Day 9 - Mysterious Crimes

[lesgeois]

[

Dear Knight, Witch, Emperor, and their respective Masters.

You've spent your nine days running in circles, concerning yourself with Lancer and Archer, making merry, drinking wine, and arguing over love. It's enough to make a young man's heart soar, but a villain like myself can only think of mischief. Terribly sorry.

The object that will be stolen: Of course, everyone's beloved moon.
The time that it will be stolen: One day from now, at midnight.
The conditions under which it will be stolen: In front of all your faces.

We will meet at the Harbor, at eleven-fifty PM, where you will all watch my grand performance. If you are not there, then I will reveal the identities of your servants to everyone in the war.

Signed, Assassin

PS: What's that? How do you know I'm not bluffing?

Very well: Saber's identity is -

Diana had hastily torn that piece of the letter off and burnt it. It hadn't named Mordred explicitly, but it had been very, very precise in its clues. An Arthurian knight of 'ill birth.' Whose arrival spelled the end of an age. Who had perished at Arthur's hands.

When she'd shown De Leon and Cruz the note, they'd had similar ones - of course, theirs had had the ends torn off as well. She'd at least confirmed that theirs had contained clues to their servants' identities, though.

They'd spent some time arguing if they should go, De Leon positing that it might be a trick from the Masters of Lancer and Archer ("Do they think they can take all three of us?" "Well, probably?") and Cruz thinking that Assassin might have some sort of trap-based Noble Phantasm.

Berserker hadn't seen hide nor hair of Assassin, he thought, and Caster hadn't sensed any other magical activity in the city outside of the few scattered fights that had gone on. Certainly nothing like a Noble Phantasm being activated.

Ultimately, the plan had been made - Saber, Caster, and Diana would arrive first, shortly before the allotted time, and Berserker, De Leon, and Cruz would arrive as back-up.

Which is why Mordred, Caster, and Diana are standing at the pier - as they step in, a shadowed man in full suit and top hat slides into view, atop some structure or another, like a phantom.

Obviously, Assassin.]



Man, some people don't know how to take an invitation. I gave you all the right time and the right people to bring, and you screw it up?

[Caster's drifting off somewhere to the side, puffing impatiently on her pipe. Diana raises her arm in front of Mordred, because of course Mordred's going to do something stupid with the enemy right in front of her.]

You didn't tell us we couldn't arrive early. And since we're early, Berserker and the other two Masters still have time to arrive.



Yeah, but it's hardly proper. Sir Saber there doesn't even seem to want to wait for the party to start, going by her eyes.

Comments

[bloodings]

Yeah, Saber's Master. This is a discussion between Servants.

[ She grins, then rolls her eyes. Playing along with Caster has limits. ]

Usually I don't bother to learn about the people I have to kill. But you've impressed me, witch. So, if you want to tell me your names, I'll at least make sure not to forget them. [ Shrug. ] I'm sure my Master feels the same way. [ About the last part, not the killing people part. ]

[spellto]

You might not have to kill us, you know. Lancer and Archer could do it for you.

['... If you two know Saber's identity, then it's only fair. This is an alliance.']

I wonder if you'd say the same thing if our Masters were here.

[Either way, Caster clears her throat - checks Diana once over to make certain she isn't going to be hurting too badly while she gives her little speech, then sits up.]

My name is Aradia. My mother is Diana, and my father is Lucifer.

[She brushes her hand towards Berserker.]

Berserker's name is Cambyses the Second, King of Kings, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire. He conquered Egypt, then was laid low by its curse. I suppose you might be able to learn some lessons from him about ruling, even if your motivations are different.

[Berserker snorts.]

Yes, yes, 'not likely.' Though I'm not sure if you're insulting yourself or our friend Mordred, there.

[bloodings]

I don't have friends. [ Mordred stares for a moment, her expression strangely bothered. ] And there's only one king I need to learn from. Berserker can't possibly live up to him.

[ It doesn't matter who he is. Nobody will ever be equal to, or better than, King Arthur — except her. Slowly, the sudden tension in the air fades away, and she hums. ]

Diana, huh. [ She looks over at her Master. ] I thought you'd be too young for that. [ Don't be a little shit. ]

tfw when you're too colorblind to know if a joke is accurate

[lesgeois]

[Diana hesitates, at that tension in the air. It reminds her of when her and Mordred first met, when she'd insulted Mordred deeply -

It fades quickly, though. Mordred really has grown.]

What - ['About me,' but then Mordred follows up. Never mind, she hasn't grown at all.]

Of course I'm not her mother!



We are both blondes with green eyes.



Mine are blue-green - and by that logic, Mordred's my daughter too!

[bloodings]

Son. [ Huff... but then she gets flustered too. ] Oi, wait a minute, that's beside the point! Don't bring me into this!

[ Even if she deserves it. She goes quiet for a second, like she's dropped it, then: ]

W-well, you'd probably make a good mother, but... uh, this is weird to think about. [ How do you think Diana feels, Mordred. ]

[lesgeois]

Please don't make me think about being a mother -

[Because that's a complicated thought, for a variety of reasons. She reaches to ruffle Mordred's hair, for whatever reason - then remembers, yeah, bullet wound, winds up hissing and falling back into her seat. Caster sighs and sets herself back down, getting back to something like work.]

What makes you think I'd be a good mother, anyway? My own mother is a hard precedent to live up to.

[bloodings]

[ And Diana calls her an idiot... because she is one, but details. ]

Yeah, but that just means you've got a role model or whatever.

[ Mordred's got a decent opinion of her, from those few moments in the dream — but then, it's not hard to beat Morgan. And no parent can beat King Arthur. ]

I think you could do it. You can do anything. [ Wait. She blushes. ] I mean... it's the truth, right? T-there's nothing weird about me saying that! [ Nobody said it was?? ]

[lesgeois]

[Diana would find the thought of Arthur being a better parent than her own mother a terrible one. Her mother had her flaws, ones she knows in hindsight, as a near-adult. She stretched herself too thin. Barely kept any time for herself. And that's an admirable trait in a person, but it meant that at the end of the day, Diana was left alone. She'd have been alright with a less intelligent, less doting mother, so long as she still had one.

But Arthur never even tried to be Mordred's father. He doesn't deserve to even be called a parent, in her mind.]

... Re, regardless. [Diana blushes, too, clears her throat to cover it up.] Regardless, a child would be... difficult, for me. I suppose I'll have to continue the Cavendish line, but I wouldn't want to marry a man, so. ['You could adopt," Caster murmurs as she works against the back of Diana's head. 'There are far too many unloved children in the world. They could use loving parents.'

It's an almost helpful suggestion, until - 'Like you two.']

My mother loved me very much, Caster.



No, I didn't mean you were an unloved child. I meant that you two would be loving parents.



... Pardon?

[bloodings]

[ "Pardon" is a lot nicer reaction than the one Mordred has. She lets go of Diana's hand for the first time to dive (literally dive) at Caster instead, trying to cover her mouth. But she's embarrassed, so it's sloppy, ]

Hey, don't say stupid things! My Master doesn't want to hear that from you!

[ Let Diana speak for herself, Mordred. Also: lack of denial. ]

Why are we even talking about this?! [ Because someone made a joke about it. ] It's for her to worry about, s-so don't bring me into it!

[lesgeois]

Mordred, wait, she's -

[Ow. Everyone falls to the floor in a big pile - fortunately, Caster breaks Diana's fall, so instead of howling she just kinda winces. She also landed on her front instead of her (recently shot, remember Mordred) shoulder.

Mordred tackled Caster, who flailed, who knocked over the chair that Diana was sitting in, who fell forward. Therefore, Diana and Mordred are both on top of Caster, a ninety pound child.

Is it any surprise that a bunch of Caster's bugs hurry over and hurriedly pull the whole pile apart. Diana gets handled very gingerly. Mordred just gets yanked off by her foot, the strings wrapped around her ankle before pulling. Berserker paws over to nudge her off, too.]



I hope I don't need medical attention.



You may be a Caster, but you still have a Servant's durability. Some roughhousing won't kill you.

[bloodings]

Ow! Stupid bullshit strings!

[ What was that about Servant durability? Mordred kicks until she's free, narrowly avoiding hitting Berserker, then scowls at Caster. ]

I'll do more than just roughhousing when I get my hands on you! C'mere! [ This seems like an overreaction. She lunges again — but it's even easier to dodge, so just let her faceplant. At least Diana's out of the way of the Mordred Wrecking Ball. ]

[lesgeois]

[Caster leans back - which, yeah, Mordred faceplants because of it. Lazily, she prods at her with her foot.

Diana giggles - then reaches up to her throat, coughs a little as she massages it. Fun over, Caster sighs and brushes herself off.]



You should drink some water. You've lost blood, after all. And I doubt your captors were willing to feed you, even if you were only in their clutches for... [Caster glances out the window.

Oh, morning's starting to break. How poetic.]

And if you feel up to fooling around, we really should get the both of you back to my Master's mansion. We'll be safer there. And be able to find a bed that isn't broken.

[bloodings]

[ From the floor, grumpily: ] Don't laugh!

[ Rubbing her head too, now, Mordred sits up, looks around the room. Caster's right — she still wants to punch her, but she's right. She settles for kicking the floor as she gets to her feet, then gets serious again. ]

Master. If there's anything you need, tell me now. I won't be coming back here until you're with me. [ After a moment, she shrugs. ] Well, we could always send Berserker. He seems fine with being an errand boy. Caster shouldn't get to have all the fun ordering him about.

[lesgeois]

There - there should be some books in my room. Grab those. And my healing supplies, of course - you should recognize what they look like?

[It's an odd thought, not coming back here for a while. Even if it's only a week or two, Diana's only been out of her home for an extended time once before - during her time at the Clock Tower.

And they haven't had a chance to set up any new traps. Assassin could walk right back in and take whatever he wanted. She's unsure what she has that would be of any use to him. Her mother was a giving sort, unlike most mages, and donated most of her research to the Clock Tower when her condition worsened, not to mention gave her secrets freely to anyone she thought had good intentions for them. There are still a few things that are Cavendish family secrets, but she doubts Assassin or anyone else would have that much use for healing magic. And even if they did, Diana doesn't find the thought of even her enemies healing each other distasteful.

It's just an uncomfortable thought, leaving her and her mother's home so exposed.]

Is there anything you need? This has been your home for the past nine days too, you know.

[bloodings]

[ Mordred shakes her head. ] I have clothes. I won't be in this age long enough to need anything else.

[ It is what it is. She enjoys the food, and the few sights she's seen, but there's no point getting attached. Even the longest wars barely last more than two weeks: despite what she just said, there's a decent chance she won't be coming back here at all. But for some reason, that's too final for her to think about, and she puts it out of her head, tries to believe in the denial. ]

I'll find a bag to put everything in. [ Reluctantly — and only because she has to — she heads for the door, getting ready to shift back into spirit form. ] Caster, you keep working. I'm the one who's going to carry her.

[lesgeois]

[Diana thinks the same way - enough that the thought that Mordred might not see this place again makes her heart skip a beat, noticeable enough that Caster eases her back into the chair.

Over her shoulder, Mordred can probably hear Caster's teasing - 'My, Berserker, she doesn't think highly of you as a mount. Or does she just want her Master all to herself?' - but Diana doesn't say anything.

Not until Mordred comes back with everything, anyway. Caster and Berserker are already prepared to leave, Berserker still sniffing at the air occasionally as Diana, painfully, eases herself out of her chair.]

Mord - Saber. [She needs to kill that habit before they get back to Cruz and De Leon's.]

I was panicked earlier, so I don't think I ever properly said... thank you. [And Diana still looks pale, hurting and a little shellshocked, but she also seems at ease. Like she feels safe.]

[bloodings]

[ Actually being thanked is still weird to her. She blushes, averting her gaze a little. ] D-don't worry about it. A knight always has to save a captured princess. [ That's cute. ] Not that you're a princess, but... well, it's a Servant's job to save their Master, too.

[ That's not. But she's obviously just fighting the urge to get sappy in front of Caster and Berserker. Mordred doesn't do hugs, but she comes close when she opens her arms for Diana, scoops her up like something fragile. ]

Let's go see De Cruz. [ Don't badly combine people's names. ] Just don't throw up on me, okay? I like these clothes. Warn me so I can point you towards Caster.

[lesgeois]

I'm not going to throw up, Mordred. [Romantic. Also, time Diana managed to stick to not calling her Mordred: five seconds.

It doesn't help that even when Mordred scoops her up, she hugs her tight, clinging to her as best she can with the armor in the way. She's putting on a brave face, but - yeah, she's still scared. It's hard to blame her, but she's a little ashamed of herself. She knows Mordred won't judge her, though.

The same can't be said for the look Berserker and Caster give each other, but thankfully it's behind her back.]

It's not home, but let's go somewhere safe. Mordred.

['I think I'm going to be sick. Love is to be blessed, but it's mawkish when it comes with no passion.' 'Mmr.' 'Well, let's not get into your marriages, Berserker.']

... Saber. You were around her, so you must know. Is Caster's Noble Phantasm being the peanut gallery? ['Please. I'm much more of a Greek chorus.']

[bloodings]

No, it's just a skill she has. And one at a high rank. [ She shoots Caster a glare. ] I'm glad Berserker can't talk.

[ His relative silence keeps him tolerable. Grumbling, she shifts her arms, holds Diana a little closer. ]

Caster. If you have something to say, then say it. Don't act like some sort of palace gossip. [ And don't say embarrassing words like "love". ]

[spellto]

Very well.

I am glad that you two lonely children found each other, but try to understand your situation. And how you view each other. At some point, you will be left with nothing but your memories, as all love ends. Try to figure something out while you still have a chance to tell it to each other.

I am a teacher, after all. Love is the greatest spell of all - love for yourself, love for your country, and love for your another.



... You're making this up as you go, Caster. I know you are.

[bloodings]

Master's right. For a teacher, you sure talk a lot of crap.

[ Even if the words still bother her a lot. She frowns. ]

And you're wrong. Loyalty is one thing, but I don't feel any kind of love at all. My power is something different. [ Haha okay. ] Jeez, you really are useless. Even knowing who I am, you don't know anything about me, Caster.

[lesgeois]

['I don't feel any kind of love at all.'

All of a sudden, Diana's clinging to Mordred a bit less tightly. She isn't sure why - but her arms slacken a little, even if she's quick to readjust them, grip tight again. They are going to be leaping across buildings soon. There's just more -
practicality, to her hold on Mordred.]

Well, knowing someone's identity can only tell you so much. I doubt you could tell much about Aradia. Then again, she isn't half as famous as you.



... You two really are hopeless, aren't you.

[bloodings]

Would you quit saying that? I'm not hopeless, and neither is my Master. It almost sounds like you're trying to pick a fight.

[ No it doesn't. Mordred's just not sure why she felt Diana move in her arms, and why it hurts. ]

I'm not as famous as someone like my father, either. But what great fool would accuse the Knight of Treachery of feeling love? [ "Accuse", like it's something to be ashamed of — maybe it is, when the only love she ever felt backfired so spectacularly. She snorts. ] I guess that makes me immune to whatever spell you were talking about. There has to be some benefit to only caring about one thing.

[lesgeois]

Can you two continue this discussion when we get to the mansion? We'll be here until the War is over if you two keep at it. And I am still in pain.

[Not that Diana recognizes it for what it is, but the more Mordred talks, the more she chews at her cheek, the more she's unsure what to say. There's this bottomless sadness she feels, whenever she hears Mordred deny herself her own humanity. She remembers their dreams, that happy child eager to be a knight. Is there anyone more human than Mordred?]



We are the War. It won't end without us.

[But Caster gets Diana's point, so she's clambering onto Berserker's back again, glancing over her shoulder at the pair. When she sees Diana somehow managing that awkward physical distance even though she's literally in Mordred's arms, she sighs.]

[bloodings]

Hmph.

[ Caster's right, but good luck catching Mordred saying that for the next little while. She jumps, fast and high, unbothered by the sudden wind whipping against her face and hair — though the glare from the sun makes her squint. Right, it's dawn now.

Taking advantage of their momentary separation from Caster and Berserker, she lowers her voice a little. ]

Master. I want you to stay somewhere safe when we deal with Archer and Lancer. [ And Assassin, now, she supposes. ] If Caster or Berserker survive the fight, you're an easier target than I am. And father's Master will probably look for you too. [ "I don't love anyone, except I care more about your safety than my own survival." ] I'll come get you afterward.