IC Inbox

[swordboning]

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

Comments

[swordboning]

Think about it. If someone who sported the face you care for ordered you to kill yourself, how would you feel? On top of that, I failed Rin in the first place, which is why she ended up being killed.

[faithfulflame]

[It's not a great comparison. One Senshi can't order another to do anything. They don't work like that. But she lifts her shoulders up and down in a sighing shrug.]

I don't know if you failed her. Those machines acted unpredictably. But I can see why you'd think that, and why you'd have difficulty facing her at the moment.

[swordboning]

I should have known it would have ended like it did to start with. When hasn't something in this place given a bad ending?

[faithfulflame]

You couldn't have known it would be so aggressively. Not everything ends this bad.

[swordboning]

I should have expected it though. I've lived most of my life expecting the worst only to fail here.

[faithfulflame]

Are you precognitive?

[swordboning]

To a level but in a non-supernatural way.

[He'd give an explanation if she wanted to hear it.]

[faithfulflame]

Then there's no way you could have known exactly what was happening. I'm precognitive, and I didn't either. As you're so very fond of pointing out, nobody is perfect.

[swordboning]

I chose to get rid of my machine before I activated it. I should have done the same to Rin's. That much can't be just discarded from my mind.

[faithfulflame]

No, it can't, but you couldn't have known. I didn't know what mine would do either, after all.

[swordboning]

Not knowing it entirely doesn't feel like it absolves anything. It more feels like an excuse.

[faithfulflame]

Except that it isn't. You know full well that the situation was beyond your control. You aren't a god, you aren't omniscient, and you're bound to obey commands given.

How does Tohsaka-san feel about it?

[swordboning]

I may be able to predict how things will go based on my past experiences but I can't read minds. I don't know how she feels.

[faithfulflame]

Have you talked to her?

[swordboning]

Not about this specific thing but it wouldn't do any good. She's as evasive as I am. Even more so since she doesn't mind lying about things involving herself.

[faithfulflame]

And how is she holding up? Death is traumatic. I know...better than most.

[swordboning]

Ask her yourself. You'll get a full understanding of the situation then.

[Namely, Rin won't tell the truth on how she's feeling.]

[faithfulflame]

It's not my place. I don't know her.

[And she hasn't spoken to the girl since she came back.]

[swordboning]

Exactly. That's how Rin treats most of anyone. Including myself right now.

[faithfulflame]

That's not really what I mean, Archer. We've never said more than ten words to one another because by all counts, and I don't intend to change that without prompting. We have nothing in common except for you, really. But if she's treating you differently, that's a bad sign.

If you need a place to stay and recooperate, you can use my...spare bedroom

[She almost said Ami's room...but catches herself.]

[swordboning]

I don't sleep. And I'm too busy to do things like take part in rest and relaxation. Even if you forced me to do so, I'd find something to do.

[faithfulflame]

I didn't mean rest, I meant a place to go back to when you close up. Or do you want this place to stay open 24/7 now?

[swordboning]

I'm not going to leave Rin alone after problems like this, even if something doesn't sit right with me. Things would be worse in that situation, not to mention that I need to make up for failing her.

[faithfulflame]

You know I'm not going to argue with you but you do have to take care of yourself, too.

And you need to talk to her and clear some of the air, or this won't go away.

[swordboning]

I'd have to say that's easier said than done. Mostly because it takes two to talk.