Fandom Fate/Bad Joke

[Xel]

SaberOutside London Bridge Tomb​

From her perch upon the rooftop she could sense the arrival of two new servants. This was certainly a busy section of the city to be sure. But just like her she was certain their actions would be barred by the crowds that occupied the streets. If she had been imbued with the rules of a proper war, so too were they. Still, knowing the rules and following them were two entirely different things and as such she remained on alert. She transitioned from the rooftop down to her Master's location, never once leaving her spirit form. Given her natural attire she wouln't be able to blend if she materialized. "While command seals are a valuable commodity it is possible our beloved overseer has seen fit to include equally valuable items in this market of his. Not that we would know from the information provided...." The names and descriptions hardly explained what these items did, and she wasn't about to spend precious seals on something she didn't even know how it functioned. "Should we learn of their purpose and there be something valuable we would be foolish to pass it up."

It pleased her that Jun saw the futility in stalking the other Master. However, that quickly diminished when he chose to waste his time getting some kind of food. Were she in physical form she would not have been able to contain the sigh that would have come forth. "There is a time and place for luxuries, now is neither." She chided the man, her voice echoing through his mind with every word. Regardless she had little say in the manner unless she wanted to show herself off to the world. With the option obvious she remained in spirit form, waiting rather impatiently for her Master to finish his diversion so that they could actually progress in some meaningful way. Fortunately this 'ice cream' didn't take long to eat and they quickly returned to the location of the Overseer.

As she approached the blonde-haired deadbeat looking man she materialized, the sound of her metal sabatons clacking across the concrete heralding her advance. The warning by Jun simply brought a dismissive smirk to her lips. "Everyone can tell lies, Master. Even the two of us." Saber came to a stop before the man, folding her arms under her chest as she peered intently at him. "You and your cohort have changed many of the rules in this war. As such I have but one question. Are we still required to keep the war, and magic, a secret from the populace?"

Interactions: Gaius Danius Griinia The One Eyed Bandit

Mentions: QuirkyAngel Misuteeku theunderwolf ChazGhost

 

[ChazGhost]

As Melvin walked down the London streets away from the tourist trap of a meet up point Melvin began thinking on his steps in this war. His main two option were either setting up a trap near the London tombs or fortify his hotel. ...Archer how do you feel about sniping master and servant as they are entering or exiting the meet up location... Melvin asked mentally as he stopped in front of a coffee. Consider the fact Saber's or Saber herself attack him the crowd yet he figure he could take a second to plan his next steps. ...Archer if you could revert out of your spirit form... So we can have a proper conversation... Melvin said entering the store and order himself a cup of decaf coffee. Melvin then sat down and waited for Archer to join him.
theunderwolf

 

[Misuteeku]

Assassin
​

"Understood..." Assassin disappeared into spirit mode to regroup to it's master. The urges slowly crept in to it, but nonetheless it still ignored them. There were no other feelings, besides those urges within Assassin, since it didn't give anything else thought. In life, it accomplished what it wanted and didn't want anything else. Quick as the wind it went through buildings in order to get to it's destination faster. "I have returned..." There wasn't anything else to add, Assassin felt it wasn't necessary to add anything else. It would be preferable to stay in spirit mode until it's master was all alone.

It would wait until spoken to, until then it would stay still.

BearBearBear

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Really, really quite lively.

Out in the open air and in a blissful state of standby, Jaune was quick to capitalize on his newfound freedom by sticking a cigarette between his lips. Actually, if you looked closely enough, it was an e-cigarette. Probably so he wouldn't ruin his lovely lungs during the big event that'd have him talking every other day. Or just because it was seeing a dip in fashion lately, and he was finally free to use them without fear of being too reminiscent of the crowds.

He was definitely that sort of person, after all.

As well as the sort of person that did things like smoke cigarettes and scribble in notebooks just so he could look more thoughtful than he actually was. But that was neither here nor there. Part of him was already getting the feeling that he, as an upstanding British citizen, should do something to protect the landmark beneath his feet. So in this case the electric stick in his mouth was just to keep him occupied. His life was definitely worth more than a bunch of cheesy props and empty graves, right? Probably right. Maybe. He wasn't usually one to disrespect history, but when he'd just been spoken to by the █████ █████ he couldn't help but feel his reverence of relics and ruins dip a bit.

Oh. Speak of the devil.

█████ █████ was smirking at him now. He wasn't sure whether he should feel lucky or like he was being made fun of. A thought flitted through his mind about how thankful he was that he wasn't the sort of person that'd say 'They're the same thing, aren't they?'. Oh well. He could sort out his rampant emotions later. Even if he was just a part timer, Jaune Fawn was definitely a man that always did a decent job at his, er, job.

"Nope." What a load off. Of all the things that'd been put on a 'only if they ask' basis, that was one of the ones that weighed on his shoulders the heaviest.

Breaking the number one rule of magical society? What a riot! This lady was going to toss it out like it was last night's trash! As expected of the mighty Saberess.

"In fact, feel free to run absolutely wild. Farm some orphans. Cause some chaos. Vandalize the memorials to your least favorite historical peers. Do whatever you feel like, kay?" Between puffs of his cigarette, he gave some sort of an attempt at a wise-looking nod that definitely did not suit his character. "Or just hound down the enemy with all your might. It's not my place to tell you what to do."

Xel Gaius Danius Griinia

 

[Mion]

Sarah
​

Sarah had wrapped a large navy blue scarf around her neck, it was so thick and woolly and warm that she only wore it for special occasions. Although that was also because it was a gift from the Lord, but to her exploring the city with her new friend was more than a special occasion, it was the first time she was going to do something like this. She looked around the room nervously as Lancer gazed into her eyes, the look reminded her of the Lords friends. They would come around to the house and just observe her, silently with no expression on their face like they were curious about everything she did. Sarah didn't know why they would be curious about her, she hadn't done anything of note and she wasn't particularly interesting to talk to. Most of the things she had seen was in her head, she wasn't even sure if the pictures that she painted in her mind were anywhere close to reality or if the words she wrote down on paper were anything more than pointless gibberish. She shook her head. No need for negative thoughts, she thought to herself. She just couldn't believe how good things were right now so that was probably just her trying to keep herself grounded.

As Lancer took her hand and spoke Sarah's mind cleared, she stumbled behind Lancer for the first few steps before she got used to it. Lancer needn't have asked Sarah to put all of her trust in her for she already had. Her one and only friend. Of course Daisy the dog counted but she was the closest thing that Sarah had to a family member. Sarah's cheeks burned a hot red as she followed behind Lancer, she hoped that they would not turn around and see her. Once Lancer stopped to let Sarah make any final preparations all she did was make a poor attempt to hide the lower half of her face in her scarf. "I-I am ready C-connor." In an attempt to hide her embarrassment she started to walk down to the gate so that Lancer would follow. Once they exited the place she called home Sarah made sure that it was all locked up, although nobody had ever attempted to break into the house before and the Lord had always told her that she would never need to worry about something like that, she liked to do it anyway.

Sarah attempted to walk alongside Lancer to the bus stop although a few times she had to shamefully slow down a bit to let Lancer lead the way. Even though Lancer seemed to have just arrived in London she somehow knew the city more than Sarah did, who had lived in the place for as long as she could remember. When arriving at the bus stop she was practically hiding behind Lancer. Public transport was something that she didn't even know existed, although the sight of a bus was even more frightening than the crowd of people that was on it, a might behemoth of a vehicle that looked like something out of a picture book. At first she was extremely hesitant to get on it although somehow managed to gather up the resolve to get in. She felt very brave in that moment, accomplished even and the worried or embarrassed looks that she had before was replaced with a slight content smile. Although she was still keeping very close to Lancer all the while. The bus ride went on for a good while or so it seemed, that was likely just because it was so full of people and so Sarah struggled to concentrate, she was just trying to think of happy thoughts. But finally they had reached their destination... The London Underground. This was where the man from the letter was.

simj26

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Johnny (Caster)
​

A quick, tour, a meeting with an obese man, and a couple of signed papers later, Johnny was not just a renter of a room. Oh, no. He now owned the deed to the apartment building and the land that came with it. Why settle for less, after all?

It had taken the a good chunk of notes he'd acquired in the City of London, from pawning off a bunch of trinkets he'd won at a Bingo Hall, it was worth it. Capital was meant to be spent after all. While a shabby building like this one wasn't something he'd normally invest in, there were a couple reasons he did.

One, it was the building his Master lived in and being able to come and go freely was immensely practical, given the Grail War.

Two, his Master couldn't complain if he decided to do some renovations.

Three, the Leyline in the area was decent and he'd feel no guilt if he tapped into it, since it was technically his land and he was free to do what he wanted with it.

After storing his newly purchased items in an empty room, and taking another survey of the entire apartment building, Johnny nodded. Yes, money would flow in. He would make sure of it, even if he had to renovate the entire building itself. It would be the funds for the start of yet another Grail War. None of the renters likely new the face of the land new owner yet...and it was better to keep it that way. Too many questions would be annoying, after all.

Pulling off the Holy Script at the end of his braid, ebony hair flowed freely and Johnny returned to being Caster. He took on his spiritual body, briefly phasing through the door of his Master's apartment room before once more materializing into physical form. Eli. That was the name of the renter of this room. The one who owned his command seals for the Grail War. Caster would have to convince the young man to take the war seriously. To trust him if they were going to be allies. After all, even in life, even with all the power he has now, Caster had never been the sort of man to actually think he could win a war solo.

The fact that his class was Caster only added to that.

Staff becoming a pen, and a wave of his hand caused parchments to appear before him. Regular parchment that would become Holy Scripts with his words:

'Lord,

This land shall become your house.
It's people your servants.
To be a beacon of your light.
To spread your words.
I ask for your protection.
Let not evil come in and bring harm upon those who dwell here.
And all devils that desecrate this land burn in the fiery pits of hell.
For this will be the grounds of your sacred palace.

~Prestor John'​

Another wave of his hand and the papers embedded themselves into the walls of Eli's small home. Reading the words aloud, Caster watched as the papers began to glow, golden lines transiently spreading from the parchments to encase the entire building--and the area around it --before fading.

A bounded field with his Holy Scripts serving as a linchpin.

A layer of magic to protect what was now God's.

Satisfied, Caster vanished his staff and re-braided a section of his hair, tying it with the Script that endowed him with human properties. Now all that was left to do was wait for his purchases to come in. And for Eli to return of course. Leaving Eli's room, Johnny locked the door, with his newly acquired key, and went to retrieve his laptop. He supposed he ought begin doing some more research...starting with the London Tombs that the sender of Eli's "presents" invited them to. The Overseer of the war? Likely...and yet not a traditional one based on the letter.

"If Eli doesn't visit these tombs, I might have to do it myself..."

Just to get some answers. In the meantime, checking up on Eli was probably a good idea.

Are you enjoying your day off, Master?

The innocent question was posed through their connection as Johnny entered the room he'd chosen for himself.

Lucem

 

[Lucem]

Plastic bags in hand, Eli approached his apartment complex with a satisfied look on his face. Not only was the weight of this week's batch heavier than usual, but he had also been lucky enough to get his hands on some nearly expired meat that no other customer had been bold enough to buy. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a luxury, usually being resigned to cheap fast food or less than savory products from the grocery store that had also gone bad. It had also been quite a while since he was forced to actually cook, but tonight would be the end of that, seeing as how the contents of his bag were a ticking time bomb.

His good mood managed to last a few seconds before it was interrupted by a familiar voice that sounded just as annoying as it did hours ago. Since his stomach had taken over most of his thoughts, Caster's call was a surprise, causing him to quickly check his surroundings for any sign of the stick freak. He nearly let out a sigh of relief when the Servant was nowhere to seen. While he was glad that the home invader wasn't actually around, the relief was also accompanied by worry. First there was all this war business. Now he was hearing voices. He felt like he was going crazy. If there was an answer for the disembodied voice's question, it would probably be something along the lines of 'not anymore'.

Putting aside the issue of his possibly declining mental health, Eli climbed the stairs that led to his floor. It was better to just forget about that stuff and focus on the positive. Even if he didn't get to sleep in, he did manage to finish up his errands faster than expected. He didn't like being around the crowds that filled the city, so being able to return faster was a plus. Now that he was home, he'd be able to relax.

Eager to finally get some rest, Eli fiddled with his keys before opening the door to his room, but the young man froze upon seeing the interior. Crap. Caught off guard by the unfamiliar living space, Eli quickly shut the door while offering a silent apology to whoever lived there. He couldn't believe that he managed to walk into someone else's home after living in the building for so long. At least nobody was there to catch his mistake.

Eli took a few steps away from the door before he froze once again, the lightbulb in his head beginning to spark with a dim glow. Looking between the room number and his keys, he continued to look back and forth as he slowly began to make the connection. There was no way he could've opened that door with his key if it was the wrong room number, which it clearly wasn't.

After taking much more time than he should've while trying to solve this mystery, Eli quickly kicked in the door to his room, the gust of wind from the rage-fueled impact causing the bags in his hand to shake wildly. "What the hell is this?" Shouting at no one, Eli began to look at all the strange objects that had been planted into his room. Curtains, chairs, and more were everywhere. While they were simple household items that wouldn't have surprised any normal person, the new furnishings were enough to gain such a reaction from someone like him.

"I know you're around here somewhere! Where are you...Jasper?" In his anger, Eli had managed to mix up both 'John' and 'Caster' while attempting to say both at once, creating an entirely new name. Although, it went unnoticed as Eli began to search for the freak. Looking through doors, cabinets, and even under the fridge, he tried to find Caster in order to get some information out of him, and possibly hit the guy while he was at it. "Explain this!"

QuirkyAngel

 

[Xel]

SaberOutside London Bridge Tomb​

Saber let out a small, bemused huff at the Overseer's response. "This truly is not the war that was intended. Not that it upsets me, I could never unleash my full might with the constraints of the standard ruleset." She abruptly spun on her heel to face Jun, making her way back towards him. "That is all the information I required, Overseer. Thank you." She gave the blonde-haired man a dismissive wave over her shoulder as she walked away. The woman came to a stop a few feet before her Master, resting her hands upon her hips as she did so. "So, Master. We have a greenlight to fight as we wish, but what do you think of that? Are you still keen on operating in secrecy? Or should we make this a rather swift war?" If she had received this information earlier Assassin and her Master never would have escaped. So, personally, she was not big on playing it too safe. War requires initiative, if all you do is wait around for the enemy you put yourself into a rather poor position.

She didn't allow her question to linger for long, not even giving the man an opportunity to respond before she continued. "That said, I have lost track of the servants from before. So it would still be prudent to await nightfall before taking action. While it's a welcomed fact that we do not have to operate in secrecy I also do not wish to have the populace get in my way. Nor do I wish to be sidetracked by the local military garrison while facing our foes." Just because those in control of this war didn't mind a little chaos she was certain the locals most assuredly would. And while she knew their armed forces were no match for her, it was still a diversion she did not need. At least not yet.

Interactions: Gaius Danius Griinia The One Eyed Bandit

Mentions: QuirkyAngel Misuteeku theunderwolf ChazGhost

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Johnny (Caster)​

"It looks better, no~?"

Leaning against the door frame to Eli's apartment, Johnny watched bemusedly as his Master tried to search for him...in various unlikely places. He'd been in the apartment a couple of floors down, playing with stocks, when he heard all the ruckus. Having done a bit of a background check on the London Tombs, and finding it to be some sort of thriller attraction site, Johnny grew bored and started looking into other stuff. Online buying and selling. The wonders humans came up never failed to amaze him. If only his time period were so prudent, wars would be won much quicker. There were other things he had to do as well. Create an account for finance to flow in. Multiple accounts. Assuming an identity wasn't as easy as things had been during his time. There were risks of playing with the internet of course. He could always be found by his foes and the new era made it so that absolutely privacy was impossible for a normal human, unless one was gutter trash.

However, Johnny wasn't hiding. Not really, at least.

He knew he would be found out one way or another. It happened in every war he'd been in. The question was whether he'd be able to amass all he needed when that time came. And whether such amassings would prove useful in the end. After all, for a Servant whose time had already ended, material goods held little meaning except in tribute to the Lord. Even if he could build an empire, obtain all the riches of the modern world, it would only be temporary unless he obtained the Grail. Instead, bringing grace upon the less fortunate seemed to be something God would probably approve of.

At the very least, it made visiting the tiny apartment that much more bearable.

"I have no idea how you were able to live as you have," Stepping into the small apartment, Johnny met Eli's enraged expression with a benevolent smile. "But fear not. With me as your Servant, you'll never have to go hungry again--for the wealth of God is on your side, Eli."

Humans, as whole, could be bought by money. This was true in both his life as a human and as a Servant. Johnny/Caster didn't expect Eli to be any different. Given that his general methods early in Grail Wars often involved bribing less interested Masters into giving up their command seals, thus culling the herd, he couldn't say his opinion of humanity changed much in his time. Desire for luxury. To have needs met. It was natural. Johnny didn't hate them for it. In fact, it made things easier for him. If only he could slap his fellow Servants with money, his goal would be more easily accomplished.

Alas, any Servant worthy of being enthroned in the Throne of Heroes didn't give two sh*t about things like that. Those were the ones he had to be wary of.

Green eyes flickered to the groceries Eli bought before returning to the dark skinned young man. Yes. It was only a matter of time until his Master caved as well. After all, he was only human. "I couldn't decide what color you would like, so I opted for the best looking one. Drapes to match the carpet."

Lucem

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Jun decided his plan would be.... murder. Bringing Saber back to their hotel room. Jun began assembling tools with which to murder their enemies. He made bombs that would make them puke their eyes out. The tips of his darts were covered in lethal poison. Jun also put together one of his rifles. Luckily he had paid the staff extra to keep out of his way. Putting up his map of the city, Jun looked for spots where Archer and Caster might turn up. Turning to his stoic Servant. Jun explained that they needed to murder the Masters and Servants with RANGED abilities. He simply couldn't go out in the open and fight with the threat of magic and arrows on his mind. Of course all the Masters and Servants were a threat so he had to be wary of anything. They would use the cover of night to search for the other Masters. Then Jun could learn their behavioral patterns. After which he'll have Saber distract the Servants so Jun can gut the Master and gas any civilians unlucky enough to be nearby. If need be, Jun will simply plant explosives in key areas and detonate them. Chaos did serve to better the actions of assassins in some cases. When Saber looked at him in disgust for his DISHONORABLE ACTIONS. He told her "If you find me dishonorable... you can commit sudoku". With his plethora of tools assembled and his Servant miffed at him, Jun turned in for the night...

Xel

 

[Xel]

SaberJun's Hotel Room​

Saber let out a small huff as she crossed her arms under her chest. Her Master had a habit of going at his own pace, ignoring much of what she had to say. And this was no exception as she was brushed aside in order to return to the hotel. But it was fine, if her Master sought not to weigh in then that was fine. No matter their course of action she was more than capable of handling any foe they may face, be it other servants or the modern militants of this nation. Her form dissipated into nothingness for the journey back to Jun's room, only reappearing once safely within. Sure she might not need to keep her existence a secret, but that was no reason to go and broadcast it either. She made her way over to the bed, falling back to plop upon it while simultaneously crossing one leg over the other. Her eyes were locked firmly on her Master as he worked to prepare a vast assortment of weaponry.

The comment regarding their ranged adversaries did certainly hold merit. "True. While I am not worried about Archer, it would be difficult for me to safeguard you from the machinations of Caster even with my impressive defenses." She gave a firm nod in agreement as she spoke. "That said, I need only focus their attention entirely upon myself. Even the most skilled bowman or magician would be incapable of landing a blow on you while dealing with someone such as I." It would be a grave insult if she were to be cast aside so that Archer or Caster could strike at her Master. An insult she would never allow to come to pass. If she were to engage another servant she would ensure they saw her, and her alone. Saber leaned back, propping herself up with her arms as she stared absently at the ceiling while listening to her Master's overall strategy.

It was a ruthless strategy. One with many casualties. But this was a war, as small scale as it might be, and in war one must sink deep in order to achieve victory. Still, it seemed like much of her Master's plan was rather pointless in terms of contributing towards victory. He had, at best, six targets in the enemy Masters. Wanton destruction and chaos would do little to help him achieve his goal in ending their lives. And then of course was the fact that all his plans meant nothing in the face of an enemy servant. She turned her gaze from the ceiling to her Master, her thoughts clearly displayed on her face as Jun defended himself before she was able to even speak. She let out another small huff as she turned her focus back to the ceiling above. "It is not that I find it dishonorable, Master. There is little dishonor in masterfully outmaneuvering your opponent and securing victory. Should your strategy succeed I would have no complaint. It is just that I do not believe much of your plan to be of any use. The city is vast with no discernible locations that would be ideal for combat. We face a roaming enemy, a mobile enemy, the chaos you plan on inflicting would have exceedingly minuscule odds of actually effecting our adversaries."

She sat up straight, once more focusing her attention upon her Master. "The only routes I see for your strategy is if we can lure the enemy into your trap. Or if we can locate their main camp and attack that directly. But I very much doubt they would be so foolish as to leave their base undefended." She knew little of what her Master was capable of. Indeed she was far more ignorant of him than he was of her. Perhaps he had a way of overcoming these obstacles that she did not know of. Nevertheless her focus was on the opposing servants, not their Masters. So whatever Jun felt was needed to deal with the other magicians was entirely on him. She didn't require any such ploys to take her enemies. With that in mind she slapped her thighs and got to her feet. "Even so I shall follow your orders, so long as we attain the grail I care little for the tactics employed." Saber rested her hands on her hips, looking over at Jun as her expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Now then, what is a 'sudoku'?"

Interactions: Gaius Danius Griinia The One Eyed Bandit

Mentions: QuirkyAngel Misuteeku theunderwolf ChazGhost

 

[Lucem]

"Better?" To most people, it would've been obvious that the current state of the room was vastly superior to what it once was, now having delightful furnishings to fill the once empty space. However, Eli looked at the person responsible for the recent renovations as if he had been dropped on his head, genuinely questioning Caster's sanity as he continued to stare at the man with an irritated glare.

Quickly marching over to one of the new additions to his room, Eli took hold of the soft fabric that now covered his windows. With a fistful of the expensive-looking curtain, he continued to shout questions at Caster, having no intention of actually waiting for an answer. "Do I look like the damn Queen to you? What do I need crap like this for? Huh?"

Releasing his grip, Eli continued to wander around the unrecognizable flat, pointing at various things that had been planted inside without his permission. "This!" A loveseat perfectly positioned in the corner of the room. "That!" A brand new rug to cover up the badly damaged floorboards. "This thing too!" An actual table in the kitchen. All these things were common objects in everyday life, some of the pricier ones even considered desirable by many. However, Eli clearly had a different way of looking at things. "It's all junk! Just a waste of money! How is this better?" While he was a simple man that could live without many luxuries, even simple necessities didn't have a place in his home. The prices were a large factor when it came to his decision to keep his living space barren.

A sudden thought crossed his mind when he began to think of costs. "How did you even pay for this stuff? Weren't you supposed to be some kind of wizard or something? You pay in gold coins?" The questions just kept coming as he finally took notice of Caster's state of dress. "What's with the fancy duds?" Was he even a mage? Was he just some rich weirdo that got his kicks from breaking into people's houses and screwing with them?

Suddenly, the interrogation stopped. Eli had fallen silent, the rage-filled expression now a deadpan look staring into the empty void that was the insane cosplayer's cheerful face. If one listened closely, it might've been possible to hear the rusty gears turning in the young man's head. "What did you just call me?" Only just now did he realize that Caster had referred to him by name. No, not just by name. His nickname.

"How the hell did you know my name? Huh, Smiley?" Eli was clearly more aggressive than he was before. He never told Caster anything this morning, their interaction lasting a short while before the long-haired man disappeared. Remembering the earlier encounter, one more question popped into his head. "How did you get back in my damn room?" Eli could feel his head getting ready to burst with frustration and an endless stream of questions.

"Where did you get all this stuff? How do you know my name? What about your name? Is it Caster or John? No, I don't care! What even are you? What's with the magic tricks? Why are you still here? What the hell is even happening? Explain!" With each shout, Eli could feel himself getting ready to boil over. He had grown increasingly fed up with Caster and the situation that had been forced on him. He was finally demanding actual answers, since trying to avoid everything clearly wasn't going to work.

When it seemed like his anger would never be quelled, the sound of dripping caught his attention. Looking downward, Eli remembered the meat in his hand that was currently defrosting. It was as if the heat from his fiery rage had quickened the process. "Ah, crap."

With that last bit of profanity, Eli moved to the kitchen sink, reaching into the cupboard to retrieve the single pan he owned. While he was still angry and still demanded answers, this was also an important matter. He wasn't going to waste food.

QuirkyAngel

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

The Clock Tower. Midnight.

While Masters met Servants, Overseers plotted brazenly and Wars began to unfold, the magical world whirled chaotically. What was already being referred to as the "Grail Slaughter" had certainly been a setback for the Tower, but it didn't paralyze it. The whole day long, it was abuzz with movement and discussion. To find whoever was responsible. To put them down. To get things back on track. If not for the lack of black and yellow, it'd be no different from a beehive that'd been kicked.

"Ahh... What a headache." In one of the Clock Tower's upper chambers, a snowy looking woman sorted through a stack of neatly written papers. Orders upon reports upon orders. It was a wonder just how exactly she got roped into this position. Office work had never been a strength of hers.

Well, whatever. She'd just have to make sure it came with a pay raise.

She had to admit that the case itself peaked her interest. A lot more so than the guard duty she'd been lined up for this morning. Both the Overseer and Masters all slaughtered by some unknown shadow group; If she weren't of such upstanding character then she'd be bristling with excitement right now. But she was, so the emotion she felt was admiration for a job well done, instead. Of course, that didn't mean she was going to go easy. A job was a job, after all. And this one came with the perk of getting to order to the old, stuffy residents of the Clock Tower around. From coffee runs to drafting, all those busy little bees were at her fingertips.

That was what had brought her to the current situation. In her brand new, already cluttered office stood a man about half a head taller than herself. Prime member of one of the oldest and stuffiest families in the Clock Tower, but that just made his subordination that much more satisfying.

"Right, so. From today forward you're a Special Agent as well as an Enforcer. Excited? Your job, as I'm sure you've assumed, is to get out in the field and investigate anything and everything related to this morning's events." Pushing her paperwork aside, something that provided her a natural feeling of relief, the woman reached into her desk and withdrew a pack of cigarettes. "Frankly, we've got no leads so far. None of the Masters showed signs of struggle and all signs point to he Overseer having committed suicide." Between words, an ignited cigarette managed to find its way between her lips. "Nobody's buying it, obviously, but they're all too busy being wrapped up in bureaucracy to look any further into it. Myself included. That, naturally, is where you come in. The higher ups have only afforded me one of your lot for the time being, and, well, you're the cream of the crop. Right?"

If he honestly answered with a no, even someone like herself might feel a little unnerved. A man with a near spotless record, stats that ran off the charts, and more surprises up his sleeve than a street magician. If there were someone in their ranks above a guy like this, she might have had to consider a new career.

Though, she still reckoned she had a shot at taking him out.

"For the time being, you're mostly free to investigate as you wish. Your only orders are to report any findings, or lack thereof... Every twelve and twenty-four hundred hours. Minimum. Don't take that as an excuse to not report something 'because you'll be doing it later anyway', or whatever. Got it?"

He probably got it.

"Right. Got it. You're free to go, Mister Barthomeloi."

Now, she supposed, she no longer had an excuse to avoid the paperwork...

It was a good thing she'd already gotten herself a cigarette.

Azure Sky

Gaius Danius Griinia ChazGhost Mion SCSaya06 Lucem BearBearBear Rantos
Xel theunderwolf simj26 @Koss QuirkyAngel Misuteeku Girouette

With this post, time has progressed to midnight! If you were in the middle of something your next post should either wrap it up or move on entirely.​

 

[Azure Sky]

Barthomeloi Dorian


​

"Obvious murder of masters for the sake of gaining their Ritual Artifacts and starting their own Grail War..." was what Dorian thought as he drank some dark Guiness beer in a fancy bar close to Russel Square. Reminiscing about the woman that was his short-term superior, he was actually amused. She looked so full of herself, thinking she had him chained down like a dog. For Dorian it was an interesting experience, like seeing a monkey act overly human at the zoo. But one shouldn't have gotten the wrong idea. He had no intention to act like a rebel, or go rogue. He was a respectable member of the Barthomeloi clan, and he would do his job.

The main problem was actually finding the culprits. London was almost 1600 square kilometers wide and had a population of roughly 9 million. Not the easiest task he ever had. He was confident in his investigation skills, but he was primerly a combat magus. He wished the Clock Tower could have arranged for someone with more appropriate information-gathering skills to help him out. Then again, he didn't know if he could protect such a person if things got too dangerous... He was too prideful to let them die, so in some way, maybe it was better he was sent alone.

Back to the main problem: how was he going to find anybody? At that point, the best solution he could think of was to wait for Servants to clash with one another somewhere within his "reach". After all, he had quite some time to give his first report. But would they clash at all? Dorian still didn't have any clue as to what the murderers would have in mind once they obtained the Servants. He was fairly sure there was more than one culprit...

"Or maybe there was just one psycho who killed everyone then gave the artifacts and instructions to some random people just for the heck of it! Pfft, yeah right..." he thought.

The One Eyed Bandit

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Caster
​

Johnny (Caster) took a seat at the newly purchased kitchen table while Eli rushed to cook his meat. Despite his Master’s excessively loud volume, enraged tone, and overall furious inquiries, he was quite pleased the young man had moved passed the phase of disbelief/denial to finally asking questions. Questions that should’ve been asked when he first arrived unannounced at the human’s apartment, but, oh well. No sense mourning time wasted. Johnny, for his part, had made great use of his time.

Putting the briefcase he carried onto the table, Johnny flicked it open, revealing the bundles of notes within. Not as much as he’d started out with, since a good chunk had been spent on the land and a bunch of other purchases, but a decent amount nonetheless. He began talking as Eli worked.

“Well, Eliot~” He reached into one of the compartments and pulled out an innocent looking paper, showing it to his Master. Though his tone was neutral—some might even call it friendly— there was clear smugness that could be seen in Johnny/Caster’s green eyes if one looked hard enough. “I know your name because I now own the contract you had with your previous landlord.” Eli’s signature on the lease was perfectly visible. “He called you Eli, so I assumed you wanted to be referred to as such, but I shall call you what you want to be called. Names are a trivial matter to me, since the name is only part of what defines the true identity—and I go by many.”

Setting the lease on the table, Johnny closed the briefcase, never once looking away from Eli “If you had read the letter, then you ought know why I am here. Nonetheless, a proper introduction may be in order...since I can understand why you would be confused.”

Johnny moved to stand, removing the script tied to his braid as he did so. The return to his Servant form was near instantaneous. Flicking the black locks back, Caster re-introduced himself. "In life, I was Christianed John. That is the name I was most known by back in my time. I was a priest, a mage, and a king of a vast, wondrous land blessed by god's grace. However, that was a different lifetime. For all intents and purposes, I am now Caster--one of the seven Servants summoned to this era participate in a grand competition between mages for god's chalice. My presence in this world is only made possible through magic. My current abilities and strength. My current form and memories. The reason I am here. It's all the result of the Holy Grail, the 'present' you received, and your own ability as a magus to maintain my existence. I am still here because you are still here.Therefore, I'd appreciate it if you place all of the blame for your current predicament on me." Caster shrugged, smirking at Eli. "Really~You ought be grateful. Not many mages get the opportunity to participate in the Holy Grail War--a once in a lifetime chance for glory, fame, and to have one's greatest desire granted. My purpose, my role in this game, is to bring you victory. I also have a wish--one I'm willing to risk my life for."

Yours as well. Though those words weren't spoken aloud.

"Yet you didn’t seem to believe in magic—or things beyond your comprehension—so I figured an acquisition of material goods would be enough to catch your interest.” Not to say that Caster wasn’t indignant that his generosity had been spurned so rudely. It was simply that anger over trivialities wasn’t necessary at the moment. Everything had a time and a place—even if his Master clearly lacked the refined taste that he possessed. He rolled his eyes. Perhaps if Eli had been a queen he'd be able to appreciate the finer things in life. Alas, Caster kept those thoughts to himself. He wasn't interested in riling Eli up again and starting another yell fest. What would the other tenants think? "It's one of my talents--a trait manifested as a Servant ability through the blood I posses. I can't rain money or gold." Even if he could magick gold it wouldn't last unless he obtained the Holy Grail anyway. Resorting to crime was futile and pointless endeavor that would only draw the attention of the Mage's Association...or whoever the leaders of the current magic society are. Besides, Caster had always considered himself a lawful man--at least when it came to the laws of God. "My ability is bound by the rules and workings of your world. However, no matter what life I live, this trait makes it so that I am drawn to wealth. Or, rather, wealth is drawn to me.I am summoned with an in-depth knowledge of how the economy works in your world and excellent instincts in regards to finance. Anything I chose to sell, sells well. If I buy a lottery ticket, I have a high chance of winning. I can tell the worth of an item just by looking at it."

Caster let a hand glide lovingly along the flat surface of Eli's new kitchen table. "Some of the things I bought here will be worth much more in a couple of years...and sold to the right buyer." The dark haired Servant shook his head sadly, picking up the contract the came with his new property. "But I can't force you to believe me." Even if proof was staring him right in the face. "Or the power of the Grail. If you want to close your eyes from the mysteries of the world, and the existence of a magical society that exists right beneath your nose, that's your prerogative. Ignorance is bliss to some people. Just know that I'm your new landlord, I'm good at making money, and I'm on your side." Except when it came to decor.

Sliding back into his seat at the table, Caster rested his head on a hand, idly studying the flimsy paper while he waited for Eli to finish cooking. It wasn't as if anything he owned would be of any use to him once he was dead anyway. Grail Wars didn't usually last long enough for him to reap the long-term benefits of his investments. "I chose the name Johnny for my human guise because it's the diminutive of the name I had in life and felt familiar to me. It's easier to get what I need done in that form. It's also common enough that I doubt I'll be recognized. But whether I'm called Johnny, Caster, or...Jasper...doesn't make much of a difference to me. I intend to win the war either way . That's the reason I, and the others like me, were brought to this world after all. To do battle against each other."

Of course, battle came in many forms.

"Saber, Archer, Lancer, Berserker, Rider, Assassin." Eli wanted an explanation, right? "These are the six other Servants besides myself--heroic spirits of the past summoned for the sake of the war with power and strength that rival my own. Take note of these names, since you'll probably encounter them as enemies some point. That's are how Grail Wars normally go...but I wasn't aware of the Master's Market being implemented, or what the specifics of this market entails, so my knowledge of the current rules isn't complete either." Was it a product of a faulty summoning? Or had the rules suddenly changed when it wasn't supposed to... And, if it did, did it matter? "That's why I suggest you at least go to visit the Overseer of the war. It's their job to oversee the Grail War and to explain the rules of the Grail War to those not familiar with it. I'm not saying you have to participate in the fighting..." Not like Eli would do much better than a hired bodyguard anyway. "but I imagine you'd at least want an explanation as to why you were chosen. The fact that you were 'gifted' with the means of summoning me means that it's not a coincidence." He could smell the meat. It wasn't quality meat. He could tell from the moment he laid eyes on it. However, it wasn't terribly unappetizing either. The cooking styles of the current era were much different than the ones he was used to and Caster couldn't deny he was curious. Knowing was different than experiencing, after all. "...After dinner. You wouldn't send your new landlord away without at least offering to share a meal, would you~?"

Lucem

 

[Lucem]

While his hands were busy preparing his meal for the night, Eli listened closely to Caster's long explanation. Each word earned a nod from the young man, as if it were a sign that he understood his new reality and the severity of this war. Then, the mage had stopped, leaving the two in silence until the Master nodded once more in response. "Yeah, I don't get it at all." With that, he turned his attention back to the pan in front of him.

Despite what he said, it wasn't as if everything Caster told him was total gibberish going through one ear and out the other. While some of the more complex matters still didn't really make sense, such as the actual reason for why things were like this, he did have a general understanding of the war and what his current situation was.

"I don't really get it, but," As he trailed off, the steam from the pan rose to cover his face in a warm cloud. Despite his behavior up until this point and how he clearly still wasn't okay with what was happening, there was a certain seriousness in his tone. "I do understand one thing. You can make a lot of money." Turning off the stove burners, Eli placed the contents of the pan on a chipped blue plate surrounded by recently used ingredients.

While he didn't trust Caster at all, he found it hard to just label everything he said as a lie. The fact that he was his new landlord was enough proof. Well, even if he was just some creepy rich guy, he'd still have to accept the fact that magic was real. From the start, a part of him already knew that, but he had been trying to deny and ignore it. Because of his curse, he didn't want to accept that truth and resisted being placed into a world where things like that were commonplace. He didn't want them to exist. However, he'd put those personal feelings aside to make use of what he had.

His movements were somewhat delicate as he tended to his plate, being uncharacteristically careful in moments like these as he mimicked what he had learned years ago. "I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll just get to the point. I don't like you." While the declaration wouldn't have shocked anyone that had seen his attitude toward Caster up until now, Eli was very blunt, not hesitating whatsoever to voice his dislike of his Servant. "You're annoying. I don't like that look in your eye. That smile of yours pisses me off. I've come close to knocking your teeth out about ten times today." Despite his words being extremely hostile, the agitation in his voice was much lower than it had been before, almost nonexistent as it was replaced by a suspicious calm.

"I feel like you'll stab me in the back as soon as I turn around. I don't trust you. I don't trust that God of yours. I don't give a damn about your faith. I don't believe some cup will grant my wishes and make all the bad stuff in life magically go away." While he had come to accept many things that were previously unbelievable, the existence of the Grail was something he refused to take as truth.

"But what I do trust is money. I don't believe that this cup will grant my wish, but money will. And you have a lot of it." Wiping the spices from his hand with a dirty washcloth, Eli turned to face Caster with determination visible in his golden eyes. "So I'll take it. All of it." That was the reason why he had been resisting the urge to knock out the smiling wizard.

"Every last pound, gold coin, or whatever else you get, you'll give it to me. I don't care about any fame or power I can get from this stupid war. That's all I need." Grabbing the plate from the counter, Eli took a seat in front of Caster, turning the chair around so he could look right at the man's dumb face. "But if I'm gonna fight in it, I gotta lay down some rules. First, I'm always in charge. Second, we don't hurt anybody that ain't involved. You step outta line and I'll surrender on the spot. No wish for you." He still remembered what Caster said about the police this morning. He wasn't going to let innocent people get killed because of this.

"I'm not telling you to do all this for nothing though. Even if this cup does what you say, I won't need it as long as I get paid. So if we win, it's all yours. Do whatever you want with it. That way, we both get our wish. We'll just use each other to get what we want." With or without the Holy Grail, he would definitely have his wish granted. That was something he could fight for. Nothing else in life mattered except that one thing. It was his only purpose in life. In that way, both Master and Servant were similar.

Looking down at the plate before him, Eli grabbed a piece of cooked chicken before pushing it toward Caster. "You can have some of this too, I guess." A small payment compared to something like the Holy Grail. "Don't expect anything amazing though." He hadn't cooked for anyone since the last time he celebrated Mother's Day.

Biting into the golden brown skin, Eli could feel each of his taste buds go into a frenzy, causing him to shut his eyes as he savored the tender tikka. "Damn, that really hits the spot!" This was the first time that he had eaten any real food in a while. A grin was working its way to his face as the spices worked their magic. Although, as he reached for another piece, the spices seemed to be working a bit too well as a tingling sensation spread across his tongue. It was nothing unusual for him, but he didn't really consider how the man sitting across would handle the food.

QuirkyAngel

 

[simj26]

Lancer
She had surmised that the ‘Overseer’ was a special kind of trickster, the kind that did mostly everything for laughs, but one that also had a goal in mind for every joke in the book that he pulled out of. She turned the mechanical thing in her hand that the Overseer had called a phone, a device that operated properly at the touch of a hand. A curious advancement of technology. The Grail had told her about this certain development, but to hold it in her hands was a completely different matter altogether. She dug into her pockets and pulled out the phone that the Overseer had given her.

“There hasn’t been a Grail War that’s got shops in it. What gives?” She had asked the young blonde, turning the phone over in her hands.

"Something along the lines of making this a proper war. Kill or be killed and the like. The sponsors have their tastes, I suppose."

"Sponsors? Don't suppose you could tell me who they are."

"Trade secret, unfortunately."

That was disappointing, though she couldn't say she didn't expect it. If anything, she thought he would keep mum about the fact that there were even sponsors. She decided to put that issue aside. She might as well press on another subject.

“Have any of the other teams come by yet? Out of curiousity.”

“Saber’s and Archer’s,” was his reply, and it near caught her off guard. So non-committal was his straightforwards reply that she was very sure that he wasn't lying. “They got into a fight and kicked me out here. Rude bunch.”

She swiped across the screen. The Market ‘app’, as it was called, that resembled her Master’s crimson tattoo sat at the corner of the screen, flanked by a couple of other ‘apps’. “Phone, Messages… I assume this is for contacting others. Store, huh? You can purchase things from this device? And predict the weather as well, I see. Have you had told me this was what the future was like when I was alive, I would have laughed you off. Maste-- Sarah, do you have a phone of your own? Though I have been informed of just how things work, it still bemuses me just how…” her eyes sparkled with something akin to amazement, “...magical this sort of idea works. Transmission of voices and words across the air through some invisible line.” She tapped the Contacts icon, followed by the cross-shaped sign.

“Suppose I could get your number? Just in case I have other queries.”

“Don’t worry. It’s already on the phone.” He indicated the Contacts app. She pressed it, and the icon ballooned up to fill the whole screen. There was a grand total of one name on the list.

Overseer No. 1, it had read.

That was suspicious. “Number 1? You sure you’re the real Overseer?”

"Part timer, but yeah, that's what the job description had at the top."

Part-timer. What a strange concept. Especially for this kind of tasking. How very, very curious. She had not pursued that line of questioning. She had been very sure she’d meet a dead end and no other answers if she had. That, and she had been experiencing a sore lack of actual questions to tackle it as well.

“You mentioned Saber and Archer. They still ‘avin’ a row down there, or…?”

“Long gone.” Overseer No. 1 had shaken his head.

She had thought as much. “Both alive and well, I assume.”

“Mmm. Unfortunately so, I guess.”

A blessing and a curse. “Saber and Archer. What queries have they pursued with you?” Better to wring dry the information now than later.

"Nothing much different from your own. Just a bit less in-depth. Saber did seem a little interested in, ah... Discarding subtlety, or something along those lines."

Discarding subtlety? She had furrowed her brow at this. “What’s that mean, then?”

"To quote,” he started, then put on a high pitched, female voice, which was, admittedly, quite funny, “"Are we still required to keep the war, and magic, a secret from the populace?" The answer was no, if you're curious."

‘Required to keep the war, and magic, a secret from the populace.’ She pondered this over as she gushed over the phone to Sarah, looking and sounding like, for all intents and purposes, someone who had just come out from some outback. She’d rather not trouble her Master with any thoughts on the matter. The strategy belonged to her, and she would do her best to keep her alive. The wording and the phrasing, provided that Overseer No. 1 remembered his lines correctly, meant that Saber and her Master were going to cause a little chaos. A bait, no doubt, to lure the other Servants and Masters to the area.

For just a moment, her bright-eyed amazement gave way to worry and deep rumination as she wondered on the stability of her plan. Would Sarah be able to keep up?

Mion
The One Eyed Bandit

 

[Xel]

SaberAtop the London Eye​

Saber stood atop one of the carriages of the ferris wheel. Her long crimson ponytail gently swayed in the breeze as she had her arms folded under her chest, looking out across the river. Night had fallen and yet the city was still lit ablaze with the thousands of lights that dotted it's surface. She had used Jun's nap as an opportunity to scout around the city. Terrain could make or break a battle, a fact she knew all too well. And of all portions of the city, few suited her needs. Indeed the only location that was happy with was a large park to the south west. Nowhere else within the city afforded her the terrain she needed. That said, she only needed one spot to fight as she wished. Her opponents would have to fight on her terms if they wished to win the war, and she was certainly no fool as to blindly rush towards victory at her own expense.

She pulled out a small electronic device, the phone given to Jun by the Overseer. If he was sleeping it wasn't like he needed it anyways, and curiosity was a force even someone such as she was not immune to. It had taken her longer than she would ever admit to figure out how the device worked, but once she had it contained a wealth of information. The technological progress made by man since her time was truly quite staggering. All the world's history and knowledge at your fingertips. If she had had access to such back in her day... She shook her head, discarding the thought. This technology would serve her in the current war, and that was all that mattered at the moment.

Saber scrolled through the various websites as she bided her time. The grail had imparted vast amounts of knowledge on modern times, but there was still much it neglected to inform her. Simple things such as modern entertainment, or fashion, or food. She eventually found her way to a website selling clothing. Assassin, from their earlier encounter, had been clad in modern apparel and walked freely beside her Master. The thought of following the woman's example was an enticing one. Even from a practical standpoint there was much you could learn by walking among the people and experiencing things from their point of view. With little regard for her Master's thoughts on the subject she fumbled her way through an order to obtain some fitting clothing. Indeed she found herself engrossed in the temptations provided by the internet, ordering many things that caught her fancy all under the justification that they served some practical use.

Mentions: Gaius Danius Griinia

 

[Azure Sky]

Dorian Barthomeloi

In the end, Dorian realised that there was actually something he could try. At this point he was atop of the Senate House Library, in Bloomsbury, near UCL, SOAS, and Birkbeck, University of London.


Suddenly all the light in a small area around the library was absorbed in a small sphere which formed in Dorian's left arm. He threw the sphere high in the air, then he seemed like he was shouting, but no sound came out, and he apparently sealed something in a golden coin. He also threw the coin into the air. As the coin collided with the sphere, two separate phenomena happened: one was a powerful outburst of light...


...and the other was an incredibly loud shout that could be heard from miles away:

"I wish to propose a deal!"

Dorian was no longer at the rooftop. He hid among the crowd, and waited. Somehow, someone would appear that would act suspicious enough, if they took the bait. And the Enforcer was waiting just for that. A sign, any unusual behaviour, or use of magecraft, any recognizable behaviour of a magus. A trail that he could follow.

Gaius Danius Griinia ChazGhost Mion SCSaya06 Lucem BearBearBear Rantos
Xel theunderwolf simj26 @Koss QuirkyAngel Misuteeku Girouette The One Eyed Bandit

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Jun was crouching over the body of a dead mage. The blood from this woman was seeping into the drain. Small holes could be found in her neck. Jun needed to dispose of this body, with the utmost haste. This all started when Jun woke up a while ago. Saber didn't seem to be there, even in spirit form. Getting up and eating a delicious breakfast. Well it was still technically night-morning, you probably couldn't call it breakfast.... if you were an idiot. This food was delicious and Jun was gonna eat all of it. He had even bough extra bacon to fry up and eat. Anyone who thought certain foods shouldn't be eaten at certain times were just jealous that JUN had that food and THEY DIDN'T. Finishing his breakfast, Jun jumped into the shower. Feeling the warm water cascade over his naked body felt amazing after yesterday. Thinking back on yesterday, Jun really hadn't done anything. He hadn't even fought against Archers Master and his stupid hat. Walking out of the shower, Jun got dressed and waited for Saber. Then something weird happend. Jun got a text on his phone. It was from a number he didn't recognize. A normal person would ignore it, however Jun knew something was up. There was a time and place listed. Donning Baggy, Jun headed out. If he was right, this was someone from the Mages Association. Using any kind of Magecraft would make him a target. Now in the specified location, Jun felt something hot approach him!

Jumping into a dodge-roll, Jun looked up at his attacker. They wore a hood over their face and kept quiet. Great, he has nothing to work with. Dodging their volley of fireballs, Jun had to think of a plan. If he used any kind of magic, more like them would come. So he kept dodging and rolling. Eventually thry got careless and basked in how much stress they were causing him. They raised their arms to deal a death blow. Jun raised his left arm and fired his harpoon launcher. Three small iron harpoons, each tipped with poison, embedded themselves in their neck. Clutching at their throat and sliding down the wall, they died silently. Pulling off their hood, Jun was shocked to see it was a girl. She looked sixteen and had very pretty asian features. He recognized this girl... her father was involved in the conspiracy that killed his parents. Jun killed him but spared her...she wanted revenge. Disposing of her body, Jun returned to his hotel room and called Saber back. They would be onto him now...the Mages Association

Xel

 

[BearBearBear]

"What am I going to do with you?" Alexandria mussed, running her fingers over the headband in her hands as she checked it for what was to be the seventy fourth time that day. She had developed such a habit whenever she found herself deep in thought, and since it was a Code that had unlimited potential, she saw no reason to stop fiddling with it. It was almost a shame, she couldn't bring out its most powerful incarnation, but then again if she ran away with something like that, Atlas wouldn't have let her go so easily. "Maybe a faster materialization rate, perhaps?"

Alexandria knew how those fanatics regarded their tools, she was one of them herself, and if she had taken anything more than her own belongings maybe even the Director would have taken up the Staff. But those were idle thoughts of a time already past; all that was left now was the mission: to see the Grail, both Lesser and Greater preferably, and take her findings if not the Grails themselves back to the cave where they belong. It was always so easy for her, so straight forward, to think of plans, to offer predictions and forecasts, but then again the weakness of Atlas has always been in the execution of such well laid plots.

Whoever heard of a Organization that contently produces ever-increasing problems when searching for a solution?

Anyway, that wasn't Alexandria's problem anymore. The reward for a task completed was one of the seven contracts: True Freedom from Atlas, and that was enough for her. She turned her thought's from such a heavy topic to the activities she had throughout the day, starting with arguably the most interesting one.

The meeting had ended abruptly; Alexandria wasn't the first to leave their little get together but once she had determined that she had gained all that was to be gained, she simply stayed to watch the other two novice magi and their antics. Again, the pair were adorable, a capable servant in the hands of a spellcaster and a more challenging one under a brawler. It was fun to see how they were, how people generally outside of the Moonlit World acted and it was a refreshing experience to say the least. She especially enjoyed the company of the servants, one that had a pride that seemed... familiar if she read the past records kindly supplied by one of the Wizard Marshals, and while the other had her wits scattered about most of the time, seeing something akin to a Double Summon was a treat within itself.

Of course all things had to come to an ended, and while Alexandria assumed they three had an alliance, she would remain on her guard in case there were others who were privy to their meeting. It was her servants fault, to her displeasure, but the revealed Assassin and she would get along nicely if the discussion they had immediately after was to be trusted. And she really wanted to trust her servant; she had more than enough to surpass the Einzberns many times over, the thing keeping her from running away with Assassin and waiting for the War to end was that she didn't know if the entity would stab her in the back, like most of her class are wont to do.

Of course, after such a discussion the Assassin was free to do as it willed, so long as it remained hidden as well as was willing to call on Alexandria if she needed to support it's endeavors, but that was a regular relationship between a Master and a Servant. She wanted more than that, she wanted to study a being of grain more... intimately and she wasn't fool enough to entreat the granddaughter of The Wizard Marshal.

The rest of the day was a blur; Alexandria rarely paid attention to the more mundane pieces of research she kept about but she was sure that all her spells were armed and rearmed just in case. Her fields were built and at the ready, her fortress secured and hidden away, and her headband once again on her head before she even thought to go out and hunt for the night. She had thought to go to the Overseer, but that was something that could wait a few hours, maybe when the sun was rising again to make sure that once again she would have the facsimile of a truce guarding her back. She was about to review the Miracles of the Greatest Honor before she felt something familiar...

My, this is a rare occurrence. Alexandria thought at the back of her mind before dressing in something more appropriate for the meeting. She took her pendant, an Ankh on a band of the purest reinforced gold before donning a black dress with golden ornaments that surpassed her age by orders of magnitude. Old Magic, maybe it's better to say magecraft that once was in the realm of the impossible, clad her in wards and charms long forgotten as she wove a spell with words that have not graced the air of the world for centuries.

"Assassin, to my side. We have another meeting to attend before we see the Overseer." Alexandria spoke before regarding the chaotic space before her. "Prepare of possible hostilities."

With that Alexandria took a step forward and with her bedroom behind her, she stepped into the streets, before the facade of a mundane library. She took a moment to consider he who called with the authority she recognized and was pleasantly surprised. He hid himself quite well, though as he was not royalty, it wasn't perfection. "You don't look like you're striving of the unattainable: I approve." Her voice was unheard and her sudden appearance hidden to all but those who walked with death, a Charm she had picked up during one of the Hunts she was asked to attend. "Tell me, Barty, did your Head not tell you of me?"

Misuteeku Azure Sky

(That took a while)

 

[Xel]

SaberJun's Room​

She was set upon the London Eye, her feet dangling over the side of the capsule gently kicking back and forth as she stared at the phone in her hand. For the past hour or so she had been absorbed into the wonders of the internet. Not only with her wanton abuse of Jun's wealth, but simply looking up copious amounts of information. It was interesting to see how history remembered her, as well as downright insulting how much her name had been marginalized. Still, petty insults aside it did one's ego well to see that their name was known so widely. It was also fascinating to learn what happened after her untimely demise. Seeing the way things unfolded just furthered her resolve to attain the grail. Her wish clearly wasn't as self-serving as one might initially think.

It was during her viewing of some random cat video that her Master's voice echoed through her mind. It seemed he had finally pulled himself from his bed and was ready to get this war properly underway. Immediately after she heard the booming voice thunder across the city. Someone clearly didn't mind making themselves a target, and given their brazen announcement it seemed she wasn't the only one who felt like disregarding the rule of secrecy. Getting to her feet she slipped the phone into an inconspicuous pocket before turning around and simply walking off the edge of the capsule. As she fell her form dissipated into shimmering particles carried off in the wind.

A short time later she materialized within Jun's room, promptly plopping down on the bed as she appeared. "Good morning, Master. Or I should say good night. Either way. While you slept I took the opportunity to scout around the city and familiarize myself with the current era." She pulled the phone the Overseer had given them from her pocket and gently placed it on the bed beside her. "Truly fascinating the way mankind has gone, even if disappointing. That said..." She took on a more serious demeanor, her voice likewise dropping the levity. "I'm sure you heard the proposal same as I. Should we go see what the man has to offer?" Personally she was the type to at least scout it out. Anyone brazen enough to announce themselves like that clearly had something to offer. But it was ultimately up to her Master as she was perfectly fine ignoring the loudmouthed fool.

Interactions: Gaius Danius Griinia

Mentions: Azure Sky

 

[Gaius Danius Griinia]

Jun saw one of his cards was gone and looked at the account it was connected to. He had lost $5000? Actually no, SABER had SPENT $5000 on CLOTHES. She better look good enough to **** or Jun was killing someone. Jun told Saber what had happened on his little excursion outside. The mages at the Clocktower were after him. They also seemed to have sent someone to search for Masters. Without hesitation, Jun told Saber to kill anyone who gets in their way. No mage could go against a Servant and survive. Unless of course they were one of the rare few who could. Except those guys weren't here in this city...right? Loading his guns and storing them in Baggy, Jun decides to head out. Locking his door, he told Saber that they may have to move rooms. This room was already contaminated with their scents, traces of magecraft and whatever Saber ordered from that clothing site. Making his way down to the lobby, Jun called a contact of his in London. According to them, there was movement from the Clocktower. Jun could almost see the target painted on his back.

Walking out into the cold London air, Jun was making plans. He needed more supplies if he was going to fight off Clocktower Disciplinary Mages. With Saber in tow, Jun got a cab to a safehouse he used to use for assassinations. Right now it was wrecked and boarded up. Kicking aside any obstructions, Jun had Saber stand guard. Finally he found it. Opening up a hidden hatch, he descended into a hidden armory. Jun didn't come here anymore because he had blown it up to stop the Mages Association from tracking him down. Everything but this hidden cache of weapons was useless. That was why he got a hotel when he came back. Picking up a sports pistol he used while on a job, Jun began to sort through the weapons.


Xel

 

[Azure Sky]

Dorian Barthomeloi​

Barty...?

The young, pretty woman, without a doubt, knew the "Queen" personally. It could not have been a bluff, as she knew Dorian was a member of the Barthomeloi and she found him incredibly quick, although Dorian had to admit, that was his fault. He simply did not take enough precautions. She was also confident enough to face him, but that could have been a mere bluff. Scenario one: she was bluffing, but had a Servant nearby. Scenario two: she was not bluffing and she had a Searvant nearby. Regardless, Dorian would have been forced to flee in both situations. Although she was not the problem either way, her Servant definetly was. Still, if he were to run away, Dorian needed to at least try to get some information before that.

"That is a subject I'd rather discuss over some fine wine and exquisite Italian cheese, if you'd give me that honour." he said calmly, in a deep voice, maintaining composure. Certainly, she seemed like a civilized person, and Dorian would have rather had a nice conversation than a fight. Ironic, considering he was a magus dedicated 99% to combat. Also, while it should not have been a funny situation, he found it rather comic that he was asking out a young woman that was actually slightly taller than him (185 cm). That was a first.

If she were not willing to chat, then he'd simply stick to plan A: get out of there as soon as he could. Luckly for him, she seemed to have underestimated him, probably because of his not-good-enough attempts at concealing himself, which would have made his escape all the more easier. While little, he actually gained some really valuable information: the size and features of one of the new Grail War Masters (and possibly one of the murderers), as well as a possible link to his clan leader. It was a good enough start. But he wanted more, thus he awaited Alexandria's reply.

BearBearBear Misuteeku

 

[Misuteeku]

Assassin​

Assassin mused in thought at the interaction between it's master and it. A rare moment, were they talked about some personal information towards one of the other. Their master-servant relationship had been smoothened over the fact that it was an assassin. It was a natural reaction given that in previous wars, there were assassin who ended up killing their masters. During the time that was spent, it had been guarding it's master for the day.

It's master had spoken up, which called its attention. Through the link that was shared between them ensured that the communication was sound. It understood and followed through the order. It would still remain in spiritual form, remaining undetected unless it sensed other signatures other that itself. It's master had started to converse with a person named, 'Barty.' Who was a Barty? It sounded like a male name. Of course the urge was currently suppressed for the time being, so the being didn't need to worry of that. All it needed to do was detect hostiles incoming in this direction. Whatever its master was doing, she needed to hurry up since staying in this one place could get them caught out.

BearBearBear Azure Sky