KENOS INBOX

[erbe]

COMMUNION

Reaching out to Rin is like stepping into a moonlit parlor. Everything is quiet, muted, and neatly tucked away. Almost like a "lobby," of sorts to keep visitors away from the rest of what goes on in her head... and her heart. This space is cool, and placid. Much like the surface of a lake in winter as it reflects the pale glow of the celestial bodies hanging above it in the sky.

A reflection of serenity rather the true thing. A mask of elegance to hide anything that may be unsightly. Anything that may betray her.

✧ Specifics

✦ Unable to block out: Harbinger
✦ Compatible with: Iconoclast | Advocate
✦ Discord Accrual: Exalt

(CODE)

Comments

edelstein... again

[gravings]

[ A suspicious individual enters Rin's shop.

There's nothing in the immediate appearance of the person that suggests mischief: it's a teenaged girl, short with long, blonde hair. Her features are delicate, cat-like, her clothes quietly rich. One might imagine her to have a confident personality...

Instead she enters the shop quietly, looking pointedly for the shopkeeper as if gauging for something before stepping in further. As if remembering that she ought to be more confident, her chin lifts as she turns to look over the items on display, arms crossing as if in judgment. But every once in a while she sneaks a glance in Rin's direction as if expecting something... ]

[erbe]

[Hm. Tohsaka feels as if she recognizes this person. Not by sight, but because mages can sense the magical energy of others if its not explicitly concealed. While tempted to call her out, Rin leaves it be. Instead she'll address her like any other customer. After all, it's possible someone could be layering their disguise and making themselves 'feel' like Gray.

So Rin calls out as she steps away from her counter and into the store proper.]

Having a bit of choice paralysis, are we?

[gravings]

[ Is she fooling Rin... It's hard to tell. Gray clears her throat, hoping the magic that changes her voice will stay true and not comically shut down on her. ]

I'm just admiring your selection.

[ Disguise or not, she can't quite match the full range of Reines's playfulness, but it's still (tenuously) more confident-sounding than Gray's usual mellow tone. On the other hand, she's having trouble making eye contact, unreasonably certain the jig will be up if Rin searches her eyes. It only took two seconds for the guilt of deception to get to Gray...

She reminds herself to stay on script. ]

Is there anything you would recommend?

[erbe]

Oh, that certainly depends on what you are looking for. A certain scent profile? Or are you more interested in a specific application of a product? Let me know your desire and I can guide you in the right direction.

[While there may be a hint of "know it all" coloring her tone, she is still bright and inviting. Vibrant and full of life as a contrast to Gray's typical behavior. Standing about arm's length from the other girl, Rin settles herself to start observing her new customer more closely.]

[gravings]

[ ... What DOES Gray need? She didn't plan that deeply on the way over, more concerned about trying to get into a different mindset. Her expression loosens, becoming more naturally thoughtful as she turns her mind over. She isn't nearly skilled enough an actor to think about transforming her body language completely, and so she retains a certain reticence as if trying to avoid drawing attention to herself. Crossing her arms at all is a deviant enough move for her. ]

Do you have any soap gentle enough for a horse?

[ It's... a cyberhorse... but it has natural bits too that deserve to smell nice. ]

[erbe]

[—Ah. That's it. That's the part that breaks Rin's immersion and ruins her generosity. Tohsaka rolls her eyes a bit with a sigh.]

You know... it's not quite believable that someone would come into a shop for people and ask for products geared toward animals. Would you like to walk out and start again?

[gravings]

Huh?

[ Gray's sad attempt at a rich posture drops immediately with her shock at Rin's flip-flop in attitude. She doesn't understand, where did things go wrong?? Rin surely can't have deduced the situation already... ]

H-Human soaps can be safe for horses too. We used to use them all the time... ah.

[ Maybe that wasn't the point. ]

[erbe]

Is that right? A lady of your standing doesn't look like the type to be washing horses.

[Gray, please. You're endearingly cute and it's squeezing her heart like a vice, but she cannot tolerate this. What if she tries this in front of Silco or Sebastian? She wouldn't survive.]

[gravings]

[ Gray's head lowers miserably, missing the refuge of her hood. She could probably make up some excuse about only overseeing the care of horses, but she already knows Rin won't buy it. The jig is completely up. ]

... Sorry. It's me, Gray.

[ Be amazed.......... ]

[erbe]

I know. You don't really conceal your magical energy, so I had my suspicions.

[Rin curls her knuckle and 'knocks' on the lid of one of her product jars.]

If you actually are looking for horse wash then anything with Sage, Hyacinth or Jasmine should do the trick. I think those are non-toxic to animals of that size, but you might want to double-check.

[gravings]

[ How kind of Rin to carry on like Gray didn't just try to deceive her. Still, Gray feels deeply silly about it — and that she should probably drop Reines's likeness now before she sullies its reputation any further.

She lets go of Alter Self, revealing her normal appearance — sans hood. At least she's had the time (to muster up the courage) for a proper haircut, so that her haphazard cut from the labyrinth is neatly trimmed up into an A-line bob. ]

So you knew from the start...

[ Mortifying. Her face, it's so red. Just to have something to do, she slowly picks up one of the jars Rin names. The jasmine. ]

If it weren't for my magical energy, do you think I might have passed...?

[erbe]

No.

[Rin isn't the type to overly coddle or sugarcoat things. She's blunt in a way most would find rude or insensitive.]

You didn't have confidence in yourself, and I think you didn't have a clear focus on your goals and reason for being in my shop. I think you need to work on your purpose and your conviction. Beyond that, instead of filling in the blanks with what this lady should have been interested in, you did it with pieces of yourself. It made it even easier to pick you out.

[Ah, but Rin cannot criticize her entirely. How could she when Gray's hair is so cute and perfect? Reaching out, like she had in during the Oracle, Rin runs her fingers along the ends of Gray's hair.]

This is a really cute style for you.

[gravings]

[ Blunt is what Gray is used to when it comes to instruction, so she takes no offense to Rin's version of it. Of course, it's never pleasant to hear about how badly she's done something, but she listens, and takes the advice to embarrassed heart.

She's deep enough into trying to internalize what she could have done better that she's taken way off guard by the fingers at her hair. She startles, hugging the jar to her middle. She's so often hooded that a touch to the back of her head is as unexpected as a touch to her bare stomach. Even so she obediently stays still, turning her head only a little to look at Rin. ]

Th-Thank you! It's the first time I've had a trim like this, so I wasn't sure how it would go...

[ Is it common for girls to touch each other's hair after a cut?? She supposes she wouldn't know. ]

To be honest, I've grown to like it being so short. It saves a lot of time.

[erbe]

Since a mage's hair can hold and gather mana it can be important for one to let their hair grow out. However since you are not a mage, I think this is perfect for you. And if you like it? All the better.

[Letting go of Gray's hair, Rin lets her hands fall by her side. Blue eyes watch Gray carefully. Happy to know that she's pleased with her new image, and that something good came from that Oracle trial at least.]

[gravings]

[ Gray's jitters and self-chastisement fade into a small smile as she sees that Rin is pleased. Maybe she'd thought, just a little bit, that since Rin had witnessed King Arthur herself, she'd disapprove of the change...

Gray at least knows about the importance some mages place on their hair thanks to her mentor's own obscenely long hair. She resists the urge to speak of him, figuring that Rin might not care. Though the thought of her mentor reminds her of something else... ]

I forgot to ask. Have you happened to meet Flat yet?

[erbe]

[Rin's cheery demeanor plummets suddenly at Flat's name.]

He insists he knows who I am. I hadn't met him prior to seeing him at the Tomes.

[gravings]

[ ... Okay so Gray isn't too surprised at the divebomb in Rin's expression, but she is surprised at what Rin says. ]

He said that? He must come from further along, then...

[ But he's still the same old Flat to Gray. Time is truly a construct to someone like him. ]

Did he mention meeting you at the Clock Tower?

[erbe]

[Tohsaka pinches the bridge of her nose. As if remembering the pain of a headache.]

Yes. Something about being a senior classmate.

[gravings]

[ Rin's phantom headache cannot stifle Gray's excited gasp and little lean forward. ]

Really?! So you did end up coming to our classroom!

[ Or... some version of Rin. In some version of their hypothetical future. ]

I guess it's not that surprising. I can see you fitting right in.

[erbe]

A-ah, Gray? Are you trying to make fun of me again?

[Fitting in?! With that unhinged cryptid of a man? Maybe dying with honor in the Holy Grail War might have been a preferable choice.

Well, at least she's here now. And doesn't have to think about the implications of Shirou Emiya ditching her sister to learn magecraft in London.]

[gravings]

[ In hindsight, she can see why Rin would say that. Not all mages looked on the El-Melloi Classroom or the Lord who headed it favorably. But naturally, Gray feels a need to put in a good word. ]

My mentor had a reputation for being able to bring out the potential in his students, so I'm sure you would have enjoyed being there. And actually, the class got popular enough that we'd often have students auditing. It was a very lively, and very talented classroom.

[ She's glowing... ]

[erbe]

[UGH!!!!! Why? Why does she have to look so cute like that? Why did she have to look so happy? It's too much! Rin groans.]

I'm not sure I'd be entirely satisfied with a classroom that had him in it.

[Flat, she means! What a grating boy.]

hi why is rin groping mitsuzuri

[gravings]

[ If only Gray could be confused about what Rin means by that. ]

Truthfully... he did give my mentor a lot of stress. He has a different way of looking at things, and enough talent that he can be hard to predict. But he was very kind to me when I first arrived in London.

[ So please be nice to him!! When they aren't fighting over Oracles and such. ]

NOT GROPING

[erbe]

Yeah, and if you're nice to him now you'll be even, so that clears the slate.

[She won't be nice! Especially if they're on opposite sides.]

[gravings]

Rin... I think you're the only one who measures favors that way.

[ Big favors, maybe. But these are just nice, friendly, casual favors. Sometimes people just like to be nice? ]