.]

All right, then, Assassin! You'll drop the sheet, and I'll wrap this around you as quick as I can when you do. Okay?