randomosity | [For Saft] On the Eve of Battle

"It's merely a scratch, woman," Rider roughly pulls his arm away. "You fear too much. It is not the Master's job to protect the Servant!"

The remark is cold and angry. He doesn't mean it to be. But he should have been faster. She shouldn't have been at risk in the first place. Rider hates this feeling; as if he's failed her. As if he could have done better.

"Assassin is dead, one less Servant to be concerned with," He grumbles, looking over the wound and evaluating it for poison. So far, so good.

She falls silent, sullen even. It was one thing to be angry with herself but when Rider gives her the cold treatment, things tend to hurt a little more than usual, But then she frowns some. Honestly, who does he think he is?!

"Excuse you! This woman is allowed to fear all she wants! Infact I think I fear the right amount!" You can never fear enough. "And another thing! I don't know what emotional constipation you're going through right now, Moron but get over it! I'm fed up of seeing you like this Rider! I haven't known you long but this-!

...This isn't you. It's okay to be afraid. But usually you're not...I mean that's not to say no one can't ever be afraid but you're not the kind of guy who is."

That's right Rider, your master is scolding you.

"If it means having to use a command seal to bring you back I will... I just...we....we can't win the grail like this if we aren't honest with each other."

Her reply almost startles him, which he shouldn't. He should really know her better by now. Rider tenses when she yells at him, but his expression turns stern when she speaks of fear.

He doesn't appreciate the scolding.

"Listen to me now. The path of fear is not the way of the conqueror. Fear has no place in my heart, nor should it be in yours. There is no enemy I cannot conquer, you know this!" It's as much a promise to himself as to her. "Use your command seals if you must. I cannot stop you. But you said it yourself - without honesty, we will not win the Grail. I've always been honest; your utilization of the command seals is not something you're willing to do, is it?"

He knows that much well enough.

"No." She replies softly as she brings her hand up to look upon her seals. "I could never force you to do something against your will...As much as I want to win and knowing that the only way to do that is to use whatever force necessary the seals...they're not something I agree with."

She lowers her hand and sighs.

"You keep telling me I shouldn't be afraid but I am... not just for what's ahead of us but for you. I'm scared that when the time comes I'll wind up losing just about the greatest friend I've ever had and it'll be all my fault because I wasn't up to this.

I'm not cut out to be anyone's master, Rider let alone yours...If you want to part ways now before I'm in far too much over my head then I'll gladly give up my seals for you. Just so you can reach your goal...At least you have a dream."

He listens, very carefully he listens to her as she expresses everything he believes she truly feels in her heart. And after a long moment he turns towards her and stands right in front of her, looking down with a grave expression for a long moment. Until finally he moves...

Finally he reaches down, grabbing her chin in one palm and gripping just enough to hold her in place. To keep her from moving as he leans down, way down, and presses his lips tight against hers.

Rider holds the kiss for a long moment, then he pulls away slowly, his expression still stern.

"No," that's all he says, shaking his head before continuing. "You are my Master, I would have it no other way. You have a dream, if you would but let yourself give in to freedom and feel free to pursue it."

That's all he says before moving on, stepping away to retrieve his sword and leave the battlefield.

The kiss takes her by surprise, She's not sure if she should fight or just go with it. But during the moment of Rider's kiss all she can hear is the sound of her own beating heart, it's slow and calming much like waves slowly crashing upon rocks.

It sounds like the ocean...?

When Rider pulls away she just stares up at her servant wide-eyed. Much like a deer caught in headlight, her cheeks tinted a faint pink. Her first kiss was stole by a man...no, so much more than that. A king.

When Rider walks away to retrieve his sword, Saft moves back on over towards Bucephulous, taking his reins and lost in her own thoughts as she gently pets Rider's trusted steed.

Could it be.... Could Rider really be a part of my dream?

Rider heard his own heart in his eardrums during that kiss. Waves crashing on the shore...Oceanus. Just as before, just as he'd desired. Just as he'd dreamed so long ago.

His dream hadn't changed, it seemed.

He wipes his sword on the grass to clean it of Assassin's blood. Then he returns to Bucephalus and smirks as she just stands there so idly. "If that's all it takes to silence you, perhaps I should do it more often."

He's teasing, there's a laugh in his tone. But in truth, he's just as shaken by the act as she. He can still taste her on his lips, which he can't help but lick. Then he gets up and into the saddle, reaching down to offer her his hand. "Are you coming? Or would you prefer to stay here?"

Saft blinks as Rider speaks to her and offers his hand down for hers. She's still unsure how she react to something like that, She's not the type to swoon and throw herself at someone but at the same time she doesn't think it's appropriate to snap at her servant and scold him even further for his actions even though that's normally the route she would follow.

"N-No, I'm coming."

Saft takes Rider's hand and pulls herself up onto the huge black steed taking a deep sigh once she's sat on her usual spot on Bucephalus' saddle and then brushes one of her bangs behind her ears, a habit she often fell into when she was slightly nervous around someone.

"Hn..."

His annoyance and anger are completely gone now. Rider is far too amused with her reaction and how she stammers when she speaks to him. He can't help his boasting now and the pride that surges through him. As she settles into the saddle, he wraps an arm around her and leans down to whisper a tease to her.

"Congratulations, not all have earned a kiss from the King of Conquerors and remained standing, as you have," he burst out laughing, kicking Bucephalus in the sides for him to ride forward, out of the forest.

He had been teasing her?!

She had gotten herself all flustered over her first kiss all for nothing?! Well now that just makes her blush all that much harder and she takes a little offence over that.

"You J-jerk!" She snaps at him. "You're not supposed to do things like that! I didn't give you any kind of consent to be so... so casual with me! I might have been saving that for someone else for all you know!"

Edited 2016-05-11 16:52 (UTC)

His words had been the tease - but his kiss had been genuine. Rider's never been a good communicator; so when she reacts that way, he furrows his brow and tilts his head.

"You were promised to another? Ah...but no, few are 'promised' to each other anymore...perhaps you have a lover I am not aware of?" He listed possible explanations for her anger. "But it hardly matters, does it? None can compare with the King of Conquerors!!"

Iskandar glanced down and saw the expression on her face. "...you are angry? What for?" He was truly confused. Emotions were clearly not his strong suit.

"It's nothing like that...I just-"

She sighs and looks away again, She can't be falling for her servant, surely? It's embarrassing to be talking about something so personal to someone who barely knows how she feels about matters of the heart.

"You're right. Things are different now than what they must have been like before for you. I guess back in your time women or girls like me didn't get a say in who they wound up with but now it's different. You have to take time to know someone before they exchange anything like a kiss or even something more. They date or at least take time to know something about the other person.

So you kissing me right now...I'm not sure how I feel about that."

Iskandar sat up and nodded slowly. He understood now! ...or at least he thought he did - which was the same thing, at least in his mind.

"Ah, you feel as though I have invaded your privacy," he nodded slowly, bringing a hand up to stroke his beard. "But if I may point out to you - those lines are blurred for us. We are Servant and Master, you and I; just in case you've forgotten. We should not have such concepts of privacy and there should be no secrets between us. It would be poison for our partnership, and it would eventually lead to our undoing.

"Additionally, again in case you've forgotten, I am ISKANDAR! KING OF CONQUERORS! Boundaries mean little to me as a rule. Another word for 'conqueror' is indeed 'invader'. It is in my nature to move forward, never retreat. Regardless of whether I am on the battlefield or in matters of emotions. I will not retreat in either case.

"FURTHERMORE, if I may offer my opinion," ...which he was going to do anyway, regardless of whether or not it was necessarily wanted... "People of your time are too guarded. You shy away from emotions and matters of the heart out of fear. I SAY UNTO ALL OF THIS TIME PERIOD! DO NOT FEAR YOUR EMOTIONS, FOR THEY ARE WHAT FUELS YOU, WHAT MAKES YOU STRONG!! BE NOT A SLAVE TO YOUR FEAR!"

The gospel according to Iskandar, King of Conquerors.

"That kind of thing might be easy for you, but for me? Not so much." She smirks a little to herself, She herself had said earlier that they both needed to be more open with each other and she's actually really glad for once. This is the first time in days Rider's actually lightened up and if she managed to do that all by herself who knows what else she's able to do?

"Listen. I'll tell you what..." She starts. "I'm still not really sure what I want out of any of this. But it seems you do. So I'm prepared to make a deal with you, King of Conquerors. If you're prepared to negotiate on my terms of course."

Edited 2016-05-11 17:37 (UTC)

"It is difficult only because you make it so. If you put your mind to it, especially your stubborn mind, you will accomplish anything."

He tugs the reins and stops Bucephalus at that last remark.

"CONQUERORS DO NOT NEGOTIATE!" That's his proclamation. But he relaxes after a moment and looks down to her. "That being said, I will hear you all the same. Perhaps your terms coincide with my own."

"I'll think about it... about us. If you take the time to get to know me, My interests, hobbies... things I enjoy. You know, like a date I guess."

That is to say she's still not certain on how or what she feels for Rider at the moment. I mean there was that other master they had met at the ball a little while ago. He seemed nice. Dorky as heck and Saft seemed more interested in becoming friends with someone like him though he like Rider had seemed quite taken with her. It's all just a matter of who wins her over first.

"I'll give you my answer when I know for sure what my heart wants."

"You think I have not already observed those things and taken them into observation?" Rider smirked. "But very well, no harm in learning more about my Maser, regardless of the motivation."

If he knew she was thinking about the other Master they had met, he would have been furious and gone off on a murder mission after him. The great King of Conquerors would not be second fiddle to some weak mortal, Master or not. He intended to make his intentions clear, and prove his affections to her.

How could she deem the King of Conquerors unworthy?

"Keep me waiting too long and it may be too late. You must understand, my dear, the need for haste in our situation. I am only here a short time, after all." Unless he gets his wish. Unless he is reincarnated in the mortal world to reclaim his true goal.

Luckily for Rider, Saft has no intention of giving herself to anyone just like that. Besides, That other master? Yeah, Saft only likes him as a friend and nothing more. Though it's quite sweet how he keeps trying. The feelings she has towards Rider are much different though she's not entirely sure on how she should act on them. That's why for now she keeps putting up walls between them on the subject. Just incase it's doomed to failure.

"I know, Rider." She smiles gently. "I'll try not to keep you waiting for too long. As soon as I know what it is I want you'll be the first to know, I guarantee it."

He's not sure how it could work. He's only a Heroic Spirit, after all. No longer is he a man of flesh and blood, he wouldn't know how to protect her beyond the parameters of the Holy Grail War. But if his wish came true, if he was able to be reincarnated as a human man once again...

...perhaps...

It's the one time he remains silent; the one time he doesn't want to have the last word. Rider is content to turn the horse and ride back to her home to rest after such a grueling evening.

Once the two have returned home, Saft leads the way to her room and flops face first on her bed, her servant following from behind.

"Urrrghhh..." She groans a little into her pillow, Tonight's battle has finally taken it's toll on her and she has a few pains and aches here and there all over her body. Saft's just happy to be in the comfort of her own home. If she felt particularly needy she would have run herself a bath or a shower, but with Rider around she didn't feel exactly comfortable exposing her naked self in front of him.

Saft may not have felt comfortable undressing in front of Rider, but he had no such hesitation. Once they were safely inside and his horse was dismissed and returned into his mana, Iskandar unclipped his leather armor and before too long he was naked as the day he was born and not shyly standing before her bed.

Not that he was intending to take advantage, no. That was indeed the farthest thing from his mind. A bath sounded good to him in turn after such a rough evening, and he wasn't about to let shyness get in the way of him getting what he wanted.

"AH! ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF CONQUEST FOR ISKANDAR, KING OF CONQUERORS!" He proclaims loudly, as though his normal speaking volume isn't loud enough. "Such an exerting day calls for a bath with scented oils and wine! Shall you join me, lady?"

'Girl' just doesn't seem to suit her...though far from a frail and delicate lady, she is still a fair and feisty lady all the same.

And it was a common thing in his time for baths to be enjoyed after battle. He sees nothing at all inappropriate with his suggestion, even considering the conversation they'd only just had and the kiss they'd just shared. Still, he may be tightening his muscles and flexing...just a little...maybe.

That other Master's got nothing on him in the muscle department.

Saft had just began to doze off with a flutter of her eye when he had noticed something rather large and well...very naked stand in front of her. With a slight shriek she bolts up in bed quickly grabbing her bedsheets and bringing them up over her eyes.

"RIDER!" She manages to stammer out before turning a bright shade of pink. "What are you-...!? No! I--!

Put some pants on or at least cover up or something! You can't just wander about like that! What if Uncle Glad sees you!?"

Her reaction makes him blink, surely she finds nothing wrong with being naked, does she? He looks down, wondering if something about his appearance has offended her - but let's be serious that simply can't be!

"Have you never seen a naked man before? I apologize for startling you!" Rider grins. "And be not afraid, it's not every man that's as...large as the King of Conquerors."

...yes, he has chosen now to brag about how well-endowed he is. You can't be as tall as Iskandar without everything else being in proportion. "There is nothing wrong with the naked body! In my time it was flaunted! I'll never understand what your time finds shameful about nudity!"

But that's the problem there, Rider. We're not in your time. People of this day and age like to cover up more at least a vast maority do. Sadly for him Saft is one of those many people and having a large naked man in her room is only making her turn all that much pinker.

...But that said-

Rider does make a valid point. What was it she was saying earlier about wanting to understand him better? Rider had made it a point to take in all of this time's wonderful new cultural experiences but not once has Saft actually made an attempt to do the same for him. She had been focusing all her energy and mana in preparing herself for the war for the grail, she had barely relaxed around him at all. Perhaps now would be a good time to do so?

"Just go run your bath already! I- I'll come and join you in a moment...

She utters those last few words under her breath. She's definitley thinking about leaving her comfort zone to spend time with Rider like this...it's just seeing him naked like that. Is she really prepared to let go of her inhibitions and be as bold as the King of conquerors?

"What's that saying again....When in Rome?"

Rider can plainly see and understand that the people of this time have issues dealing with the sight of the naked form. But that doesn't mean that he necessarily agrees with it. To his mind, everyone is naked, clothes are simply a mask, hiding them from the world.

He's never been one to hide.

When she whispers how she agrees, Rider grins. Oh, but she's not about to get off that easily. He puts a hand to his ear and leans in closer. "What was that? How can you expect me to hear you and heed your commands if you mumble, Saft?"

Rider stands straight and crosses his arms before his massive chest. No, he's not about to hide his body or any appendages from her view. This is indeed a bragging point for him.

"When in Rome, indeed. I'll see you shortly then." Off he goes, to the bathroom and he begins to draw a bath - for which she should feel honored, because a King never draws a bath...

Not for just anyone. Not for anyone other than his Queen...

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[Puts on Fate/Zero OST whilst she writes this tag orz...Because EMOTIONS]

YUUUP - "The Legend" is absolutely playing in my brain over this...

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CONQUERORS DON'T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS - I'm SO sorry that line just made me bust out laughing

Pfffttahaha, yes XD

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....I had to, I'm so sorry........

...I EXPECT NO LESS FROM HIM. XD

AND IT CONTINUES.

RIDER. NO. STAAAAP.

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