Her life (and now, the unique "after" life that Heroic Spirits were destined to) had always been one of purpose. From the moment she pulled the magical sword free, she knew her life would no longer be her own, but more than that, it was a life where her purpose was never slight. She was destined to be the great king that would unify Britain. In a far off dream, a distant memory that she feels is the actions of another self that was summoned, she raised her sword to destroy the very thing she sought. And here in Chaldea, it's the greatest of all. All of humanity and history must be saved. There's few other causes she could think of that she would lend her sword to without hesitation.
But... It's strangely peaceful, here. She almost finds that time between missions uncomfortable, since idleness never suited her. Some Servants are happy for the time to be slothful, but Altria wasn't one of them. To help her Master conquer the impossible challenge before her, her own skills had to be perfect. She could cross swords with heroes from throughout time and history, real and fictional, and surely through that, she would even be ready to strike down the King of Mages.
However, stepping foot into a strange Camelot had left her wanting for such an opportunity. It left her with feelings that she'd more often deny herself, since they were never suited to her station. Moreso when she had heard of the latest Servant that Master had summoned here. She felt... anxious about it, of all things. It didn't feel right, for that particular knight was the most steadfastly loyal of her knights, but she had seen him now in a different context entirely. It felt that there was more now that need be said, but she didn't know at all how to say it.
So.
Here she was, before Bedivere's door, staring at it as if it were some great foe. It certainly felt like one. But her pause is one that's of uncertainty rather than a lack of courage. Finally, thinking that she knows how to ask her question, she knocks. ]
[He'd come to terms long ago that his life would come to an end when he finally completed his task. That was the fate of human beings. If even his king was to be slain, if even his king were to die, then it was only a matter of course that Sir Bedivere, who was so much lesser, would also die.
... It doesn't pan out that way. Somehow, he is summoned. Somehow, he's a Servant. Somehow... he's granted even more life ("life", if it can be called that) than he'd ever really deserved, after all of those years of wandering.
It means that after he is summoned, he spends a fair amount of time squirreled away in his room. He has a lot to come to terms with--and while he will gladly serve his new Master, while he will perform his duty as he must... he's really not sure how he can even be here. of course...then comes the knock, and the voice, and that voice is--
(That... is his other question, his other reason for hiding himself away. Shame and concern and uncertainty and so many other emotions not at all befitting of a knight.)
Either way he is not prepared at all for her to knock, and he practically fumbles over himself to stand up. He may or may not like. Knock stuff over in the process. Clatter clatter. It's fine.]
Ah--
[DANGIT.]
Yes... of course...! Just a--moment.
[Anyway a moment later he has straightened what he knocked over and heads over to the door, and before he can second guess himself or overthink it?
[ The clatter causes her eyebrows to lift slightly in surprise, though it’s also followed with a smile that’s very slight. In her way, it’s warm and fond, because it’s the sort of thing that she’d come to expect, and is something that makes it more real that she’s going to reunite with a dear friend. Though it does come a bit more quickly than she anticipates.
When he yanks the door open, that soft smile is on its way out, but he can still catch the barest glimpse before it slips back to her much more serious default.
She stands as she always has, much shorter than Bedivere, but full of the regal presence that makes her seem much more. She’s not wearing her armor, since she’s been here in Chaldea long enough to not feel it necessary (and besides, an advantage of being a Servant was being able to materialize it in an instant). Inwardly, his quickness to right whatever he’d knocked over surprises her, but it doesn’t show on her face now. After a slight pause for that surprise, she just closes her eyes briefly to give Bedivere a small, respectful nod. It’s familiar, since she doesn’t quite know where to start beyond that. ]
It is good to see you, Sir Bedivere. I apologize for not stopping by sooner to welcome you to Chaldea.
[ Though it hasn’t really been that long. A day, perhaps. Still, that’s what it took for her to figure out how to approach reintroducing herself. Social graces were never her strong suit, so it took a day to come up with a simple suggestion: ]
It is near dinner time. Would you care to join me?
[A smile. It's that smile that really tugs at his heartstrings, that transports him back in time as if those past years had never happened.
As if it could be that simple.
He would do anything for that smile--and it's gone as fast as it comes. And he shouldn't even be allowed to see that smile any longer, not with all he did.
Quietly, Bedivere straightens, dragging in a slow breath.]
My king.
[And then, properly, of course, he drops to one knee, bowing his head.
[ It's not the first time that she's been subject to this in Chaldea. As luck (or fate, perhaps) would have it, Bedivere was the last to arrive. She had been one of the first Servants here in Chaldea, and she's been in many of the battles that Ritsuka has fought. She's seen Chaldea go from quiet, empty halls to those bustling with activity. For a stretch of time, it was all new, unfamiliar faces (minus one golden Servant whose presence she tried to ignore), but almost all at once, familiar ones came here. Personally, she imagined that it might have been her presence that called out to their spirits. Even if she felt that in many ways, she had failed them, their devotion was always without question, even if their loyalty faltered.
And save for her treacherous son, they had all greeted her like this. It's familiar in a way that takes her back to ancient stone walls rather than the sterile perfection of Chaldea, but with that, it brings up her complex doubts. In heart heart of hearts, she wants to tell him to stand, that her reign is long since past, and they needn't treat her as their king anymore when she hadn't been able to accomplish anything in the end, but... She also knows that it would be an insult to that eternal devotion.
Her face stays regal despite those doubts, and she gives a small nod. It's not much in her face, but there's at least a fraction of warmth there. ]
Welcome to Chaldea. [ It's another "good to see you," though she's not one to repeat herself. ] You may rise. We are not in a place so strict as Camelot.
[That's far too kind of her. It's far, far too kind...and Bedivere does not deserve it. He slowly stands, head still bowed, when she tells him he can rise.
A slow breath in, and he lifts his chin fractionally. What does he say? How does he apologize for failing his king so, so badly? For not doing the one thing she'd asked of him?]
It... is truly good to see you well.
[In the end, that's what he settles on--heartfelt and soft and utterly sincere, because it's so much more than he could have hoped for.]
[ That's what finally gets her demeanor to soften into a slight smile. The tone of his voice, the softness of it, it's kind and familiar. She still isn't completely sure where to begin, since even after... several knights now, it's always awkward at the beginning. Now they have the advantage of looking back at all their pasts from a distance. It provides the opportunity to make things as they were, early at the Round Table, but getting there isn't easy. But as before, with everyone but Mordred, the softness of her knight's voice gives her hope that it's possible. ]
It is an opportunity that I would have never imagined. I doubt any of us could have, save for Merlin.
[ FUCK YOU MERLIN ]
[ I mean. She takes a half step back from the door to give Bedivere room to step out. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-04-16 03:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-04-16 09:00 pm (UTC)Her life (and now, the unique "after" life that Heroic Spirits were destined to) had always been one of purpose. From the moment she pulled the magical sword free, she knew her life would no longer be her own, but more than that, it was a life where her purpose was never slight. She was destined to be the great king that would unify Britain. In a far off dream, a distant memory that she feels is the actions of another self that was summoned, she raised her sword to destroy the very thing she sought. And here in Chaldea, it's the greatest of all. All of humanity and history must be saved. There's few other causes she could think of that she would lend her sword to without hesitation.
But... It's strangely peaceful, here. She almost finds that time between missions uncomfortable, since idleness never suited her. Some Servants are happy for the time to be slothful, but Altria wasn't one of them. To help her Master conquer the impossible challenge before her, her own skills had to be perfect. She could cross swords with heroes from throughout time and history, real and fictional, and surely through that, she would even be ready to strike down the King of Mages.
However, stepping foot into a strange Camelot had left her wanting for such an opportunity. It left her with feelings that she'd more often deny herself, since they were never suited to her station. Moreso when she had heard of the latest Servant that Master had summoned here. She felt... anxious about it, of all things. It didn't feel right, for that particular knight was the most steadfastly loyal of her knights, but she had seen him now in a different context entirely. It felt that there was more now that need be said, but she didn't know at all how to say it.
So.
Here she was, before Bedivere's door, staring at it as if it were some great foe. It certainly felt like one. But her pause is one that's of uncertainty rather than a lack of courage. Finally, thinking that she knows how to ask her question, she knocks. ]
Sir Bedivere— Are you in?
no subject
Date: 2019-04-17 03:33 am (UTC)... It doesn't pan out that way. Somehow, he is summoned. Somehow, he's a Servant. Somehow... he's granted even more life ("life", if it can be called that) than he'd ever really deserved, after all of those years of wandering.
It means that after he is summoned, he spends a fair amount of time squirreled away in his room. He has a lot to come to terms with--and while he will gladly serve his new Master, while he will perform his duty as he must... he's really not sure how he can even be here. of course...then comes the knock, and the voice, and that voice is--
(That... is his other question, his other reason for hiding himself away. Shame and concern and uncertainty and so many other emotions not at all befitting of a knight.)
Either way he is not prepared at all for her to knock, and he practically fumbles over himself to stand up. He may or may not like. Knock stuff over in the process. Clatter clatter. It's fine.]
Ah--
[DANGIT.]
Yes... of course...! Just a--moment.
[Anyway a moment later he has straightened what he knocked over and heads over to the door, and before he can second guess himself or overthink it?
He yanks it open.]
no subject
Date: 2019-04-17 09:28 am (UTC)When he yanks the door open, that soft smile is on its way out, but he can still catch the barest glimpse before it slips back to her much more serious default.
She stands as she always has, much shorter than Bedivere, but full of the regal presence that makes her seem much more. She’s not wearing her armor, since she’s been here in Chaldea long enough to not feel it necessary (and besides, an advantage of being a Servant was being able to materialize it in an instant). Inwardly, his quickness to right whatever he’d knocked over surprises her, but it doesn’t show on her face now. After a slight pause for that surprise, she just closes her eyes briefly to give Bedivere a small, respectful nod. It’s familiar, since she doesn’t quite know where to start beyond that. ]
It is good to see you, Sir Bedivere. I apologize for not stopping by sooner to welcome you to Chaldea.
[ Though it hasn’t really been that long. A day, perhaps. Still, that’s what it took for her to figure out how to approach reintroducing herself. Social graces were never her strong suit, so it took a day to come up with a simple suggestion: ]
It is near dinner time. Would you care to join me?
no subject
Date: 2019-04-18 02:15 am (UTC)As if it could be that simple.
He would do anything for that smile--and it's gone as fast as it comes. And he shouldn't even be allowed to see that smile any longer, not with all he did.
Quietly, Bedivere straightens, dragging in a slow breath.]
My king.
[And then, properly, of course, he drops to one knee, bowing his head.
That's not conducive to conversation!]
no subject
Date: 2019-04-18 03:54 pm (UTC)And save for her treacherous son, they had all greeted her like this. It's familiar in a way that takes her back to ancient stone walls rather than the sterile perfection of Chaldea, but with that, it brings up her complex doubts. In heart heart of hearts, she wants to tell him to stand, that her reign is long since past, and they needn't treat her as their king anymore when she hadn't been able to accomplish anything in the end, but... She also knows that it would be an insult to that eternal devotion.
Her face stays regal despite those doubts, and she gives a small nod. It's not much in her face, but there's at least a fraction of warmth there. ]
Welcome to Chaldea. [ It's another "good to see you," though she's not one to repeat herself. ] You may rise. We are not in a place so strict as Camelot.
no subject
Date: 2019-04-20 01:57 am (UTC)A slow breath in, and he lifts his chin fractionally. What does he say? How does he apologize for failing his king so, so badly? For not doing the one thing she'd asked of him?]
It... is truly good to see you well.
[In the end, that's what he settles on--heartfelt and soft and utterly sincere, because it's so much more than he could have hoped for.]
no subject
Date: 2019-04-20 03:05 am (UTC)It is an opportunity that I would have never imagined. I doubt any of us could have, save for Merlin.
[ FUCK YOU MERLIN ]
[ I mean. She takes a half step back from the door to give Bedivere room to step out. ]
Have you had a chance to see Chaldea?