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

[empression]

… But not sorry for doing it in the first place.

[ Well. That's about what it expected, and Haru frowns a little dejectedly at the wound. ]

I should have been more prepared... so thank you, for saving me. But since the fault was mine, please don't do something like that again. Seeing you hurt for my sake is...

[ Well. It's... painful. ]

[paladorable]

Haru...

[ She's not exactly yelling at him, which is somewhat better than he expected, but she's still clearly upset over the whole thing. ]

What kind of Servant would I be if I can't even protect my own Master?

[empression]

I understand that you're protecting me as a Servant and I appreciate it, as much as I understand that when you're fighting, you're bound to be injured, but...

... I need to improve myself as a magus, so you won't need to worry about protecting me at all. [ With a soft, humorless laugh. ]

Father did say I was too human for this.

[paladorable]

You say that like I wouldn’t worry about you, regardless. We’re still partners, after all.

[ He reaches over to rest a hand on her shoulder. ] And besides, there’s nothing wrong with being human. Caring isn't a weakness.

[empression]

In a Holy Grail War? I've been informed that it very much is.

[ Masters treating their Servants as tools, sacrificing anyone in their path-- ]

[paladorable]

Time to prove whoever said that wrong, then.

[ He gives a one-shouldered shrug. ] I like you just as you are. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice yourself for this.

[empression]

You are... entirely too kind, Arenvald.

[ but she says it on a breathed-out laugh. ]

At any rate... I didn't think the SIU chief would have turned out to be an enemy so quickly. It seems they've decided that I won't be of much use to them-- and I imagine they'll want to try and seize control of you instead.

[paladorable]

So I’ve been told.

[ He smiles a bit, amused. There is a reason he thinks the two of them are well-suited to one another, after all. But, the moment is over, and he lifts his hand from her shoulder to pluck another veggie slice from his plate, popping it in his mouth. ]

I was wondering if you knew him. What did he say to you?

[empression]

Oh, many things. [ with an airiness she doesn't exactly feel-- ]

That I was out of my element, that I ought to hand over my Command Seals and withdraw from the war...

As you can tell, I refused.

[paladorable]

I can most certainly tell.

[ Not just because he’s sporting a bullet wound, either. ]

Are you alright?

[empression]

... Am I-- I wasn't hurt at all, you know!

[ see: the bullet wound he's sporting!! ]

[paladorable]

[ He gives her a bit of a look, but any sternness he was going for is undone by the veggie slice sticking out of his mouth. ]

Not all hurts are physical, Haru. You had a man hold you at gunpoint this evening.

[empression]

You should probably finish chewing that.

[ Though she says so gently. ]

... I just haven't let myself dwell on it, I suppose. Or... I don't really want to? I have a feeling it's only going to be more dangerous from here.

[paladorable]

[ He looks a small bit embarrassed, ultimately doing as he's told before continuing, ]

Aye, that it will be. If we're to make any headway in this war at all, every step is going to be harder and harder, with new dangers to face. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it.

If I know how you're feeling and how things effect you, then I can be a better Servant, don't you think?

[empression]

[ There's a pause, and Haru glances away, just slightly. ]

I'm... I'm sorry. It's been a long time since someone thought how I felt was important.

[paladorable]

[ That hits him close to home in a way that he doesn’t quite expect. For the briefest moment, it’s like he’s a child again, cold and starving in the streets of Ala Mhigo, left to wonder if there was a soul in the world who cared if he lived or died.

It is an amazing thing, what the warmth of others will do. He found friends, eventually. People to call his family, and he is all the better for knowing them.

He reaches out to slip a hand over hers, if he can. ]

It is important. You’re important. Don’t you ever forget it.

[empression]

[ She won't lie and say her childhood was troubled, that she wasn't loved or taken care of... but as her father had changed, Haru had felt more and more like a bargaining chip than anything. A puppet.

She doesn't move away from his hand, though she blinks, a little surprised, before she slowly turns her palm over to slip her fingers in between his. A little forward, maybe, but his warmth is a good reminder that he's fine. ]

I'll try to remember... you're right. If we can't share how we feel, it'll be difficult to fight as a team.

[paladorable]

[ There’s something perfectly natural about the way their fingers lace together, and though a bit of warmth rises to Arenvald’s cheeks at the gesture, he doesn’t move to take his hand away. They got the first real taste of what they’d be up against tonight, an ocean full of vicious sharks, and their connection with one another is the only thing that’s going to stop them from being dragged under.

That’s how partnerships work, after all. ]

I’ll remind you, if you ever forget. And you’ll do the same for me, right?

[empression]

[ It's honestly endearing to see a Heroic Spirit blush, enough for Haru to smile and playfully bow a bit over his clasped hand. ]

I promise I will. But if there's any other abilities you've been keeping quiet on, it might help if I learned about them.

[paladorable]

Ah, that. I'm sorry, I hadn't thought to explain what I can do.

[ He ponders over that a moment, though he makes no effort to pull his hand away in the meantime. It's... well, it's sort of nice. ]

What do you know? Based on the tales.

[empression]

You're noble and compassionate, and forgiving... you sought to help your homeland, even though you held painful memories of your past.

[ She squeezes his hand, unconsciously. ]

You're also a strong fighter. You have an ability that allows you to resonate with other souls... the Echo?

[paladorable]

[ Well, if her aim was to make him blush more, she succeeded. His eyes slide away, focusing on the empty plate on the table for a moment. ]

I was… looking for an assessment of my abilities, not my character.

[empression]

... Oh! Um, my apologies--

[ Well, now Haru similarly looks embarrassed, coughing to clear her throat. ]

I just thought it was fascinating when Father aimed to summon you, so I did additional research-- um, that is-- you're very skilled with a sword and shield!

[paladorable]

I’m flattered that you took that much interest.

[ Arenvald isn’t one of those Heroic Spirits hung up on the importance of his tale – in fact, he would even say that next to the likes of people like King Arthur, his own story is hardly important at all. ]

Let’s go back to the Echo. It’s probably my biggest strength and greatest weakness.

[empression]

Your greatest weakness... does it make you vulnerable? A mutual resonance?