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RP: 5th Fleet [Chapter Eight] Roll for Initiative!

CadetNewb

Well-Known Member
The notes of an instrument from home, a Shinobue, beckoned to them from within the marble building they were to go to, and somehow, the building itself looked all too familiar once they entered.

Though its marble and stone was lit with a skylight by day and torches and candles by night, it was unmistakable. The rows upon rows of carved out seats were arranged higher and higher in a semi-circle, each one looking forth towards one point in the vast chamber where several tables resided. Several tables which sat before one grand seat, the center of it all. Eyes were meant to be on whoever sat here, that was clear, but what really drove home what this place was? It was the name amulets left upon the seats with district names and their representatives.

"This is a senate building, did you all know that?" Upon the seat at the center of it all sat a flawlessly handsome, masculine yet almost effeminate man with pointed ears. A golden haired Elf. And sitting in front of him? A snowy haired Nekovalkyrja, one who's music had reached out to them like a siren's call. "Or, at least was. That was once, long ago, when The Empire was at its very peak," he explained as the group was filed in, the guards pointing the way for them as they joined the other Neko. "Naturally, that all came crumbling down with how the barbarians continued to raid and steal." The Consul sighed. "Though you all most likely know where this is heading, I suppose I should be more forthcoming," his voice took on a more serious tone.

"One of your kind stole from me. One with black streaked orange hair and faint wisps of white like that of a tigress." The Elven Consul leaned forward in his seat, the guards seemingly far more ominous than before. "What say you all?"
 
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The music stopped, and the flute parted from Mioshi’s lips only a few moments afterwards.

So, it hadn’t simply been her music. Or, had it? She quickly ran back through all the interactions that had led her up to here, to this seat, to the private audience with the Consul, mind working like lightning behind her pale blue eyes. No. It had been her music, and this was pure chance.

She held the wooden Fue in her lap for a moment, considering what to do. A glance over her shoulder at the other Nekovalkyrja who had been led into the chamber by the guards told her a fair bit more than she had really desired to know. They seemed to have got on alright, though the method by which they had been led into the building made her wonder at that. Though she recognized them from her briefing, she pretended not to, and instead looked back at the Consul, affecting a confused, perplexed look.

He was talking about her, that woman, and Mioshi was curious. But she couldn't let on how curious. Not yet. 'So she wasn't here, hiding?' she wanted to ask. But Mioshi chose the meek path of a hired musician, which she was in this case.

“Aaa, should I go?" she murmured, already knowing the answer would be no, but asking anyway to keep up the appearance. "I do not want to interrupt your business, and I do not know these people, or your thief.”
 
The elvish consul steepled his fingers together, elbows resting upon the chair's arms.

"Perhaps you speak the truth, that you do not know these people in specific. But I wonder, do you not know of them in general?" Relaxing, sitting back into his chair again, he continued, "I find it odd that so many of your people have been appearing as of late. A few, here and there, I admit would go unnoticed, but a few in almost every other town or city? And all beginning to appear at an alarming rate? Even that Kitsune has been here for nearly a hundred years. You are most certainly not mere migrants from the far east. Methinks you are of something far larger. A military perhaps?" the elvish consul guessed correctly. Sitting up straight and tall, he spoke with authority. "It will do you much good to inform me of your doings. Whatever the army of the east plans, it is only fitting that The Empire's heirs are informed."

He is guess was fifty-fifty it seemed, but the words still had impact. Wilting under the mere idea of implications at first, Adelaide was imagining all the horrible things that would come out of a princess like herself being caught in the crossfire of nations. However, all this was put on pause for the briefest of moments; from Yuzuki's belly, a cute little snoring could be heard as Sif napped.

Though the consul looked mildly puzzled, it was clear it was a mask he wore over seething rage.
 
Dimitri looked around the room as they entered, and took in every detail he could, places like this were full of meaning and information he could use later, or at least that how it was in games and shows. The neko standing in front of him was a bit of a surprise though, he knew many others were on the planet, but that he would meet one here was unexpected.

When the consul spoke up about having been robbed, Dimitri quirked a brow, admittedly rather confused. "I thought maybe it was who we were familiar with that you spoke of, but it is very hard to picture her stealing. If I might ask, what is it that she stole?" He kept his eyes on the consul as he spoke, making sure not to come off as rude.

However the snoring Sif seemed to have rendered all that moot, even without special powers like the neko, it was more than a little obvious that the consul was angry that someone was sleeping in his presence. "I apologize..the smallest of us passed out earlier and hasn't awoken yet."
 
Mioshi paused, to conside what to do next.

Of course, she was a Nekovalkyrja, and her mind could move at a speed comparable to the best of supercomputers, singularity processors withstanding. Her tail curled about, thoughtfully, for a few choice sways beneath her long tunic. It was clear to her at this point that she needed to start lying like a champion, and furthermore, that the other Nekovalkyrja she recognized were probably at least partially oblivious. Fortunately, she already had a story prepared.

In the lull of conversation that followed Sif's quiet snores, Mioshi set her flute down in her lap and folded her hands together, casting her eyes downwards submissively.

“He has seen through us," she lamented quietly. "We cannot deceive him, I suppose.” She affecting the calm and direct demeanor of someone who had dispensed with all the multi-layered webs of lies and deceit that someone had so cleanly seen through. Except not. Oh no. Totally not. Mioshi hid a little interior squeal. This was just like an RPG, and she had a Bluff Score and a lot of Charisma. This whole operation, she had been hamming it up like a madwoman.

“Actually we are here because, this woman has stolen something from us, as well. A treasure, very valuable to our people. There will be no military invasion from the East, na?" she assured him, tying into one of the threads of the story he had already woven for himself, "But, we must find this woman, if we can, and retrieve it, if we can. Perhaps if you were to say what she stole from you, as my companion asks, we might recover it as well.”
 
The familiarity of both the notes of the instrument Aya's sensitive ears picked up and the building itself somehow served to make the situation more alien, not less. The chamber they found themselves in was certainly befitting of the political stature of its occupant. Aya found her gaze switching from the grand senate chamber to the almost unnaturally handsome man and back again. Her eyebrows raised a little as she let her eyes fall upon Mioshi. Another Neko? Just how many of us are there on this mission...? Her curiosity was only piqued further by the Consul's remarks. But that was the last thing that the group needed answered - Aya was certain that the elfin man wanted an explanation. Luckily, it didn't take her long to catch on to Mioshi's plan. Adopting a similarly deferential look and tone, she answered.

"We apologise for intruding upon your realm," she explained. "We only did so because the treasure is so important that we cannot let the thief escape with it."
 
As Dimitri spoke, the elvish Consul's ears twitched as a faint pink hue started to rise under his skin, and glanced over at Yuzuki with some consternation. However, he paled, only to end up burying his face in the palm of his hand when he heard both Mioshi and Aya speak.

They struck a chord.

"A farce if 'twere mere coincidence," he bitterly spoke with a sigh. "Forgive me, but these are grave matters. I am Nedhudir of Irlathalas, Consul of this Fair City." Taking a deep breath, he looked at the squad with his sharp blue eyes once more. "Considering the gravity of our circumstance, it surprises me not that even the Far East would muster such an audacious expedition," he commented. Sif snored from under Yuzuki's shirt again, causing the Elvish man to roll his eyes. However, he powered on, explaining just exactly what it was that was stolen. "It should be no surprise that it was The Left Hand of the Dark Sovereign, a gauntlet black with magic and malice, that was taken. Seeing that it is vital to the legitimacy of any following Sovereigns, it is obvious that a new one will soon rise." He rubbed his temple, clearly distressed at the thought. "Just one struck a horrific blow to The Empire, the blood attracting Barbarians to feast upon its helpless form," Nedhudir glanced at Adelaide.

She wilted under his brief gaze, only to have him raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Oh. We got one of the pieces Ned," a little girl's voice spoke up from behind him. Leaping up in surprise, the Elvish Consul stepped back and away from his chair to reveal Coco eating away at some meat off a bone. She had vanished to the kitchens, only to come back now. The squad, if they looked, would notice the Guards shake their heads or sigh - they were used to this.

"T-truly?" the Consul asked, catching his breath. "Which one is - " he was cut off by another one of Sif's snores.
 
Mioshi listened attentively, her expression a perfect mockup of someone ashamed who, by necessity, continued on anyway. She flicked her ears, wormed her tail, and looked uncomfortable having released the most darkest secrets of her people.

Oh no!

But in reality, she was listening very closely. She didn't know who the little girl was, but she did note the way that he treated her, as well as hearing the sighs of the guards behind her. A nekovalkyrja, her ears weren't just for show; she hoped the others might catch on to that. Or perhaps they already knew something about this girl that she didn't. It hardly mattered. Mioshi was going on by the tip of her tail, alone, and had been doing so for some time now.

"It is important that we keep these artifacts out of the wrong hands," she said somberly, turning her voice to a bit of a mewl anyway. A fox would speak in a higher pitch. A meek cat was expected to purr a bit. "Where was it stolen from, and how long ago, please? You may have seen through us but, we are still quite expert, nya?"

In the back of her mind, Mioshi guessed from her interaction with the guard, and from the general impression that the 'thief' had caused, that she must still be in the city. Though it might be in her ability to leave the city quietly, Mioshi doubted that she would have done so unless doing so had been comfortable for her. After all, the SAINT agent had grown relatively accustomed to this game of fantasy cat and mouse. No. That gauntlet would still be in the city somewhere, with its carrier.
 
Dimitri folded his arms and listened to the consul, careful not to make a offensive expression. When he was done speaking he nodded softly. "That sounds pretty bad, but I find it hard to believe that our comrade was the one to do it. We're less than a day behind her in travel right now, and your security doesn't seem loose enough that someone could just steal it without any planning ahead." He then turned his attention to Coco who did not seem to care for the seriousness of the situation and did everything in her power to make it casual again. "There are pieces of whatever this is just lying around?"
 
So far, so good, thought Aya. At least they now had a name, not just for the Consul but for the artefact he was seeking. Sure, it was vague (and more than a little ominous), but Aya felt it was at least a start. The mysterious Neko was one hell of an actor - she'd have to ask her how she did it later! Looking suitably contrite, she was about to add her own voice to Mioshi's comments when Coco made a welcome intrusion. She didn't have to fake the surprise when the little girl said they already had one of the pieces. An ear twitched as she picked up the guards' exasperation, though Aya didn't dwell on it. Spying an opportunity to get the squad into the Consul's good graces, she said, "Where did you find it? Can you show us?"
 
Though Nedhudir sat regally as he listened, as was expected of an elf, it became clear that Mioshi had struck something in her questioning; he began to blush.

"My private chambers," the Consul finally replied, his voice stern with anger. And, perhaps a hint of embarrassment. "And, last night," he added. Though he was less than pleased, it didn't look like he was angry at them for the time being. Knowing what they did about Kuroneko however, the Star Army Soldiers would be able to figure out, quite well, a rough idea of exactly what had happened. Perhaps it wouldn't even be a surprise for some by now. "I myself was aghast at what had happened, but at the least, the harlot and her companions failed to steal the airship; it came down just as it crested over the walls." His fey eyes looked over them all. "Your lands must be as exceptional as the Empire was to have bred such an individual," he admitted. "That, I can respect."

As she was before, Coco munched on her snack as she stood behind and a little to the elvish Consul's side. However, she stopped, mid-chew as Dimitri asked his second question, eyes wide at his words. Ned's ears twitched; did his ears deceive him? Of course the pieces simply didn't just lay around! For the man to ask was, was....utterly bizarre. It didn't seem right. Perhaps these women were the elves of their land and he a lowly slave? Giving them the benefit of the doubt, the Consul waited for them to continue, and Aya did. The moment the deep blue Neko finished her first sentence, the chestnut haired little girl was shaking her head back and forward, mouthing for her to stop. But by the time she did, it was already too late - the cat was out of the bag, so to say.

Everyone knew from whence these pieces came. These stories of the land? These stories, they were all true. All of them. And these people knew nothing despite saying their kingdom of the east had one.

"Hm. Well, I for one, was most shocked, and am yet again," the Consul replied to them. He gestured to one of the soldiers to approach, the red-clad youth who had accompanied Mioshi rather than one of the purple guards. "Titus. Get the cross." As the young soldier retreated in horror, the Praetorian Guard closed in, quickly drawing their swords and surrounded the squad while putting themselves between the Elvish Consul. And cutting off their escape route. "Well my dear songbird," Ned began, looking over at Mioshi. "I think I'll just assume you're all guilty. Since you are actually competent at this, I will let you choose what order your friends are crucified until you tell me everything you know." With a pair of heavily armed and armored guards to their north, south, east and west accordingly, it didn't seem such a bad idea.

"Baka bakka," Coco sighed, chomping back into her snacks with disappointment. Adelaide, her charge however, quailed behind the squad.

"Hai," Sif agreed from the little girl's shoulder. Tucked into Yuzuki's waist one moment, she was there the next. 'Well, I'm disappointed, but I know you can still talk your way out of this,' they heard the Mini-Neko's voice in their heads. 'The answer is a lot closer than you think.'
 
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Oh sweet, and merciful Chiharu¸ Mioshi thought to herself, having a hard time keeping her growing unease off her face. They had run roughshod over her story, and now here they were facing down a small army of the elf’s no doubt reasonably competent personal guard.

So what could she do? What should she do?

Her pale eyes wandered over to the group, viewing them from beneath neatly trimmed, also quite platinum white bangs. She had her mission. She had her orders. And they had nothing to do with the nekovalkyrja sending her telepathic encouragement.

Abandon them?

Mioshi started to formulate on the fly again, trying to keep her voice even despite the proliferation of bronze age weaponry suddenly shooting up around her distinctly unarmored self. She knew enough, now, from what she had gleaned just from the conversation. The elf knew less than she did about the east. He was vulnerable to feminine wiles – obviously. And, he wanted someone to blame.

So she would have to give it to him. All of it. At once.

With a last long look at those people, I will get you for this, she returned her attention to the elf and set her flute aside.

“If you do not believe that we are hunting the thief, Kuroneko, then I beg you, please, give me time to prove that it is so. I have learned much in my travels here in your lands but they have not, and our legends are different than yours.”

Mioshi groveled, then, throwing herself at the elf’s feet and placing her head on the ground. Her tail curled up unhappily, and her ears flattened. She tried to look as pathetic as possible.

“I am Shinobue Mioshi, of the second house, advisor to the Empress, and we have kept knowledge of the Dark One secret from our people to prevent such things as have happened already, but oh! Kuroneko found out, and took from us even as she has taken from you. These peasants know of my search but not the gravity of it. They mis-speak out of ignorance, alone. They do not know for what I search and so, they could not possibly have helped to steal it.”

She pushed up on her hands, not forgetting that she had breasts, and that she could emphasize this fact.

“Please forgive us for troubling you like this." She turned on the waterworks, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks. "Spare us, please, and we will return the gauntlets to you, when we recover our own treasure. I would be in your debt.”

Play along, she sent to the others, a voice beneath her voice, even as she meekly acted out the part. Or we’re going to have to kill everyone here. And you are going to owe me. A lot. We are having a Talk after this. For now, this should be enough; there is a legend in these lands about the reassembly of the regalia of a Dark Lord. The monsters in the area are likely connected to this. The woman Kuroneko is assembling those pieces. I am from SAINT. I have been following her. I am giving you an out. Claim ignorance.
 
"SAINT?" thought Rin. "Why in the world are they here?"

She glanced at the other members of her party with a raised eyebrow. Then she knelt down, placing her bow down on the ground before her.

"I guess we're doing this?" She asked telepathically.
 
Dimitri decided for now not to say anything more, he really didn't like these kinds of situations or rulers, and if he had even the body of a minkan he'd probably split them all open with a blade, however he didn't so he had to hold himself back. He knelt down and bowed, following the SAINT member's lead for now. But he had quite a few questions for why SAINT was even there, if they were following Kuroneko there was no telling if the rest of them were being watched as well.
 
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