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

[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?

[1stknight]

[Bedivere was also having deep thinky-thoughts of his own. Mostly over how Dazai seemed lost in his own thoughts, and how the people they had met today must have been important to him in some way. Was this a clash of old friends, or allies? What was Dazai not telling him?

But in the end, he didn't ask. He pulled back again, giving Dazai his space. And instead, he just smiled.]

Something with meat in it, if you don't mind?

[That did give Dazai the freedom to choose what kind of meat. And also, the protein would be good for him.]

[neverwashere]

[All in due time, good knight. Read: in a few hours.

Meat was doable, and soon they were seated at a teppanyaki place. This was like an extension of lunch, now that Dazai thought about it: the bamboo skewers were still in his coat pocket.

Well, whatever. His coat was due for a wash anyway, and he had spares with the same style.]

How is it?

[If Bedivere was a human instead of a heroic spirit, Dazai had no doubt the knight's appetite would be healthy. Maybe not to Atsushi-levels of fast plate cleaning given, but the potential was there.]

When you were travelling, [before dying] how much energy did you need to make up for with that arm of yours?

[1stknight]

[Bedivere's appetite was indeed healthy, but he tried his best to keep it in check. The food did nothing for him nutritionally, after all, and it was Dazai who needed the energy. But he did like the taste, and the act of eating made him feel slightly more human.

Still, he kept an eye on Dazai, to make sure he ate plenty too. And if he was slow to eat, Bedivere would be shifting bits of meat from his plate to Dazai's.]

Not as much as you would think, actually. It functions like a normal arm, and the mana drain to use it as such was minimal. I only ever had to stockpile energy after a large fight.

[He looked down to his arm, flexing his fingers a bit as he continued.]

It was certainly harder to travel before I got this. Needless to say, prosthetics at the time were not as sophisticated. What I had before was basically a long piece of inflexible metal that was used to hold a shield while I fought. And when I didn't need the shield, I went with nothing.

[neverwashere]

[He saw those extra slices, Bedi. Dazai, the pinnacle of maturity, puffed his cheek and ate the beef like a threatening ten-year-old.

Being fussed over was always strange, and he only let it slide this time because of the necessity. Promise.]

Fighting like that sounds incredibly inconvenient. That you pulled it off, however, does mean you're pretty skilled.

[Sure, Bedivere wasn't Lancelot, or Gawain, or someone renowned for swordfighting. That didn't mean the guy had zero chance of improving in who knows how long he's travelled. This was the line Dazai had decided to draw in his mind, separating legend from actual knight.]

[1stknight]

[And Bedivere smiled like the mother who would not take that child's bait, and instead would praise him for finishing his plate.]

It means I am ambidextrous too, which we might be able to use to our advantage.

[Bedivere was reserved, but he would also be honest about his skills when it came to evaluating what was needed for a fight. He didn't want Dazai to be caught unaware and without all the information.]

What are you thinking, for how the confrontation will happen?

[neverwashere]

[Boo. Just for that, Bedivere could have the extra vegetables Dazai now transferred to his plate.]

Well, our train station assailant has no qualms in making unfortunate public declarations. The mere fact that they followed me around for a while, however, gives us a very slight chance that they'll follow us to a less populated area.

['Miniscule,' because that person might not be so foolish as to follow Dazai into a potential trap unless they were very foolish or very confident.]

The younger Master, on the other hand - their boss will want to keep any wide-scale conflict away from their territory.

[The way Kouyou talked about it kept coming back to his mind. Even Mori wouldn't fully kill off the city he coveted unless he was pushed, would he? Unless he was taking a page from Fitzgerald's book and, well. Making enough chaos so he could also gain access to the Book while everyone was scrambling to win or survive the Grail War.

Mind, the only reason Dazai was comfortable talking about this in public was because they were at an otherwise secluded booth at the restaurant. Even as he explained, there would always be a part of his brain filtering out or twisting words 'just in case.']

They could, in theory, lure a Master or even a Servant with the cute act and see if that kid's ability will work. It's not a clean mind control, but enough to lead a person to self-destruct until the curse is lifted. The Servant's, ah, final attack will likely be reserved for emergency or unexpected confrontations.

[Not quite the answer Bedivere asked for, but important for context.]

[1stknight]

So you want to put that blonde woman and the child against each other, and let our enemies take each other out.

[It was a smart move. The less battles they fought in, the more likely they were to win. It was a bit underhanded, and that didn't sit well with Bedivere, but sometimes smoke and mirror tactics were needed. Especially when both enemies seemed dangerous.]

If we force the train station assailant into the other's territory, they will have no choice but to respond. It could be done, though.

If that Servant is Lancer, then I would have the advantage over them. If I pursued them, we could force them into a trap, I think. Lancer would want to avoid a conflict with me, because it is the fight I could win most easily.

[neverwashere]

Ideally. [Then, with a rueful smile,] Shame that this other Master's tactics give the impression that she won't negotiate nicely.

[Or maybe he could be wrong about that woman. But how else should he interpret that challenging call other than serial killer tactics? There's a reason why that story about a serial killer having their romantic interest attending two funerals exists.]

I'll keep that in mind. That said, avoiding open combat doesn't discount ambush tactics.

Dare I presume you're better equipped to handle an endurance match as opposed to a powerful burst attack?

[1stknight]

More traditional mages would, because there is a strength in numbers. They are the masters of forging temporary alliances. I get the feeling that we won't be seeing many mages here, though.

[As for Dazai's second comment, he considered his personal skills, as well as the limitations of Dazai's mana. He could do endurance, sure, but there were risks with that. Risks Dazai should be aware of.]

My Noble Phantasm is a powerful burst attack, actually. Given your capabilities as a mage, I will probably only be able to use it once before we need a full day to recharge it. I can hold my own in an endurance match, but it would be best to fight defensively until there is an opening to use my Noble Phantasm.

However, because of that, facing two enemies at once is a bad idea. As loathe as I am to use such tactics, doing 'cleanup' after someone else's fight might be for the best.

[neverwashere]

Ah. Maybe there's something in Yokohama's water.

[There was a bit of an inside joke there that his smile hinted at, and he wasn't just referring to Lovecraft. The city was a hotbed for Ability users engaged in criminal activity.

He made a thoughtful sound as Bedivere talked about cleanup and took a moment to savor his mouthful of food. Honorable yet practical. Or should it be 'and?' That nod to the reality of the situation still ended up being a reaffirmation of ideals.

Dazai liked it.]

Got it.

We'll make every use count.

[Comparing himself to a certain pipsqueak after activating Corruption was terrible, but well. That was the kind of scenario Dazai might face if Bedivere used his Noble Phantasm. They'd need decent getaway plans to account for that kind of exhaustion.]

Let me know later what other skills you have that I should be aware of.

[1stknight]

And we should make sure to have a secret base prepared too. I'm not joking around when I say we will need a full day to recharge after. Since you don't know the magic spells, there's only the old fashioned way, which means holding hands and not doing much else.

[There was always that, but Bedivere wasn't going to suggest it. Not unless it was absolutely needed. Even the thought of it flustered him.

As for the rest, Bedivere tapped his chin thoughtfully as he considered it.]

Ah, well... I'm resistant to magics that would harm me, or alter my perception of the world. I'm not completely immune, but it's more difficult for me to be affected. I can also recharge my Noble Phantasm more quickly than most, which is why it would only take one day for us to do. For others, it would take several.

Oh! And if we know we're going into a fight, we can prepare ahead of time. I can stockpile mana from my Master to use to strengthen my Noble Phantasm. Though it would require the same hand-holding and staying inside for a while.

[neverwashere]

Ah, yes, the delightfully scintillating act of handholding. [Was it just him, or was Bedivere shy about something?] Very scandalous. The peak of steamy purple prose and the highlight of regency fiction. Certainly not for the faint-hearted. To think mine comes with the added bonus of repelling the effects of most abilities.

['Most,' because fuck Goncharov's virus and Dostoevsky in general.]

I suppose we better start stockpiling tonight, hmm? It's better to be prepared for emergencies, too.

[Unfortunately for Dazai, dream sharing was a two-way street. He wasn't even aware Bedivere saw a memory from his past last night. Having Q and Q's history with the Port Mafia on his mind later might lead to something unexpected.]

[1stknight]

You say that, but I'll have you know that holding a fair maiden's hand and gracing the back of it with a kiss used to be quite scandalous indeed!

[Bedivere absolutely had ruffled feathers over how Dazai was teasing him. The scowl on his face wasn't truly angry, though. Just flustered, and a touch embarrassed.

He also started moving vegetables back over to Dazai's plate.]

If we're stockpiling tonight, then eat up. No leaving until your plate is clean.

[neverwashere]

My dear Ellis, you're in a country where, until a few decades ago, the baring of ankles and napes was considered a form of nakedness. [His smile widened. Flustered was a good look on Bedivere.] Shall I hook my foot around yours instead? That'll really get the crowd going.

[Well, no, but playing footsie counted as PDA.

Shame the flirting couldn't keep him from pouting again once the veggies were back. He glumly prodded them on his plate with his chopsticks.]

'kay.

[A beat. Now, this wasn't his kink, but if it meant making Bedivere blush more -]

Daddy.

[1stknight]

We're at a table, nobody would see that well enough to be scandalized. [A pause.] But still, please do not do it.

[And then there was the daddy comment and Bedivere couldn't fight the grimace. Instead he held up his hand to his mouth, as someone would do to cough politely, but instead he just pressed the curled hand to his face. Be patient, Bedivere. Dazai was trying to get under his skin.]

Caring about your well-being does not make me your father.