Awesomest!

As always his face lights right up seeing the other while his arms wave a big circle above his head. The serious face certainly doesn't deter him, if anything he seems to gain brightness.

" Now, now.... Patience my friend! One thing at the time! " Eiden, dramatically twisting his voice into the customer service tone, greets him. He pats the spot opposite from him.

" Take seat first! Ive got some sandwhiches, cookies and tea~~ "

He extends the thermo to Charlie, waiting him to take his seat. After he's settled enough and getting that 'serious' stare he laughs.

" His name is Veoc. He's from space! I've got pictures hold on... "

"aww, come on!" patience it not one of his best traits, especially when he gets excited about something, but he takes a seat anyway with a little pout due to having to wait longer for the news. still, he doesn't mind it that much really. now quite happy to take a sandwich offered as he stares expectantly.

Not that they had given up — they were equally stubborn, and it were her wariness of exacerbating the damage which kept them at arm's length. Charlie absolutely did not coddle her, but communicating with him felt a smoother road upon which she could practice.

Ever since her armour had brightened white and her Class adopted 'Paladin', there was a tingle inside her chest when accompanying the Saber. The king who led twelve paladins so famously they became as renowned as their British counterparts, with whom now he shared even more. After verifying adoption of the final Ordeal Call into Ritsuka's memory, their grief over Kadoc's fate, Mashu's first port of call had been visiting the knight and unveiling her transformation. It felt only proper to gauge the reaction of the knight so intertwined with the title.

Though months ago, that warmth held true through the falling temperatures after summer's set. Admittedly, her thoughts turned more towards Chaldea's destination — their next, first and final step of the journey. Where it all began, where it would all end, in the frozen mountains of Antarctica and the burning city of Fuyuki. They have been optimistic, time pushed on without hurdle, but that was all the more reason to worry.

How it felt the calm before the storm.

"Maybe we should organised something special. Like a party to celebrate the holidays coming up, but that could also be a distraction for those who have a lot on their minds". Almost immediately after sounding the suggestion, she stumbled, mind turning back to the New Years party of years prior.

"let's go with something everyone can enjoy. competitive activities might be too much, especially if you're inviting, you know... normal people alongside servants. they could get hurt if things become intense, and that would be bad. super uncool!" it wouldn't be on purpose but that's not the point here, it'll be better to do something that won't have any risk of injury. maybe some pumpkin carving? or they could make their own custom themed candies—

Eiden would sometimes take a look at the contact list, just to see if everyone was still around. It was an occasional routine that was there to fill in time or reassurance, maybe both.

Sometimes it'd be bring surprises. Today it had Eiden bounce from his bed and run to the kitchen to see if there was something to take for a picnic - all while his free hand types up a message:

sorry! I'll see you at Mistwood, just wait there!

and of course, he runs as fast as the limit will allow (with enough spare for a few detours), all the way there just in time to catch the man already setting everything up. "okay, okay, I'm here!" he's waving frantically now, slowing to a stop when he gets closer with the most serious look he can manage.

oh! she agreed to it... "nice! let's go!" a phrase he picked up in passing, when before the only meaning it held was to signal the start of an adventure, or stepping outside with a plan in mind. their whole conversation before is forgotten, only because that was all settled and he'd rather get their outing sorted instead.

is he way too excited about this? maybe. it's a day out with Arturia though, so who could blame him.

And considering how impromptu Roland's decisions could be, having a counterattack would prove quite the lifesaver.

So swamped with dire fixation on the subject, days and weeks had blurred into a mess. Those which should be cherished as a dawn unseen to some, such as her knights, his paladins and so many lingering beyond the living world lost to a cacophony of noise and motions driven by habit.

Today, even if just today, she should try and follow through with listening to an outside perspective. Take his advice and simply breathe.

Without the knowledge afforded to Servants from the Throne, Saber hadn't a basis from which to drawn impressions of their peers — and given history favoured drawing parallels between the two of them, with her own Knights disorderly under certain circumstances... "Word has made claim that Astolfo and Mordred are on friendly terms, and for that, you both have my gratitude". whether the heir would appreciate the sentiment was debateable, given how complicated their relationship were.

maybe he doesn't actually need to answer? then again, Arturia will probably figure it out due to his lack of reply. "anyway! I'm glad they're getting along, you can never have too many friends." that includes her as well, because she deserves more good people around her, to make sure she remembers not to be too hard on herself.

The ramifications were... concerning when compiled — luckily they would not the legal issues unless one were to escort the paladin to the authorities, but the reflection on his king would inflict damage however the situation may unfold. From the outside, it might seem amusing that these kings had their wacky followers, but they were heads not only of said troupes, but entire countries. Frankly, she could understand Charlie's exasperation, not least because of how bafflingly persistent Roland was about it.

that won't do at all. how can she say such a thing, to sacrifice an item from her own wardrobe would be sacrilege, and isn't burning it a bit much? where did that come from so suddenly? "absolutely not!" no, he can't allow her to do that. the simple solution is to wash it after they secure Roland safely.

"there's no need for that, it can be cleaned..." or maybe deep cleaned just to be safe. "very thoroughly!" he can already picture both of them scrubbing furiously in the late hours before hanging it to dry overnight. he's not sure when but she may need it for something in future, so destroying it would be too extreme. not to mention, Arturia would undoubtedly regret it soon after.

"What brought on the concern of orchestrating a plan now? This has been a concern for some time". The knight tilted forward whilst seated on the rim of the courtyard's fountain, bathing in the sun plenty above the Archimedes plains. Her assumption was the onset of a Chaldean summer escapade, and once more found herself wondering how the paladin had not himself fallen into a Berserker summoning.

"How would we manage Roland's tendency to disrobe were he to be summoned here? surely you are not proposing we ambush him at the hole and shoot him into its depths".

Paimon's head tilted, the wording hadn't gone over her head — she could understand the appeal of looking cool, but as a threat... well, there was the idea he might just crumple on the spot if he did something uncool. in the heat of battle, that could definitely be a problem.

✦heehee, Xiao says the same thing. he's a friend of ours from Liyue. Paimon couldn't imagine him being uncool — he always has this super-serious air around him. just like Cyno — the two of you would probably get along, he likes to act cool with his Invokation TCG cards. like a character straight out of a light novel.✦

"well, yeah! what else could Paimon be if not Paimon?" a light tease, that's all, along with a careful nudge of his knuckle against her shoulder, then he offers a big smile. "you bet I do, the outdoors is my favourite place to be. can't beat a day out in the sunshine, right?"