fate/first order derivative

Part II.11

> continue: iteration 28, day 7, early night

So, in spite of myself, I show up. Even though I know Gilgamesh has probably informed the bouncers to watch out for me, and as soon as I show my face they'll rush me away so he can do that fish-gutting thing he mentioned. Good thing I'm inured to death at this point, right? Eheh heh heh nope I'm totally not. But I'm not seeing any sign of Saber or Rin in the line outside... so it can't be helped.

To my shock, the bouncer lets me through without a second glance. It's a different guy than last night, at least. Still, the process is so easy, it immediately makes me paranoid. It's a trap, right? It has to be. I couldn't have just lucked out... right?

Once again, I timidly pass through the gates of hell. Music's a bit better tonight, at least. Just as I walk in, the DJ starts blasting that one cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with the Spanish guitar.

> find saber and/or rin

I dodge and weave my way through the crowd, trying to keep as far away from the VIP area as I can. Past the coat check, through the sit-down area directly in front of the front door, around this insanelyhot woman in a lavender dress -- I've almost made it to the bar before someone grabs my shoulder. I have to bite my tongue to keep myself from shrieking.

But it's just Rin, thank God, with Shirou standing close behind her. "Where's Saber?" I shout, but I can barely hear myself over the music. She shakes her head and leads me back behind the sit-down area and through the sizable line to the ladies' bathroom.

We huddle up. "We haven't seen her yet," Rin says. "You?"

"Nope. Did she say anything at all about what her plan was here?" Rin shakes her head. Figures.

"Should I just summon her?" Shirou asks, holding up the hand with his Command Seals.

"Better not," Rin mutters. "You've only got the one left, remember?"

"Also, side note here -- um, damn?" I gesture to, well, all of Rin. She's wearing this lowcut corset with a long slitted dress that perfectly frames her legs, along with these cuffed evening gloves and ladybug stockings, all in her trademark shade of red. Also, there's this kind of playing card motif around the waist that vaguely reminds me of Harley Quinn? It kinda checks lot of boxes for me, is what I'm trying to say.

> guh
> will you just move on already

She arches an eyebrow. "Thanks. Did you seriously just wear your school uniform here?"

I shrug helplessly. "Well... yeah. I mean, what else was I gonna wear?"

She rolls her eyes. "Okay, here's the plan. You keep your head down and watch the entrance, Nehru. Shirou, you check the bar. I've got the dance floor." With that, Rin vanishes into the crowd.

I look over at Shirou. He's wearing a white muscle shirt and -- for some reason -- a stovepipe top hat. "Am I -- what should I be wearing? Do other people just know these things somehow?"

He shrugs. "Don't look at me. I'm just following the commander's orders."

I raise my eyebrows. "She picked this out for you?"

He shakes his head. "She just said on the phone to dress like I was going to a gay bar."

I stare at him. "But... um. How do you..." I catch myself. "You know what? Never mind. I'm just gonna leave that door closed."

"Huh?" He gives me a confused look. "But -- I mean, there's a reason --"

"Forget it. It's cool. Let's just go find your Servant, dude." I pat him on the shoulder and walk off to my assigned zone.