[closed]

[returntospring]

Who: Sakura Matou(returntospring) and Rider(godlyreigns)
What: Reestablishing a contract.
When: UH. A few days after regain approval.
Where: 1666 Nelson
Warnings: N/A

[That last event had been... interesting, to say the least. It wasn't as bad as some of the things she had heard happened in the past, but still... having her memories manipulated? That was a little unsettling. Especially considering, in her memories, her sister had taken her place among the Matou. She didn't even want to think about that, how horrible Rin's memories must have been...

But she couldn't help it, it seems. She was so lost in thought, she almost missed the letters addressed to the house's only non-drone inhabitants when she checked the mail. Pausing in the process of setting the pile of mail down on the table in the living room, she examined both the envelopes, before calling out.]

Rider?

Comments

[godlyreigns]

[Only in the next room, Rider peeks her head in from across the hall.]

Yes?

[returntospring]

[Sakura holds out the letter, holding her own in the other hand.]

This is addressed to you. I have a letter just like it.

[godlyreigns]

[She takes it gingerly, examining the front.]

Ah, I believe this is when we receive items back, for our troubles...

[She holds it up to the light, but to no avail, of course. She'd been the recipient of a letter before. She knew letters only held intangible "regains".]

[returntospring]

[Sakura looks curiously down at her letter. She noticed the way Rider had taken hers, so she's not sure if she should open it yet or not.]

So I got something back already... [She looks a little uncertain. If it's not a package containing an item from home... what could it be?] Do you think I should open it?

[godlyreigns]

Hmm. Admittedly, I do not know. [What did she have left to get back, compared to Sakura? Pegasus, Bloodfort Andromeda, her speed, her Servant status, her street clothes...]

It could very well be anything, but the fact that it is a letter instead of a package is slightly disconcerting...

Would you prefer I open mine?

[returntospring]

[Sakura nods.] If you don't mind...

[godlyreigns]

[Rider purses her lips, and tears open the top fold of the envelope with one of her nails. Out falls something familiar.]

Eh...?

[returntospring]

[Well that was... anticlimactic.

Sakura blinks, then crouches down to pick up the... card?]

It's... the image of your class. [She blinks again.] Does this card have any sort of special power?

[godlyreigns]

Not that I know of. As far as I can recall, we are sent cards with images on them when we receive powers and such back...when I was given back my eyes, there was a picture of a stone statue, for instance.

[returntospring]

[Huh. That's... strange.]

So if this card shows your class... then that must mean you've become a Servant again.

[Well that's certainly a mixed blessing. How can she help Rider out as a normal human...]

[godlyreigns]

[A sigh.]

That is the most likely conclusion. Damn this infernal place. Inconvenient even with its blessings...

I shall have to figure something out, I suppose. [She remembers Enkidu. Dear God, she is not looking forward to fading in and out of existence every evening. At least she has minor Independent Action.]

[returntospring]

Huh? But I... ["But I can help you!" But she can't, can she? She's not a magus now, not without her circuits.

... But hold on...]

... If things like your status as a Servant can be regained... does that mean I can get my circuits back?

[godlyreigns]

Rin has gotten hers back, so I don't see why not.

[She eyes Sakura's envelope wearily. What could be in there? WHAT? ]

[returntospring]

[Sakura looks down at her envelope as well. There's only one way to find out, right?

She's almost hesitant as she opens the letter. If this isn't what she hopes it is, she'll be useless in helping one of the people that helped her so much during the Grail War. She pulls out the card inside...]

Huh?

[It's just a drawing of a human, with what looks like the nervous system mapped out.] Wh- Ah! [She suddenly yelps in surprise, dropping the card. It was like a strong electrical surge just ran through her body, from the top of her head to the very tips of her toes.

And at the same time this happens, Rider will no doubt feel a sudden rush of magic, like a tidal wave falling inwards, focused right on Sakura.]

[godlyreigns]

[It only takes a small glance at the card to guess what it could have brought. Rider puts a hand out to Sakura, straining to try and find a source of where this tidal wave was coming from.]

Sakura, are you alright...?

[returntospring]

[Sakura smiles weakly. She looks like she just ran a marathon, but she doesn't let the weakness get to her. Not when she can feel the hum of magic in her blood.]

Y-Yeah, I'm fine... [She places her hand over Rider's, squeezing it a little.] And you will be too, now. I can help you.

[godlyreigns]

[Rider can't help but frown, despite the good news.]

You should rest, though, if even only for a small while...

[returntospring]

No! [Sakura's voice is surprisingly firm, despite her sudden weak spell.] I can rest later. If your Servant status really has been restored, we need to do something before... [Before you disappear. She can't say it, but her voice still wavers when she speaks.] Before it's too late...

[godlyreigns]

[Rider just flinches.] My independent action lasts a full day. There's nothing immediate to worry about.

[returntospring]

Still... [That doesn't really put her at ease much, and worry is still painted clear on her face.] That should just be a last resort, right...? If I'm here, and I have the ability to help, we shouldn't wait.

[godlyreigns]

I suppose, but I don't desire to put unneeded pressure on you.

[returntospring]

[She squeezes Rider's hand again, a little more firmly this time in an attempt to help reassure her.] You won't be putting unneeded pressure on me. I promise.

[Let it be known that, despite what others may think, Sakura can be strong. Very strong. If it's to help someone she cares about, she can endure almost anything.]

[godlyreigns]

[For a moment, Rider's silent and expressionless, thinking. But a smile creeps onto her face.]

Very well.

[returntospring]

[The smile on Sakura's face widens as well. Not because of the small victory; she's just glad she can help someone who means so much to her.]

Would right here be good? [She eyes the large front windows of the living room.] Or should we move somewhere else?

[godlyreigns]

[Rider is silent for a moment, thinking.]

I think this would be the best place, yes. The windows might take damage, depending on the discharge strength, but if it was done at the park, it might cause unneeded attention.

[returntospring]

Right, good point... [She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself as best as she possibly can.] Ready?

[godlyreigns]

[A small nod.] As I shall ever be.

[returntospring]

[Sakura nods, taking a step back and closing her eyes. She knew the words for forming a contract instead of summoning were different, but she could still recall them from the times she had read those words.]

I hereby propose!
Thou shalt come under my command,
and thy sword shall control my fate.
Abiding by the summons of the Holy Grail
if thou accedest to this will and reason, answer me.

I hereby swear!
I am all that is good in the eternal world
I am the disposer of evil in the eternal world
Thee, the seven days clad in the Divine Trinity,
come forth from the circle of constraint.
Guardian of the Heavens!
Accedest to me, and my fate shalt become thy sword!

[She can feel the surge inside her, the mana running through her circuits. She winces a little at the strain, but her voice doesn't waver one bit.]

[godlyreigns]

[For what it's worth, Rider manages to keep her calm demeanor steady. Even as the conservative frills of her dress start blazing away, replaced by the more familiar feel of leather she'd grown to know, her face remains solemn. Even as her glasses dissolve in a fury of energy, her mask forming over her eyes, she is not distracted.]

I accept this pact under the name of Rider.

I recognize you, Sakura Matou, as my Master.

[returntospring]

[The surge of magical energy is intense, probably much more than many normal magi could handle... but Sakura wasn't exactly normal. It's a strange thing to put into words, but she can feel the bond reestablishing itself, she could feel the mana flowing out of her, back into Rider.

And when that surge slowly dissipates, when all is said and done and everything is how it was when they were still at home? That's when Sakura finally staggers, falling forward.

She may have an extremely vast mana pool, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exhaust her when she uses a lot of it.]

[godlyreigns]

[Without a second thought, Rider lurches forward to catch her in time. She says nothing, letting the girl catch her breath.]

[returntospring]

[Sakura leans heavily against the woman, just focusing on getting her breathing back to normal. When she finally calms down, she pulls back a little, raising her arm. There's a familiar dull throbbing on the inside of her wrist, and sure enough, there are her Command Spells, patterned into a flower shape.]

I have all three again...

[godlyreigns]

[Rider rises back to her feet, peering at the Command Spell from underneath her mask.]

I would be surprised if you did not have three. It was not a reconstruction of the last contract, but a new one.