crowspace | call me out v. 15.0

[Mercy sees nothing alarming with having a fun little collection of severed limbs in her apartment. It's always nice to have some spare parts around in case you need them for anything.]

[Besides, if she wants to make it up to them after the War, then all she has to do is grow them a replacement hand, right? Cloning one little body part shouldn't be too much trouble, especially if she already has a nice hefty tissue sample...]

[As increasingly worrying as this partnership is, maybe we should still be glad she didn't summon Nightingale.]

It is pretty hard to operate on a moving body, though- do you have anything that could stop someone moving? Putting them to sleep somehow would be ideal! Most people have a surprisingly low pain tolerance, so it would be a lot better if they weren't awake to experience the operation.

Edited 2022-01-15 23:36 (UTC)

Oh, that's my best subject! I could put this whole city to sleep if I had enough mana, but that wouldn't be any fun.

[Because those are important priorities.]

Plus, it'd be really hard to time it right! You'd have to avoid knocking too many people out while they're driving or operating heavy machinery, otherwise the collateral damage could get pretty severe.

[Listen, she's not going to judge. If he wants to reenact Sleeping Beauty as a hobby, that's his personal business. ...She could possibly stand to be a little more judgemental, actually. This girl has no frame of reference for what is and isn't a threat.]

[...Maybe it's fair to cut him some slack on the car thing, though. Grail knowledge or not, he did come from an era where horses were the main mode of transportation. Heck, you could pass out drunk on a horse and it'd just keep walking home without you.]

I do have another project I'm working on that could give us a big advantage, if it turns out right... but I think it's too early to say anything about that one for sure! It's still in the preliminary testing phases. [She winks.] If it passes the safety checks, it can be a fun surprise!

[Everybody likes surprises, right?]

...Ooh, there's that Indian takeout place with the really good curry! Do you want me to get extra for you? [Look, she needs to eat, okay. She's a growing girl. Priorities.]

Ooh, I'm looking forward to it.

[Merlin loves surprises! They're pretty rare for people with Clairvoyance, after all.]

Absolutely! No one in Britain can cook decently, I swear.

So British food was like that back then, too... I promise, we have real flavors now!

[No offense, it's just she's seen what the English think counts as "spicy" and it's frankly sad.]

One good meal alone would make being summoned plenty worth it.

[Not that he doesn't think it'll be worth it otherwise! Just... yeah. Bland.]

[She ends up getting enough for several good meals, on the grounds that he's inhuman and she is a teenager. They can always put the leftovers in the fridge for later.]

[The lady behind the counter seems to recognize Mercy as a regular, although she doesn't seem particularly emotionally invested in the fact. Then again, it's a service industry job and this is the evening shift. At this point, counter lady is probably too tired to give a shit about anything less than something bursting into actual, literal flames.]

[Mercy is polite, and tips well.]

[Opening the takeout containers back at the apartment reveals that she wasn't kidding about an appreciation for actual flavor. Also apparently an appreciation for chicken. She needs the protein for brain fuel.]

[She grabs Logos by the collar with one hand to block his attempt at shoving all three of his heads directly into her styrofoam container of curry rice and picks up a plastic fork with the other. In between bites, she asks:]

So, what do you think of the city?

It's beautiful. If we have another day off, I'd like to spend more time in the parks.

[He may be called the Mage of Flowers less often recently, but he does still like seeing them.]

I sensed three magi on our trip, although I was only able to narrow down the locations of two. One at your school and one at the police station.

That does sound fun! They're really nice, I've been trying to see if I can train the local pigeons by feeding them when I visit.

[Train them to do what, exactly? ...Listen. Don't worry about it. It's fine.]

Hmm... the one in the school would probably be the principal, I guess? Ms. Eskender does work pretty late sometimes! As for the police station... hm. [She frowns thoughtfully.] I don't know of any mages working in law enforcement here... [She trails off, suddenly growing solemn as a thought occurs to her.]

But I guess it would make sense for someone there to know about magic, since they didn't do much of an investigation after the- [She breaks off.]

After. [Just "after".]

[Not something to poke at. If he has to know, he'll find out whether he wants to or not. That is how Clairvoyance works, after all.]

Magi usually like to have their hands in any organization with real power, in my experience.

[She appreciates it. ...Besides, if the dreams go both ways, the question might answer itself.]

I guess they could also be there because they've been arrested! ...But I think a mage could probably figure out how to get out of jail, if they wanted.

[Through magic or, for most of the Clock Tower peerage, the power of having a lot of money.]

If you still want to try talking to the principal tomorrow, we could try to hang around after classes let out, so we can meet her without too many people around.

[The day passes without further event, and tomorrow rolls around without dreams for either of them. Small mercies.

Merlin hangs around invisibly during class, resisting the urge to make commentary. It'd be bad if Mercy started giggling for no reason... although, knowing Mercy, it probably wouldn't be the weirdest thing she's done in school.

After classes let out and the students file out of the building, that leaves them still there.]

Ready?

[By now, Mercy's classmates are pretty much unanimously of the opinion that whenever she starts laughing about something, they're happier not knowing why.]

[Overall, Estrella Academy seems fairly normal- a nice, well-funded school, perhaps, but still nothing out of the ordinary as modern schools go. Despite all their funding, the cafeteria food is still deeply terrible.]

[Through the mental link:] Ready! [She sounds just as cheery through telepathy as she does in person.]

Her office is right over here... [Mercy knocks politely on the door, lets herself into the waiting room, and politely explains to the secretary that she's here to see the principal.]

[She does not offer a specific explanation as to why, and the secretary pointedly doesn't ask. It's after hours, she just wants to go home, she doesn't want to know what this horrible gremlin child has done in the biology lab today. Please don't tell her. Just talk to the principal and fucking leave, they're not paying her enough to know about this.]

[Mercy agreeably takes a seat on one of the plastic waiting room chairs while the secretary checks with Mrs. Eskender to see if she's in. But by now, Merlin can probably already guess that she is.]

[Because there's absolutely a Servant on the other side of that office door.]

[It's a nice, normal school. Would be a shame if it became a battleground.]

There's another Servant here. They probably won't pick a fight while there are still people around but... best to be careful, Mercy.

[The secretary absolutely does not get paid enough to be collateral damage.]

Well, I guess we probably won't need to tell her the Grail War's happening in Verdette this time!

[As the Second Owner, it was pretty unlikely that she didn't already know- but politeness would still dictate that she mention it.]

[As it is, after a couple moments the secretary directs them into the principal's office and pointedly returns to her game of solitare.]

[The door shuts behind them with an audible click, and a detectable engaging of wards- soundproofing and concealment, mostly. It seems someone doesn't want this talk being overheard by anyone outside this room. ...Or perceived, at all.]

"I don't believe you had an appointment, Miss Moritz."

[Welp. If there was any possible doubt about this woman being a Master, it's gone now. That sense of a Servant in here is definitely linked to her.]

"Oh, was I supposed to call? Sorry! I just thought you'd want to know." [Her single coolly-raised eyebrow and artfully dry tone, calculated for just the right level of refined authority and mild threat, are tragically wasted on Mercy, who registers absolutely none of the intended menace whatsoever.] "You know, about the War!"

[What? It's not like either of them needs to bother pretending at this point.]

[It is a prime example of subtly threatening aura, definitely not achieved on accident. If Mercy not picking up on it is annoying to her opponents, all the better.

Merlin hangs close to Mercy's side. Just in case.]

Really, she should be thanking you for being considerate.

[Principal Eskender's demeanor makes it very clear that she considers herself to be in control here: this is her territory, her wards around them sealing off the outside world.]

[The curtains are drawn back from the window, and outside the sun is beginning to set- but even as they look out, no one can see in. Nothing will enter this room without its owner's permission.]

[And she might not be inclined to let them leave without it, either.]

I guess she probably has a pretty busy schedule! It makes sense she'd want to plan things in advance.

[Generally, if someone is getting the social situation wrong, Mercy's going to assume it's probably her.]

"I do, in fact, know about the War, young lady." [It's slightly too dignified to be sarcasm, but there's still an edge to it.] "And your Servant would be...?"

[Even Mercy can tell she's probably asking for a Class, here. But she's not going to call Merlin by a name he's uncomfortable with. ...She's also not very comfortable with lying to people, though.]

[Faced with the minor dilemma, she opts to sidestep the issue entirely.]

"Da-ge, would you mind coming out now? I think she wants to meet you..."

[Well, if she insists. Merlin manifests in a flourish of flowers.]

A pleasure to meet you, madam. [It is sincere, even if her aura of menace is nearly palpable.] Of course, I can't go around revealing my true name without permission-

"Merlin." [The other Servant in the room chooses to manifest himself now - a man in white armor, the very image of a knight.

The recognition is mutual, although Merlin seems far more delighted to see the other.] Oh, Lancelot! Wonderful to see you again!

"...You have some nerve saying that, after leaving the way you did."

[Flatly:] "Ah. This is our Caster, then."

[It... isn't an unreasonable assumption. After all, who would think of the Mage of Flowers and expect him to be summoned as anything other than the Servant of the Spell?]

[Mercy decides to just change the subject.]

"Oh, you two know each other! That's fun, you get a reunion."

[Sure, it's under awkward circumstances, but at least he gets to see a friend again... right?]

[She gives the knight a cheery little wave.] "Nice to meet you, Sir Lancelot!"

[Discreetly, the principal texts her secretary, letting her know she should leave early today. All but the night staff will be going home soon, anyway, and she'll be working late tonight again.]

Edited 2022-01-26 01:18 (UTC)

[Lancelot inclines his head a little to Mercy.] "Hello, Miss Moritz. I'm sorry to hear you've summoned such an unreliable Servant."

Ah, Lancelot is so mean. You and I remember things a little differently, I think.

"Really? He's been a big help so far!"

[At his complaining, Mercy reaches over and companionably pats Merlin's arm. It's okay, buddy. She appreciates you.]

"So! Since both our Servants are from Camelot... we should probably make an alliance, right?" [...Welp. She may not have a career as a diplomat ahead of her, but at least you can't fault her for honesty.]

[Unfortunately, it seems that Principal Eskender can.]

"Hm... I'm afraid not, Miss Moritz." [She closes her hand and the wards grow brighter. As long as she's focusing her power on them, no one is leaving this room.] "I've always the original designers of the Heaven's Feel erred, when they included the Caster class. In a battle where mages are meant to be the ultimate authority, bringing in a mage who is by definition more powerful than any of the Masters... was simply a foolish risk from the start."

[She's as polite and dignified as though they're discussing the weather. She's still a teacher, and this is merely a regrettably final lesson she intends to impart.]

"Perhaps if you had made this offer having summoned any other class... but then again, perhaps not. After all... meeting another Master alone in her own domain was a foolish risk, too."

[Her gaze hardens.]

"Saber? Don't waste this opportunity."

[So, that sure could have gone better.]

[In the split second of silent stillness before all hell breaks loose:] "Okay, if Miss Zuri gets mad at me for this, you have to tell her I tried."

"Yes, Master." [Lancelot's gaze is as hard and cold as his Master's as he draws his sword. There might have been a time he would have hesitated to bring his blade to bear on Merlin, but not now.]

It's a shame. I think we could have gotten to be good friends. [Merlin doesn't seem particularly fussed. There's no reason to worry, after all.

If he were a different Merlin, this might be a fight worth watching. Lancelot with Arondight, Merlin weaving spell after spell against him. It would be a long and difficult battle.

As things are, it's over as soon as it starts.

Lancelot swings his sword, and Merlin makes no attempt to dodge - Mercy can easily heal any flesh wound he takes. That puts him close enough for Merlin to press a finger against Lancelot's forehead.]

Go to sleep.

[...The sword slips from Lancelot's slack hands, followed by his knees hitting the floor.]

"How... so easily...?"

[And he's out like a light. Merlin smiles and steps over his fallen form.]

Now then. What should we do with you, I wonder?

[True to her word, Mercy is healing Merlin's injury almost the instant he takes it. Within a heartbeat, it's like he was never struck at all. Other sorts of spells, she's okay with- but healing is her specialty, and it shows.]

[Much like spells of sleep are his.]

"How-?!" [For the first time, there's a crack in Kelile Eskender's smooth facade, her expression shocked and coldly furious. Yes, she had expected a dangerous opponent- the dangers of a Caster were the entire reason she'd chosen to have this fight now, instead of giving him time to prepare.]

[If she'd actually been facing a Caster, maybe that would have been enough.]

"If you dare think I'll fall so easily..."

[A Master fighting an enemy Master and their Servant two-on-one is a terrible position, but surrendering without a fight is simply unacceptable. She raises a shield of light in front of her with one hand, using the other to cast a sudden sharp bolt of something that Mercy hastily ducks. There's a nasty crunching noise as it hits the wall behind her.]

"I think it's time to test a theory!" [Mercy grins wildly, still dodging for her life as the principal throws another spell her way.] "Anesthesia, please!"

[Merlin, that may be your cue. Congratulations, you've been promoted from court mage to surgical assistant.]

[He's honored!

Breaking the shield is first priority - he doesn't have the 100% Mythological Certainty advantage on her. Thorny vines spring up from the floor, trying to pierce through her shield, while a shimmering aura that should slow projectiles surrounds Mercy.]

Just a moment, please~

[Fortunately for them, like many modern mages, the principal is more of an academic than a combatant. She's throwing out some rather nasty spells, but she's a glass cannon at best.]

[(As anyone familiar with the school's fencing team could attest, the real challenge in a fight would have been her daughter.)]

[Still, it's for Zuri's sake that she calls for Merlin to put her to sleep, rather than go for a killing blow. She already wanted to avoid unnecessary deaths, and even if she does end up having to resort to more lethal methods eventually, she certainly doesn't want to start with her friend's mother.]

[...Even if the woman in question did just try to curse her to literally explode. Principal Eskender's not here to fuck around.]

[She's still dodging, it's fine.]

[In the end, while the principal doesn't fall easily, she can't stand up to Merlin's own spells for long.]

cw: discussion of involuntary surgery

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