( amber ) backdated to second day of the journey

[knight_king]

( ooc; after this exchange )


[The amber shows Saber's face. Her hair is still wet and dripping from her struggle with the fish, but her serious expression, hard gaze and cold voice is far more concerning to those who know her. She has never made this face since her arrival to the tree. Even if she has suppressed her ire, she is obviously displeased.]

Illyasviel. If you can hear me, we must speak immediately.

[She wishes to corroborate this and she's a day of journey away. Two Archer Cards and Gilgamesh mentioning them makes her draw the connection immediately.]

It is about that boy who stayed once.

Comments

[knight_king]

[ She already took care of him briefly. She has the visceral need to purge that from her brain. Her loathe for the King of Heroes is too intense. ]

Do not jest about that.

[ He hardly needs her help, but Archer might be correct. In the heat of battle, she'll see the boy as a child in danger rather than Gilgamesh. ]

[steelmyself]

The situation is the joke, not my words.

[ A flicker of seriousness comes to his eyes again. ]

I'll keep an eye on him, then, when you all return.

[knight_king]

...Thank you. [ She is relieved by his assistance, even if she can handle him. Rin seems interested to know him better which makes her alarmed. ]

Archer. [ Her anger has subsided, her shoulders slump as she confesses what has been bothered her the most.

She shouldn't have regrets, but, like he said, in her nature she had wanted to help the boy. ] I invited him to stay in our lodgings once. I left him alone with Shirou and Illyasviel.

[steelmyself]

Did you? I see.

[ He keeps his features composed as he gazes into the amber. ]

Well, it's natural for you to do a foolish thing like that, Saber. He was a child in need, and you a knight who helps the weak and powerless. For you to turn him away would have eaten at you, since you have that chivalrous nature of yours.

Well, what is it they say? "Damned if you do, damned if you don't"--it's like that. You'll have something to regret either way, but you acted in accordance with your nature.

[knight_king]

[ she nods silently, almost as if she asks for his condemnation not his absolution. she likes to blame herself for things outside her control, that she didn't know, after all.

all these years, she hasn't changed. she has only become more open about her self doubts.

"Damned if you do, damned if you don't". There couldn't be a more apt description to Arturia's existence. ]

You should cease doing this. [ she looks as if she has accepted his answer, that's probably why she's bothered with it. ] I have done nothing to help you and you are saving me with every word.

[ she feels so useless and unable to return his kindness. ]

[steelmyself]

[ He gives her a thin, bitter smile through the amber. ]

I'm acting in accordance with my nature.

Such as it is.

[ He doesn't really believe he's saving her. How could he? But he has to try. ]

[knight_king]

[ She can't save a person, because she chose the ideals, she has no regrets. That's the conclusion she reached.

So she should not wish to do something to aid him. It is neither her role nor it is something she's good at. ]

Will you tell me if there is any change in the tree?

[ She asks to steer the conversation to more comfortable and familiar topics. ]