princesselmelloi

[princesselmelloi]

Reines wasn't sure why she had expected something more achievable. Battling people just for the sake of picking a fight did sound exactly like her magi.

A very large part of her was tempted to just let him loose. She could hardly be blamed for the Stars' influence on him, and he would cause such delightful misery to someone's life. It would be the talk of the town for weeks, and add to her infamy.

On the other hand, her luck was such that someone was sure to try and hold her accountable for the damage. Reines did not have her Brother's money to fall back on any more, only her own.

Damage control it was.

"Everyone is already well aware how powerful we are. Why do you think there is no war? They could not dream to compete with you." Judar was proud at the best of times. Reines hoped his ego could work with her here to buy time.

Reines' first command was acknowledged with the most disappointed groan. The fire and the house she referred too sounded familiar, his memory disheveled after the latest alteration. It wasn't a strange feeling after all, he could almost related to it. Somehow.

"A wish, huh." Yeah, that was an important part of the whole thing. Or at least it felt that way.

"I wanna," he stared at Reines, his own expression in disbelief. Despite the subverted memories, there was one single wish burning in the haze.

"build the greatest kingdom, ever." It made no sense, nothing did. "That's why we have to crush everyone else. To show 'em how good we are."

[princesselmelloi]

"We are not burning down anything. I have just gotten this house repaired; we are not doing it again." That was certainly one way to kick Reines into action. Judar was chaos incarnate at the best of times. She was not allowing this alternate version of himself to cause further damage.

She did not have the seals that came with being his Master, but that didn't seem to matter here. He had chosen her, just as he had chosen her as his King before. And that meant she had to act fast before he tried starting a Grail war with the other Servants on the island.

"What do you even want the Grail for? What wish would you possibly have?"

"You're bold to summon me, mage." He then sat in the air, one leg crossed, and his elbow resting on his knee, staring down at the El-Melloi heiress.

"Your bloodline is worthy. Your kind can rule the world. Let us take the Grail and slaughter everyone in our way. Their stupíd lives will be given purpose when I kill 'em." He then grinned. There was a dangerous glint across his red eyes, something the magi Reines knew didn't have at that point. Or perhaps he had, in some distant past where the only people he knew were the veiled priests of Al Thamen.

"Avenger." He said in the end. Above all berserkers and casters, hatred defined this 'servant incarnation'. "Let it all burn, you'll enjoy it, master."

[princesselmelloi]

Reines wasn't particularly used to visitors. There weren't many people who wanted to trek all the way out to the Mistwood, and of those who did, well, she didn't make it a point of making herself someone they'd want to visit. If anyone were to cross onto her grounds, it was most likely Judar.

That did not sound like Judar. It sounded a lot like someone else very important in her life, but somehow off.

Well, it was simply much too cold out for her to personally investigate what the Stars were up to this time. Besides, this could very easily be another trap. It wouldn't be above them to use some warped version of her Brother to lure her into danger.

This left her with a much, much safer option. One that would allow her to stay warm.

"Master wishes to know why you are here." Sending Trimmau out to greet the newcomer was one of the better idea Reines had ever had. It allowed her to sit comfortably and watch them through a window.

"Tch." He rubbed his hands together, blowing on them to keep them warm as he approaches the structure. He'd avoided it, honestly, because apparently there was a fucking dragon in the Mistwood, but he eventually was able to make it out here.

The Southern Clocktower.

"Feh, seems...Lame. I doubt it's a real establishment of the Mage's Association." He picks up a stick, carefully crossing the boundary into the yard. When it's not, well, incinerated on sight or aging rapidly in front of him, he decides to put a tentative foot in.

The mist of the titular Mistwood made the place look haunted, and he felt a chill run through him.

"Uh...hello?" He shouts, his own voice echoing back to him.

@princesselmelloi

[princesselmelloi]

The sudden appearance of a summoning circle had been more than enough to send Reines scrambling back. It was undignified to the point that she would have been embarrassed in regular circumstances, but she had been alone with Trimmau.

And now, apparently, Judar. Only, this didn't look like the magi she had gotten used to tolerating. The regular Judar didn't make her eyes burn. The regular Judar didn't feel dangerous.

What had the Stars even done this time?

"I... am the closest you will get to a Master in this world." The lack of any seals on her hand implied there was no formal contract in place. Reines knew better than to take complete ownership of a Judar she didn't know and couldn't control.

@princesselmelloi

Out of all that could happen that accursed morning, it happened to be the strangest occurrence when the complex pattern of the ritual summoning spread across the refined table just where Reines had her daily breakfast.

As a member of the mage tower's elite, she would easily recognize the intricate set of runes spreading to draw a circle.

Somehow, and unwillingly, had happened. Without a real physical catalyst, possibly the pact Reines had with the fallen magi had acted as reason enough for the proverbial 'Throne of Heroes' (or Spirale's corrupted database) to deem him the best servant for the El-Melloi heiress, even if there was no grail war, or anything alike.

Mana gave him form in the shape of fluttering darkness. The aggressive aura of an avenger could only mimic the color of his soul.

He stepped out of the table, bare feet standing before Reines.

Without a thought - or perhaps the residual consequences of the Star's system error-, he was compelled to ask.

"I ask of you, are you my master?"

But there was nothing servile nor respectful in his demeanor.

It would be one of those weeks. Again.

[princesselmelloi]

Reines may have followed the example of the crowd and walked right on by the Servant. Honestly, it would likely have been so much easier for her if she could have. She had learned from experience what a pain it could be to deal with her kind here.

Her eyes betrayed her. The way they immediately flared up upon setting sight on her was a clear giveaway that something was up. In these circumstances, it was best to try and take control of the situation instead of letting it take over for her.

"Are you looking for anywhere specific?"

@princesselmelloi

' just how big is this damn city? '

she's been walking around for what she felt was hours and still all she could see were giant buildings blocking the sky. people walked around her like they were going about their day, meanwhile she was still trying to figure out just what was going on.

of all the places i could be sent why couldn't it have been a beach at least?

' what a pain in the ass this is. '

[princesselmelloi]

"Kings might not be supposed to vanish into the air, but I highly doubt that it is normal for them to just reappear at the whim of a largely unknown group, either. Besides, it's not as if I had any control in the matter."

"You, however, had control over burning my mansion down. So yes, I think that paying for the best food in the city is the least you could do. We can start now; all this drama has worked up quite the appetite."

"Wait, what!?" He pointed at Reines, surprised. Was she going to? Oh, no way, no way. Unthinkable. Everyone he knew would kill (and had killed) to be chosen by one of the magi, and Reines was even considering to 'send away her magi'?!

If there was any shape or form of 'magi pride' in him, under all those layers of denial, Reines had successfully awakened it.

"Fine, I wrecked your palace." He tried to reason. Things like those wouldn't normally happen. "Kings are not supposed to just vanish in the air, y'know? I had to ensure no one would come and try to claim your palace." Now that made perfect sense. And he wasn't the kind of loyal one who would just sit by their king's grave to weep and lament!

"I can buy a bigger castle, here, still in the forest! I think I have.., oh wait, you have access to all of my stars. Or pay for the best food and castle servants of the city!"

[princesselmelloi]

Reines had to give it to him for spotting the obvious loophole in her words. Her plans for indefinite free labour would have to be put aside.

"Let's say it would be a month of you picking up purchases for me. It will not be anything you couldn't reasonably expect to carry. If you're so insistant that you are not a scammer, this seems like an obvious choice to prove you are not out to steal my belongings."

Reines wasn't taking the bait, though Trimmau bristled beside her. The more he said out here in public, the less she trusted him to actually get the job done. What sort of hardened criminal openly talked about their exploits?

Granted, it could be fun to see just how desperate he was to prove himself.

"Kidnappings? Muggings? I have no use for such things right now. What I need is a gopher. That is, an errand boy. My previous help seems to have fled the city to get away from me.

"You said you were prepared for embarrassing work, but are you up to menial labour?" If nothing else could scare him off, perhaps the unglorious work of the cafe would do it.

[princesselmelloi]

"I will certainly keep that news in mind." Arturia may have tried to stop Judar, but Reines was reluctant to give her any more credit than strictly necessary. Her friendship with Gray had given her a grudge against the woman, much as it may have not been her fault what had happened back in their world.

As for the last question...

"I am certain you will find a way to make it up to me for burning down my mansion. I am not expected to send away my magi, now am I?"

Reines was good. He had to admit it. That's why he had chosen her. His expression changed, hands rose to his side, mimicking defeat.

"Fine, fine, you're right. Common folk are boring anyways. Unless I start a fight and then they start screaming." He grins at the thought.

"This place was fine anyways, and now you're back, so there's no problem." He took a step closer, standing by Reines side as he stared toward where the house was.

"It'll be back, better than before Oh, and that woman, the knight with the sword, she fought her best to stop me", and it would have been best if the martyr king of knights hadn't stepped in his way. Again.

"Hey! So we good, ya?" Oh, was he actually apologizing or caring?..

[princesselmelloi]

Reines wasn't taking the bait, though Trimmau bristled beside her. The more he said out here in public, the less she trusted him to actually get the job done. What sort of hardened criminal openly talked about their exploits?

Granted, it could be fun to see just how desperate he was to prove himself.

"Kidnappings? Muggings? I have no use for such things right now. What I need is a gopher. That is, an errand boy. My previous help seems to have fled the city to get away from me.

"You said you were prepared for embarrassing work, but are you up to menial labour?" If nothing else could scare him off, perhaps the unglorious work of the cafe would do it.

"Why would I possibly want your sort of manpower? You seem to be heavily lacking in abilities, considering I had to step in to save myself. Your specialty is definitely not in defense."

"Nor could it be in investigation. I may not be the most famous residence of Radiale, but I'm known. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could easily find out the Master of a mercury maid, or the younger sister to the one who owned the detective agency."

Not to mention, it was equally known that said agency had lost its owner. Reines wasn't about to advertise that little tidbit just now. It would cost her one of her better pieces of ammo against him right now.

"So, could it be that your talents lay in the criminal underground? Surely not, or else you wouldn't have come boasting about them so openly to someone you know nothing about."

"Please, do tell me. What would I possibly want to hire you for? You have yet to prove any worth, and according to you yourself, I am too stingy with my dust to ever possibly considering hiring someone worthless."

[princesselmelloi]

"It was a combination of the building restoring itself and my own efforts, yes." If Reines had sat there and waited, there was no telling how long it would have taken to build itself back up. An eternity, maybe, for the Stars to watch as she suffered. She didn't put it past them.

"As for the location, do you really want to live among the common folk?" There were plenty of better reasons for the location. The privacy, the calm, the distance from when shit hit the fan. However, she knew her Magi by now. He would prefer to think it was a status symbol.

Whatever Reines said sounded complicated. And when things sounded complicated he stopped listening, and then he'd just agree (or disagree) depending on his next impulse.

"So. We get this palace and then we leave it there for the servants to do their servant things?" He rose both of his hands to his side, careless. If that had been her plan, it sounded reasonable.

"So the mansion is back? You used magic to restore it? Did it just restore itself? You really like those woods, don't ya? I mean, sounds almost like a hermit granny-witch. And I ain't calling you one!

[princesselmelloi]

( @oneeyedpsychic )

Perhaps Reines had let herself get too busy with the mundane. Having her original home destroyed by Judar had left her occupied with immediate repairs. Her Brother's house had worked just fine as a temporary accommodation, but she didn't want to be reliant on him.

And when said Brother and his stray both vanished, so did the house. It was fortunate that enough repairs had been done to her manor to have it barely livable, but barely livable would no longer suffice. Her attention had to be directed entirely towards repairs and mentally cursing out the Stars.

With the dust finally starting to settle, Reines had set her sights on her tea shop. Messing with customers' days had been a favourite passtime of hers before. It wasn't like they could complain up the chain, and she didn't need the money enough to care if they ended their patronage.

However, there was one person she hadn't been able to shake no matter how she antagonized them. Someone who had just wandered in through the open door despite the many, "Closed for Refurbishment" signs, and someone she had failed to seek out since she returned.

"Why, if it isn't my favourite niece! I'm afraid Trim hasn't quite found what we need for your coffee yet."

[princesselmelloi]

"Why would I possibly want your sort of manpower? You seem to be heavily lacking in abilities, considering I had to step in to save myself. Your specialty is definitely not in defense."

"Nor could it be in investigation. I may not be the most famous residence of Radiale, but I'm known. Anyone with two brain cells to rub together could easily find out the Master of a mercury maid, or the younger sister to the one who owned the detective agency."

Not to mention, it was equally known that said agency had lost its owner. Reines wasn't about to advertise that little tidbit just now. It would cost her one of her better pieces of ammo against him right now.

"So, could it be that your talents lay in the criminal underground? Surely not, or else you wouldn't have come boasting about them so openly to someone you know nothing about."

"Please, do tell me. What would I possibly want to hire you for? You have yet to prove any worth, and according to you yourself, I am too stingy with my dust to ever possibly considering hiring someone worthless."

He is a idiot....but he a experience idiot. He did not panic and infact smile.

Detective agency huh? Oh he been dying for someone that can actually throw him in jail and challenge him.

"Oh madam please send the card over to your big bro. There is this thing called lack of evidence that get cases thrown out. A "detective instinct" don't mean jack shit in court. Till their suffice proof of a crime. Far as Radiale concern i'm just a lousy cosplayer who protected under freedom of speech. Hell i don't even own a gun. This is just standard tranq darts. Plus I been dying for a proper challenge. The cops in this city lacks....originality."

Arrogance. That even if Reines called the cops right now to raid Huey office they wouldn't find anything that illegal. A man who been running from the law all his life as he shurgh. His turn to send some light jabs back.

Nothing TO serious. Just small observations any fool can pick up.

"What are you suppose to be then? The Mascot of said detective agency? The thing with you obviously magic. The fact your wearing such fine clothing while most who in the detective business are dead broke....let me guess. Brother Adopted or are ya bit stingy with the dust? You probably don't have the man power you do back at home right? I'm just offering.....to provide service that benethen you. . Justice for the right price."

Again for the Nth times. Every part of her dress in the most fashionable thing. She is wealthy he just have NO idea how wealthy she is. But a educated guess she probably have butlers and lot of servants. Like no way a entire rich person home run by one maid right?

and when the last time you seen a relative of a rich kid take a deameaning job that depends on the market like being a detective?

Yes there are several holes in his wild mass guessing. He have LIMITED observation skills.

[princesselmelloi]

Reines had stood to the side and watched the spectacle unfurl in front of her. Trim had done the heavy lifting, and this guy wanted to come in and take all the credit. He could have literally done nothing and the result would have been the same.

And then there he was, giving her a business card actively promoting himself as being a black market dealer.

Whoever this guy was, he wasn't smart.

"Are you really sure you should be giving this to the little sister of the former owner of the Detective Agency?" Reines wanted to see how quickly she could make this idiot backpedal.

The thug didn't notice as he charge ahead like a bull only to get knocked back as a sudden solid wall of sliver blocks him. This was suppose to be a easy job. This was suppose to be just a typical hostage work.

How dare this little *****

"YOU-"

"Think you actually have another second?"

Huey at some point abandon the gun idea as he actually right behind the crooks as he grab the man by his waist and perform a picture perfect german suplex.....and he pulled something. Fuck he really should have stretch before doing any complex physical moves.

Trying to endure the pain Huey got up and wave to the small crowd of strangers and people he paid off to spread. The crooks were real but the crowd and some of the bystander isn't.

"All in a day work ladies and gentleman. Since the Isolan Police can't do their job. If yours at the end of your road. Called us. We offer speedy equalizer in affordable prices. Visit us at @isolaeotr1! Call now and there a 10% discount on all goods you want!"

Huey did a small bow as he approach the young...well the young woman with the body changing maid.

"Your okay? I'm sure it must have been a fright. Here my business card if you ever need to hire....problem solvers. 100% no snitching guarantee."

Boss of End of the Road

Huey M Ponzi

For all illegal goods, info, and justice the city can't give you needs.

"It's just me and a couple of basic staffer right now but we're looking to spread out and make a name of ourself. I notice your....familar drop your tea accidently while trying to help you. How about i pay you back?"

Fake nice guy. He mostly doing this because she look rich (her clothing sure isn't from normal stores) and maybe it pays to be on her good side and get more jobs in the future.

[princesselmelloi]

"I quite enjoy my mansion in the woods. It's calm, it's quiet, and people have to make quite the commitment in order to come and be a nuisance." That was to say nothing of the inconveniences of owning an entire palace. Judar couldn't be trusted to take care of a broom closet, nevermind an entire building. If he spent the Stars, it would be under his name.

Well, actually, there was an idea.

"That said, it would be quite nice to have a home in the city where we could retreat to when the Stars inevitably decide to make the Mistwood dangerous or unreachable again. There's a case to be made for you buying this palace in the city under your name, and we could reside separately on paper. I hardly doubt you are about to leave my side any time soon, but they do not need to know that the building will stay empty, no?~"

An added perk to this was that Reines would have somewhere to send Judar when he inevitably got to be too much for her and she needed a break. Someone needed to check on the palace for time to time, and why not the one who would legally live there?

Similarly, Reines would never admit to being happy to see her magi again. He was annoying and troublesome and had burnt down her manor. They were not friends; he was simply a stray she could not get rid of.

"I am astounded that you have all of your limbs attached. With the antics you get up to, I had expected you to get into significant trouble while unsupervised."

[princesselmelloi]

Similarly, Reines would never admit to being happy to see her magi again. He was annoying and troublesome and had burnt down her manor. They were not friends; he was simply a stray she could not get rid of.

"I am astounded that you have all of your limbs attached. With the antics you get up to, I had expected you to get into significant trouble while unsupervised."

He remembered that house, relevant enough to have been a sort of 'shelter' even for someone like him. Judar had visited the mage during those days. Had he even sought 'advice'? Maybe. There was an uncanny resemblance between 'the mage' and Koumei. The scholarly type who'd stand at the world's tangent and quietly state the obvious he had failed to see.

But now, even that, was lost. The house felt empty except for the certainty Reines was there.

Like always, the first thing to find was an open window. And with the once again annoying summer on their heads, that should be easy.

Magic surrounded him, lifting him in the air as he reached for a window on the second floor.

"Reines!" he peered through the window at first, looking from left to right.

The inside looked neatly clean, obviously, Trimmau's doing.

"Oi!"

He'd never admit he was 'happy to see them'. Right?

[princesselmelloi]

Reines had spent the better part of the past couple months trying to fix the manor Judar had burnt down. Living with her Brother had been an acceptable solution, but only until the jerk had the nerve to vanish from the island. Living with only Anda? No. No no. She had attacked the repairs needed with fervor.

Yes, the island would rebuild her manor, but not with the speed she required. As enjoyable as watching the empath suffer had been, Reines still despised them. Living under the same roof as them allowed her no time to truly relax.

The repairs still weren't done, but she had the basis of a structure up. It wasn't ideal, and several wings still needed to be built, but enough of the core was functional that Reines could consider moving back in.

She had been on her way back to her Brother's house to retrieve her things when the commotion started. Of course the Stars wouldn't allow her first visit back into town to go smoothly.

Naturally, she had expected this tomfoolery. Trimmau had stepped away for only a moment to fetch her Master a drink, but the maid dropped the iced tea in favour of shifting into a solid wall to block the kidnapper's path.

"Cute, but you may wish to try harder." She would have thought the residents of the island would have learned better than to mess with mages by now.

@princesselmelloi

Money or dust as it's called in this city is such a ****** to amass a lot of

Yes yes. Huey got the starter fund from the city. But he need allies and for a mean to pay off more things. Men and woman, equipment, the cops. No matter how hard he tries he seem to staying afloat only.

"I need a sponsor. Knowing my line of work someone morally bankrupt enough to not care and rich enough to support this line of work.....where the *** hell am i gonna find that?"

Huey sigh as he need to take his mind off of things. He motion his men to put out more ads as he got a alert from one of his watcher.

Couple of the street thugs in the local neighborhood planning a kidnapping on some young rich looking woman. Sure the woman might have powers BUT huey do need to advertise his business. He don't do heroic for free ALSO the bills been pretty bad latetly.

Huey normally the type to let this stuff happen and let the other heros and justice gooder handle it. Huey is....not a great person.

"Blonde Hair, teen, blah blah blah."

Huey set out. The homeless in the streets and a couple of shop owner willing to cough up certain path people take everyday for few hundred Dust as huey spotted the girl on one of the roof top.

And his kidnapper also. Four of them. All the classic tool like pistol, bag or...something don't feel right. Six sense? Something tell Huey he shouldn't do his entrance and just go home.

But the money though. Huey already got a couple of people ready to take photos and spread this online. It just be a simple clean up as Huey leap down from his position and landed between the thugs and the woman. Using powers to cushion the fall of course.

"Heya, This is the End of the Road for ya."

Perfect. He spend a couple minute practicing it as with the element of surprise he fire four shot from his tranq gun hitting all the men as he have this smug smile on him. Now he just need to turn around and....oh god damn it.

One of them wearing just enough cloths the tranq dart didn't hit as HE took Huey by surprise by not attacking him but making a mad dash toward the young lady in a attempt to take her hostage.

Huey try to fire another round but of all times his gun jam

"OI *** I'M THE ONE YA WANT."

No use. The man don't fall for the bait as Huey try to get his gun fixed before a hostage situation can happen.

[princesselmelloi]

[Text: I'll be waiting. I'm not going anywhere.]

Exactly as promised, Reines was waiting in her old room of her Brother's house when Judar arrived. Trimmau had taken to cleaning the residence up to be fit for her Master, and the maid didn't stop her dusting to greet him. Reines, however, dropped the clothes she was sorting through to turn to her old magi.

"I was beginning to think you had gotten distracted on the way here."

[Ah]

[So blame the City, right. Still not late for that!]

[i wasn't expecting you to come back at all] deleted message

[FINE! I'll find you there!]