921/Assassinate an Assassin

Assassinate an Assassin
Date of Scene:	05 November 2014
Location:	Tokyo-788
Synopsis:	Kimiko visits Jack, asking for tips on how to hunt an Assassin class Servant
Cast of Characters:	416, 570

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Jack (416) has posed:
    Since the Yamiko have been handled and the Werewolf apocalypse is over, Himei Shoutan's Tokyo has been much quieter than it used to be. Now, Kimiko had things she wanted to ask of Jack the Ripper, and that means the Servant cleared the time off for it. Homework done, chores finished, a quiet goodbye to Himei and her family, and it's off to the meeting spot.
    A small gelato joint that just recently opened up. Jack is already here and waiting, the silver-haired Servant is seated, still in her school seifuku and big round glasses, hugging knees to her chest and whittling at a cone of strawberry and banana gelato with a super tiny spoon while waiting.

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    For a day like today, Kimiko's chosen an entrance with an appropriate level of drama: She arrives by bus. For a city under attack by a total of zero currently world-ending events, she's decided to keep it quiet. Plus, there was a stop, like, right there.

    Gelato is certainly fine with her, though it's as much for the sake of appearances that she gets anything. Mint seems to be her preference.

    Delivered with her usual, calm gravity, "Mm. It's sweet."

    After a few moments more, "Hello, Jack. I hadn't seen your uniform before."

Jack (416) has posed:
    Gelato is safer. Better than ice cream too. At least in Jack's mind. Indeed, nothing can go wrong right now as she pauses on some more strawberry to look up. "Mm. Kimiko." She gives in greeting. "Yes, Mother enrolled us her old school. Same school as Kiyoko, too. We're in the same grade." She explains. Nevertheless.
    "You need to know more about Assassin, yes?"

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko gets comfortable. She's eating sweets, so this isn't very difficult.

    "Yes. The Servant of Dorothy Matveyeva, a Dead Apostle." She closes her eyes for a moment, frozen in the act of remembering. "Changed appearance. Large man in a white mask. Small knife. Uncanny. Stabbed through my armor." It's healed over, since. Still an easy to thing to recall. "Little more information. The Master is up to something else. No one has an idea, yet. Can save that thought for later."

    "I... try to protect people. He made my job very difficult."

Jack (416) has posed:
    "Mmmmmmh..." Dealing with a Servant is one thing. One with a Dead Apostle Master is something wholly different. Even Jack has no clue how that could affect so many things. "Firstly." She begins. "You already know the Grail War has seven Servants. Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Berserker, Assassin." It's basic common Union knowledge by now.
    "But as you seemed to have learned something else about us." Jack notes. "Assassin does not play fair."
    It's a simple and weight carrying musing. "Not the strongest class, but through abuse of special skills and prioritizing striking specifically at weaknesses, Assassins can briefly become situationally superior to a foe." She halts there, lips pursing before resuming her gelato with a small lick.
    "Changed appearance huh... Knife is not uncommon. Mask? Describe it?"
    Then, however, Jack reaches over, a small hand lightly patting atop Kimiko's. "It's okay. Assassins cheat. We make everyone's job difficult if we go all out."

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko nods. A serious, businesslike nod, and her usual response to most things said to her on the field. The expression she gives when Jack reachers for her, though, is noticeably warmer. It is not a face she shows so regularly.

    To business, though. "No memorable details. Blank, white mask. Very ordinary." She shakes her head. "The knife was large, but also ordinary. The man was--very large. Close to two meters. Heavy muscles. Strong hands. Though Servants are often strong."

Jack (416) has posed:
    Thusly, given more info, Jack nods slowly, retracting her hand to rub at her jaw contemplatively. "Mask. Symbolic usually. Especially for a Servant. Though we would not be surprised if he wore it in life. Obscures the identity. Could possibly even be a form of passive Noble Phantasm, though, like Mordred's was. Can't tell without interacting and observing them ourself." Nevertheless, she licks at her gelato. "Bladed weapons, knives, and such are normally a killer's standard choice in weapon. But. A huge assassin? A little vexing. The standard rules of the Grail War Assassin Class is usually reserved for one of the 21 Hassan-i-Sabbah. But obviously, this is not always the case."
    Like with her, as an example.
    "It could be one of them, but we are going to go out on a limb and assume it is not. Yes, this is true. Servants are much stronger than normal humans. Usually on legendary levels. We are small but could probably lift you in full armor without blinking." Hmmmmm...
    "Anything else? Or shall we warn of what to maybe watch out for?"

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko sits back, again remembering. "You can materialize in front of people--yes? He didn't. He appeared on the other side of doors. Opened, attacked. When pressed--retreated into another room. Disappeared while no one could see him. He did, at least, know where we were. His timing was very precise. Even kept track of us while fighting in another part of the house."

    A pause. "His Master recalled him using a Command Seal. Is that strange? I would have thought he could have just gone to her while we made our way up to her location. Instead, he appeared only when summoned, that way."

    After some frozen-treat-licking, she finishes. "That's all."

Jack (416) has posed:
    "Yes. We can." Jack affirms when it comes to materialization. "We would not be surprised if he can, it is standard for Servants. Might be out of habit. Hunter-stalker type. Appears in ways that would cause the most emotional distress and fear in a target?" She ventures. "We will remind you, Assassin is normally a class reserved for extremely professional and adept killers. Killers like we used to be. Might have been watching you all in spirit form while you were busy fighting."
    Lick lick, she's almost done with that gelato, but mentioning a command seal makes her halt, brow knotting. Adjusting her glasses, Jack Angelica Shoutan peeks up. "Did she NEED to use the Command Seal? This is very important, Kimiko, tell us."

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko shakes her head. "I cannot say. She seemed--confident that we would not kill her. She did not hesitate, and it was not used in haste."

    A light sigh. "She told us, casually, that she was leaving. She used it. Assassin appeared, and attacked--different weapon, then. Metallic claw. I only saw it for a moment. 'Cutting the air'? Slashed well outside his reach, but just to cover their escape. Not a certain kill technique, as he used earlier."

Jack (416) has posed:
    "Hmmm... He did not speak or say anything, did he? It is... Not common, but some Servants are already unstable even without the Mad Enhancement of Berserker. But..." Jack doesn't go into detail about how she used to be just as unstable as mentioned. Nevertheless, she drums her fingers on the table, already munching on her cone. "Even we think that is a little weird. That she used a Command Seal to do that. If he was disobedient is one thing, that will force it, and yes Command Seals can instantly bring a Servant to their Master but. Unless belligerent, a Servant usually comes willingly, does not need a Command Seal unless the distance is extreme." Mention of the claw leaves her tapping her lip. "That sounds almost magical in nature. Maybe another Noble Phantasm. This Assassin confuses us, we think."

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    "No. He never said even one word. He--used the appearance of someone a magus there was afraid of seeing, though. And the combat ability of the disguise, I think. Fear, was a goal. That usually requires intelligence. But..."

    Kimiko... slumps. "There is only so much preparation I can do by thinking. It was a short fight. No answers."

Jack (416) has posed:
    "Mmh... Mmh..." Once again Jack is nodding. "From what you have told us... We think you're facing an Assassin that thrives on your fear." The ex-serial killer murmurs after a short beat. "They will do whatever they can to put you in that disadvantageous position. And then capitalize on it."
    A sigh and she slides her glasses up on her brow. "Kimiko. Your best bet for this is to keep on your toes, and not let them get to you- or others with you. There usually are no answers. Assassin tries to leave their victims with more questions, and it is normal for a Servant to be very guarded about their abilities and identity. We've told you all we think we can. And we hate to say it but... From this point on, if you go after them again... You are on your own."

Kimiko Shinobu (570) has posed:
    Kimiko sits up, slowly rolling her shoulders, and straightens. She nods. "I expect that we will find him again. And then we will kill him, and his Master. I have no expectation they will survive. But the more force we use, the more targets we give him." She laces her fingers before her. "My role will be to prevent him from striking. That is all I can attempt. But I do not mind that role."

Jack (416) has posed:
    Digging into her skirt pocket, Jack handles the cost of gelato, as she picks herself up to stand, throwing her backpack over one shoulder. "It's one thing to keep him from striking. But don't let him strike at your back, Kimiko." She warns.
    "So, good luck."