randomosity | [For Saft] On the Eve of Battle

[For Saft] On the Eve of Battle

He had sensed Archer and his master here. Against his wishes they were hiding in the foliage of the forest, waiting for a sign of movement in the dark. This just wasn't his style, and it showed in how he fidgeted.

If Rider had his way, he would be leading the charge into the trees and barreling through everything until he found Archer and broke him. Literally broke him.

...but that's not what Saft wanted. So he knelt beneath the taller trees, fidgeting in discomfort. Desperately his eyes searched for a sign of movement.

"...anything yet?" Rider asked, almost whining. He was whispering, as best he could anyway - it was a normal speaking level for anyone else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Now you understand, Rider...this is just a bath." She swallows and takes his hand, finding it hard to meet his gaze whilst she's exposed like this. Though the water covering his assetts is certainly helping. She doesn't doubt for a moment that he's possibly erect upon the sight of her like this...that was men did, wasn't it?

"...Nothing more is to come of this. I mean...we're still fighting a war afterall."

If Rider examines her a little more closely she'll notice one detail she's never shown to him before or pretty much anyone. There's a long scar trailing across her neck line, It's been hidden all this time due to that choker she normally wears.

He's at half mast, seeing her exposed in such a new manner for him. But so out of her element, so obviously uncomfortable - she lacks her usual confidence that would likely have him raging hard beneath the water. But he is certainly not any typical man - turned on only by nudity and not the woman's spirit within the body.

"If you absolutely wish it so - but I'm not convinced that's what you want. Truly. I think you deny yourself far more than you should."

He helps her settle into the water, and that's when he notices the scar. His amber eyes harden as he grips her shoulder gently with one hand and pushes her hair away with the other. "...what happened." It's a true question, but more he wants to know the who. Who did it to her, who hurt her so, who did he have to go after for his vengeance?

"No. I said I would, remember...?" She gives off a reassuring smile to show him that despite how uncomfortable this is making her she'll be fine. She's already had to wear a dress for that imprompto ball one of the other masters had thrown it's not like he has't seen her out of her comfort zone before. "Besides, I don't know about you...but I could really use a bath."

But then Rider grips her a little tighter, her eyes widen some but then she realizes his concern for her The scar is exposed now, there's no hiding it now she's alone with him like this.

"It happened when I was just a kid. My Father...well, when mom died it was just the two of us for a while and I guess for some reason I was able to move on but my father... he never did. He took his magecraft a little too seriously and when he had reached his limits on one field he'd try with another." She leans back and sighs some, staring up at the ceiling.
"I guess at some point...Dad must have truly lost it because he decided that I'd be the perfect vessel to experiment with. It's weird... I don't remember too much of what happened or what he was really even trying to do.

Eventually Uncle Glad turned up and took me away...eventually, I think dad died from grief from losing my mom and then me...but-" She rubs at her neck some. "Some things...just stay with you. I don't think he loved me the same way he loved my mother so me being around reminded him way too much of her. I suppose at some point he'd grow so angry that he'd wind up hurting someone."

Well that came out easier then she thought it would. Maybe because Rider's really easy to speak to and in a sense he has that weird fatherly aura to him. Rider's someone she could trust with matters such as these. Not even any of her friends knew the real reason she actually lived with her uncle, How could they? It meant she had to bring up her secret life as a mage.

"...So now you know. Heh." She gives a cocky little grin to show she's actually fine. Yes the past can hurt, but she's done her best to put it all behind her and move onward and having Rider around has really helped her become more trusting towards others, It's been really nice having a friend she can be open with and do things like this.

"Okay, now you." she learns forward, somehow feeling a little more comfortable now she's let him in. "Tell me something about you, you haven't told me yet! And none of the stuff that's already covered in the history books...I need to know the real King of Conquerors."

He's a little hurt that this is his first time hearing of this. That it's his first time noticing. True enough she's kept it covered up, but he should know these things! And at the same time...why should he know these things? It doesn't have much to do with him...not really. It's none of his business, and there are things about his past that she doesn't know, surely.

But that hurts him. He wants to know more about her. He wants to know everything. He wants to protect her from whatever ghosts and demons of her past may try and rear their ugly heads in the future - let them try, he'll cut them down with all the fury of Ares.

Silently he listens, probably far quieter than he's ever been before. But he's focused. Taking in every detail. When she finishes speaking he brings his hand from her shoulder to her slender neck, running his thumb along the scar, gently and carefully. "Does it hurt?"

Then she makes the request of him, and it's only fair. She shared her secrets, she should know about him as well. Besides, the way she grins and shrugs it off makes him smile, he admires her for that; her strength. Whether she wants to acknowledge it or not, she has the strength of a conqueror.

"So much of my history is already in the books, though this notion that my height is not what it is, it's ridiculous," he chuckled. "Hmm..."

He thought long and hard. His expression turned somber. "The books will tell you that my mother was a loving woman and cared deeply for me. It isn't necessarily true. She conspired to kill my father, Philip II, because she wanted to see me King." Iskandar looked up to Saft's eyes, obvious pain in his amber eyes. "I would have been king, regardless of whatever child my father conceived with some whore. My mother went too far; she robbed me of a father, rushed me into the kingship and made people suspect me."

His fingers tease at the water for a long moment. Creating ripples and watching them fade into nonexistence. "The men who killed me, I'm sure they thought I was involved with my father's murder..." He glanced up to her again. "The books will tell you I contracted typhoid fever. I tell you now, I was poisoned with it intentionally. My closest friends and generals, they murdered me."

[For the first time ever, Saft doesn't even flinch at Rider's touch. This moment between them - there's no need to. She's safe with him like this, Saft shakes her head. "I used to make a habit out of scratching it when I was anxious so that's why I've hid it from everyone..." She tilts her head some. "Guess I've always been like that though... any sign of weakness, I've had to hide away, to keep pushing myself forward and stand up for other people who weren't able to do the same for themselves."

Then came Rider's words, She had out of sheer curiosity scrolled through her uncle's history books at one point because she knew so little about her servant and wanted to know more about him...She rememebered reading a little about his mother too but there hadn't been such great detail about Olympias in it...just mostly all Iskandar and his heroic tales of conquest.
She had never imagined that her servant would have had such a rough time of things as she had when he came across so confident and happy about everything.

"...But what about your Noble Phantasm? Isn't that made from your army?" She glances over her shoulder to look upwards at him. "If they all lost faith in you over some dumb lie your mother told then how are you able to conjure something like that?"

Rider smiles, proud indeed of his Noble Phantasm. A remnant of the good days, when the men would have followed him headlong into hell and back again. Slowly he nods his head and finds his fingers take solace in pushing through her hair, however short it may be.

"Indeed, my Noble Phantasm reflects my army and its incredible strength," he confirmed. "My army in its prime. Do not misunderstand - they did not suspect my involvement with my father's murder because my mother told them I was involved. Quite the opposite; she never said a word about it. My mother would do anything to protect me, to keep me alive and under her thumb."

The next part is more difficult for him to admit. Rider has to take a heavy sigh before looking to her eyes, getting lost in them for the briefest of moments. He's been in such greenery before, hasn't he? He's held such green emeralds in his palm before, hasn't he? Yet this is the clearest, most serene shade of green that he's ever seen.

"...understand, I am dead set on ruling the world," he spoke low. "I pushed them, perhaps too far. I took them farther than any army had gone, but gave them no chance to visit home in between. Many wanted to return to Macedonia. Many of my soldiers wanted out of the army, wanted to turn their back on me..."

All because they did not share his vision, his conquering spirit. He'd gotten greedy, and they weren't willing to pay the price.

Saft lets out a brief sigh over his words. It's not that she doesn't support his vision. It's good for someone to have dreams to aspire to but maybe back in his own time something like conquering the world wouldn't be as frowned upon but she knows trying to do something like that now would be far harder for him. Perhaps though maybe seeing all the world has to offer would suffice. There had to be another way of making his wish come true without causing damage along the way.

"Rider..."

Saft brings up a hand and gently brings it up to his cheek, this is perhaps the first time she's shown any physical affection towards her servant. She wants him to know he has her support.

"When I first summoned you here, I thought it had to be some kind of mistake... There couldn't have been anyway that I would have been able to summon a servant like you. Now I see the opposite is true." She smiles softly. "...We need to rely on each other now more than ever. You were right... this bath was what we both needed to get to know each other better and now I feel I do, I'm glad I went ahead with it." She smiles again brings her hand away turning around positioning herself so she's sat on his lap with her back turned to him.

"...Just as you're my servant and I expect you to do what I ask of you, I want you to know that I want you to be able to ask the same of me...it's clear now. We're equals... no one's greater than the other and that's what our strength is. We're stronger together than apart. "

She leans back as far into him as she possibly can and smiles up at him. "...I want to be a part of it. If having me around can give you that extra boost in the final battle then I want to see it out with you to the very end."

Iskandar nearly sighs, feeling her hand over his cheek. He rather likes this show of affection from her, and already feels himself craving more. The way she settles into his lap makes him inhale deep, trying to keep himself under control. This is not the conqueror way: Showing restraint. She truly should see how much she means to him in that he does not give into his baser desires.

But she's a fine lady, and if she does choose to join him beyond the bond of servant and master, he would have her do it of her own will, not simply by submitting to him.

"As am I," he sighs softly, smiling down to her and bringing a hand up to run down her back. He smirks at her mention of them being equals. He, the King of Conquerors, and she his intended queen. Come hell or high water, he's determined to make it happen.

He nuzzles near her, taking in the scent of her hair, enjoying the feel of her skin and the pressure of her body against his. Iskandar enjoys this for a moment before finally replying. "Having you as my master does more than give me a boost. You spur me forward, you're the reason Bucephalus rides so fast, the reason my sword is so sharp and so strong.

"I want you there. With me always." He leaves the sentiment open to her imagination.

It's only now that Saft realises that she possibly wants the same thing, Once the war ends and if she and Rider lose they'll be separated again, Rider will be forced to fight over and over again in the grail wars to come soon after until he and his master eventually win and who knows how long that could take or if he'd even seek her out or even remember her.

She says nothing more on the matter because it's still something she needs to think long and hard about. What was the reason she joined the war in the first place before Rider was even a factor...was it nearly as important as putting someone else's wishes before hers?

Upon his words she lets out a relaxed sigh and closes her eyes. She was about to reply but it seems her tiredness from before has finally caught up with her, even though Iskandar's supporting her body...falling asleep in the tub probably isn't the best place to take slumber, So it'll be up to him to move her to her bed when he decides to move.

An eternity of battle would not be so bad to Iskandar. Hell, it was all he longed for in life. But eternity without Saft? Suddenly the idea torments him. He doesn't want to think of a time when they'll be separated. He's determined that such a thing will not happen.

He will win this Grail War. For his own ambitions of reincarnation; and for her.

It takes Rider a minute to realize she's fallen asleep. He smiles and shakes his head. But he rises with ease and steps out of the tub, taking a minute to wrap a towel around her to dry her off some. He's not so worried about himself - not like he can get sick anyway. Rider carries her to bed and sets her down once he's sure she's dry. For a long while he just stares at her, mesmerized by the way her hair falls around her face and against the pillows, by every curve of her face in her jaw and nose and lips.

"You have my heart, dear lady," he sighs, mostly to himself, knowing she's asleep.

He shakes his head, wondering how he let this happen again. Rider pulls on a pair of boxers, lays down on the ground and is soon snoring.

"That sound...is that-?"

Saft blinks herself awake, no longer is she in the warmth with Iskandar but she finds herself lost, there's a low fog and something keeps hitting her feet. "The ocean?"

As she spins round she notes there are many a fallen soldier around of herself, the remains of what seemed to be a battleground, the soldiers seem to be wearing similar garments to what Rider himself wears.

"Are these...his memories?"

She spins around again upon hearing a familiar voice. It's Rider's. Her eyes widen as she rushes over towards where she thinks she heard him.

"Rider!"

As she approaches closer the scene has changed, she's now on a bridge - standing before a man adorned in gold, He stands before Saft but suddenly from behind him a huge wall of swords appear.

"...!?"

She hears Rider's voice again and turns, before she knows it Rider is on his knees, he's hurt, dying and now fading away right before her eyes and someone else is watching the fight too. A Boy not much older than herself...Waver Velvet.

"If these are Rider's memories this must have been the last Holy Grail War...and that must have been Rider's master." she confirms to herself. Saft's not entirely sure why she's seeing these things but they're there in front of her.

But then the scene around her changes again. Now this war's current Caster stands before her, extending a hand towards her...It's as if she wants Saft to come towards her Saft is unsure what to do but before she even takes another step she looks down at her hands...

"Blood? But--!?"

Saft gazes down and sees the ocean again but it's now blood red, hitting her feet. Saft looks back up again but Caster has now left instead in front of her is a large snake ready to strike...

And as it does...Saft bolts herself awake, She's awoke with a cold sweat, placing a hand to her head getting rid of it. She glances over to the ground where Rider lays and sighs softly to herself. Thank goodness it was only a dream but it fills her with dread.

Rider did not sleep as soundly as usual. So attuned was he to her feelings and stressors, that when the nightmare distressed her so, his own dreams were plagued. He rolled over in his sleep, images flashing through his mind.

He saw Olympias, her eyes full of disappointment.

He saw Roxana, her face full of judgment and pain.

He saw Hephaistion, and how the light left his eyes and the soul escaped his body.

Worst of all, he saw Saft, her face spattered in blood - blood that covered his hands. As though he were responsible for her suffering and pain. He shook, in the dream, shocked and appalled by the sight before him. What had he done? How could he have done this?

When she woke, he woke. But he didn't sit upright, not right away. He struggled to open his eyelids, fearful of what he might see.

Saft sits up and faces her window as if she knows where she needs to head out now, though she doesn't want to disturb Rider nor does she want him to accompany her even if he insists upon doing so. She knows how protective he is of her and if he knew what thoughts she had been conjuring up in her head about possibly going to speak to Caster on her own, then he'd definitely want to be there besides her or even attempt to talk her out of such a suicidal idea.

However the grail doesn't take nap breaks and nor will the remaining servants. She needs to be up, dressed and prepared to face the coming storm. There's no need to disturb Rider just yet.

He hears her stirring, and something in him tells her he needs to get up. That he needs to keep her here - but...where would she be planning on going? At this hour of night.

Still Rider stays lying on the floor. He doesn't move, doesn't make a peep. He hears her moving about the room and getting dressed, but what for?

Rider has a sinking feeling in his stomach.

She hates this, she hates how she's planning on sneaking out like this behind Rider's back. But if she can get Caster on her own without Rider even needing to be involved when perhaps there's a chance of happiness without even needing to finish fighting for the grail. It's a fool's errand she knows that, but she still wants to try.

She'll still need help though...Luckily she already has made an ally in one of the other masters. Saber's to be precise and even though he seems to be something of a goofball who doesn't realise how serious this whole thing is he seems to be doing pretty well for himself in the grail war somehow. If she and he take on Caster together without Rider's help then they'll only have to take on each other.

In defense of Saber's Master, until the unthinkable happens, every Master in the Grail War thinks themselves safe. That nothing can hurt them and the Grail War is a simple game with ultimate glory for the winner.

Rider made it a point to disillusion that for Saft. He didn't want her thinking such foolishness. She was smarter than that, better than that.

Even though it kills him, listening to her go without knowing where or what she's planning; and how she doesn't see fit to share it with him, he remains silent. Until the door closes behind her and he counts to ten, Rider stands slowly and follows after her. To avoid suspicion - his body is not one built for stealth like Assassin's - he sheds his physical form and follows carefully after her in spirit form; invisible to the naked eye, and far enough away to avoid tipping her off that she's being followed by her Servant.

Waiting to save her at the last minute from some manner of danger or risk.

The threesome arrive outside of the mansion they had one met up before. It was where the ball was held when all the servants and masters had actually all been introduced to each other and yet Caster had managed to keep her guise a secret back then for a short period.

-"So we going in then?"

"We wouldn't have come here if we weren't."

-"Whoaaaa, you're serious?! I thought when you came over outta the blue like that we were gonna go hang out or something!"

"Idiot. What kind of arcade opens up in the middle of the night? ...I'm heading in. You and Saber stay out here. Caster will be expecting a group of us... It's probably better if I go in alone."

-"Saft are you really okay with this!? I mean...what if- And...And...I just really care about you okay?! Everyone in my family's been counting on me to win the Holy Grail but the truth is...I don't wanna lose to just anyone! You better come out there in one piece! Kick Caster's butt so you and me can fight this out to the end!"

Daisuke's outburst kind of takes Saft by surprise and she blinks as he carries on. "Then maybe when this whole stupid thing's over...you and me. We'll go on a date okay?!"

Once again Saft blinks and then finally sighs with a little bit of a shrug. "...You really are a weird guy. But that's okay...I'm starting to like weird." She places a hand on his shoulder and smiles. "Okay then...it's a date." Finally turning her back on the hyperactive young man she takes a deep breath. She's not sure if Caster is actually waiting inside for her or Rider but she needs to have this meeting with Iskandar's mother. She's terrified of course but she's putting on her bravest face as per usual despite of all the fear swelling deep insode of her stomach.

Saft takes a step through the door, She's fairly certain Caster won't mind if she doesn't announce herself. Besides she probably heard Daisuke's outburst already. She takes another deep breath and moves onwards...she's hoping Caster will give herelf away.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For Saft] On the Eve of Battle

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I apologise for the lack of sense this is gonna make.

LOL it made sense!! I got it!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

RANDOMLY PICKS A NAME OUT OF THE AIR.