awashlogs | [closed] may catch-all

[ It's a pretty average day. For the most part, nothing actively bad or strange is happening, the weather is fair, and a blanket of sleepy quiet is settled over Chroma.

So today Saber is, frankly, a little bored. As bored as she can get, being the type of person who can sit in silence for hours without so much as a single restless shift. But the day begs to be cracked open, so she peruses the forum for ideas about what she should do today.

Which is how she ends up strolling toward Magilou's house, her armor gone in favor of her favorite clothes from back home. She scans Ruga widely in case Magilou is out and about -- but if not, then she'll end her journey with a knock at Magilou's front door. ]

[ It's a good thing that the best thing to do when you're bored is to seek out someone as eccentric as Magilou, and that Magilou was feeling equally bored herself. She wastes no time in flinging open the door when Saber knocks. She... may have been waiting for something to happen all day.

Why didn't she go out and search for it? It's Magilou, okay, she was waiting for excitement to come to her. And it looks like she was right, because here's Saber outside her door. The party has arrived! ]

Oho, dear Saber! Was there something you needed at my most humble of abodes? Or were you just here because you missed my presence so much?

[ Party might be a poor word to describe Saber, who greets Magilou's overenthusiastic door-flinging with the same calm, unflinching smile as if Magilou had opened the door like a shy old grandmother. Also, she effortlessly ignores both questions. ]

Hello, Magilou. I was perusing the new quest directives and saw one I thought I could fulfill with you.

Ah, those old things? I was checking them out earlier just to have something to do.

[ They're technically new things, but still... She mentally runs through them again. They aren't out in the forest, so she's going to count the manticore one out - she's far too lazy to work with that one, anyway. The Philosopher's Stone one is interesting, but that one means a journey, and Saber showed up in more casual clothes. So there's two options here: ]

Either you're on a rampage and coming to destroy my house... Or you're here to profess your deep, unspoken desire for and loyalty to your dearest troupe leader?

[ She means this as a joke. Oh boy... ]

[ Where Magilou's entrance failed, Magilou's wording manages to put a dent in Saber's cool. ]

"Desire"... no, perhaps not to that extent...

[ But she recovers swiftly, regaining her comfortable smile in no time at all. ]

I did wish to voice my appreciation, however. Some feelings are understood without words, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to make myself clear.

I made some few friends in my lifetime -- sometimes because we were comrades, and sometimes because our respect for each other's martial prowess was so great. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I formed friendships as a knight first and foremost.

Magilou, you are the first friend I have gained without ever needing to touch a blade. Perhaps it is a trivial distinction, but it is one I cherish nevertheless. It will be my most honored privilege to stay true to you for as long as our paths may cross.

[ Magilou gets a nice chuckle out of that momentary pause, but Saber's speech makes her pause for once, lost for words. How often does that happen? The great wordsmith at a loss. It's not often someone genuinely expresses emotion in her direction - least of all Magilou herself - and the speech is so confident and so... Saber-like that Magilou has no way to respond to it. ]

Oh, come on. Don't try to embarrass me.

[ It's her kneejerk response, and it's all she can come up with without further thought. Her smile is wavering, caught between her joking facade and her real feelings. Maybe Magilou can feel actual friendly feelings toward someone. What a new experience it is to think about it, and to realize it. She's trying her best to tamp down those emotions, but hopefully that effort is enough of a sign that she's feeling the same way. ]

But if you're gonna be so honest about it, then I suppose I can be magnanimous and return it in kind. [ Good effort, Magilou. ] Guess you're stuck with me for a while longer. Lucky you. Normally I'd make my troupe members stand around and make me look good, but you totally outshine me in stuff like this!

[ Could that be a pout from Magilou? It really does seem like she's embarrassed, which Saber almost didn't think possible -- and it's funny enough that it gets a rare chuckle out of her. ]

Yes, I am truly blessed by your presence.

[ A sarcastic line from anyone else, but completely honest coming from Saber... ]

Now that our appreciation is mutual, there is one other matter I would like to bring up. "Saber" is merely a title, and I feel that I would be a poor friend if I continued to keep my true name concealed from you. Please feel free to continue referring to me as Saber if you prefer it; otherwise, my name from birth is Artoria.

[ How can she refuse in the face of such true honesty? If there ever existed someone completely opposite of Magilou, it might be Saber. Maybe that's why Magilou has found her presence pleasant since they've met, in the oddest of ways, "troupe" aside. ]

Whoa, your true name? You sure you want to throw it around that easily?

[ Not that she would take advantage of it, if she's being honest - but true names in her world are something rarely shared beyond the confines of a spiritual pact. ]

[ ... Saber frowns and settles her hands on her hips, the universal forecast of a looming scolding. ]

Of course I do not share my name lightly. Have you been listening, Magilou?

[ FRIENDSHIP!! This is important! ]

Normally, I would not give my name out to anyone but my Master, but I trust that you will not spread it without it good cause.

[ Ah, the Scolding Look. She's received that a lot from her comrades, so it doesn't have much of an effect - sorry Saber. ]

I think we're having culture shock. It's no biggie. [ How to explain this... Magilou throws her arms out and shrugs, apparently unsure of where to start. ] See, we have true names where I'm from too - but sharing them outside of a pact is a huge no-no, barring a few exceptions. There's some heavy implications there!

[ Deep down, though, she feels honored that Saber told her. But just a little bit!! ]

'Course, I won't share it if you don't want me to - even I'm not that wicked. Saber in public, Artoria in private?

[ She nods her assent. Truthfully, it hardly matters if anyone calls her Artoria in public, seeing as how she was officially Arthur in legend. Only one person ever called her Artoria in life. Call her sentimental, but she'd like to reserve that name for the people close to her. ]

Heavy implications? Could you elaborate?

Well...

[ She was planning on teasing Saber - Artoria - about this, but the truth might as well be teasing her anyway. So! ]

It usually means one of two things. Either the malak - that is, the spirit - is saying they'd jump in the line of fire and die for you, or...

[ A pause. Wait for it! ]

It's a confession of love!

[ Have a flourish, too, complete with a grand show of her outstretched arm. ]

And since you were adamant about your lack of devotion in that area, I figured it wasn't that one, so I was a little shocked!

[ artoria are you sure you still want to be friends with her ]

......

[ There a few seconds of silence in which Saber stares thinking at the grandly posed Magilou. ]

[ And then she smiles confidently in understanding. ]

I see. I suppose it is a little early to call my feelings toward you thus, but I could certainly grow to love you in time.

[ She doesn't actually understand. ]

[ She... might be the most sincere person Magilou knows. And simultaneously, somehow the most thickheaded... ]

You're too straightforward for your own good. That's not really something people just come right out and say!

Is it not? I cannot see the harm in being direct. It is best to leave no room for misunderstanding.

[ Saber does from a very different age... She frowns as she considers Magilou's perspective. ]

Does it make you uncomfortable?

No, just flabbergasted!

[ Another huff. Geez, she's going to be 80 from emotional whiplash alone by the time this conversation is over. ]

You don't speak in fifteen thousand riddles to get your point across, you just say what's on your mind. That's a terrifying talent. [ There's an unspoken how do you do it? in there, too. ] You're going to have me saying things like that if you're not careful!

[ Saber laughs quietly. Twice in one conversation -- Magilou is truly a comedian for the ages. ]

I would enjoy that very much. In any case, seeing as how we both want for something to pass the time, shall we spend the day together? It is fine weather to be out and about.

I was occupied being unoccupied, but since you asked so nicely I can shirk my duties and relent.

[ Also, it is a nice day. Maybe she should get a change of clothes instead of walking around in her ostentatious skirt made of books for days like this...

On second thought? Nah. ]

You always seem like such a busybody. How do you have time to just wander around?

[ ... Does she really seem like she's never up to anything important...? How troubling. ]

I was always busy before I became a spirit, so I suppose I have become restless by default. I do not get tired as the day progresses, nor do I require sleep. In many ways, I have more time than I know what to do with.

[ Magilou waves her hand in front of her face, as if to bat away Saber's worries and justifications. ]

Bzzt! Wrong! I meant it the other way around. You're always so focused on doing things for other people and meddling in their affairs that I have no idea how you do anything for yourself. Live a little! Be selfish!

[ After all, she's rescued Magilou from the well, given her food no less than twice, and went onstage with her, among other things. Not that Magilou!! Cares!! About whether Saber is enjoying herself, but!! ]

Seems like you need a lesson in selfishness. So here's my selfish request: we're doing what you want to do today. And there's no takebacks or refusals!

[ ...???

The more Magilou talks, the wrinklier the space between Saber's eyebrows gets. Is there something wrong with involving herself in other people's affairs and helping them? Is selfishness really something to be desired?? Nothing is connecting. It makes no sense to her. ]

I sought you out precisely because there is nothing I want to do. Magilou, are you not just trying to shirk responsibility for choosing our plan of action?

[ It would be an admittedly convoluted ploy, but Magilou is a convoluted person. ]

[ Phew, okay, Magilou sighs and places a hand oh her forehead. She's not great at talking about stuff like this, but she's going to give it her best try. ]

Okay, yeah, you caught me. That's part of it. Lazy is as lazy does.

[ She'd normally applaud the perception, or at the very least feign mock injury. Instead, she straightens up, her demeanor much more serious and her eyebrows lifting curiously. ]

But I mean, you caught me at the well, then you took a bath at the hot springs because I ran in there. You've fed my famished form, and you've done whole comedy shows, way out of what you said your comfort zone was! You're seriously fine with that? Don't you want to do something... I dunno, more your speed? Like, fighting practice, or riding on horseback, or... Whatever you knightly types do, that's not my normal crowd. You don't normally do comedy shows with maniacal witches in your spare time, do you?

[ There is a very important point she's leaving out here: Deep down, Magilou is encouraging her to be selfish because Magilou wants to return the favor. But that's impossible for her to drag out to the light, even to herself. ]

magilou | quest 56

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