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From: Minako
Date: May 1st

Um.. hey!

[ Although Minako smiles, there's something a bit muted about her. If not just for the fact that the volume of her voice currently isn't rupturing your eardrums right away with the greeting. ]

I thought I should let everyone know, since a lot of people know her.. But it's probably going to be difficult to reach Zelda for a while. Because she's asleep! And, you know, not just "doesn't want to get up in the morning" asleep. More like.. "sudden spring hibernation" sleep? Which is something that.. sometimes happens, I guess!

[ It's fine. This is fine. It's fine! See, she's smiling. Totally cool. ]

I guess.. until she wakes up, I'm going to try and take care of Metis temple affairs. [ Sure, Natsuru is there too, but Minako is the Exemplar! Not to mention Minako does have a natural leader sense - despite her lack of memories - and a huge sense of responsibility. It comes natural to try and take the whole world on her shoulders if needed. ] So if you need anything.. just let me know instead!

.. yeah, that's all. Thanks for listening, everyone!

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[ It's a good thing that Minako does know the other fairly well at this point. Some of Mordred's mannerisms are a little.. unique, after all. Like how she will just call someone weird so plainly without even meaning anything bad by it necessarily. It's why - thankfully - the words don't sting, since that'd be the worst possible thing to happen in this situation. ]

That's not what I meant. [ She sniffs, before quickly raising a hand and rubbing at her eyes to try and get rid of any tears before they spill. She doesn't want to just be some crying idiot in front of anyone. ]

I'm just-- just doing my best. To look after Zelda.

[ Watching Minako rub her eyes, Mordred fishes some old serviettes out of her jacket pocket. She's about to offer them up but it seems like Minako isn't actually crying just yet, so Mordred just stands there holding them out awkwardly for the moment. ]

I don't get it. The reason you're behaving strangely is that you're doing your best?

[ She lets it sink in for a few seconds longer but everything is still a bit too vague for her to come to any solid conclusions. Maybe that's what Minako meant when she said that Mordred would think she was weird? ]

Is it the responsibility that's stressing you out or something?

Edited 2019-04-14 13:01 (UTC)

[ Sorry, Mordred, but Minako is going to let her stand there holding those out awkwardly for a bit longer. Apparently she's too caught up in her own emotional distress for the moment to notice it. It's already tough enough to actually talk about these kinds of things when she's so used to bottling them up forever.

What Mordred suggests is part of the problem, yes, but also-- ]

It's since this is my fault. I'm her friend, her shinki-- I'm the Exemplar, even. [ And despite how Minako seems.. well, virtually all of the time, let's be real, she does take that seriously. Maybe a little too seriously. ] And yet Zelda still ended up like this. I should've been able to prevent it somehow.

[ And the stress of having to take care of things almost by herself now, and the worry about the "what if" of Zelda maybe never waking up, and.. so many things. Once Minako has one issue, they just start piling up and won't let go. ]

You're blaming yourself for this?

[ Mordred doesn't even really understand what happened to Zelda. For all she knows this is just a natural thing that happens to pointy-eared people or princesses— she's pretty sure there was even a movie about that. ]

What makes you think you could've done anything to stop it?

Why wouldn't there be something I could've done to stop it?

[ Sure, turning around the question that way is totally irrational, but that's just how things work in Minako's head. There can't be anything that's completely impossible to prevent from happening to the people she cares about. She has to find a way to prevent those things one way or another.

Her gaze drifts to the open door to Zelda's room, filled with worry. ]

We're shinki. Isn't it our duty to protect our god? So if something happens to them, it's our fault. [ But despite the way the content of Minako's words is a very general way of putting things, there's a hint in her voice that makes it obvious she's just talking about herself and what she feels her own duty is. ] I keep thinking.. If only Zelda would have had a better shinki, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

[ Listening to this is a little upsetting for Mordred. Minako has always carried herself with enough confidence to power a small city so listening to her doubt herself to this extent feels... wrong.

She follows Minako's gaze over to Zelda's room, wondering what sort of wisdom the princess would have to share regarding this situation. There must be something Mordred could say, some string of words that could reassure her friend that she's a worthy shinki. But would words even be enough here?

After a few moments of quiet deliberation, Mordred knows what she has to do. ]

I understand.

[ And with that she begins a purposeful march toward Zelda's room. ]

[ Maybe Mordred understands - or says she does, anyway - but Minako feels that in turn there is something she really doesn't understand here. It takes her a moment since she was so caught up in thoughts of her own insecurities, but she slowly snaps out of those when she notices the other heading in the direction of Zelda's room without saying anything else.

Which is.. weird? Sure, maybe Mordred just wants to see Zelda, since she knows Zelda as well, but then all of this is happening in a very, very strange way.

And with how overprotective Minako is feeling right now, it makes a cold chill run down her spine without even realising why. ]

Saber? W.. What are you doing? [ She takes a step after Mordred. ]

[ What is she doing? Something very stupid. That is she's going to pretend to attack Zelda to force Minako to protect her. She doesn't intend to go all out, just enough for Minako to realize she's a good enough protector. It's a half-baked, idiotic plan but it's the only thing she can think of doing right now.

But if Minako doesn't understand her intentions here it could cost Mordred her most precious friendship. Is it worth it? If it helps her friend overcome her doubts then... maybe it would be.

Ignoring Minako, Mordred continues forward until she reaches Zelda's bedside. Looking down at the sleeping princess, she finds herself experiencing some mild disappointment that Zelda even sleeps gracefully. At the same time, she lays so still that Mordred can see why Minako is worried.

She mutters something under her breath before the other can catch up.]

You better hurry and wake up.

[ Raising her arm over the goddess, Mordred throws a glance over her shoulder at Minako. ]

What am I doing?

[ Clarent flashes into her grip, the blade hovering ominously above Zelda like that of a guillotine. ]

Killing Zelda, of course.

[ During any other moment Minako would have seen through Mordred's intentions right away - or, at the very least, she would have realised there's just no way that the other would be serious about this. Sure, Mordred did say she killed people before, but Minako has filed that away under "things Mordred probably had good reasons for". Besides, Mordred likes Zelda, and this seems too random, and-- there's tons of reasons as to why she'd know Mordred doesn't fully intent to go through with this.

But in this very specific situation Minako is too frayed to think about any of that. She's been on edge all day, moving shocked and worried and upset and ten thousand other emotions.

So she doesn't think. She just acts.

Her transformation into her sailor soldier form happens instantaneously, practically without her even calling anything out, and a moment later she's already dashing across the room, ready to attack out of the sheer instinct to protect Zelda no matter what. ]

Venus Wink Chain Sword!

[ Light gathers into her hands, forming the shape of a sword, and she swings it straight at Mordred the moment she's close enough to the other. ]

[ When Mordred came up with this plan five minutes ago she had an idea of how things would play out. She would start by threatening Zelda, Minako would then tackle her or at most use her newfound beam attack to stop her. The plan, if it can even be called that, was to take the hit and oversell the effectiveness just enough to let Minako think she was overpowering the Servant.

Things seem to be playing out the way Mordred wants until Minako shouts out something about a "Chain Sword". Mordred's instincts flare up, letting her know that taking a direct hit from whatever is coming is probably a very bad idea. She spins on her heel and brings Clarent up to guard herself from... Minako's sword!? ]

What the hell—!?

[ That's... So cool! When did Minako get that and why didn't she say anything about it? Mordred almost asks those questions out loud before she quickly remembers that she's supposed to be playing the bad guy here. She pushes back against Minako, striking out with the flat of her blade. ]

Ha! Do you really think you're gonna be able to stop me with just that?

Edited 2019-05-02 18:18 (UTC)

[ Honestly, Minako has no real idea of what she's doing here either. Her powers are still new to her, since she has to learn about them all over again without any of her memories.. It's probably just seeing Mordred pulling out her own sword that made some instinctive part of her use her own sword attack in turn.

Later she'll probably realise how weird and new all of it is, but right now her brain is locked into the single-minded mode of getting rid of a threat to Zelda. ]

Cut it out! [ Maybe saying that makes it sound like she's considering Mordred's safety here and doesn't want to do anything to really hurt her, but in this state she's not even really thinking of that. She's mostly just considering the fact she might accidentally hurt Zelda too if she uses an attack with an actual beam or blast now.. ]

If you keep this up, I won't hesitate!

[ Then again, she may have to go to that phase regardless - just from the sheer force of Mordred's sword against her own, Minako can feel there's no way she's going to be able to stop the other when she can't win in swordfighting strength. ]

[ All this and Minako is still holding back? Mordred knows she's capable of more but she's just barely putting up a fight here. Maybe she isn't pushing hard enough? ]

By all means, keep making lame threats— might as well give Zelda something to laugh at before she dies!

[ Mordred brings a greater portion of her strength to bear now, reaching for Minako with her free hand so she can attempt to throw her aside— which would also conveniently move the struggle a few feet away from the slumbering princess. ]

Since you've already decided that you're a worthless shinki you might as well say your goodbyes now.

[ Flinging cruel insults comes naturally to Mordred but saying things she doesn't mean makes her want to bite her tongue. Even so, she needs to stay the course just a bit longer.

She aims Clarent at Zelda's bed, and a familiar halo of blood-red light begins to emit from the blade. Minako would know exactly how much damage this could do if Mordred releases the energy. Of course, she has no intention of letting it go that far— if Minako doesn't step up in response to this threat Mordred decides that she'll have to drop the charade. After all, she can't push any harder without actually injuring Minako or Zelda. ]

[ Mordred increasing the force her blade is being pushed with is definitely enough to throw Minako aside. She wants to quickly recover and get up, but for a moment that momentum is halted by the words that leave the other's mouth. Something about them makes Minako's heart sink to the very pit of her stomach.

It's not even because the words are wrong - no, it's because they're exactly on point. Minako really has decided she's a worthless shinki a long time ago, because it feels like she can't live up to her full potential or do everything she's supposed to do no matter how hard she tries. Hearing it from herself is hard, but hearing it from another person is harder, and she only manages to snap out of the temporary hold it has her in when she sees Mordred aiming her sword at Zelda's bed.

There's no time to wallow in self-pity. Not even any time to think about Mordred's wellbeing. The only important thing is that if she can't protect Zelda now, then-- ]

Don't you dare touch her!

[ Minako shouts it loud enough for most likely the next temple over to have been able to hear it as well if they weren't underground, and a bright yellow light surrounds her as she stands up, the magical sword having vanished. The light gathers in her hands as she holds them in front of her, aiming at Mordred. ]

Venus.. Love and Beauty Shock!

[ And while the sword attack just now might have been held back just a bit, this definitely isn't, especially since she's free to attack Mordred from an angle she won't hit Zelda at now. It's like a huge cannon's worth of energy is shot like a huge laser, heading straight for Mordred, ~~like a Pokémon using Solar Beam~~. ]

[ Mordred can't suppress the grin that forms when she hears the conviction in Minako's voice— it's almost enough to give her goosebumps. But more than words Minako is finally acting instead of worrying— exactly what Mordred wanted.

She only has a split-second to appreciate any of this before the massive beam cuts through the air toward her. Every fiber of Mordred's being screams at her to move and she has to fight her instincts in order to see this through. That and part of her wants to see how she matches up against Minako's raw power. Without adequate time to mount any sort of viable defense all she can do is raise her arm to shield herself.

The laser hits Mordred dead on, engulfing her in bright burning light. The force of the blast strong enough to carry her off of her feet and through the adjacent wall.

Once the dust begins to settle a bit, a visibly damaged Mordred can be seen lying motionless atop the rubble staring blankly up at the ceiling. ]

[ For a moment or two after the blast clears Minako just still stands there, incredibly tense and on edge - like she's ready to blast or jump Mordred all over again if that attack just now wasn't enough.

But then the scene in front of her slowly starts to dawn upon her. And along with it come two different kinds of panic. The first is the panic of how she's ever going to explain having smashed a temple wall when Zelda wakes up, and the second panic is for Mordred herself.

Because seeing the other lie there so motionlessly instinctively makes Minako worried about the other, regardless of the fact that she was the reason Mordred is lying there like that now. Maybe the realisation that Mordred wouldn't truly have hurt Zelda is slowly seeping through into her heart, but either way she moves, quickly moving over to the other and kneeling down next to her. ]

Saber! Saber-- Are you alright?! What were you thinking?!

[ When Minako gets closer she'll see that Mordred has a grin plastered across her face. She starts to laugh, bolting into an upright sitting position.]

Man, that really hurt!

[ Way more than she expected in fact. Aside from being covered in a plethora of bruises and tiny cuts, the entire left side of Mordred's jacket has been completely incinerated. Her arm feels completely numb, and if it not for her unique physiology she'd be unconscious. Mordred suspects that blast would have killed her if it hit something vital— not that she'll express that to Minako right now. She'd probably freak out instead of thinking it was cool.

Would there even be anything left of her if she was an ordinary human? Well, that doesn't matter right now. What's important is that her dumb plan has played out to the end. ]

What was I thinking? That Zelda couldn't have a more capable or dedicated shinki. From where I'm sitting I'd say you did an acceptable job of proving me right, Exemplar.

Edited 2019-05-28 10:52 (UTC)

[ It's true - Minako has no idea of the true extent of the power behind that attack, especially since she doesn't recall using it due to the missing memories from her life. But she does know the attack hurt Mordred, and pretty badly at that, and that's all that matters. It's enough to kind of make her freak out even now, despite it being slightly tempered by Mordred's own reaction in laughing it off.

That doesn't take away all her worries though. ]

Oh, Saber..

[ It definitely dawns upon her now that it was all an act just to prove that fact to Minako, but that knowledge just makes her heart feel like it's being squeezed tightly. It's probably not the brightest idea in Mordred's current condition, but Minako can't help herself - she just launches straight into a hug, wrapping her arms around the other and burying her face against Mordred's (non-incinerated jacket) shoulder for a moment. ]

You shouldn't have to go this far just to try and prove that! [ Even if it did work. Kind of. It'll probably get through to Minako's brain more once she's done fussing over Mordred right now. ] Don't get hurt while trying to look cool, idiot..!

[ That "idiot" sounds incredibly fond though, despite the scolding. Mordred is an idiot, but that's Minako's idiot friend, okay. ]

[ It's probably true that she didn't have to go so far to make a point but everything worked out and that makes it worth it in her mind— no matter how much stupidity went into making it happen.

Mordred winces slightly, the suddenness of the embrace catching her by surprise. Normally when she gets a hug she just stands there awkwardly until it's over, but this time she raises her good arm to pat Minako on the head. It's the first time Mordred genuinely reciprocates but it's still a bit clumsy and awkward only because she's not sure if she's doing it properly. She lets out a soft chuckle at being called an idiot. ]

Okay, okay, I promise it was a one-time thing. I'm not the best at these kinds of theatrics anyway.

[ She can't promise that she won't have other dumb ideas though. ]

Besides, I got to see you do some really cool stuff so it was kind of worth it.

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