[IC] Fate/esoterica

[VitaVitaAR]

Saber

"Er, yes..." the girl samurai couldn't help but feel embarrassed that she hadn't even contemplated the possibility of having to purchase training swords. But maybe there was some way to obtain them otherwise? The pale Servant was hopeful that would be the case, at least. She didn't know much at all about the United States, though the Holy Grail had gifted her the capability to converse with those who lived there without issue. After a moment's pause, Saber realized that another individual had appeared as well. An older man, well-dressed, asking about their situation in English... to which her Master responded in Japanese.

There was really only one thing that the girl samurai could do, given the situation.

"Er, what Honda-san is trying to do is ask who you are, any why you're here?" she asked. It seemed everyone was answering everyone else with questions. Hopefully he'd change that tactic and actually explain himself. Saber didn't suspect him of being anyone dangerous as of now, but at the same time it was a little weird that he showed up so suddenly, so asking who he was seemed like the best idea.

@PKMNB0Y@Raineh Daze

[Anza]

Berserker

First, the rice, a mound of thin and tiny seeds as bright as pearls. She washed them in a bowl, then drained the water out, humming quietly to herself as she went. She'd leave the grains to sit for a while, then soak, cook, and steam them to a warm, soft perfection.

In the meantime, she could get started on the fish, and the miso soup. Oh, and she’d have to include vegetables; a balanced diet was important for a girl of her Master’s age. Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Berserker studied the large kitchen stretching out before her, its modern designs alien to her eyes. Even if she understood the basics of the present-day world, there would still be the matter of finding all the relevant utensils, and the ingredients, wherever the maids had squirreled those away. And then she’d need to judge portion sizes, which would undoubtedly be smaller for sweet little Estelle than for a ruffian like Kintoki. Already, her simple task was turning into quite the undertaking…

But before she could go any further, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of small feet pattering down the stairs.

“Did you sleep well?” Berserker's smile was light, her tone easy and nonchalant, as if this were the sort of question she asked every morning.

“Berserker, I have an idea. We can take this chance to go out for breakfast and I can show you your battlefield!"

“Oh?” The Servant’s head turned, glancing back to where she’d just begun preparing the rice. “But I was…” Her expression fell, a slight gleam already visible in the corners of her eyes. “Do you mean to say… that you don’t want to eat the breakfast your Servant is making just for you?” For a moment, just a second or two, she seemed to be on the verge of crying all over again.

But then she let out a long, sad sigh, and wiped the moisture from her eyes. “…I suppose it would be good for you to spend time outdoors. And knowing the terrain is important, yes…”

She fixed Estelle with a stern look, her arms folding across her chest. “Very well, we'll go out—but you can’t bring your maids, they might give away our presence to our enemies. And while we’re outside, you’re not allowed to leave my side, understand? Not even for a second.” Her tone softened, though her gaze remained firm. “As your Servant, I can’t allow any harm to come to you, Master.”

@VitaVitaAR

[VitaVitaAR]

Estelle Varianbec, Master of Berserker

"Ah?! Wha... er..."

Estelle trailed off. She hadn't at all been prepared for a Servant that would tear up on her suggestion. She thought it was a strategically sound one, especially given they hadn't gotten the opportunity to do so the previous night. But it had made her Servant cry? Well... not full-on sob but she'd definitely teared up! She had no idea that Minamoto no Yorimitsu, the legendary oni-slayer of Japan, would be such... such an emotional lady!

"... I'll have some of your cooking later!" she declared, finally, with a nod of her head, after Berserker finished listing off some conditions. They were all things that Estelle had already intended, only a fool would leave their Servant's side(though being forbidden as if Berserker was her mother was a little bothersome, at least it aligned with her plans already) and her maids would draw a lot of attention while a Servant could go into spirit form, or potentially be overlooked in a crowd. "We'll eat dinner here before we go out to slaughter the opposition."

Estelle gave herself a satisfied smile. While she was taken off-guard by her Servant's behavior, there was no denying that her status was incredibly high, and on top of that she was a Berserker with an intact and conscious mind.

"... Besides, I was already intending on all of that," she added, with a wave of her hand, "Only an idiot would wander off without their Servant, and my maids need to stay behind to care for the mansion. Fufu, I wonder if any of our opponents are stupid enough to walk around without their Servant?"

She giggled to herself.

"As soon as I'm ready, we'll depart, Berserker."

And so, after a quick bath, Estelle was ready to head out. She didn't quite have anywhere to eat in mind already, rather she intended to set out and show Berserker around first, then simply find somewhere to have breakfast along the way.

@Anza

[Anza]

Berserker

While Estelle was busy with her bath, Berserker saw to some preparations of her own. After all, if she was to accompany her Master around town by the light of day, she ought to dress the part, no? The clothing she’d been summoned with as a Berserker didn’t fit this era at all, and traveling in spirit form… well, it wasn’t out of the question, but a young girl appearing to wander about unaccompanied might attract undue concern. Whereas if Berserker accompanied her, they would surely pass as mother and daughter. And if Master got scared and wanted someone to hold her hand, or if she tripped up and scraped her knee, or if anything at all were to happen to her, then her gentle mother would be there to make sure everything was all right… Yes, the more Berserker thought about this idea, the more sensible it began to seem!

Whatever the reason for their disappearance, the Varianbec family had left behind an extensive wardrobe to choose from. Which was good, since… well, it took quite some searching to find anything that would properly fit Berserker’s figure. In the end, she settled on an elegant white frilled blouse and a knee-length black skirt, formal and fashionable without being imposing.

By the time Estelle had finished, her Servant was already waiting for her. “Shall we go, Master?”

***

A thousand years since she had died, and halfway across the world; was it any surprise that Redrock was like nothing she’d ever seen before?

A backwater town, but the size of a city. Fresh food and running water, peasants who ate like kings, but all so uncultured. And the architecture, buildings of imposing size piled together without the least bit of elegance! If it came to it, Berserker decided, she would not feel too bad about ruining a few of them…

But right now, the Grail War seemed far away. And in spite of it all (the pungent smells that hung thick in the air, the lingering eyes of passing men), she was beaming with happiness, pleased as a woman could be. Never straying more than an arm’s length from her Master’s side, she peppered the little girl with questions:

“Estelle, what’s that they’re selling there?”

“Do all of these houses fly the flag of their country? Ahh, how loyal…”

“Does your family have a car? I could learn to drive you, if you like.”

And finally, pointing towards a small diner: “Ah, have you eaten in a place like this before?” It smelled dirty, somehow uncouth… but mildly tantalizing, in its own strange way.

@VitaVitaAR