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[swordboning]

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

Comments

[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.

[swordboning]

Excusing it? Hardly. Everything I did, I take ownership of. I was simply explaining the full situation.

No, I knew it would make her hate me from the beginning and I don't question her actions now.

[He's smirking though.]

If there's one thing I dislike, it's proving another person's view of the future. Whatever Saber is thinking, I hope to surprise her one day.

[codere]

So why did you ask me to make her my Servant? Was it to punish her?

[ She really needs to know this. ]

[swordboning]

A couple reasons.

First, the Saber you have is the strongest of every heroic spirit who falls into the Saber class. As the Saber class is the most powerful, this means Saber is literally the strongest Servant. I couldn't trust anyone with that power but you.

Second, I don't require much mana though Saber does. It means you could support two Servants. As much as we don't get along, even I realize her and I are an unbeatable team. I can confidently say that no one could stand up to us in a fight. That's also a power I wanted you to have.

[codere]

It's good you were able to see this far ahead with your ambitious vision, Archer. If Saber were to make a pact with someone like Ryuko, we would have never stood a chance against their combined efforts. Instead of allying with me, Ryuko would have continued to deny what she did to you as wrong and would have had Saber there to bolster this opinion.

While it does feel dishonest, I'm glad you're able to trust me with that. I guess in the end, it's just me that you're looking out for.

Does this mean you view Miss Sakura as an opponent as well? Everyone here, except for me?

[swordboning]

....I'll have to disagree. It's true that I can't beat Saber in a straight up fight. However, I knew I would have to face off against her if I were to travel back in time and kill Shirou Emiya. So I developed a strategy to defeat her. Either way, her making a pact with Ryuko would be the worst possible team. Ryuko's stamina is seriously lacking. I doubt Saber would be able to use her Noble Phantasm properly if partnered with her.

So you know, that same winning strategy could probably be implemented against Ryuko with some modifications.

[Truly the master of thinking ahead.]

Sakura isn't an opponent but she is most certainly a danger. While she doesn't show any signs, I'll treat her normally. If she does, I want you to know that I will have to do what I can to remove her.

Most of everyone else, I view neutrally. I'll be more than happy to give you a rundown of my thoughts on others, however.

[codere]

It's not necessary for now. [ Meaning at some point she is going to ask him for his opinion on everyone. ]

What I need first is to continue building hardware in order to make something more trust worthy than the Cerevice then I can log and keep notes on the other captives here. While they don't seem overly harmful, it's good to be prepared just in case they do strike against us.

[ That's where they are the most similar. Rin views everyone as a possible opponent and Archer is ready to counter them should they try. ]

[swordboning]

Understood. Let me know what you need. I may not be able to create your devices but I can certainly supply the raw materials. That way, you don't need to cue people in on what you're doing by purchasing materials.

[Plastic might be a problem though. Rin will have to deal with fancy, metal equipment.]