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, first time he's heard that!

The temptation to make a tease out of it was there, but Dazai could refrain from making Bedivere blush too badly until they got the necessary updates out of the way.]

Describe it to me: how is my energy different from theirs? For that matter, is every magical signature unique, and if so are there ways of hiding it?

[Thankfully, the elevator was otherwise empty when they reached it. Dazai pressed the appropriate floor button.]

I'm aware you aren't a mage, but if you've come across something in your travels, that would be helpful.

[1stknight]

[Luckily, with nobody watching from the cafe, the trip up to the Agency was a safe one. And while they were in the elevator, Bedivere elaborated on what he had said before.]

It might be best to think of magic as similar to a fighting style. If you train under a master swordsman, your style will be like his. Likewise, your magic reflects what you do with it.

But with you, it's like there is a negative space around you where magic doesn't exist. But that area is very small and localized, so it's easy to tell that you're the one at the center of it.

[neverwashere]

[Emptiness, in other words. Dazai couldn't say he was surprised.]

I'm afraid we're out of luck, unless we find something that sticks like these. [He waved his bandaged hand before slipping it back in his pocket once the elevator doors opened to the third floor.] Perhaps there are artefacts out there that will grant me a similar effect so we can play pretend, but I don't think we have that much time to go on an extra goose chase.

[With a raised eyebrow, he glanced at Bedivere once they reached the Agency, a hand on the latch. Ready?]

[1stknight]

Well, we can try something that might work.

[He held up his left hand, offering it out to Dazai.]

Normally mana goes from the Master to the Servant, but I might be able to send some of the mana back to you, albeit changed from being within me. That might cancel out the void effect of your presence?

It's easier to exchange mana through touch, so take my hand for a moment. We can test it.

[What Bedivere didn't know was that Kunikida was not far from the door, and would be opening it within the next ten seconds. He was about to go out for lunch, actually. The timing was just perfect that Kunikida would be able to see the hand-holding, if Dazai did take Bedivere's hand.]

[neverwashere]

Sure.

[Working out the mechanics of that was distracting enough for Dazai to focus on feeling out Bedivere's palm on his once their fingers met. Should he expect a jolt of energy? Absolutely nothing? How was Bedivere's metal arm even going to look?

Whatever did end up happening, of course, was something he might have to put off until later, because Kunikida just opened the door and. Whoops?]

Kunikida-kun! [Here, a million watt smile. Two people blocking the doorway with what might've looked like the beginning of a serious handholding session? Absolutely normal.] You can't pass until you guess the password.

[This was a slight improvement: he would've joked about playing London Bridge if Bedivere's prosthetic was still functional.]

[1stknight]

[Nothing out of the ordinary happened, besides Bedivere's arm deactivating again. Bedivere didn't have enough magic of his own to really understand what was going on, because wow it was a weird feeling. He was still getting mana from Dazai- and in fact he could actually feel the mana, since they were touching. Just being near each other might be too much of a slow trickle to be sustainable, and they may need more hand-holding in the future. But while he was still getting mana from Dazai, anything he could have done with his limited magical capabilities was suddenly shut off.

But before he could really study it more and figure out just what weirdness was going on, Kunikida had opened the door and was staring at the two of them. What a situation to be caught in.

Dazai's childishness helped, though, because Bedivere didn't immediately jump to the implications of two guys holding hands in private. No, he just cast Dazai a Tired look, as if to say 'really?'

Kunikida, meanwhile, was sputtering.]

What- Dazai! Are you making a move on a client again?!

[neverwashere]

[The downside of not being an actual mage who's inherited fifteen generations' worth of magic circuits was that Dazai was more susceptible to drain. At the moment, it wasn't noticeable - Bedivere hadn't needed to fight and he spent most of their walk in his spirit form. As it was, Dazai could dismiss his craving for something to chew on as the after-effect of that very long meandering route back to the Agency.]

Can't I appreciate Ellis' refreshing charms up close?

[Yeah, he wasn't about to correct Kunikida's assumption in favor of looking on brand. There were more people in the office now, and this was a good excuse as any to let Bedivere recharge however so slightly. Shame that arm was a dead weight; Dazai would've wanted to twirl him just because. Or Dazai could be the one twirled. He proceeded to do just that with a cheeky lift of Bedivere's hand above his head.]

It's not every day I find a good-looking man taller than me.

Now: who's looking into the murder back at the train station?

[1stknight]

Ah-

[And with that, Bedivere was twirled around. It was completely unexpected and less than graceful, but they managed to do it without Bedivere falling or knocking his metal arm into anything.]

Mast- Dazai!

[Kunikida definitely heard that slip-up, despite Bedivere's attempts to save it, and then it was Kunikida's turn to go red.]

I don't know, and I don't want to know! There's work to do!

[And he stormed past the two, ducking around Dazai to march his way down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator.

Bedivere, meanwhile, sounded flustered as he spoke.]

I know you meant to tease him, but it was teasing me too.

[neverwashere]

[This had to be one of the more entertaining misunderstandings he'd foisted on Kunikida.

The moment his coworker had gone down the stairs, Dazai burst out laughing, leaning on the wall and clutching his stomach. His other hand, by the way, was still holding Bedivere's.]

And if I tell you I meant every word I said?

[He winked. Any claims he had of being smooth were ruined by the flush on his cheeks from all the laughing, and right, the door was open. Oh well. Guess everyone had a free show?

He slipped his hand away from Bedivere's as he walked into the room before gesturing for him to follow. Was Fukuzawa busy or stuck in one appointment or the other?

(If his gaze briefly alighted on Ranpo to check his expression and if Ranpo suspected anything, well. That was something to address later.)]

[1stknight]

I would call you a sweet talker and stop listening to your praises.

[Someone could tsun pretty hard, it seemed. He was tempted to walk away entirely for a bit and let Dazai flounder in his explanations to his co-workers, but he knew he needed to stay close. Just in case an attack came.

Fukuzawa was not busy, so if Dazai came to his door he would nod to invite Dazai in. Ranpo, meanwhile, was casting a curious glance in Dazai's direction. He did indeed suspect a budding romance growing, albeit on Dazai's side of things. He wouldn't say anything to Dazai yet, though. Partially because Bedivere wasn't quite as enamored with Dazai (yet) as Dazai was with him.]

[neverwashere]

Oh, fine, suit yourself!

[Here was the thing: Dazai didn't have to explain anything unless someone asked him outright, and he could count on one hand the number of people who'd be up to the task. In his mind, this wasn't romance - yes, he admired Bedivere similar to the way he was fond of Odasaku and Atsushi, but this wasn't necessarily something he'd act on or dwell about too much outside of heavy flirting.

This war has a time limit after all. And when it ended, so too would Bedivere's association with him. From the way the knight talked about his wish, Dazai assumed world travel was also on the table in that quest to find and help those in need.

Well - that wasn't something he'd focus on, now that he had to be the bearer of bad news.]

Sachou. The Port Mafia has at least one Master - it's probably Q. [Here, he paused for the news to sink in.] It's likely Mori-san is invested.

[Here, he described his meeting with Kouyou, turning to Bedivere when they came to to the subject of the catalyst and gesturing at the table - mind showing it?]

[1stknight]

[It wasn't unexpected. A war for a wish was definitely right up Mori's alley. He would have been more surprised to hear that Mori wasn't involved. Q, however, was a bit surprising. After the events of the struggle with the Guild, Fukuzawa had thought that Mori had learned his lesson as far as that child went. Apparently not.

Fukuzawa nodded to Dazai, then looked over as Bedivere placed the scrap of leather on the table. He also listened as Bedivere provided an explanation.]

The techniques used to make this piece of clothing are old. They predate the medieval period, and might even predate the Roman Empire.

We can probably eliminate 'Caster' and 'Assassin' from the possibilities here. Neither class would wear leather like this. They would favor lighter clothes that are easier to move in. Additionally, I suspect the incident at the train station was caused by our Lancer, which would mean they're not associated with the Port Mafia. That leaves Archer, Rider, and Berserker.

[neverwashere]

[Okay, maybe Dazai was a sucker for earnest people with pretty faces, good backbones, specialized expertise and decent analytical abilities. If they weren't in front of Fukuzawa, Dazai might've suggestively speculated what kind of leather Bedivere preferred.]

For the record - if your speculation about Lancer is correct, then their Master or someone close to them is a tall woman with blonde hair and striking clothes. She tailed me from the station. [This was more for Fukuzawa's benefit.] Back to the Port Mafia's Servant - what countries practiced this leather-making technique?

[Probably not anywhere in East Asia, unless Bedivere's travels took him that far.]

[1stknight]

[It was a valid reason to find someone attractive. Hopefully Dazai wasn't too attached to the height thing, though. That would be changing within the next couple of weeks.

While Fukuzawa grabbed a pen to scribble down some notes, Bedivere studied the fabric more closely. He wasn't a historian by any means, but his travels did afford him some knowledge.]

Possibly...Greece? I know that doesn't narrow it down too much, but it's a start.

[Digging through Greek legends would be a slog, though. They had so many heroes, finding the right one would be quite the task.]

Ah, but it does appear to be made from the hide of a pig, or possibly a boar? An odd choice, when cattle leather or deer leather is more standard.

[neverwashere]

[Just about anyone who could ride a horse, shoot a bow and arrow, or went on a rampage or something qualified.

Hell, if that scrap of leather didn't double as an archeological artefact and thus draw attention, Dazai would've suggested bringing it to forensics. He leaned close to it, scratching his chin - he'd have to get Bedivere to explain leatherworking later, after a google search.]

Boar hunting was a sport, wasn't it? [At least, that's what he associated the activity with when it came to Greek mythology - the Calydonian boar, and the other one that Heracles hunted in one of the twelve labors.] Would this have been a trophy? Or a status symbol?

[Several Greek heroes were royalty, right? And typically the scion or descendant of one deity or the other.]

[1stknight]

That could be, but hopefully it's not the hero I'm thinking of.

[It was Heracles. It was absolutely Heracles. If they had to go up against Heracles, then they were doomed.]

But regardless of who they are, if they are a Greek hero, they're going to hit hard. You seem to know who their Master might be, would convincing them to give up the fight work?

[neverwashere]

[They certainly weren't equipped to handle God Hand (or Nine Lives if Heracles was a Berserker). Not that Dazai would know how that translated to reality just yet.

As for Bedivere's suggestion - well. Dazai didn't bother hiding the downward curve of his mouth as he exchanged glances with Fukuzawa.]

Q - Yumeno Kyusaku - isn't your average preteen. ['Preteen' he said, but the kid will never stop being that eight-year-old that Mori introduced him to. The innocent act didn't make it any better, the dissonance making Dazai all too aware of how dangerous Q was.] This is one of the rare occasions he's being allowed out, and he'll make the most of his playtime.

His Ability allows him to inflict nightmarish hallucinations on anyone who injures him, driving them to commit acts of violence. I'm afraid this isn't the first time I'll have to shut him down, and he'll dislike it.

[After that mess with Steinbeck, Fukuzawa probably suspected Dazai's and Q's history.

Dazai remembered thinking sometime after he left the Port Mafia: if there was something more that could be done for a lonely child who caused plenty of grievous harm just by existing, he didn't know what it was.]

[1stknight]

This person is a child?

[That certainly changed things. Even the description of 'a rare occasion he was allowed out' was concerning. Who would lock up a child, even with a power like that? What could have happened to that child to make locking them away a valid choice?

It didn't sit well with Bedivere's idea of chivalry.]

But can you convince him to give up his contract? Because the other options are to remove the command seals by force, or to kill the servant. And depending on who the servant is, the fight may be a difficult one.

[neverwashere]

[Dazai knew why that child was locked up. Of course he did. He was the one who issued the executive order.]

Unless the circumstances have changed, Q has no reason to defy his boss. That would've been one of the main considerations in making him a Master. Even if that child was presented the option of freeing himself of his Ability using the Grail, he has been made aware of how vulnerable he is without its... protection.

[That one was wholly Dazai's doing, and he'd also used Akutagawa's experiences in the slums to illustrate his point. Even then, he knew that the tactics he played to encourage independence were rather shitty.]

What do you mean by forcing the removal of command seals?

[1stknight]

Well. Depending on where the seals are.

[He made a slicing motion across his wrist. Cut off the hand to remove the seals.]

Though that won't work so well if they're not on a limb.

Also I should question the motivations of this 'Port Mafia', if they would treat a child in such a way.

[That certainly earned a pointed look from Fukuzawa. But he was glancing at Dazai, to see Dazai's reaction to Bedivere's words.]

[neverwashere]

[That slicing motion would get a considering look. In the worst case scenario, Dazai wouldn't be above amputating Q's hand or arm if that's where his command seals were. In fact, being a nullifier made him uniquely qualified for the job - Dogra Magra wasn't going to affect him, and removing a child's hand wasn't the worst thing he's done.

Of course, Bedivere's question made him recall everything else on that list, and he inclined his head at Fukuzawa. Yeah, this was a question bound to pop up sooner or later. Integrity wasn't ignorance.]

I'm not sure how it is for your typical mage, but most Ability users we've come across don't lead the best of lives. Abilities, you see, are seen as a tactical advantage for individuals and organizations. To that end, the Port Mafia doesn't have a minimum hiring age. Some kids join as a means of getting themselves and their families out of poverty. Others are recruited simply because it's hard to imagine the use of their Abilities outside of criminal activity.

As far as their boss' endgame is concerned, it will always have to do with keeping the Organization healthy - anything from ensuring loyalty from his subordinates, expanding his influence, and securing his business.

[1stknight]

[Honestly? That wasn't too far off from what mage families did. It was much more insular, since bloodlines mattered, but they still let kids start training young and did some horrible things in the name of holding onto power.

Bedivere still found it distasteful.]

Mmm...It will be important to take them out early, then. A wish in his hands would be unwise.

[He still had feelings on all of this, but he decided to keep quiet. Something about the way Fukuzawa and Dazai exchanged glances didn't sit right with him. He was not in the know on something, and it was probably important.]

[neverwashere]

[He inclined his head. Bedivere wasn't wrong.]

We'll likely hear from them sooner rather than later. Their boss likes making strategic opening moves.

[Now that begs the question: should he proceed with his plan to call Kouyou? Something to think about on the walk home. Given that they had two witnesses, Kouyou would've needed to report to Mori that she saw Dazai snooping.

The chances of him and Bedivere getting pulled into an early battle were (unfortunately) relatively decent. Given they were up against Q, perhaps staying away from a residential area would be better? Then again, Mori wouldn't hesitate to use the Grail War as an excuse to eliminate the Agency in their hunt for another Master. That's the sort of efficiency he preferred.

...well. The rest of the Agency can also handle themselves.

If Fukuzawa had no other questions, there was nothing else to do but check the latest news - any other magic circles elsewhere? - before heading home should the others be under the assumption that he just went down for afternoon tea. Or something.

Shame he couldn't directly ask Ranpo about the leather. Even if ancient Greek clothing wasn't within Ranpo's scope, knowing how the Port Mafia got ahold of the thing might provide clues.]

[1stknight]

[The Agency also had the benefit of the Mafia not yet knowing that any of their number was a Master yet. Mori was more focused on taking care of the other Masters first, to give himself the best chance at winning the Grail War. Dazai would have to move quickly, to take advantage of that fact.

Fukuzawa had no other questions, and he had no further news to share on magic circles. Perhaps no more had been summoned yet? So far they only had proof of the existence of two other Servants, which lined up nicely with how many circles they had found. Then again, that one blonde woman was definitely a foreigner, and could have summoned her servant outside of Yokohama.

Dazai wouldn't have to worry about asking Ranpo, though. Fukuzawa was holding onto the scrap of leather, and once he had a chance to ask privately, he would ask Ranpo. No doubt the mystery of 'ancient leather and magic circles' would intrigue Ranpo, even if he wasn't told about the Grail War.

On the way back, though, Bedivere was sure to interrupt Dazai's thoughts.]

We need to get you something hearty to eat. If we're to fight that other Master and Servant soon, you will need lots of energy stored for it.

[neverwashere]

I guess.

[Already, he operated on the assumption that Mori already knew he was a Master.

Plus, there was the matter of Kouyou's request. He'd mentioned this to Fukuzawa earlier, though he had the feeling that Kyouka, if given a chance, would still decline if Atsushi stayed.

...yeah, his mind was a cluster of unorganized what-ifs right now. Dinner was a great suggestion. Would be better if it being in preparation for a possible fight wasn't included.

His lack of enthusiasm showed. Finding out about Q's involvement was a bummer.]

What are you in the mood for - soup and noodles? A boxed set?