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

[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. ]

[steelmyself]

You're far too soft, Rin. You always were.

[ With that casual statement made, he reaches out, and removes the knife from her hand with his own. ]

I'll do it.

[ He pulls out a small strip of cloth and ties it off around his upper arm as a minor tourniquet. ]

It's hardly hurting.

[ And, calmly, he slices open the small, superficial vein on the underside of his elbow. ]

Here; drink.

[ He doesn't even flinch. ]

[gandere]

[ Rin's the one who flinches and even though she should be watching him go through with this, her fingers shield her curious eyes from the sight all too easily. The last time she saw Archer hurt had worried her and she's afraid now of those feelings coming forth. If they became known to him, then he'd tease her just as he teased her for being soft. ]

D-Drink? Right from your arm? [ That had been the plan, but now she stalls while he bleeds. ]

[steelmyself]

Before it splashes on the floor. I'd make you a stew but that's just indecent.

[ He gestures at his bleeding arm. ]

[gandere]

[ This is one of those times where she can't stand his insufferable personality. If he wasn't already bleeding, she'd punch him right in the nose. ]

Sit down on the bed so that... so that it'll be easier. [ It won't be any easier, in fact the position may be more difficult. There's just something about that part of the house that calms her and so she forces him towards it. ]

And don't bleed on my stuff.

[steelmyself]

[ He hastily holds up his arm, angling it so that the blood doesn't overflow too easily. Still, it starts to drip... ]

Very well.

[ He heads for the bed. ]

[gandere]

[ If he bleeds all over her stuff!! ] I mean it. No blood on anything!

[ Following after him quickly, she peeks through her fingers and tries to convince herself that this is fine. Everything is fine. FINE!! ]

[steelmyself]

Drink quickly, Rin.

[ He still seems totally unfazed by the fact that he's gushing blood. ]