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  • Edited

Drakador_Chaos
"I...I am Dasha, owner of the Forge of Babel..."
The figure still hiding behind the couch, reluctant to show herself, yet that tuff keeps swaying left and right on top of the couch like a cat bait.
"...our party is on their way to here...do you want anything in the meantime?"

Dumb
Halcyon frowned, he was still standing in the same spot as when he entered, something about this situation seemed... off.
He had ofcourse informed himself about the forge but there was little they could do for him, given he had neither money nor materials.
"I do not think I can afford your services I'm afraid and..."
He followed the tuft of hair with his eyes not unlike a predator, trying to make sense of it's movements.
"...I suppose repairs are not an offer without compensation either."
He had a slight suspicion... but... why in an embassy?

    Drakador_Chaos
    "Well... orders are given to provide a certain degree of assistance to you... so repairs can be free of charge..."
    Finally, the figure poke half her face over the couch and look at Hal for the first time. With the dark circles around her eyes and the faint red tint, Dasha probably had been hanging out for several nights or had been weeping silently, both probable yet...bizarre for an embassy. The tuff of hair, for some anomalous reasons, still swinging left and right like a wagging tail.
    "Just toss it over the couch is alright...i can handle the rest on my own..."

      Dumb
      Halcyon looked at her for a couple of moments equally surprised and confused from the looks of it. Proceeding to just stand there for a couple more seconds in silence until he snapped out of it.
      “Ah, yes, ofcourse, the sword.”
      He pulled a larger than average sword from his back, complete with the sheate and lobbed it over the couch. Judging by the size it was a bastard sword.
      “Please be careful with the internal structure. Ah and thank you for your assistance, ofcourse.”
      He paused again, apparently waiting, observing to see what would happen next. Though he was still careful, the woman from across the back of the couch had sparked his curiosity.
      ‘Who had put her in charge of this embassy? ...and if she was the owner, why was she here?’
      His train of thaught paused for a moment.
      'Well, if she was the owner, obviously, she was also the one who had put herself in charge of the embassy. But still...'

      Drakador_Chaos
      After Dasha ducked back down and a series of rubbing sound, the sword flew back up, still within its sheath, and float back to Hal's hands. The general appearance and the "atmosphere" that the sword produce remains the same, but it definitely feels sharper than before.
      "......any more equipment?"
      Dasha's voice strangely peaked right as the question ends, but she doesn't seemed to pay attention to that judging from the lack of followup apologies.

        Dumb
        Halcyon caught teh sword without problems and unsheathed it, examining it not only with his eyes but also feeling over it with his senses. The sword was a curiosity, as the Dasha had found out, although it looked rather plain on the outside the blade itself was made of a good dozen layers over each other all but the outermost inscribed with some sort of magical runes.
        "Wait... was that...?"
        For a moment Halcyon looked somewhat bewildered but then returned to the former expression.
        Ofcourse that was all, it was not the weirdest thing he had encountered since he left the otherworld.
        He shook his head.*
        "No, that was all, no other equipment."
        He paused, silence ensued once more. It was somewhat awkward.
        "So, what are you doing here all day? May I have a seat while waiting?"
        There, ofcourse, had been ambassadors and alike in his world as well, never quite that out of the ordinary, though he did actually wonder what they did when they weren't meeting people. He had never been one much for politics, so the question never occurred to him before.

        • Edited

        Drakador_Chaos
        "...gasp ahh, sorry bout that."
        The request for the seat wake up Dasha at least for a bit, as instantly a snap is heard and a throne-isk seat emerges behind Hal, it's texture resembles that of a beanbag yet somehow sturdy enough to allow sitting upright. Dasha also fully emerges out from the couch, with the dark circles and red marks gone like it was never there, and her business suit seemingly freshly ironed out.
        "With not much visitors coming to here, I haven't been doing much "formal" work to be honest, so apologize for any sort of lacking in services."
        Dasha deeply bows, before sitting on the couch, facing Hal directly.
        "So...em...just curious, what had you been before getting stuck in that...thing with Gil and his team?"

          Dumb
          Hal looked at her for a couple of moments apparently trying to read her, simply responding...
          "Hm... I see."
          ...to her answer.
          Upon her own question his eyes narrowed for a moment, not in discontent, more... as if he was thinking.


          What and how much could he tell the denizens of the world and how much did they known themselves already?
          Halcyon pondered. A simple reply would have to suffice.


          After a couple of moments he nodded and answered, albeit reluctantly.
          "I was working with... Law Enforcement. Not the most pleasent job, but it 'payed the bills' as people here say."
          There seemed to be considerably more behind this, though Halcyon did not seem have any intention of telling her more.


          'Law Enforcement' was a very... rough euphemism of what the 'Judges' were. Judges and executioners at once, witnesses for major major occasions, the whole order brought to life by the High caste, recruits coming from those capable enough.
          Whether they wanted or not.


          Halcyon shook his head, more subconsciously than willingly, not even noticing himself.
          After a few moments his attention returned to Dasha.
          "How long do we expect to wait?"

            • Edited

            Drakador_Chaos
            "Hmm...well they probably should be here soon..."
            It seems Dasha isn't quite interested in chewing into the detail, be it due to respect of personal privacy or some other reasons...or simply because she doesn't have the time for that.
            "Sorry about that, we had some assignments that needed to get sorted."
            A female with snow-white hair descends from midair right behind the whole assortment of furnitures, followed by two...somewhat junior individuals, the trio walks around the assembly, and stopped beside Dasha's couch.
            "Oh...hey Mainframe, wasn't Gil responsible for this?"
            A slight shade of disappointment crosses Dasha's gaze, but it only retained for a brief moment before Dasha is having that usual, bored gaze.
            "He requested to have something "sorted out"...perhaps he got some insights? I didn't ask so I am not quite sure about the reason..."
            Mainframe, with that air quote hand gesture and that near-to-perfect body ratio, should theoretically be quite charming to basically anyone, but her expression...or rather her expressionless face makes it quite outlandish.
            After answering Dasha's doubts, she glides forward to Hal and has her right hand out open for a handshake.

            "You must be Halcyon, Thanks for accompanying Gillian and his team in the Embassy."

              4 days later

              Dumb
              Hal eyed her somewhat suspiciously, but accepted the greeting and shook her hand, the sword still in the other hand. He seemed to take note of that something was off with her but apparently couldn't quite tell what.

              "I assume you are 'Mainframe' then?"
              He noted, his tone somewhat unsure.

              He let go, taking a step back, proceeding to answer her own question.
              "Yes, I am. The gratitude is mutual I would say.
              You are likely accompanying me on the next part of this... task then?"

              He put the sword and sheathe back on his back and fastened the belts again, checking if everything sat right and firm whilst waiting for Mainframes answer.

                • Edited

                Drakador_Chaos
                While Mainframe is interacting with Hal, the two junior individuals at the back seemed to be having some sort of heated argument, to a point which weapons begin materializing on each other's hands but their voices remain pretty low, probably effort on suppressing their voices to not let Mainframe notice the affair...
                "Ahh...excuse me for a second."
                ...but these simple measures seem futile as Mainframe, as she turns around and signals something to the two individuals. Visible fear instantly filled the eyes of the two, followed by their weapons dissolving immediately and slowly, timidly step up, looking down on their feet.
                "Mhm, i am Mainframe, and this is Galar and Yuki..."
                She first pat the pale individual with the mention of "Galar", and then pat the other, remarkably orange-haired afterward.
                "We will be replacing Gillian for this task, as he got some personal...wants?, which he wished to get sorted out, and thus render occupied in this time period."

                  Dumb
                  Hal tilted his head, seeing the two figures in the back, they seemed to be similar to the other two he had met, one of the many races he couldn't identify.
                  Curious.
                  He pushed the thought aside and nodded.
                  "If there are things he thinks need to be done, I will not be the one to stop him."
                  He paused, if this man felt the need to abandon a task like this, something important must have happened or they had been tasked as group not individuals.
                  He frowned.
                  "Is there anything else which needs to be done or talked before our departure? We are probably not pressed on time, given the time in the otherworld, though we likely shouldn't dawdle around either if it can be avoided. in that regard it may be better to ask questions now, rather than later."

                    • Edited

                    Drakador_Chaos
                    "Hmm......?"
                    Mainframe thinks for a brief second with her head dipped slightly, before raising back up.
                    "Do you have any experience related to what we will be encountering? Any sort of insights would help greatly for us to prepare for whatever upcoming issues."
                    Meanwhile, Dasha and her belongings seemed to disappear while they are chatting, leaving the four of them in vast empty white space.

                      4 days later

                      Dumb
                      Halcyon looked at her for a couple of moments, he seemed to be thinking.
                      Eventually he answered, reluctantly.
                      "I... I do not know I'm afraid. There is very little I know about where we may be heading, what I do know is that the man you call the 'Herald' is rather hard to predict. If anything I know that he is testing us, so what we should be prepared for is likely any sort of combat, hardship or task be it physical or mental in nature."
                      He paused, apparently unsure what else to say, if anything he seemd a bit clueless.
                      "I'm sorry I cannot be of any more help in this regard."

                        • Edited

                        Drakador_Chaos
                        Mainframe casually shrugged in response.
                        "Ahh...its alright, we will simply deal with whatever we meet then...now, for our means to get there..."
                        She steps away for a bit, and pluck towards the empty space behind her. The space seems to react as if she had touched an invisible curtain, as the background slowly ripples and drops down behind, revealing a peculiar "ship", with a fighter's nose and cockpit fuzed onto a cluster of boosters. Mainframe joyfully walk towards the rear, and with a pat on a seemingly random surface, a ramp opens up which resembles the interior with warm lighting, sofa, television, and even wooden doors, resembling an old-school apartment from every aspect
                        "Welcome to Antaeus Airlines, Galar, go take the controls......Galar?"
                        Galar just stood there, completely in awe, taking several seconds to even register Mainframe's command. With his hand trembling, he slowly points to himself, as if confirming that the target of the command really be him.
                        "Yep, Mr. Battle Fairy, I even got the same OS for this, just without the former data, now jump in, we got a calling to respond."
                        With haste, Galar sprint towards the craft, and sealed himself inside the cockpit, while Yuki, smiling as if she know the cause of Galar's excitement, slowly walks up the ramp, while Mainframe just standing there, signaling Hal to go inside.

                          4 days later

                          Dumb
                          Hal started following her, slowly, looking around the rooms with suspicion. It started to become obvious he seemed to somewhat alienated by the repeatedly changing interiors.
                          "I... see."
                          Was the only thing he noted for a while, as he sat down on the sofa.
                          After a while a pulled out the shard he had gotten from the Herald in the otherworld, The shard pointing in a certain direction towards the core whenever he didn't hold it too tightly.
                          He sighed as a question seemed to come up in his mind.
                          "So, what do you know about the Herald? I take it your people had... former experiences with him?"


                          It felt odd questioning strangers about a being that was considered a god where he came from, then again, if he wanted to reach his goals, he would have to get a grasp on any available information, whatever the good or bad it would do for him.

                            Drakador_Chaos
                            "Hmm~ well, do wait a bit, need to do some checks first."
                            Yuki went into one of the rooms and closed the door, leaving Mainframe and Hal in the "living room". As for Mainframe, she went out and scooted around the ship before coming inside, closing the ramp and Sitting next to Hal. A slight vibration is sensed, which means the vessel has probably taken off and started moving according to the guidance of the shard.
                            "Honestly we haven't had much interaction with the Herald... the first time i actually meet him is over in the Embassy, the place where you and Gil hung out, where we had a meeting with a lot of other individuals, and that is where we get ourselves to be involved in this series of events, and to a certain event, trying to achieve our dream and probably the dream of many mortals as well..."
                            She leans forward and taps onto the wooden console. Two circular openings appear on the flat surface and two cups emerge from the openings, filling the room with the aroma of some sort of tea. Mainframe held the cup closer to her, and takes a small sip before continuing.
                            "...There was another...encounter I suppose? That one feels like a dream for even a mechanical being like me, so I'm not sure if that is really "me" me, but it was way back when Herald was still the warlord, and he sought after a piece of Calamity, the piece which allowed my predecessors to build the foundations of what leads to us right now. During his excavation for his goal, he had a blade, a claw, and lots of runes, though considering that he is no longer the warlord of bloodcult, maybe those abilities would be different from what he has currently."

                              Dumb
                              'Mechanical?', was the first thought that came when she mentioned it.
                              He looked at the mainframe, she did not look like a machine at all.
                              He shook his head, he shouldn't judge things by their looks, especially not in this world.
                              Then there was already the next thing which caught his attention.

                              "Warlord?"

                              He knew the Herald was a being of many names, Herald, Prophet, Firstborn, Untouchable, Creator, but this one was new to him. Picking up the cup he eyed it with some suspicion but the took a sip from it.

                              "Can you tell me more about this... Warlord?"

                              He had never seen the Herald fight anything, the few times he saw him at all that is and he never made the impression as if he had the need to fight anything... so what was the reason for this?
                              Could it be some sort of weakness he could exploit?

                                • Edited

                                Drakador_Chaos
                                The content within the cup is just ordinary tea, as a slightly bitter yet natural taste spread in Hal's mouth. Mainframe held out one of her hands and slowly flex the fingers, in such movement which seems to be checking the limit of the joints, her gaze fixated on the palm while clouded in thoughts.

                                "well...as far as we know, he was named as "The Warlord" of a certain hivemind called Bloodcult, with organic forces originating from an Ancient ship called the Calamity. Being a warlord, though unknown whether it is his own ability or some bestowment from the cult, he has the power to seize control of units with lower levels of hierarchy than his position, as well as various red-themed abilities, such as the blade and the runes... at least what I assume they are."

                                Mainframe carefully guides the explanation away from mentioning the warlord's vault and the grail, as an extra contender would certainly mean extra work, and perhaps even be fatal to the plan, which is what she wouldn't want to see, especially if the contender is caused by her own actions.

                                  5 days later

                                  Dumb

                                  Hal pondered, none of this sounded familiar to him, or at least not immediately, yet something was nagging at his mind to dig deeper.

                                  "I see, I see. So what is this Bloodcult then?"
                                  Before he even finished his sentence it clicked in his head.
                                  The Bloodcult.
                                  The beasts from the sky.
                                  The first children of the Universe.
                                  The guardians of heaven and hell.
                                  Could they be one and the same?
                                  ...and weren't they...?
                                  "Were they not the ones which rampaged around a number of factions recently? Something about 'Attacks in other factions territories? Did they... say anything?"


                                  She seemed to have steered him away from the grail successfully. Although the question remained, if she was here for the grail, why was he?