Taking the Long Way Home

[Nina Lüceanu]

Nina strolled the shopping district, her facial expression... the usual. Her eyes, however, gave out a slight tinge of excitement and anxiety. She was a young girl walking through the mildly crowded streets with a handsome guy by her side. He was not a sparkling prince-on-a-white-horse - Nina could never understand why that fantasy was so popular, in both literature and, evidently, females' heads... or maybe it was just another stereotype that the girl picked up from too much reading and too little interaction with real people... No matter the case, Xenophon was not the knightly type but an incarnation of athletic beauty, the ideal that Ancient Greeks yearned and strived for, and a Manly man. And right now, they were leisurely strolling the town of Lucca side by side.

This situation seemed almost like the "date" she had read about, and sang "romance" in Nina's head... or would have, if said manly man were something more than a blurry shape of prana apparently floating just a bit behind her. An imaginary date with an imaginary lover; the girl couldn't help but image it looking that way from a third perspective. Oh, he was there alright but what's the point if she can't show him off even see him properly?

That thought made the girl brush off her fantasies and stop in her tracks. She surveyed her surroundings with all the attentiveness of a sleepy sloth. They were in the midst of Lucca's shopping district. Of course, Nina couldn't have known what a "shopping district" was, what with her having lived in a secluded mountain village most of her life... no, that's wrong - the village was some 15 km away from the house. But with all the stores lined up on both sides of the street, she could at least get the general idea. And her eyes were now jumping from one window to another. Books, jewelry... hmm... no, no, no, don't even think of it, you've already played with cosmetics enough, Nina... ah, there we go~ Her gaze stopped on a suitable one.

"...Would you mind getting out of that armor and into a set of clothes more suitable for the time and place?"

Uncaring for the surrounding eyes and ears, Nina adressed her invisible, "imaginary" date in a creepy monotone.

[Xenophon]

Xenophon, for the first time in his life, was discovering a blind hatred for cities.

There were simply too many people to watch, all of them strangers. He had not an ally in the entire world, and any of these people strolling past could be enemy Masters. If he had the power to do so, he would have forced them all to wait until his Master was done shopping. If she could survive without food and shelter, he would never even have allowed a trip to such a place.

Even in life, Xenophon had been a man for quiet action rather than constant noise and chaos. The marketplace teemed with people running, walking, sitting, talking, screaming, throwing things, passing money, bumping into each other.... it was too much for him to watch. He longed for the quiet solitude of Nina's library almost as much as he longed for the certainty and simplicity of battle.

Again his attention turned to the girl- homunculus- that commanded him. Nina was strange to him; Xenophon was no magus and had no aspiration to become one. She was as different from him as she was from the Italians who meandered like insects throughout the market district. There is a strange comfort in familiarity, he thought. Were my master a soldier, even one who fought with the strange... guns... of this age, I would understand her.

"...Would you mind getting out of that armor and into a set of clothes more suitable for the time and place?"

And she spoke, again reminding him how little he truly understood about her. He looked around her, making sure that no one was watching too closely. The strange, serious faced girl received a few looks when she began to talk to herself, but no one paid undue attention. Xenophon allowed himself to relax- just slightly. A soldier was never truly relaxed until the war was over.

"I am afraid I do not understand, Nina. My armor will protect me from the Noble Phantasms of other Servants. Changing out of it would put myself in unnecessary danger and lower our chances at winning the Holy Grail." He nodded to himself, finding no flaws in his logic. Winning was important to both of them; nothing could be allowed to jeopardize their goal. "Besides, you are the only one who can see me. No one will notice how strangely I am dressed as long as I remain in spirit form."

[Nina Lüceanu]

Some heads turned towards her as she spoke to seemingly no one but Nina paid no heed. Being "weird", being "left out", not fitting in, being unlike those around her... the girl had no issue with things like that. She was raised deep in the mountains, far away from civilization, by a slightly insane old man, a homunculus with a single-track mind, and a vampire who derives pleasure from pain. Later, she got to know another old man, a person even more peculiar than the previous three; even now, his desires and his thought process remained a mystery to Nina. Like, why'd he turn her into an enemy by taking her body hostage when he could just ask her nicely...? Anyway, Nina lived her whole life in a company of weirdos who had little to none common sense; as such, standing out was "normal" for her. She wouldn't change her views and her behavior just by having encountered the homogeneous mass called "society".

"Your being in spirit form troubles me, though...", Nina sent a vaguely sulking thought for Xenophon to hear... conveying emotions this way was actually quite convenient. "You just got yourself a new life, and there's a fine chance it won't last long. So I want you to enjoy the time here, have as much fun as possible. Having you always follow me around like this... seems unfair, somehow."

After pondering a while with... the same neverchanging expression on her face, the girl added, "Umm... You've described 3 of your Noble Phantasms earlier so that makes me wonder... how will you armor protect you from a Noble Phantasm? Sure, it improves your defenses but does it have the necessary conceptual rank to deflect the effects of Mystic Codes on that level? ...Actually, no, even before that, how is it going to protect me from a surprise attack? The Master is the primary target, especially during the day, moreso because they can be murdered without breaking the secrecy clause. Well, that is how I'd go about it myself, at least..."[/b][/i]

---
Okay, just in case this needs to be stated explicitly: Nina is using Romanian when talking with Xenophon.

[Xenophon]

Xenophon watched. And waited. And listened. His master was a girl; not merely in her gender, but in her manner. It wasn't fair that he wasn't in the spotlight? Who did she take him for, a king? The great Hercules? Xenophon lived and died an ordinary man, an ordinary soldier. Being invisible only made him more dangerous.

But Xenophon gave no hint of what he was thinking. He was nothing if not obedient. "It is fine, Nina. I do not need to assume a form to enjoy my life here. I am a soldier as well as a scholar. Quiet death does not suit me. You have given me a chance to fight as well as learn. I require nothing more."[/b]

She stayed silent for a moment, thinking. Xenophon could hardly imagine what went on in her head; he was till wondering what had prompted her comment about fairness. The only fairness he had ever seen in life had been taken with a spear. His Ten Thousand had won fairness from King Artaxerxes, not been given it. He had helped Sparta win fairness when it was savaged by all of its neighbors. The world gave no fairness. Men had to create it, just as they created safety and honor in a world full of danger and sin.

"My armor will not stop a true Noble Phantasm, you are correct, but my Shield Wall should do just fine. My shield and armor should be able to stop any blow from a Servant weapon, however, and my spear will be more than strong enough to strike back." Even the greenest of soldiers knew to check new equipment at the first chance they got; Xenophon had taken the opportunity to acquaint himself with his new body while Nina slept. He would have been a fool to not know exactly how his body would perform against another Servant. "As for protecting you, I am watching very carefully for any sign of another Master or Servant. Even if one escapes my notice, I mean to stay close enough to you that I can still protect you. But the sooner we reach your place of safety, the better. We will not be truly safe there, but we will be safer than we are surrounded by others." [/b]

[Nina Lüceanu]

Nina listened to Xenophon's reply, her head tilted slightly, blankly staring at the spirit with the same bored expression as ever. As the Servant was intangible and invisible, and the girl was still standing in the middle of the street, she's been attracting quite a bit of attention. It was curious how people could actually care enough for something unrelated to them enough to actually make the effort to turn their heads and stare. Seeing them all react the same way made Nina wonder for a moment what action a crowd would take during a fire or something. It was a brief moment, though.

As Xenophon finished, she gave out a monotone sigh that was probably meant to signify slight disappointment.

"Hmm... Fine. I won't bug you with clothes anymore. But... I thought that maybe you would want to read something yourself when we visit the library here tomorrow. But if you are fine with just watching over me I won't bring it up anymore... I still think it to be unfair, though."

He seemed quite enthusiastic about reading the previous night... did he get bored? Or, maybe, he was disappointed in what he's read... The girl couldn't tell. She had books that she didn't like, like the ones on runes and golem making that were both in her grandfa... no, it was now her own so... in Raven Mist's library. Some of that information, or, rather, related spells were even included in the Crest. She found an application for alteration but everything else didn't pique her interest. She still read those books, though. And she finished them and had had fun reading them... she just wasn't enthusiastic about repeating that or delving deeper into the subject matter. So she couldn't understand how someone could not like reading. But... whatever, right now wasn't the time for reminiscence.

"Very well, there should be maps of the town on sale in that bookstore. After I obtain one... it's about dinner time so we'll..." Nina threw a quick glance at her intangible companion and corrected herself, "I'll dine somewhere around here. Then we will find our way home."

[Xenophon]

Xenophon sighed. Guilt. He hadn't missed the feeling. He could tell that Nina was confused and upset by his decision, though not to a large degree, and he disliked it. A man shouldn't upset people if he had a choice. Xenophon lost nothing by allowing her to walk in public with him. It appeared that she was more nervous being watched than she had let on; having him around would make her far less conspicuous.

"As you wish, Master. If you would purchase some clothes for me, I will wear them tomorrow. It would be too strange for me to appear out of nowhere, I fear." He stopped, almost embarrassed. "I... would like to visit this library. I enjoy such things. If you do not think that the extra drain on your prana would be unnecessary."[/b]

Xenophon glanced at the small bookstore. It was nothing special, but it contained so many books. Some made of entirely paper, unfolded and held by men with coffee outside, some with soft covers that glistened as if they were wet, some with stiff covers and colored paper over that, some even bound with inscribed leather. It was a miraculous place.

He realized that his mouth was open as he stared, though Nina looked bored with the tiny store. Xenophon quickly shut his mouth. "Ah, yes, a map, right. Of course. Lead the way, Mas- Nina."[/b]

Moron. Xenophon mentally berated himself for the lapse in calm. He had fought entire battles without being distracted, yet he let something like a room full of books set him off stride? He was a fool. His discipline was wavering. Xenophon set his jaw and began to studiously observe the passerby. He would not allow himself to fail again.

[Nina Lüceanu]

What caused him to change his mind so suddenly? Xenophon's reply left Nina slightly perplexed. He was first opposed to the idea of taking form and wearing clothes. The girl didn't quite understand the reasoning behind her Servant's disposition. After all, materializing armor shouldn't take any longer than materializing one's whole body... Still, she accepted that there may be a reason for that stance, be it rational or personal. But now he agreed to it just as eagerly... Nina, who never gave much thought to others' opinions after making a choice, could not comprehend the concept of mindfullness so easily. Her mind lazily browsed the possibilities of this development. And some minute later, having given the floating mist of prana a short blank stare, she concluded,

"Hmm... Okay..."

The girl seemed to have found a satisfactory answer... or, more likely, she simply judged it to be of not enough importance to be worth the effort. Having Xenophon accompany her in physical form would be more convenient, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

"After obtaining the map, I'll buy you some clothes... maybe."

As Nina entered the bookstore, she kept recalling details about Xenophon's physique. A couple of minutes later, as she walked out into the street again, the process didn't proceed more than a few steps. Sure, she recalled several particularities - the color of his eyes, the shape of his laryngeal prominence, the texture of his beard, the power of his arms as he carried her from the basement... but few of those would help her tell his shirt size or shoe size. The girl's conviction was that clothes should be comfortable. She would not allow herself uncertain assessments. Thus, having entered a particularly empty side street, she pulled out a measuring tape.

"And now, get out of that armor for a moment, please... or you can just tell me your sizes if Akasha has informed you on modern measurement systems."

[Xenophon]

Xenophon acted as the dutiful lancer as Nina spoke to herself, not even paying attention to the words. Even the small bookstore was so cramped that he was glad he was in spirit form. He drifted through people and shelves alike, most people not even noticing his presence. The few that did shivered at his touch and looked around, but they couldn't see him and quickly went back to what they were doing.

Nina spent little time in the store; she quickly grabbed the map and paid, then left without another word. Xenophon cast a sad glance at all the books left unread before following after her. He would have a chance to read later, he was sure. Nina's apartment was surely just as full of books as the little house she had summoned him from.

"And now, get out of that armor for a moment, please... or you can just tell me your sizes if Akasha has informed you on modern measurement systems."

"My... sizes?" Xenophon blinked, quickly trying to figure out just what she was looking for. "Everything I wear is hand made, not manufactured like the clothing of this age. Your guess as to what I'll need to wear is as good as mine."

For convenience, Xenophon cast a quick glance around and materialized as soon as he was sure no one could see. "Take whatever measurements you need, Nina. It is too bad that we cannot find custom clothes in this era, but it is not something we can change."

[Nina Lüceanu]

"...It's not like you can't. But that takes time. The war may be over by the time your hand-made clothes arrive."

As Nina was saying those words, her hands kept playing with the tape, which she held in her hands as if it were a whip. As she neared Xenophon, a strange glint appeared in the depths of her normally emotionless eyes... or maybe it was only a random ray of sunshine reflected by a random window.

It didn't take much time for the girl to measure every part of the Servant's body. After a bit of stalling, her rationality had overcome her curiosity and dictated that they shouldn't remain in a secluded place long.

So, having finished quicker than she would prefer to and thus slightly unsatisfied, Nina walked out into the main street again, holding a memo filled with numbers and a dictionary, muttering the looked up words under her breath and writing them down against the numbers. Continuing to do so, she made her way towards the shop on the opposite side of the street. Fortunately, she didn't become the cause of a traffic accident, nor a victim of one by ignoring all known or existing regulations and common sense.

And now, she was walking past the shop window. On the other side of the glass, a pair of mannequins were on display, silently gazing into the half-empty street with their absent eyes. Glancing their way, Nina stopped in her tracks, her voice breaking off mid-word. *snap* Not a moment after the silence fell it was disrupted by the sound of a book being shut close without the slightest consideration for it yet with the practiced accuracy of someone who had repeated the gesture thousands of times.

"Ah." The girl looked at the dictionary with her unchanging deadpan expression. "I closed it."

After finding the memo, left and lost between the pages when she had snapped the book shut, and putting away the dictionary, Nina turned her attention towards the mannequins again. A bit later, she turned to the haze of ether that was floating by her side.

"While you can't get a set of hand-made clothing, the shop assistant will fit it for you... though that depends on the store... I guess. I've seen them doing it when I was buying these." Her hand waved slightly, pointing at the coat she was wearing. She was probably referring to the leathers beneath it, however. "You would have to appear in a physical form for that, though."

"Oh, and I think I already know what to choose."

With those words, her eyes turned back to the male mannequin that was demonstrating a fabulous tuxedo of pure white. The 3 piece-suit, featuring an unusual knee-long approximation of a jacket alongside a more traditional looking pair of a waistcoat and trousers, the shoes, and, of course, the collared shirt, were all of the untainted color of rejection. The outfit lacked a fabulous tie so one could argue whether it really qualified as a tuxedo but that was what the name tag suggested, and no one is willing to contemplate on the sanity of famous fashion designers so let's just accept their judgement.

---
The name tag read, "SUPER 150'S EXTRA FINE MADE WHITE WOOL TUXEDO FOR ANY OCCASION. THIS IS THE ONE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR!!!"

[Xenophon]

The instant he could, Xenophon returned to spirit form. He could maneuver far more freely while incorporeal, after all. Besides, no matter what Nina said, he was going to at least try to minimize the amount of prana he sapped from her. There was no telling when she might need it to escape or ensure a kill. A wise general always kept his troops in fighting condition.

So, of course, he drifted obediently behind her, searching restlessly for enemy Masters or Servants. One could never be too careful, especially when one was in the middle of neutral territory. There was no way to know if anyone around was actually a spy or an assassin unless you watched carefully. Fortunately, no one would be able to find out that Nina was a master without being close enough for her to sense them in return. He breathed a bit easier because of that, but only a bit.

Xenophon did, however, lend a tiny part of his thoughts to the clothing of the men around him. Most wore only simple, blue… jeans was the word the Record supplied, along with a shirt made of cotton or wool in various designs. He supposed that such things wouldn’t be terrible to wear. He would miss the comfortable weight of his armor, but there was something to be said for a nice woolen shirt on a cold day. Other men wore looser jeans made of finer cloth- slacks, the Record supplied helpfully- with shirts buttoned to their chest, and thin pieces of silk that hung from their necks down to their waist. Xenophon rubbed his neck for a moment in sympathy. Most had their… ties pulled so tight that it looked painful.

”Master, if I may, I think the simpler clothes like those men over there will attract less attention.” He waved a hand, indicating the younger men in jeans and shirts rather than the older men in business attire.

But of course Nina wasn’t listening. Xenophon didn’t even have to apologize about calling her ‘master’, because not even she had noticed. She was murmuring over and over simple words as she stared at her dictionary, trying to memorize the phrases she would need to converse with the shopkeepers. It was only a small matter, anyway. He would simply mention it after they reached wherever she intended to buy clothes.

…And then she stopped in front of a store. There were… vaguely creepy full sized dolls in the window, dressed in fancy clothing and staring sightlessly into the street. Xenophon did not like what he saw. As he cleared his throat to begin speaking, she said the words that confirmed the foreboding in his mind.

“Oh, and I think I already know what to choose.”

”Ah… Nina… I don’t think this is the best idea.”[/color] Xenophon followed her gaze with distaste. It was a white… suit, complete with pants and jacket in a brilliantly perfect hue. The color alone was enough to make him avert his eyes slightly. Worst of all, it seemed to have shoes and a shirt to match, all in the same blinding white. To say that he disliked the outfit would have been a severe understatement. Xenophon viewed the “regular”, hindrance free clothing with distaste at best. The idea of wearing a suit revolted him, and white was such an obvious color…

“Surely other clothing would be better suited to remaining undetected. This would make everyone within three streets look at me, and just make it more apparent that I am not human. Please, Nina, let us get something less conspicuous.”[/color]

Xenophon looked away, hoping to avoid feeling her disappointment through their link. He was only agreeing to this as long as it cost him nothing, after all. As soon as she wanted to alert every master in the city to their presence, he had to draw the line. It was his duty as her guard.

”Besides,”[/color] he muttered, “there’s no safe place around here for me to materialize without attracting attention, and even if there was, I couldn’t go inside. We can’t let anyone see me in my armor, or otherwise we wouldn’t need to be buying these clothes.” [/color]
Xenophon nodded once to himself. She wouldn’t have an answer to that, and would be forced to buy him something more conservative if she wanted him to materialize. He felt bad for manipulating her, but it was for her own good. If any other Servants could identify him, they would have no trouble finding his Master. He was only protecting her.

[Nina Lüceanu]

"Ah, Nina, I don't think this is the best idea."[/color]

There it was. The reaction she had longed for ever since the failed joke back at the mansion. Amusing.

"Hmm... But why? It's exactly what we're looking for. It even says so here on the nametag."

Nina looked at Xenophon who was at the moment looking at the suit. His horror at the sight was readily apparent, and the idea of wearing the outfit sent him into a state of slight panic. The warrior looked away, obviously unwilling to disappoint her, and began bringing up excuses as to how and why the suit was unsuitable for the occasion. Of course, that was pointless - he just needed to say he did not like it and she would accept that. Clothes were something she thought should be comfortable, and any comfort was out of question if the owner felt displeasure from the bare fact of wearing them. However, it would be no fun if he had said it so straightforwardly. It would not be fun to simply accept his refusal right now, either. So the girl reveled in the man's excuses, teasing him mercilessly.

"Any magus who is more than an incompetent loser would know you to be not human upon seeing you. Your body being made of pure ether makes that somewhat obvious. So there is no reason to care much about attracting attention in the first place. Or did you switch your class to Assassin at some point during the night?"

Nina flapped the wings on her head slightly, as if reinforcing that idea. Of course, the thought never occured to the girl, who had never payed attention to such trifling details as standing out and was completely oblivious to the fact that she probably stood out more than her Servant could ever manage to, and the random motion was just a coincidence, no matter how contrived it had seemed.

"But even if we put that point aside, the suit is completely inconspicious. You may be too self-conscious and behind the times, do you know that? This kind of formal wear is quite popular in the modern world. Believe me, you will not stand out one bit. Not to mention, we are going to a library, a repository of knowledge, and the oldest and largest one in Lucca at that. Cultured people are expected visitors so wearing formal clothes you will be part of the majority. I am not a historian so I may be mistaken, but did Ancient Greeks not have dress codes partaining to certain occasions? It is like that - even if the modern world is more lax about appearances, there are still expectations. So you will not seem out of place in the slightest."

Blatant lies. Not that they were noticeable with her deadpan expression, and there was a bit of reason to what she said, even if that bit was twisted beyond recognition to suit her needs. She repeated the point of not standing out several times, though - Xenophon actually believing her, while cute, would make for some quite awkward explanations later on. So it would be best to... "keep him hanging", so to say, unsure as to whether she was serious or not.

"Besides, I honestly think it would look good on you."

Nina nodded, emphasizing those words. Of course, that was the most shameless lie of all. In the first place, she took notice of the suit because of how fabulous bizzare an outfit it was.

"And you don't really have to appear now. I have your measurements, and if further fitting will be necessary it can be taken care of tomorrow morning, on our way to the library. So if you do not have any more objections, I am going inside now."

And with those words, the girl took a step towards the entrance.

[Xenophon]

Assassin?

Assassin?

Even though it was simple mockery on Nina’s part, the barb cut Xenophon deeply. He was a warrior, not a skulking murderer. He was a man who fought with honor and looked his opponent in the eyes, not one who hid in shadows and killed with poisons and false smiles. That she would even jokingly compare him to such a dishonorable beast, a being hardly worthy to be a man, was a blow harder than any she could have intentionally delivered.

Xenophon did not believe that Assassins should even be allowed to become Heroic Spirits. Spirits they certainly were, but ‘heroic’ was not something that anyone would label a sneaking thief who cowered and begged when forced to fight like a man. A hero was a man who faced danger and death and met with them like old friends, not one who hid from his fate. Not that he was bitter about Clearchus being killed or anything.

His face fell as she continued her argument, highlighting the need for propriety in civilized settings. Xenophon could certainly understand that; King Agesilaus II had enforced a minimum level of dress in his court, as Nina suggested. Still, visiting a library in a suit far more confining and covering than what he had worn to treat with a king seemed out of place. The modern world was more lax than Greece? Xenophon would have words with anyone thought this abominable… suit… was appropriate dress.

But of course he said nothing and let nothing show on his features. Nina was already moving inside of the shop, the link transferring her feeling of success. Xenophon let her have it. If she wanted him to wear the suit, he would. That was the nature of Master and Servant. But, if he unfortunately had to fight while in such a thing, no one could blame him for its destruction. From the price, Xenophon was certain that she would not be willing to spend money on a second after the first had been destroyed. The brief mental image of the suit being torn apart by enemy attacks gave him a brief flash of satisfaction so intense that Xenophon even allowed himself a momentary smile before following Nina inside the store.

His restless eyes flipped over every section of the shop and scrutinized every salesperson. It only took him a moment to take in his surroundings and begin processing them, though the detailed sweep took much longer. A small part of his mind still listened to Nina, though most of his thoughts were taken up by his need to protect her. Only a failure of a Servant would allow his Master to die. It was duty to defend her, even to lay down his life on her behalf. For the present, Xenophon needed no other goals.

[Nina Lüceanu]

Nina was perplexed. Xenophon did not say a word of disagreement, did not argue his position. His discontent was apparent but...

"He was giving such wonderful reactions until just a moment ago..."

The girl was slightly disappointed. But at the same time she was a bit worried, too. Did she go too far in her teasing, maybe? ...Ugh, in the first place, why was he so docile? Isn't he supposed to be a man, a leader of 10,000 troops at that? Now she was getting annoyed with his behavior. This emotion was simply unreasonable, especially considering that she was the one who had started this whole clothes affair in the first place. She never had the intention of buying the suit, of course. The whole reason for bringing it up was to provoke those amusing reactions. If he was going to just remain quiet, there was no point at all. Could that be the cause of her irritation? Like a kid whose toy was suddenly taken away, Nina couldn't help but feel ire at Xenophon's sudden switch to passiveness.

...

"...Maybe I really ought to buy it?"

Glancing at the suit once more, she imagined Xenophon in it. The image did not get any less ridiculous than the first time. No, no, no. Besides, taking care of white was too troublesome even without the fighting they were bound to get into sooner or later. Her coat was enough of a shore already. Frowning, she turned her head back towards the interior of the shop.

What first came into her view was a wide, if slightly strained, smile situated on a face about 3 meters away from her. The shopkeeper welcomed Nina when she had walked in but was apparently reluctant to initiate further contact with the strange customer who had spent several minutes talking to herself in front of the shop. However, now that said customer was looking her way, she had apparently resigned herself, having decided that she cannot just remain quiet anymore. The store had an image to uphold, in the end.

"My, that is such a lovely hair dec. Could it possibly be handmade?"

Nina blinked once, then, after a pause, a second time, confused by the question. Realization came quickly, however.

"Oh, this? Indeed, I made them. Myself. Umm... I would like..." Her Italian remain as foreign as ever, but the store keeper seemed to understand her quite well.

"You made it yourself?"

"Yes, as I was saying..."

"That is amazing. I mean, the design is so realistic... wait, did that wing just move?"

Nina was growing slightly impatient already, and the wings reacted to her anxiety.

"Uh, yes. They are, prehensile, somewhat."

"That is amazing. How do they move, can you tell me?"

How, huh...? It would take a while to explain the workings of the Mystic Code, and there was no use elaborating on the subject, really. A non-magus would not understand the theory, anyway. After a brief pause, Nina answered flatly,

"Magic."

The shopkeeper burst into laughter, obviously taking Nina's words for a joke.

"Umm... It would take a while to explain, and I have an appointment soon, so can we, umm, stick to clothes?"

A little lie would not hurt, and it was sort of true that she needed Xeno to read a map for her. Otherwise, she would not be able to find the way to her apartment... again.

"Oh, a hi-tech item... I see, I see. Of course, I am at your services, miss magician."

"Ah. I need a complete set of clothes, for a man. Umm... His sizes, here." Giving the note to the shopkeeper, Nina continued, "He is typically Greek in appearance, and tanned. Oh, and preferably something easy to move in..."

"Hmm... A sweatsuit would be the most obvious choice. We do not have a wide selection of those but this Gucci..."

Sweatsuit? Nina pulled out her dictionary and looked the word up. Oh... Well, if it's with a hoodie it might actually... No, no. Just not the one the shopkeeper took out.

"Umm... I'd rather something that will not look out of place in a street. He does not like attention. And white."

...

Come to think of it, even if that tux in the window was unsuitable, it did not mean a different suit wouldn't suit him.

...

And so, some twenty minutes later, the quest item had been obtained. Nina left the store, accompanied by the cloud of ether at her side, content with the purchase and starving. Without further ado, the girl started walking towards the nearest visible restaurant.


---
So, Xeno, just describe whatever suit you would like (loathe the least) to wear. Or leave it until the time you actually wear it and just skip to map reading, if you prefer that.

[Xenophon]

Xenophon ignored the useless conversation the shopkeeper was having with Nina. It had nothing to do with him. He was a Servant. He would do as his Master bid, just as he had his entire life. Some men were born to command. Xenophon was born to follow and to fight. He knew as well as any Greek that fighting fate was useless, so he simply accepted his place in life. He would follow his Master as he had followed Clearchus, as he had followed Agesilaus.

Nina’s headband gave an irritated as she spoke, mimicking its wearers thoughts. Xenophon gave a small smile at that: she had been right. There was no point in trying to hide his presence. Nina was far too conspicuous to be overlooked by enemy masters anyway. And besides, Xenophon was no skulking coward. He would fight his enemies head to head and destroy them, for his Master’s goals and his own.

The passerby who looked inside the shop seemed to feel his watchful gaze, because none stopped for very long. Or maybe it was just the sight of the strange girl already inside that kept them away. Either way, Xenophon did not especially care. It was unlikely that an enemy would attack while his master was inside a normal human’s shop and even if one tried, he would be ready. Her safety was more important than the magi’s desire for secrecy. He would kill anyone who tried to harm Nina, no matter who saw the battle.

Xenophon had scarcely noticed the passing of time when Nina completed her purchase and pushed open the door. A good sentry could watch for hours before his focus slipped. She had purchased a grey sweatsuit, quiet and unnoticeable. He would blend into any group if he wore it, escaping the sight of any pursuers. He could be a blade in the crowd if he so wished.

The thought of acting like an assassin disgusted him, but even Xenophon had to admit that such tactics were useful… He would never kill an opponent with stealth or attack someone under a guise of peace of his own will, but combat was a game of pressure and counter-pressure. If he could get close enough to an enemy master to force the Servant to overreact, he would start the battle with the advantage. Xenophon was a master of exploiting even small advantages. As such, his best chance of winning the war relied on forcing his opponents to make as many mistakes as he could. Even if the methods were unmanly, to say the least, he was not willing to lose the Holy Grail War on account of pride.

Xenophon followed his master closely, still studying every face in the sea of people for anything that would give away an enemy. A skilled opponent could strike from any direction and eliminate Nina with a single thrust of their blade. Xenophon would not allow that to happen, even if it meant exposing himself or giving his life for hers.

The other article of clothing she had bought bothered him, though. It was a black tuxedo, with red tie and white undershirt, well made and far too expensive to be worth the price. Xenophon had hoped for a moment that Nina had sated her desire to make a fool of him when she had stopped looking at the white monstrosity, but it seemed that she had not. If his master desired him to parade around like a trained bear for her amusement, so be it. Xenophon could not guarantee the survival of such a garment, but a servant always obeyed his master.

* * * * *

Nina had left the bag of clothing around the corner to the bathrooms, where no one could see it and instructed him to change while she looked at the menu. The restaurant she had settled on was busy enough that no one would remark on Xenophon’s entrance. With a sigh, he materialized and grabbed the bag before entering the bathroom.

The clothes were loose and fairly comfortable, so Xenophon found no immediate complaint with them. They would not hinder him if he needed to act quickly and would, most likely, not get in the way if he needed to suit up put on his armor and battle another Servant. They were also inconspicuous and totally unlike his master’s attire. With a little luck, an enemy might assume the outlandish girl to be the Servant and he to be the master. A small smile crossed Xenophon’s face as he thought about that.

The meal was delicious, if plain. Xenophon had ordered only a small dish of pasta for his meal. It seemed that Italian food was similar in taste to what he was used to, though different in composition. Nina was eating something herself, after asking Xenophon to read the menu for her. His accent had drawn a few odd looks from the waiter, but the man seemed to have no trouble understanding.

Lancer and his Master ate in silence. Xenophon himself was never prone to talking and it seemed that Nina felt the same, when she wasn’t teasing him. It was far too risky for them to talk about the War in public, especially when they were intending to visit her apartment after lunch. That was how this War worked. Absolute secrecy was required, almost demanded, by the nature of the War. So there would be no talk of plans or scouting or attack; the only sound their table made was the soft clink of metal fork against glass plate.

After they finished eating, Nina paid for their meals and produced the map, after telling Xenophon where the apartment was located. It only took him a moment to locate the street she had mentioned, but he memorized and catalogued the rest of the map anyway. A good commander always had a good grasp of the terrain he would be battling on, and Xenophon could not predict where he would do battle against other Servants. Even the smallest knowledge could allow him to set up a trap or a defensive chokepoint and turn the tide in a battle.

“The apartment is here, M- Miss Nina.”[/color] Xenophon silently berated himself for his slip, but he doubted anyone would have noticed in the crowd of people. “I think it will only take us about half of an hour to reach it.”

[Nina Lüceanu]

"The apartment is here, M- Miss Nina. I think it will only take us about half of an hour to reach it."

"Ah. Thanks."

Keeping note of the location Xenophon had pointed out, Nina gave the map a long, attentive look. After a while, she put it down, closed her eyes, nodded with the same enigmatic expression as ever, and then, having opened her eyes again, concluded,

"Alright, I understand. I cannot read maps. At all."

With those profound words, she folded the map up and hid it back into a pocket of her coat. There might still be uses for it but right now was not a good time or place to continue in that direction. The issue of finding their way home... was it appropriate to call a temporary base one had been using for no more than three weeks "home"...? oh, well, no matter, it's not like she had spent any more time than that in any location other than her grandfather's house in the middle of nowhere... Anyway, since that issue was taken care of, the girl forgot all about the map as soon as it had left her sight.

Nina then called up the waiter. She ordered a not-so-original Sacher Torte for dessert and a cup of tea (last time she went to a restourant, she had ordered coffee... for the first and hopefully last time in her life; recalling that rich, unforgettable taste, she felt her brow almost twitch) to go with it. Having sent the employee away, she returned her attention to Xenophon and suddenly turned the talk ...was there any? in an unexpected direction,

"So, back to the important affairs, I would like to make a plan for tonight, so... what are your preferred methods? Both in scouting and immediate action. From what I know of you, you don't seem the type to take initiative, or go headfirst into attack mode. Your Endurance is definitely first-rate but those numerical parameters aside, I would like to know more about your skills and techniques. Well, we'll get to that in due time. For now, we need to settle on whether we go on a hunt ourselves, or wait until someone comes to us instead."

Her last trip from home to this part of town took nearly two hours and asking for directions three times. Now that she had her own private guide for that ocassion, though, there was no issue with staying out late.

---
OOC: Feel free to freak out and ask why she started talking about the War in public. Oh, and feel free to order any dessert and drink, too... except coffee.

[Xenophon]

Xenophon watched calmly as Nina ordered herself dessert and tea, naturally letting her take the lead. For once, Lancer would have appeared almost relaxed. He slouched slightly, one hand resting comfortably on the table. A slight smile curved his lips, as if he were lost in his own thoughts while Nina ate.

In reality, Xenophon was far from comfortable. He didn’t need his eyes to keep track of everyone passing nearby, so as usual, he knew where everyone in the vicinity was. It would be… problematic to have to harm someone in plain sight, but he was ready for any eventuality. His bare hands would be enough to subdue any opponent approaching in an obvious manner, which was why he felt no need to reach for the knife that sat on the table. If the need arose, his right hand was merely centimeters from the handle.

But his Master was relaxed. Calm. Emotionless. The thought struck him that he would find Nina extremely unsettling were it not for their bond. He could feel her cautious emotions just by looking at her. They were muted, yes, but he knew people. Empathy was important when asking men to fight and die for you. Understanding a girl from an age hundreds of years after he died was difficult, but Xenophon enjoyed challenges. A small part of his mind turned the puzzle that she presented over, worrying at it absently. A very small part.

He had declined desert and a drink, instead settling for a glass of water. Eating was unnecessary and he had a soldier’s mentality. Eating too much before a battle was risking lethargy, cramps, and dozens of other minor irritants that could prove fatal on a battlefield. It was better to expect a battle at any moment than to be unprepared for one when it occurred.

“My preferred methods? Hm.”[/b] Xenophon scratched absently at his beard with his left hand. “Perhaps we should leave this conversation to a more… private area.”[/b] With a mental shrug, Lancer put that from his mind. His Master knew what she was doing and he trusted her completely. Such was the duty of a Servant.

“I am a defensive Servant, as you have guessed from my identity and my parameters. From what I understand of this… numeric calculation of my abilities, I should be able to survive most any blow. Even the strongest opponents will have trouble ending me.”[/b] His smile became more pronounced. The simple statement was as close as Xenophon would get to bragging, but he felt a small amount of pride in his abilities. To be recognized for his actions by the Throne of Heroes was enough of an accomplishment, but to be granted such incredible abilities? His actions were naught compared to that of others, but he still appreciated the chance he had been given.

“It is not that I do not like to take the initiative. A good commander does not commit to an unfavorable situation, and all unknown situations are unfavorable. I prefer to wait until I know everything I could possibly learn before I act. It is simply the most intelligent way to conduct a battle.

“I have been trained to fight with spear, sword, and my body, and I was known for my tenacity as a warrior. I might not have been able to win every battle I fought, but I have never been a gracious loser.”[/b] His tone hinted that he might have made a joke, but Xenophon’s expression didn’t change.

“A hunt would be enjoyable, though a battle on unfamiliar ground may prove unfavorable. Perhaps we should patrol this area, since we both have an understanding of its layout before we return to your workshop? There are numerous areas where I could set up a choke point that would allow me to use my spears to great effect without offering an opening to my opponents. But on the other hand, maybe it would be prudent to use tonight for me to study your workshop and develop strategies for defending it against an attack.”[/b]

He gave an artless wave with his left hand, as if to demonstrate that he didn’t care. He judged that no one had been close enough to hear most of what he had said, but it didn’t hurt to be prudent. It was likely that the humans who caught enough of the conversation to piece together the story would assume that he was talking about a… video game. Numerical parameters? Battles? Spears and swords? Such things were archaic and seemed totally unrelated to the rest of the conversation. Men were simple creatures. Present them with something illogical and they would naturally create a story that had a great deal of logic within it.

Xenophon tilted his head slightly, looking at Nina for the first time in several minutes. He had let his eyes wander, touching absently on the wall decorations and other patrons, never for long enough to attract suspicion, but to give the appearance that he was thinking and paying no attention to the world around him. His eyes met hers calmly, without a hint of question or challenge. He trusted her completely. “It is your decision, Nina.”[/b]

This time, he made sure not to trip over his words.

[Nina Lüceanu]

"Perhaps we should leave this conversation to a more... private area."[/b]

"No worries. Continue."

Nina could not sense any abnormalities, which a magus usually would create simply by breathing, from any of the patrons. Furthermore, she was speaking in Romanian, so it did not matter whether they spoke aloud or used telepathy. And even if an Assassin class Servant was lurking about, she did not intend to allow Xenophon to say anything truly important out loud.

At some point, the waiter had brought her order, but Nina simply put the dessert aside and was now just slowly stirring her drink with a small spoon. Somehow, this act managed to look natural, if in odds with her appearance. The motion itself seemed almost as if the girl was moving in slow-motion, yet this oddness fit well with Nina's absent-minded expression. Her figure seemed to radiate apathy. However, despite appearances, she listened to everything Xenophon said attentively. The absent-minded gaze was simply a result of her concentrating on his words instead of her surroundings.

In the end, it seems he would rather wait and see before acting... somewhat a boring development, but she could live with it. But returning to her workshop was not necessarily the path they need take right away. Thinking things over, Nina voiced her conclusion.

"...You will have the chance to reconnoitre my workshop and its surroundings later, while I rest. For now, while we are here in this... "shopping district" I think people call it, we might as well familiarize with the choke points you have mentioned. Also, I think you might have caught up on this yourself... I guess that is why you have suggested we patrol here, though I cannot be sure, of course... umm... right, most shops around here close at either six or seven. There will be no people around at night. And that point becomes apparent by just looking around so I cannot... erm, shouldn't, at least, be the only one to note this."

She may have been stammering from time to time searching for proper words - Nina was not used to active conversation, so she had trouble accurately conveying her thoughts - but behind those words lay certainty. This area where civilians were unlikely to flock after the sun is down was more likely to become a battlefield than the residential areas.

"So, I think it best to scout this area while we still have a chance to do so without having to fight for the right. There remains some time before night falls; let's use that time efficiently. I have other thoughts on the matter as well. While it is best to remain hidden for a time, we will not gain intelligence on the other participants by staying put. So unless we make a move ourselves, the situation will not improve. The old man had warned me about certain possibilities. There is a chance of you facing two opponents in the end if we proceed like this. As that is certainly a possibility I'd want to avoid, I would rather find out about people working in teams sooner than at a point when nothing can be done about the issue anymore."

Nina's demanor did not change in the slightest. The drink has probably gotten cold enough to drink comfortably by now yet she kept on moving the hand holding the spoon slowly. But in comparison to before, the air around her might have become different. Or maybe that was just the effect of her words, unnoticeable to anyone who could not understand them. For a short time, the ruthless rationality that was the core of her character had come to the surface. Then, the spoon came to a halt. Nina brought the zaher torte closer to her with her free hand and scooped a piece leisurely. A brief sigh of pleasure left her lips, dispelling the effect.

"...Also, there is someone I want to meet before the ritual enters its final stages."