thehometree | But my life is more than a vision--

Entry tags:

But my life is more than a vision--

| characters | Archer, Shirou, Rin, and whoever wants to join them in their endeavor. Feel free to tag multiple headers and jump threads within them!
| date/time | Monday, May 4th, onwards through the rest of the week.
| location | Outside the tree, near the mists.
| rating | PG for now, who knows later.
| summary | A complicated series of domestic scenes unfold as Archer, Shirou, and Rin set to work building a miniature kitchen out where they can have real fire, only to be interrupted by a storm.

It's been almost three weeks since Archer and Rin arrived in the center of the tree and gained their wings, only to be met by Shirou and Saber as well. That's just about enough time for it to dawn on those who might be concerned with the domestic details of day-to-day life that they have such a thing here, in between the confusion, the struggle to organize, and the fears of more giant spiders.

Archer's highest priority might be the salvation of all the souls around him, as much as he hates it, but bit by bit a new concern creeps up on him, almost unconsciously. Every time he serves Rin a subpar, barely-cooked meal, it pains him a little deep inside where he thought he was only hollow.

He decides to act.

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[ It's cold. It's wet. Yet, Rin Tohsaka can't give up no matter how weary she feels. After a couple of miserable attempts to stay dry have failed her, she focuses instead on salvaging what she can of their work. Creating enchantments that could withstand the damage of water or have it bounce off of it is a difficult task when it's covered in water already. They'll need to make a shelter next, she decides as she picks up one of the washed away pebbles to return it to the pile.

The added weight of the water soaking her hair and clothing makes it harder to stand so once she's made it to the rest, she just collapses to her knees before them, coughing in the rain. The droplets are big enough that every time one splashes across her face, it feels as if she's breathed in water while swimming and stings her nose.

It's really troublesome, but she won't let simple things like a storm keep her from protecting this precious memory. Seeing Archer and Shirou work together is a remarkable sight, so she wants to guard their dream every step of the way. All she needs to do is get up out of the bed, get back on her feet, and pick up another stone before it's swept away.

She doesn't stop to consider how they would feel if she was swept away because the thought's absurd. Nothing, not even Mother Nature, can tell her what to do. ]

Rin--!

[ The voice is distant in the torrential noises of the storm. But what happens next is not distant at all.

Suddenly Archer's arms are around her shoulders, pulling her up to her feet. ]

Huh? [ There's no physical strength left in her after the cold wind has sapped her of it, but she manages to stand with his help. ]

Archer, what are you doing out here? You'll get soaked.

[ When he speaks, it's directly into her ear, so that the storm doesn't drown it out. ]

A more pressing concern is that I might fall prey to the plague of foolishness that has kept you out here, Rin.

Foolishness? [ Her body trembles in his hold as she weakly raises a hand to rest over her eyes to keep some of the rainwater away from it. ]

A little bit of rain won't stop me from continuing our work.

I see.

[ She's trembling. Rin Tohsaka shouldn't tremble--she should stand straight and proud. Something in him aches. What is it? It can't be his heart; he sacrificed that a long time ago. ]

Then, Rin, I shall oppose you and end this.

[ His hands suddenly tighten on her waist. ]

I thought we agreed to-?

[ Was he going to undo all of their hard work after he asked for her help? Her hand falls back to her side, discouraged easily by his words. ]

Mmm.

We'll return to our work after the storm and repair what has been lost then.

[ And suddenly he's scooping her up into his arms to hold her as if she's a princess to be carried. ]

For now, my Master will be my captive until she's safe.

Hey, watch it! [ The fire that hasn't been drowned out flares up again within her. ] You can't just pick me up and carry me off wherever you please!

[ Except he's doing just that. Her tiny body curls up in his arms, unconsciously relieved that she no longer has to stand up to the torrential downpour on her own. ]

Are you really capturing me? That's not fair at all.

[ Even with the cold rain flinging immense drops all around them, he finds himself smiling. He has Rin's small, weak body in his arms, and treacherously he thinks that's where she belongs for just an instant before he banishes the thought. ]

As you know, I'm really unfair. I'm ruthless, even: that is the Servant you summoned.

[ He tries to open his wings to fly, only to find that they're too wet and the wind is too strong. Stubbornly, he instead starts to walk his way back to the tree. ]

[ Water pools within the skirt across her lap and around her in his arms as her body tries to fend off the cold. Shivering against him, the magus tries to make sense of his actions while fighting off the urge to pass out. ]

So what do you plan to do with me now that you're abducting me? Are you going to lock me up in a dungeon somewhere?

[ The cold might have gotten to her already. ]

A dungeon? That's no place for you.

[ He reinforces his entire body against the rain so he can pick up his pace, but still his arms are gentle around her, his chest warm. ]

I'm going to bring you back to bed.

[ Much like her wings, she draws herself in closer to the part of him that's warm in an attempt to ward off the chill. ]

That's nonsense, Archer.

I can't get in bed when I'm soaking wet.

[ He doesn't have to think about anything; he doesn't have to dwell on his sins and regrets; he just has to keep moving forward against the wind, cradling this one small body to his chest. He is protecting someone precious. For a fleeting moment, existence is even bearable.

So naturally he speaks carelessly, his guard fractured. ]

I see, I'll have to remove your clothes and wrap you in warm blankets.

[ What does she say to that? There's nothing that comes to mind so she accepts it for what it is: a throwaway remark made in the moment. Archer isn't the type to concern himself with things of that nature as a hero after all. ]

Didn't you receive a tunic as well? I could wear that.

[ He spends his energy moving forward into the rain and the wind, Rin nestled in his arms. The howling storm wipes away his thoughts: he has a girl to protect in his arms, and that's all. ]

Yeah, that'd be better.

[ His voice is a bit different, or is it just the wind? ]

It's indecent to have Tohsaka naked in bed in my house, after all.

[ It's my house. She thinks loud enough to count as she settles in against his chest. Not entirely comfortable, but it's the best she'll get in the moment as she brings a hand up to protect her nose from the rain around them. Something familiar tugs at her in his words, but it takes a few more steps before the mistake reveals itself. ]

Archer, you said something strange just now.

You're aware of that, aren't you?

[ Is that the sound of him catching his breath? ]

You're imagining things, Rin. Perhaps you're fevered.

... ah, it's possible.

[ Plus the impact of the drops against and around them are deafening. It's very well possible she heard what she desired to hear most instead of the reality that was around her. ]

Geez, that's troublesome. [ Not so much the possibility of a fever, but imagining Shirou's voice when she was being rescued by another. At least this is a shame she can keep to herself and not bother Archer with. ]

[ As they approach the tree, he speaks a bit unwarily once more. ]

It's a good thing I don't mind you being troublesome.

In this situation you may. [ She answers truthfully. ]

It's nothing we need to concern ourselves with for now. What's important is getting indoors and making sure the rain doesn't flood the inside of the tree.

[ At last he steps through the entrance to the tree, into the dry warmth inside, and looks up at the Life Stream and the hole leading to the second floor above it. ]

Hmm...

[ He's going to have to get pretty close to the golden light to carry Rin up to the sixth floor where her (his) house is. ]

What is it, Archer?

[ Once she's sure she won't drown from breathing in water, she'll pull away her hands and peel back away from his chest a bit. They're both sopping wet and it feels as if she's gain twice her weight in her hair alone from it. ]

It's nothing.

[ He approaches the way up, then pauses. ]

Ah, I'm soaked as well--

[ And he makes his coat disappear, leaving him in just his armor and his pants. His bare arms wrap around Rin. ]

Is it too much weight?

[ Suddenly insecure between both his commentary and bare arms. ]

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