PSL (closed)

[1stknight]

[Honestly, being summoned was quite the surprise to Bedivere. Being a saber, he knew he was at a disadvantage. After all, there were so many more sabers even just from the Round Table who were much more famous, so surely they would have been summoned over him. In fact, he was sure it had happened countless times before. That one master he had met, the one from Chaldea, they had spoken of singularities and grail wars to span several worlds and timelines. And with so many fine Sabers to choose from, he was sure that he hadn't ever been summoned before. The short time between the 'creation of his legend' and 'now' notwithstanding.

It made him feel a touch inadequate, if he was being truthful. After all, he was a simple knight. The master who had summoned him, he deserved better than someone like him. But if he was the one who was summoned, then he would fulfill his duty to this new master. Nothing would be done in half-steps, never again.

So as his form solidified in the summoning circle, Bedivere offered his new master a warm smile. Once again, his life was sworn to someone else's. Whatever his master wished for, Bedivere would help him achieve it.]

Saber, Bedivere. I am honored to be summoned by you. From now on, I shall be your Servant.

['I am honored to be summoned at all' was the truth, but he didn't speak that.

Then he paused, and he took a survey of the situation. The summoning circle was expertly made, but this man in front of him...well. He didn't look like a mage. He looked like a normal person. Perhaps it was a disguise? Or maybe there was more to this situation than he could see immediately. He would have to wait for his new master to respond in order to find out more.]

Comments

[neverwashere]

Well, you were the one summoned in spite of 'very slim' chances. How else should I call it?

[Hint: 'fluke' was a boring answer.

Maybe he wasn't taking this as seriously as he should, or he was getting alarmingly comfortable with encountering the beginnings of yet another conflict taking place in Yokohama. Dazai could admit to seeing this as a game if Bedivere had to use phrases like 'powerful final attack,' and he had to stop himself from thinking about controller inputs for finisher moves.]

Tell you what: as a sign of us getting along, how about you describe what your final attack does, and what special moves you're expecting from the other contestants... ah, classes, was it? [Here, Dazai's smile turned wry.] The better contained this war is, the better - and not just for us. If that holy grail's as real as you say it is and certain parties start noticing, we'll have more than six other teams to worry about.

[1stknight]

['Fluke' was actually the answer Bedivere had been considering, but Dazai's explanation was much, much nicer. Which was why, even if Bedivere didn't actually believe he was worthy of being called 'good fortune', he still found his chest feeling a bit warm. Dazai seemed like a good person, and that made Bedivere feel a bit more at ease.]

You are too kind, Master.

[But he left it at that, rather than explain why he disagreed with the sentiment.

Instead, he raised his silver arm slightly.]

This arm is mine. I fight with a sword, but this arm is full of magic, and when I strike an opponent with it I do much more damage than any sword can. Though the downside is that, when someone sees this arm, they can figure out who I am pretty quickly.

As for the others, well, It's hard to say for certain. Each Servant's power is based off of their legend, so we would have to know who the Servant is before we could figure out their Noble Phantasm. There are some things we could expect from each class, though. Assassins can conceal their presence, so they can sneak up and attack from behind with ease. Archers have the advantage over Sabers due to their long attack range and have a bit more freedom of mobility compared to the other classes, which need to stay close to their Master, so it is best if we avoid engaging in battle with whichever Archer is summoned here. Berserker is another one who could cause trouble, since they're very difficult for a Master to control and could attack without following orders.

[neverwashere]

[There was a difference between genuine agreement and agreeing for the sake of moving on. Bedivere seemed to go for the latter, not unlike another silver-haired person, and Dazai simply gave him a knowing look.

Dazai wasn't kind, as far as he was concerned. The sheer novelty of the situation was simply entertaining, and how often did one come across a charming and genuine knight who wasn't a pompous overbearing airhead?]

I see. Is there any way to scout the competition without being found out?

[Missing the fine print didn't sit well with Dazai. There was winging it, and then there was winging it only find out how badly you fucked things up for yourself down the line. Assuming this was close enough to fighting another ability user was tempting.]

Seeing your opponents in action might take part of the burden of explaining off you. From the way you spoke, I get the impression that we could be up against someone like, hmm. [What were the more absurd suggestion suggestion here, if all myths were fair game?] Prometheus with a torch and his half-eaten liver, or one of the sun's many personifications. Are all Servants human-shaped? I'd rather not face something like a kraken any time soon.

[1stknight]

We can. Since you aren't a notable magus from a prominent family, moving around the city should be much easier for you. I would say I could follow you in spirit form to conceal my presence, but we can't communicate when I am like that. Instead, disguising myself may be better.

[The big thing was that his armor made it very, very obvious that he wasn't from the present. He stuck out like a sore thumb, which would make it easy for others to find them.

And, honestly? Modern clothes looked interesting. Bedivere wanted the chance to dress in some, but he wouldn't express that want so easily. It was better to make it sound like it was needed than to admit that it was something he wanted.]

If you want to go that route, I will try my best to blend in with whatever your living and employment situations are.

And you are correct, servants are generally human. Some may have animal companions, though.

[neverwashere]

Spirit form, huh. [Turning invisible, then, if communication was an issue unless Dazai pretended he had auditory hallucinations.] Sounds useful for stalking.

My colleagues probably won't mind having you on board.

[In fact, Dazai was certain Bedivere would like the Agency. His disposition was suited for it.

...now, how to explain this to Fukuzawa? Coming across a case related to the grail war should smoothen that introduction just before they had to field in questions on what happened to the corpse of Bedivere's would-be summoner.

Speaking of which, he took out the packet from his coat. Might as well check what ID the guy had on him.]

Depending on what investigation requests we receive, we might even get updates on the war.

Hypothetically speaking - if the last two participants agree to not fight each other for whatsoever reason and all their command seals are still intact, what happens to their servants?

[1stknight]

Your colleagues?

[That's right, he realized. He didn't know what Dazai did for work. Hell, he didn't even know Dazai's name yet. But Dazai hadn't offered it up, even when Bedivere had introduced himself. So there must have been a reason for that, right?

He wouldn't ask about the name, as he figured Dazai would tell him when the time was right. And Bedivere didn't mind calling him 'Master' anyway. Being from a time of knighthood, the term 'Master' wasn't quite as loaded as it was in modern day.]

What kind of work do you do, Master? Are you a soldier?

[Since investigations were usually handled by soldiers or constables, at least in Bedivere's time.

But that last question. Boy, that last question. Bedivere's expression turned to a soft frown, and he glanced away, looking instead towards one of the large windows in the room. The light flowing through it cast everything in a yellowish glow, making it feel even more like he was standing in a sunrise, waiting for morning.]

No agreement like that would ever be made. There can only be one winner. All other Servants must either perish in battle or become unsummoned upon the death of their Master. Until six servants are eliminated, the grail cannot be completed. And if two masters try to stall, the heads of the magus families observing the war would step in and, ah, 'provide encouragement'. Or kill the Master, steal their command seals, and take control of the Servant for themselves.

[neverwashere]

Yeah. [He frowned for a moment when he fished out the passport from the pouch and read the guy's details. Whoever named him seemed to mistake length for style, but its distinctiveness might be helpful in an online search.] I'm a detective. Call me Dazai, Saber, unless we're up against another Servant and their Master.

[The first time Bedivere called him master, Dazai was a touch distracted by the descriptions of the other classes. Now that he could think about this conflict separate from battle, well. Being called 'Master' was too conspicuous, amongst other things, and he didn't think Bedivere would get BDSM jokes.]

Aah, it's a shame that the death of the competition really is the win condition. [He handed Bedivere the passport - even if the name wasn't recognizable now, someone they were up against might look for the guy.] By default, that makes any alliances very temporary.

[His eyes were drawn to one section of the floor with a dark stain before he recalled himself and shook his head. What counted as doing good in these circumstances, Odasaku?]

Think anyone from those families would be on the lookout for your original Master?

[1stknight]

[The name was indeed a long one, but it wasn't one Bedivere was familiar with. However, given that the passport was a British one, it was probably safe to assume it was someone sent from the Clock Tower. Agatha Christie had always wanted her fingers in all the pies, and she was absolutely the kind of person to get indirectly involved in something like this.

After looking over the information and memorizing it, Bedivere nodded to Dazai and offered the passport back to him.]

Is that why you were following that man? Something related to your detective work?

[Not that it made too much of a difference, but it did explain a few things. And it piqued Bedivere's curiosity too. If they were detectives, then maybe they could be helpful in finding out the other Grail War participants.]

I can't say for certain, but he didn't get here on his own. Someone is bound to miss him. We likely only have a couple days before they start seriously searching for us, so it would be wise for us to search for them in the meantime. Even a temporary alliance would be handy in this situation, too. The magus families will easily overpower us, we need allies if you truly want to win this.

Aah, but if I am to help, then I should take a false name too, hmm? It's unwise to speak my true name, and just calling me 'Saber' will likely draw the wrong kind of attention.

[neverwashere]

Not really, but wouldn't you get curious why a sickly looking man was walking around with dead chickens stuffed in his clothes?

[Indeed, one must wonder how the Clock Tower was related to the Order of the Clock Tower.

The passport, now safe in its previous container, was slipped back in Dazai's coat pocket.

Bedivere's plan was sound, too. Always a pleasure to work with someone who used their head before reaching for their sword. Mind, whatever else they could offer to another party could be hammered out once they had a better idea of who the other participants were, and the advantage of home territory might not mean much in this conflict. For now-]

Not a bad idea. Just be forewarned that one of my colleagues will see through you in less than a minute, and I'll probably have to give my boss a brief overview of the situation. The Agency's rather invested in keeping this city safe, you see, and we've run into a fair number of conflicts this year.

What would you like to be called, Sir Knight?

[1stknight]

As to be expected of a group of detectives. But if they are trustworthy, then we can tell them the truth. Outside of that...hmmm...

[Bedivere tapped his chin thoughtfully with his left hand as he considered his options. He did have a fake name he had used in the past, but that was tied into his legend, and someone else could possibly figure out his identity from it. Something new was a safer bet. But what to choose, what to choose...]

...Ellis would be a good false name, I think. It's a softer name, and not likely to draw too much attention.

[With that decided, Bedivere pulled his hand away from his face and bowed his head to Dazai.]

If it is your wish to protect this city from being harmed by the grail war, then I will help you fulfill it. I would like to keep casualties to a minimum as well.

Shall we go meet your fellow detectives, then? I can go into spirit form for now, until we collect adequate clothing for me.

[neverwashere]

'Ellis,' it is.

[There was a shade of approval in Dazai's eyes when Bedivere made that promise, for all that it wasn't necessarily what he might wish from the Grail. Returning to this ghost of a building reminded him of one other possibility, best kept out of his mind until he could have a moment to himself and let all this sink in. Dwell on what might be and its consequences.

...Odasaku might like Bedivere. As he would with Atsushi.

With a clap, he stood up from the crate and dusted off his coat.]

Meeting them could wait until the morning. [It was after hours, and while both Fukuzawa and Kunikida were probably still there... hmm. That might make things smoother in the morning, and Dazai bid a mournful goodbye to his evening drink.] Most of them, at least.

If you don't mind borrowing some old clothes for now, we can go for dinner first.

[1stknight]

I don't mind borrowing something, but will it fit me?

[It was an important question, because Bedivere had Dazai solidly beaten in both height and body bulk. There was a 21 kg difference between the two of them, and while 10 of those kilograms were just arm-weight, the rest was still very much present on Bedivere's body. That cloak and armor hid a guy who had muscles to match the knight lifestyle. So it was something to consider, at least.

Though he could also demonstrate it later by trying to wear Dazai's clothes. That was possible (and humorous too).]

You don't have to worry about feeding me, though. I get all of my energy from you, so if anything you're the one who needs to stay well-fed. Anything I consume would be for enjoyment purposes only.

[neverwashere]

We'll just have to find out, won't we?

[This was the reply he settled for, instead of commenting on the height of whom it was originally made for. At some point, Bedivere might even see that person - memories flitted through the Master-Servant bond through dreams, though Dazai was still unaware of this.

Now, being told that he was also an energy source gave Dazai some pause, which he shrugged off with a wave. Alcohol also served as fuel, right? Right?]

Oh, but I insist! Sampling the local cuisine's a must if you want to blend in. What's the point of finding yourself in a new era if you can't even enjoy such simple pleasures?

[Their trip back to the dorms might be a long one when both that other building and this forest were at the edges of the city. That was fine. Shame that they might not be able to talk on the subway, unless this whole deal came with some sort of telepathy.]

[1stknight]

Ahh, well...if Master insists, then.

[He wasn't going to deny eating to the point of forcing Dazai to use a command seal. No, that would be stupid. He could voice his opinions once, and then go along with what Dazai wanted anyway. Bedivere was an agreeable person like that, most of the time. If Dazai wanted to spend his money feeding him, he would go along with it. He did like food, after all. Who didn't?

The train ride back to the dorms was indeed a quiet one, though. If there were any kind of telepathic connection, Bedivere seemed intent on staying quiet for the time being. But even so, he was keeping an eye on everything around them, taking in the sights of the city. He really wanted to go see the tall buildings in person, but he would have to be patient. Later, after a disguise was assembled. He needed to be patient for now.

But as Dazai neared the dorms, he would see Atsushi outside, sweeping the path in front of his door. Atsushi looked up when he heard the footsteps approaching, and he smiled as he waved to Dazai.]

I'm glad you made it back, Dazai-san. I was considering calling you to see if you needed help.

[neverwashere]

[Aha, none of that! Bedivere just earned himself a head shake, a finger waggle, and egregious French.]

Non non non, it's Dazai. Say it with me: 'Da-za-i!'

[Bedivere's invisibility meant it was almost easy to forget he was there at all, giving Dazai time to collect himself on the way back to the dorms. He was careful to keep his right hand in his pocket at all times, using his left to hold on to the rail instead.

There should be a way to bandage his right hand without affecting his mobility, right? He could test it out while Bedivere got changed, and fix up his left hand for symmetry.

Now, seeing Atsushi cleaning outside his dorm wasn't anything special, but at this time? Dazai looked out at the darkening sky meaningfully before shifting back to Atsushi.]

What a good kouhai you are, Atsushi-kun. But no, I simply took a longer way back.

Isn't it a little late for housekeeping?

[Would he have to attempt picking the lock of his own door using his left hand if this conversation took too long? Because his keys were in his right hand pocket. Or he could do some other exaggerated motion as a distraction. Hmm.]

[1stknight]

['Da-za-i', Bedivere had repeated at that time, an amused smile on his face. The French accent was horrendous to his ears, but somehow that made it endearing. Dazai was going to be a good master, Bedivere could tell. And getting along with a master made being a servant easier.

Atsushi, meanwhile, shrunk back a bit at that question. Dazai wasn't wrong, it was indeed late for any housekeeping. Really, Atsushi should have been getting ready for bed. He slept far longer than most in the Agency, and going to bed early was a key part of that. So he definitely had an ulterior motive for staying up so late.]

Ah- well- I-I just didn't get to it earlier? It's not like I stayed out here to watch for you or anything. Sweeping needed to be done today, so I'm just getting to it now.

[He was far, far too obvious. But at least his worrying was out of genuine concern for Dazai and not for any ulterior motives?]

[neverwashere]

Oh?

[What an obvious lie. Drawing close, Dazai sat on his haunches, dragged his left index finger on the floor, and held it close to his face.]

I'd say mission accomplished then! No one's missing a limb, and if the floor gets any cleaner, we might just be able to see through it.

[Here, he pointed at Atsushi, presenting his fingertip.]

Here. [Have a very innocent smile.] Unless you wanted to check with your tongue?

[Something something floors polished well enough to eat off them.]

[1stknight]

[Well, that might have been the saying. But Atsushi saw that invitation as an invitation to lick Dazai and boy howdy did that make his voice pitch upward when he finally spoke.]

Th-that won't be necessary! Have a good night!

[Atsushi promptly turned to go back into his apartment. Within 2 steps, though, he ran face-first into one of the support beams for the balcony above his apartment, earning a 'gah!' from him and a dropped broom. Then he covered his face with his hand as he bolted into his apartment and slammed the door shut.

The broom remained on the ground.]

[neverwashere]

[Oh my Atsushi, what a vivid imagination you have.

The wording of that suggestion may or may not have been intentional. Not that Dazai could complain about seeing the entertaining results.

Snickering, he stood up, fished his keys from his pocket, and finally got into his room.]

You can show yourself now.

[He'd retrieve an unopened roll of bandages and a set of clothing from his room: a dark pinstriped shirt and gray trousers. The set, he'd toss to Bedivere before jerking his thumb to a door on the left.]

Bathroom's over there. You might want to take off the metal plating out here, the space is too cramped for it.

[1stknight]

[It seemed as though Bedivere may have been listening in, or at least he could sense when Dazai wanted him to come back. Because as soon as Dazai said those words, Bedivere seemed to pop into existence right next to Dazai. In reality he had just been incorporeal before and made himself visible, but he didn't expect Dazai to know he had been right by Dazai's side the whole time.

The clothes were acceptable, and Bedivere nodded before reaching down to unclip his armor and slide it off. Several layers of clothing came off too, leaving Bedivere in only his green pants and an off-white undershirt, with a belt tied around his waist. It did feel odd, to be out of his clothes and armor, but if he needed to go undercover then he needed to dress appropriately. At least his usual outfit could be summoned back on via magic, instead of needing all the time to put it back on manually.]

Thank you, Mas- Dazai.

[He caught himself that time at least.

But as he picked up the clothes left out for him, he noticed the bandages. That was when Bedivere became acutely aware of all the bandages that covered Dazai's body. Other than his hands and face, everything was cloaked in that white fabric. Huh. Had he always been like that?]

Are you injured?

[neverwashere]

[Well, no, Dazai hadn't expected that Bedivere was actually beside him, but it was reasonable to think he'd be around and within earshot. Much like an invisible bodyguard, come to think of it.

(The way Bedivere caught himself mid-title, by the way, earned him an approving smile.)

By the time his guest stepped out of the bathroom, Dazai would be in the middle of fixing up his left hand, having finished his right. It wasn't much, just two layers of gauze going between his thumb and index finger down to just above his wrist knuckle, leaving the edges of the seal still visible, but at least it didn't impede his general mobility. Maybe a gauze pad would be better - more coverage, less bandage.]

No, simply hiding my new fancy body art. It's too conspicuous.

[Now, he looked up at Bedivere to study how the clothes fit him and whistled. Just a little taller than Odasaku had been, then.

That's where the similarities ended, more or less. The two of them had very different charms.]

Well, that's a change from white and green. Comfortable?

[1stknight]

[Bedivere did fill out the clothes nicely, surprisingly enough. It was hard to tell under the armor and all the layers, but he was fairly muscular and toned, especially in his arms and chest. he did cover up completely, buttoning the shirt all the way to the top button, but the shirt was still fit well enough to show that he wasn't nearly as twiggy as Dazai was. He was still barefoot, though, and would need shoes to go outside. Unless Dazai wanted him to tromp around in his boots.

At Dazai's explanation, he hummed thoughtfully. That explained the new bandages on the hand, but those weren't the bandages he had been commenting on. But for the moment at least, he decided to leave the question of the bandages be. Perhaps his master truly was injured and just didn't want to talk about it. Bedivere could respect that, as long as Dazai took care of any injuries he had.]

I must admit, I feel a bit underdressed. This is what I would sleep in, were I back in the times when I was alive. Is it really alright to go out in something like this?

[neverwashere]

[Did they even have the same shoe size? Dazai hummed thoughtfully before retrieving socks and two pairs of shoes - one his own, and the other Odasaku's size. These, he passed on.]

Yes. Certain types of vests and whatnot exist for protection against modern weapons, but only the military and those expecting an attack wear those on a regular basis. They're not necessarily effective against abilities... or perhaps even magic, for that matter.

[No one talked about his bandages, Bedivere. Perhaps it might stay that way unless someone got up close and personal at some point in this conflict.]

[1stknight]

[We're going to say Odasaku's shoes fit him so that he's not a barefoot weirdo when they go out in public. Socks and shoes on, and he is mostly good to go!]

The climate must be mild here, if people do not get cold wearing something like this. But thank you for the clothes, Dazai. This will make traveling in the city much easier.

[With that said, he lifted up his right hand and flexed it a bit. The metal arm moved just fine within the shirt, it didn't pinch the fabric or anything. But the silvery hand was still visible, and that was no good.]

Do you have any gloves? Covering this hand may be wise, I don't think many people in this city have hands made out of metal.

[neverwashere]

[That kind of underdressed, huh.]

Glad to hear it.

Yokohama's a port town, so it's more humid. It doesn't snow much either during the winter.

[Speaking of which, those where the kinds of gloves Dazai brought out - black and cozy. Not that Bedivere's metal hand would get sweaty.]

Here. If those don't fit, I hope you don't mind gauze.

[Later, he'd have to brush up on Bedivere's history in case the loss of the guy's original arm wasn't a pleasant topic. It likely wasn't.

In any case, Dazai would head to the door again if they were done. The second set of shoes, he'd leave by the step near the door.]

Mind doing your vanishing act again until we're past the gate? This property is owned by the Agency, and my neighbors - including Atsushi-kun, the one you might've seen earlier - are all my colleagues.