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[swordboning]

...you've reached Archer. Leave a message and if it's suitable, I'll get back to you.

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[codere]

[ Haa. ] That means I can call you my boyfriend instead of my Servant.

... right?

[swordboning]

I won't stop you from doing what you wish.

[But he did tell Saber to ask Natalia to teach Rin some magic.]

[codere]

What if I want to kiss you? Would you stop me then?

[ Probably.
This is the kitchen. ]

[swordboning]

As long as it doesn't take too much time and a certain someone is looking.

[AKA: Saber.

But he just needs to make this stuff bake, it's not that bad.]

[codere]

Oh.

[ Tilting her head. ] Archer, is this something we should keep from her?

[swordboning]

...I wouldn't know anything about that.

[Seriously said, as he pours the batter into cupcake papers.]

Out of all my experiences, that's not part of it.

[codere]

You have no experience in this thing? It feels kind of odd to keep it a secret, but... [ Lowering her face into her hands to run her fingers through her hair, she gives a heavy sigh. ]

I don't want anyone to be strained. We need her as much as she needs us, right?

[swordboning]

Do you want me to straight out explain it to her? I can handle that fairly easily.

betrayal

[codere]

How can you explain something like that to her-?! She'd probably accuse you of foul play.

And me of favoritism!

[swordboning]

I certainly can't say you're wrong. On the other hand, that's a risk I'm willing to take for you.

[codere]

That's just because you enjoy getting beat up.

[swordboning]

No, I don't. As a matter of fact, I sincerely dislike losing unless it serves a greater purpose.

[codere]

And what kind of purpose does losing serve? None that I can think of.

Either way, I suspect this is one of those situations where we'll lose no matter what.

[swordboning]

Speaking objectively, we have three options. We can keep it to ourselves until she finds out, tell her at an opportune moment, or rip off the band-aid so to speak. Thoughts?

[codere]

The second option is the most favorable, but I've discovered not much of this place is secret. If they can display our thoughts and memories, then they certainly can show off things such as this conversation to wrought distrust among people.

Eventually CERES is going to see me as an enemy and will do what it can to ensure I'm alone.

[swordboning]

The thoughts and memories, I can't control. But nothing will separate me from your side. Not even your deepest, darkest secret. If you even have one.

[codere]

[ Her deepest, darkest secret is that she enjoys him forcing her to actually improve her life style and her health. TAKE THAT. ]

It isn't you that I'm worried about.

See, I think you're the type of person who would be okay with someone who cheats within the rules or withholds information. Saber is a knight.

Dishonesty will only further push her away as would deceit.

[swordboning]

As long as you aren't slaughtering innocent people, you could cheat outside the rules of you'd like. It fits in perfectly with my style. Call me a Dark Knight.

[Hah. But he sees her point about Saber.]

Saber is....

....in this case, as long as I'm the villain, she will never assume the worst from you. It'll always be my fault. I don't mind taking that role if you need her.

[codere]

It isn't so much that I need her that she needs us.

[ Sighing, she looks away. ] I found out why you asked me to that day. Emiya really let her down and ended up having to kill her.

She needs a Master she can trust.

... and I think she needs a Shirou Emiya she can trust as well.

[swordboning]

Rin.

You can ask what you want of me but of all the things I'll do, I'll never be that Shirou Emiya.

[codere]

[ She must have slipped up somewhere because now she's feeling the recoil of that statement. Oops. ] You can't be someone she can trust?

You know what I meant. I know you'll never be Shirou Emiya again.

Just as I know Shirou Emiya can't become you. There's something... off.

[swordboning]

Let me put it like this. Unless I commit an act that will save a large amount of people here out of my own good will, she will not trust me. Where we're from, I betrayed my Master so I could get the chance to kill Shirou Emiya. To someone like Saber, that kind of act can only be redeemed by an equal, selfless act.

[codere]

... You betrayed-? [ Is that really the best thing to tell your Master, Archer?

IS THIS REALLY
THE BEST THING
TO TELL YOUR RECLUSE
MASTER

The answer is no. ]

[swordboning]

My Master did everything in her power to defend Shirou Emiya. The fact still lies that I never let her come to harm and saved her life and Shirou's in the end.

No, I've learned from that and, to be fair, our relationship is much closer than simple Master and Servant.

[codere]

So what-? You're excusing what you've done because you've learned from it?

... you do seem to have learned a lot. I don't think it's remorse you feel, but acknowledgment of what your actions have caused in others. Because of this, she's always going to think you'll hurt me.

Even here.

When I used a Command Seal to keep her from hurting Shirou Emiya. She must have made a mental connection and since then has been waiting for an opportune moment to prove that you'll repeat the past.