"So, your
divine goldness,"
Semiramis says, putting inflection into the words. "Would you care for tea?"
Somehow, it amazes you. Even when holding back your status, this mongrel's Servant still dares throw quippy one-liners and subtle insults your way. An Assassin, she is. As soon as you crush the Black team, she goes next.
Sitting in a pew, next to your Master, with folded arms, one leg over the other, you respond, "That would be the second offer of tea I receive tonight. However, I will have to deny." Your red eyes open to look into hers, as if savoring the next sentence. "Drinking from the palms of a poisoner, I may as well plant a dagger through my heart."
Your words created unarguable tension. Your Master has no idea what's going on, the priest seems slightly worried, and the Assyrian Queen's eye twitches briefly before returning to act in accordance with her affable, smug grin. What foolishness. You are the only one enlightened enough to know the entire compass of the situation in this entire church.
The priest himself is tolerable among the primitives of what today's society seems to have devolved into, although what little regard you hold in his favor will in no way benefit him. When this Great Holy Grail War breaks down into free-for-all combat, he will perish like the others.
To his credit, he's quite skilled in the world of etiquette and that of thaumaturgy. From his clear-cut politeness, you presume that with a single glance, he assessed your kingly presence and automatically fell back into a position of obedient agreement.
Or maybe he's just a fool. A likable fool, but a fool.
In any case, the priest's facade isn't quite that much of a facade and he's aware you know it. It's like an inconspicuous obtrusion in the conversation. You know he's a Servant, and he knows you know. But both of you silently agree it'd be better to keep this arrangement secretive; at least for now; at least until everyone had left the church. It's basic decorum. That way, you can avoid immediate conflict. Not that you would mind, of course.
It's just that the church you are in is very well-constructed and you'd hate to vandalize local architecture, especially that the inconvenienced workers who would have to repair the destruction would surely be incapable of restoring the old infrastructure to its former glory.
"That is all I have come here to inform you of," you say. "That said, I'd ask where our base of operations is. I wish to set up my working space." Where else are you supposed to drink wine condescendingly?
"It's under..." Kotomine pauses, side looks at Semiramis who gives him a nod, then continues, "Preparation." A moment passes as he sits down on one of the pews.
"For now, we will operate in this church. You see, the aforementioned base of operations is actually a flying fortress of my Servant's construction." Semiramis gives a curt bow, charmingly lifting her dress by the sides. "Her Noble Phantasm. It will take one or two days to place the finishing touches, after which I expect the entire team to use it."
He looks in your direction. "You will have plenty of space there to establish a workshop, Caster."
A minute of uncomfortable silence passes. Uncomfortable to you, that is. Everyone save for the Assyrian Queen seems to bask in your radiance, and even she is not uncomfortable, as she has her own supply of smugness to keep her going.
Slowly, Rin says, "I... see... And where is the rest of our team?"
"They opted to operate in their own stations," Kotomine answers.
Outwardly, he's honest. Because technically what he said isn't incorrect – the rest of the Team probably
did have such intentions. Where this thing falls down is that like the serpent he is, he didn't mention he kidnapped them from said stations using magical inhalant tranquilizers and stole their Servants and Command Seals for his own devious uses. Sha Naqba Imuru already predicted what his end goal is.
It's an interesting outcome to look forward to. Interesting enough that you haven't blasted him to pieces yet. But you've yet to make a decisive verdict as to whether destroying him or not is a good idea.
But the fact he owns all other Servants except you and Saber is uncomfortable.
He
is the Red Team. Him, you (Team Caster of Red,) and Team Saber of Red are the only real players on this side of the War. Everyone else is eliminated. But to be fair, this means less things to worry about when fighting the Black faction. Less internal conflict to be concerned about, not that the affairs of mongrels take a particular spot in your own plans.
What a serpent, you think to yourself, smiling affably and closing your eyes. You're curious how this War will play out. Perhaps getting summoned here wasn't such a waste of time. Rin looks at you, slightly perplexed, then takes point. "Should we do the same?"
"As you wish," he answers. In his tone, your infinite clairvoyance detects a subtle hint that he wishes to take your Master as well.
You open your eyes and glare at him as if saying: 'Stay away from my pet magus or I will throw so much gem-embroidered pottery at you that your half-baked ambitions aren't the only things that will die horribly' with your eyes. At that, he pauses and his amicable smile is replaced by a perfectly neutral expression hiding deep terror.
He's a Ruler. He knows what you're capable of. Up to and including: Not fretting about Command Seals.
Rin looks at Shirou, then at you, then at Shirou. She's confused, only thinly aware that some deeper meta-conversation is taking place between the two of you. "So... Caster," she interjects, breaking your glare. You look at her indifferently. "A penny for your thoughts? Where should we go?"
[] Stay at the church. He already knows that touching your Master will end in a very interesting way. By that, you mean, it will end with making sweet love to his chest with the business end of a broadsword via your Noble Phantasm.
[] Stay at Rin's manse. Churches are boring, as much as you appreciate the architecture. You'd rather live in the next best thing approaching a palace. Although the manse leaves much to be desired, like lacking an eleventh floor or slaves to work for you, it's better than a place that reeks of poverty.
Shiver.
What is your stance on the War?
[] Kotomine's wish is interesting and you wish to see his dream fulfilled. In addition, your Master's meager wish of reaching the root is nowhere quite as deviating from the magus consensus to draw your favor. Observe Kotomine and intervene only if asked. Being around to spectate is fun, but participation is thrilling evermore.
[] Kotomine's wish is interesting, but it would threaten to upset the balanced ratio of 'mongrel' to 'children with potential' that you have going for your garden (that is, the planet.) Observe him, but destroy him if he gets dangerously close to using the Grail's Third Magic. Then, give the cup to your Master as a reward for summoning you to witness this savage tournament.
