dressofheaven | 7th Grail: [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

Hydra, let go.

[A shiny, newborn Deino gives a plaintive whine, but Ilya ignores him and pulls her hair out of his reach, offering a long stick instead. He begins to bite into it with gusto.]

You know, people keep talking about how troublesome it is that Deinos love to bite things, but I think there's another problem, and I'm not so sure they're the only ones that have it. Deinos are blind, right? And so is their first evolution, Zweilous. But when they evolve into Hydreigon they can suddenly see. Doesn't that seem like it might cause problems? What would it be like to be blind all your life, then suddenly be able to see? They say Hydreigon is vicious, but maybe it's just scared.

[There's a snapping sound, and Ilya glances over at her dragon, who has bitten straight through that stick and is now trying to find something new. She sighs and offers him another one.]

I don't know what can be done about it, though. You can't really help them try to see before that. I suppose you could try blindfolding the Hydreigon, but I don't think that would work very well.

[The second stick snaps, and a sudden gust of wind blows her hair across Hydra's nose. He snaps it up immediately.]

Ack! ... Although, I guess I do understand the first problem, too. Hydra, let go. I said, let go-

[And with a muffled chomping sound, most of the rest of her hair suddenly vanishes into the maw of the Garchomp that just snuck up behind her. Ilya scowls.]

Not you too, Typhon! Why do you dragons think my hair tastes so good?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, I just mean... [ Awkwardly trailing off quietly. ]

Er, I own two Deino currently. They are troublesome Pokemon, but fond in their own manner.

You just mean... what? [She looks just a little suspicious. Saber's complaint was... oddly parental.]

Oh? You haven't evolved them yet? I was thinking that with as much time as you've spent here, nearly all the Pokemon you have would be at their highest level by now.

[ Focusing in on on the topic of Pokemon makes it easier to speak with her, so Saber does just that. ]

A number of them are. However, the Deino are rather new additions to the roster. One was adopted from a dear comrade who returned to her war while the other was recently hatched.

Training with them is difficult so I admit I have put it off in favor of other work in the foster home.

To her war? It wasn't another Servant, was it?

Yeah, you spend way too much time doing that. Haven't there been a whole lot of people asking about where to get jobs? You could make a few offers...

[She's not quite sure why she's offering advice on the subject, beyond that even to her, it seems like Saber's running herself ragged. And her insistence on doing everything herself really annoys Ilya for reasons she doesn't quite understand.]

Correct, it was the other Saber, the one who wore red.

[ Which explains why the green Deino is always trying to rip Saber's clothes off of her... ]

I could. I had thought of offering boarding for that contest nearby, so there will be a number of guests within the facility soon enough. Will that be any trouble for you?

Oh, her. That's right, I remember a Deino trying to tear your clothes off so you'd look more like her...

[Slight, giggle at that mental image.]

Hmmm... I think that'll be fine. If things get too bad I'll just go outside for a little while. Is Xion going to be one of the guests?

[ It isn't that funny, but she'll let her have her laugh. ]

I have extended the invitation to her. She informed me that the two of you have spoken as of late. Before, she had stayed here in one of the rooms as my guest.

[ Her own room in fact. ] ... It will do us some good to have her presence here.

[Oh come on Saber, you have to admit it's at least a little funny.]

That's right, we've talked. I like her. She's... sweet.

... You've missed her, haven't you?

That she is.

[ Not so much missed as she felt guilty that Xion was returning to a life of "nothingness" just as she would. ]

Ah, I suppose that I may have. There are many I have met here and if given a chance to check in on their lives away from this world, I would take it without hesitation.

Well, you have been here a long time. That's only to be expected.

[But that statement does have a few implications that she's not missing. Just how many people did you grow close to that then left, Saber?]

[ Enough to keep the rest of the world at a distance. ]

There have been those here longer than myself. Lancer, I do believe, is on his third season here. Cecil, Yagyuu, I believe they have been here longer than myself. If we were in Japan, they would be referred to as my... senior?

[ Trying to translate senpai here, but it's not working out so well. ]

Something like that, yes. You'd have to ask Shirou or Rin if you wanted to be really sure. I'm not that good with Japanese terms.

[Dear Papa only taught her so much before going off to get her mother and himself killed pointlessly.]

I just hope I can stay that long...

[ Yeah, your father was kind of a jackass. ]

Is that your wish? [ Surprising, but there's some relief in her voice. ]

My wish? Hmmm... Well, I'd say it's part of it. There's more to it than that. But I think if I stay here long enough, the rest might fulfill itself, the way this world works.

Yes, that seems to be right.

You intend to wait for someone... your mother? [ Maybe her father. ]

Mmmm. And Shirou. Maybe even Rin and Taiga, I wouldn't mind seeing them again.

[No mention of Kiritsugu.]

And... I know you'd hate it if he showed up, but... Berserker, too.

No, that is not right.

[ She feels a need to correct her, so she does. ] It is just without Mad Enhancement, they must live a life without that convenient cloud to hide their minds within.

You see, Ilya, there was a Berserker here previously. Guilt consumed him and in the end, he left without the answers he needed. [ The one she failed to give him. ] Do you think your Berserker could live a happy life with acknowledgement of what he may have done in the Holy Grail War? Where he may have failed or succeeded?

Mad Enhancement is a coward's way out in the end.

So... you're saying that even if he arrived, he wouldn't really be the Berserker I know.

[Ilya that's kind of... not the point.]

But I... I still want to see him again.

If he arrives, we will figure out how to take care of him and allow him the chance to adapt.

[ Every person deserves a chance. That's why she shows kindness to a man who's head she chopped off and softness towards a girl she vowed twelve years ago to save, but failed to do so. ]

[... Saber, she could hug you right now.]

Right. That's exactly what we'll do.

... Thank you, Saber.

[ But if he dares attack someone, Saber will be on that quicker than she would an all-you-can-eat buffet. ]

Mm, of course. You take care in the meantime, Ilya. [ That's Saber for "Don't start trouble, young missy." ]

Always.

[Look at this innocent smile, Saber. Don't you trust her?]

[ She sure does because anytime Irisviel smiled, it was something she could draw strength from. Just please keep smiling, dear Ilya.

... Though it does remind her of another woman with horns on her head now that she's really looking. ]

Yes, of course. I will be around for dinner this eve--please join us when you can. Until next we meet.

[She'll keep smiling as long as there are things to smile about. Though if she heard Saber call her "dear" she'd be weirded out.]

Bye bye, Saber! See you tonight!

7th Grail: [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

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