(Untitled)

[maguskiller]

[Public]

[It hasn't been a good week for Kiritsugu.]

[He hopes -- really hopes, that the appearance of drones signifies people going back to their worlds, but seeing as both of his actual children have been turned into drones, he feels the need to grasp onto something more than mere hope

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[expiatrice]

[The man hunched over the bench was almost physically draining to simply look at, but it's also someone that she's met before once under lighter circumstances.

She never did catch his name... But she was also the nosy type that has trouble leaving others alone. She also found herself constantly finding more and more excuses these days to be outside of the house, what with nearly her entire household getting droned under the span of a week's time. It was... a bit jarring, honestly. Going from a full house of five to two including herself, when she didn't have to live with a single drone for months...

At any rate, it's on such a walk when she chanced upon Kiritsugu. She doesn't attempt to hide her presence, but will walk up to him with her soft footsteps on the pavement as indication that someone is coming this way.]

...Excuse me, mister?

[maguskiller]

[While Kiri would usually be more wary about talking to residents, he's actually pretty passive today, perhaps because already having talked to Ciel, perhaps because of simply having too much problems on his plate to be as calculating as usual.]

Yes?

[expiatrice]

[She figured that he was the stoic and not very wordy type on their first encounter. This lack of guard and the alertness that he had with him last time already spoke plenty.]

You don't look very good. Are you feeling ill? [...Probably not, but some beating around the bush may be good, to put out some tact if nothing else.]

[maguskiller]

Slightly. Thank you.

[Well, it's not a complete lie.]

[expiatrice]

I haven't done anything, so that's unnecessary. [Almost chidingly.] But whatever it is, I doubt that sitting here for a long time will make it go away. What happened, if it's okay for me to ask?

[maguskiller]

...Someone from my world left.

[expiatrice]

[She blinks in understanding, and to that, her demeanor becomes more subdued as well.] Ah... ...I'm sorry, mister. They're most probably better off now than they were here before, but their sudden droned state can still be hard to take, for family, friends, and other close ones in town. ...[A small and quiet sigh.] A lot of people seem to be getting droned lately, too, though I wasn't really sure if it's just me...

[maguskiller]

[He gives a small nod. Then, realizing that it doesn't really matter anymore--]

Shirou and Illya... I hope they are.

[expiatrice]

H-huh?

[She didn't exclaim TOO loudly, but surprise clearly shows as she jerks her head back up to look at him.] Um, I apologize if this is forward, but by Shirou... Would you mean Emiya Shirou by any chance, mister?

[maguskiller]

[Though Kiritsugu is surprised at her knowing him, he doesn't display it. Instead, he simply answers.]

...Yes. My name is Kiritsugu Emiya. Shirou's my real son.

[Real... adoptive son, but he's not gonna make this more complicated.]

[expiatrice]

[...Basing off what she's seen because of the contract she's made with a certain Servant, the "adoptive" part was actually already implied. While she's nosy however, this is something that she'd be more than happy to leave alone, so she won't question it out loud, at least not here and now.]

You're... I see. [It's a bit delayed, but she recovers smoothly enough.] The day could be better for all of us, but it's nice to formally make your acquaintance, Emiya-san. [She gives a small bow.] I've known Emiya-kun too, during both times that he was in this town. When you met him here... [Ah, there were two options, but given the timeframe...

Well, asking can't hurt.] Has he spoken to you about Matou Sakura, if I may ask?

[maguskiller]

[He gives a small nod in response.] Likewise... I'm sorry, but I don't believe I've heard your name.

He did. It was good to see he still has something to reach for.

[expiatrice]

No, the fault is mine. I haven't introduced myself: my name is Ciel, and ever since Matou Sakura first woke up in this town, she has been my assigned daughter. We lived in the same household, so I looked over her. [She rests a hand on her chest.] I've spoken to Emiya-kun on occasion before she was taken here, but the second time, he came to visit often for that reason. [...] I have not been to Fuyuki City, but we are from the same overarching world, which is why I'm also acquainted with a number of others from there as well. [In the end, it should be okay to reveal that much. If this man is Emiya Shirou's father, then he should be considered an ally, until proven otherwise.

That said.]

It would seem that both Matou-san and Emiya-kun left at around the same time... We don't have any proof for it, admittedly, but I'd like to think that they went back together to where they truly belong, so they should be happy now. If that can be of any solace...

[maguskiller]

[That rings an alarm. Among the people Kiritsugu took note of during the truth event, Ciel was one of them. If Garviel considers her a credible threat, then there's clearly more to her than it appears.]

...I hope so as well. At least the problems they used to face in Fuyuki seem to be over.

[Bait, really. He wants to know how much Ciel has heard about Shirou's history .]

[expiatrice]

[She definitely wouldn't have told him out straight, but given how Mayfield works... If they become better acquainted, it's likely also only a matter of time, before he witnesses for himself just who she truly is.

If he's his Father, he should know.

...

No, he definitely should.

She won't be super concise about it, but she will nod and heave her shoulders a bit, before answering neutrally.]

The War, right?

[maguskiller]

Yes.

[Well, this makes things much easier to talk about.]

The man behind it is trapped here as well. That's the one good thing to come out of this town.