Season 1: Persepolis/Round 1 Thread 6

Nat 18-Nov-20 01:09 PM

Takoda Mori 19-Nov-20 06:30 AM

The door swung shut silently behind Takoda, his feet upon the carpet floor probably made more noise. He didn't bother a side long glance to the guards on either side of the door, he simply moved down the hall, his body knew the path to take well so his mind reflected on the meeting he had just left.

It was time.

The Boss had trusted him with a S.E.R.V.A.N.T. frame, and a stolen mystic code as well. It was all waiting for him downstairs, he was ready... he was ready...

Or at least he kept telling himself that as his right hand drifted upwards settling upon his chest over his heart for a moment before it slid back down to his side. The artificial circuits there upon his heart the only things making him capable of the privilege he had been given, his own natural potential as a mage not worth mentioning, never had been.

He would succeed though, his honor, his loyalty to the Yakuza he called family demanded it.

He had reached the elevator, or should he say, the doors were already opening as he stepped in and withdrew a key from his pocket, clicked it into place and turned, he hit the 'Basement Floor 3' button and withdrew the key, the doors slid shut and as the repetitive soft tune began to play again he fell into his own thoughts.

Was this coming conflict, which they had amassed frames and mystic codes for... righteous? He had no love for the aristocracy that rule his home with contempt for those below them, but would a conflict so openly with them help the people he thought they were meant to protect? Already the violence had destroyed homes and businesses, taken lives of those that wanted no part in the fighting. It wasn't his place to question, it was only his place to follow orders, to be loyal, yet still his thoughts wandered to the treacherous.

The doors opened again, and he stepped out into the halls of the basement, here the grandeur was gone, there was only reality. Men stood armed and at the ready, he was sure a few master's and

servants sat just out of sight among the many rooms. Others would be stocked with weapons, ammunition and medical supplies, other floors were for uses… more sinister and gruesome than storage. He moved onwards through the maze of hallways till he saw it, a final door, it looked no different than the others, though there was about double the guards one would expect for such an unassuming door, he passed them and the door was opened by the last for him and he stepped in.

The room was dimly lit, but there it sat, the S.E.R.V.A.N.T. frame was there, the mystic code prepared, the runic circle upon the floor drawn, all prepared by those far more versed in the mystic arts than himself, all prepared for him.

He drew in a deep breath raised his right hand and spoke.

While his mouth spoke the words needed his mind wandered again.

Was this righteous? Was this honorable? Was he worthy? Would his loyalty hold true through this conflict, and with that last thought echoing forth he finished the incantation and his world was changed in a single moment.

WafflesofWar 19-Nov-20 06:30 AM

@Nubby

Claudius Smith 19-Nov-20 09:27 AM

As soon as the last word left Takoda's mouth, the basement lights would begin to flicker. Cold air would fill the room, leaving a chill as if someone were breathing down his neck. The Servant frame before him was ravaged by a dense fog blocking out Takoda’s sight.

Inside of the fog-filled circle, Takoda would be able to hear the disgruntled voice of a man. “Damn it! Damn It all!” The voice called out. And with that, the fog that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere disappeared in the same fashion. Left behind was what had appeared to be an average commoner. The man's pants were beaten up; his jacket seemed to be old and worn down as if it had seen many winters before. The only thing out of the ordinary, however, was the rope that hung from his neck

Claudius stayed still in the circle, seeming almost lifeless. Suddenly his head shot up from the floor, staring at his Master. Deep gasping breaths came from his mouth as if he was struggling for air as he tugged at the rope; after only a few seconds, his breathing became normal, and his hands dropped to his sides.

Claudius’s eyes left his Master’s surveying the room. Whatever trance Claudius was in at conception, it seemed he was now in his right mind. His eyes wandered back to Takoda squinting at him. It looked almost as if Claudius was trying to get a judge of character.

“Oi, you there” He said, his voice coated with a thick accent. “ Ya wouldn't happen to be the one who called me here, would ya?”

Nubby 19-Nov-20 09:27 AM

@WafflesofWar

Takoda Mori 20-Nov-20 11:11 AM

Takoda stared, a little dumb struck at the… anticlimactic appearance of his Servant. He’d seen others, they were gallant or terrifying, and their presence filled the room and could draw the eye. This man was… utterly… normal!

His heart had skipped more than a few beats, nearly stopping during the ritual, the dropping temperature and super natural mist had set him on edge. In his mind he had begun to imagine what would come forth, the hair had stood up on the back of his neck and he’d been on the verge of a cold sweat. Then…

This man was gasping in front of him.

“I-.. I’m Takoda Mori, I was the one that summoned you into the frame yeah…”

Of course this could have been due to his own ineptitude as a magus, his own weakness that was for sure, after all you could only expect a two bit magus to summon a two bit servant. He was a fighter, not a wizard, after all.

He drew in a breath and spoke again more firmly.

“Yosh! I’m Takoda Mori of the Kaeru Yakuza Group! I enforce the will and wishes of the Boss by whatever means necessary! So stand up, from now on you’re an extension of the me, the Boss’s weapon!”

He was more satisfied with that, even if the Servant was unassuming in stature it could hide secret power, best to put his own will forward, after all the Kill Command wasn’t in this mystic code, he’d have to get this Servant to listen another way.

WafflesofWar 20-Nov-20 11:34 AM

@Nubby

Claudius Smith 21-Nov-20 06:16 PM

Claudius couldn't help but let out the slightest of chuckles at his master's demanding stature. "You're quite the demanding one, are ya?" He said, pacing around Takoda, trying to get a good feel for him.

Claudius took a second to digest what Takoda had said. It seemed Takoda was a man of hard work and determination and a loyal subject to those above him. "So then if i'm an extension of you… and that makes me the boss's weapon… Well then, what does that make you lad? The one who wields the weapon, your boss's dominant hand?"

Claudius had many questions about his new master; being a leader of his own gang in life, he was more than intrigued at the idea of being summoned by a yakuza. This idea felt homey to him, he had been summoned in familiar territory.

Nubby 21-Nov-20 06:16 PM

@WafflesofWar

Takoda Mori 23-Nov-20 07:39 AM

Takoda watched as Claudius paced around him, he shifted his footing and turned his head to always keep the Servant in sight, it was an old habit, he didn’t like having someone behind him.

This guy spoke simply, straight to the point, Takoda liked that, was relieved actually, he’d heard other Servants speak, man could they go on and on opining about this and that, you could get lost in those words, and wowed lost, just lost bored and confused.

When Claudius had finished speaking Takoda actually closed his eyes and stood silent. He knew the words to answer this question, it was an answer he knew all too well but to speak them was something different, words that shouldn’t just be declared, that was to boisterous, no these words were the recitation of an oath of loyalty.

His eyes closed his body moved as he spoke. Raising his right hand up and clenched into a fist before himself…

“I am Takoda Mori, The Devil’s Left Hand. Where the Boss must be clean I would stain myself, where honor must be forgotten, I will take the shame, where a life must be laid down I will give mine a thousand times. The Left Hand of the Devil, the actions I take the Boss’s name, are aren’t honest enough for the Devil’s right.”

He opened his eyes and stared at Claudius.

“That’s what we are, more powerful than pawns, but just as expendable. A hand acts, it doesn’t think. We aren’t a part of a the Boss, because he is to far above, to untouchable and unstained to be connected to the same body as us. Got that!” he said that last part with conviction, extending his fist out towards Claudius, almost as if he was threatening the Servant to question it or speak ill of the Boss.

WafflesofWar 23-Nov-20 07:39 AM

@Nubby

Claudius Smith 23-Nov-20 10:39 AM

Claudius looked at Takoda’s fist before breaking out into hysterical laughter. “A Boss eh?! You call that a boss?” He continued to laugh holding his gut as it grew sore from laughter.

“Now listen here alright then? That’s not a Boss, it's a King, now don't mistake the two, dear Master.” As Claudius spoke he paced around the room, he wasn't very comfortable in the basement and was looking for a place to sit.

“You see, a King rules, he gives orders and others do it for him, Kings are lazy bums that we ought to look out for. A boss though? Ya see a boss on the other hand leads his men and fights with em.” Claudius did mean what he was saying, but he was more curious about Takoda’s reaction than explaining his beliefs. “Now back in my glory days, I led the toughest crew there ever was, I went into every fight with my men and they followed suit.”

Claudius approached Takoda leaning his face in close. Claudius let out a grin showing off his dirty teeth, and his breath smelling noticeably putrid. “Is this making sense to ya Master?”

@WafflesofWar

Takoda Mori 23-Nov-20 11:46 AM

Takoda listened to Claudius speak, at first with interest, but quickly with building anger and rage.

What did this man know of the Boss to speak in such a tongue, if this guy were a normal Yakuza member he'd have the guys tongue cut out! No one talked ill of the Boss, not in front of Takoda, without some form of chastisement.

So when Claudius leaned forwards closing the gap between their faces further, and with his still outstretched left arm which Claudius had walked alongside to close in on the Enforcer's face he attempted to side step the assassin while closing his arm around the man's neck, hoping to pull him from his feet, or at least off balance, as his right hand balled into his fist and he brought it down and up aiming for the Servants gut. All this while he spoke.

"Whaddya know about the BOSS!?"

WafflesofWar 23-Nov-20 11:46 AM

@Nubby

Claudius Smith 24-Nov-20 12:56 PM

As Takoda tried to land his strike on Claudius a grin appeared across his face. Takoda would see only a blur as Caludius slipped from his arm avoiding the punch entirely. Takoda would then feel someone looming over his back as Claudius’ voice spoke into his ear.

“Now why don't ya listen real close Master. I’m bound to this world by you, but if you touch my throat I wouldn't mind taking the one to one trade. You see that spots just a wee bit sore from some time ago, im sure you understand.” Claudius would stay up against Takoda’s back. He wanted to see what he would do next. Takoda was clearly a fighter and Claudius stood at a vulnerable position. Claudius wanted to see if his master was wise enough to drop a pointless fight.

@WafflesofWar

Takoda Mori 24-Nov-20 03:40 PM

Takoda balled both his fists, he was angry sure, but there was no point in trying to fight a Servant, he couldn't win. It had been a gut reaction from an insult levied towards the Boss. Regaining his composure he stood up straight and walked forwards keeping his back to Claudius.

He rolled his neck several times before speaking.

"The Boss served his time fighting, he's earned the right to stand above and separate, don't bad mouth him again, I won't stand for it understand?"

He turned to face Claudius now eyeing the noose.

"Besides-" He pointed at it. "According to that noose-" he drug a thumb across his own neck "You probably wouldn't understand the kind of loyalty he inspires. But either way that doesn't matter, so long as your ready to act when you need to."

WafflesofWar 24-Nov-20 03:40 PM

@Nubby

Claudius Smith 25-Nov-20 05:40 PM

Claudius chuckles to himself; His master was quite the tough one. To bite back at someone who was clearly stronger took some guts. Claudius liked that about Takoda… However, now was not the time to explore that side of his master.

Claudius tugged at the rope a bit as it was mentioned. “Dying for a cause is as loyal as you can get, to mock such sacrifice clearly shows that your cowardice gets the better of you.” As Claudius spoke his words left his lips full of venom.

“But no matter, i've already died so not much to ponder over yeah?” Claudius took a step back leaning himself against the basement wall, his tone was much more normal now. “Well then Master, Got any questions for this old chap?”

@WafflesofWar