// i've always been with you

[croibhristeoir]

Who: Lancer and Saber
Where: Lancer's hotel room
When: Evening of the 28th
Summary: No one knows how emotions work.
Rating: T for totally dorky.
Log:
[Saber seemed upset since their discussion regarding Sola and Diarmuid's own curse. No, perhaps 'upset' wasn't the right word. 'Distant'? No, knights should have been distant to an extent. It was just how they worked, wasn't it?]

[Wasn't it?]

[He had felt notably more at ease since confessing everything about Fionn and his curse, but was that normal? As Saber had said, they were once adversaries. And Lancer did still want to see their fight through to whatever conclusion it would have, of course.]

[But they were all in the same metaphorical boat. So should knights not align themselves with each other to ensure their own safety as well as that of the ones around them? Adversary or not, he trusted Saber enough to watch his back as he would hers. Lancer was absolutely set on being the only one to defeat Saber. If that meant fighting with her against any human, Servant, or Shadow that tried to do so instead of him, fine. He was her left hand once and would gladly act as such again without a second thought.]

[For now, however, he had to focus on figuring out just what had upset her or simply how to fix it. Unhappiness didn't suit someone like her, someone Lancer respected as ally and adversary both.]

[It was through that logic that a pair of fluffy slippers apparently found their way onto the bed--it was easy to tell Saber liked lions. Easier, with an actual lion cub constantly looking to trip up Lancer no matter what he did there.]

[On the table was a thin glass vase with two flowers in it. It was perhaps a little too sentimental, but he'd passed by a flower shop on his way back as it was. And Diarmuid had a special appreciation for yellow and crimson roses; they had been his signature, in a sense.]

[The former Servant himself could be found in the kitchen, doing a whole lot of work and occasionally referring to a cookbook lying open on a nearby counter.]

[Adversaries or not, nothing was stopping them from enjoying themselves once in a while.]

Comments

[croibhristeoir]

[Sigh.]

[Guess who's following a minute or so later and setting down two plates of some delicious goddamn lamb stew on the table? It took him long enough to make without burning anything or hurting himself, it better be good.]

I admit I'm not entirely certain if you'll like it, but I suppose there's only one way to find out for sure.

[ex_cashcow493]

[ The flowers were hardly overlooked, no, she spent her time until he showed up staring at them. If she didn't know any better, she might have thought this was his way of trying to charm her. ]

Why would I not enjoy it? [ Looking up to him. ] You made it. So I will enjoy it.

[croibhristeoir]

[Wait until she sees dem slippers.]

I hope you aren't flattering me, Saber. [He laughed, taking a seat with an unusually cheerful smile.] If it's not to your usual standards, you can just say so.

[ex_cashcow493]

[ She will question their purpose alright. ]

Can I not do that and be grateful all at once, Lancer?

[croibhristeoir]

[oh well 8D]

I suppose it'd be quite possible, wouldn't it?

[ex_cashcow493]

We better feast before the little one gets excited. You know the smell of meat is intoxicating to his nose.

[ Look, Katt finally made eating icons. ]

[croibhristeoir]

[AMAZING]

Good point. [And once he tried it, Lancer was quite relieved to find it wasn't immediately poisonous. That was a step up from his earlier attempts, most likely.]

[ex_cashcow493]

[ Clearly I am the most IC Saber only having one eating icon prior to all of this. ]

It is delicious. Have you been learning from Shirou? [ Must be on better terms with him if she's name dropping him this much. ]

[croibhristeoir]

No, why? Is he particularly good at it?

[What he felt at that wasn't what Lancer would call jealousy. At least he didn't think it was. It wasn't like that was something he had experienced much.]

[ex_cashcow493]

Excellent at it. I had the top cooks within my country at my disposal, but none of them can compare to Shirou. I was fortunate to have him as my Master during the Fifth Holy Grail War.

[ A small sigh. ]

I only long for his faith in me to be as good as mine is in him.

[croibhristeoir]

[Lancer gave her a slightly curious look at that--was Shirou still saying completely ridiculous things? If so he was seeming every bit as idiotic as Lancer had initially assumed.]

Did something happen?

[ex_cashcow493]

I forgave him for what he has said, yet..

[ Here she was still in Lancer's room, in Lancer's bed, eating food made for her by Lancer. It was all backwards as her gaze travels to the distinct mark on his face.

Was she truly under it's hold even here? ]

.. well, things will fall into place soon enough.

[croibhristeoir]

[Strange. Why was she looking at him like tha-]

[...oh. Oh. This really wasn't over, was it? Did she really still believe that was the cause of it? Was it? Lancer looked faintly uncomfortable, glancing away.]

...I hope it does.

[ex_cashcow493]

Have I upset you with my words, Lancer?

[ Thinking that is the reason he's looked away from her. ]

I am not the best at dinner conversation. Even when we all sat at Shirou's home, I was the most quiet. [ Mostly because she was stuffing her face. ] As king I hardly spoke for when I did, the entire room grew silent, and everyone placed judgment on me from their seats.

[croibhristeoir]

No, I'm not upset.

[Just worried. Not that he'd admit to that out loud.]

...I rarely spoke unless necessary back home, as well. [because god forbid every woman in a ten mile radius noticed him.] So I suppose I'm not very good at it either.

[ex_cashcow493]

A comfort it should be knowing that we could practice such together.

[croibhristeoir]

I think I can definitely agree with that. I just hope I can come up with something worth listening to now and then.

[ex_cashcow493]

I will listen regardless, Lancer.

[croibhristeoir]

I could say the same to you.

[ex_cashcow493]

[ She takes that as a cue to start speaking. ]

When I entered the hotel room this afternoon, I was told I had a package. That was when I discovered the sword. Archer went to great lengths to procure such a magnificent blade. He is not the type to tolerate duplicates of things, so I can rest assured knowing there is nothing identical to this within the world. Not even in his treasury, unless he chose to base it off of something that has never been discovered by mankind or gods.

[ A pause. ]

He did this to keep his word. He has fulfilled every promise save for our duel, but he has left this place. What am I to do? Prepare my body for when he returns? To fight him then?

I just wanted to thank him.

[croibhristeoir]

[Lancer didn't say anything for a moment or two--maybe Archer really wasn't entirely the arrogant idiot he seemed. Which was admittedly something of a surprise.]

...I don't think Archer will break his word. If he planned to fight you, I can only believe he'll eventually challenge you. Even if no one can say exactly when or where.

[ex_cashcow493]

It is frustrating that he left without saying goodbye.

[croibhristeoir]

...Then think of that as a reason that he will surely return.

[ex_cashcow493]

Ah!

[ That was an interesting way to think of it, as she turns her attention fully upon the man. ]

You are right. He will return. He must have grown bored of waiting for my wound to heal, so he will return when I am ready to duel him.

[croibhristeoir]

[Lancer smiled at that, seemingly glad that Saber's mood had improved even slightly.]

I can hardly imagine he'll stay away for too long.