Fate/Dark Night IC

[Minerva]

Jack frowns at this, very displeased with the whole contract business. "Right, but that in of itself is a huge loophole. Just because people aren't allowed to fight there, doesn't mean one can't hire others to do so, either inside or out of the building. And knowing the fact that dragons are running it doesn't make it any more safe. They've probably already made arrangements with various sniper teams to take out the opposition, just because of that loophole." He leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.


Azrael, at that, leans forward, shaking his head. "Joking aside, that man wasn't a simple priest. He was a fucking monster. I saw a few videos of him fighting from two Wars ago. The man was absolutely insane, able to keep up with other SERVANTS while he fought. He wasn't a priest, that motherfucker was a cold blooded assassin. Apologies for bringing him up here, Rin, but..." He leans back, coughing a bit. "I'm just glad to hear that monster isn't anywhere near this War. I don't even think I could HIT him, and I'm a surgeon with my SF-20."

Kellyn nodded. "If it makes you guys feel safe, I can run Overwatch, just to make sure nothing happens. It's at the Eden Arcology. That huge building near the Maglev station. I've been there several times, I know the layout." He looked down at the ground.

Just then, there was another knock at the door. "That must be Sakura or Ilya." She said, standing up to go to the door.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Kellyn nodded. "If it makes you guys feel safe, I can run Overwatch, just to make sure nothing happens. It's at the Eden Arcology. That huge building near the Maglev station. I've been there several times, I know the layout." He looked down at the ground.

Just then, there was another knock at the door. "That must be Sakura or Ilya." She said, standing up to go to the door.

"Huh, so an expert with a high power rifle and a working knowledge of the entire layout of the building... Yeah, you were definitely a good hire, Peacekeeper," Alex complimented before his head swiveled to face the door, "It's about time... Though knowing our luck, it'll be that demon priest we were talking about, revived by some dark god or something."​

 

[Minerva]

"Huh, so an expert with a high power rifle and a working knowledge of the entire layout of the building... Yeah, you were definitely a good hire, Peacekeeper," Alex complimented before his head swiveled to face the door, "It's about time... Though knowing our luck, it'll be that demon priest we were talking about, revived by some dark god or something."​

Kellyn chuckled a bit. "I've been here quite a few times in the past few months. I have an apartment and a safe house nearby. I have some stuff stored there that might be useful. I also made a contact who works at the Arcology. His name's Michael. Smart kid. He's an anthropologist from Saint Louis. Former Runner too, until his team made it big. Anyway, yeah. We should be golden at orientation."

You would hear some talking in the hallway, when Rin and another girl walks in.

She seems a bit nervous as well. She looks at Alex. "Dres." She says, before walking towards the group sitting around the table.

"This is Miss Matou." Rin says to the group. "She's Dres' sponsor."

@DeadAxl

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Kellyn chuckled a bit. "I've been here quite a few times in the past few months. I have an apartment and a safe house nearby. I have some stuff stored there that might be useful. I also made a contact who works at the Arcology. His name's Michael. Smart kid. He's an anthropologist from Saint Louis. Former Runner too, until his team made it big. Anyway, yeah. We should be golden at orientation."

You would hear some talking in the hallway, when Rin and another girl walks in.

She seems a bit nervous as well. She looks at Alex. "Dres." She says, before walking towards the group sitting around the table.

"This is Miss Matou." Rin says to the group. "She's Dres' sponsor."

@DeadAxl

"A Runner who went into anthropology, huh? Kind of like history, except more about animals, so he sounds like a nice guy," Alex would have said more, but the new arrival to the party cut off whatever he had to say. His demeanor subtly shifted, becoming a little more professional and dignified as he made space on the couch in case Matou required it. "Nice to see you again, Miss Matou," Even his manner of speaking had changed, becoming more polite and civil as he directed a smile towards the woman who had brought him in on the job, "You are looking as fine as always."​

 

[Minerva]

"A Runner who went into anthropology, huh? Kind of like history, except more about animals, so he sounds like a nice guy," Alex would have said more, but the new arrival to the party cut off whatever he had to say. His demeanor subtly shifted, becoming a little more professional and dignified as he made space on the couch in case Matou required it. "Nice to see you again, Miss Matou," Even his manner of speaking had changed, becoming more polite and civil as he directed a smile towards the woman who had brought him in on the job, "You are looking as fine as always."​

Kellyn nodded.

When Sakura entered the room and sat next to Dres, Kellyn egan to pack his guns back into the suitcase so that there would be room on the table for whatever people wanted to put there.

"Thank you." Sakura said. "Are these the others on your team?" She asked, pointing to the group.

Kellyn stepped forward. "Yeah, I'm Peacekeeper, the sniper and Overwatch for the group. I also function as medic."

@DeadAxl

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Kellyn nodded.

When Sakura entered the room and sat next to Dres, Kellyn egan to pack his guns back into the suitcase so that there would be room on the table for whatever people wanted to put there.

"Thank you." Sakura said. "Are these the others on your team?" She asked, pointing to the group.

Kellyn stepped forward. "Yeah, I'm Peacekeeper, the sniper and Overwatch for the group. I also function as medic."

@DeadAxl

"You're welcome, and yep, Peace and Az are two of the others on our team," Alex explained, making an odd distinction to some by calling the group 'our team' though it made sense to him. His loyalty belonged to Sakura given she was his sponsor plus she was one of the family heads, so in a way, it really was partly her team as well. She had a stake in their success, and as such, the magician hoped she would be pleased with the group's composition.​

 

[DeadAxl]

Azrael bows his head to the newcomer. "Greetings, Miss Matou. I am Azrael, the team's heavy weapons specialist and frontline damage tanker. Nice to meet you. This here" He motions towards Ally. "Is my Fixer, Ally. I look forward to working with you." He leans back in his chair after the bit of formality, drinking some more juice. "Yeah, I'd definitely feel safer with a sniper on overwatch at Orientation. There are reasons why you never cut a deal with a dragon, you know."

 

[Minerva]

"You're welcome, and yep, Peace and Az are two of the others on our team," Alex explained, making an odd distinction to some by calling the group 'our team' though it made sense to him. His loyalty belonged to Sakura given she was his sponsor plus she was one of the family heads, so in a way, it really was partly her team as well. She had a stake in their success, and as such, the magician hoped she would be pleased with the group's composition.​

Azrael bows his head to the newcomer. "Greetings, Miss Matou. I am Azrael, the team's heavy weapons specialist and frontline damage tanker. Nice to meet you. This here" He motions towards Ally. "Is my Fixer, Ally. I look forward to working with you." He leans back in his chair after the bit of formality, drinking some more juice. "Yeah, I'd definitely feel safer with a sniper on overwatch at Orientation. There are reasons why you never cut a deal with a dragon, you know."

Sakura smiled softly. "Nice to meet you, Peacekeeper, Azrael, and Ally." She said.

Kellyn poured some more tea into his cup. "Alright, I'll act as Overwatch at Orientation. Better Safe than Sorry, right?" He said, stirring more sugar. "Anyway, Miss Matou, can we get you anything?"

She just shook her head. "Not right now, thank you."

 

[DeadAxl]

Sakura smiled softly. "Nice to meet you, Peacekeeper, Azrael, and Ally." She said.

Kellyn poured some more tea into his cup. "Alright, I'll act as Overwatch at Orientation. Better Safe than Sorry, right?" He said, stirring more sugar. "Anyway, Miss Matou, can we get you anything?"

She just shook her head. "Not right now, thank you."

The orc bows his head towards Sakura as she returns the greeting. "Alright. Which means I'll get to stick next to Dres and put myself inbetween any bullets that might accidentally come his way during the conference. Are there any weapons allowed for open carry in the building, or will they confiscate everything?" He throws out a question to the whole table, somewhat curious. "If we CAN bring weapons, I'll bring my street-level gear to show I mean business. Otherwise, I guess my meathooks'll have to do for intimidation purposes."

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

The orc bows his head towards Sakura as she returns the greeting. "Alright. Which means I'll get to stick next to Dres and put myself inbetween any bullets that might accidentally come his way during the conference. Are there any weapons allowed for open carry in the building, or will they confiscate everything?" He throws out a question to the whole table, somewhat curious. "If we CAN bring weapons, I'll bring my street-level gear to show I mean business. Otherwise, I guess my meathooks'll have to do for intimidation purposes."

"Doubtful, the suits are pretty anal about this sort of thing," Alex muttered, leaning forward with a bored expression, "They want to protect their investments, meaning if we kill their future hole-fillers too soon, they're going to lose money and be pissed. Besides, the fact that we're showing up with a team, a mage, and the support of the Three Families definitely proves that we mean business. Hell, the fact that we're all metahumans in some way but were willing to show up in one of the most anti-metahuman nations to compete especially shows that we mean business."​

 

[DeadAxl]

"Doubtful, the suits are pretty anal about this sort of thing," Alex muttered, leaning forward with a bored expression, "They want to protect their investments, meaning if we kill their future hole-fillers too soon, they're going to lose money and be pissed. Besides, the fact that we're showing up with a team, a mage, and the support of the Three Families definitely proves that we mean business. Hell, the fact that we're all metahumans in some way but were willing to show up in one of the most anti-metahuman nations to compete especially shows that we mean business."​

Azrael nods, stroking his chin. "Yeah, well, you can never be too careful, especially when dragons are involved. But yeah, if bullets start flying, feel free to put me inbetween you and the high-velocity shraps of metal. I'm pretty sure I can take it better than you could, no offense."

He cracks his neck, looking over to the others in the group. "Well, once Orientation is over, what's our first move, assuming we make it out of there without too many scratches? I'm guessing we'll need to establish a base of sorts, yeah? I doubt these fine young women would be happy with a bunch of Runners using their somewhat expensive homes as bases, so...?"

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Azrael nods, stroking his chin. "Yeah, well, you can never be too careful, especially when dragons are involved. But yeah, if bullets start flying, feel free to put me inbetween you and the high-velocity shraps of metal. I'm pretty sure I can take it better than you could, no offense."

He cracks his neck, looking over to the others in the group. "Well, once Orientation is over, what's our first move, assuming we make it out of there without too many scratches? I'm guessing we'll need to establish a base of sorts, yeah? I doubt these fine young women would be happy with a bunch of Runners using their somewhat expensive homes as bases, so...?"

Alex rubbed the back of his head uncertainly, not sure of an answer to his question, "I mean, I've got a place to hide out nearby, but it might not exactly be big enough for you all. I've got to have space to prepare rituals and all, so we'll have to move some of the needed tools around and be careful with it at the same time... And thanks for the offer. It's nice to know I can count on one guy to keep me covered."​

 

[Minerva]

The orc bows his head towards Sakura as she returns the greeting. "Alright. Which means I'll get to stick next to Dres and put myself inbetween any bullets that might accidentally come his way during the conference. Are there any weapons allowed for open carry in the building, or will they confiscate everything?" He throws out a question to the whole table, somewhat curious. "If we CAN bring weapons, I'll bring my street-level gear to show I mean business. Otherwise, I guess my meathooks'll have to do for intimidation purposes."

"Doubtful, the suits are pretty anal about this sort of thing," Alex muttered, leaning forward with a bored expression, "They want to protect their investments, meaning if we kill their future hole-fillers too soon, they're going to lose money and be pissed. Besides, the fact that we're showing up with a team, a mage, and the support of the Three Families definitely proves that we mean business. Hell, the fact that we're all metahumans in some way but were willing to show up in one of the most anti-metahuman nations to compete especially shows that we mean business."​

Azrael nods, stroking his chin. "Yeah, well, you can never be too careful, especially when dragons are involved. But yeah, if bullets start flying, feel free to put me inbetween you and the high-velocity shraps of metal. I'm pretty sure I can take it better than you could, no offense."

He cracks his neck, looking over to the others in the group. "Well, once Orientation is over, what's our first move, assuming we make it out of there without too many scratches? I'm guessing we'll need to establish a base of sorts, yeah? I doubt these fine young women would be happy with a bunch of Runners using their somewhat expensive homes as bases, so...?"

Alex rubbed the back of his head uncertainly, not sure of an answer to his question, "I mean, I've got a place to hide out nearby, but it might not exactly be big enough for you all. I've got to have space to prepare rituals and all, so we'll have to move some of the needed tools around and be careful with it at the same time... And thanks for the offer. It's nice to know I can count on one guy to keep me covered."​

Kellyn nearly spilled his tea. "We could probably buy some sort of light pistol, maybe a Hold-out or some sort of concealable non-lethal. Otherwise, you're going to have to rely on me, and your muscles. And remember, the corp that owns the Arcology is Korean. It's under a separate jurisdiction. Massive AA Corp. Only thing keeping it from a spot on the Corporate Court is Evo Biomedical's bitching." Kellyn sighed about his last statement. He always went into tangents like that.

"Anyway, about a base of Operations, we do have permission to use their houses. However, we probably shouldn't stay here the entire time. I have a nice apartment downtown, as well as an even better safe house we can use. After Orientation, though, we should probably find a leyline and summon, right, Rin?" He looked at his sponsor who was standing in the doorway.

"Yes, that should be your priority." She said. "The others will all do that immediately as well. But with this, there may be news interviews, and all sorts of things. It's a different world from when we fought, right, Sakura?"

Sakura just nodded and said "Yes."

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Kellyn nearly spilled his tea. "We could probably buy some sort of light pistol, maybe a Hold-out or some sort of concealable non-lethal. Otherwise, you're going to have to rely on me, and your muscles. And remember, the corp that owns the Arcology is Korean. It's under a separate jurisdiction. Massive AA Corp. Only thing keeping it from a spot on the Corporate Court is Evo Biomedical's bitching." Kellyn sighed about his last statement. He always went into tangents like that.

"Anyway, about a base of Operations, we do have permission to use their houses. However, we probably shouldn't stay here the entire time. I have a nice apartment downtown, as well as an even better safe house we can use. After Orientation, though, we should probably find a leyline and summon, right, Rin?" He looked at his sponsor who was standing in the doorway.

"Yes, that should be your priority." She said. "The others will all do that immediately as well. But with this, there may be news interviews, and all sorts of things. It's a different world from when we fought, right, Sakura?"

Sakura just nodded and said "Yes."

"But they could also know where the leylines are and be ready to ambush us if we go for them..." Alex muttered, realizing that they could easily be caught off-guard by the other teams if they got their servants summoned first, "Does anyone here have a guess as to where the nearest leyline is? Maybe if hurry, we'll be able to get there, get the summoning, and get out before anyone has a chance to come after us..."​

 

[DeadAxl]

Jack ultimately shrugs when it comes to the magic talk, being one of the two only Mundanes in the room. "I mean, does the Summoning have to be on a leyline? I heard that Rin's... Er, friend. Shirou Emiya, was it? He summoned in what basically amounted to his own backyard. I mean, all you really need is some privacy, right?" Ally chimes in here. "I'm not sure, but all I remember seeing as requirements to summon are you have to have the Command Seals on you, and you have to have an artifact connected to the Hero you wish to summon." Azrael tilts his head, somewhat confused. "And where are we gonna get an artifact? I doubt those things are just lying around..."

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Jack ultimately shrugs when it comes to the magic talk, being one of the two only Mundanes in the room. "I mean, does the Summoning have to be on a leyline? I heard that Rin's... Er, friend. Shirou Emiya, was it? He summoned in what basically amounted to his own backyard. I mean, all you really need is some privacy, right?" Ally chimes in here. "I'm not sure, but all I remember seeing as requirements to summon are you have to have the Command Seals on you, and you have to have an artifact connected to the Hero you wish to summon." Azrael tilts his head, somewhat confused. "And where are we gonna get an artifact? I doubt those things are just lying around..."

"Well, I'm sure we could ask the Asso- Wait, no, we can't."

Huh, that certainly made things harder. Now that Alex thought about it, they were reliant on Rin, Sakura, and the final family head to provide an artifact if they hoped to get anyone powerful. Without one, they would have no guarantee that their Servant would be strong enough to survive the competition, Saber class or not.

"Uh.... Miss Matou, Miss Tohsaka, you two wouldn't have anything that would suffice for this sort of thing, would you? I don't think I want to have to break into a museum just to get one artifact of a samurai or a warlord, but if you guys don't..."​

 

[Minerva]

"But they could also know where the leylines are and be ready to ambush us if we go for them..." Alex muttered, realizing that they could easily be caught off-guard by the other teams if they got their servants summoned first, "Does anyone here have a guess as to where the nearest leyline is? Maybe if hurry, we'll be able to get there, get the summoning, and get out before anyone has a chance to come after us..."​

"There's the Church, er Cathedral, which is neutral ground. There's also the temple, which is Shiawase's territory, but they aren't competing, remember?"

Kellyn was cut short.

Jack ultimately shrugs when it comes to the magic talk, being one of the two only Mundanes in the room. "I mean, does the Summoning have to be on a leyline? I heard that Rin's... Er, friend. Shirou Emiya, was it? He summoned in what basically amounted to his own backyard. I mean, all you really need is some privacy, right?" Ally chimes in here. "I'm not sure, but all I remember seeing as requirements to summon are you have to have the Command Seals on you, and you have to have an artifact connected to the Hero you wish to summon." Azrael tilts his head, somewhat confused. "And where are we gonna get an artifact? I doubt those things are just lying around..."

"Well, I'm sure we could ask the Asso- Wait, no, we can't."

Huh, that certainly made things harder. Now that Alex thought about it, they were reliant on Rin, Sakura, and the final family head to provide an artifact if they hoped to get anyone powerful. Without one, they would have no guarantee that their Servant would be strong enough to survive the competition, Saber class or not.

"Uh.... Miss Matou, Miss Tohsaka, you two wouldn't have anything that would suffice for this sort of thing, would you? I don't think I want to have to break into a museum just to get one artifact of a samurai or a warlord, but if you guys don't..."​

"Makes more sense. I'm betting we would be allowed to summon here?" Kellyn turned back to Rin, who nodded. "As for the artifact, that's something my anthropologist friend can help with. He's been to ma-"

"Or you could just use something I have already." Rin said. "We all bought it in preparation for this war."

"That works too."

 

[DeadAxl]

"Well, I'm sure we could ask the Asso- Wait, no, we can't."

Huh, that certainly made things harder. Now that Alex thought about it, they were reliant on Rin, Sakura, and the final family head to provide an artifact if they hoped to get anyone powerful. Without one, they would have no guarantee that their Servant would be strong enough to survive the competition, Saber class or not.

"Uh.... Miss Matou, Miss Tohsaka, you two wouldn't have anything that would suffice for this sort of thing, would you? I don't think I want to have to break into a museum just to get one artifact of a samurai or a warlord, but if you guys don't..."​

"There's the Church, er Cathedral, which is neutral ground. There's also the temple, which is Shiawase's territory, but they aren't competing, remember?"

Kellyn was cut short.




"Makes more sense. I'm betting we would be allowed to summon here?" Kellyn turned back to Rin, who nodded. "As for the artifact, that's something my anthropologist friend can help with. He's been to ma-"

"Or you could just use something I have already." Rin said. "We all bought it in preparation for this war."

"That works too."

Azrael raises his eyebrow at the mention of the family heads being so prepared. "Really? So who's this artifact connected to?" He looks around the room, frowning slightly, somewhat left behind in the subject of magic. "Well, whoever it is, hopefully they aren't too against working with us. I mean, the Servants do have a will of their own, yeah? Isn't that why the Command Seals exist?" He leans back in his chair, deigning to leave most of the magical conversation from here on out to the others, only speaking up to voice his concerns.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

"There's the Church, er Cathedral, which is neutral ground. There's also the temple, which is Shiawase's territory, but they aren't competing, remember?"

Kellyn was cut short.




"Makes more sense. I'm betting we would be allowed to summon here?" Kellyn turned back to Rin, who nodded. "As for the artifact, that's something my anthropologist friend can help with. He's been to ma-"

"Or you could just use something I have already." Rin said. "We all bought it in preparation for this war."

"That works too."

"Good, so we have that covered at least..." Alex muttered, glad they had both a place to summon their servant safely and an artifact for the task.
​

Azrael raises his eyebrow at the mention of the family heads being so prepared. "Really? So who's this artifact connected to?" He looks around the room, frowning slightly, somewhat left behind in the subject of magic. "Well, whoever it is, hopefully they aren't too against working with us. I mean, the Servants do have a will of their own, yeah? Isn't that why the Command Seals exist?" He leans back in his chair, deigning to leave most of the magical conversation from here on out to the others, only speaking up to voice his concerns.

"Yeah, more or less, though we don't want to waste them. It's better if we try to be at least somewhat diplomatic with whoever we summon," The explanation was little bare bones, but Alex had a feeling that the orc didn't care for the specifics. All that mattered was that they didn't get hurt in the process of working with the Servant, and that's what he would explain if asked.​

 

[Minerva]

Azrael raises his eyebrow at the mention of the family heads being so prepared. "Really? So who's this artifact connected to?" He looks around the room, frowning slightly, somewhat left behind in the subject of magic. "Well, whoever it is, hopefully they aren't too against working with us. I mean, the Servants do have a will of their own, yeah? Isn't that why the Command Seals exist?" He leans back in his chair, deigning to leave most of the magical conversation from here on out to the others, only speaking up to voice his concerns.

"Good, so we have that covered at least..." Alex muttered, glad they had both a place to summon their servant safely and an artifact for the task.
​

"Yeah, more or less, though we don't want to waste them. It's better if we try to be at least somewhat diplomatic with whoever we summon," The explanation was little bare bones, but Alex had a feeling that the orc didn't care for the specifics. All that mattered was that they didn't get hurt in the process of working with the Servant, and that's what he would explain if asked.​

"How do you all feel about working with the Roman Emperor Nero?" Rin asked. "Nero was the only one we could find an artifact for, I'm sorry. Magical Organizations and Megacorps have just been buying them left and right."

She left the room for a few minutes, and returned with a glass case. Inside was what looked like a Roman Gladius. It was slightly rusty, but still had the look of the sword.

Sakura had fallen asleep at this point, she was resting her head in her hand, which was leaning on the arm of the couch.