1x Accel - Video -

[maguskiller]

[It's a few hours before midnight. The screen turns on, revealing what looks like a weary man in his late 20s, though his tired demeanor pushes his apparent age a little further than that. He wastes no time in starting to speak, deciding that this is no time for formalities. While Kiritsugu Emiya would normally opt to reveal himself only through a

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[text]

[croibhristeoir]

[Oh, now there's a face Lancer would never forget. Even if he had last seen this person once, through a haze of blood and agonized pain, he would always remember the face of Saber's nameless Master.]

[It would be a lie, to say he wasn't still bitter. Of course he was, and Lancer mentally scolded himself for such a thing. What honorable knight held grudges? One who died cursing the world, he answered himself. He might never forgive Kayneth for disrespecting the honor of knights or this anonymous magus for bringing about their defeat.]

[But they were in a similar situation, and unlike Ryuunosuke, he knew nothing of this Master's character. He could give information, and therefore he would.]

What do you want to know specifically? There is frankly a lot to cover, each fact as unbelievable as the last.

[maguskiller]

[Even now, Kiritsugu finds it unsettling that he's being responded to through text, but he tries to shake off that feeling by focusing on how this isn't the War. He has too many regrets to be as paranoid as before.]

What's the most we know on the reason for us being here?

[Straight to the point. He's done his homework, it looks like. At the very least, the comm revealed to him that confused arrivals are not out of the norm.]

[croibhristeoir]

Unfortunately, not much. At midnight, creatures known as Shadows begin to populate the streets for a short time. Those of us brought here eventually awaken a power known as a 'Persona', presumably to assist in fighting them.

Whether we are here for the specific purpose of fighting them is up for debate.

[maguskiller]

...Hm.

[That sounds suspiciously like magic, he thinks, but the fact that he can't use any in this place makes things more confusing.]

[Then again, considering his gradually deteriorating state before coming here, perhaps it's not the location's fault at all... Still, the change in his abilities was far too sudden to be a consequence of his curse. Something is definitely wrong here.]

[He wants to ask more about that power, but frankly, if at all possible, he'd much rather bypass the fighting business.]

What's stopping everyone from leaving?

[action]

[fatestayhome]

[So there's a person walking around the night after his part-time work in the shopping district.

...There's also the fact that he's holding a can of warm coffee and drinking it.

Well, before he managed to see a silhouette.]

Um, hey, its not exactly safe to wander during the night.

[Looks like he hasn't managed to recognize the other person from behind.

Yet.]

[maguskiller]

Hm?

[Having nearly finished a smoke, Kiritsugu stores it in a metal container. He turns to look at Shirou.]

Probably not, but I'm trying to understand this city better.

[fatestayhome]

[It took him a lot of restraint to not spit the warm liquid he was currently drinking.

No way.

His father is actually here and alive and not dead.

Swallowing the liquid, he...awkwardly said one word.]

...dad?

[maguskiller]

...

[Kiritsugu lets that comment sit in the air for a moment, as if waiting for Shirou to correct himself.]

Excuse me?

[maguskiller]

[The appearance of Lancer softens the shock, but it does little for his displeasure at seeing his former Servant again. Much like every time she has talked to him, Kiritsugu does not respond. It is true that he has little excuse for doing so, now that he can no longer hide beneath the pretext of treating her like a tool, but that still does little for his hatred of what Saber (as well as every other Heroic Spirit) represents.]

[He's not shutting off the feed, however. Doing so would be acknowledging her.]

[maguskiller]

...

[Even during the War, Kiritsugu wasn't too keen on the idea of being protected by Saber. Needless to say, he's not looking forward to having her around, especially when he has to get to work if he wants to return to his world. While his methods are not quite as underhanded as before, that's still not saying much when speaking about Kiritsugu. Worryingly, if they have any disagreements similar to the ones they had back home, there's much less stopping Saber from simply attacking him.]

[Kiritsugu figures she probably doesn't have a Master here. Even if one didn't take into account a complete lack of a Grail here, there's no prana in this place, and so, there's no need to have a link with one. Still, that brings a whole batch of theories about her capabilities with it. He must examine this situation more closely.]

[Video[

[unknownrival]

[Another person who knows that face, although this time only from photographs in Shirou's home. Issei will just control his gaping in order to react seriously.]

E-Emiya Kiritsgu, sir? -Right, we wouldn't have met, I'm Shirou's friend from high school, Ryudo Issei. The differences in timeline are strange after all. It's an honor to meet you.

I'd bow, but it's strange bowing to a cell phone.

[maguskiller]

[Looks like the presence of people from his world is not limited to those related to the 4th war, after all. Valuable piece of info.]

[It's not a bow, but he gives a small nod at the boy in the screen.]

Likewise.

I'm glad to see Shirou keeps an active social life in his time. How long have you two known each other?

[unknownrival]

Since our first year at school, so two years now. He's my best friend.

[maguskiller]

He's a good kid. Good to see you two get along.

How's school for both of you?

[A very casual question, but you have no idea how much he's enjoying playing the part of a doting dad.]

[Video] arguably later?

[nrvn_qsr]

Hey there.

[Someone is sitting in front of a wall of booze. Saber's work on the café is going smoothly, apparently.]

Have you had everything explained to you? I can't stand talking to newbies.

[maguskiller]

[He actually opens his mouth to respond, being completely unfamiliar with the voice. Looking at the screen changes his mind, though. Is Saber, of all people, playing with him?]

[...No. The voice, the outfit, the personality... this most likely is someone else, but... his silence towards her is not an easy habit to break.]

...

[nrvn_qsr]

[Whaaaat is this? Why aren't you answering her? How rude.]

A silent kind of guy, eh? Or perhaps you talked with that other me already? We aren't that similar, to be honest, besides some basic details.

But if you want to keep, how do they say? Playing it cool, I have no interest on poking you until you talk. Such a waste of time is unbecoming.

[Boy she loves the sound of her voice.]

[maguskiller]

[Kiritsugu has never appreciated an overabundance of words, but this Saber is willing to let him be. To him, that is enough to separate her from her counterpart.]

Are you from the same world as her?

[...Tougher than he thought. He doesn't actually know this Saber is a Servant as well, but he's certainly going to try to find out.]