[ Archer comes looking for her, eventually. It has been long enough since their last talk, and he said he would give her an answer.
He doesn't have an innate sense of where she is, of course, on account of not being contracted...but he does find her. Languishing at the feet of a statue that is...uncomfortably familiar.
There's a moment of silence where he debates what to say. Then- ]
[Sakura's statue is in the Gardens. A fitting place for a girl with the name of a flower. Tohsaka had ventured here in search of a friends' small vegetable plot, but instead found herself following a whim to wander. As if she were called to this statue to find it.
Sakura's statue is sitting seiza while in a simple sundress. Her lap making an oddly comfortable place for Rin to rest her head as she considers her options.]
Oh, Archer... No. It's fine.
[Slowly the young woman peels herself away from the stone image of her sister, and stands properly.]
[ It would be in poor taste to comment on Rin's current posture or Sakura's apparent predicament...therefore, he doesn't. His opinions about Sakura and the threat she posed notwithstanding, he certainly would not have wished such a fate upon her.
Because of that, he focuses only on the question. ]
Yes. [ A very definite answer, in fact. ] In areas where our goals align, I will both accept any assistance you are willing to offer me and offer my own in turn.
We can discuss other details in terms of what that may entail…but that is my answer.
[Her hand rests on Sakura's head. A gentle to-and-fro stroke at the stone crown is enough to satisfy Rin, so she steps away from the petrified visage of her sister.]
Then let us venture to my suite. I have a few things to show you. We'll be going to the Rank 9 floor.
[ Archer watches the display of tenderness in silence. He has nothing to say about it — but even in the depths of the void that comprises the core of him, the one emotion he does recognize and feel keenly sputters to life and burns quietly.
Love and affection are foreign things to him — but anger he knows very, very well. It’s the only thing that kept whatever was left of his sanity intact, after all.
He doesn’t show any of it. Instead, he just tips his head briefly in acknowledgment. She can lead, and he’ll follow. ]
[Not much should be talked about in the open air, she thinks. So Rin leads him along like someone walking a dog back home. Without a second thought she allows him to easily stay at her heels like a shadow. Exposing her back to him as if falling back to him being some kind of trusted guard-dog for her.
No, she does not expect things to fall back into place with how they were before. However, he reached out. He has come to her and she will oblige him. Why shouldn't she? Even without a contract, she's sure they'll make a great team. If only because they come from a certain common ground.
They eventually make it to her suite. After stepping in and closing the door behind them, she'll slip off her shoes and place them upon a wrought iron rack that matches the antique style of the space.]
[ Silence is golden, as they say. There’s nothing that needs to be said in the space between the Gardens and Rin’s suite, and both of them know this without it being expressed.
If she trusts him enough to show him her back, well…she isn’t necessarily wrong to. Even without their contract, he would strike someone down who tried to harm her if he was there to stop it.
He doesn’t think about things like that in great depth, but that’s how it is.
Once they reach her suite, he takes off his shoes as well, and if there’s room for his, he hangs them up too. He takes a moment to look around…and in many ways, it’s not so different from her mansion back in their world. The atmosphere is the same, and the familiarity of it is…grounding in a way he had not expected.
He despises this hellhole they have found themselves in…but this space, at least, isn’t offensive to him. ]
[Rin will lead him back into what used to be the guest room. Instead now it's been restructured to serve as a workshop for herself. The scent and dim lighting is reminiscent of her father's basement workshop, and she specifically made it that way. To remind her of her goals.
Speaking of, she walks over by her little conspiracy board.]
I have a few theories about this place. Let me know if you have any questions, but all in all my suspicions amount to something collecting energy. For what I have no clue, but the excess seems to go toward running this hotel and occasionally granting wishes.
[ She had mentioned a workshop so he isn't surprised that she has a room dedicated for that purpose. Even in this place, where their more dangerous abilities are stripped down, he would expect her to maintain her skills as a mage.
He takes a few minutes to peruse her board in silence. Analyzing. Weighing what's laid out here. ]
Has there ever been any definitive proof that these 'wishes' are actually granted?
The lucid guests that have been here far longer than anyone else I know have either implied or outright stated that their wish was granted.
[Madam Mingming and "J" is who she considers lucid. They're set apart from people like the high ranking guests who simply decided to place their games "on hold".]
[He'll find that since her workshop is the only place she doesn't let the housekeeping staff touch, it... resembles her. The "organized clutter," the clear sense of her insisting on multi-tasking, and the absolute deep resemblance it has to the basement of her family's mansion. Even so, since Tohsaka isn't actually working she clears some space on the island in the center of the room and hops up on it. This gives her a spot to sit, and a little height so she can be more eye-level with Archer as they speak.]
With all the sex that goes on here coupled with the spiritual activity I'd say this place has enough mana-collection to readily grant more wishes than the Grail. Sure, we couldn't make our own wish because All the World's Evils had settled so deeply inside our wish granting vessel after the Third War, but... If it didn't actually do what it was supposed to in those first three Grail Wars then I don't think my ancestors would have kept hosting such a farce.
However with the defunct pods in the Maintenance Levels and the shift of the appearance of the resort during our Clubs game I have to wonder if the mana being produced is used for something else. Because the highest concentration of magical energy settles in the arousal fluids of each person it's clear why they'd pick "sex," rather than draining us of our blood. I'm still looking for the answer as to who needs this energy and why, but I'm quite solid on the hunch of us being the batteries that keep the lights on in this place.
[ While Rin talks, Archer keeps his eyes on the board. He weighs her assessment against his own initial impressions, plus the information that's laid out here. Her reasoning is solid (as he would expect from her), and it makes sense in context of what he's been able to observe so far.
Still...after a moment, he lets out a quiet hum. ]
The simplest answer is often the best one.
[ He looks at her, finally. ]
And I would agree with that assessment. And go so far as to say the system here isn't unlike the Holy Grail War, even down to the suits.
There's also a very common, but not always present, similarity with each person who has come here. Most say they have already died, or were involved in something that could have possibly resulted in there death. There have been one or two cases that have been an exception to this theory, but in the grand scheme of things that deviation is quite small.
[And if it's not "death," then what is it? What connects them all?
The only way to find out is to play the game. After all, she wouldn't be this far into her hypothesis if she had been skipping out on all the craziness the resort has to offer. Especially the Clubs game, which actually solidified a lot of her guesses.]
[Rin stretches. Her body language attempting to put some casual atmosphere back into the conversation.]
I'm not sure. I was on my way to defeat Sakura, and the last thing I remember is walking through the cave under the Ryuudou Temple with a copy of Zelretch's Jeweled Sword. I don't remember meeting her face to face, or dying. Though there are people here who do remember there deaths.
[ Archer's brow furrows, but he doesn't press for more. Ultimately, whatever happened after his own demise was out of his control. He did everything he could, and even he isn't such a masochist that he would take responsibility for events that occurred after he was already gone.
Still...it doesn't sit right with him. ]
I recall mine. Distinctly.
[ He also remembers giving his left arm away. That smug, trashy priest made himself useful for once - though Archer suspects it was mostly for his own entertainment. ]
No, more likely it's something existing outside of that. Like how missions are for Counter Guardians, or how the Throne can be for Servants. One not necessarily needing to have died for such a contract, but instead be close to death. I wonder if maybe this place also chooses those who suffer a certain amount within their lives. Compelling them to stay and enjoy the comfort rather than returning to the pain of their reality.
[These are simply theories. Assumptions. Things not yet capable of being verified.]
[ Her theories are sound. He would expect no less of her... Speaking of it openly, of course, makes him feel revolted at the idea of this place all over again.
But there is no point in dwelling on that or mentioning it. ]
It likely works to some extent. Many of the guests seem perfectly content to be here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He doesn't have an innate sense of where she is, of course, on account of not being contracted...but he does find her. Languishing at the feet of a statue that is...uncomfortably familiar.
There's a moment of silence where he debates what to say. Then- ]
If this is a bad time, I'll find you again later.
no subject
Sakura's statue is sitting seiza while in a simple sundress. Her lap making an oddly comfortable place for Rin to rest her head as she considers her options.]
Oh, Archer... No. It's fine.
[Slowly the young woman peels herself away from the stone image of her sister, and stands properly.]
Have you found your answer?
no subject
Because of that, he focuses only on the question. ]
Yes. [ A very definite answer, in fact. ] In areas where our goals align, I will both accept any assistance you are willing to offer me and offer my own in turn.
We can discuss other details in terms of what that may entail…but that is my answer.
no subject
[Her hand rests on Sakura's head. A gentle to-and-fro stroke at the stone crown is enough to satisfy Rin, so she steps away from the petrified visage of her sister.]
Then let us venture to my suite. I have a few things to show you. We'll be going to the Rank 9 floor.
no subject
Love and affection are foreign things to him — but anger he knows very, very well. It’s the only thing that kept whatever was left of his sanity intact, after all.
He doesn’t show any of it. Instead, he just tips his head briefly in acknowledgment. She can lead, and he’ll follow. ]
no subject
No, she does not expect things to fall back into place with how they were before. However, he reached out. He has come to her and she will oblige him. Why shouldn't she? Even without a contract, she's sure they'll make a great team. If only because they come from a certain common ground.
They eventually make it to her suite. After stepping in and closing the door behind them, she'll slip off her shoes and place them upon a wrought iron rack that matches the antique style of the space.]
no subject
If she trusts him enough to show him her back, well…she isn’t necessarily wrong to. Even without their contract, he would strike someone down who tried to harm her if he was there to stop it.
He doesn’t think about things like that in great depth, but that’s how it is.
Once they reach her suite, he takes off his shoes as well, and if there’s room for his, he hangs them up too. He takes a moment to look around…and in many ways, it’s not so different from her mansion back in their world. The atmosphere is the same, and the familiarity of it is…grounding in a way he had not expected.
He despises this hellhole they have found themselves in…but this space, at least, isn’t offensive to him. ]
no subject
[Rin will lead him back into what used to be the guest room. Instead now it's been restructured to serve as a workshop for herself. The scent and dim lighting is reminiscent of her father's basement workshop, and she specifically made it that way. To remind her of her goals.
Speaking of, she walks over by her little conspiracy board.]
I have a few theories about this place. Let me know if you have any questions, but all in all my suspicions amount to something collecting energy. For what I have no clue, but the excess seems to go toward running this hotel and occasionally granting wishes.
no subject
He takes a few minutes to peruse her board in silence. Analyzing. Weighing what's laid out here. ]
Has there ever been any definitive proof that these 'wishes' are actually granted?
no subject
[Madam Mingming and "J" is who she considers lucid. They're set apart from people like the high ranking guests who simply decided to place their games "on hold".]
no subject
So you have only their word that such wishes are granted.
[ Color him extremely skeptical. For his own purposes, though, it doesn’t really matter. ]
What do your senses tell you about this place?
no subject
With all the sex that goes on here coupled with the spiritual activity I'd say this place has enough mana-collection to readily grant more wishes than the Grail. Sure, we couldn't make our own wish because All the World's Evils had settled so deeply inside our wish granting vessel after the Third War, but... If it didn't actually do what it was supposed to in those first three Grail Wars then I don't think my ancestors would have kept hosting such a farce.
However with the defunct pods in the Maintenance Levels and the shift of the appearance of the resort during our Clubs game I have to wonder if the mana being produced is used for something else. Because the highest concentration of magical energy settles in the arousal fluids of each person it's clear why they'd pick "sex," rather than draining us of our blood. I'm still looking for the answer as to who needs this energy and why, but I'm quite solid on the hunch of us being the batteries that keep the lights on in this place.
no subject
Still...after a moment, he lets out a quiet hum. ]
The simplest answer is often the best one.
[ He looks at her, finally. ]
And I would agree with that assessment. And go so far as to say the system here isn't unlike the Holy Grail War, even down to the suits.
The difference is...we are all Servants here.
no subject
[And if it's not "death," then what is it? What connects them all?
The only way to find out is to play the game. After all, she wouldn't be this far into her hypothesis if she had been skipping out on all the craziness the resort has to offer. Especially the Clubs game, which actually solidified a lot of her guesses.]
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Is that what happened to you?
no subject
I'm not sure. I was on my way to defeat Sakura, and the last thing I remember is walking through the cave under the Ryuudou Temple with a copy of Zelretch's Jeweled Sword. I don't remember meeting her face to face, or dying. Though there are people here who do remember there deaths.
no subject
Still...it doesn't sit right with him. ]
I recall mine. Distinctly.
[ He also remembers giving his left arm away. That smug, trashy priest made himself useful for once - though Archer suspects it was mostly for his own entertainment. ]
I doubt this is some kind of after life, though.
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[These are simply theories. Assumptions. Things not yet capable of being verified.]
no subject
But there is no point in dwelling on that or mentioning it. ]
It likely works to some extent. Many of the guests seem perfectly content to be here.
[ Although - ]
I've spoken to at least a few who aren't.