[hider=A Lesson in Lumbering]Operating as her own Tactical Advisor, Scarlett would give her Alchemical Dolls orders to act on - pushing further into the city towards the skyscrapers she’d seen in the distance. Arranged in various teams, some Dolls were diversionary, wearing her signature cloak to stand out, and pull the witless attention of the Dragon Tooth Skeletons - making way for the infiltration teams, who did not wear their cloaks, so they blended into the darkness better. Dividing into two subdivisions, the infiltration team would work on their own duties, as they went room to room, breaching and clearing, checking, and planting demolition charges upon each level in a staggered rise.

Having listened to the conversation between Elise, Orson, and Archimedes, she could conclude that the cityscape was an empty one, meaning: what she was planning to do was akin to kicking a wasp nest...

“[color=add8e6]Celtchar, you know anything about lumbering,[/color]” Scarlett asks.

[color=8dc73f][b]"This look like an axe to you? No,"[/b][/color] Celtchar said, pointing his thumb at his lance.

“[color=add8e6]Anyone can learn to fell a tree with a blade, even a spearman like you,[/color]” Scarlett says, amused, as she squatted, before seating herself on the flat crest of a sloped roof. Further ahead were shops, businesses - a proper vision of the “metro” part of a “metropolitan”, as she left the suburbs behind and the rural district even further to her back. “[color=add8e6]And, if not a blade,[/color]” she snapped her fingers, “[color=add8e6]Pure force will do.[/color]”

As if triggered, the demolition charge started to set off from the lowest point to the highest - a massive, diagonal slice appeared in the side of the building; as if, a phantasmal beast had taken a sudden bite of it.

“[color=add8e6]...timber...[/color]” Scarlett says, as the testament to human engineering began to slough off its ruined foundation, and collapse into the side of its fellow, as tons of steel, concrete, and glass rained down from purely wanton destruction.

Celtchar, as always, would make the masterful observation of: [color=8dc73f][b]"That is definitely not the same as lumbering! …Anyways, why are we blowing up this building anyways?"[/b][/color]

“[color=add8e6]Someone, or something, is out there. Hiding,[/color]” Scarlett says. “[color=add8e6]It’s aggravating, since everyone is so gung-ho to follow Death into the dark, I thought I would shine some light, and see what scurries out...[/color]”

Without much reason to care about Team A’s well-being beyond that being a secondary objective, Celtchar did at least have to say: [color=8dc73f][b]"I see. Seems like a huge waste but you’re the Master here."[/b][/color]

“[color=add8e6]I am not concerned, if it is seen as a waste,[/color]” Scarlett says. “[color=add8e6]There are two outcomes, and I’m fine with either,[/color]” she says, raising a finger, “[color=add8e6]Either, A: My preferred result of either Team A or our enemy coming out in such a manner that you can sense them, or,[/color]” Scarlett ticked up a second finger, “[color=add8e6]B: My acceptable result, in which this display of force is enough to force the enemy to dig in deeper, and make it easier to assault them from a siege warfare position.[/color]”

“[color=add8e6]Either way, something is going to happen - doesn’t matter to me what,[/color]” Scarlett says. “[color=add8e6]Tell me, Celtchar. If you seek to kill a beast in a forest, would you send in men and hounds, or would you just burn down its forest,[/color]” she asks, “[color=add8e6]Do we not set fire to caves, when we hunt bears?[/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"...You’re really asking the guy that’s the ‘man being sent in’ to kill monsters that question?"[/b][/color] Celtchar questioned. [color=8dc73f][b]"But, for me, I’d just go in and rip the bear’s head off myself. Or, find a way to use its cubs against it. There is that saying about bears never attacking those that fearlessly dive into their dens and all."[/b][/color]

“[color=add8e6]Oi, oi, you are such a brute. Not sense of finier at all,[/color]” Scarlett says, before hopping up, and climbing onto his back, “[color=add8e6]See the tree, not the forest. See the rock, not the quarry. So on, so forth,[/color]” she says, hugging his neck, “[color=add8e6]Ready to progress into hell, killer?[/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"For my insistent Master? Sure. But when we get back, Chaldea’s food better be worth risking my neck."[/b][/color]

“[color=add8e6]I’ll cook you whatever you like,[/color]” Scarlett says.

[color=8dc73f][b]"Good enough for me,"[/b][/color] Celtchar said before taking off.

Scarlett nodded, and held on. “[color=add8e6]Keep trusting in me, Celtchar,[/color]” she says, “[color=add8e6]No matter how crazy I seem, I will always have a reason. Just ask.[/color]”[/hider][hr][hider=Gnats or Mosquitoes?]Elise was a bit proud that a magus of Archimedes’ calibur acknowledged her analysis was well-constructed, but she was a bit sad that she was off the mark. [color=8dc73f][b]"Ohh…so, the heroic spirits summoned here are more like evil spirits now than heroes. Regardless of alignment, I’m guessing."[/b][/color] The crimson-haired magus would stretch her arms, having expended far too many brain cells on her analysis without booze to kill more following it. 

[color=8dc73f][b]"I’m feeling ready for combat if it comes to that. Bunbuku, ready to rumble?"[/b][/color] Elise asked, preparing one the vials in her back pocket. One of her Strengthening Solution Alphas. It likely wouldn’t do much but give a Servant the equivalent of a Mana Burst, but it might help even the odds if it came to that. [color=8dc73f][b]"Leon, Mordred’s more of a physical fighter than Bunbuku, so hold onto this. If it looks like she’s being overpowered, this should help just a bit,"[/b][/color] the potion-maker said, entrusting one of her solutions to Leon, then another to Conner. [color=8dc73f][b]"Fran’s a bit more delicate looking, but she is a Berserker. …I honestly don’t know if it’ll help her but…hey! We’re mages! We experiment, and all that."[/b][/color]

Sort of surfing on her tail upon a cloud of smoke, Bunbuku would yawn, before asking, “[color=6B573B][b]What’s in it for me, really?[/b][/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"Uh, if I die, then you’ll just go back to the throne. Then, you won’t be able to drink or make tea,"[/b][/color] Elise retorted. [color=8dc73f][b]"Plus, whatever aching, tired, [i]super in-trouble[/i] Servant is there could use your super special tea."[/b][/color]

“[color=6B573B][b]They better have the coin to buy it,[/b][/color]” Bunbuku says. “[color=6B573B][b]My tricks are not free, or is my tea.[/b][/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"Here you go then,"[/b][/color] Elise said, handing over a crisp bill of a single euro. [color=8dc73f][b]"Of course, I’m assuming I’m getting a Master discount of 99.99% off."[/b][/color]

Bunbuku surfed around, and stood in front of Elise. Smiling brightly, she patted Elise’s cheek, “[color=6B573B][b]You are so cute, Master. [i]Test me again, and I’ll nuke your face[/i],[/b][/color]” before surfing back around, “[color=6B573B][b]This will have to do, for now, though.[/b][/color]”

Elise would smile back without a hint of fear. [color=8dc73f][b]"Good to know. Next time it’ll be at least more than one. Depends on when payday is, really. But hey, we could always calculate the [i]exact[/i] amount of mana Chaldea is supplying, convert to fluid ounces, and reverse bill that. Anyways, let me know if you prefer yen. Or…would it have been Ryo?"[/b][/color]

“[color=6B573B][b]You’re such a conniving, crafty bitch![/b][/color]” Bunbuku beamed. “[color=6B573B][b]I, truly, got the best Master for me![/b][/color]” she hopped giddy, “[color=6B573B][b]Oh, I’m excited, so let’s -- [/b][/color]”

A sudden explosion of sound cut her off, and Bunbuku looked up. “[color=6B573B][b]Thunder?[/b][/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"No clouds. Must have been an explosion,"[/b][/color] Elise said. [color=8dc73f][b]"...Which, knowing Scarlett, she definitely caused. …No clue what she’s thinking but…at least we can assume that anything hostile won’t be heading our way for the time being."[/b][/color]

“[color=6B573B][b]I can hazard a guess or two,[/b][/color]” Bunbuku says. “[color=6B573B][b]Most like, she’s presenting a clear and present danger - something that we don’t,[/b][/color]” she says, “[color=6B573B][b]After all, even with Miss Fancy Sword and Lady Big Hammer, we don’t present a large threat. I would classify us more as a potential nuisance to something that can take out the best of us,[/b][/color]” she says, “[color=6B573B][b]Actually, no. Potential is generous. In the eyes of whatever removed Team A, we’re gnats, while Scarlett’s decided to be a mosquito.[/b][/color]”

[color=8dc73f][b]"Well, mosquito or not, if she bites off more than she can chew, I WILL punch her in the face,"[/b][/color] Elise said.

“[color=6B573B][b]Have I mentioned, I love you,[/b][/color]” Bunbuku asks.

[color=8dc73f][b]"No. Tell me more later though, because we’ve still got a Servant to find, and a Team to rescue.,[/b][/color] Elise said.

“[color=6B573B][b]Oh, you’re just so sexy when you’re bossy and demanding,[/b][/color]” Bunbuku says, before surfing over to Mordred and Fran, “[color=6B573B][b]Miss Fancy Sword. Lady Big Hammer. Might I interest you in a drink,[/b][/color]” she held a tea platter with two cups. “[color=6B573B][b]And, by interest, I mean, implore. It’s in your best interest, if you want to win.[/b][/color]”

“[color=6B573B][b][i]After all, would you rather be seen as gnats or mosquitoes?[/i][/b][/color]”

Elise’s eye visibly twitched as Bunbuku called her sexy. And bossy. And demanding. [color=8dc73f][b]"I am NOT bossy. I’m just serious about not wanting to die."[/b][/color][/hider]