Einzbern Movie Night #2: Six Coins

[old_man_acht]

The basement has become a second home to Jubstacheit, while outside the walls, the Grail War passes him by. He devotes himself to studying the films that Caster has taken of likely spots along the river, watching the passage of fishermen and children and young women traveling in twos and threes. Until his father's papers come, until Lara's birds have news to report, there is nothing to be done but brew pot after pot of tea and watch the flickering screen.

He can't remember when last he's slept. But for the regular chime of the clock, he'd lose all sense of time.

Comments

[37thstrategem]

"It would," Caster agrees. "And from what I have heard so far, that cunning is in keeping with his legend." Caster remains dubious, but at least his Master agrees that there is some play afoot, foul or otherwise. "And if they know that I am watching, perhaps it is time I availed myself of a closer look."

[old_man_acht]

"You intend to show yourself," he says, raising his brows and pouring himself the last of the tea. "In what way?"

[37thstrategem]

"Not immediately as a Servant," Caster explains. "Though if I must reveal myself to any of these, I think Lancer is the most likely avenue."

[old_man_acht]

"What, if not as a Servant?"

[37thstrategem]

"Well, another Servant will be able to sense me, certainly. But no Heroic Spirit would start a fight with a magus in a library."

[hikikomoe]

For a moment, Lara wonders if her respiratory functions have been compromised, because her chest locks in place, swells impossibly tight.

A library. And a library in Japan, at that. She isn't likely to have read a significant portion of them. Some of the very categories themselves might be new to her. Japanese literature has such rich forms, she's heard, where even the simplest structures take lifetimes to master.

"It would aid me in my research," she says, the words racing to leave her mouth. "I'm sure I could locate material on legends surrounding Sanada Yukimura, particularly as historical accounts place him close to this region, and perhaps I could also gain a deeper understanding of the city itself..."

[old_man_acht]

"Are you asking my permission?" he asks, faintly amused at her eagerness. "You were instructed to show yourself as Caster's master. You could choose a worse venue for it--but the Servants on your film seem to have few scruples about public battles. If you do go, be prepared for battle. Do not rely on their sense of decency to protect you."

[hikikomoe]

Lara presses her lips together tightly enough to drain them from blood. "I won't," she says; her voice comes less freely, this time, and she digs the toe of her shoe into the basement floor.

[37thstrategem]

Caster barely manages to catch Lara's eye as her expression darkens. "At my Master's discretion," he says, with a smile that tells her he'd like to go too. It's certainly true, for more reasons than one.