[center][h1][color=ed1c24]David Ríos[/color][/h1][/center]
[h3](Southern Miyama, Riverside Cottage - Attic)[/h3]
[hr]
…Mm.

Had it been a misunderstanding of the Servant’s character on his part, had what he mistook as pride been truly but an outburst of the moment? If so, he supposed that reflected all more poorly on him for not being able to see it, but – well, at least Lancer had the presence of mind to straighten it out before it became a problem.

Good thing, too. He much preferred a Servant that was comfortable following orders over one that challenged him at every turn. As for the ‘friendly terms’… Well, it was much too early to say, but he certainly saw no problem in adjusting his persona just a tad – certainly, she was to be his sword and shield, so that kindness could certainly be afforded.

As it was, he could certainly say the situation was a weight off his shoulders – and he, for one, would look a gift horse like this in the mouth, particularly when it was presented like so. Tension slowly ebbed away and he shifted from the formal stance to a more relaxed one.

“I feel it is I who should apologize.”, he said, hoping to clear any remaining unease. “I mistook you for the sort that would enjoy the formalities and came across as foppish, so that’s certainly a mark against me.” 

Maybe it was better to keep the fact that he had indeed thought her to be the arrogant sort veiled for the moment – no need to risk coming across as insulting, right? Ah, well, at least his Servant seemed willing to listen and explain. He chose to not to comment on the reason she had been recorded in history as a man, merely nodding and letting the matter rest – it was not his business, after all. All that mattered to him was that she proved competent in her assigned role.

Nodding to himself, he went over his mental checklist for the day – regardless of the initial misunderstanding and his reasonable surprise, nothing had actually changed in his strategies, so that much was already a boon.

“Certainly, I would prefer hearing the sort of strategies and engagements you are more comfortable with, Lancer.”, not in the least because he would need to adapt any plans he drafted to make sure his Servant could use her abilities to their full extent. “However, at the same time, I should share with you some of what I have already thought about prior to your summoning, as it were.”

He paused for a second to let his words hang in the air. It was truly nothing grand, merely a conjecture of a plan he had formulated, to be completed only when he was certain about the capabilities of his Servant, but he thought it would be a sound idea.

That said, he was certainly no master strategist, so he figured input from a famed warrior would be a welcome thing.

“To begin with, though this cottage will serve as our base of operations, I have yet to create the Bounded Fields that will truly allow it to carry out its purpose – both basic and something more advanced, a specialty of mine so to speak.”, it was embarrassing to admit that he had prepared so little, but at the same time, it was better to be upfront about such things – and it was not like he had been granted enough time, really. “In that regard, I consider it to be a higher priority than heading to the church and check in with the Overseer for the time being. More to the point of your role, however, I feel that we should first focus on the Assassin Class as far as threats in this war are concerned.”

A smile that conveyed no small amount of faux self-mockery settled upon his features.

“I can hardly defend myself before a Servant, and the shadow of the Hero of Murder makes for a daunting thing – before we eliminate them, I fear we might not be able to focus fully on our other opponents for this War. Caster remains a close contender, however – particularly, we should try to hunt them down before they have a chance to set up a Territory of their own.”

Indeed, Assassin and Caster were the two most dangerous pieces on the table, at least as far as he was concerned – one could appear at any one moment Lancer was preoccupied and go for his own throat, and the other could prove amazingly troublesome if given respite and preparation. Though he was confident in a Knight Class’ ability to take challenges presented head-on, subterfuge was a more worrying matter.

He should know. He is, after all, a magus.

“Otherwise, as far as your own tactics in combat are concerned…”, here, he paused again, as if thinking about what to say. “Well, I can hardly claim to know more about it than yourself, so in that regard, feel free to do as you believe is appropriate. I will provide support where needed.

So all I ask is that you bring me the heads of our enemies in turn.”

…

Ah, had that last phrase been perhaps too dramatic? He thought it was what one was supposed to say, considering the circumstances...

[@Ijoyen]