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[unyieldingmarch]

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[unyieldingmarch]

Miss Saber,

I will await you at the appointed time then.

Be well.


-Edelgard von Hresvelg

[arturiarex]

[ By the time seven o'clock rolls around, Saber is right on time. She's dressed in a long, dark skirt and blouse, along with a jacket. She steps up to the door, tail flicking behind her, and raps on it with a few sharp knocks. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[The door swings open, revealing Edelgard. She's short, of a height with Saber, and wearing fairly simple clothes. A high collared, starched white shirt that reveals absolutely no trace of skin, long white gloves that do the same, and a scarlet skirt that tumbles well down, enough to hide even her feet without close inspection. She's wearing formal slippers, if Saber much cares to look.

The crown is not on her head, but is visible on a table nearby.

Edelgard smiles and steps back, gesturing for Saber to come in. The only visible signs of her transformation are slightly elongated canines. Clearly extendable.]

Good evening, miss Saber. Please, come in and be welcome in my home.

[arturiarex]

[ Edelgard actually has a few centimeters on Saber, but they're close enough. She gives her a little nod, face set a little, and carefully steps through the door. If Edelgard is sharp-eyed enough, she'll probably notice that Saber has claws or talons on her fingers - although they've been clipped and filed down to make interacting with things easier. ]

Thank you, Lady Edelgard. I'm glad to be here. I've heard a little about you from Leslie.

[ She pauses and starts to toe out of her shoes. Seems polite. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

[Little details aren't something Edelgard is going to miss, but also not comment on. She immediately thinks Turnskin, noting the tail. Hopefully one careful enough around the turn of the full moon...or at least better than Caspar had been.]

Has she? Dare I ask what she has said?

[She nods approvingly all the same, leading Saber into a living room area as they talk A cozy sitting room where tea cups are already set out, a magitech pot keeping the water piping hot.

Motioning for Saber to have a seat in an armchair or on the couch, Edelgard settles into her own chair and shifts to make herself comfortable.]

[arturiarex]

Only that you've been very helpful and kind.

[ Good things only, she promises. Saber follows Edelgard into the sitting room and takes a seat in one of the armchairs, hands folded in her lap. ]

I've been keeping an eye out for her, so it seems natural we should meet.

[unyieldingmarch]

Certainly. And I appreciate that. Aefenglom isn't...the most dangerous place, but it's better for a young girl to have people keeping watch over her.

[She leans forward and pours everything out, getting tea prepared (though the mun intends to handwave specifics)]

She's said you were her friend, and I trust her judgement in that now that we've met.

[arturiarex]

[ Saber waits politely for Edelgard to finish with the tea and then picks up her cup with a nod. ]

I agree and I'm glad that I meet with your approval. [ She takes a slow sip of her tea, considering. ]

I think I understand why she thought we should meet. [ Despite her general coolness, Saber can see some of the similarities between them in terms of demeanor - and possibly even appearance. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

As do I.

[Edelgard allows herself a smile around her cup, considering the statement, the similarities. And maybe that little slip of Leslie's. Saber was some sort of knight, possibly a ruler, which was hardly a strike against her. Just...interesting.]

What is it you do at home, Saber? Given your name, it makes me think of a mercenary, or some nickname.

[arturiarex]

[ Saber takes a long, slow sip of her tea. She's a little more prepared to answer this question. She's been making a bit more peace with her own history. And so she answers. ]

I was king. And a knight.

[unyieldingmarch]

[Edelgard smiles then, she had suspected as such. (thanks Leslie) but hadn't really wanted to risk being wrong.]

I see. That is good to know. I suppose Leslie has told you that I am a ruler as well?

[She's heard how Leslie talks about her when she introduces herself as Edelgard's ward.]

[arturiarex]

Something like that, although I had not heard any specifics...

[ Well, not shock or surprise. She'll take that, honestly. ]

I've met several other such rulers here - I wonder if this place has a taste for that sort of thing. [ Sort of a joke. Sort of not. ]

[unyieldingmarch]

I'm the Emperor of the Adrestian Empire, yes. And...I suppose that's true.

[Edelgard's fingers tick up numbers.]

I count...you and I. Princesses Azura, Corrin, Zelda, Zelda. Queens Daenerys and Marie, and several male kings. Ozymandius being the only one I know personally, though I'm aware of others by reputation. And...seemingly a number of our knights and personal retainers.

A curious observation, you are right.

[arturiarex]

Interesting.

[ Saber takes a slow sip of her tea, thinking. How much does she admit? She is trying to move beyond her role as merely a tool for others. To try and live. But it's s till difficult for her to think in those terms. ]

I should correct myself. My proper name and title is Arturia Pendragon, King of the Britons. But I generally prefer to go by Saber.

[unyieldingmarch]

I see. I will continue to refer to you as Saber, then.

[She isn't really too fussy about any of that, after all.]

Have you been her long?

[arturiarex]

Almost two months, if I recall correctly.

[ Saber nods, happy to move on to another subject. ]

Yourself?

[unyieldingmarch]

Six? Roughly. I arrived in the early fall.

[And it's been a hard time.]

[arturiarex]

Ah. I understand that you've also been affected by the changes here.

[unyieldingmarch]

Correct.

[Edelgard reaches into a basket beside her chair and plucks out a small vial of reddish liquid that she unstoppers and begins pouring into her tea. Stirring it idly with a finger, she looks up at the other woman.]

I am a vampire, Saber. I subsist entirely on blood, though I prefer to mix it into things rather than drink it straight. The economy is set up to include people like me, so, I've a very steady supply.

You...appear to be a turnskin, by your tail. Is that correct?

[arturiarex]

I am unsure, but that certainly seems to be the case.

[ She lifts her hand to show off the talons or claws she's grown. ]

I suppose I have to wait and see. The blood-drinking sounds... unpleasant.

[unyieldingmarch]

There are worse things. I, frankly, count my blessings that my body isn't growing eight spider-y limbs like an arachne. Perhaps it's shallow, but...I like my body the way it is.

[She'd rather not slither or scuttle, thank you.]

[arturiarex]

I would prefer mine remain unchanged as well, but it seems not to be.

[ Saber sighs. ]

At least it has only been a tail and claws so far.

[unyieldingmarch]

Hopefully it remains manageable for you.

[Edelgard shakes her head, smiling sadly.]

Do...take care to discard any silver you have around the house. Better to be safe than sorry.

[arturiarex]

Oh? Are turnskins badly affected by it?

[ Saber arches a brow. ]

I do not have any silver, as it happens. But I'll keep it in mind.

[unyieldingmarch]

Yes. It's a physical allergy. It will make a turnskin break out, and wounds with silver are particularly grievous and heal slowly. Also, some vampires are affected similarly, though I'm not among them.

[Thank goodness for small favors.]

Fae are affected badly by iron, so if you find yourself becoming more fae-like then consider avoiding that too. Though I've not known any such beings that have tails and claws as of yet.