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]

[ 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.

[gandere]

[ He may ruin himself, but Rin admits silently to herself that it's admirable. To believe in something so strongly and to seek it out. That kind of determination is commendable and something to imitate, if she thought herself of copying another. ]

I just drank the blood of another living creature in order to get back to working order.

How is that humane, Archer? [ Isn't it better if she thinks she did it because she's a magus instead of accepting she did it because she's human? ]

[steelmyself]

[ He grimaces visibly. ]

You don't have to put it like that, Rin. You could say instead, "I accepted a favor my partner gave me." Or even, "I did something that made my partner happy."

[ He vanishes that sour expression and looks at her straight on. ]

It made me happy, Rin--to help you. But at the same time it troubled me to ask such a thing of you. I won't do it again. I'll find another way to transfer prana between us--that doesn't make you drink my blood, or force sex upon you. There's got to be a way.

[ For a moment, his earnest and clear-eyed gaze is oddly like that of a younger boy she might know... ]

[gandere]

[ That look in his eyes is what causes her to fumble back mentally as Rin's suspicions keep coming up to mind. She hasn't really acknowledged it much, mentioned it to him before, but whenever he does look at her that way she's painfully reminded of someone else with the same amount of determination in his gaze. ]

I'm still sorting out my feelings on the matter, but if I can be human enough to confess I'm happy for your sacrifice, will that be satisfying to you?

[steelmyself]

Hmmm.

[ That earnest innocence fades away, leaving him with cool, critical eyes once more as he examines her. ]

Yeah, that's fine.

I suppose I should go fetch some water to wash your clothes now.

[gandere]

Yes, I suppose that you should.

[ A tiny part of her wants to ask him to stay, but distance is something they possibly need after this. Especially if she's going to have to ask him for help again if Shirou does something stupid.

Which he no doubt will. He is Shirou Emiya after all. ]

[steelmyself]

[ He starts to turn to go, but he pauses, then. ]

I'll return, though. You should know that, right?

...for as long as we're both here, I'll return to your side.

That's an opportunity this absurd place gives me.

[gandere]

What makes you think I doubted that in the first place?

[ Completely ignoring the desperate plea in her own voice and actions as she haughtily turns a nose up. ] Of course you'll return. Where else would you go?

[steelmyself]

[ Her face is cute like this--flustered, trying to deny all her own doubts.

He thinks that, and then he tries to dismiss the thought as inconsequential. ]

I could simply fly away. I won't, though--you'd have no tea.

[gandere]

It isn't as if you can fly very far. [ She points out the flaw in his plan in order to valiantly defend her feelings.

Doesn't he feel stupid now? He should. He should feel very foolish for considering that as an option. ]

If you haven't noticed yet, Archer, this place has us trapped.

[steelmyself]

It does, doesn't it?

[ He prepares to go. He readies himself to flee. ]

Well, I don't mind so much being trapped with you, Rin.

[ And with that, he's quite suddenly gone. Just as if he doesn't want to linger after admitting such a thing. ]