Lucius Tiberius barged into the room where his Servant awaited. One battle - One! - and the Red Faction had already lost a Master and a Servant. And not just any Servant. Lancer? Justifiable loss. Rider? Speed would no longer be a tool in their arsenal, but not the biggest loss. Archer? Well, Lucius would be out of the War if it was Archer that had fallen, but at least the force opposing Arthur would still have its spellcaster.
Tiberius looked over his Servant, lounging disinterestedly on a couch and drinking wine by himself, not a care in the world. "Caster is dead," the Master informed his Servant. "Her Master as well."
"My condolences," Archer responded, quite clearly not at all invested in sounding sincere.
"They died in the fight while you were down here drinking wine!" He took the mostly-full bottle and shattered it on the stone floor, leaving the blond man with only what remained in his goblet. "What good is a Servant who will not obey orders?"
"What good is a Master who cannot inspire obedience?" Tiberius held up his hand, displaying three unused Command Seals. "Without the Grail's power."
Tiberius paused and lowered his hand, clenching it into a fist. "If you had deigned to grace us with your presence, we might still have our Caster!"
Archer's expression soured. "Mongrel. A King such as I acts only as he pleases. You may be my Master in title, but not in spirit. That you said we might still have our Caster, not would, is proof enough of your unworthiness to wield my awesome power against your enemies. I will make my move against this Arthur you so despise; but it be at my own discretion and you will be grateful for my charity. Now, leave me. Your presence is spoiling my drink."
With no further words to waste on his useless Servant, Tiberius stormed out of the chamber. Archer sat in contemplative silence for a time, enjoying the aroma of the remaining wine, until he determined that his silent observer would not speak until directly acknowledged.
"Spying is unbecoming for one of your station. Did this land not once belong to you? And yet, you now stalk through it like a common rodent. How far you have fallen, Emperor of Rome."
Her presence acknowledged, Saber shifted out of spirit form, her hands on her hips and her annoyance at her compatriot's words clear on her face. "Hmph. Rather ironic, given my empire persists in the East in the very same territory you once called your own. Pray, do think before you speak, lest you fall yet further, King of Heroes."
Gilgamesh let out an uproarious laugh at the audacity of this woman. "I see the fire that scorched your capital burns brightly within you." The targeted strike did as he intended; perhaps Nero Claudius' greatest point of contention was her involvement in that legendary disaster, and true to his class, Archer hit the bullseye with his jab. But the emperor quickly recovered, her expression shifting to one of bold self-satisfaction.
"My, how childish, to strike at my weakness so swiftly. One must take matters slowly when attempting to court a lady. Impatiently going straight for the jugular is both uncouth and unbecoming. But then, what else should one expect from a man who is envious that the coveted position of Rider of Blue went to a rival of mine, and not the great man who conquered those who crushed your long-dead empire? What a shame that chance eludes you yet again..."
Loathe as he was to admit it, Gilgamesh's own frustration was being expertly exploited by his fellow. But it was a smirk that crossed his lips. "You certainly know your history. Well, colour me intrigued, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus."
Nero stood frozen, stunned that the arrogant, self-absorbed, disinterested Gilgamesh even knew her first name, let alone all five. And that he could list them all from memory. Had she mischaracterised him in her mind, or was he simply the sort to secretly store information for tactical deployment at a later time?
"Shall I expect an invitation to your next banquet of kings, then?" she asked in jest.
"If you can maintain my interest, then perhaps." The casual manner in which he said this surprised Nero.
She had no response, taken aback as she was that Gilgamesh was at all capable of such civility. With nothing further to say, she puffed out her chest and put on her most confident face. "Umu! A trivial matter for one such as I. Prepare to be amazed, my noble predecessor!" With that, she departed in spirit form.
A slight smile remained on Gilgamesh's lips for a short time, amused by the audacity of this woman to declare herself his successor. Archer took two sips from his cup and pondered, "I wonder if our Saber noticed your presence as easily as I did hers... Assassin."
The black-clad Assassin, with hair like a bundle of serpents, materialised before her gold-clad comrade. Unlike with Saber, however, Assassin emerged from her class' Presence Concealment ability. "I should expect nothing less from the King of Heroes," she said in a respectful tone.
"I take it, then, that your Master is as wary of my intentions as Saber's." Not a query; a statement. He was confident in his assertion - and he had good reason to be.
"Are you sure it is not your Master who is viewed under such a suspicious gaze?"
"They knew what they were getting into when they offered that man a place at their table. In the grand scheme concocted by the leader of this little alliance, only Saber's, Rider's and your Masters are not expendable. She is aware that I know this, no doubt; hence this surveillance she insists on placing me under. But placing the King of Heroes under anything is a fool's gambit."
"Shall I report your suspicious words to my Master then?"
"Hmph. Do as you like. That woman is well aware of the value my very presence provides to this alliance of hers. I will be in this War longer than most; only a fool unworthy of my allegiance would think otherwise."
"I will inform my Master of your assessment then."
"By all means. But do try not to let your love for Rome's past emperors make you too biased. That would be unbecoming for one of your station, Queen of Egypt.
"I will keep your words in mind," Cleopatra responded, keeping her tone neutral and her intent hidden. "But for whatever it is worth, had the great Iskandar been summoned in place of the British queen, I am sure he would have sought you out and given you a duel worthy of you both."
Gilgamesh said nothing in response to this, but Cleopatra got the impression that he appreciated the notion. Regardless of the validity of her assessment, she departed, leaving the King of Heroes alone with his thoughts and his empty cup.
The identity of the final Master of Red, Master of Assassin, was the one I struggled with the longest. Initially, it was another of Morgan's children, Agravain, back when I had only that detail and his design to go off. Learning how much of a loyalist he is, though, I started searching for alternatives. One was an original Black Knight enemy, but there wasn't much there. Ultimately, I felt Gaheris fit the role better, alongside Gareth. It made Gareth's position seem less random by having it apply to two of them.