Eins

[erbe]

For the elements, silver and iron. For the foundation, stone and the Archduke of Pacts. And for the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. Close the gates of the four directions. Come forth from the Crown and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times. When each is filled, destroy it. Set.

Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world. Thou Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!

[This is a master (haha) post for Fate/PSLs! If you need anything specific tailored to your character (like a starter that doesn't start with the summoning like the above) let me know! We'll work something out over PM or Plurk.]

Comments

[erbe]

Eager to show off for me?

[She can't hang around the house forever. Rin could make lunch for herself later since she was up so early, but... No, Saber would only insist on eating it. Even if it's early she'll get ready for school and head over. Sticking round the house is only irritating her Saber further.

Reaching over the back of the couch Rin ruffles Mordred's hair before walking away to get everything ready to head out.]

[bloodings]

Yes! I mean, no!

A Servant's only use is fighting, so sitting around really pisses me off!

[ Grumble, grumble. She doesn't care what you think, Rin. ]

[erbe]

Aren't you coming with me to school? Or have you decided you're too good for cafeteria food?

[She's well aware Mordred has no idea what cafeteria food is like in Japan, but Rin cannot help but tease her after all that yelling. Mordred... can be a little charming. Sometimes.

Rin begins slipping on her shoes and deep red overcoat.]

[erbe]

[The battle started out rough, but that's only because they both insisted on trying to move the fight away from the bustling heart of the city into the desolate park where the Civic Center used to be. It was tough for them to regain the ground they lost while retreating to the park, but in the end they prevailed. The enemy Servant bested, and the Master hidden away in shadows to easily retreat, they get to head home knowing they're both one step closer to the Grail.

Because of the battle's rocky start Rin has to be carried, and both of them show scrapes and bruises. Scuffed up, battered, but not broken. In fact the moment they step into the safety of the Tohsaka mansion Rin begins to laugh. Mordred will feel her whole body sigh in relief.]

We did it! Sure we didn't see who the Master was, but that's fine. One less Servant to worry about.

[bloodings]

[ Once the fight started, Mordred's entire mood changed. Far from an honourable, knightly confrontation, she'd taunted and insulted the other Servant even in death, even as her sword ran them through. They were beneath her, after all. The fact she had to use her Noble Phantasm against such a weakling was insulting enough — she could have won without it, given time, but the noise would have eventually attracted company. Better the damage to the park than civilians happening upon them.

She's annoyed about the Master getting away, but not enough to dampen her mood. When Rin laughs, Mordred does too, coming to a halt inside with her Master in her arms. ]

Now you should understand how strong I am, Master. [ She's grinning, but her tone is a little more serious. ] This is the power that overthrew my father. There's no way a Servant would be a match for it.

[ After a deliberate pause: ] ... Well, I guess you helped a little, too. You're not bad for a mage.

[erbe]

[The first couple comments from Mordred don't sit too well with Tohsaka. It makes her remember how nasty her servant could get. Proposing to Guinevere as a joke, hollering at the king, and doing all manner of low-blows to try and get her father's attention — But even so Rin isn't sure how to address it. So she waits, and sure enough Mordred cannot keep her mouth shut, and thankfully says something else worth focusing on.]

You think? You were the one who answered my call, after all! But I suppose it'll be a few more rounds before you can "trust me," right?

[Closely she watches her Servant's face. Mordred can be incredibly expressive, so sometimes the easiest way to know what is on her mind is to read her face. Though looking up at her means that messy hair, tousled from the battle, catches Rin's attention. The perfectionist in Tohsaka compels her to reach up, and begin to delicately put those locks back in place.]

[bloodings]

Tch. Maybe I took pity on the idiot trying to summon without a catalyst.

[ Implying Mordred would have known that... she's still grinning, though, so she's not serious. Until Rin teaches up to touch her hair, and then the grin fades into confusion. ]

What the hell are you doing? I'm not injured. [ She can't help blushing. Nobody except her mother has touched her face, and only to admire her own handiwork. So of course she covers it up with aggression. ] Don't touch me unless you want to get hit.

[erbe]

I was just fixing your hair. It got a little out of place.

[With a huff she rests herself against Mordred's chest and shoulder.]

Set me down on the sofa, and I'll take care of us.

[bloodings]

[ Mordred sets her down — not roughly, but probably not as gently as Rin would like. But that's just how she is.

And, in an exchange for a moment ago, she ruffles Rin's hair with her hand. You know, the complete opposite of what Rin was doing for her. ]

Just worry about yourself, Master. You got pretty beat up back there.

[erbe]

[Oof! She has to catch her breath a little after being so manhandled! Okay, no. Rin can take it, but her expression reads that she's definitely not impressed for a handful of seconds. However that doesn't last long. When Mordred tousles Rin's hair she yelps, and reaches outward to try and stop it.]

H—hey... It's my responsibility to take care of those things for you, isn't it? I won't have my status as Master ignored.

[She has plenty of mana. Mordred might be voracious and a serious drain — especially with that Noble Phantasm — but the wounds on her and her servant aren't severe.]

[bloodings]

So it's a matter of pride, huh? [ Mordred laughs and pulls her hand back. ] Very well. I'll let you perform your duties as my Master.

[ She dematerializes the rest of her armour, and stretches out in front of the couch. The injuries she took have mostly healed, save for a few scratches still repairing themselves with mana. ]

For someone without a wish, you sure are determined. I guess you really do want to win this.

[erbe]

[Leaning forward, and obviously doing so to favor her injured ankle. Her arms reach out, and Tohsaka's fingertips lightly swipe the areas where Mordred's scratches still remain. The injuries are so small she can use a bit of wordless magic by just increasing the mana flow to those areas in particular. Once her Servant is as good as new she smiles again.]

And with you as my Servant we'll go far, but let's not jinx ourselves.

[bloodings]

Of course we will. We'll go right to the end!

[ What was that about not jinxing them... she holds up a fist in triumph. ]

It's a shame you live in this era, Master. It would be nice to have a magus who isn't just a troublemaker. [ Wait, that's too nice. ] Or maybe a court jester.

[erbe]

[Rin flicks one of those quickly healing scratches with her finger so it'll sting.]

A jester? Do you think so lowly of your Master, she who is currently healing your wounds?

[bloodings]

Oi! [ Don't be a big baby, Mordred. She smacks Rin's hand away from her. ] It would have healed on its own anyway. Don't give yourself too much credit.

[ IT WOULD HAVE HEALED WITH RIN'S MANA... this is lost on her. ]

Whatever. It's not like I'll have any time to think of you after I make my wish.

[erbe]

[Hmph!! So that's how she's going to be! Rin pulls away from Mordred to instead focus on her own swollen and tender ankle. Though the fact that her Servant won't even think about her after this is over... It makes sense. It does, really. A logical conclusion she cannot argue with.

But it sounds a bit lonely, doesn't it?]

I suppose that seems right. We'll both move on, won't we?

[bloodings]

That's just how it is. Once we get the Holy Grail, we'll probably forget all about each other. Having a wish granted is too big a deal to think about anyone else afterward.

[ Idly, she runs her hand over the cut Rin scratched back open. It's healing again now, but that's not the point. Would she really forget so easily? Even her own words don't seem to ring true. ]

... At least for me. Well, maybe you'll go mad with power after you win, and forget all about the knight who got you there. [ She grins a little. ] But I don't think you're that kind of person. You're too good for that, Master. [ Rin isn't a murderer like her. ]

[erbe]

[Tohsaka tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. It doesn't do much because she has so much it's almost like a curtain when she leans like this. But it does give Mordred a clear look at her face as she smiles warmly.]

You really think so, Saber? That's quite a compliment from you.

[bloodings]

[ She blushes, because of course she does, and immediately glances away. ]

S... shut up! It wasn't a compliment. You're my Master, so it's important for me to understand your character. [ Nailed it. ] It doesn't matter even if you do forget. There's only one thing I care about, and it has nothing to do with this era.

[ The crown. Her father's acknowledgment. ]

[erbe]

As your Master I'll support you.

[With her ankle healed (the injury is all gone, but the tenderness and inflammation still lingers a little) Rin begins to stand. She's still favoring the one that was injured, but she can at least walk on her own now.]

Let's head to the kitchen. A victory deserves a meal.

[bloodings]

Of course it does. A meal, and then a rest, and then another meal!

[ She's talking like an idiot to (poorly) hide the fact that she's blushing. The idea of someone supporting her... it's strange. Any lords that followed her against her father did so for their own purposes — Rin doesn't even have a wish for the Grail beyond her own victory, so her support is even weirder.

Best not to think about it too much. Which, fortunately, is easy for Mordred. ]

You helped, so you should eat too. [ Thanks... for your permission, Mordred. ] Armies function better on a full stomach. Even if it's just the two of us, the same thing applies.

[erbe]

...Hah. You're very easy to win over. You know that?

[Tohsaka laughs breathlessly, and leads the way. She doesn't have much in the house at the moment because the Grail War takes priority over grocery shopping, but she's sure there's something she can find to eat. It might not be a luxurious or large meal, but it'll hold them over until later tonight when she feels up to hitting the food market.]

[bloodings]

No I'm not!

[ Is she just being contrary on purpose... yes. Always needing to be annoying (and feel taller), she pulls herself up onto the kitchen counter to sit. ]

And I don't need allies. But... I think even if you weren't my Master, I wouldn't mind working with you. I mean, I'm obviously superior, but you're not so bad. Even if you say stupid crap like "I'll support you."

[ Yeah, she's still stewing over that. Turns out not thinking about it didn't work. ]

[erbe]

Did you not like that, Saber? Because I think a king should at least have a court he trusts. If not isn't it a bit lonely to have a king who can't rely on anyone is?

[Rin checks the fridge, and finds dessert. Packaged cream puffs... she'll take those out as a post-meal tactic to shut Mordred up from not having enough meal in the first place. Tohsaka doesn't have the means of making a full lunch proper, but she can whip up some omelettes with vegetables. The eggs and said veggies are retrieved as she begins to prepare the food.]

you always make me hungry reeee

[bloodings]

[ Mordred shakes her head. ] My father had people he could rely on, but they didn't ease his loneliness at all. That's why I thought... no, it's nothing.

[ She kicks her heels back against the counter with a loud thud. Obviously it's still a loaded topic for her. ]

I rely on myself. That way, I can't be betrayed or disappointed. [ Like her father was. ] Humans are fickle creatures who only care about themselves. They'll cast away even a perfect king in an instant if it suits them. There's absolutely no way I can trust anyone who would do that.