Fate / Stained Inheritance

-Relax with Gray
-And Kiara

You leave the tearoom, emerging along with Ruler into the corridors. You have a quick look from side to side, trying to get your bearings in relation to the rest of the building as Ruler speaks up cheerfully. "Well, I think that went quite well- you did well, to be able to recount that tale. Do you think you learned anything good?"

"A bit" You nod. It's such a relief to know that you wouldn't need to bear that weight - that light again. And it's good to know why other people might want to be after you- it lets you know what sort of thing you'd want to look out for.

As you're standing there, the tearoom door opens again, and Gray emerges, closing it films behind her, before starting as she sees you there. "Ah- you're still here."

"Hm? ...Gray?" you ask, still stumbling over using her name a tad- but her voice sounds a little different- a tad ragged. "Is- everything…"

"Sorry- just… some of what you'd said then…" Gray's voice is quiet.

"Ah- I'm… sorry. Should've-" You stumble back in response.

"No- I should've been…" Gray mumbles back apologetically.

"Right, that's quite enough of that timid mouse talk! Both of you have far too much worth to be acting like that." Ruler calls out, clapping a hand on each of your shoulders, drawing a squeak from Gray as she pulls the pair of you into her, holding you close. "I won't stand for that- so we're going to go do something fun."

"Wait- actually, I do need to pay you back. You did buy food for me." You nod in agreement with Ruler. "And- I have money now! So I can do that."

"I- Okay." Gray nods after a little bit of umming.

With that, Ruler leads you out of the building, passing you a slip of paper with a phone number and instructions for how to get it that she says Izabetha gave her last night. At the very least, once you get outside, Gray seems to have perked up a bit.

Looking back, you find yourself standing outside a decently sized house- not quite a mansion, but still definitely a large and luxurious building, in a street filled with similar houses. Actually, you recognise the area- you've been here before, this place isn't that far from Kiara's chapel. Though it's a new experience being here and not heading to or from there. It's a nice experience- just walking like this. Having the time to look and see things, to see all these things you've never really properly seen before. It's nice. You'd never really thought you could spend time like this- it's just so mundane so normal. Some of the stuff you feast your eyes upon might be painfully mundane… but it's still all new to you. Even something as plain as some vibrant blooming flowers in the earth there, or the faint beats of music leaking out of an open window… it's stuff you'd have never seen in your cell. And at the very least, when you turn back to the others, you do catch smiles on Ruler and Gray.

After a bit of walking, though not enough to leave the general area, you find yourself outside a rather fancy looking cake shop, some delicious scents wafting out from its open door. You peek in through the window for a moment, feasting your eyes on the displays, when you're interrupted by a familiar sultry voice coming from behind you. "Oh my my, if it isn't my favourite Master~"

You spin on your heels to find yourself face to face with Kiara, Ruler giving Kiara her usual wary stare. "Oh? Get kicked out of your church?"

You blink in surprise at that- that's not the sort of tone you usually hear from Ruler when Kiara's about. There's still a bit of coldness there, but that sort of conversational tone is new. Though you do recall them talking a bit while you were drifting off for that nap yesterday.

What's also completely new is Kiara's outfit- rather than the form-hugging nun-esque outfit that doesn't quite match your own, this time she's in some rather nice looking casual wear- smart, form hugging white trousers, along with a tight turtleneck jumper in the deep crimson of a spiderlily's blossom. A thin black silken jacket hangs half off her shoulders, a faint red pattern reminiscent of grasping hands decorating its bottom. She's got a single silver ring on one finger, and an amber stone that matches her eyes rests on her chest, part of a simple silver necklace.

"Oh no no no, nothing of the sort." Kiara laughs softly, raising a hand to half cover smirking lips, the smart white flats of her shoes clicking ever so slightly as she walks towards you. "I've just had a little bit of oh so dreary work that I really did need to get done. Insurances and all that kind of affair. You wouldn't think that there would be so many dreadfully political affairs here in the Church. But here we are. It really is such a shame."

Kiara sighs wearily, shaking her head slightly as she taps a pair of fingers against her temple "So can you blame me for wanting just a little indulgence? Especially when this place does have some very nice cakes. Were you going in?"

You nod slightly, almost without thinking. It's the right sort of place, and you do need to pay Gray back.

"...It does look good. I wonder if Reines knows about this place?" Gray says quietly, having a look at the display as well.

"Well, then there's no point waiting around outside is there?" Ruler says to you, brightly leading you all to the door, Kiara falling in behind you.

A bell tinkles softly as you enter the cafe, drawing the attention of the man behind the counter. "Friends of yours, Ms Sesshouin?" He asks, clearly recognising Kiara.
"Oh yes. Is the corner table free?" Kiara asks, getting a nod in return from the cashier, before leading the three of you through to a nice wooden table off in the corner of the room, some cushioned, bench like seats by it and a pristine tablecloth. "Oh, I'll have my usual coffee as well."

Ruler sits down next to you as you take your seat, Kiara carefully placing herself down opposite you, with Gray gently sitting next to her. You take a menu, and begin flicking through the lavishly-illustrated menu, mostly managing to stop yourself from drooling at some of the pieces on display.

"I must give you my congratulations, Mimi." Kiara says softly, drawing your attention away from the various delicious looking cakes on offer. "I've heard that's Assassin out of the war. One less mage who could get their hands on the grail."

You nod slightly, unconsciously touching the spot where Assassin shot you. One less competitor. You still don't know what you'd do with it if you win- but you still can't just give up and let the other mages have it not when they'd just lock you up in that cell again and you're never going back. It's good to know that Kiara's on your side here. Even so, your voice is a little halting when "It's- a step. It's something."

"Ah- this one looks good." Gray cuts in, interrupting you and dragging your attention towards her and the cake she's pointing at, a strawberry-looking one.

"Ah- then if that's the one you want." You stumble over your words a bit as you take some money out of your purse, still not quite sure how to say this. To offer this properly. To give something. "I- still owe you. From last time. So this makes us even right?"

"...You don't need to think of it that way." Gray whispers, more to herself than anyone else, before returning to her usual, still rather quiet voice. "If you want to think of it that way."

"Now now Master, we're here to loosen up." Ruler says, playfully ruffling your hair through the hood of your habit.

"She's right you know." Kiara says, a slight smirk forming on her face as her golden eyes fix upon you. "Being too tense will spoil the food after all. Far better to be nice and relaxed."

You nod slightly as Kiara leans forwards slightly and you catch a faint sniff of the sweet scent of her perfume, reminding you of the calming scent the candles in her church have, the serene feeling they fill you with. She's right. You came here to destress. To just have a precious normal moment. Not to think about the war.

After a few moments more thought, you make your choice, a drink of juice and your cake of choice, passing the money for you, Gray and Ruler's choices to Kiara as she goes up to the counter and orders. A short while later, she returns with a tray laden with plates and drinks. You all take your respective orders, and without further ado, get stuck in, shivering in delight as the flavour fills your mouth- hints of orange, a juicy, moist sponge and the rich bitterness of the dark chocolate underlying it before it really is heavenly. You're able to savour the mouthful, just slowly letting the flavour soak into your mouth as you pin your spoon hand to the table, satisfaction scrawled across your face, visible even behind your veil. It's still such a wonderful experience to just try something new and delicious like this that you'd never got to try before.

A faint chuckle disturbs your calorific reverie as you find Kiara smiling at you, taking a sip of her very-strong smelling coffee, the faint waft of caramel an undertone to the ludicrous amount of caffeine in it. As she puts the mug down, your gaze is drawn to the decadent slab of cake on her plate, all rich chocolates and caramels slathered in thick, sticky hot sauce that you see slowly sliding down the cake.

"I did say I was thinking of a little indulgence~" Kiara says slyly, folding her arms for emphasis as she speaks. "And well, I'm quite lucky with where my treats go, so I can get away with a little delicacy now and then~"

You nod, taking another bite of your cake in the meanwhile. That makes sense. Or at least you think so at least: Putting on weight's never been a problem for you after all, that recent bit you've filled out s probably the first time you've ever gained weight, and even then it's just making you look less skeletal.

You glance over to where Gray and Ruler are enjoying their respective cakes as you savour the latest bit, before a soft "oh my" draws your attention over to where a thick droplet of the sauce has fallen off her spoon to land on her chest. You catch that relaxing scent of her perfume again as she slowly and deliberately scrapes the splash off her jumper with a finger, leaving a faint stain in its wake. Before you realise it, you find your vision following along as she brings that finger up to her lips, the sauce slowly trickling down it. As Kiara's finger reaches her lips, you see them twitch into a faint smile, before her gaze fixes upon you, eyes narrowing ever-so-slightly to match the inviting slyness of her smile. And as you stare, Kiara cleans off the chocolate sauce, her eyes holding you hostage as she slowly sucks on her finger, before dexterously licking away the last remnants, finishing off the process with one final lick of her lips.

You swallow slightly, your mouth suddenly feeling surprisingly dry, as you take a deep sip of your juice, seeing Kiara's smile deepen as she takes another spoonful of her cake, her eyes still holding your attention.

"You know Mimi, you really should try some of this cake. It's hardly something you'd usually get, and it is positively divine." Kiara says, her voice lowering slightly, as she loads her spoon with more cake, holding it out towards you, her voice starting to blot out all other sounds. It feels like she's whispering directly into your ears from a lover's distance, her honeyed words leaving nothing else for you to hear. "Don't be shy now, Mi-mi~"

You blink behind your veil as Kiara offers the cake to you, your brain completely unable to think of a response. Kiara's right, it does look nice. So maybe you should just accept Kiara here. But before your dazed thoughts can come up with a reply, a gasp slips out of your lips as you feel something- Kiara's foot gently trace across your leg for a moment. And in that moment, Kiara strikes; her gaze transfixing you, she leans across the table and slides the spoonful of cake into your now-open mouth, before returning to her seated posture, a brilliant smile across her face as the intoxicatingly rich flavour of her cake floods your senses, an overwhelmingly potent mix of fudge and chocolate mixed with lingering scents of Kiara's perfume. All you can do is just savour every moment you have it in your mouth.

"Well, did you like it?" Kiara asks playfully as you swallow the cake, to which you can only respond with a glazed nod.

"Thank you Kiara." You murmur back, sending a thrilled expression across Kiara's face, before the faint thud of a strawberry falling off a spoon reaches your ears. Still focused on Kiara, you follow her attention over to where Gray sits, mouth half open and a spoon frozen halfway between her plate and mouth as she just stares at you and Kiara, a luminescent blush visible even under her hood.

"Oh my, how rude of me to leave you out." Kiara says, turning her attention to Gray. She's scooped another morsel of cake up from her plate, and is about to slide along the bench towards Gray when Ruler moves, deftly intercepting the spoon with her own, the clashing of metal on metal startling you out of your gaze.

"That's quite enough of that. You asked me to do this, remember?" Ruler says, narrowing her eyes at Kiara menacingly, before deftly snatching that bite of cake for herself.

"Ah-" Kiara gasps, blinking in surprise, before pushing herself back to the far end of the bench, putting space between her and everyone else. There's a faint noise of confusion and disappointment from beneath Grays hood as Kiara backs away, visibly breathing heavily.

"Thank you." Kiara whispers to Ruler as you look on in confusion.

"Are- is something wrong?" You ask, taking another sip of your drink to banish the dryness from your mouth.

"It's fine-" Kiara says softly, between her deep, calming breaths and sips of coffee, her breathing gradually returning to normal. "A lapse in focus. Nothing more."

You're not sure how much you believe her. But you'll trust her on this. With everything else that she's done for you, the chances to betray you she never took, why wouldn't you trust her? You return to your slice of cake, your mind returning to the topic of after the war. You don't know if El-Melloi's likely offer is right- you know policies aren't what you want. But with everyone mistaking you for a member of the church, with the fact that they don't get on well with mages. It's got to be worth an ask, to see if you could find a place there, to find your future in these robes.

"Kiara-" You say quietly. It's not the easiest thing to bring yourself to say. But Gray, Ruler and Kiara… you trust all of them. And in a place like this, a normal, relaxing mundane place... you think you can ask this. You can open your shell just a little here. "Can… can I ask something?"

"Of course, my Mimi~" Kiara says softly, learning towards you. "What is it?"

"It's about- I've been thinking. For after the war. About the future. My future."

When asking Kiara about your thoughts for after the war.
[] You tell her about your grail-ness. With how she's helped you, you trust her enough to open up.
[] You don't tell her. You trust her… but you still want to keep that a bit more of a secret.

QM note- I was going to make a vote about if Mimi would even ask about the future to begin with but I couldn't think of an interesting alternative option and it's in character given Ruler, Gray and Kiara are the 3 people she trusts the most so here we are.

-Tell her about your nature

"I've figured some things out. I've- remembered some things." You say slowly. It's easier to say it this time than it was the times before, which is something. It's still far from a natural thing to crack yourself open like this. But there's nobody here that you don't trust, and Kiara's the only one here who doesn't already know. "I know why the mages who made this war wanted me- why they locked me up in that cell."

"Oh?" Kiara leans in, interest written on her face.

"I was there. At the last war. At Fuyuki." You take a drink, your arm still shaking slightly as you do so.

"But- I wasn't a master." You shake your head slightly at that. "I was still there though. Under the grail. Part of the grail. That's what I was."

You pause. "What I am."

"Well now, that is… something else entirely! How did you find out?" Kiara gasps, the last pieces of her cake going ignored. You don't respond to that, merely unconsciously touching the place where Assassin shot you. The pause is broken by Kiara speaking, a whisper more to herself than to anyone else. "But to think that we would have been so close..."

"And whatever could you mean by that?" Ruler asks, snapping Kiara's attention back to the present.

"Oh my-" Kiara aras softly, gently pressing a thumb into her palm to refocus herself. "Well, if you're so interested in me… I suppose I can expose myself a little~"

Kiara leans back in her chair, giving you a suggestive look as she stretches slightly. "After all, I was there as well."

A faint gasp escapes your lips as you lean forwards, elbows banging off the table. "Wait- how? Why were you there?" Was she another master- or worse...?

You shake your head, banishing the thought- no there's no way she could have been one of them- she can't have-

"I only arrived when it was all over, of course," Kiaras voice breaks through your thoughts, and you find yourself unclenching your body. You hadn't even noticed that you had tensed up there. "I'd simply heard the news of the disaster, and wished to help."

Kiara smiles slightly, placing a hand upon her heart. "How could I not wish to do what I could, upon seeing such an occurrence? And had I not gone, I would never have taken the path that led me here. To where I can see desire realised."

She bites her lip slightly, even as a slight glint of sadness flashes over her features. "Even though… had I known, we could have…" A shake of her head, her trailing hair rippling with the motion. "But enough of the past- if that is your truth, then I would wish to see your hands be the ones to grasp the grail even more than I already do. I must see your desires manifest."

Kiara pauses for a moment, a faint flush colouring her face as you lean back, the intensity of her words surprising you as she breathes heavily, calming herself down. "But that is for the future. Much like what you had wished to ask about, Mimi?"

Right. It's now or never. You've got to see. Can she- would she? "-If I'm a grail- people put work into me. Put secrets into me. That means… I'm not just a failure. To some mages- I'd have value. I'd be something they want. They're never satisfied so there'd be some somewhere that'd leap at the chance to grab me and try and rip all that out of me-"

"Mimi, calm." Rulers voice is calm as she places a hand on your shoulder, running it down your back in soft, soothing strokes. "You're safe. You're calm."

You breathe and breathe and breathe, forcing yourself to exhale slowly to the sedate pace of Ruler's patting, slowly returning to a calmer state. Even so, there's something about what you just said that feels off. Because it's the first time you've ever said that you had worth. "But- if that's the case. If there's something about me that mages might want then I can't just go off after the war- I need something someone that's got weight- something I can join, use as shelter."

You take a deep breath, feeling that ragged feeling welling up inside your throat that breaks into another coughing fit, leaving your napkin bloodstained. "So if there's no way I can be safe on my own- I just need to find a group or something to join right? So then- Gray's sure El-Meloi'd give me an offer but I… I still don't know about him or the whole lot of mages- so… I was wondering. If."

There's a slight rustle from Gray as you hesitate. "I'm sure he would."

A faint whisper from her, as you're gently biting your tongue while you wrestle with the words inside of you. It's a big ask. And you don't know what the answer will be or what you'll do with whatever it is. "So- if I wanted- if I chose or asked… could I find a place with- in the Church?"

"Oh my~" Kiara purrs, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Well now, that's a bold question there."

You grip the edge of the table as you wait for Kiara to respond, your knuckles whitening. She's giving the matter some thought, a mesmerising, melodic humm slipping from her lips as she taps a finger off her cheek, her eyes closed.

"Yes, I think I could help you there." Kiara says, giving you a warm smile as she opens her shimmering gold eyes. "There may be one or two stuffy people who aren't happy, but 'securing holy grails and other reics' is part of what the Church does. So I certainly have justification to take you under my wing, if that is what you choose."

"Well, there you go Master! That's a door opening for you." Ruler says brightly, clapping you on the back as a silly smile breaks across your face at the news. Yes, if your experience touching policies is anything to go off, there will be all sorts of politics and formalities and it's not going to be anything like 'just join and it's all sunshine and rainbows'. But it's a place you could go. If you choose to.

"And well, I suppose that would be a better use of those little pieces of… insurance." Kiara mutters to herself, before taking a sip of her coffee with clear satisfaction, before turning to you. "Is there anything else that you'd like?"

"Ah- no" You shake your head, before turning back to the last scraps of your cake, gleefully attacking it. You've got the answer you wanted. You've got an option now. A future there. If that's what you choose to take.

"Well, it's probably about time I get back to the church. I do have a job to do there, after all~" Kiara stretches, deliberately brushing some stray crumbs off her chest as she stands. You nod, standing up as well. Gray hurriedly finishes the last bite of her cake as well, before you all head outside, standing as a group outside the cafe. A sly look in her eyes, Kiara leans in, whispering into your ear. "Don't leave a girl waiting too long for an answer~"

With that, Kiara gives you an inviting smile, before spinning on her heel and walking away, giving you one last wave of goodbye as you stand there, swallowing slightly. You should probably start making your way back to Izabetha's place as well, as it is starting to get a bit late in the afternoon now.

With Ruler leading the way, you start your walk, taking some different routes through the parkland and lavish houses that scatter this part of the city, giving you more sights to feast your eyes on as you walk. Throughout it all, Gray's remarkably subdued, often trailing behind you and Ruler.

"Gray? Something up?" She starts as you turn back to her.

"-No. It's fine." She replies softly, her voice at the edge of hearing. "That would do- be what you're looking for."

Another whisper there, even quieter than her last. But then Gray does actually speak up somewhat, raising her head. "But… is that your choice? For after everything?"

You stop in your tracks, and just look at Gray for a moment. That's not what you were thinking you'd hear. "I- don't know. I just wanted... to know if I could choose it. I'm not sure yet."

You're met with a silent nod in response, and neither you nor Gray nor Ruler mentions the topic, just focussing on the many new mundanities you come across on your trip back to Izabetha's house. But even so, there's a spring in Gray's step that wasn;t there before.

In time, you arrive back at Izabetha's, and you go off to just find a quiet place to rest, feeling all the walking you just did, especially given that last night… wasn't exactly restful. After a bit of searching, you find an empty living room, and plonk yourself into a seat, snuggling into the cushioning as you close your eyes.

"I know people say to sleep on decisions, but you're going to do that already, Mimi?" Ruler asks playfully from where she's perched on a nearby chair.

"Just tired- Can think about it later. Got an offer. That's enough for now." You mutter, as you press yourself deeper into the chair and drift off to sleep.

The scent of food wakes you, your eyes blinking open to a room lit by the colours of the setting sun. You glance around to see a plate of sandwiches left on a nearby table, steam rising from them.

"Rise and shine Mimi." Ruler says softly, a hand gently stroking your hair as she rests against the back of the chair you'd napped in. "It's almost time again."

You nod, before making your way over to the table, stretching away a couple of kinks along the way. You bolt down the food, savouring every bite of them, the grill-hot melting of the cheese mixing with the tuna and bubbling out the sides as you press the bread together, humming to yourself as you wipe the last crumbs away from your mouth and fingers. It's then that you notice the paper lying folded by the plate, neatly addressed to you.

"Oh, Gray brought that along with the food." Ruler says offhandedly, not showing any curiosity as to its contents. "You'll want to read it."

You make a quizzical noise as you flip the note open, tensing slightly as you read the ink-written letter within. It's from El-Melloi.

"Ms Yagami. Gray has informed me as to the events of your meeting with the overseer this afternoon. In light of the interest my apprentice has shown in you, as well as the aid you have given us in this war, I would like to formally offer you a place within the Faculty of Modern Magecraft, in a position that can be adjusted to your needs.

By the Root and the name I bear,

Lord El-Melloi II"

You blink slightly as you finish the letter, hastily folding it up and cramming it inside your purse. You're not letting go of that- Gray was right about that offer being possible- but you really don't know what to think of it. Gray'd be there, and it's another offer. But it'd be in the Clock Tower. You shake your head slightly, turning to Ruler. "You'd read it?"

"Of course I did. But that's the sort of thing you should see first, not hear." Ruler shrugs, standing up properly as she stops leaning over the chair. "Think you'll need another nap to think about it more?"

"Later- it's nearly night."

"Very well."

With that, the pair of you make your way to the big conference room, to find the same scattered pen-marked maps you remember from this morning still laid out.

"Ah, Ms Yagami." El-Melloi says as you enter. "Welcome."

He nods slightly as your hand drops to your purse and the letter contained within.

"Ah- Hey, Mimi- You'll be with Gray tonight, Iza wants me to give a second look at some of her measurements- the magic ones." Flat calls out, from where Iza has a vicegrip on one of his wrists as she points to a particularly dense block of magical notes scrawled on one map.

"This is vital. I must find more about the details of this war, and Flat and his Lancer are the best way I have of both discouraging ambush and obtaining a second viewpoint." Izabetha calls over to you from in the middle of her explanations.

You just nod. You can't fault that logic. Especially with what Izabetha said about herself. It's at this point that Gray comes over to you, her hands clasped firmly together. "If you're okay with that?"

You nod back to her. "You could fight Assassin. It's fine. Why'd I turn down your help?"

"Of course. Thank you. " Gray nods back at you,

It's at this point that El-Melloi calls over to you. "One other point- having gone over Flat and Izabetha's accounts of facing Berserker, I believe that his Master's base of operations lies to the south. His family has holdings there, and in each time we have encountered Berserker, they have come from a matching direction. So. What do you plan on doing?"

What is your plan for tonight?

[] East to hunt down Caster- he's on the back foot, why not try to end him.
[] North to hunt down Archer at his skyscraper vantage.
[] South, to put down Berserker for good.

[] Patrol the center of town.
[] Patrol the west of town