amber ♠ 02

[steelmyself]

I really have to wonder at how quickly we're destroying this place.

[ Archer announces himself over the amber with that casual and dire remark. His tone is bored. ]

First of all, we've upset the balance of nature by killing a predator and allowing defenseless prey animals to multiply unchecked. Those rabbits will probably suffer once they meet the cruel reality of life beyond this tree, you know.

And now we've nearly destroyed the tree itself with our meddling. Isn't that impressive?

[ Now his voice is just dripping sarcasm. ]

Well done, everyone. Whoever brought us all here should really have expected these results. It's exactly what human beings do, after all.

Comments

[gandere]

M-Maybe I'm drawing power from the same source as you!

[ It's a lie, but since she used 'maybe' that prevents it from being one outright and instead makes it speculation. She's getting better at her deceit. Soon she'll be a proper magus. ]

I'm recovering from being stabbed in the stomach by my little sister so it's okay for me to suffer a little! After all the pain she's been through, it's all right for me to be inconvenienced a little!

[steelmyself]

[ He starts to give her his best unimpressed stare, which is really quite good, but-- ]

By her?

[ She seems to have given something vital away...slow understanding transforms his face. ]

Rin...

[gandere]

[ Rin recognizes when she's made a critical error, but her pride keeps her from acknowledging out loud. Her body language however shifts into embarrassed shame as her nose dips downwards and her hair follows to shield the sides of her face to provide relief against his incriminating gaze. She knows it's wrong, but yet... ]

I survived so that's all that matters, isn't it? [ Make it about the present instead of the questionable past. ] I'm here now with you, so the faults of the past shouldn't be thrown into either of our faces.

[steelmyself]

[ Before he can think about it, he lifts one hand and starts to reach for her, to touch her hair and offer comfort.

He stops himself with his fingers still a few inches from her face. ]

We probably can't escape faults like that. Even brilliant people like us can be foolish sometimes.

Still, it troubles me to see you in pain, so I selfishly think you should give up on this penitence business of yours and let yourself heal. If you need more prana for that, I'll give it to you. I'll bleed for you if you wish.

[ He speaks calmly and straightforwardly, as if he hadn't just offered something as absurd as letting her drink his blood. ]

[gandere]

I most likely would have healed if I had the energy my first day here! [ She points out, only further proving her condition since arriving has deteriorated mentally.

It's too easy right now, getting answers from a frazzled magus and exploiting her heart so effortlessly. Whatever defense she may have had was brought down when she pulled up Sakura's pain as a foundation and now she has to scramble to keep up with her Servant's absurdity. ]

If you bleed... geez, then wouldn't we both be hurt? That's not an ideal position for us to be in especially if a threat returns.

[steelmyself]

It's fine, Rin. The alternative is more absurd, so we won't speak of it.

[ He means sex, of course. ]

You know, in the future of our world, there are books about vampires who sparkle. I think that would suit you.

[gandere]

As though they were diamonds? [ Her face lights up at the thought.

She's only now discovering how much she misses literate of any kind. There's absolutely nothing at all to read here! ]

I'm not sure why vampires would need to sparkle, but it does sound interesting. Are you implying I should become one that does?

[steelmyself]

That's right. In these books, the reason vampires can't go out into the sun is they glitter like gems when the sunlight hits them.

I think something like that is true of a woman like you as well.

[ A beat. ]

I mean that it suits you to be a bloodsucking fiend, of course.

[gandere]

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[gandere]

[ Lowering her voice just a bit as if she's afraid of being overheard. ]

A-A-A-A-Archer, is there something you're not telling me? Were you... made a victim of a ghoul here? [ He's pretty sentient for a vampire, but maybe it's because he's a Heroic Spirit.

At this point he's just going to have to gently grab the back of her head and slam her mouth into his neck. ]

[steelmyself]

...

[ He sighs. ]

Rin, I'm going to give you prana. Feeding you my blood is the most sensible way to do it, so forget about ghouls and such and just bite me.

[gandere]

Archer, are you out of your damn mind?! [ The remark is so absurd it causes her to be just as unreasonable with her language. ]

I can't just suck your blood! What if I bite into a vein and you bleed out suddenly? I don't have any of my jewels here that can help recover the damage so it'd be embarrassing to have to call for aid over the amber due to me biting my own partner's jugular!

1/2

[steelmyself]

What if I just put my blood in your soup--

[steelmyself]

Ugh. Forget it, I can hardly ruin food in that way...

[gandere]

Don't talk as if your blood is a good source of protein! [ Though it probably wouldn't hurt... ]

Geez! [ Rubbing her face, she tries to take control of the conversation and direct them away from this foolishness. ] I, I can just get some more sleep and eat a bit more food to help replenish my reserves.

I, I can't hurt you?

[steelmyself]

[ He opens his mouth to come up with some response to that, but her last comment stops him.

He sands there in silence for a moment, looking at her with troubled eyes. ]

Yeah, you really are soft towards me.

That's normally fine, but I...need to support you, Rin.

[gandere]

[ Softest whenever she's pummeling him with her fists, right?? ] Tch...

[ The argument is already lost and once she recognizes that it's futile to try to convince him otherwise, she settles back down. It must have been difficult for him all this time. Not being able to provide for her beyond gathering food that's left out for them and watching over their home quietly. She's done so much work in her condition and now that she knows he knows she's injured... ]

This is something you wish to do, isn't it?

[steelmyself]

That's correct.

[ His half-smile is a little sad. ]

My body can withstand physical pain, you know. But it's much more hurtful to me to see you weakened and suffering.

[gandere]

All right. [ With a deep breath, she commits to it. ]

I don't want you to hurt any longer so if this is something that will alleviate your pain, then we'll go through with it. We're partners, you and I.

[steelmyself]

Then--

[ He gestures with his right hand, and suddenly there's a small, narrow blade in it. ]

To be honest, I was exaggerating a little...I don't actually expect you to bite my neck. My arm would be best, I imagine, since that's where blood is usually drawn.

[gandere]

[ Breathing a sigh of relief, she reaches a hand out for the tool he's presented her with. She doesn't stop to think that he should be the one to cut himself up and she definitely refuses to question what will happen after he starts bleeding. ]

No, it would be unsightly. At least with it being your arm, you could cover up until your wounds regenerate.

[steelmyself]

[ With a thought, he disappears his red jacket, leaving his arms bare. But he blinks in surprise as Rin takes the knife. ]

You're going to--? Ah, I suppose you're used to it for yourself.

[ Her magecraft requires such things, after all. ]

[gandere]

It's my responsibility to do it, isn't it?

[ With the blade in hand, her voice drops by a lot. The last time she held a weapon like this, she was... ah, that's right. She was trying to kill Sakura.

The thought freezes her in place. ]

[steelmyself]

[ He recognizes the words. After all, he saw her determination to kill her sister. If Shirou hadn't done the impossible and chosen to protect her instead, Rin would have broken herself doing it. ]

No.

There's no need to speak of "responsibility" here, is there? I'm merely doing a thing I want, which is helping you. You're not responsible for anything about it.

We can stop for now. I'll find a way to transfer my energy to you that doesn't ask you to hurt your heart or share your body. Who knows? There may be something.

[gandere]

I'm not h-hurt by it! [ She quickly objects in an attempt to dispel that thought. ]

You're the one who is going to have to be hurt in order to do this so-!

[ All she needs to do is actually cut him, but even with the tool to do so in her hand, she finds herself unable to lift it towards him in a threatening manner. ]