Pine Garden

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

"If you think that is the hearth of my pride, then you are a bigger fool than I thought." He answered her curtly, thinking that he'd rather have more wine. Soon. His tone seemed tired of such unsightly foolishness.

"Yes, I am worthy to stand at the pinnacle, that is no opinion but a fact. Would a mere peasant be able to master their own flesh as I have? To rise above and beyond thepitfalls of my past? I have overcome my trials, and will topple the next. That doesn't mean I am blind to the fact I am yet to reach the climax. No, I am not above that woman, who branded me with defeat. Is that what you wished to hear?"

His thoughts, his very heart was filled with fire and venom.

For one who pretends to read the hearts of men, you should know that at the heart of mankind lies arrogance. But to wallow in it without action... That is uglyness. No, I will climb. Withor without you.

[Bern]

Lulu

"No..."

Waiting for him to finish his monologue was starting to get tiresome, just how much did he love his own voice?

"At the heart of mankind lies fear."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

Vega opened his mouth and raised a finger to object. But his expression slowly shifted, until he closed his mouth and looked at her with inquisition. Then, acceptance.

"...Yes. That must also be the case."

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"In that case, to surpass humanity is to surpass fear itself. If absolute power brings absolute peace, then only when I stand at the top can I rid myself of fear. That is what it means for me to live."

For him to be reborn as a swan was the one way to move forward. And so he did, and he climbed. Higher, and higher. Because the only thing that mattered was the climb. No, not even that. The results, only the results would live on in this world in infamy.

He poured a cup for Lulu. It was a small kindness, but one he'd offer nonetheless. He had not kicked her out so far, even if she were an enemy, he would do no differently. Yes, even now, it made no difference to him if she were friend or foe. But she had yet to show him how exactly she would be useful.
           
"So are you to tell me you fear nothing? After all, you claim not to be human."

[Bern]

Lulu

Lulu leaned back into the couch but did graciously accept the cup thay hax been poured for her, statngely the tea set seemed just as heavy after he poured it for her as before.

"The things I fear are beyond the comprehension of beings with a mortal lifespan, if there were words to describe those horrors, then the words themselves would bring untold calamity upon being uttered. Maybe sometime, somewhere in your journey you will catch a glimpse and then you'll understand. " The tea was just as hot as when she started drinking so she had it sip it carefully, it still made for a good closing point.

" Would you like to live forever, to rid yourself of the greatest weakness of Humanity? "

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

Ahhh~

For a moment, his eyes lit up. "Eternity..." His voice marvelled, with a hint of arousal at the thought of that very idea. Wasn't she simply precious, trying so hard to woo him over. Well, he had to respect going for the kill there and then.

"I can't say the thought has not occurred. How would you achieve that, dear?"

[Bern]

Lulu

"That depends entirely on you. Just how much are you willing to pay, how much are you willing to sacrifice?" She took another sip of the tea, it was just as hot as when she started drinking several hours before.

"Eternal life.... is one thing..... but true immortality isn't outside my reach either. It's all comes down to you. What are you willing to lose?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

"Absolutely nothing." He answered with a smirk of absolute conviction.

[Bern]

Lulu

"You what!"

The crushed cup fell out of her hand as she slammed it into table and shattered the tea set into a million pieces.

"Do you think this is some kind of joke? OH I WANT IT ALL! LOOK AT ME!....."

"AHAHAHAHA"

But just as suddenly she broke out in laughter.

"Amazing, the audacity, it's too much, it's sublime!"

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

"Of course it is." He answered as a matter of factly, before helping himself to another sip.

"After all, it is my own."

[Bern]

Lulu

"Ahahahhaah...."

She stood up and clapped her hands.

"Marvelous, absolutely marvelous." But even so she lowered her gaze.

"Even so, I still need something. Binding contracts don't work like that."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

"Of course, of course. Didn't we agree to it then? You may watch to your hearts content and entertain yourself to the tale of my ascension. In return, you may experience the bliss of being a cornerstone of the mirror to my throne. As far as I can tell, this is already quite one-sided in your favour." He cocked his head to his hand and snapped his fingers. The gesture was devoid of meaning, and yet there was something mesmerizing about it.

"Did you think I would be the one to be bound? Tsk tsk, such poor manners~! O woe me..."

[Bern]

Lulu

"Surely you are jesting? I am the one offering this to you, but please do inform me as to how this is one sided for me?"

Tcswiiink....

The table was thrust aside by her sudden movement as she rapidly apprached him. Her eyes were now burning with an eternal chill.

"Never suggest that I would bound you or anyone else ever again, or I will kill you. Imortality or not be damned."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vega

He opened his eyes, with an almost surprised look. His head cocked innocently at her rage, but the cold chill in his spine remained. The fingers in his hand itched.

His smile was almost too precious, absolutely dazzling. "Ah, forgive me! Aou are adorable even when you're glaring at me like that~! But I meant no offense."

But suddenly, his visage twisted into a rictus, a cruel expression masking rage and disdain. Her accusation reminded him of someone he hated more than anyone else in the world.

"I am a ruler, not a slaver. I would never strip someone's freedom from them, least of all a woman. If one was as vile to do something like that in my presence, then let them be fed to the swine and the cattle! That is the only fate for scum like that." He raised a finger and relaxed, sighing before taking another sip.

"Even so, I do not wish to be bound. I value my own freedom as much as you do yours. In that sense, I suppose we are the same. A puppet king is no king at all."

[SINIB]

Tsumiko

8:00 pm

Tsumiko and Archer spent awhile longer packing the stuff that mattered to her. There wasn't too much. Most of her stuff turned out to have been shoddily projected, then reprojected when it finally disappeared. The two returned to Archer's house, and Tsumiko immediately seemed to tense up, looking around furtively.

[Elf]

Emiya

Emiya saw the tension is his new ward and walked over to her.  He rested a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Are you okay?"

I need to take her shopping.  She needs clothing, toiletries, stuff for her hair, and pretty things that girls like.  Ribbons, some costume jewelry probably.  Maybe some makeup and perfume.

Damn, I am going to have to research all of this stuff pretty soon.