The problem with being able to feel another Servant’s presence was that you could never determine which one it was by their presence alone– further examination was always necessary. He hadn’t quite seen Martha leave today, but had known someone left. But to feel someone’s presence in the kitchen, the usual culprit to be found would be Martha herself, naturally. That is why, when he opened the doors to the room, Shirou found himself surprised for a moment.
A quick smile flit about his features, however.
“No wonder she didn’t answer to my calls,” the boy muttered offhandedly, arms crossing as he regarded the bearded-Servant, who was still ruminating partially to himself. He only dared to speak again when certain Shakespeare was finished. “A pleasant afternoon to you as well, Shakespeare. … I keep telling you, by the way, you don’t need to refer to me as ‘Master’ Shirou anymore.”
Though given how this man was, Shirou doubted he would stop.
“I thought it rare to see you out and about, but that certainly explains it. Saint Martha certainly has taken a liking to you, hasn’t she?”
“… But at any rate, I suppose I don’t mind doing so. Some refreshments right about now sound like a blessing. I’d be hard pressed to deny.”
There were enough chairs for five people– undoubtedly Martha’s courteousness showing given that there were five people who often showed up here (even if they never ate together normally)– and as such, Shirou found himself seating two seats away from the Caster, at the South end of the table, regarding Shakespeare with a canted head.
“I’m afraid I doubt my presence alone will stop her, however. You know how Saint Martha is. Really, all I had was some minor church-related business, anyways… and I doubt that will deter her, I’m sorry to say. She’s quite force– er, thoughtful when it comes to watching one’s health, after all…”
Martha had since set out to get “refreshments.” Some water, tea leaves and snacks is what sought. What she enters back into the kitchen with is, however, a full week’s worth of groceries. “Forgive me for taking so long, I kept seeing things we were out of and then I had to s–” Until now her eyes had been glancing over her loot, making sure everything was there and packed precisely.
“Oh, Shirou! What a lovely surprise!“ Smiling brightly upon seeing the other Saint, she excuses herself as she heads toward the counter to set down the bags. “I do hope you’re not busy, I was just about to whip something up and it’s always easier to cook for more people than less.”
Various vegetables, meats and grains are unloaded from the castle of grocery bags by Martha’s hands. “By the way, William, I found a new tea for you to try… The cashier said it was made from real unicorn dandruff. I couldn’t believe it, but I figured you’d find that interesting.” Since he loves tea, right? Right? Right? Right, Martha was certain of that. It totally fit his pompous and elegant British image. It’s not like he’d bothered to correct her – or perhaps he did, and it went in one ear and out the other…
…Or maybe she just wanted to see him try all the strange teas she could find. It wasn’t a stretch to assume as such… Who doesn’t like tea, anyway?
She pauses, then, and for a moment the ever-fussy Saint Martha is perfectly still as something bubbles up to her memory.
“Actually, this is a perfect setup. Now that I have the two of you here, I’ve been wanting to ask…” With a flick of her wrist the stove’s flame turns on, emitting a short piercing cry to let you know it was working. She turns to the two, keeping her gaze on them as hands wander for a pot. “You knew each other prior to this place, right? You seem very well acquainted. Can I ask how you two met?”
@non-sanz-droict -> @apocryphism -> @tarasqued
“Surely you can pass on more spirited words than that. A proper rousing speech, perhaps? I am as well aware as you claim, yet what friend is he who does not think to offer condolences and encouragement first and foremost? Therein I might at least find some inspiration for my private work…”
Shakespeare sighed, shaking his head sadly at Shirou’s words.
Before he could finish, his words were interrupted by the grand return of the church’s keeper.
“Welcome home Lady Martha!” He cried out in greeting, as he gave a small nod of his head in acknowledgement. “Rest assured that you need not give your tardiness a second thought. As things would have it, I’ve passed the time in good company.”
As she began to unload the groceries, he felt content to simply sit and watch without lifting a finger; After all, he had very little interest in actually eating, so why involve himself with the process unnecessarily?
There was no real need for it, considering their ghostly constitution. Nor had he ever come to understand the saint’s obsession with it, no matter how much time he spent around her.
Ah, and he felt doubly sure of both his own decision to distance himself, as well as the gap between their thought processes, once she detailed just what her purchases included…
“Unicorn dandruff, you say? That is… certainly a rarity…”
For reasons that should have been obvious to most anyone. Never mind that the popularity of unicorns was a fabrication of the merchant class, meant to capitalize upon the folly of the upper echelons; even among believers, who could possibly wish for such a fetid taste? Or, more disconcertingly, what could they have possibly used as a substitute? Ah, how to work his way out of this one…
Any outright refusal would be denied; that much was simply a matter of circumstance. It would take something more clever, more original, to convince her of his justification, so perhaps…
“Speaking of which, I must call your timing quite impeccable.”
Shakespeare audibly cleared his throat.
“Master Shirou was only just confessing his desire for such refreshments; an unusually strong desire, I might suppose, for he referred the very notion as a ‘blessing he’d be unable to deny’.” He turned to look back at Shirou, a smile on his face and not the slightest trace of pity in his eyes. “Likewise, as I intended to tell you, you shouldn’t have such doubts about your presence in these situations. If you were to voice a craving for a full pot of tea, confessing that nothing less would slake your thirst, I do not doubt that Lady Martha would hear out your request. I too, would be more than willing to give you my share. Far be it from me to deny a humble saint his plain requests, especially after all we’ve been through.”
Someone was going to have to drink that swill, and he absolutely would not let it be him. None of it was a lie per se, either, just a lot of missing context, a lot of empty praise, and a lot of hypotheticals which were poorly phrased.
Without giving Shirou any time to interject, he pressed onward, changing the subject.
“Yes, though. Suffice it to say that Master Shirou and I have quite the history together. …Have you never been made privy to such details, Lady Martha? I should have thought for certain that he would have recounted our past endeavors at some point, but perhaps he assumed the same of myself. Unfortunately, I’m still making edits to my final draft. We’ve so much time now to sit and think; opportunities we were ill afforded back then. Enough so, that I cannot help but find parts of my older work quite sloppy, when viewed beneath a steady lens.”
Honestly, it was a tad bit surprising. The war in Romania had been quite an exciting production, for all parties involved… Perhaps not a pinnacle of success, as far as Amakusa Shirou would have been concerned, yet still… Shakespeare couldn’t see that he had anything to lose by telling such a tale. Unless… perhaps… Hmm…
@non-sanz-droict -> @apocryphism -> @tarasqued
romaincrisis
stormborns
blakekathryn
gracieabrams
titsay
jimmyeatworldofficial
