Eins

[erbe]

For the elements, silver and iron. For the foundation, stone and the Archduke of Pacts. And for the ancestor, my great master, Schweinorg. Close the gates of the four directions. Come forth from the Crown and follow the forked road leading to the Kingdom. Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times. When each is filled, destroy it. Set.

Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call and obey my will and reason, then answer me! I hereby swear that I shall be all the good in the world. That I shall defeat all evil in the world. Thou Seventh Heaven, clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of binding, Guardian of the Scales!

[This is a master (haha) post for Fate/PSLs! If you need anything specific tailored to your character (like a starter that doesn't start with the summoning like the above) let me know! We'll work something out over PM or Plurk.]

Comments

[vetal]

[Nikolai shows a knack for strategy as well, talking with Rin about small surveillance spells they could place so that they won't be moving about unawares. Naturally, he wants to follow the ley lines through town, and he makes mental notes on how to exploit the area without sharing them with his master. She's too soft; women are always better off not knowing the grisly details.]

Are you hungry, Master? You need to keep up your strength. We just passed a decent looking restaurant...

[erbe]

...Yes, I suppose getting something to eat would be best. The way home isn't as quick as I would like it to be.

[Rin begins to whisper to herself a little as she does math on her fingers. Just a little self-budgeting as she tries to figure out how much she can spend to eat at this restaurant. All the while she walks toward it.

The eatery is small, but that's not too different from a lot of things in the city. The dining area has a lot of couple's seating, and the atmosphere is soft and dim with a bit of candle light. A soft and slow piano piece plays on their radio.]

[vetal]

[And look at that, there's a middle-aged woman wearing a manager's tag wandering around and checking how everyone is doing... perfect.]

Would you please head over to that hall by the bathroom, Master?

[erbe]

[At first Rin is confused, but she obliges. He probably hasn't tasted real food in a while, has he? She wonders what it must be like to be summoned by the Grail. She never really got a clear answer on the Servant end of things. Mostly her knowledge lies in her role as Master and how to handle competition.

She steps over into the hall by the restroom out of sight of any workers or patrons.]

[vetal]

[He waits until he can't hear anyone passing nearby to pick up on the brief glow of his materialization before stepping back into the world proper. Nikolai adjusts his tie, letting out a sigh.]

I know this is terribly crass, but... is money a concern, miss...?

[He can't call her "Master" in public!]

[erbe]

[Goodness, every time he appears he is tall. So tall that she's surprised that some places have high enough roofs to accommodate him. She looks up at him, and her eyes meet his. There's no use hiding her financial trouble from him considering that he's her partner now, and being honest with him would make them more equal. The last thing she wants to happen is for her Servant to look down on her because of her stature or age.]

In a sense, yes. I have been spending most of my funds available to me preparing for this, you know. My family uses jewels to store mana.

[An expensive way to go about things, but incredibly efficient. Storing away mana on a day you don't need it for a day in when you need excess is the idea, and the better the jewel the more mana it can contain. That, and the purer the energy will be when released. Sure she may look like a miser to others, but no one will laugh when she has the Grail in her hands.]

[vetal]

[He looks down on her for many things, but not this. This is actually sensible, and he can appreciate a woman that doesn't fritter money away on useless trinkets. Nikolai inclines his head.]

I thought as much.

[After all, her reaction to his diamond was... pronounced.]

I will at least partially handle my meal, then. After all, it's just a luxury, but I confess that eating again after all this time is difficult to resist.

[erbe]

Well, I suppose there isn't anything to argue if you'll be taking care of that. And who would I be to object to such a simple request? Let's place our order, Caster.

[At least "Caster" can be misheard as "Casper" which is an actual name. Rin leads him back out to the dining area. When she sits she sweeps her hand under herself to make sure her skirt tucks in so that she sits on it. A lady doesn't accidentally flash the world, after all.]

[vetal]

[He flirts with the girl that leads them to their table the whole way. Naturally, he'll pull Rin's chair out for her because that's what a gentleman does. They make for quite the glamorous pair, though Nikolai is a great deal older than she is...

Which is perfect, because he can pass her off as his niece. She looks to have some German heritage down the line somewhere, and Asians are too stupid to tell the difference between a German man and a Russian man anyway.

Unsurprisingly, it's Rin who the waitress addresses first, simply because Nikolai doesn't look like he would speak Japanese. Nikolai is insulted, but he'll wait to order.]

[erbe]

[Rin speaks politely and clearly. She orders a chicken entree with a soup and salad. Her order is probably one of the more healthier options that isn't just a salad, and it's Japan so the portions won't be too huge. She selects tea for her beverage — avoiding any carbonated drinks.

She then passes it off to Caster, allowing him to order for himself.]

[vetal]

[Naturally, he gets steak for himself with some wine to drink. If Rin's been wondering if he's trying to charm her, she'll know he's at least not doing it at full force when he starts ramping it up with their waitress. By the end of his order she's a giggling mess, and her fingers definitely linger against his when he hands the menus up to her.]

Ah, where did miss manager go... [he murmurs to himself after the waitress is out of earshot, glancing around for her.]

[erbe]

[Rin is surprised by the intensity of the charm and how effortlessly he uses it that she sits back in her chair to get a little extra space between them. Is this what he meant by taking care of his meal? Certainly she has no place to talk. Rin has, a few times before, played the pleasant girl to get a couple things "on the house" or discounted.

At least she knows for certain he hasn't been charming her, or if he has it hasn't been to this degree. Though perhaps the fact he told her he knows charm magic at all means she — as his Master — has little to fear whether it be magic or simple flirting (because either way she would most certainly become quickly suspicious). If Nikolai looks Rin's way she'll be fidgeting with the cloth napkin she delicately places on her lap before shedding her jacket.]

[vetal]

My apologies, miss. Please rest assured that I won't, ah... take more extreme measures for such things unless it's related to our goals.

[Which is his way of trying to reassure her that he won't cast charm magic to get freebies. It would be an embarrassment to use magic for such a thing, not only because it's beneath a proper mage to do so but because it would mean he's not hot enough all on his own.]

[erbe]

Of course. If you had any integrity as a mage you wouldn't stoop so low.

[Why does he feel the need to apologize? Did she have a look on her face? Did her body language give it away? Rin straightens her posture, and fixes her hair. Removing her jacket made it a little out of sorts.

Though his title usage pleases her some. She tries to relax.]

[vetal]

[He's very, very talented at reading women. Rin really doesn't stand a chance trying to conceal her feelings from a sleazeball like Nikolai. He can tell that she appreciates being shown the "proper" amount of respect, so he continues to be polite with:]

Then, please excuse me...

[Because the manager is coming their way, ready to ask if it's their first time in the restaurant, if they're comfortable, and so on. Her age and the fact that she's single makes her easy prey for someone like Nikolai, who is quick to call Rin his niece to head off any questions about their relationship. Really, she'd only come over to get a closer peek, but Nikolai is engaging enough that she ends up staying a few minutes. By the end of the exchange, she'll be having appetizers sent over to them at no charge, and she'll probably come back around to offer dessert later.]

[erbe]

[Rin is half impressed half unsettled. She really doesn't mind being 'the niece,' but from the outside looking in, seeing that is just—

She doesn't have enough time to think over it. The appetizers arrive quickly, and her modest breakfast means she's quickly, but politely, going for a bite. Daintily she keeps her hand under her food just in case, even if she doesn't need to.]

So remind me, Caster. What did you specialize in? What area are you most proficient?

[vetal]

[Nikolai only nibbles at the appetizers. His manners are also impeccable; he's clearly a man of good breeding.

...didn't he already tell her his specialties? Women, honestly.]

Most proficient? Transformative magics I'd say, particularly having to do with the body. That ties in to my skill with healing, naturally. Whether you want me to become a monster and behave like a Berserker or to enhance my defenses to act more like a Saber, I will be perfectly capable so long as I'm supplied with sufficient mana.

[erbe]

[His list of abilities were far too long and varied for her to have an idea where to focus her Plan A. Rin chews silently as she mulls over her options. When finished she delicately sets down her utensil.]

Then for strategy we can focus on that, and any of your other skills will be considered secondary. With abilities like that we can probably face enemies head on as long as we prepare before hand. Would you be able to tell more about the surveillance spells you spoke of before?

[vetal]

Of course. Learning them yourself would be far more effective for you to develop an understanding of them, though... why don't I just teach you once we return home and wait for it to get dark?

[They're mostly small spells. It takes a clever mage to place and use them correctly, but he has confidence in his ability to teach her something this simple.

Honestly, he's surprised she doesn't already know how.]

[erbe]

[Her eyes light up immediately at the thought. Magic is something Rin absolutely loves, and loves being good at. Learning is always thrilling, and casting a perfected spell is one of the best feelings in the world. She smiles as she sips her tea.]

Yes! I believe that would be a great idea. Better than becoming idle.

[She could tell him her father died before being able to pass on basic spells such as that, but why should she unless he asks? That, and by the way her whole house is empty it should be apparent.]

[vetal]

Excellent. If we're lucky, we'll have a few days yet to refine any new spells. I'd like a look at your workshop too.

[What if new spells have been developed since he died that are actually useful? Heaven forbid he doesn't learn them. He collects spells (and crests) like he's trying to be the very best like no one ever was.]

[erbe]

[The hand with her command seals on it thumbs the rim of her teacup as she consider their options.]

Of course. So... since you specialize in transforming... Is this your real face?

[vetal]

[It's a miracle he manages to conceal his smugness when she asks that. Naturally, she's asking because he's unbelievably good-looking and she can't believe it's his real face. Nikolai looks mildly curious as he lifts a hand to his face.]

Of course. I don't feel like myself if I change my face. Why?

[erbe]

Just wondering who you might have been in your previous life. If you weren't someone ugly who disguised themselves that rules out a couple names...

[Rin brings the cup to her lips while she thinks. Meanwhile their meals arrive.]

[vetal]

[Don't mind him taking a brief time out to flirt. The waitress asks if his steak has been cooked to his satisfaction, so of course, he takes the opportunity to put on a show. He cuts into his stake — a perfect rare, just like he likes it. Nikolai takes a small bite and moans agreeably, causing their poor waitress to turn red up to her ears. He won't speak to Rin again until the waitress is out of earshot.]

Are you still playing that game, miss? I think it's better to not have too many preconceived notions about each other. Mages are secretive by nature, and I purposefully spread rumors about myself to conceal my actual abilities. Naturally, I'm willing to share them with you since we're in a partnership.