erbe | Eins

[Amestris. Quickly Rin brings up a hand to consider what his true name may be, but the servant is quick to cut her thinking time short by asking annoying questions. It takes no time at all for her expression to turn sour, and allow the hard roll of her eyes show her displeasure.]

I'll have you know I've been preparing for the Holy Grail War practically all my life, and I come from a long line of mages. If I wasn't up to the challenge do you think I would have summoned you?

[Sheesh. The young woman folds her arms under her chest.] I'm already fighting to win.

[This is what Greed is looking for. She's trying to make her assessment, but he's wanting to make his as well. Mage lineage was important. That meant, despite her youth, she was at least potent if not necessarily experienced. A good asset to have, even if he would have preferred someone a bit older. He'd make do.]

Glad to hear it. Then allow me to introduce myself. My title here is Saber, but it frankly doesn't really fit me, so I'd prefer if in private you refer to me as Greed. That's no alias either, sweetheart. See, I'm the living embodiment of avarice. I want everything you can possibly thing of. Power, wealth, women, status, and glory. So naturally I crave the Holy Grail with every fiber of my being.

—Saber?

[She's quick to cut him off as her heart leaps into her throat.]

Hah! Yes! I knew it! I absolutely knew I'd summon a Saber! This grail is as good as won! With my skills as a mage and your power we can win this! Yes!

[Overly jubilant, Rin is quick to pump a fist in the air while jumping. Energy abounds while she allows a momentary slip of her normally pragmatic and serious demeanor. She even forgets that he called her too young for the war despite the appearance of his own age.]

[Well, he'd expected a reaction, but this wasn't necessarily it. He knew enough about the Grail War to know about each class, but not enough to know precisely how mages might rank them. He wondered how she'd feel if she knew he could only really tap into Saber class by calling upon the Prince...

He sighs, deflating a bit. Wow, she really is just a little kid.]

That usually gets a different reaction. Are you really sure you're ready for this?

[The excitement in her face and figure is quick to fade. His question cuts at her, and she is just as quick to become defensive. The smile leaves, and her shoulders rest back as her head holds high. Rin stares him down with an unwavering look in her eye.]

I've been ready for quite some time.

[She won't elaborate on that. Why should she have to? Justifying it by telling him she has spent years training since she was a child will only serve to lesser his opinion of her, she guesses.]

What about you? Is this your first Grail War?

[That look in her eyes... that determination. He's seen that before and he's reminded of those he once stood next to. Brothers of the soul... and like that, he's the first to break eye contact.

Instead, he digs his hands into his pockets and begins to walk around as he inspects the room he's been summoned in.]

Yeah, I can't claim to have any experience with this. But I've fought my own share of monsters in my own time. [His own siblings... well, he managed to outlive them all, his Father included. How about that you decrepit old bastard?] This is a nice place you have here. Is there a kitchen somewhere around here?

[What, her mana isn't enough? Rin cocks her brow before turning and waving him along to follow her.]

The kitchen is downstairs. I'll show you, but if you use something clean up after yourself, all right? It's late, and I—

[Oh no. She can't help it. Her hand rises to cover her mouth as her head tilts back and she lets out a large yawn.]

[As a matter of fact, he has an enormous pool of Mana all by himself, but well...]

What, you're falling asleep on me? Come on! It's time to hit the coffee, boss. I've been asleep for a hundred years already and I haven't had a bite to eat in all that time, either. So you'll understand if I don't want to just hover over your bed watching you sleep after I just got here.

[That whole not needing to eat or sleep thing is kind of pesky, really. As a Homonculus, he could get away without that as well, but not without significant strain. This was barely like living at all... but he was going to fake it to make it, either way.]

Coffee? But — [she yawns, and stretches her arms up into the air] the seventh servant hasn't even been summoned yet. The war won't start until all the pieces are on the board. You can eat while I sleep.

[Despite her protest she seems to be leading him to the kitchen anyway. The Tohsaka mansion is impressive, and considerably western for a house on land in an eastern city. The kitchen is spacious, and the appliances very modern. However if one were to raid the fridge and the cupboards they'd find a very modest selection of a frugal bargain buyer.]

I know we must always keep our guard up, but the home of a mage isn't without its own protections.

[As much as he likes the new digs he'll be kicking around in, Greed has a particular talent for looking unimpressed. He's stayed in some really squalid places in his time... but he's also stayed in better than this, too. Still, there's a sense of history about this place. He can feel it.]

Got the place booby-trapped, huh? Good to know. [Some of this technology existed in his own time, but the grail has supplemented whatever gaps might be in his knowledge. But that won't supplement this piss poor collection of food when he opens the fridge.]

... what the hell. You know you have company coming, and this is all you could manage? [He even pulls out the nearly empty carton of milk and lets it slosh around as he shakes it.] Wow, how stingy can you get?

Hey, lay off! Being a mage isn't cheap, you know.

[In fact it's really expensive. A lot of her family's wealth goes to purchasing high quality gemstones to contain stores of mana. That, and her legal guardian kind of screwed over most of the family's investments and other assets.

Rin half-stomps her way over to a fine looking kettle and puts some water on for tea. She should be getting her servant to do this, but the task keeps her hands busy so she doesn't feel the need to mouth off about her finances. She's still bitter over Kirei significantly slashing whatever budget she may have had for purchasing high quality stones for mana storage.]

[He deflates a little, less out of any kind of pity but because his situation seems to have gotten worse already. Oh boy...]

So I was summoned by a penniless mage? Don't tell me you plan to win the Grail just to pay your mortgage off.

[In the meantime... since she's making the tea, he decides to sit himself down at the table, leaning back in the seat until he can kick his feet up.]

As if I would strive for something so short sighted. I'm in it to win, and that's all I need. I don't have any great wish beyond that.

[Though she has to play this game carefully. She only has a limited amount of gems to use on this war after all. However if she has the most powerful Knight Class servant that should be enough to make sure her gem usage is manageable. Strategy will be key, though the more Saber – Greed — speaks the more she's tempted to waste a command seal to shut his sassy ass up.]

What a waste of a good Grail. [He leans his head back, staring at the ceiling.] You're not really like most humans, are you? Usually they want the normal things, whether it's power or money or everlasting life. But not you. For you, it's all about bragging rights, isn't it?

[It's not even really that he's criticizing her. It's a kind of admiration, really. What she wanted didn't really fit within the scope of normal human avarice.]

That's right. To claim the Grail for the Tohsaka name is it. To prove my capabilities and to achieve something no one else has ever before.

[As the water is put on to boil Rin takes a seat at the table as well, but she sits across from Greed.

Just to pull the table toward her with the intent of removing it from under his propped up feet.]

[Plop! goes his feet. Greed flails a little before his chair doubles back and he falls on his head. Yeah, his Luck trait isn't very high.]

Ow, dammit, what's the big idea!?

[He's been back in the human world for like ten minutes and this is what he gets...]

The Grail should have kept you up with the times. If it hasn't, this is a table. Not an ottoman. Please treat it as such.

[She smiles brightly despite the dark circles beginning to form under her eyes from lack of sleep. The expression is clearly a mask for the anger boiling under her skin.]

[He's totally going to hang out invisible and just put his feet up on all the tables from now on. See how she likes that. He stands up, clearly peeved at her being so childish.]

Tch. I get summoned from across the void to fight your enemies and I'm expected to have table manners. [But you know what? He picks up his chair and sits down. This time all four legs on the floor.] Besides, I'm not that ancient.

[Look, even if she is forced to be a frugal lady some of the shit in this huge house is expensive, and replacing it would be a huge inconvenience wallet-wise, so no feet on the table!

Her water comes to a boil. Rin lets out a small sigh, and stands from the chair to tend to it. Carefully she removes the kettle from the heat. She then pours the hot water into a cup that has a cheap teabag in it and its string dangling over the rim. No expensive loose-leaf here with a mesh strainer or anything. However Greed might notice that the delicate porcelain she uses as a teacup might be expensive even if the tea isn't.]

You're a servant, not a dog. I shouldn't have to expect to clean up after your mess.

[Now that the fake smile has disappeared her tiredness shows more plainly on her face even if she's trying to keep a neutral countenance.]

[Ugh, there's that word again. Servant. He really hates that part of the deal, when it comes right down to it. He was the one who was going to be doing all the hard work here and this contest was more about him than it was her. She was only here to provide an anchor. Mages had a funny way of seeing things.

Still, it wasn't forever... But what a pain. He takes his cup when she returns, but that's when he notices that without her smile, she looks exhausted.]

... yeesh, just how long did you spend setting up this whole thing?

Some time. I had to decipher an heirloom from my father that had a few things inside — including the catalyst which I used to summon you. Then I had to clear the study to make room for the summoning circle in the most ideal room in the house in regards to ley-lines. After that I had to prepare the sigil making sure each curve and rune was perfect. Practice my lines, and—

[Her hand lifts to politely cover a large yawn she tries holding back.]

All this after a long day at school. My mana is at its peak around 2am, so...

[Huh, that does sound like a long day. No wonder she was exhausted. Somewhere in the subcockles of his heart he feels a twinge of sympathy for her, but it's faint. And overshadowed by the realization she is going to school. He nearly chokes on his tea.]

The hell? You're going to fight in a war and you bothered to go to school?

Yes, of course. I probably won't be going in today, but I do plan to go back after I rest. I can't let anything slip that something is different.

[She's confident this is how things should be. Rin swirls the tea in her cup just a little before bringing it to her lips. Gently she breathes some air on the surface to cool it before sipping.]

[That was right. Stealth was pretty important. She was the weak link in the chain, which meant he really needed to keep her in good shape. Much as he wanted the attention, this wasn't a good move in the long run.

So he finished his tea and stood, leaning on the table.]

Then I think it's time for you to be hitting the hay. I can't have my Master dozing off in the middle of a battle, can I?

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