sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[ For the first time, he doesn't immediately defer to her judgment— there's a part of him that, strangely, has an aversion towards leaving his Master in a potentially dangerous situation (a building rooftop, a pool of blood)— but a beat passes, and he lets his lances disappear, along with his armor, to change into his newly-bought casualwear. ]

Understood. If you decide to visit, I'll wait outside of the Church.

[She senses his hesitation and holds up her hand, with the Command Spells.]

I still have these if the situation does somehow get out of hand one way or the other.

[And just so he knows there's always a Plan B]

You remember the area where Lien lives right? We can depend on her too.

Again, understood. As imprudent as this may seem, I'm certain that Cu Chulainn will also be cooperative.

[ It's unheard of, to put so much faith in an enemy Servant, perhaps, but Diarmuid's always been too good for his own good. ]

If anything seems off, Master, rest assured that I'll be near.

Let's get going then. We won't take long.

✘ ✘

[The walk to the church is fortunately, a peaceful one. When they arrive, Ai Thao can't help, but have some admiration for the somber, but dignified looking building.]

You don't see many churches in Japan. This really stands out, doesn't it?

Admittedly, it would be more comforting in another context. It's reminiscent of the buildings in my homeland, but...

[ A little shake of the head, trying to ward off some slight sense of dread. ]

...The amount of prana I sense from the place is unnaturally high. Please, be on guard.

[She's beginning to feel the reason why he was so apprehensive. This aura was not something one could simply turn their nose up at.]

I will. And I'll come back.

So...

...

[She reaches up to pat him on the shoulder. Pat, pat. There's a childish quality to it, but it's comforting as a result.]

Please don't worry!

[ As a knight, there's no greater shame than in having to be consoled by his liege, but he accepts the pats with an understanding that she isn't being patronizing.

If his job is to serve her, then it's also his duty to have faith; a nod, and he settles just outside of the gate, leaning against the grate with unconcealed attentiveness. ]

Your word is enough for me.

[And thus, she walks past the gate, her back turned to him. Into the church she goes.

When she walks inside, Ai Thao is met with the neat rows of pews and the wide ceiling. Blueish light spills through the windows, giving the place of worship an odd glow.]

Hello??

[She feels herself stiffen. Her senses are suddenly feeling nothing, but the prana emitting from one of the rooms on the church grounds. Where is it coming from?]

Is anyone here??

[ The large influx of prana is coming from one of the side doors on the far end of the church, a sliver of light filtering through from where the room is slightly visible. At first, there's silence in response to Ai's query, but the silence is broken a moment later with a clear, reverberating tenor, an unmistakeable sound of a voice cutting through the void. ]

The onus of finding me is on you, girl— you haven't warranted the effort of my visitation.

[oh ok bye then]

[~~ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE~~ There's no way to miss that voice. To Ai Thao, it's hard to ignore the undertone of authority and complete confidence that colors it. The raw strength is palpable. One voice of reason in her mind says to turn back. She won't be finding what she needed.

But then she steps forward and towards the room in the far end. She stops just right outside the door, not looking in just yet.]

... You're not of the Church.

[Stating the obvious, but at least it was better than asking a question to get an obvious answer.]

Edited 2014-12-19 06:34 (UTC)

[ Obvious bores him: there are things he'll humor from a child, as impassioned and unabashed as children are about their simple pleasures, but this quaintly pedestrian question makes Gil laugh under his breath, the tone equal parts condescending and derisive. ]

Setting aside your ignorance, reconsider your impudence for associating me with such a tiresome institution. I've heard sermons less offensive than your inference.

[ ok gil mOVE ON ]

So? What is it you want?

Edited 2014-12-19 06:42 (UTC)

[Ai Thao finds it amazing, absolutely amazing, at the amount of distaste that bubbles up in her at this man's reply. For all intents and purposes, Ai was a person who did her best to treat others fairly and tried to display an honesty that would be clear across the board. Treat others fairly, get fairness back. She knows it doesn't always work that way, but it was a good principle to stick with. Right now though? It doesn't feel like it would matter.

She replies politely.]

I'm looking for the priest of this church.

[A young woman with long dark hair looks into the room, her eyes as blue as the light in the church. Her expression is impassive as is the look in her eyes.]

Is he or is he not available for a meeting tonight?

[ The man in the room is, predictably, as flashy as his confidence suggests: gold everything, red eyes the color of the wine in his wineglass, as sharp as a trained blade and as poised as a fortress. His charisma aside, there's an aura about him that defies dissent, though the effect he has on others varies with how much or how little they find his authority distasteful.

Either way, he's definitely a pain in the ass.

A slight raise of his chin, and he watches Ai through long, lowered bangs, his lips curved up in a discerning smile. ]

Kotomine's laid his lambs for slaughter. He won't be back for another few days.

[ He says so with a degree of satisfaction, whatever that may entail. ]

But don't be coy, girl. I know you've brought your mongrel with you, entertain me with whatever you were going to confess.

Edited 2014-12-19 06:58 (UTC)

[Ai Thao takes a good look at this golden man and is standing very, very still while doing so, the slightest movement, causing her hair to flutter up and down. This man was in such a relaxed position as if nothing could touch him. Even if she hated to admit it, there was something captivating about the red eyes and the glow of gold. However, her brain was silently screaming at her all the same.

Dangerous.

Her Mystic Eyes flare up. A thin ring of violet around her pupils appears.

Dangerous.

Ai Thao forces her eyelids closed. No. Not now. She doesn't know who he is, but she'd die right then and there. That she can be sure of. She told Diarmuid she would come back.

DANGEROUS.

She opens her eyes again. They were normal.]

A useless endeavor it seems. My apologies.

[She bows her head politely.]

Thank you for informing me of the priest's absence. I may return another day.

[She doesn't expect him to take the apology or the thanks. They weren't sincere anyways and she turns around, exiting the church faster than she had entered it.]

Edited 2014-12-19 07:13 (UTC)

[ OMG??? DID HE JUST GET IGNORED... and on a night where he can't be a mean girl with kirei??? what a disaster... ]

[ Meanwhile, Diarmuid (bless his pure soul) is still diligently stationed at the gates, honey-gold eyes fixed on the onimous structure of the Church, ever mindful of any sensory input that might clue him in to coming danger.

He blinks when he sees Ai coming from a distance— that was fast— and straightens up. ]

Master. Was the Church empty...?

[Ai Thao's strides out of the church were long and quick, to the point she almost walks past Diarmuid so she skids to a stop. She's panting lightly, with one hand over her chest. Her heart was thumping like crazy.]

I... I...

[ That reaction is cause for alarm, and his eyes narrow, flitting towards the entrance of the building that his Master's just left. ]

Were you attacked?

[She shakes her head.]

I was scared. It wasn't the priest. He wasn't available.

Then, a guard...?

[ That's strange, are the priests ever really allowed to leave their station...? Everything about this situation is unconventional, and his instinct tells him that he should move Ai away from the area.

A few steady strides away from the gate, and Diarmuid makes sure, again, that his Master is alright. ]

The place gets more and more suspicious, it seems.

[Her breathing becomes more steady, the further away they are from the church. Ai Thao sticks closely to her Servant as they make their way back to the road.]

... There was another man. He was most likely... No, he IS the source of all that energy you warned me about.

An enemy?

[ His frown deepens, and his senses try to pick up on the magnitude of this "man's" prana— it's immense, which is cause for concern. ]

It'd be bothersome if it was someone we'd have to contend with.

[Why is everything so wroooong.]

If that's a Servant like I think it is, what was he doing in the church?? He can't be without a Master. His words and actions were very much his own.

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