Clusterfuck Recuperation

There was a flash of blue light in the center of the theater's stage, before three Servants and three Masters appeared instantly. A-san staggered somewhat, but Caster fully slumped over onto the floor.

"You're back!" Luvia gasped when they appeared.

A-san winced as he felt his wound. "As a scouting mission, it was a rousing success. Despite the manhandling." He paused and looked down at Caster, though his expression was anyone's guess. "Are you alright?"

Caster sighed and flicked his fingers, already rapidly healing his wounds. "I hope this doesn't reflect badly on me. With enough preparation, I wouldn't have been so vulnerable."

"Of course," A-san assured him.

Manaka, meanwhile, was fawning over Saber. "You were so beautiful out there! I couldn't have asked for a better Servant!"

Saber looked uncomfortable. "Don't be ridiculous. My performance was unsatisfactory. I will do better next time."

"Well, preperation wasn't the point in any case," Aaron commented. He put an arm around A-san and pulled him close to heal his allie's wounds as well as his own. "I agree though, it was a success! We drew quite a few people out, and have some interesting questions to investigate. First, I'm writing to the church and asking them what the fuck their mediator is doing. Secondly, Saber got hit by a noble phantasm, who's might it be? Thirdly, when I shot that bitch who reminded me of my mom why did the guy in the window look really concerned but not come out? Fourthly," he turned to Manaka, "what the FUCK was that black shit?" he gruffly released A-san and continued, "Also why do they have way more servants than they should? They have doubles of some classes. Plus that weird...what I think is a lancer that can do way more than she should be able to."

"Those are all valid questions," A-san hummed. "That Noble Phantasm looked like it should belong to an Archer, though I didn't see one on the field. She must have been hiding. As to how many Servants they had... I read that the last Grail War was inconclusive. Perhaps some Servants survived from it. Now, as for Manaka," he added finally, turning to her as well, "I am also VERY curious. I can't believe a Master dealt that damage to a Servant unassisted."

Manaka giggled and sat in a folding chair, swinging her feet back and forth. "I'm the greatest Magus in the world! I can use any magic I want, no matter where it comes from or how powerful it is! You could say I'm even more powerful than any Servant!"

"That's impossible," A-san said flatly.

Manaka just smiled innocently at him. "Not when you're born connected to the Root."

"Okay but how did THAT happen?" Aaron asked, sitting next to her.

"Just lucky I guess!" she giggled. "I heard it happens every now and then. I dunno if it's a mistake or just the universe's idea of fun. But I think it's funny how most mages spend their whole lives trying to get to something I'm already connect with!"

"That is really weird. But lucky you! What all can you do with this ability? We need to plan so knowing everyone's talents will be useful." He took out a laptop he'd brought with him and began to order everyone dinner, as well as send Julian a summary e-mail.

"Technically, I can do anything!" She paused and frowned. "But I have one limit. My Magic Circuits are limited, so I can only use my ability once or twice before I'm exhausted. And that's not counting mana I have to reserve for Saber."

"Ah that makes sense. I figured there'd be a catch somehow. But knowing that, we can make sure to protect you more easily." He hopped up for a moment and dug around in the back of the theater, eventually dragging out an old chalkboard. "Okay I'll give like ten bucks to anybody who can find the chalk."

Caster stood up, having fully healed, and flicked his fingers, creating a piece of chalk out of thin air and handing it to Aaron. "I don't need the ten bucks."

"Have it anyway," he said passing it to him. He then wrote 'Manaka' on the board and underlined it. Under that, he added a plus sign next to 'can use any magic' and a minus sign next to 'limited magic circuits'. Next to that, he wrote his name, and added '+ can absorb mana via weird rose on heart' and '- impatient asshole'. "Who's next?" he asked turning to the group, before remembering something and adding under Manaka's name: 'is like five'.

Caster shrugged and pocketed the bill. He'd find a use for it later, maybe. He stepped away from the group and started inscribing a magic circle on the floor.

"I suppose I'll go next," said A-san. "I'm fairly well-rounded for a magus, without any particular abilities or Mystic Codes that stand out." He tapped his mask. "However, I have a large amount of political contacts and wealth at my disposal."

Luvia went next. "I come form a long, distinguished mage family with a refined Magic Crest. Additionally, I am trained in magically reinforced close quarters combat!"

"I can use Formalcraft!" Israfil said. "It usually requires blood sacrifice, but I'm sure we'll have no problem getting people to use for that."

The silent white-haired guy finally spoke. "I'm pretty good at killin.' Also this guy," he gestured to Rider, "can use Magecraft too. With his help, I might be able to even fight Servants."

Aaron wrote down everyone's pros. "Good good. Now what about your cons? They're just as important."

"Hmm, I can't really think of any cons," Luvia said to herself.

"My magic can be pretty powerful," Israfil said. "But whereas you guys just use mana, I usually need like a LOT of blood. If I don't have any sacrifices I can't do a lot of my spells."

White-hair shrugged. "I got Magic Circuits, but I don't consider myself a mage. I don't do any spells, I just fight."

He continued writing everyone's cons. Under Luvia's name he wrote "-lack of self awareness' as he gave her a short glare. "Okay. Israfil. How do you get sacrifices? Can we help you with this?"

Luvia made an offended gesture with one hand, but said nothing.

"I usually just grab people who are out walking alone at night. If I have magic ready at the time, I can put them to sleep or enchant them. I need healthy adult men and women! Preferably 20 to 25 years old, no major physical illnesses. They can missing body parts though, that's fine. Just so long as their blood is clean!"

"Ok. I'm going to recommend you check the papers and mimic an established killer to stay under the radar. It will confuse the police and then the murders or kidnappings won't stand out." he considered the board for a moment before turning it around and writing down the members of the enemy team and which servant he thought they might control. "Alright so...should we lure them out or fight on their turf?"

"They didn't seem particularly well-defended," A-san said. "Though that could change quickly. With them outnumbering us, I think it's safer to lure them out. That said, what if they choose to attack our base?"

"Just leave that to me!" Rider declared loudly. "I, Ozymandias, can turn this place into an impenetrable fortress with a snap of my fingers! If they dare step on our turf, they will be begging for mercy!"

A-san stared at him. "Well... There we are."

Aaron stared at the servant and blinked once slowly, "Thanks. And uh...we know who you are. No need to remind us." he shrugged on a jacket and grabbed his phone. "I'm gonna go pick up food for everyone. I'll be back in a little while." he exited quickly, texting Julian on his way and occasionally stopping to rub his aching knee.

A warm smile spread across Aaron's face in the light of his phone as he updated his husband. He missed him so much and was anxious to get back home. After texting their 'love you's " he put his phone away. He'd wandered far past the restaurant but the food wasn't anywhere near finished anyway. He snaked through the back alleys and observed various graffiti until he found what He was looking for. He stopped, leaned against a wall and dialed the number, praying whoever was on the other end spoke English...

The voice on the other end was distorted. It sound like the number that he called was a sort of all-purpose router, for taking "orders" to be delivered by couriers. The operator did speak English, although heavily accented, and was direct and quick to catch on to Aaron's needs.

The voice, digitally cloaked, high and low at once, gave Aaron an address - an inconspicuous point across the bridge. The couriers would know how to find him.

"Everything is so technological here," he commented to himself as he made his way to the location with a smile. He soon found the place he was meant to be, and waited.

A couple of young - college students, maybe? NEETs? Either way, they were casually strolling towards Aaron. One of them had a slouchy knit hat and biker gloves, and seemed bored, the other was more talkative and slightly gangly.

"The senior chicks up at the high school are a bunch of bitches, man! You try to get to know 'em and it's like BOOM, shut down! It's like, whatever, have a nice life, but I haven't gotten laid in weeks...." The shorter of the two adjusted a cheap bag dangling from their shoulder, their voice quiet and... oddly pitched, somehow. Maybe just muffled from the mask they were wearing, the kind of thing worn when people get sick.

"I really don't give a rat's ass, Ken. Maybe they're learning how to stay away from creeps like you in home ec these days." Ken looked as if Shorty had slapped him in the face, but kept pace anyways.

The pair stopped near Aaron, and for a moment he thought he saw them keep walking, but at a second glance, they were standing still right in front of him. The tall man, acne scars and sparse hairs on his chin, seemed to meld into shadows at different angles. It was as if, were the circumstances right, you would never know he was there, and somehow the effect was spreading.

Shorty nodded at him, tipping their chin upwards. Their English was as clipped as their attitude. "You're buyer?"

"Yep! I'd try to speak your language but I don't wanna insult you," he smiled congenially and held his hand out for the goods. "I didn't know common gangbangers knew any magic. Things really are different here."

"We up to our dicks in magic out here, mister." Shorty shrugged the bag off, but didn't hand it over. "Money first." The operator had given him a total, and Shorty seemed somewhat doubtful that he'd have that much.

"I will show it to you, but I'd prefer to get the drugs in my hand before I give it to you. However after you give them to me I'll wait around so you can count it." he took out a couple of bundles, fanning one out for them to inspect.