Friendly Chat

A note: "Italic talking is for mental communications."

Sasaku watched as Shirou looked though a wardrobe of clothes that he clearly was unfamiliar with. After a while of this, she pushed him to the side in order to look for herself.

"Whose clothes are these?" Although Shirou had said he lived alone, the collection was somewhat more than what a guest might bring. They were all too large for her, so she just settled for a dress that she thought would look presentable, even if loose. She had already removed the dried blood on her earlier, since it did after all come from her and was thus under her control, this was no issue - she also didn't want to waste the energy in it.

"I suppose you could say they're my mother's," he replied after thinking. "Though by the time I met my father, he was already a widower."

"I see." She waved the dress about to examine it before storing it away in a corner of her ((Realm's Armory)). Seconds after that, she replaced what she had on with it.

"Emiya," the boy was already on his way out of the door. "Before we talk to your friend let me show you a trick magi can use to communicate."

"I'm all ears," he said, causing her to laugh at the innocent pun.

(Rin)

"Well, I prefer a polearm actually, but it seems Lancer must have been summoned before me. Luck of the draw, I guess."

Rin and Kuro turned their heads as one towards the sound of the approaching pair's conversation. So Lancer was already in play, finding out their identity would be valuable. Yet another thing to negotiate for.

"Let me do the speaking, it's best to avoid giving away anything useful unless we get something in return." Kuro simply nodded.

Shirou reached the table first and pulled out a chair for Sasaku. As the latter sat down, Rin noticed with some relief that she wasn't carrying her sword or wearing her swordbelt for that matter. Though her new clothes didn't fit her too well... why does Emiya have dresses anyway?

Rather than joining the trio, Shirou made for the kitchen, not having forgotten his earlier intention to prepare tea. Amusingly enough, Sasaku immediately got up to help him.

"Sasaku, you're a guest, so sit down with the other two."

"No, I'm also literally a Servant, so let me handle things like this."

Rin and Kuro shared a glance without any need for mental communication to confirm one another's thoughts on the situation. Kuro laughed. "Are you good at cooking?"

"Yeah." "..Yes." Both of their hosts replied in about the same instant, causing the Archer to laugh again. "Oh, I too have some confidence in my skills. Perhaps one day we can compare notes."

"Enough." Rin was rather exasperated upon recalling her earlier lack of composure. "Emiya, the night is passing and we need to talk before it gets too bright out."

"Sure, sure." He brought the teapot and four cups, while Sasaku handled a tray with some snacks on it. Rin took a cup before realizing what she was doing. "Hey Kuro, can you take a sip first?"

"He isn't the kind of person who would do that," the Servant replied, though she complied easily. "All good. Unless you want to swap with me to be extra sure..." Rin quickly drank from her own cup to suppress her desire to scold Kuro for being so laid-back in enemy territory.

"So Emiya-san, Saber," she said formally after putting the cup back down. "I think both sides could benefit from an alliance. How about we start by trading some information? It seems you might use some about the War, for starters."

Shirou hesitated after this opening salvo, before cautiously answering with "Well, Sasaku already filled me in somewhat."

"Ah, but I take it you didn't get a call from Kirei yet, as he wouldn't know you are a Master." Time to see what she might be able to get out of him, it shouldn't be too hard...

(Shirou)

The conversation between the two magi was an odd one. Rin was clearly taking the time to analyze each thing he said, while he himself had to wait for Sasaku to prompt him telepathically. They had earlier decided to simply play out what Sasaku guessed might be Rin's assumptions. One part was openly discussing trivial things while actually passing serious information mentally.

"Sasaku reported to me that she encountered Lancer, but he retreated. Depending on the timing, it could be that he actually met Rider and killed them. Or maybe it was the other way around."

Rin seemed to consider the possibility. "Did you figure out who is Lancer is? He must be quite capable." To wound your Saber she must be thinking.

"Ask her for something in return." "Yes, we have a good idea, but..."

Rin simply nodded, understanding immediately. She raised a hand and waved it at her Servant. "A name for a name, huh? Sure. Kuro, introduce yourself."

"Uh Master, you just did it for me. Servant Archer, Kuro." She looked at her counterpart across the table. "I can tell you that there's a reason Kuro doesn't show up in the Throne of Heroes' record, but I'm actually wondering why Sasaku doesn't show up either." The two Servants stared at one another for several seconds.

"Is Sasaku your True Name?" Shirou suspected that Kuro wasn't her True Name either, but given his carelessness in using Sasaku's, it might have been for the better if it too was a fake. She didn't seem worried about it being known though.

"No. Actually, I suspect the Grail doesn't have any True Name under my entry, and I'm very sure I wouldn't have a record in the Throne... long story. But I can just give a safe explanation for them." Sasaku shrugged and made a show of turning to Shirou. "Master?"

"I'll just follow your lead then." Outwardly he only copied Rin with, "An explanation for an explanation? Go ahead."

"Right. I'm essentially what the Grail would refer to as a wraith, so I don't have a legend that's mine. Ok, your turn."

Kuro simply nodded. "That's something like my own guess for myself. I have no real memory of coming here, or agreeing to be summoned. I don't remember dying either. Actually my memory is just full of holes so all of that doesn't count for much I guess."

"That sounds like your summoning didn't process fully." Rin twitched in her chair at the remark before snapping, "That is totally not the case!" Kuro just grinned. At least one of the pair was taking their situation well.

Sasaku just continued her line of thought, "Is that why you look like that? Well I'm in the same boat but-"

"No, I'm actually about as old as I look, but I'm borrowing the power of an actual Heroic Spirit. Same for you?"

"That's about right," Sasaku replied lamely.

"The first part or second?" Shirou asked. "The second. Actually, wait. Damn. Might be both."

"Wait a moment," Rin suddenly jumped back into the conversation. "Does that mean you can't return to the Throne?" Both Servants immediately froze. "Uh Sasaku?"

"She's right. I already told you I had nowhere to go though." Shirou blinked, not expecting such a nonchalant reply. Rin had been watching Sasaku's response and missed Shirou's.\\

Shirou in turn was actually watching Rin since she spoke last and he avoided looking at Sasaku when they were talking mentally. The other magus had reacted with a brief moment of shock, which meant she had probably asked and been answered just like he had.

Shirou wondered if the alliance was about to break up, and bloodily at that. Neither of our Servants can actually get out of this alive without winning.

Rin was having similarly gloomy thoughts, though Shirou couldn't have known that they took a different path. Even if I might be able to outsmart Emiya, Sasaku will probably stab me in the back regardless of what he thinks.

"About Lancer," Sasaku spoke up suddenly, as though remembering the first topic of discussion. "I'm pretty sure he's Cu Chulainn." This brought on a somewhat different silence as Rin and Kuro tried to remember who that was.

"Isn't his Noble Phantasm a guaranteed kill type?" Kuro asked finally.

"Tell them it's Gae Bolg, so yes."

"It's Gae Bolg, so yes." Shirou said it casually, mostly because he didn't know what it all meant. Rin though took his tone quite differently.

"I see," Kuro commented, leaning back in her chair. "To be so sure of what it is, then... I guess you must be quite lucky to survive it being used on you."

"I wouldn't say lucky, it hurt a lot."" Sasaku chucked darkly. "

"What does Gae Bolg do?" "Forces the effect of -the target's heart will be pierced- on you."

Shirou felt breathless for a moment. "You... what?"

"We should try to stick together. Night times at minimum." Rin added firmly after the pause had dragged on for a bit. "If either of us encounters Lancer alone, he'll probably turn them into a free kill."

"While I wouldn't bet my life on it, he doesn't seem the sort. Otherwise he would have just used it a second time to finish me off, rather than just run off. Honestly, I felt like it was a distraction to cover a retreat. Not that it wasn't deadly."

"Could have been an order from his Master. Ok, we don't know exactly when Rider died, but this information suggests that Lancer's Master called him back to deal with Rider. Added to which if his Master has any sense he'll think to order Lancer to use Gae Bolg from the start, and repeatedly, especially when he realizes you survived it once."

"That's true," Sasaku conceded. "Like I said, wouldn't bet my life on it."

At that moment, the front door was unlocked from outside. Kuro immediately disappeared, but obviously Rin could not.

Sasaku was on her guard against the other Servant, and since Shirou didn't seem alarmed, she did not react in time to prevent the suddenly appearing Fujimura Taiga from seeing her at the table.

"Shirou, what's going on here?"