Interact with the newcomers
-Timidly
You've got to stand up- you can't just cower in a corner you've got to have backbone you can't let yourself crumble.
"Oh- another Master, and Lancer. I see." You're desperately trying to focus on the blonde man, anything to keep your attention off Lancer. She can see right through you. Your voice is shaky. "Why the help?"
"Oh, you mean Gray and the Professor?" He laughs. "Nah, I'm with them; he's a bit cross about one of his students getting dragged into this whole Grail War deal."
It's true- over by the lectern you can see the gloomy man engaged in some heated conversation with Kiara, with Gray standing by his side. She's looking more at you than the Professor. At least, you think. It's hard to tell under her hood. Kiara seems surprisingly unperturbed by the situation. Ruler's standing by your side, giving the whole party an appraising eye.
"Wait- dragged? Wouldn't all you mages be all over the chance for a wish?" You've got this. He wants to talk. Just let him keep talking. Don't let him know you. If they don't know who you are you're safe.
"I mean, I didn't know anything about it- I got sent a letter, opened it, and then everything's a blur until I woke up somewhere else with Lancer, my command seals and a bit of skin. That bit was nasty." That's… odd. Off.
"Master, why are you telling her this? She is still your enemy." You flinch as Lancer interrupts the blonde, tapping her spear on the ground. She's got enough hostility for the pair of them. "You will still have to fight her, no matter how friendly you act."
"I mean, just because we're supposed to be enemies doesn't mean we really have to be. We don't have to really go at it all proper-like do we… actually, I don't think we've met before. What faculty are you from? I'm Flat!"
He doesn't seem to be that bothered by Lancers admonishment. He thrusts a hand towards you, offering it for you to shake. You flinch back from the sudden motion, still shaken from Lancers attention "M-mimi. Mimi Yagami."
Wait- should have made something up. Don't let him trick you by being friendly. He's still a mage. Shouldn't give them anything that might give the game away. You hastily cover your barcode. Should have done that earlier. Did he see it? He looks like he's thinking something.
"Wait-
Are you from the Clock Tower? I mean, everyone knows who the Professor is. It's fine if you're not, you must be a mage at least, that's all fine even if you're not enrolled. " You can see the gears turning inside his head.
"We- we do?"
Shit.
"Of course! The star of big ben, the #1 Prize Bachelor of the Clock Tower, Lord El-Melloi the Second-"
Lord. You don't hear what else Flat's saying, gesticulating excitedly.
Lord. You've heard things about the lords. Even the hint of one being
nearby was enough to get all hands on deck in the archives. And there's one
right there. He's seen you. He's got to know what you are. They're the worst of the mages there's no way he won't know what you are there's no way he'll let you be free.
You spring back against the wall, slamming into it as you turn ghost-pale. No. No no no no no no no nononono why is a lord here why is this happening why did you let yourself get noticed you were free this wasn't how things were supposed to go.
You're hyperventilating, Flat ceasing in his ramble with a worried look as everyone present turns to look at you.
"Don't take me back I'm not going back I'm not going back you can't take me back you can't take me back you can't take me back never back never going back free now can't go back wont go back I'D RATHER DIE THAN GO BACK THERE" You don't even realise you screamed that, nails digging into you as you lapse into another coughing spell, blood splattering over your hands and shirt.
You're only vaguely aware of Ruler standing in front of you, blocking the path between you and the other group. There's a bit of discussion between them, brief half-understood glimpses from between your fingers. They almost look… sad. Kiara's rushing towards you, but Ruler's blocking her approach.
[] It's all too much. You just shut down.
[] Have Ruler get you out of here.
[] Stay here. Try and snap yourself out of it.
In which our Waste takes things well
