[center][h2]'Henson'[/h2][hr][@Raineh Daze][@VitaVitaAR][hr][/center]The mannequin returned Saber's intent stare, red light continuing to peer down at her as it remained stock still, the workshop briefly falling silent but for the buzz of electronics and the washed-out noise of the town in the distance. Whoever was controlling it, the act that they were putting forth was as calculated as it were enthusiastic; much like the initial presentation of the construct, it seemed half macabre panache and half the instincts of a hunter who knew how best to bait their prey. 

[color=#aa8585][i][b]"My, [u]such[/u] a serious look on [u]such[/u] a darling lass."[/b][/i][/color] The silence was finally broken as one of the mannequin's arms suddenly raised from its position crossed over its chest, placing a hand over its 'mouth' as if stifling an imaginary smirk: or suppressing the very [i]real[/i] haughty chuckle that crackled through whatever primitive voicebox had been placed in its skull. [i][b][color=#aa8585]"And here I was, worrying this war was going to be freaks, geeks and old men with a face like a slapped arse all the way down."[/color][/b][/i]

[i][b][color=#aa8585]"Well, let's not dance around the obvious."[/color][/b][/i] After a moment, the arm moved again, and this time the other moved with it, offering Saber a dramatic, jerking shrug as the magus on the other end sighed. [i][b][color=#aa8585]"I can tell that you and your little shy-away over there aren't the chatty type, whether that's because you know better than to run your mouths to an unknown quantity-"[/color][/b][/i] It jerked its head in the direction of the door, of Asteriel just out of sight beyond it, before it snapped quickly back to Saber. [i][b][color=#aa8585]"- or because no-one considered personality a [u]necessary expense[/u]."[/color][/b][/i]

[i][b][color=#aa8585]"Speaking for myself, I'm not the kind of evil sorceress to sit around monologuing; especially when she's staring down such a [u]radiant[/u] Heroic Spirit."[/color][/b][/i] Saber was likely to recognize the magus's tricks: but she may also have noticed that for their words, they weren't taking her lightly. Even filtered through this grotesque avatar, through the unnatural movements of their adopted frame and the mechanical glare of their false eyes, their stance was clearly measured, aiming to provoke Saber without outright inciting her to action; likewise, the teasing, even slightly flirtatious tone of their voice masked but did not fully obfuscate that they were readily aware of the Servant's measure, if not outright [i]transfixed[/i] by it.

[i][b][color=#aa8585]"But I'll grant you, this pleasant little surprise is well within my expectations."[/color][/b][/i] It was a calculated performance, yes, but it was not insincere. Whoever was controlling the mannequin clearly recognized and respected strength and poise, simply delighting in testing its mettle: perhaps not unlike a hunter enjoying the pursuit of uncommon and challenging quarry. [i][b][color=#aa8585]"So, my dear, humour me in kind: did you come into my parlour hoping for a fight, or were you just hoping to catch me by surprise and take my head?"[/color][/b][/i]