ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ

[formidable]

Androids, psychics, magic, investigations, and finding out how to human. ➢ Cool Mood Music No. 1 ➤ Cool Mood Music No. 2

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[sorser]

That's right. As far as I know.

[Out of nowhere, what looks to be a red cloak flies in and settles itself across his shoulders. Stephen levitates to where he's eye-level with her.]

Come with me. Let's walk while we talk. I have a question or two.

[Or hover, whatever.

He begins to head up the stairs, obviously aided in flight by the article of clothing around his shoulders.]

[sakaya]

So it's just a cleaning job and not a proper war? Ah, it is what it is.

[Oh, wow a sentient Mystic Code?? At least the Cloak of Levitation catches her nonverbal interest and so she lands lightly on her feet and follows after Strange.

She may or may not try to poke and tickle at a corner of the cloak as they speak.]

Ask away, Sorcerer. I'm at your service after all.

[sorser]

[Oh yes, just a cleaning job. Strange thinks she should be thankful, for a full on war is not something he truly wants to be a part of.

(That'll come much later, unbeknownst to him.)

Regardless, up the steps they go, and eventually turning down a large corridor.]

I take it with another heroic spirit in the city, that implies there's another 'master', correct?

[sakaya]

More than likely. Otherwise, it would need alternative methods to stay manifested.

[She's tickling the Cloak of Levitation now, don't mind her]

Unsavory ones of course. Without a Master, you would be seeing a higher bodycount.

[sorser]

So, then I assume the solution is simple enough. Find the Master, and then-

[He stops mid-sentence and mid-float, just barely turning his head to look at her.]

Will you stop that?

[The Cloak of Levitation whips up a corner and swats at her hand.]

[sakaya]

[She muffles a giggle behind her kimono sleeve as the cloak swats at her hand.]

Fufu. What a fickle curiosity you're wearing.

[Shuten makes a sweeping gesture with her hand to continue Strange's train of thought.]

But it's as you were saying. Find the Master and we can either kill them or annihilate their Servant. Whichever you find more convenient.

[sorser]

It is very fickle. Best if you leave it alone.

[It stops once she lowers her hand, and though it hasn’t a face, it looks huffy.

But, ah— killing. He pauses again, before continuing their trek down a long hall.]

And ‘annihilating’ a servant, is that the same as killing it?

[sakaya]

Something like that. Even as Servants, we can meet violent ends in battle, but we all return to the same place. You aren't summoning our real bodies after all.

... Master? Do you have a problem with killing?

[She had taken note of that pause. Even an intoxicated being like her can catch that cue.]

You're not the one getting your hands dirty after all. I am here to serve.

[sorser]

[He sighs, keeping his gaze pointed straight ahead this time.]

I'll do what's necessary to keep the earth protected from threats such as these; but bloodshed begets more bloodshed, and it's best to try to break the cycle if at all possible.

[He stops at a door, waves a hand, and it opens. It looks like a guest room, but he's not here to show her where she's going to be... staying. He doesn't even think she really requires a spot in the Sanctum.]

I'd prefer to avoid killing the Master if need be; containing them, imprisoning them, or otherwise debilitating them would be preferable to that.

[sakaya]

It would still work you know. Without a Master, that Servant wouldn't be able to remain in this world.

And if you need to get rid of bodies, well...

I can't say no to a good meal.

[Yeahhhhhh. As she enters the guest room with him, Shuten looks around with the same mild interest she's given the whole Sanctum.]

But I digress. I'd like to know what kind of Servant I am to deal with.

[sorser]

[good lord]

I'm not going to let you eat any bodies.

[He gestures at a closet with a closed door, but if she were to open it, she would find an array of clothes more suited to being in... public.]

Change first. Then we'll talk more business.

[sakaya]

Haa. You summoned a demon with enough knowledge to know I'm a maneater and you'd deny me that pleasure? What a stingy Master.

[She sounds huffy but doesn't press the issue. As a Servant, she doesn't need sustenance because of her link but it's probably a downer for a man-eating demon. Thumbing through the clothing, she clicks her tongue with disinterest. In the end, she settles on a kimono style top with a low neckline and a pair of dark shorts. She keeps the rest of her legwear as is, bare feet and all.]

Not that I mind being dressed up, but are we going outside?

[sorser]

No, I summoned forth any spirit that would answer the call of my magic. And that just happened to be you. For whatever reason that might be.

[He arches a brow, ready to go wait outside for her to change.]

Well, we're going to track down this Servant and Master, and they certainly aren't waltzing about the Sanctorum. And you should wear something a bit more... practical, don't you think?

[sakaya]

Mm. Westerners can be so conservative. My garments are very easy to move around in... As well as to take off.

[One sleeve of her kimono slips down her shoulder and she looks over to Stephen, eyes glittering with mischief.]

Expecting a show? I don't mind if you look.

[sorser]

[Deadpan:]

Not particularly, no.

[He turns and leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He calls out:]

I'll be in the hall when you're done.

[sakaya]

[Shuten lazily waves him off amused by his reaction. Not an easy nut to crack, but she's taken a liking to him anyway because of that. She muses to herself about this new setup she's found herself in as her kimono drops to the floor.]

"Sorcerer Supreme..." Well, he wouldn't live up to the name if I intoxicated him too easily.

[Where's the fun in that? She can be in it for the long run and without her favorite blonde to tease, Stephen Strange might be the next best thing for now.

She finishes dressing and steps out into the hall, brushing her hair with her fingers. There's still a matter of her horns, she doesn't look concerned.]

Finished. How thoughtful of you to provide clothing that fits so perfectly.

[sorser]

[He turns to look at her when she approaches, giving her a once-over. The clothes suit her well enough, at least.]

The clothes came with the place. I thought you'd find something that would fit, eventually. Now then, are you ready?

[Ready for what? He doesn't say.]

[sakaya]

[She nods and stands next to Strange, not entirely sure of what he is to do (it's good that he's full of surprises for her).]

I'm allll yours. Sweep me away if you must.

[sorser]

Good. Off we go, then.

[He focuses his magic again, a circular motion made with his hand on the floor they stand upon. A glowing orange ring appears beneath their feet -- well, more like a portal, really, as they fall through to the ground and land in a different part of the mansion without preamble.

Stephen, of course, lands with ease. He waits for her to do (hopefully) do the same.

It's the library, basically, where they are. It smells of old books and potent magic.]

[sakaya]

[She lands, quite gracefully and steadily. When she stands up, she wrinkles her nose at the smell emanating from the books and the magic.]

Reading? I'd prefer to the aroma of sake over books.

[Hm, on the other hand though...]

An aged place. I suppose this little library houses some precious texts?

[sorser]

Perhaps texts even more ancient than you.

[He says it with the intonation of a wry joke, and yet... it might be true.

Still, Stephen moves across to one of the shelves, pulling out a thick book. Not one of the older ones, but within its pages are entries that are adorned with ornate ink drawings.

He places it on a wide table, flipping it open. It lands upon the entry of Beowulf, and he taps the page.]

Look familiar to you? Not exactly an obscure individual, to say the least.

[sakaya]

[Shuten doesn't take an offense to it; she appreciates treasures, mostly drinking vessels, as well as long as there is elegance first and foremost.

When Stephen opens up the book she languidly leans over to skim the entry and upon seeing the name...]

Ah.

Berserker.

[How does she know this? She sounds confident and unwavering in her conclusion.

(She's fought alongside a significant number of Heroic Spirits as they aided Chaldea's mission to protect humanity and to correct time. He was among them, not one she talked to personally, but she remembers him in passing...)]

I can remember the handsome ones.

[of course]

A little troublesome if a legendary monster slayer has me as his opponent, but there's no fun in a minor struggle.

[sorser]

Mm, yes. That does seem rather thematically problematic, doesn't it?

[With a finger, he tilts the book so it faces him. The drawing of Beowulf is done in an old, classic style -- his fight against Grendel, no less.]

Still, I imagine it'll not be a problem in the end. You do have myself to assist you. I'll not merely stand by and let you do all the work.

[sakaya]

Fufu. What a considerate partner you're showing yourself to be. You're making my horns feel warm and I've barely had anything to drink today.

[So in short, she's pleased.]

Tell me though, Sorcerer Supreme and my very new Master; who are you more afraid of? Me or our enemy?

[Does Shuten Douji ask to tease? Always. Does she ask out of seriousness? There's an undercurrent of it if that gleam in her eyes says anything.]

I say that I will serve and I will. But you do understand, I largely do as I please?

[sorser]

[And so there it is again, that quizzical look of Stephen. That high arch of a pointed brow, though her question is a legimately good one.]

I would say that neither of you have earned anything like fear from me. But I have to admit that I'm wary of you. Not doubtful of your abilities, but rather... I wonder just how reliable you'll be.

[Considering she's just said that she mostly does what she pleases. Still, Stephen flicks a wrist and the book closes on its own. He picks it up, turning his back to return it to the bookshelf.]

You do realize that 'serving' does not equate to doing 'whatever you please'? Maybe you should re-evaluate your priorities.