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[img]https://i.imgur.com/C7nwoGY.png[/img]
[b][color=ea590c]wordcount:[/color][/b]  1962 (+3 rapport/exp) (+10)
[b][color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith: Level 6 (16 cells) (2 level up benefit stored) [/color][/b][color=ea590c]/////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////////// (13/60)
[b]Location[/b] The Avenger
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[color=ea590c]”I’m sure it's more common in other places, but in the worlds I knew, vanilla ice cream was quite the rare delicacy. Ice magic practitioners and climates where tropical flowers grow do not generally mix”[/color] Edward commented in response to Nadia’s calling Sandalphon vanilla ice cream with bacon bits in it, before adding what he considered an amusing anecdote [color=ea590c]”I recall a Frostling Queen who was ever so proud of the opulence being able to serve it en-mass during a diplomatic conference. She would have been appalled by the idea of putting meat that can be fattened on almost anything anywhere near her pride and joy”[/color]

The man in question had sat himself near Sandalphon mainly for the purpose of getting to know their/his new commander better, and that seemed as good an in as any.

Sandalphon absorbed the new information with pursed lips, which was a remarkable amount of visible emotion for her. Edward painted ice cream -or perhaps vanilla in particular- as much more of a rare and valuable commodity than Ms Fortune did. From what she seen of both allies so far, the feral wasn’t one to sweat the details, so she was more inclined to take the strategist’s word to heart, but who could know for sure? If he was right, though, finding the dessert might be too much of an endeavor to warrant the diversion. Still, she could keep an eye or ear out for it. “I would venture to guess that you two come from rather different worlds. Not as disparate as, say, Edelgard and Blazermate, but nonetheless so distinct that the existence of ice cream in parallel is somewhat remarkable.” Studying what she could of the natures of different worlds had become a hobby for her lately, after all. “It seems like the majority of worlds might not be as different as one might imagine.”

At the moment, Nadia was more concerned about working her jaws than her two brain cells. “I dunno,” she said through mouthful of crab. “If I was somewhere hot, ice magic would be pretty cool!”

Although Sandalphon saw the value of building rapport through idle conversation, she also saw the chance to cross another item off her evening to-do list. “Mr. Portsmith,” she began. “I was hoping to speak with you. I understand that those on the scavenger hunt managed to requisition a number of firearms today. In my spare time I have been researching a phenomenon that seems to confer subtle benefits when individuals use equipment that matches their ‘flavor’.  I have tentatively called this phenomenon ‘affinity’, and in order to run some tests, I was hoping to procure a weapon with certain characteristics.”

“One: it is magical or fantastical in origin, or at least not overtly technological. Two: it requires ammunition.” It would take a lot more than that to create ideal testing conditions, so these experiments wouldn’t be scientifically valid, but she could at least get a feel for the difference through field tests. “If possible, a precision-based and/or ice-aspected weapon would be even better. I don’t suppose you’re aware of any acquisitions that meet these criteria? I would be willing to offer monetary compensation in exchange.”

[color=ea590c]”While I won’t be saying no to additional funds, I have to say, I am intrigued by your hypothesis in and of itself”[/color] Edward replied after a moment of thought (and chewing/swallowing) before anecdotally adding [color=ea590c]”I certainly feel like I’ve encountered the opposite, where a set of technological firearms gained from a fusion were incredibly unreliable”[/color] 

He put down his cutlery, raised a hand, and called up an armory menu, begging to  scroll through the pile of guns he’d acquired, seeking one specific item. 

[color=ea590c]”Let me see, I believe I might have something that fits… here”[/color] he said, turning the menu around and displaying the weapon he’d found.

[hider=the item in question]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/uiRqhm7.png]Hexagun[/url][/b]: Created by a vengeful Gunjurer, the stock is formed from what was once his staff, and each piece of metal was enchanted thrice before assembly. In the hands of a mystic, its rounds have the chance to transmogrify targets. A semiautomatic precision rifle that fires extremely fast, piercing arcane rays. It comes with 75 magic rounds, but it’s single-shot and takes 1.2s for an expert to reload. With a horn instead of an actual scope, it demands exceptional aiming ability. Can be replenished via universal/long gun/sniper pickups
[/hider]

[color=ea590c]”A somewhat awkward configuration, it seems, what with the lack of sights, but the form certainly implies it is a precision weapon. I’ve not had a chance to fire it to find out if that is actually the case”[/color] he explained. [color=ea590c]”I had intended to try making use of it myself, arcane firearms are also my forte after all. However I am hoping I to be able to set up an Arcane Item Forge to salvage and then construct a replacement my broken magelock rifle before we set out again”[/color] 

Sandalphon read the description at a glance, so she ended up pretending to read for a while longer while Edward finished speaking before she could reply. “This meets most of the specified criteria. It does appear to be a marksman rifle, and the lack of sights wouldn’t be an issue for me since my eyes provide a high degree of accuracy. If this rifle is compatible with spell bullets, I believe it would be a perfect candidate. Would twenty-five thousand zenny be an acceptable offer? You would still be welcome to borrow it for your own tests, as well.” It took only a moment to process the other tidbit Edward mentioned as well. “There is open space in the Mysticenter if your Arcane Item Forge is not too vast. With the spellcrafting altars in the vicinity it would be ideal for magical craftwork. It sounds like a thematic fit as well.”

[color=ea590c]”How generous”[/color] Edward replied, not quite hiding his surprise at the number well enough, before adapting and lowering the value to [color=ea590c]”Fifteen thousand will be more than enough however.”[/color] He had little interest in making the new leader of the seekers grossly overpay him for this single weapon, particularly given how personable he found her and how helpful she had been, so the loss was hardly that much of a sacrifice.

With that in mind, he requested to know [color=ea590c]”These spell bullets you mentioned, what can you tell me about them?”[/color] seeing as he had found another weapon, Odin’s pinkey, that might well run off of them.

“Deal,” Sandalphon agreed. Her somewhat excessive proposal had been genuine, but also meant to gauge Edward, so she appreciated the lower offer in addition to the tactician’s disposition. A good weapon was invaluable, but there were upsides to not splurging all her funds as well. As for spellcrafting, she was happy to relate what she knew. “These altars allow magical reagents like special stones, wood, or animal parts. Different materials can be combined at different altars to create spell bullets with a variety of effects. These include basic elemental effects, like fire, lightning, and ice, but also accelerant effects like oil and water, and more esoteric categories such as poison, disease, physics, life, and order. I have crafted a few types so far, but have lacked magic weapons that accept them until now.”

[color=ea590c]”Fascinating”[/color] Edward replied, before noting it was [color=ea590c]”all the more reason to investigate this ‘Mysticenter’ you mentioned”[/color] and then inquiring [color=ea590c]”Is there a lost number in charge of its operation?”[/color] 

Sandalphon shook her head. “It’s general-purpose, though I believe Lakota has the most experience with the shrines. He crafts magic arrows.”

As he spoke, the man spun the armory screen back around and summoned forth the weapon they’d been bartering over. It dropped into his hand and then offered it over the table to Sandalphon, saying [color=ea590c]”Here. We can work out the change after dinner”[/color] given that that would be far more convoluted than simply passing her the rifle.

The archangel had not been expecting to receive the weapon now, but she could adapt. She stepped back from the table in order to not interfere with the meals of her neighbors, quickly examined the Hexagun, and then set it aside. After the night’s events concluded she could get a feel for it in the firing range. Hopefully she could also find an easy way to carry it, but if she couldn’t summon it like her gunstaff, it could simply be slung across her back instead of the Eye of Sol, which could now go to someone else. “My thanks.”

[color=ea590c]”A pleasure doing business with you”[/color] Edward replied, before taking up his cutlery again and resuming eating on and off between speaking.

[color=ea590c]”While I have your ear, I was wondering what your intent was in terms when you hop over to the other team? Command structure wise?”[/color] He inquired, that situation having been a reason he had voted against the angel, and one that, in his opinion, one that still needed resolved.

Sandalphon nodded in acknowledgement of the important matter as she sat back down. “Such visits would be uniformly brief, and ideally not in times where my primary team is in need of leadership. I don’t expect that an extremely hands-on approach would be either prudent or necessary to begin with, so I see no issue with leaving you to your own devices when I am away.” Of course, she had her own ideas about who else would be fit for a leadership role within the group, but she imagined that it would happen naturally in her absence, without further need for formal definition of the command structure.

Edward didn’t seem too convinced this was the best approach, but didn’t want to be too pointed about it, replying evenly as he could. [color=ea590c]”As you say, this is not a group that needs to be tightly controlled, or would allow for such things, but having someone designated as the one who makes the snap decision in, say, an ambush, could be the matter between life and death. You never know when a crisis might strike”[/color] 

[color=ea590c]”Not that this needs to be formalized, of course. The closer we get to a military command structure the more disgruntlement is likely to arise, but it is something to keep in mind if nothing else”[/color]

“Of course.” The amount of control that should be leveraged over the group was a fine line to walk, but the issue of unexpected situations like that warranted further consideration. Hopefully she would never need to leave and the other team could just call her if they needed to speak to her for whatever reason, but situations tended to evolve, and plans to change. She took a sip of coffee, and continued to nibble at her meal.

Edward simply nodded back, glad his concerns had been heard, and returned to his own meal. He could have attempted to engage in more conversation, but quite frankly the meal was too good to let it get cold. Plus it was certainly novel, to have a meal consisting of such an absurd amount of crab.