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]

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.

[erbe]

[Ugh. He's so... excessive. Sure, mages by nature are undeniably showy, but this? It's a bit much. She stares at him with partial displeasure before turning her attention to her own food.]

You're a bit of a show off, aren't you?

[vetal]

It's just a little harmless fun. She'll probably bring us dessert hoping that I'll do it again... you'll be supplying me with mana now, so you should be well fed.

[But yes, he is a show-off. Based on Rin's reaction, he's guessing she prefers the restrained elegant type, so he'll pretend that he did that only for the waitress and eat like a perfect gentleman when it's just the two of them.]

[erbe]

I keep healthy even without indulging in favors, thank you.

[LBR She totally indulges in favors though. Rin cuts into her chicken and begins to eat it in small, manageable bites.]

[vetal]

[He just hums quietly, a clear "if you say so". Nikolai is content to eat in silence if Rin is, and if she doesn't say anything else, he'll be quiet right up to the manager coming to bring them dessert since he's visiting from sooo far away and it's his first time in the restaurant.]

[erbe]

[Rin very politely declines mentioning having to watch her girlish figure or something. The truth is that she doesn't want any ill gotten gains from her Servant's flirting. It only feels right if she's doing it for herself.]

[vetal]

[He'll eat it himself, but only a small portion as he's never had a big sweet tooth. When the check does, as expected, it's all discounted so the meal won't break the bank.]

There's really no need to hold back, miss. They were doing it of their own free will. As I said, I wouldn't use magic for such a trivial reason.

[erbe]

Oh no, it's not that! I really shouldn't be eating too much.

[Doing so might make her lethargic. She can't make more work for herself during a War. She needs to be healthy and stay sharp.]

[vetal]

If you say so. But... I do hope you'll let me spoil you a little after you've expended a lot of mana, miss.

[As soon as the bill is taken care of, Nikolai stands to pull Rin's chair out for her. She's a proper lady and he'll treat her as such for now, if only because it makes things easier. He was trained to mind his manners with women of Rin's caliber, anyway.]

[erbe]

[She stands while folding her napkin. Once it's in a perfect little square she sets it upon the table and smooths her skirt. She makes sure everything is perfect before stepping away from the chair.]

Thank you, but I'll wait to concede on that. When we get there we'll talk about it.

[vetal]

Of course.

[She's so restrained... how sweet would it be to see her let loose, acting like a little whore? He imagines it in vivid detail as he smiles at her placidly, escorting her out of the restaurant. He can hardly dematerialize when there are so many eyes on them, and the manager is watching him specifically — ducking back to a hall wouldn't work this time.]

[erbe]

[She waits until they're out on the street. She doesn't look up or at him at all when she begins to speak. He should know she's addressing him.]

See? Like I said before: you draw a lot of attention.

[Little does she know that's his intention. That he loves it.]

[vetal]

My apologies. I didn't think it would be quite so pronounced in modern clothing...

[He's lying through his teeth. Nikolai knows he's hot, and he saw just how homogenous this society is so he has the exoticism factor going for him too. He makes sure to accidentally meet eyes with every attractive woman past puberty he passes, which results in a lot of nervous giggling or flirtatious, hungry glances. He eats it up like his life depends on it, but having been someone with a high social standing before, he knows how to not look like he's having any reaction.

But oh, he loves it. He craves it, he needs it, and he's gone for far too long without anyone admiring him like he deserves. He quietly prays for some child to try to wander into traffic or for some other situation where he can play hero to arise so he can bask in even more attention.]

[erbe]

[Rin is noticeably irritated for those who know where to look. Her shoulders are tense, and there's a teeny-tiny crease in her brow, but other than that her posture is commendable and her expression unreadable. Picture perfect. With each giggle or ravenous look Nikolai receives Rin has to bite back her anger. She can't afford to make a scene. Especially when Casters have a disadvantage against Riders, and Sabers are usually fortunate enough to have magical resistance.

They'll have to play it smart and safe.

To her misfortune, Nikolai gets what he wants. Some child does wander into the road chasing after a toy ball.]

[vetal]

[Naturally, he's quick to act, but only after the child almost gets hit. It just takes one graceful leap to reach him and pull him up into his arms and out of the way of the speeding delivery truck. It's all so fast that the kid doesn't even start crying until after the truck whizzes past them. Of course, the mother catches up with him and starts crying too, and Nikolai comforts them both like he's just such a good person, and pretty much everyone in the vicinity ends up looking their way.

She should probably never let him materialize in public again.]

[erbe]

[Embarrassing. He's making a huge spectacle, and if a Master were to catch sight of him and read his parameters they'd be screwed.

Rin refuses to be a part of this. She refuses to be out in the open just ripe for the picking of a Master or Servant who would refuse to follow the rules. Rin stares daggers at him for a moment before turning and walking away. She won't give him the attention the rest of the crowd heaps onto him. Instead she ignores him and quickly walks home.]

[vetal]

[What the hell? How can she possibly not be impressed?! He saved a kid, she's a woman, she's supposed to swoon into his arms like... well, every other woman in sight currently is! It sours his mood immediately, and he excuses himself to go find an alleyway to hide in so he can dematerialize and rejoin with Rin.]

You shouldn't run off like that, Master.

[erbe]

As a Master I can't be seen. Sure, a servant can flaunt themselves, but only as long as the Master stays safe. Continuing to draw attention like that made it safer to be away from you.

[Quickly she boards a train. They'll be taking the express to a station that's closer to her home.]

[vetal]

You were perfectly safe, I assure you. There were no other mages in the vicinity.

[Is she jealous? He's going to tell himself that she's jealous so he doesn't get angry enough for her to feel it.]