Fate/alter chasm (Mk.II)

Takeshi got up from his seat. <I think we should head to the market place first get supplies. I did some research while you were sleeping and found a potential base, it's the top floor of a hotel near the station.>

<Good idea - they're bound to have the ingredients we need to make ramen.> Caster followed suit in standing up as they exited the train - only a short walk from here to the marketplace.

Takeshi makes his rounds through the market, purchasing ingredients and other essentials (sake), constantly looking out of the corner of his eye for any masters or servants that could be skulking around.

Joseph stepped out of the taxi and looks through the rows after rows or farmer market stands. He bought himself a bag of apples for snacks and stood in front of a stand selling some bottled drinks. <Anything you want from here?>

<Is sake any good?> Saber asked. Then Joseph felt a sudden rush of excitement - not his own, therefore likely Saber's. <Master, there's another Servant nearby!>

***

Takeshi saw Caster's stance change out of the corner of his eye, going from happy to alert in an instant, glancing around at the crowd. <There's an enemy Servant somewhere around here...> she sent him. The Grail War's rules forbade combat in broad daylight, for fear of exposing the world of magi to the general population and generally reducing collateral damage, but would this enemy Servant honor it?

<Well that was fast, act casual, there are too many around to risk getting into a fight right now.>

"Sake it is." Joseph asked for two bottle of sake from the kind barter, but would every so often glance around looking to see anyone who would, unlikely, resemble a Servant.

Takeshi notices the very nervous looking man buying saske and decides to act on a hunch. He walks over and stands next to Joseph.

"Looking for someone?"

Joseph looks up at the man talking to him.He doesn't look like a local here but frankly he isn't either. He made a small smile. "As a matter of fact, I am. I'm waiting for my date to arrive. Otherwise, it would've been embarrassing to buy two sake with no one to share."

"You seem kind of jumpy for just waiting for someone."

<Master, that woman with him is a Servant. The pink-haired one, in the skirt.> Saber informed Joseph.

***

<The other Servant is right on top of us...probably the man we're speaking to is a Master.> Caster glanced down at his hands for any sign of the Command Seals.

<We don't want to attract attention. Just a casual conversation.> He smiles and chuckles, shrugging. "What can I say? I met this person on Facebook and this is the first time we are meeting. Hopefully."

Now that Saber had pointed it out, Joseph's Master's Clairvoyance kicked in, supplying him with some limited information about the enemy Servant:

Caster - Takeshi Zarado:

"Well you won't make any first impressions being nervous like that, women love confidence." Takeshi says, slapping Joseph on the back.

<Friendly slap! Only a friendly slap on the back!> He hoped Saber knew that was what it was. He gave a nervous smile and nods. "You are right." Stood straight and tries and failed to look more confident. "I should be more confident." Extends his right hand, "My name is Joseph."

<I can see that, Master, I'm not an idiot...though this other Master might be, if he's actually bought your story.> Saber wanted the other team to go away, they couldn't buy any clothes if there were a bunch of enemy Servants hanging around.

Takeshi shakes his hand, careful to keep his arm concealed within his coat sleeve.

"Nice to meet you, the name's Ikari."

At this point, the situation couldn't have gotten more tense to those who actually cared about fighting. So of course, Fate threw in a curve ball. Just as the master of Caster reached out his hand, a third person came up to them with a man in a tux next to her. She had red eyes and silver hair, obviously a homunculus. The person standing next to her, was a servant.

The master's clairvoyance designated him as Archer.

The servant looked at the situation and blinked "Are we interrupting something important?"

Takeshi, making a mental note of the newly arrived party, turns to them.

"Not at all, we must be in your way, my apologies." He and caster move out of the way of the Sake stall.

"We should best get going, we have a few more errands we need to run."

"Yes, of course. Pleasure to meet you, Ikari. Maybe we'll cross paths again." He waves and was just about to leave this one called Ikari alone and out of sight.

Archer nods "A painfully average way to avoid a conversation. If you don't want to talk to an enemy team please just say it."

<What a jackass.> Saber commented.

"Is your friend going to come out? That armor seems a little large for someone of their stature." Archer comments.

"Archer!" His masters says.

"What? It seems horribly inefficient. Armor is supposed to deflect blows, but all those spikes are just going to get his arm broken when someone strong enough comes along."

"I don't follow, we have items to purchase at another store so we are leaving." Takeshi says rather puzzled.

<As if an Archer would know the first thing about proper armor.> Saber scoffed. <Anyway, no, I can't materialize without something to wear that isn't armor - which is why we need to buy clothes.>