[Complete]

[everdistant]

Characters: England (notexcalibur), Saber (everdistant)
Location: Somewhere between Shibusen City Park and Casualty Communal
Rating: G
Time: 13 October, 9:30 AM
Description: Country and citizen run into each other (though not literally) as Saber returns from training. Tea ensues.

Comments

[notexcalibur]

They had a lot in common, this country and his citizen. England, too, wore a mask that distanced him from other people. He was polite, of course, but he had a hard time making friends. Most people were kept at an arm's length away, but not because he was a hidden king, or anything like that. No, England feared being hurt. He opened himself up to very few people. Being a country, he constantly changed allies and enemies, and so it was difficult to maintain a relationship with any of them (he'd fought horrible wars with his own brothers). And, up until recently, England's association with humans was completely different

Yay, managed to find some internets today!

[everdistant]

Saber couldn't help but feel a wash of relief at seeing England out and about. She had been certain that, as busy as they were, she would have seen him over the communications channel or out in the city, and she feared something had happened. There had been no attacks that she had heard of, and as part of the Watch she would have heard if something had happened. So perhaps he had been so busy that they had been like proverbial ships in the night; she had definitely not been idle, herself

o hai bb o/

[notexcalibur]

Her presence warmed him, and England responded with a slight bow of his head. Being able to be so close to his citizens was the one thing BREW had going for it right now. Everything else... Well, Shibusen and BREW were not on England's good side. But he'd wanted to come back, and he'd told Spirit and the rest of the Network that he would fight for them. And that was what he'd do.

"I have been..." England paused for a moment, smile faltering. He did not want to trouble her, but it was difficult to lie to such a kind person. He knew very little about Saber, sure, but he also knew she had suffered a great deal. For her country. And that made her, in his eyes, someone he deemed trustworthy. "...Better, I suppose."

Grrr, Verizon's being a jerk

[everdistant]

As practised as she was with hiding her emotions, Saber was somewhat sensitive to others who did the same. Even when she had been forced to distance herself from her subjects and bury her emotions to maintain both a just rule and her masculine façade, she could nevertheless sense when others employed masks of the same kind.

"What can I do to help you, my lord?" she asked earnestly, her concern breaking her concentration enough to reveal her worry. Not Is there anything I can do? or I am sorry to hear that... but What can I do? There was no question in her mind that she would do everything within her power -- however diminished -- to help him.

[notexcalibur]

The mall? England hadn't even thought of that. He nodded. "Alright, that sounds fine. But I wouldn't have minded treating you to a nicer breakfast." In an actual restaurant.

S-sorry for the long wait... Verizon's being a twerp T^T

[everdistant]

She had to admit to herself she would have preferred a nicer breakfast; the food wasn't particularly bad, but it was not the best, either. It had taken considerable effort to rein herself in and exercise rather uncharacteristic restraint when it came to the other great love of her life. But if there was one person she would refrain from haranguing about her meals, it was her country.

"If you prefer, there is the Death By Pastry."

[notexcalibur]

England visibly stiffened at the mention of his former place of work. That... That would not be good, either. America was still working there, wasn't he? If they ran into each other...

In his mind, he tried to recall other places to eat in the city. There were some restaurants near where he worked now, but he did not think going there would be appropriate. There were the maid and butler cafes, but that also did not seem right. DeathDonalds? Too cheap. Dorsia? Too expensive. Aside from that, England did not get out much. He did most of his eating at home, in his apartment.

He gave Saber a sheepish look and rubbed his arm. "Uh. Why don't we look around?"

Internets get! No more waiting for weeks!

[everdistant]

It was a curious reaction, though Saber remained blissfully unaware of the reasons. There was only so much she could gauge from simple reactions, and she was far to mindful of her manners to inquire. Perhaps, in time, he would be comfortable enough telling her. But for the moment, she let it pass.

"That is a logical thing to do. Very well, then."

[notexcalibur]

Deep down, England felt the same way as Saber, felt obligated to help these people who had become his friends. But BREW had kind of screwed him over this time around, and he was not quick to forgive. His partner had moved on, and England no longer felt connected to anyone here. Right now, he was bitter.

"You're right," he said quietly, wishing he could put Prussia out of his mind. Every time someone mentioned partners or going on missions, he wanted to scream. England missed it, missed him. "I'm glad you're helping them." It was more than he could do currently.

[everdistant]

It was hardly any great help as far as the King of Knights was concerned; she should be out on the battlefield fighting to end the war they had been dragged into, just as she always had. A Servant was all but worthless without his or her Noble Phantasm, the weapon that became part of the legends of Heroic Spirits. While talks of partnerships and Weapons hadn't made her bitter, they reminded her all too well of just how powerless she was.

She suppressed a sigh. "It is not very much, regretfully," Saber admitted. "I do not understand how or why my own weapon was somehow sealed, but without it, there is very little I can do."

[notexcalibur]

"Most, if not everyone, is in the same boat, Milady," England said. "My fellow countries and I are not as powerful here as we are at home. I don't even have my magic. We have to make-do with what we have been given."

Sorry for the wait... pwned hard by influenza orz

[everdistant]

It was the one thing Saber could not understand, try as she might. Summoning help from across worlds had been something she could understand and even empathise with, but the fact that BREW had brought them without the things which would have increased their chances for bringing an abrupt end to the war was a fact that continued to baffle her. True, it was apparently a quirk of BREW's, but Shibusen ought to work on that.

"Be that as it may, I find myself frustrated that I am unable to do that which I was summoned to do. That is the purpose of a Servant."

[notexcalibur]

England held up a hand. "Now, hold on a minute," he interrupted her before she could continue. Her words almost shocked him. Did Saber have no confidence in her abilities whatsoever? It seemed as though she was constantly blaming herself for her past actions. She could not get past them. Whether or not she had let down her country or not, as a soldier, she should have been able to trust in her own strength. "Just because you could not resonate with someone else does not necessarily mean it was your fault. Perhaps they were not ready, or both of you were scared." The latter was the more likely.

[everdistant]

"I am uncertain that it was as simple as that..." she started to explain. Saber had experienced some trepidation, admittedly... but Yuuri had been partnered before and had a good amount of experience. There was something else to it, something she could not quite put her finger on.

But did she want to admit this? Saber found herself hesitating, not out of pride, but because she had already burdened her companion this much already.

"Nevertheless, I have been somewhat hesitant to harm another Weapon in such a way. With more training, perhaps."

[notexcalibur]

"Harm?" he repeated, more to himself than to Saber. She did not have to answer that if she did not want to. England, himself, had not been hurt while he was a Weapon, nor had he hurt his former Meister, or Allen. Granted, he had not let anyone else touch him, but he had heard of cases where trying to force resonation could lead to disaster. He wondered what Saber experienced.

But rather than allow the girl any more reason to doubt herself, he wanted her to know that she was not a failure, that it was still okay to try. And, in a flash, England changed before her, dropping to the ground with a clank as he became a medieval broadsword.

[everdistant]

Hesitation was, in spite of her constant second-guessing herself and sense of inferiority, not something Saber could have afforded as a ruler or a Servant. She had always made her decisions firmly and only questioned herself in retrospect; as a warrior, her battles were fought with complete and unwavering resolve. Yet, for some reason, she could not bring herself to pick up the Weapon before her.

"...Are you certain?" Saber asked after a moment of deliberation. Though her voice remained even, she was unable to restrain the faintest note of uncertainty.

[notexcalibur]

England nodded from within the blade of the sword. His children were strong and could do anything if they put their minds to it. As a country, it was his duty to help guide them, no matter what was going on in his own head. He'd promised himself that if he returned to Death City, he would work hard and not let personal problems get in the way of the war.

...Obviously, he had already failed with that. But helping Saber and Watson and all of his other citizens was still important. If he couldn't help himself, he could at least help them.

I'm going to go ahead with the resonation, if that's OK?

[everdistant]

Resonation with one's weapon was an alien concept to the knight; even the finest of weapons was generally an inanimate object to be used. Being a skilled warrior was simply a matter of training oneself and becoming accustomed to wielding one's chosen weapon, making it an extension of one's own body and will. A weapon with a will of its own seemed to defeat the purpose. But it was something that Saber had to adapt to if she was to be of any use in combat

i gave you permission!

[notexcalibur]

It was there, though, even if it was dim. England could feel it. The sensation only brought back memories that he was desperately trying to hide. Because of the resonation, he had to open up his mind and heart, which made him quite a bit emotional. He blinked back tears, only realizing too late what was happening.

The connection was suddenly cut, and he became heavy in Saber's hand.

... I blame the meds

[everdistant]

It had been her first successful resonation, and Saber had been unprepared for what it precisely entailed. She had never been one to open herself up to anyone -- albeit superficially -- and even she herself had been closed off from her own emotions. While she could not keep herself from experiencing them, she had buried them so deeply within herself in order to rule as king that she was somewhat removed from them.

She was certainly not prepared for the sudden rush of them.

Through the emotional haze, Saber was vaguely aware of the weight in her hand: the sword. Keeping her face carefully composed, she studied England's Weapon form. "I am grateful," she said at last, "For what you have done for me."

And she meant it; her intuition told her England had sacrificed something, though she was not certain what.