Week 1, Day 1 | dimidium facti qui coepit habet

[stages]

CITIZENS!!

[Good morning, Vietnam Terminal Tokyo! There's a midget shouting on the D-Terminal.]

First, to whomever is responsible for rescuing this humble Emperor from oblivion, you have my thanks; ready though I was to give my life, I can hardly complain about a pardon. Your service will be rewarded!

Ah, but... [The tiniest hint of hesitation enters her voice; she's not sure she wants to ask the next bit, but... really has to. Positive thoughts, Saber!] ...there was another, whose processes were running in the same application, who was in the very same danger as I. Could it be that she was also saved? [...] Or, if not, perhaps it is not yet too late...

Don't worry, Saber! [The second voice comes from off-camera, perhaps near Saber's feet...] If you're a Chosen Child, then she probably is, too! You keep talking about how special she is...

[Well, that perks her right up! Have some enthusiastic nodding; how could she have been so foolish?]

Indeed, it is as you say, Salamon! Magnificent though I might be, no-one in their right mind could pass over Hakuno; she is a treasure without equal! She must also have been 'Chosen'...

[...and then her face contorts into a peeved sort of frown; something else has just occurred to her.]

...however... age notwithstanding, she is no 'child'. And neither am I! There may be many women of thirty that would take such a label as a compliment, but my looks, my accomplishments, all have been refined by maturation!

Maybe it's because you're the right height for a child? Or even smaller...

S... Salamon-!

[Aww naw... that did it. Her D-Terminal forgotten, Saber kneels down, until her face is inches from that of the precious little puppy that's serving as the peanut gallery. For a long moment, she looks about ready to roar in the little guy's face; obviously, his offense was greater than the average onlooker could know. Maybe he was about to die? That would be awfully cold, though, even for her...

...but, after what seemed like ages, she finally relented, as she turned away, and puffed up her cheeks in a childish show of annoyance. Well, at least it's not murderous rage anymore?]

...t-topics such as my height are forbidden, understand?! [...] And so is making that face, when I am trying to reprimand you; no-one is heartless enough to remain angry before it...

[There's a little hint of a blush on her face, as she storms off... leaving her D-Terminal in the grass, near Salamon.]

But, Saber... this is my normal face....

[And, as obediently as one might expect from a creature that appeared canine, the already-beleaguered partner of the overbearing little person that's been assaulting your airwaves picks up the abandoned device in his mouth, and trots off after his partner, bumping the off button in the process.]

Comments

[video]

[doesnotgetit]

[Hakuno had been letting Lucemon fiddle away with her D-Terminal as she went about her morning routine, so she didn't immediately notice when this new video began. But that voice - that loud, confident, unmistakable voice - caused her to drop whatever she was doing and not-so-politely snatch the device out of her digimon's hands.

As she watches, she can feel her eyes stinging, a lump rising in her throat. It had been weeks since Hakuno herself was dragged into this digital world, so she had tried to accept the fact that Saber was gone, that they were forever parted...

But she was wrong! And god, she was never happier to be so wrong in her short life!]

Saber! [Oh man she sounds a bit choked already. She clears her voice and tries again.] Saber, I'm here too!

1/3 - [video]

[stages]

[Similarly, Salamon was still in possession of Saber's D-Terminal... however, as soon as she heard Hakuno's reply, she turned around, and literally dived for it.]

PRAETOR--!

[An action which confused and terrified poor Salamon...]

No wait no no-!

2/3 - [video]

[stages]

[...the video cuts out for a moment, and then back in to show Saber laying on the ground next to her poor, put-upon partner, looking both mussed and embarrassed.]

M... my apologies...

[Salamon, however, seems fine, more alarmed than harmed; being Saber's partner is not going to be good for his heart...]

3/3 - [video]

[stages]

T-that aside! [I don't think anyone's going to forget that, Saber, but okay...

Her expression turns more serious, more gentle... she hadn't had time to lose hope, but she's still happy beyond words to see her true partner.]

Praetor... [But, in the end, what does she say? Are there words to convey these emotions? You could say 'they should have sent a poet'... but, Saber was a poet - among other things - and that didn't help.

...well, at least, there was one thing that needed to be said.]

...well done, Praetor.

[doesnotgetit]

[Hakuno can't help but laugh - really laugh - even though it's at that poor Salamon's expense. She hadn't realized until just how how much she missed Saber's antics. Like Saber, though, she calms a bit, and a smile crosses her face.]

I couldn't have done all that without you, Saber. I should be the one saying that.

[She reaches up, rubbing at one of her eyes. Good, she hasn't managed to cry yet...] I can't tell you how happy I am to see you. It's been a while since I woke up here, and I didn't want to, but... I started to assume the worst...

[stages]

[And that just makes her smile all the more; not a grin, for once, but an honest-to-god, joyous smile.]

That's because... we're partners. I am your strength, Praetor... and you are mine. I am your blade, which cuts away misfortune, and you are my spirit, which lifts me high on wings of hope! Together, there is nothing we cannot do!

[...laying it on a little thick, eh, Saber? But she truly believes it, at that moment; after all, they had already done the impossible. Where no path to victory existed, they carved a new one.]

There, there... I would be a poor Servant, to perish and leave you alone, would I not? [She dips her head a bit, as if in a mock-bow.] But, I promise you... you'll not be rid of me any time soon.

[doesnotgetit]

[Hakuno looks a bit flustered at Saber's words. Sure, she's been around the Servant long enough to know that she certainly loves dramatic speech, but... it's still a little embarrassing, hearing the things Saber says about her.

... Not a bad sort of embarrassing though.]

I hope you're right. This world... it's nice. It'll be an interesting change, living together in a place where we're not forced to fight all the time, right?

Video

[superfighter]

[She did say talk about height was forbidden, but...] I do not think height or age particularly matters. [Especially since Sakura's like 6'3.5''...]

Video

[stages]

[BERSERKER????

wait no]

Hm, yes, precisely! It is irrelevant! No part of a person's character or deeds can be measured by their height, so talking of it is pointless! Foolish, even!

[...oh wait technically Sakura said something else let's acknowledge that]

...ah, and age as well, I suppose. There are those who go their whole lives without leaving an impact on the world, and others who revolutionize it before there's hair on their chin or meat on their chest!

[....interesting way of referring to puberty, saber, but we'll allow it.]

Video

[superfighter]

Yes, it is true that age does not determine one's worth. I myself went to a school for young people who already had extraordinary talents. [Well...technically she doesn't remember if she did anything much there aside from take part in Monobear's game, but still.]

Video

[stages]

H'oh? How curious. [Why hadn't she ever thought of that...]

And what, may I ask, was your talent? Nothing so simple as "bodybuilding", I should hope.

Video

[superfighter]

I come from an old family of martial artists, and thus I have mastered several fighting styles. Though my specialty is mixed martial arts.

[video]

[lovespinkbirdies]

[She could ask the 'why do you care if you're short' question, but well... umm.... probably not a good idea.]

Yeah, calling all of us "Chosen Children" doesn't make much sense. I think the first ones are kids though. They might not have figured out what else to call everyone yet.

[video]

[stages]

[Because being 4'9" makes people underestimate you as a warrior, among other things. But, no, it really is best not to ask...]

Hm... there is sense in that, then. [A legacy term that wasn't really compatible with modern processes? As a computer program, she could appreciate the difficulty in that.] In that case, I propose that I, at the least, be known as the Chosen Ruler!

[....Saber no-one is going to call you that, you're being ridiculous]

[video]

[lovespinkbirdies]

[Huh. That was... kinda... well... huh.]

... Ruler? Why do you think you should be called that?

[video]

[stages]

A ruler is what I am; it is in my blood and bones! Once, I stood at the head of the greatest empire the world has ever known! I am a woman who has slain gods! [Singular, and it was technically Buddha....] Actually... perhaps "Chosen Champion" would be more appropriate? Or "Chosen Superman"!

[video]

[lovespinkbirdies]

Oh. Umm... wow.

[Brief pause.]

Some umm... which empire was that?

[video]

[velveteenmage]

[what the christ.]

Why are you-... [Insane? Loud?]

...wearing red?

[mistaken for arturia count +1]

[video]

[stages]

It brings out my eyes.

[...well, I mean. It does.]

...besides, red is a glorious colour! The colour of passion, of creation, of conflict and conquest! Is there any more appropriate colour to garb my magnificent personage?

[Obviously not.]

[video]

[velveteenmage]

Saber, are you feeling alright?

[video]

[stages]

Of course! And why not? I live, as does my Master! And, I have been blessed with a new pet... err, friend, as well!

I heard that, Saber...

[Salamon sounds a bit hurt...]

video;

[codes]

Hey, loudmouth.

[ Boy, that tone Rin is taking at the start of this conversation is going is proof that this is going to go so well. ]

Say what you want, but if you're going to start mentioning Hakuno by name, I'm afraid I'm going to have to shut you up. I guess she's a little special--[ That's the closest to a public display of dere this place is ever going to get. ]--but I'm the only one allowed to say that.

Understood?

video;

[stages]

Oi, Rin-!

[She'll take more shit from you than she will from most people, Tousaka, but trying to claim greater privilege wrt Hakuno is well over that line....

...of course, then she notices something more surprising than you being a butthole (because, lbr, you're a butthole all the time)]

...what did you do to your hair?

[She just... stares. For a moment.

And then her face splits into a really shifty-looking grin.]

...oho. I see. No need to say it! I made that strong an impression [wink wink nudge nudge] that you seek to emulate me more fully. Indeed!

[That makes no sense you complete idiot.]

In that case, I approve!

video;

[codes]

Wha-?

[ This familiarity unnerves her. Feeling exposed and bare before this stranger of a woman only adds to her frustration. ]

I didn't choose to emulate anyone, much less some loudmouth stranger trying to lay claim on my Hakuno.

[ Seriously, what's this girl's malfunction? ] Did they screw up something with the newbies this round? I swear it wasn't me.

video;

[stages]

[WOW RIN wow. Wow. That hurts.

Saber is literally pouting over here.]

S-stranger? You would label me a stranger, to whom you owe your life? Who was it, Rin, that carried you away from harm, when the alchemist sought to destroy you?

[Seriously, she looks genuinely hurt.]

And who was it that you shared a tender moment with in the infirmary? [...] ...several tender moments, to be precise.

[Focus, please.]

I know you to be a harsh girl, Rin Tousaka, but not a heartless one! Or was that impression incorrect?

[...you might be overreacting a bit, dear.]