"This contract is only binding until the very end of the Grail War is complete or both parties in question agree to annul the geis"
Both partys? Okay so whats to stop my new friend from being an complete Ass and killing loved ones. And then not agreeing to annul. Because of the Geis I can't directly make anyone hurt them.
ALAS like the Van Gogh of Writing that I am, the profound and sublime meta-genius of my artistic form goes unheeded by my peers, and unrecognized in my time.
And like Van Gogh, I have sacrificed of myself to attain this peak. To lose an ear simply strengthened the man's capacity for visual appeal, and thus my sacrifice upon the altar of artistry shall propel me to great heights - but like the words of praise ear-loss had deprived the aforementioned Dutch post-Impressionist painter of, I too shall be left behind, a time capsule to be enshrined in a time later to come.
@EklispeAlright well Eklipse do what you can when you get the chance to post. I know Grey isn't the fastest poster out of all of us but we still need to attempt to keep the engines going.
@TurboshitterIf you like Turbo I'll just move Leon in for the moment and dismiss Kurosaki unless you prefer to keep talking to him. I'd much prefer to use Leon than an NPC and I'm not sure when Bubblegum is going to do anything.
That's fine, yeah. Though maybe you should wait for @Grey to respond to Kuro-sensei.
How long should we give Bubblegum to post? I'm trying to be reasonable and give him time but we did the same with Loki and it kinda hurt us a bit.
I really, really want to give them more time, because I was really looking forward to this teamup as well as the dynamics of the relationship between Ren/Rider and Sosthenes/Lancer. However I agree we shouldn't wait more than a few days before cutting our losses and trudging onwards, as disappointing as tgat might be.
If Bubbles doesn't show up, would anyone be willing to take over Rider? I can ask my friend who's been waiting in the wings but I'm curious if anyone else is interested, as their participation is no done deal.
An internet cafe across the street from Ahnenerbe - 1:41 PM December 2nd, 2012
Albert smiled at the professor's kindness. The expression was hard to decipher. It had mixed feelings of amusement, pity and thankfulness all wrapped up inside it like a torte, but it was easy to see from just the boy's eyes that it contained no malice or ill-givings.
"Sensei, I appreciate your concern, but you're going to lose even more of your 'air at zis rate. You 'onestly zink I would allow ze presence of a Master to elude me? I 'ave 'ad some friends sweeping zis city from top to bottom since last night. And while I 'aven't located all ze ozer Masters just yet," on account of a mysterious number of zem dying, he thought, "I know about enough of zem zat I'm not too concerned about strangers. And look, ma chère is 'ere wiz me. Believe it or not, she is very competent 'elp. She's loud, rude, a little disobedient and she can be a 'uge pain in my ass, but I still would not 'ave chosen anyone else."
Albert smirked, his expression teasing Berserker as much as his words. As genuine as he was being, he would live to see her regret that desire for a more frank and open relationship.
"'Er strength is of course what I love about 'er, but 'er real charm is zat she would never even zink of betraying me. Even if I did sink into ze depths of 'ell like you say, I don't zink 'infidelity' is a word she knows or approves of. She's too adorably chivalric for zat. Ma chère would follow me zere wizout a second zought. After all, zere are more 'eazens to kill in 'ell zan in 'eaven."
He allowed himself a quiet chuckle at his private joke, but his expression quickly turned sour. Although he already knew he could trust her with his life, he had a lot of mixed feelings about his Servant's loyalty to him, and none of them had anything to do with her or her behavior.
He took a sip of his disgusting coffee.
"More to ze point, I don't know if 'friend' is exactly ze right word, but we are definitely more zan strangers, are we not? I trusted you enough to believe zat you would not attack me even if you were an enemy, no? Wiz zat being ze case, I would 'ave no objections to calling someone as dependable as you my ally. You are already one of ze best teachers I 'ave ever 'ad, although I'll admit I learned more about philosophy from you zan magecraft."
Albert twiddled his fingers nervously.
"So... I guess what I am trying to say is zat we are already friends, no? And, as a friend, I would appreciate any 'elp you can give me in zis war. I know you don't approve, but you don't 'ave to worry. I can take care of myself even when ma chère cannot, and I 'ave no intention of asking you to fight. I don't zink I would 'ave even if you 'ad a Servant, but involving someone wizout one in ze 'Oly Grail War is both callous and stupid. Some people may say zey can make a case for me being ze former, but I pride myself on never being ze latter. All I'd ask is for your 'elp in understanding ze locals. Japan is more zan a little foreign to me, and I'd appreciate 'aving someone to show me around, someone who knows ze streets and ze people."
As quickly as the uncharacteristic earnestness had come, it faded, and Albert grinned slyly.
"Of course, zis all 'inges on you being able to prove to me zat you aren't in fact an enemy Master like you said. By your own admission, it wouldn't be wise for me to let you leave 'ere until I know for sure, oui? So zen, do you have a syringe, or are we going to 'ave to draw some blood ze old fashioned way? Ma chère is quite proficient at zat if nozing else."
An internet cafe across the street from Ahnenerbe - 1:38 PM December 2nd, 2012
Albert blinked, stunned into wakefulness by the sudden intrusion. Kuro-sensei?
Yes, he remembered this man. One of his old professors back at the Clocktower, and one of the few he still liked (as well as the only person he, a short, pale French boy about as white as the snow, could ever get to call "sensei" without feeling a deep sense of shame). While he could never claim that they were friends necessarily, he did remember enjoying the time he spent in Kuro-sensei's classes. Perhaps it had something to do with his... unique sense of style and the fact that, in the Clocktower, they were both commonly considered outcasts. There was a certain kinship in that, insubstantial as it may be.
As usual, the man's mouth moved about a mile a minute, and was louder than his Hawaiian t-shirt. Albert blushed but grinned quietly when Kuro-sensei mistook Berserker for his girlfriend. A natural mistake to make, for his irresistible French charms made him a natural at picking up women (or so he liked to believe even though his record at the Clocktower matched Kuro-sensei's description exactly). It was only with patience that Albert was able to find an opening to speak in what was so far a one-sided conversation.
"Sensei, I zink you've got ze wrong idea 'ere," he said proudly but grimly. "Ma chère is... 'ow you say..."
Without a better way to explain it (at least not one that he could think of), he removed the one fingerless glove he wore to show Kuro-sensei the patterned maroon splotches that now decorated his palm. They were a symbol of his status as a Master. Anyone remotely familiar with the ritual in which he was participating should recognize them.
After showing him the Command Seals for a brief moment, Albert slipped the glove back on.
"So zat's 'ow it is. I apologize if I am not able to introduce you properly, but I zink zat by ze same logic you will understand zat zere are zings I'm just not able to tell you about 'er, no? For now..."
He thought about it a minute, then smiled devilishly.
"... you may call 'er 'Furiosa'," he said with a grand flourish. "Or 'Roly-Poly', if you prefer."
He invited him to sit. It occurred to him only a little too late that his sensei may in fact be a participant in the War himself, but the more he thought about that, the more he found it unlikely. Not many Masters would brazenly approach one another like this, not if they had any sense. Besides, his Servant was right here with him, already materialized. He had little to fear. And he trusted Kuro-sensei enough to believe that even as a fellow Master, he'd cut a former student some slack. At least the first time.
An internet cafe across the street from Ahnenerbe - 1:34 PM December 2nd, 2012
Albert yawned sleepily, his eyes transfixed on the cheap cup of black fluid the temperature of magma that was cooling ever so slowly on the table in front of him. He gazed at it forlornly. Oh what he wouldn't give for a cup of Cafe Royal, or even monk's brew. Hell, he'd even take that disgusting Irish coffee rather than this soulless stygian sludge. But, he admitted, it was something he desperately needed after spending all night searching fruitlessly for Assassin with Berserker, someone who seemed to come into possession of a limitless reservoir of stamina and patience whenever someone uttered the word "saracen", who had refused to quit until the dawn of the morning light.
As a result, he'd slept through the whole morning, and missed his own meeting that he himself had proposed. It was an embarrassment for sure, but not one without its silver linings. Truth be told, it had never been his intention to actually attend the meeting. He'd merely suggested it as a scheme to gather a bunch of Masters in one place where he could observe them from afar and maybe stir up some trouble.
Indeed, that was why he and Berserker were currently sitting in such a relatively low-end internet cafe directly opposite the Ahnenerbe, drinking this unholy mess made of coffee beans and human suffering. He wanted to observe. Only a fool would expose himself in a situation like this, and while it was true what he'd said last night about being in direct line of sight of numerous witnesses, "acceptable losses" may as well have been the Holy Grail War's unofficial title (right next to "collateral damage" and "electric boogaloo"), and mages were not afraid to kill any number of innocents if they thought they could get away with it.
Instead, he'd watch and wait from a relatively safe distance to see who took the bait. Those who showed up and were willing to wait for him long enough to prove some level of dedication to the idea of an alliance would be rewarded with a more private consultation once night fell. Anyone else who approached the cafe but did not stay to hear him out or tried to attack would receive a nifty little bug, and a much less friendly visit after he was done negotiating with everyone else.
It was an acceptable plan, especially in his current sleep-deprived state. There was just one problem. No one had shown up. The cafe had been empty since morning, and it seemed as though it would remain that way, in defiance of all logic and common sense. It was baffling.
"Ma chère," he said sleepily to Berserker, dressed in her civilian clothes. "Do you see anyone? 'As anyone shown up yet?"
To bide his time and keep himself awake a little bit longer, he decided he'd Google Togami as promised. That was the only other good reason he could think of why he'd chosen this dump to stake out the Ahnenerbe in.
Fish of Oblivion
