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[color=7ea7d8][h2]Evan Strauss[/h2][/color][i][h3]Strauss Workshop, Shinto[/h3][/i]
[@Art of Fun]
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He had to restrain his initial surprise, admittedly. The proceedings of the ritual itself were interesting to watch, to say the least. Call it his own nature as a member of the Clock Tower speaking, but he'd been somewhat suspicious of this whole thing up until he saw the Servant actually manifesting. A place like this claiming to have created an omnipotent wishgranting device was still the height of hilarity, but at least now it was just a bit more plausible. 

Now that he thought about it, if it was the Einzberns who were behind this, then maybe [i]that[/i] was at the root of this ritual. If that was the case...

Ah, a matter for another time. Though the chance to experiment on it would be excellent if he had the chance. It was famed for nothing if not its potential for riches, after all.

Still, the surprise that came with seeing that the ritual was not a complete sham was only amplified when Evan properly looked to his newly-contracted Servant. Not even addressing her appearance, from what he knew of Heroic Spirits, he was expecting something that emanated a certain...radiance, to it. The being before him had a thread of that, but in greater measure was something else, a thick undercurrent that nearly caused his hair to stand on end, like prey being looked on by its predator.

This confusion was resolved a moment later, when the girl uttered her name. Servant Assassin, Ibaraki Douji. Not a hero of humans, but a "monster", a ruler of Oni-kind. And yet, she had been summoned as an Assassin, and even that presence he would expect of one who had led a race of monsters felt muted from what it should have been. A consequence of being summoned by a vessel meant to summon heroes, or a consequence of being summoned in the Assassin container rather than another? Both were possible, from what Evan knew, and even making use of his Master's clairvoyance didn't answer that question.

Still, there was some sort of humor that brought the barest trace of a grin to the edge of the magus's lips. It made sense, he supposed. He was no hero, he was merely an opportunist. While the oni before him no doubt had a reason for being here, some wish or desire she wanted realized, the fact that she'd been the one summoned meant that he aligned better with a monster than those heroes of humanity.

Well, that stung just a bit, 'Holy Grail'. What sort of assessment mechanism does a cup even use to work that out?

[color=7ea7d8]"Mhm, got it, won't say that it's nice to meet you, then. Evan Strauss, alchemist. Unless an accident happens, I'll be your Master for this ritual."[/color]

There was no doubt that the magus was intimidated, the slight dilation of his pupils gave that much away, but not even a shred of that filtered in to the words he said. It was more as if that, while his body was undoubtedly fearful, his mind seemed content to speak the same way one might talk to a familiar friend. Albeit, he visibly had to hold himself back from coughing as smoke washed over the room.

[color=7ea7d8]"Welcome back to Japan though, I guess. Not sure how much information you're summoned with, since this ritual seems like it's still working out and defining its own system, so if you have any questions then let me know. I'd also like to talk over some plans for how to conduct ourselves during all of this, if you're fine with something like that. If you'd rather drink, eat, or take a look around first though, then go crazy."[/color]

He shrugged, a sharp exhale leaving him as he straightened up in place. A glint entered his eyes in that moment, an almost feral light that signaled nothing more than deep obsession. 

[color=7ea7d8]"This is good, though. I was worried I'd wind up with one of the knight classes, someone who let things like honor get in the way of their decisions. It'd have been an obstacle to me trying to plunder this city and the magi in it for all they're worth, so this honestly works better for me. I hope we can get along."[/color]

If nothing else, that at least seemed to be genuine.