Far Too Early...

[Aashiq Nassar]

This hour of the morning should not be![/b]

Aashiq Jeremiah Nassar strode back and forth across the room, a book in his hands and curses on his breath. The curtains had been closed, not that there is any sunlight at this God-forsaken hour, and whatever furniture had been present had been shoved unceremoniously against the walls to make room for the elaborate circle drawn upon the floor.

He wore a plain linen shirt with the sleeved rolled up and a pair of khaki trousers, technically they were what he was wearing yesterday as well. He had not slept, hoping that if he stayed up all night then he wouldn’t be as tired when early morning came than if he had slept briefly and then forced himself awake.
It hadn’t worked.

All of Jeremiah’s attention seemed to be on the book; he was trying to double check his work and ensure he had done everything right, but at this hour his mind was scattered to the wind.
"That chair really needs to be re-upholstered, I should complain to the landlord. Is that line crooked?"He muttered to himself.

His eyes flitted back and forth across the pages, checking and rechecking, trying his best to remain focused. This was important, he had never summoned a servant before, or anything else really. Who knows what could happen if he screwed this up.

Whatever's left of me would probably be sent back to Cairo in an envelope. He thought dryly, trying to rein in the rampant fear with a little black humor. He glanced at the clock, it was now 4:30 in the morning. If his calculations and research were right…The calculations are certainly right, the research…less certainly…damn vanishing bloodline and their laughable library. Then this was the ideal hour for summoning, Saber summoning to be specific.

Jeremiah made one last check of his surroundings, the front door of Apartment 221 was securely locked, all curtains drawn, any sane person is asleep in bed. "Looks good , let's get started."
From his pocket he removed a cigarette case and a lighter. He opened the case, pulled out the shortest (He cut them to different lengths), put it in his mouth and lit it. He allowed himself one deep inhalation and immediately put it out against the wall, leaving a small burn mark. It was an old exercise of his that allowed him to briefly reign in his mind and focus on the task at hand. Besides, for all he knew excess smoke could mess with the procedure. Best not to tempt fate with this one.

He looked again at the circle and shrugged “Looks about right.” He said, and with that there was one last thing to do. He walked over to the edge of the circle, careful not to smudge his delicate work. He pricked his thumb on his canine tooth, ignorant to any pain, his mind now completely focused on his work. He held his thumb an inch off the floor and let a few drops of blood drip onto the circle. Almost instantly the elaborate patterns began to pulse and glow with energy. “Not much,” he muttered to himself, “but hopefully it’s good enough.”

He turned his eyes again to the small leather journal filled to bursting with scribbled notes. He skimmed the lines once and began to chant.
The words flowed from his mouth, never stopping or faltering, to do so means pain or death; neither of which really suited Jeremiah. Especially not at this hour.

He felt the prana burning under his skin, flowing along his circuits and through his body, it was familiar pain. The kind of pain bought with experience. Did it hurt? Of course, but it was something he took pride in. Power earned through a lifetime of work. Experience that would help him solve this challenge, and this summoning was the first move.

“Come past thy restraining rings, and be thou the hands that protect the balance!”

As he finished the lines, he watched, with no small amount of satisfaction on his face, as the circle began to glow brighter and brighter.

[Ogier]

One moment she still could see the sad eyes of the person who had put her in shackles and in the next the image was replaced by white haired guy with something in his mouth. He was definitely not the most beautiful fish in the wide ocean, and if it had to depend on beauty, her previous 'owner' would win, but somehow the knight in heavy armor preferred to see this scrubby appearance over polished shackles. He would be her ticket out of the prison to receive real freedom. Almost an irony that the proud Ogier had to put herself into slavery once more to achieve this goal.

Prana flared across the room and the massive amounts of energy forming an equivalent of flames, yet in shape alone, sleeking at the Knight and the quite unimpressive interior of the summoning scene, like a curious kitten. Only a couple of seconds more and Ogier, the Dane as she was known in her previous life would be able to free herself out of this summoning circle, each attained freedom a bit closer to her greatest desire.

Her eyes finally adapted to the new world and the mana surge began to die down. It was not the place to summon a king, rather than.... what was this place? Before taking another step forward there seemed to be a little oath left.

"Servant Saber answering the summoning. Are you my master?"

The words were fast spoken, she wanted to bring it over with and could not hide the little disdain in her voice from showing. Slavery once more, who could really enjoy this, after what she had gone through!? Her eyes kept locked unto his, trying to see behind the surface of his flesh, right into his soul. It was said that the eyes were a door to the soul. Ogier was certainly more of a warrior, than a religious person or a philosopher, but her emotional intelligence could not be denied, for she had made friends out of enemies, made armies move for her sake defying their own kings. The tall woman was more than capable of judging people's personality.

She was definitely curious about her master's personality and hoping for a less troublesome one this time. They either seemed too overbearing and protective, making one wonder if they were aware of her status as a warrior and knight, or slightly tyrannic. Even Ogier's patience and loyalty would have to meet an end if it grew past her limits. As much as one could say that she was loyal beyond the ordinary, following her oath and forgiving as well, her rash and sometimes over-boiling personality under the cold armor was as true as the pair of eyes, reflecting determination, but also a bit of worry and sadness.

"I hope for the both of us that you are..."

Another glimpse at him and feeling a bit of a feeding, a stream of information entering her head about this modern world, realizing with a slight shock how much time had passed this time, she had some doubts about his power as a so called magus, albeit not lessening his worth as a man. She just hoped that he was still a magus and her master, his power less interesting, than wanting to avoid to slay an innocent for a foolish reason like secrecy. Her sword was not meant for that purpose.

She had given up her sword and even her freedom to keep people from harm, even her greatest desire would not allow her to wade through a sea of blood. But would her master understand this as well? Sometimes people meant that a master could summon a servant who was alike themselves, but how much this was true was another thing. Ogier was no magician, no magus, just a knight. She had never seen herself as anything more, despite her title... some called her a King of Hearts....

Hardly any time might have passed for reality, but Servant Saber was ready for action, ready to press forward to the grail, and each passing second, if not just hundreds of a second seemed like an eternity. She was horribly impatient and awaited fast results, the uncertainty about this man and this odd little living place not exactly easing her mind. Her face was as one might expect from a Knight. Cold, keeping herself up well demeanored and a faint aura of nobility around her, but inside she was like a child waiting for a horrible declaration from its parent.

Spit it out already...

[Aashiq Nassar]

Like a whirlwind, fire whipped it's way across the room. Well, something very much like fire; if it had been real fire his cigarette would have been lit, probably his clothes too, but a man needed to keep his priorities straight.
Jeremiah's eyes weren't on the fire anyway, they were focused on the warrior that had formed itself in the circle. He watched as the light wound itself into the shape of a tall figure. Well, not terribly tall, Jeremiah probably had a few inches on them, and for that he was grateful. He needed to appear as fearless and imposing as he could for this. He couldn’t start off this war with a servant who saw him as a nobody and a coward.
Not that Aashiq wasn’t a coward when the situation called for it, but they didn’t have to know that.

He watched as his servant fully materialized. The sword on her was expected, it meant he had probably pulled this summoning off well. The curves on her were less expected, though not entirely unappreciated.

Honestly though, who was this woman? The catalyst he had used was a shred of an old battle standard, supposedly carried into battle among the forces of Charlemagne. He had not been so bold as to hope for the man himself, but one of his paladins, like Roland, wouldn’t have been too much to ask for right? Of course, this period wasn’t Jeremiah’s specialty. Maybe that wasn't quite how catalysts worked either, maybe they needed to physically identify with it... His thoughts were interrupted when his servant finally opened her mouth.

"Servant Saber answering the summoning. Are you my master?"

Aashiq resisted the urge to punch the air. A saber! He had done it!
Suck it Cairo Magi with your noses in the sand!
There was a swiftness and a harshness to his servant's voice, and was that a hint of disdain? Jeremiah wouldn't be surprised, she was after all a powerful ancient warrior, now bound to some guy from Chicago because he drew a pretty circle on the ground. Hell, Jeremiah'd be pretty disdainful too. Shame though, that voice could probably be pretty sweet to the ears if she let it.

Jeremiah was eager to learn more, her armor probably could have told him a lot. Her sword as well, but right now his eyes were locked on hers. She was staring at him with enough force that it was probably leaving a burn mark in the wall behind him. It was like staring down a lion or a bird of prey, look away now, and it wouldn't end well.

"I hope for the both of us that you are..."

Wow, servant had an attitude it seemed. Well, he could milk it a little longer. He was in charge after all, and he needed to show it in his actions. He waited until it seemed she was about to burst, and then broke eye contact and nonchalantly rolled up his right sleeve. Midway up his arm, as if carved in blood, was the command mantra.
"I can assure you that I am."
He tried to keep his voice level, not a pushover but not a taskmaster. He wanted this cordial and professional.

Now that the staring contest was over, Jeremiah allowed himself a little informality. He re-lit the burnt out cigarette and looked his servant up and down, like a critic examining a piece of art.
She certainly cut an impressive profile. The armor, the sword, the knightish tabard (Pink wasn't really his color, but whatever, it was her armor and it sort of went with her hair.) was all very good and saber-ish. Although he continued his inspection he honestly had no idea what he was looking for. Can you judge a servant on sight?

A name would be a good start.

Oh, right... "And as your master, I feel it is my right to know certain facts. Namely, who are you?"
He tried to choose his words carefully. Bound to his service or not, you only get one first impression.

[Ogier]

So, that guy was her master. Quite rough and his manners were also nothing she was used to. It was certainly new to not have one of the High and Mighty as her boss, but this could also mean that he would not be interested in putting shackles on his subjects, including his servant. Those funny appearing bracelets never looked good on her. She was certainly a female. Saber could not hide this fact, even under her armor, but she was none who cared for jewelry or clothes. The armor was more than enough metal to allow a woman to feel safe from life threatening blades, and that was all that counted. Although it would definitely not provide enough protection against the other servants. What kind of monsters would she be able to fight?

The lust for battle grew from a little light into a fierce fire within her body, and it seemed impossible for her to contain those 'flames' within her body. Some of her energy showed on the surface when Ogier smirked for a brief moment, a contagious interest in this War. It displayed well how much charisma she held within that armor given by her 'father', having already lead an entire army into battle, with no more than her presence and a banner. But being made into a king for that was still kind of boring. No wonder she had run away, right into someone's trap. Oooookay, that was a bit embarrassing. Running away like a little kid because of boredom and ending up in an eternal prison. Rethinking about some actions before that time, she had to admit that she certainly had acted a bit ...rash.. now and then. Well, she was also just human, albeit some people might differ from her thoughts. Servants were in another league from human beings and for a magus perhaps no more than a tool. It even seemed proper to call herself one of his bigger lighters.

The King of the Dane stopped to burn little holes into her master with her eyes and steppe forth. It seemed like she could finally breath freely, a big burden taken off her shoulders. Wonderful fre....hey, that was not fresh air. Whatever it was that this guy was smoking, it smelled bad enough to ruin some good food. A total waste of lung capacity and taste buds. What did move someone to take this thing into their mouth anyway? It clearly had no enchantment on it that would increase one's perception, awareness or other abilities. Or her eyes were too clouded by this thin fog to see its worth. Somehow she did not care, as she snatched it from his mouth and took a puff herself. Curiosity was one of the childish traits she had kept, even after years of fighting.

"..."

Ewwww... she should have switched that trait off, killed it with fire or cut it down to bits. Or simply crushed it in her hand like the cigarette at the moment when her face distorted into a grimace of pure disgust. A cough followed, when Ogier instinctively tried to get this bad stuff out of her mouth. Even if it would not harm her, she was still a 'human' or something that worked similarly. One could easily lose a precious meal thanks to that.

"Isn't it common courtesy to state one's name first? And for what anyway? Do you want an official duel? I am not the kind to kill my master, because he gets a little too cocky for his own good, you know? That does not mean that I am going to swallow all of your bad medicine."

The frown returned.

"Just to mention it.... that thing was really bad."

Her eyes began to scan the room and unfortunately could not make out anything that would suffice to get the bad taste out of her mouth. Curiosity got the cat, and they were known to have sensitive tongues. Fortunate enough that was only a metaphor in this specific case, or her suffering would be even worse. Maybe she should call some of his other servants to get a good meal. Although she could feel the prana inside of her and would not require anything else, there was still some need for life. People breathed, ate, drank and had other needs. Ogier always had been one of the more reserved types, not only because of her status as a paladin, but this did not mean that there was nothing of those desires carved into her existence as a human being, and now a servant.

[Aashiq Nassar]

Well, today was just full of new experiences it seemed. Without any warning the saber had stepped forward snatched the cigarette from his mouth and tried taking a puff herself. The resulting expression on her face was enough to make Jeremiah wish he'd brought a camera.

"Isn't it common courtesy to state one's name first? And for what anyway? Do you want an official duel? I am not the kind to kill my master, because he gets a little too cocky for his own good, you know? That does not mean that I am going to swallow all of your bad medicine."

Ok, she meant business. Well, he wasn't about to accept this random proposal for a duel, but perhaps he had come off a bit too harshly. He couldn't afford an angry servant, and she was already staring daggers at him.
As for the name... was it normal for the servant to know the master's name? Should he give her his birth name or his family name? Could he just ignore the request?

"Just to mention it.... that thing was really bad."

He couldn't help himself, Jeremiah chuckled a little. Hopefully, it wouldn't cost him his head and would serve to break the ice a little. This servant was a bit too tense for his liking.

The comment certainly broke any tension in Jeremiah's mind. And he allowed himself a small sigh of relief. Certainly she was a tad harsh and direct, but hell she was in the military; what else would he have expected? He couldn't keep up the aloof Master act ... the casual gentleman in Jeremiah won out.

"Yes, I can imagine you wouldn't like it, but your lungs get used to it after a while. They're called cigarettes, and they're just some wrapped-up plant leaves, not for everyone, as you obviously found out. It can also be smoked out of a pipe."

Jeremiah pulled a small calabash pipe out of his pocket for reference. He kept it for more serious occasions, and occasionally just to show off.

He pocketed the pipe again." As for my name, officially it is Aashiq Nassar, of course as is customary I would prefer that you refer to me as "Master" unless specified otherwise." He said, producing a cordial smile, trying to keep his voice pleasant.

He could have given her the name "Jeremiah" but something stopped him. Perhaps that name would've been preferable, that name had no connections to any association, no real record, and much more anonymity. But somehow, he didn't feel like he had joined this war as Jeremiah Nassar. He'd been sent to represent the Nassar family and, according to the family, Jeremiah Nassar did not exist.

"and please, the threats and challenges are unecessary. I simply want to know our advantages. The more I know about you, the better a chance we have at winning this war. If you dislike the air in here, let's step out into the main room. You'll find that so long as you do your best to keep me alive and work with my plans, I can be very accommodating."

He opened the door and gestured outside into the small sitting room. It was a little cramped, but he didn't have much of a choice. The Nassar family was a tad on the stingy side, giving him the bare minimum for living space and essentials in terms of cash.

He was about to walk through the door when he hesitated. "Ah...right" He murmured. "I'm pretty sure this is mainly just a formality, but for the record... Do you accept me as your master, Saber, and vow to protect and fight for me throughout this war, so long as I carry these command seals?

[Ogier]

"Hmm..." she thought for a little and moved her mind inward, scanning over her recently made statements and also her actions. Instead of normal interaction, she had always assumed the worst possible option. One indeed stated their name before a duel, but getting to know one's subject was equally welcome for some kings. Well, that man was no king, but it did not matter. He was her master, and his heart still closed off was what counted for the pink haired knight. She just hoped at this moment that she would get a day at his inner workings before his heart either fell to an enemy or to sickness. He certainly did not bother much with a healthy life, the disgusting stick replaced with a pipe.

Somehow smoke would remain smoke in her eyes, but the untrained eyes and tongue probably just lacked the experience for the differentiation. Yet, quite honestly, it was one of the things Saber would not bother to learn. A small motherly feeling was rising within, telling her to also sacrifice the pipe to God, but he was clearly not the age of her deceased son and had no physical resemblance either. She shook her head before she had to laugh about that random thought and then looked at Aashiq Nassar. Now this got funnier and funnier.

Ogier remembered about the old times and the struggle of Charlesmagne against people who shared quite similar names. If he really did not know her identity and used a random item that could have as well summoned any other knight, he was quite brave to say the least. She had seen a couple who would probably call forth the Wrath of God and slay the enemy of Christianity, master or not. Fortunately for him, she was clearly not that kind and had marched with them into war side by side. She realized that she may have been grumpy and sunk to one knee, bowing her head slightly forward, like a knight to his king. Her gaze lowered, she responded according to her self made script.

"I apologize for my earlier behavior. There was no threat intended, but this improper knight had rudely mistaken the actual message for a desire to duel and prove my combat abilities. Aashiq is a good name. If you are as capable as the man I once knew, many might fear you without my protection. My sword will protect you, your friends and family, if you so desire. This oath will outlast any command seals."

Ending her pledge, that made her swallow a bit. She had certainly done it. Stupid Ogier! But there was no other way, and it seemed to be the right choice. Whatever... loyalty should not be determined by command seals. She certainly needed them for a proper working connection, a line between master and servant, but the actual loyalty was something that went beyond the mere transfer of prana. How could she fight alongside someone who would probably just abuse the seals to get his desire? Only commanding her by keeping her on a leash. That was not what a knight was, that was a slave, and Charlesmagne had seen the difference and treated her well, after realizing his past mistakes. For now she thought to have seen a similar wisdom in her master, but future would tell.

"Still, it should be mentioned. That as much my loyalty to you will outlast the existence of the seals, as much will my Code of Honor override your orders. ....Anyway, my name. That's Saber. I chose it myself. You like it?"

A small portion of amusement rang with her voice, when she joined Aashiq to head into the main room. Mockery? Maybe a little. She did not know the reason herself, but there was a faint desire to keep her name a secret and that was not because she did not trust his ability to keep it a secret. Probably Ogier herself would actually let it slip to an enemy, and be it out of pure chivalry, yet this was more than just because of a tomboyish wish to tease the old appearing man of... how old was he anyway?

"And I see that this humble room is not all of your possession. Might I ask about your ambitions?"

[Aashiq Nassar]

Ohoho...this servant was gonna be fuuuuuuuun.

Jeremiah's mind, still sluggish from the early hours, began to fall into motion. She had given him a challenge: to identify the lovely knight. He'd have to be careful, she obviously didn't trust him enough to just give her name away, so he couldn't pester her with questions.
He put on a broad smile and walked into the sitting room and took a seat at one of the small and, unfortunately, rather uncomfortable chairs. He put on a broad smile and offered her a chair, letting his tongue flap as his mind and eyes raced over her.

"Regarding the room...this is actually rather close to "All of my possessions", I am not a man of the greatest means, you see. As for my goals, they are not particularly lofty, Saber. I'm head of a rather obscure family that is fading away into oblivion, and I'd prefer to avoid that."
Not technically a lie, he wasn't head of the family yet, but he would be eventually.

I can't judge a thing by her figure, it could be at any point in her life, and she's pretty well bound in that armor...though I'd give it fifty-fifty chance she's had children. She must have been pretty well off if this room is "humble"...alright it is pretty humble, but that's beyond the point. Royalty? err...seventy-thirty in favor of no, but still well connected.
I can't have been too off with that banner shred. Her armor, her manner...she seems cut right from the cloth of the Matter of France, but who? Chanson de Roland seems the most likely, that's where most of the heroes seem to be.
Keep the formalities in the talk, she pledged her service to you but you need her respect.

"I suppose you could say my goal is based upon winning glory for my family. As for the grail, I have no particular use for it, maybe I won't even bother with it. There are far too many tales of people being betrayed by their own desires when it comes to wishes. Of course, maybe you have an idea or two? Is there anything a heroic spirit might want in this world?"

Jeremiah continued looking Saber up and down, keeping his voice cordial, yet blank. This was probably the only chance he'd get to look at a servant up close without them attempting to stab him. He was going to give it his all.

She's a knight at the very least, she said so herself. A paladin perhaps? Possibly.
The man she said she served, would that be old Charlemagne? If it is why didn't she use something a tad more reverent? Not on good terms perhaps? More likely just to confuse me...
She's important, she had to be to become a heroic spirit, but I doubt she's Roland-level famous... I need a marker, something that tips her hand. She is a saber, so her fame must revolve primarily around the sword...which I have yet to see.

"Saber, a tad off from the topic, but might I have a look at your sword?"

[Ogier]

The other room could be called a twin of the previous. It was certainly not an improvement and yet better than some of the quarters or places Ogier had needed to call a sleeping place in the past. War and Campaigns, no matter how much you looked around could not replace a properly standing house. Equipment was heavy, and honestly... it was better to carry some water tanks with you than a chair or bed. For certain this little chair, her master had chosen as his seat seemed easy to carry along, yet useless to bring the necessary comfort one would seek by bothering taking it as an extra item to a campaign.

It always seemed sad and partly hilarious to watch knights, nobleman since birth or just some strong warriors carrying around parts that would later become the king's quarters. If this master would only need this chair, it would have been much easier at times, albeit luxury on the battle field. That seemed to have come much later, until it was replaced by commanders preferring to stay behind, making crazy plans to sacrifice their men in battle. Sometimes sacrifices had to be made, but the former King could not stand the idea of killing off the people who trust you. Slightly too stubborn in this regard and probably sacrificing herself to the cause before anyone else.

Nonetheless... the chair was not exactly up to standards, and the problem was not the lack of comfortable sitting experience, but because it could obviously not hold the weight of her armor. That had always been a problem and she could only remember 3 horses who were able to not helplessly sink to the ground. That did not mean that Saber herself was heavy. She had toned muscles and a surprising amount of strength in that tall, yet still very feminine body. No extra abundance of fat and despite her behavior at times, her stature betrayed to ever have given birth. The result of countless battles and eternal life. And she needed that strength to carry that heavy armor, as much as the horse, yet she was certainly no bulk of muscles either. Some had wondered how fast and agile she could be without wearing that enormously heavy and tough armor.

Perhaps Saber should not bother with this extra weight, but she had grown fond of it and it became a second part of her body, just like her sword. The very blade granted to her by the very same person who gave her her horse and best friend, while also stealing the freedom. Love ..it could hurt. The past had shown this well. A mother's love for their child or the love of a father for their son, both could turn people crazy and do the strangest things. Ogier could understand that too well. She also has been one of those idiots, and this made Nassar's goal quite noble in her eyes.

"Saving your family. Definitely a good reason, and I think that you could use the wish to reinforce the result of your ambition. Yet, winning for glory appears to be a very empty desire. It does not give you food, nor friends. Most of the time the hunt for glory, just makes people rush ahead carelessly, lose sight of the really important things in life, and have a premature death."

Probably just a standard answer one might see, but it was spoken out of her heart and experience. Just too many knights wished to obtain wealth and glory, just to dash into battle on their own, without back up getting slashed to bits. Ogier herself had given a bad example taking rash actions, yet never that foolishly. The paladin also had what others lacked, very protective fairies on her side, as well as a massive armor, that could take some hits quite well. And that was not even all the little skill boni on her list. She was still standing, about 2 meters away from her master, continuing the wandering of her eyes.

"If you ask for my wish, master, then you might be disappointed or confused. It is merely to obtain freedom."

This did not mean that she would completely rip off the ties to her ..'friend', but she just was too much like a crazy fangirl or over caring lover to go out and do something on her own. People required some freedom, sometimes some distance and Ogier knew too well how absurd it might seem in comparison to other wishes, but she had decided to be a bit selfish for once. Everyone of the participants must be, or they would not head to war for it and be ready to take lives. Magi, how strange they were to risk their lives and lineage for some wishes. Her master was one of those who would probably contradict themselves, by risking the continuity of his family for the continuity of his family. Did he really believe so little in himself that he required a Grail War for fame? But he was doing it for the family and not just for himself, so she played along.

Not so willingly to show her sword. Just like herself, sinking more into old memories and inner monologue, Aashiq as well has mostly remained quiet and entire minutes went past. He was clearly thinking about something, and even if he claimed that there was no relation to it, Ogier had just minutes ago refused to answer with her full name. It did not require a super tactician to notice his careful gaze over her armor, or that the wish to see her weapon would be tied to either. He was still trying to figure her out. Kind of cute, if she may so so herself, and a bit too curious. The sword would make it just too easy, wouldn't it?

During combat one might have troubles to take notice of the engraved text on her weapon, but by just showing it in a quiet surrounding, her master could easily find it and also soon connect sword and name. It would not be a game, by laying the most important cards open from the start. Instead of her sword in his hands, she lowered her head to stare right into his face, before a somewhat cocky smile appeared on her earlier quite stoic facade.

"Your curiosity is quite interesting. I just hope that this is only concerning me, although that would almost make me blush, rather than yourself sticking your nose into every situation. Some things could cost you your head. My sword will remain sheathed until the time of its use. I am sorry, but showing off is not my style, and it is honestly also a bit of a waste of your energy, master."

[Aashiq Nassar]

Jeremiah's smile changed slightly to match Saber's, the polite kindness replaced by genuine satisfaction.
He was liking this servant more and more. He had engaged her in a battle of wits and now she was in on it. If Saber had simply shown him her sword then the game might be over, but she knew what he wanted and wanted him to work for it. Jeremiah might have been annoyed if he hadn't been enjoying it so much.

He reviewed her words while letting his mouth speak. Every word out of her mouth was more information he could use.

"Well now, how could I not be interested in such an attractive and mysterious servant? I ask you your name and get a coy response and you expect me to just shrug and take it? I think you underestimate me.""

She believes in family over glory. A powerful family perhaps? Or one of her own? That wish of hers is certainly interesting.
"Freedom"eh? From what? What can trap a heroic spirit...apart from the Throne of Heroes obviously, but I don't think that's what she's getting at with this.

...freedom...

"That's an interesting wish you have there, Saber. Freedom. A powerful thing to want. I'd ask about what it is you want freedom from, but I think I know how you are with these personal questions, we wouldn't want my powerful knight to start blushing now would we?"

His eyes were done perusing her armor and had come to rest on her face. Now that the stoic knight look was gone he had to admit she was rather attractive, that cocky smile seemed to suit her better...

...Or maybe it was just Jeremiah's love of cocky smiles, whether it was he or anyone else wearing them.

If I start discounting anything I may drop something crucial, so what have I learned, no matter how crazy or unlikely?
-Matter of France
-Chanson de Roland
-Well off at the very least. Possibly Royal.
-Family is important to her (Child?)
-Honorable Knight
-"Man I once knew" Old Emperor Chuck or someone else?
-"freedom" Implies trapped.

That last one was the key and he knew it. She couldn't be trapped in service as a Knight. Charlemagne (and he was going to continue to assume it was Ol' Charles she served) was long dead as was his empire so any duty of hers is long gone and shouldn't be an issue to her as a spirit. What can trap someone who is dead?

When all possible solutions are denied, go for the impossible. What if she wasn't dead?

He almost laughed at himself, she had to be dead, it's kind of a requirement for being a heroic spirit, and everyone from that era is long dead of old age anyway. Certainly that couldn't be right, there was impossible and then there was impossible.
He tried to shrug it off, but something was bothering him, like a gadfly in his brain. A phrase he had heard to describe those who were like...well kind of like King Arthur or Cthulu, ancient, unmoving and untouched by time but not dead, just... sleeping.

King in the mountain.

Crazy? Most certainly. Impossible? Most likely. But if anyone was going to screw up a summon so badly it brought him someone still alive, well, if the Nassar family was to be believed it was going to be Aashiq.

A sword that would instantly identify the wielder, a Knight trapped even after "death", a king in the mountain.
He had theories, he always had theories, but for all he knew this could be King Arthur, or maybe his "King in the mountain" theory was completely insane. He needed to test the waters.

"Saber, another odd question, if you would indulge me. When you were...you know, alive. When was the last time you rode into battle? And by that I mean the last, Last time. I know you seem to be a more modest knight, a fact I do appreciate, but certainly it wouldn't hurt to entertain your curious master with an old war story?"

This would get her. He listened and watched carefully, if her words and tone did not betray her, then it would be in her eyes or her face. If he saw nothing, she was either a very, very good liar, or he had screwed up royally somewhere along the line.

[Ogier]

Attractive..?

Her face did not lose anything of her amused expression, but she could not remember when those words were heard last... by a man. She still saw herself more as a warrior, who had to be strong and everything else was just a byproduct. Yet, it did not feel bad to have the ego touched up a little now and then and be called as one of the more visually appealing examples of the human race. Or should she now classify herself as something else?

Whatever she may be now, she enjoyed her human emotions and tics too much to let go of them and turn into a simple battle dog willing to be lead on a leash into war. She preferred the less restricting method and did not think that a collar would suit her well. That could maybe lead to respiration problems, and would lead more eventually to a red face, than shyness. ...if she were human.

"You really like those guessing games, perhaps it is really a nice idea to keep you entertained a little longer."

And of course herself. Although there were most likely more amusing activities out there, and it would also end up getting too easy with each new question. Where was the thrill in that? There was no handicap, no maximum amount of questions and no punishment if he were to guess wrong.

"Underestimating is not the word I would have in mind, but you could eventually say that I would have underestimated your persistance on relatively trivial matters."

His mind was apparently still working and the answer coming closer and closer. Saber almost felt a bit nervous about the outcome, as if she was standing in front of a jury and getting judged because of her past deeds in life. Not that she had ever done anything or worried too much about the opinion of others, but there was still a faint feeling left. Maybe because she had to some extent begun this game, and did not like to lose.

Well, there was also no gain in winning and Ogier was clearly old and mature enough to let the curious child win if needed. He was the... master. Still an awful word, no matter how often she repeated it in her head. More likely than not, Aashiq had narrowed his choice down to an era or maybe even a particular tale.

The Dane knew enough about tales and stories thanks to the grail to understand how masters would go about identifying servants, yet her own mind was more filled with exact information about individuals, rather than stories that could come in countless forms and shapes.

And she would certainly know everything about herself. The only question was how much the others would know about her. Just like the next question.. he really was not willing to stop before he had reached the finish line. When did she ride into battle for the last time. It was a good question, a really good one.

The puzzle piece era would turn around, no longer a mystery, if the information about her final ride would really have been important enough to land in chronicles. It was not really a big battle, and the information could either clearly identify her or be the biggest chance to mislead. No one would expect a paladin of Charlesmagne to have fought decades after the supposed death, would they?

"It may sound selfish, but it could be better to not know every bit of your partner. Yes, certainly.. this may just be my opinion on this matter, yet I see no real need or purpose for knowing about me. Is it really so important whose sword will be used to fell your enemies? But your thirst for knowledge won't be quenched with this answer, I presume. An interesting question, no doubt. When did I ride into battle......?"

How was she supposed to answer? In a game of chess he could now announce a check, an uncommon experience from someone who was quite well versed in chess. But well... it was still far off from a game of chess. There were absolutely no means to fight back, but that on the other hand was a well experienced problem. Even after guiding Charlesmagne around on his nose like a fool, she still ended up in imprisonment, because it was a losing war. Just like this one.

One could not win, if the only means to win is felling the opponent and you are unwilling to swing the sword for the decisive blow. Well, who would finish their own master for such a ridiculous reason? Ogier could only guess, but even if they might not appear in this war, there were some champions who could fit into the picture. Now to the answer....

"A really good question..." she continued to hesitate and think.

"Hmmm.... well chosen, but to be frank.... I don't know. I never thought much about time. It has currently slipped my mind."

Honest words, even if she was a bit thankful for this. She has quite lost the track of time.

"Will this questionaire continue or will we proceed with more Grail War befitting activities today?"

[Aashiq Nassar]

"Now, now. I wouldn't call the identity of my Servant a "trivial matter". I think it's very important for me to know if we have any chance at winning this war."
Aashiq tried to keep his voice casual.

His mind was getting fuzzier, it would probably be dawn soon. The mere thought of the rising sun made him want to crawl into bed and sleep for eight hours or so.

Wow, she is stubborn. Ugh, I bet most Servants just get on a knee and introduce themselves, but she's hiding something...or a number of things.

He listened to her speak. It was a nice voice, and with his mind growing weary he began to pay more attention to the sound than the words, but he got the basic gist of it.

She either doesn't remember or she's lying, ether's a possibility but it's supposedly not in the nature of knights to lie...maybe the King in the Mountain thing was off...keep thinking....ugh I could use a smoke right about now...but that'd probably just piss her off.

"...yet I see no real need or purpose for knowing about me."

That seemingly innocuous statement made him grind his teeth a little. "No purpose"? It was time for Aashiq to set some things straight.

"Saber, if I may, let me describe to you a situation. Imagine building a ship, some massive, wooden, ship-of-the-line-type ship. Now imagine that you have some pitch missing. One of those minor things, easily overlooked, after all it's just a little pitch, who cares? So you build your ship, nice and strong, big sails, strong hull, all seems well. Then you take it out for a sail, it springs a leak and you and your amazing ship sink like a stone. Why? Because that little detail cost you your ship and your life."

Aashiq hated metaphors, explaining things slowed other things down, but he needed to give it a shot. As lovely as this little game was, this was a war, and he needed to win in the end. He wasn't about to throw in the towel for a pretty face, this piece of information could become life-saving given time.

"In other words, in order to make plans, execute strategies, and even fight properly I need to know as much as physically possible. To be brutally honest, I am most certainly on the low end of the scale when it comes to competent magi in the war, my brain is really all I've got apart from a good pair of legs for running.

As of right now, you and I need to build a sturdy ship, and if we lose some pitch along the way...it's not going to end well. Purposefully denying me information is hindering both of us.

You want to talk more about the grail war? Not much I can tell you until I have all the facts and can start building a strategy in earnest."

His mind was firmly set on "she's lying" by this point.

Nobody forgets something like that. I can recall the date down to the hour of every misunderstanding-turned-bad, wannabe mugging, and accidental street-bum fight I've ever been in and that's not even close to what war must be like. Forgetting the year of a battle? Highly improbable. Forgetting the year of her last battle? I'm thinking impossible. Time to see if I can call her bluff...There's more to this, I know it.

"And Saber, I've never called a woman a liar..."

Liar.

"...but I get the feeling you're not telling me everything that you could. I don't plan to continue pestering you with a multitude questions, after all where's the fun in that? But I'm certainly not about to quit the game either."

[Ogier]

Saber never ceased to look at her master, the term really could not turn better, no matter how often she attempted to 'think it good'. He could order her around whenever he pleased. The command seals were a proof of it. At least he did not seem like the type to use them for something as foolishly as finding out details about his servant. Ogier began to trust him a bit more, albeit her amusement about this game not keeping up. She really wanted to drop it. Curiosity could really become a problem... if the nose landed at places that should not be seen.

Ogier herself was a bit of a justice freak, but this was a war to be fought and although unwilling to sacrifice people herself, it would be too naive to save everyone. Yet, there were hero types around, who might even be foolish enough to state their servant's names to impress others. The knight of Charlesmagne did not think of herself as special or impressive enough to shy anyone away, less another heroic spirit. His metaphor was quite good, but she was no sailor. Quite on the contrary, her experience with those were not the best...........

Either it was just coincidence or he wanted to bind her in the sail and then smack her good with the paddle. That would be funny.. if he would do it on someone else. Masochistic tendencies were non existent in the young ex king and paladin, at least young in a physical sense. They did not exist, including attacks on her pride, and somehow she could feel the onslaught sting at her heart and nerves.

Liar?

The Dane was unlike her master quite fresh. Servants did not come with the typical human weaknesses, and their habits. Yet, this was not the actual reason in her case. Ogier was a servant, but still quite different from the rest and uncertain how her body would react. Maybe she would need sleep, and food to keep running, especially with a master who claimed to not be that great. So far, her prana 'income' seemed sufficient for her needs, and his abilities would not hinder a proper fight.

What was clearly missing was the trust. She had heard him fine, but the word 'Liar' was more important to her than the rest. Her left eyebrow twitched shortly after Ogier has noticed the inevitable. He thought that she was lying! She thought the anger welling up in her. It was not important if he had accused her directly or just thought it......

"I think that I have heard enough..... There is no difference between men or women on the battlefield, less when sworn an oath that includes to stay away from that path. There is no need to call me openly a liar, your thoughts alone betray you..."

Otherwise he would not have said those words. It was the same as asking a person if they had done something wrong, concluding with how much you trusted them and putting on a fake smile. There was no need to ask or state anything if the trust was really there, and this was a very similar situation.

"I don't want to be seen as a woman, in this war I am a servant who fights, and nothing more. We don't need to become friends for that purpose."

Maybe said too much.... she did not mind a good friend, and that was actually one of her stronger points, but like many people, she was also a bit stubborn. But who could blame her, after suffering through his attack?

"...You said it yourself. Your abilities concerning magic are not special. This opens opportunities for enemies to get relevant information, including data about me. Unfortunately for you, I am clearly not King Arthur. Now you can exclude an unlikely choice."

Her eyes narrowed, the fire of her soul lit with fury, she shot him a glance that could metaphorically burn weaker souls to a crisp. Some people also just called it a fiery glare, the so called stare of death. Ogier was angry... but at least not severely pissed off, or not one of the best barriers could save him from a good beating. She never had spanked someone though, not even her child, but this man seemed to deserve it. Too much cockiness for this early morning.

Calm down, calm down... It did not work as much as hoped.

"Of course I am hiding things. The name alone counts as that. Otherwise this weird game would not have been necessary. I could give you an answer... 1103. If it is true or not is another thing."

Because she did not know..... Time did not matter for her.

"You might wish to take some sleep... if you trust me to not stab you during the night."

She certainly spit fire during that day, cold flames of anger, the room stayed dark and unfriendly.

[Aashiq Nassar]

Aashiq let out a deep sigh. The look she had given him had almost physically hurt, and he had to admit there was some truth in her words.

Saber was not about to give him anything, and by the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice he had crossed a line or two, it was time to make amends before this got out of hand. He needed her trust, more than anything else, and he had certainly made good progress towards screwing it up.

"My apologies, Saber. I didn't mean to offend. I suppose I am too curious for my own good. If you don't want to share then I'm not going to force you. I'd prefer to keep this relationship professional, if not amiable."

He could force her. He still had the command seals after all, but it would be silly to waste them on something like this, especially when they could save his life later. Besides, he needed to stay on good terms with her to make this work. He didn't have the resources to control an angry Servant, and he wasn't going to risk his life to feed his ego.

"Also, I didn't mean to imply that you were any less of a warrior for being a woman. But I'll try and keep what you said in mind."

He honestly hadn't, but perhaps he'd become more interested in her face than in her sword. She was a powerful ancient warrior after all, he needed to remember that.
Furthermore, Aashiq had to be careful where he tread. One wrong move and he would be "Master" in name only. He needed to take charge...but not at this hour. Her suggestion, even with the rather venomous comment at the end, reminded him how tired he was.

"I do want your trust, Saber. Give me that and you have mine; I suppose I tested it more than I should have, but we're not going anywhere if we don't have that. For now I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you won't try to kill me in my sleep."

He added the last comment with a wry smile. Hard to do with that fiery gaze of hers still on him, but he managed it.

He yawned. The sun would be up soon, very soon.

" Speaking of which, I'm going to bed. If you'd like you can scout around for the morning. However, keep it localized if you could. Within a mile or two around the building, and stay dematerialized. I'm sure you can take care of yourself, but I'd prefer we didn't have any...unexpected encounters while I'm asleep. If I'm not up by mid-day, then wake me up...preferably not with a sword."

That would do, he kept his voice firm but not commanding. Continuing to carefully watch her reactions, so as not to irritate her further.
He got up and stretched, preparing to make his way towards the bedroom.

[Ogier]

"Well noted... master."

Ogier responded calmly in response but stopped her aggressive stance. There was really no need for this and it actually exhausted her to act like this. She was more of a friendly person who enjoyed the company of others, than the one who constantly had to defend her pride. There was no need to forgive him, yet playing the hurt warrior was also just childish. She had performed her own share of improper actions this night.

"It might sound arrogant, because of my actions, but I will forgive it."

Forgetting on the other hand was out of the question. At least she was not a woman who would recycle this old misstep of his in a time when it seemed 'useful', or was she? Ogier certainly had no reason so far, and it became difficult to evaluate your future behavior with Aashiqu.

She should be used to this character type by now, but why was it so increasingly difficult to act like in the past? Was it really the time she had spend with Morgan that had made her more difficult to approach? Ogier did not like the idea, but it could be. She was not some Saint who could forgive and forget everything, she was just a Paladin and now a servant. Her relationships with men of that area were usually that of friendship and equal warriors. Mister Nassar, who also clearly hid things from her on the other hand was her master.

The Dane had sworn her loyalty to one man... now she was to serve another. Until death doe.. err.. she was not married to that guy. Some rather amusing images filled her head, and the lips curved up to a faint smile, before she managed to put her armored right hand on her chin and cover that little accident up. Posing as the thinker was a great idea, wasn't it?

"I will scout the area and then wake you up as instructed."

His request about keeping close was unnecessary. Especially the Assassin Class was dangerous for a master, and she did not know enough about his abilities in creating a save environment for himself. Although sleeping in his room seemed out of the question, it was the best idea to keep him save. Oh right... she forgot to mention that she could not dematerialize. Fortunately enough she could easily hide her features with a normal coat after removing her armor.

Ogier remained still and looked after him before setting out to borrow something for her short range scouting. The morning was still young. What would she find in this time and age? How has the live changed this time? The young appearing woman in protective armor could hold her horses before the childish curiosity would go through with her and make her run out of the door, like some child trying to meet Santa Clause. But she was restless. How about meeting a member of the local mafia organization? Italy had one of the bigger ones available, after all.

"Good night."