Scene #3707: Everyone gets stabbed a lot and bleeds all over oh the humanity

Owner	Pose
Tamiel	The summer land! Not actually in Kay and Tamiel's world, but a good place for an outdoor meeting on neutral ground. A large pavilion has been set up, and it's actually very nice. Drinks are provided, as is food, and it's set up as a semi-formal affair that is obviously meant to put everyone at ease. This is not to say it is completely without tension. While the Union diplomats and Heaven are discussing matters, their support staff is left to mingle. This might not be the best idea in most cases, especially since soldiers are about on both sides. Fortunately, most grigori and cherubs are pretty silent and have pretty much no personality, so the 'mingling' is largely amongst the less well-armed sorts, leaving the soldiers, aside from the Elites, mostly staring at one another tensely. It is a tension which is not relieved much by the fact that the negotiations do not seem to be going well already. Tamiel is already here, but instead of her usual bodysuit, she's wearing a lace-heavy dress that's utterly too formal for the semi-formal party, including long white gloves. The mask that normally hides her entire face has been replaced with something more elegant, which only hides her upper face, a rare change amongst the all-masked grigori. Unlike most of the others, she's already trying to engage a(very uncomfortable) soldier in chit-chat about his rifle.
Kay	Semi-formal isn't a thing that Kay knows how to do well. In her case, she just threw on the least beaten-up t-shirt and jeans in her wardrobe. It's a nice pair, at least, because her wardrobe has gotten much larger since she now has a place to call 'home' for a while. That doesn't make it a nice outfit though. Even armed, she's keeping away from both sets of soldiers. Most of all she's staying away from any grigori, especially Tamiel, and largely fidgeting uncomfortably while she looks for someone, anyone to take her mind off of certain matters. Since she stepped in literally five minutes ago, this is PAINFULLY obvious.
Shin Tokuyama	"Okay, sir. That will be twenty credits," says the store attendant, handing a small package to Shin. He didn't need to pick up a suit for this formal affair because, by his standards, he was always wearing a fancy suit. "Right, right. I'll do the thing I want it to?" Shin asks as he hands over a couple bills. Yen, common, easy to convert to credits. The girl behind the counter nods to him. He grins, "Perfect." AND NOW, he arrives to the site of diplomacy and fancy gathering with his leisure suit all nice and tidied up. He's not wearing his sunglasses today, but instead he's wearing the thing he bought at the store. A pair of normal glasses, big and round, that make him look intelligent in a much dorkier sort of way than normal. He boldly marches up to Tamiel and stops in front of her, unless the Grigori stop him from reaching her. If he can get to her, he'll stop and say, "Greetings. I'm here for..." He reaches up to the bridge of his nose, pushing up his glasses and causing the lenses to flash in a suitably anime fashion, "... the diplomacy." . o O (Awww, yeah. Perfect.)
Laer	Laer was coming along to ostensibly learn more about how one of the Confederacy's allies did business, keeping quiet behind the scenes and not causing trouble, but being around as muscle of sorts in the event of a complete failure and descent into chaos. More practically, no matter how high she rose or how much money she had saved up, Laer had not yet turned down an invitation to anything involving vast quantities of free food and drink and an incredibly tense social situation. It was, in a phrase, her Heaven. She's managed to dress appropriately, in a deeply green gown that won't actually stop her from moving around too much. She's presently chattering at one of the personality-less cherubs, attempting to draw a laugh out of it and failing in a quiet way. The bard always did like a challenge, but could easily be approached by someone else.
Gudako Ordria	Gudako cuts herself a nice big slice of cake, as she makes her way over to a table to sit down, take her cellphone back out, and resume grinding the current Idol Wars event that has been monopolizing her attention. You can earn Hatsune Miku Rose this month to finally max out her singing powers, so, she's been dumping a lot of time into maximizing this. Caster is with her, the blue-robed foxgirl looking about and pondering. "Master, have you seen Berserker? I thought she was with you," the Servant asks. "Huh? I thought Berserker was with you?" 8D replies. OUTSIDE THE PAVILION: "Three minutes." "Five." "Two!" "He can last ten, those guys are pretty tough." "What are you guys betting on?" "Oh, how long it takes that girl to catch that grigori." Berserker runs on all fours, chasing after one of the winged angels, who seems to be having difficulty keeping ahead of the blindingly fast foxcatgirl, or catfoxgirl. "BIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRD[...]" And that's why she won't be interfering in diplomacy.
Berserker	Oh, this is indeed a fun thing to watch. The chase going on, and Shin accosting Tamiel. It's all very entertaining, though Berserker of course remains still and dignified. "Master, you really should get a formal dress or the like. These outfits of yours simply aren't appropriate for a lady of your status." Ah well. There's someone she hasn't seen before, so she'll sweep past Shin with a murmur, "Be careful what you wish for." Then she's going to move toward Laer, fanning herself. "A Confederate that I don't know, and of course the other Master. I suppose they don't lack for protection tonight."
Tamiel	Shin's approach stops Tamiel cold, and the soldier skitters away with a breath of relief. She smiles, with surprising animation in the motion, and says in a mild and probably somewhat familiar voice, "Really? You do know that I am not in charge of any sort of of agreements or diplomacy myself, right? My entire task is to fight, capture, or kill." She says it in a pleasant tone, but when she catches sight of Kay, something about that makes her frown suddenly. She doesn't approach the girl, though. She stays near Shin, and asks quite bluntly, "You have come to my world many times. Is there some interest you have?"
Tamiel	The grigori being chased, meanwhile, is actually signalling for some help. The cherubs nearby don't react, but one of the other grigori snickers quietly. Apparently they at least have a barebones personality.
Laer	Of course, Laer's going to be distracted from the churub she's annoying by that thing even more of a siren's song than free food and drinks or a captive audience. She'll turn around, and declare in her most pompous voice. "You don't know? You don't know who I am?" Hands on her hips, an indignant expression on her face... "Madam, I am the former Confederate field marshall, Lord Baron Dracula Tepes the Fifth. Please try to educate yourself before entering into these diplomatic situations, or you may make trouble for all of us." Of course, she also has no idea who Berserker is.
Shin Tokuyama	Between Berserker and Tamiel's responses, one can almost hear the slow, wheezing, balloon-like noise as Shin deflates on the runway from his entire schtick for the night. The glasses even look more dull and less shiny as his shoulders slump, "Er... I... Hrm..." She has no actual diplomatic powers. But she does ask him a question! It makes him scratch his head, "I guess there's two answers. Realistically, it's because I think your world presents me a chance to express my morality in a framework that allows me to both grow in terms of relative skill, but also to establish a reputation and generally gain attention unobtrusively, since I generally affect very little while still doing so in a loud fashion." Beat pause. Then he points at Kay, "But if you asked me again, I'd say it's because she wrecked my bike and owes me for repairs."
Kay	"I er... I guess," Kay mutters toward Berserker. She's still pretty distracted, but as her protection wanders off to chat, Kay decides she'd better do so as well. Oh look, the enemy magus. That's... a thing. She'll just talk over there, toward Gudako. "Uh... hey. I haven't actually talked to a lot of Masters, but... hi..." Lame. Lame and awkward. Well, it's better than talking to Tamiel, isn't it? She may come to regret this decision.
Berserker	"Oh, you are? I didn't recognize you, Lord Marshall," Berserker murmurs, spreading her fan. "You're slightly shorter than I expected. Not to mention less feminine than your pictures. Quite a surprise, really." She steps back and gives a sweeping bow. "You may call me Berserker, Lord Marshall. It is a pleasure to see the Confederacy is so devoted to their underlings that they send someone so high in rank." Hey, did Laer just lie to Berserker?
Tamiel	Without the full mask, it's way easier for Shin to tell that Tamiel is looking a little incredulous at Shin's response. Her lips twitch a little. "Is that all? Hmm..." She looks Shin up and down a few times, then sighs, "I suppose that will have to do." The grigori plucks up a drink, offering it to Shin now. "But for now I suppose we will just be waiting for them to finish. You're a brave man, a mere human trying to compete with supernaturals as you are. The fact that you survive doing so is interesting. Do you intend to stop me every time?"
Laer	Less feminine's only a mild insult for the elf, and far less painful than the joke is fun. "Oh, of course. I am retired, after all, and attempting to enjoy such. Please, no need to be so formal. You may call me simply Lord." Laer will offer a hand out, for Berserker to either take or kiss. "We must make certain to pursue peace when it comes at equitable terms and all, and so we will support any of our associates who seek such." Which is true enough, given the equitable terms not actually being equitable.
Shin Tokuyama	Shin looks down at the drink and takes a sip. He's had alcohol before, but he doesn't drink too often. So he nurses, rather than drinks, "Ah heh. To have such flattery heaped upon me by a mysterious masked girl~. Have I been secretly tripping flags on your route with my heroic deeds~?" He asks, giving her an almost sparkling grin and a suitably anime gesture of rubbing his own chin proudly. "All told, though, I don't think I've actually stopped you once. I find it far more intriguing that you seem to..." He tries to think of a good term for it, "You often come close to the line of victory, only to cede directly in front of the finish line, it seems."
Gudako Ordria	"Ooh, the other Berserker's master! Hello, hello! I'm Gudako, this is Caster!" Gudako replies, prying only one eye off her cellphone. Caster stagewhispers: "S-She already knows, master~." There's a small pause, as the magus eyes Kay and wonders who will have to break the silence first. Caster does! By... announcing her leave. "Master~. I have to go talk to someone, please don't start anything!" she asks. "Ah, ah? Maybe! So Kay! Master of a Berserker! You must be pretty good, huh? Fueling a Berserker is usually pretty hard, but I guess yours is pretty civil so their Mad Enhancement must be pretty low. Maybe that's alright." She has not peeked at Berserker's stats, no. Meanwhile, Caster sneaks up behind Shin, and eventually lets herself known by coughing. Hands in her sleeves, with her arms crossed in front of herself, she might be vaguely attempting to make herself taller. It's probably not very effective. "So~. You're Berserker's new husband, yes? The one she's choosing over master~?" Now where could this be going.
Berserker	Berserker lifts an eyebrow, but she does take the hand and give it a light, formal kiss. "Ah, that is indeed the correct way to handle these matters. I'm quite honored to mee the Lord Marshall. I hope we can settle our differences. It would be a shame if things did not work out." She straightens and smiles pleasantly, resuming her fanning. "Though it really does make me wonder... is this land that important?"
Laer	'Dracula' will smile and take her hand back. "Oh, I'm sure we could come to some sort of agreement. It's less about any one individual land than it is a matter of principle. I'm quite certain that the diplomats are hard at work to make everything work out, in any case. I am simply here if they need an additional resource to drop on, and to meet those such as yourself, Madam Berserker." Her hand will rest at her side. "I hope you are not uncomfortable? I'm sure we could find a drink that would help, were you overheating. My presence sometimes does that." She'll state, apologetically, before snagging a drink from a nearby tray and offering it over.
Tamiel	"Only once," Tamiel admits. "There were unforeseen circumstances I couldn't account for many times. The one time I retreat after winning..." She glances at Kay. "I had reasons. As I recall, the other time I was forced to retreat rather than an outright loss was when half my body was burned by Kay's Servant." She won't mention the more humiliating defeat by a frog that happened later. Even Tamiel has pride. "It's been much more interesting out in the multiverse, I admit," she suddenly says. Then she motions over to one of the grigori nearby, who brings over a package. "Do me a favor and give this to Kay, by the way? She seems to be avoiding me for some reason."
Shin Tokuyama	"Oh, yeah, you want me to bring that over to her? Sure, I guess I cou-" Erk. While Tamiel may be ignoring his self-serving believe she's in love with him, someone else is coming up to yet again hipcheck Shin off his train of thought. He wobbles a bit in his footing and slowly looks over his shoulder. "Ah... erm. I think that was a cultural misunderstanding. I just wanted to pet her tail, but I think she got the wrong message," He admits, using the hand not holding the package Tamiel gave him to awkwardly rub the back of his head, "Erm... I guess if that's what has happened now..." Shin rummages inside one of his jacket pockets to take out yet another ziplock bag of cherry blossoms, throwing it upward so that it scatters them to fall around him. "... I'll have to take responsibility." He says somberly.
Tamiel	Tamiel stares. The blossoms, the husband bit. That actually knocks her speechless. Then she murmurs softly, "I clearly need to read more romance literature to truly understand this."
Berserker	"Ah, not to worry, I am comfortable in the presence of nobility," Berserker explains. She takes the offered drink with a smile of her own. "Sadly, it does not appear they are going well, but with any luck we can wait for a more fitting occasion to be as enemies. My Lady Master prefers that I not burn down the pavilion."
Gudako Ordria	"No! No wrong messages!" Caster insists, reaching to grab Shin's hand. "Please! It arranges me very much! Caster wants masters all to herself, yes! If Berserker is busy with someone else, Caster can make her move and finally claim master's hand!" She nods, fiercely. "Also! Berserker is jealous too. I'm the original! I'm better, you see? She's just one of my tails, there's seven more low-grade products floating around just like her, but there's only one me! Mikooooo~!" She huffs and puffs, proudly. She's the Servant that attained divinity and then shed eight of her tails just to be a Servant again, after all. "Therefore, please pursue Berserker with all of your heart!"
Kay	"I'm uh..." Kay rubs her head and shrugs at Gudako. "I'm actually... more of a summoner than a magus. I shoot guns. And stuff. But I know how to summon, and I guess it's good enough to keep Berserker going? I barely feel the drain." She looks over after Caster, sighing in sympathy to Shin. A shrug of her shoulders, and she goes back to talking to Gudako. "I guess it works. She's a great cook, and she's more helpful in a fight than you'd think," Kay admits. "Hopefully we won't have to find out. I'm not real big on fighting, but... you know. Opposing sides." Siiigh.
Gudako Ordria	"Oh? Well I'm not really a good magus either, you get over it after a while!" Gudako cheerily replies, eyes occasionally refocusing on her cellphone and then back at Kay, very loosely. "You too huh? Both Caster and Berserker are good cooks, they're always fighting to see who'll cook and who'll feed me. I managed to set up a chores spreadsheet that alternates it well enough they don't get too angry. Ah, but why tell me your Berserker is more helpful in a fight than I'd think? She's a Berserker! Fighting is what they do. Yours is a bit weird and polite, but mine is a catgirl, so!" 8D, and shrug. "Apparently they know each other too. I bet you won't tell me who she is if I ask, huh? Caster and Berserker won't, and I don't feel like burning a Command Spell for that tiny a piece of information."
Shin Tokuyama	Shin gets a bit confused when Caster actually TELLS him to pursue Berserker(Cat). The martial artist looks over his shoulder at Tamiel and admits, "This is kinda new territory for me, I admit. And not at all how I expected this to go." Then he turns back to Caster, "If the chance presents itself, we'll see if I can bumble myself down a flag-tripping adventure with your sister-you-clone-thing." He notes, giving her a dramatic thumbs up. Then he gets control of his hands back and he looks over to Kay, holding the package above his head triumphantly, "Yo Kay! Tamiel wants you to acknowledge her feelings by accepting this gift, but she thinks you're avoiding her!"
Laer	"Good of her." Laer will agree, before offering a bow finally. "Then I'm sure we'll get a chance to be enemies down the road as well. I trust that you'll show me something excellent then?" Laer doesn't really know that much about the servants, but from what she does know the Berserker seems surprisingly talky. It's kind of nice, really. Laer will chew upon some more of the food, trying to look for an opening to extricate herself before her lie is completely figured out.
Kay	"Oh huh, you have a point there," Kay admits. She shoves her hands in her pockets and mutters, "She does like her fire." But upon learning Gudako hasn't learned her identity, Kay looks up again. "I uh... it's obvious if she uses her Noble Phantasm, but I did make a promise to her not to tell anyone, and she hates people who break their promises. You know how it is." Uh oh. Then Shin is telling her that Tamiel has a package. "Huh? Her what? Um..." Without thinking, Kay is taking the package anyway.
Tamiel	"Thank you," Tamiel says in a clipped voice. Still eerily familiar, though. Except that then the budding feelings thing comes up, and she starts to object. "Romantic feelings are not at all what I-" She doesn't get a chance to explain, because right then the diplomats behind her break out into heated bickering, shouting, and there's the sound of an energy weapon powering up. Abruptly Tamiel spreads her wings and darts toward the discussion, as she fortunately has orders to keep BOTH groups alive. It does mean the entire pavilion is suddenly up into a flurry of activity as everyone tries to keep everyone else from shooting. Looks like negotiations have broken down.