Fate/Echo's Call

[empression]

[ She hadn't wanted this. She had disagreed with her father's plan, to participate in the Holy Grail war at all, but perhaps it hadn't been loud enough.

(Perhaps, Haru thinks, tiredly now, as though she didn't know that it had been nowhere near loud.)

But with mages hearing the stirrings of a powerful man ready to put Tokyo beneath his heel, she ought to have expected this. Instead, she had come home and found her father, face-down on the ivory shag carpet, body having long since grown cold. But the armor. The armor was still where he had hidden it, five sets of hidden drawers locked with a seal only a member of the Okumura family could undo.

She hadn't wanted this. But things couldn't stay as they were, and only a few days after his funeral, Haru had finished preparations. The circle, etched carefully and painstakingly on the floor with care given to each individual symbol. The armor, placed in the center.

... She can't shake the feeling that she is still her father's subservient puppet, but as she finishes chanting--

The room explodes in light and her hand burns as the lines of three Command Seals engrave themselves onto her skin.

Much to her embarrassment, she's tipped over backwards from the shock. ]

Comments

[paladorable]

Hopefully we can avoid it in combat but...

[ He gives a lame sort of half shrug. ] There's not much I can do about it, so... thank you. I'll be relying on you.

On the other side of that, the Echo allows me brief glimpses of the future sometimes as well.

[empression]

You did say it was a weakness and a strength... [ Haru lowers her hand, a pensive frown easing across her face. ]

So I think that as long as we're both as attentive as we can be, it's manageable enough.

[paladorable]

That I did.

[ It is almost natural, the way he brushes a thumb over the back of her hand without even thinking about it. ]

We both have a long way to go after this first encounter, but I believe in us.

[empression]

[ It may be natural, instinctive for him, but for the girl who's used to either a rough grip or a cold distance, the simple brush is enough to make her breath catch quietly. ]

M-maybe we could train together?

[paladorable]

I’d like that. No better way to learn what we’re both capable of, yeah?

[ Whether he seems to realize he’s caught her off guard or not, he still withdraws his hand form hers to gently prod at the still-healing skin over his bullet wound. ]

After a bit of rest first, I think.

[empression]

[ Haru gently nudges his hand aside to brush her fingers over the injury and push just a little more mana into it. ]

I know you can lose tangibility, but if you'd like a bed, there's an empty room. I meant to ask you sooner.

[paladorable]

[ He looks a little chagrined when she pushes his hand aside, but he knows better than to argue with his healer. ]

Ah... well, why not? It might be nice to get a regular night's sleep for a change.

[empression]

It's the first door to your left once you go upstairs.

[ Haru rises, dusting off her skirt. Clean-up first. ]

I'll see you in the morning, Arenvald.

training and more violence huzzah

[empression]

[ It's a warm day when Haru opens the windows and changes into something a little easier to move around in, leggings and an oversized shirt that her father had never known she'd owned. She'd also calmly carried down an axe from her balcony, just in case Arenvald wanted to see how she fared with an actual weapon. Her hair's been gathered into a cute little puff of a ponytail, and it's not long before she's glad for it, as she struggles to catch her breath and wipes her forehead with the back of one hand. ]

Um, that stance you showed me earlier... how far apart should my feet be again?

[ She's unpolished in combat, for certain, but there's still a certain grace to how she moves. A dancer's experience. ]

[paladorable]

[ Of all the things on this great, wide earth, he did not expect Haru to arrive in their designated training area with an axe. What a conversation that had been, as he asked just why she even had that thing lying around. It certainly brought to light the fact that his Master is far more fierce than he first thought her to be, but somehow he found the notion endearing at the same time.

He's far better with a sword – especially being a Saber and all – but he's known a few marauders in his time, the brand of fighters who chose axes as their main weapons. Sparred against a fair few as well. He could give her a few pointers, to the best of his ability. It's been interesting but not impossible, with her dancer's grace to carry her.

Much like Haru, he is dressed for the occasion, manifesting in a far more casual and loose-fitting outfit than his norm. ]

Ah. Do it again and I can adjust you if you're off.

[empression]

All right. Let's see, I know you slide one foot slightly back...

[ but more off to the side, she thinks, that sounds about right, and shifts her stance to settle into something a little steadier. It still feels slightly off, though, and Haru frowns thoughtfully. Does she need to widen her stance more? Less? ]

[paladorable]

[ He watches her go through the motions and she does admirably, but she's still not quite there. The questioning look on her face coaxes a smile from him, and he moves to stand behind her. ]

You're getting there, just a bit more like this.

[ He readjusts her feet first, giving them little nudges with the toe of his shoes. Next he curves his arms over her shoulders, hands resting upon her own to alter the way she holds her weapon. ]

How does that feel?

[empression]

[ Haru really does try her utmost to focus when Arenvald moves behind her, bless her, and to her credit, she manages (mostly). Following the nudges of his feet makes her smile as she obliges, but when his arms come up and over hers and his hands are so much larger when she glances down at them--

The smallest of squeaks emerges and her ears begin to turn pink, while Haru desperately attempts to keep her gaze forward. ]

It feels nice-- a-ah! I mean, right! And correct! Very natural!

[ Save her. ]

[paladorable]

[ That squeak startles him, and he's not entirely certain what to make of it at first. It's only when she stammers a bit that he realizes that perhaps he should have asked first before getting so close.

He's quick to withdraw, stepping back a full pace. ]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.

[empression]

N-no, that isn't--

[ Shoot, now she'd made him worry, and Haru lowers the axe, turning to face him with an earnestly apologetic look. ]

I wasn't uncomfortable, you just surprised me!

[ Which is true, in its own way. ]

[paladorable]

I should have asked first. I apologize.

[ He does take her words at face value, because what else could it be? ]

[empression]

No, it's all right. I'm prepared for you this time.

[ She won't be flustered!! ]

[paladorable]

Are you certain?

[ this is supposed to be a helpful endeavor, and he'd hate to have things be awkward because of it ]

[empression]

You have my full permission to touch me!!

[ Well. Okay, Haru. ]

[paladorable]

[ Oh. Uh. When she says it like that, it brings some color to his cheeks - thankfully it's masked by the fact that they've been training and he's already a bit flushed. ]

Um... o-okay, if you say so. Go ahead and try again.

[empression]

[ Haru nods, chin set a little more stubbornly, and shifts accordingly. It's a little easier to find the stance this time, her body recognizing what felt right when he'd adjusted her feet.

He's taking the time to train her, to make her less of a liability. She can't let herself get flustered and make him draw back. ]

[paladorable]

[ She does much better now, he notes, though she's still not quite there. ]

Hey, that's pretty good. Just a little bit more like this.

[ Now that he has her permission, he steps close again, his chest pressed against her back, hands over hers as he helps her adjust again. ]

There you are.

[empression]

[ She doesn't flinch or gasp or squeak or anything remotely embarrassing, but she remains acutely aware of that solid warmth against her back, and his voice close to her ear, her hands still dwarfed under his.

Haru shoves past it to the best of her ability, fingers wrapping around the axe handle, forcing her shoulders to relax and stay level. ]

It should eventually become muscle memory, won't it?

[paladorable]

Aye, just work on it whenever you have a chance. Soon enough, it'll be as natural as anything.

Now--

[ he steps away again, moving in front of her. In a flash of silvery light, he summons his sword and shield into his hands. ]

Take a swing at me.

[empression]

[ There's no hesitation; he wouldn't tell her to attack him if he couldn't block it, and he's a Servant. So Haru, nodding, swings the axe right at him with the kind of steady hand that one wouldn't expect from a high-school girl. ]