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]

And what will you do when I find them, Rin?

[ He watches her with the faintest of smiles. ]

[gandere]

Throw them off the side of a branch if they refuse to give me back the element of fire.

[ The magus half of her is awfully prominent today. ]

[steelmyself]

I hate to say it, but they can probably fly.

[gandere]

Then I'll affix a rock to their stupid wings, then shove them off the side of a branch.

[ Either way, people are being pushed off. ]

[steelmyself]

An excellent solution. My Master's creativity knows no bounds.

[gandere]

You'll have to carry the rock up first... [ If only because she can't. ]

[steelmyself]

Her creativity, and her ruthlessness.

[gandere]

[ Motioning for him to get off of her bed. ] I need to lay down. After all of that, I don't think I have the taste for tea.

[ Right back into bed she goes. Good job, Archer. ]

[steelmyself]

Ah, Rin, wait--

[ He gestures. ]

Your shirt. I need to clean it.

[gandere]

And what will I wear to bed? No doubt your blood has soaked through to my skin.

[ At least she doesn't sound too annoyed by it. ]

[steelmyself]

...should I scrub you off, Rin?

[ He's poker-faced. ]

[gandere]

... is that something you would like to do?

[ At least that's more romantic than drinking blood. Right? ]

[steelmyself]

Yeah, I'd like to make sure you're clean and don't have to worry about messing up the bed.

[ --he answers seriously, without a trace of lascivious intent. ]

[gandere]

[ Of course. He's every bit the Emiya he tries to deny. Valuing her life a bit too much, she won't point out that she would expect that sort of nonsense to come out of Shirou's mouth instead of his own. Instead, she rises shakily to her feet and looks around for her tunic and leafy slippers she's made. Finding them tucked away in a corner she's designated as her own, she heads over towards them to take them with her. ]

I'll go clean up and you can take my dirty laundry as usual.

[steelmyself]

[ It pains him that she's so shaky--after all, he's the one who just gave up blood, not her. She should be better than ever.

No, he can't do this again. He'll most certainly have to find a better way to give her prana. ]

Of course, Rin.

[ --but that's all he says for now. ]

[gandere]

[ Everything will be fine, so she tells herself. There's nothing abnormal about this, is there? If it had been Rider drinking her blood or even Archer himself, it would have been acceptable. What's so wrong with the recipient being flipped around?

Nothing. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Still she's behaving rather entitled over the subject and recognizes it belatedly. With a fresh change of clothing in hand--if it can be called that--she faces him fully with a faint smile. ]

Thank you, Archer.

[steelmyself]

[ Still, he blinks at that. ]

You're thanking me, Rin?

[ No, that was too earnest. That was too open. He has to follow it up with some sort of sarcastic comment. ]

Expressing gratitude...are you sure you haven't taken ill?

[gandere]

Are you saying there's something tainted within your blood? Please don't tell me this was a poor attempt to poison me when you've had plenty of opportunities to silently dispose of me much sooner.

[ Her sense of humor is a bit twisted, but that works just fine with a man who is every bit bent himself. ]

No, I am feeling much better. While I don't have my jewels here to help heal my wound, I'm certain now the circuits within my body will work on the natural healing. I just need a moment to consider what I've done and sort through it--didn't you experience that at one point?

There's no harm in taking reprieve to consider the weight of consequences.

[steelmyself]

Jeez, if I wanted to get rid of you I could always take your gem and drop you from a height, Rin. It's that simple.

[ He recovers quickly, though he looks troubled at her latter statement. ]

Well, we are alike as Master and Servant.

[ But, he hopes, not too much alike. He can't bear to see Rin broken by regret. ]

[gandere]

[ Rolling her eyes at his former statement. He could, but then there would be a mess that obviously looked like a murder compared to a more subtle poisoning. Silently chiding herself for her twisted thoughts and lack of faith in her Servant, Rin catches that troubled look in his eyes. ]

Does it bother you that we're so compatible with one another, Archer?

[steelmyself]

[ He considers that in pensive silence for a moment--and then he steps close to her. ]

Only if it leads to your ruin.

[ His voice is soft. ]

[gandere]

As a magus, I'll surely bring ruin to myself and that I care about regardless of your influence.

[ That's what is expected of her after all.

At least here she doesn't have to accept that life, but that's what she is at her core. A cold and calculated magus. ]

[steelmyself]

Hmmm.

[ He looks down at her with cool eyes, unflinching, refusing to accept the truth of her statement. ]

I had a thought, Rin.

Isn't it absurd that Shirou Emiya rejected his fate as a hero? That should have been impossible...

So, if you simply accept your fate as a magus, you'll be allowing that stupid kid to outdo you. That's really disgraceful.

[gandere]

It's absurd, but he's dead. [ She speaks boldly only because he's pushed her into a corner and has forced her to lash out to defend herself. ]

Then there's the matter of the Shirou Emiya who has chosen to be a hero. It's obvious to you as it is to me--that the Emiya here has chosen a different path in more ways than one.

So I don't have to worry about being outdone. He's taken a leap backwards all on his own.

[steelmyself]

[ He gives a sharp hiss of breath at that revelation, his eyes widening a little.

It's not that he wants Shirou to survive for his own sake. Death is a mercy to someone so broken, after all--

But Shirou chose to protect Sakura. Shirou decided to protect Illya. How can he keep doing either one if he dies? ]

Yeah...he'll ruin himself for sure.

But I can't believe my Master would accept a fate like that for herself. She would've summoned a lesser Servant if that were the case.