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]

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. ]

[gandere]

[ Once he's on the bed, she'll get on her knees before him and pull his arm in closer. There's a lot of blood and she's not sure where exactly to begin. Should she clean up his arm or go for fresher blood? Running her tongue along the inside of his arm, she latches her mouth over his wound once she's adjusted to the taste and sucks on it slowly. Her own hands and shirt are a mess now, though she pays them little attention.

If Rider can do this every day, then she can do it just this once. It's easy to talk herself into it, when she compares herself to others who are just as strong as herself even when she's faced with the reality of what she's doing. ]

[steelmyself]

[ She's cute--

He barely notices the small pain of the injury, but the thought flickers through his head, this idea that Rin is cute with her face buried in the crook of his arm, her expression flustered and disbelieving. ]

I'm a really twisted person...

[ He murmurs something sardonic to himself as he thinks that. ]

[gandere]

You are. [ Rin murmurs around his flesh, lifting her gaze only a bit to acknowledge he's said something before she quickly looks away. Resuming her task, her fingers hold onto him gently out of fear that if she let go, he'll disappear again.

It doesn't suit her well to think of those things, but it's those things she thinks of first. ]

[steelmyself]

Well, I suit you.

[ Without thinking about it, he lifts his free hand to lightly stroke her hair. ]

[gandere]

[ The sweet gesture confuses her only because of the words that went along with it. How can he tenderly touch her in this manner while at the same time implying a twisted individual suits her? ]

Ugh... [ Hopefully he doesn't assume the groaning is at the taste of his blood. A small part of it is, but complaining about a selfless act of his may only hurt him further so she'll refrain from it. ]

[steelmyself]

Hmm, do I really taste that bad, Rin?

[ No such luck. ]

Blood is mostly water and iron, really, so it's somewhat like you're drinking swords. That can't be so awful.