(closed)

[specialization]

Who: specialization, detanimetion, businessboy, faceplate, tsuranuki
When: IC 7/19
Where: Sanctuary
What: Group 3 reconvenes to discuss some paperwork.
Rating/Warning: Probably death talk.

---

[there wasn't time to really waste about this. the longer they waited, the more it became a temptation to talk about it where CERES could hear and see everything. the greater a risk the papers they had shuffled among the living became. honestly, Chrollo's glad that Saitou and Hakata are alive - it means two more minds working on the problem of how to keep these contracts safe. leverage, that's what they are. leverage, and yet he knows that someone will inevitably bring up informing all the refugees that gather in the meetings. which...may not be ideal, given some of their temperaments.

anyway. having reasserted himself in choosing the location and time of their meeting, Chrollo arrives early to wait for them. whichever contract he ended up with is hidden away in his clothes, and to an outsider he looks like he just came in to relax and read. still, he's quietly on alert, the blue bound book in his hand having no bearing on him noticing people coming in.

once they're gathered, they can begin. perhaps properly introduce themselves this time? but who would want that.]

Comments

[faceplate]

[ zer0, for one, has no intention of introducing themselves beyond the two who already know their alias. they show up right on time and come in through the door with silent steps, approaching chrollo without a word of greeting to wait for the rest of the group. ]

[tsuranuki]

[ Saitou arrives on time as well; aside from requesting for information, he hadn't done much else for the day except make an attempt at looking for his belongings, which turned up nothing (but hey, new scarf--thanks to Kashuu).

He nods to zer0 and also at chrollo when he enters. ]

[businessboy]

[ Hakata arrives a moment later and finds his group rather easily. Not only do they stick out like sore thumb, but the atmosphere around the three are pretty intense. It almost makes him want to get out of here ASAP, but he's gotta do what he's gotta do. Inhaling deeply, he joins them. ]

Hello. It seems like you guys made it out ok. [ Directed towards Chrollo and zer0 of course. To Saitou, he gives him an energetic wave. ]

[detanimetion]

[Wow, you guys are all way too tense and quiet? What's with this. Undyne will proceed to completely shatter it by KICKING THE DOOR OPEN when she enters, her arms full of...mugs of tea?]

'SUP, NERDS! I brought drinks for everyone! Not booze, 'cause the kid's too young. And uh...not sure if you can drink - [she nods at Zer0 because we may as well keep this lack of introductions running gag going] - but I can try to get you something else if you want?

Oh! Right! [She snaps her fingers when she sees Hakata.] Kid, I've got something of yours!

[yeah, his SKULL...]

[specialization]

[...nerds? that's one way to say gang of successful people, but Chrollo will take it, and the book closes in his hand to be tucked away. now that they're all together, he'll smile at them, even though it doesn't mean his guard's down in the slightest. instead, he reaches up to help pass out the mugs of tea so Undyne doesn't spill any.]

Ah, thanks. I hadn't thought about drinks.

[considerate of you, former and current ally. he'll wait for everyone to get their tea - and Hakata to maybe get his skull/hilt/etc. back before he says anything more. this is a serious discussion, but they can at least give back the dead people loot before the company loot.]

[faceplate]

[ drinks.... zer0 takes the tea, and sort of just. holds it.

speaking of the 'kid', zer0's curious about something. ]

You vanished back then, leaving behind just that. A curious event.

[tsuranuki]

[ Saitou takes a mug, murmurs a thank you, and takes a sip (wow they're great at introducing themselves, aren't they. So far he only knows Hakata's name, and he's only spoken to Undyne and Chrollo briefly. Clearly, introductions are the priority...).

Now they're all here, and he has a list of questions, but for now he'll let Hakata explain why he left his hilt behind when they disappeared. ]

[businessboy]

[ Hakata let's out a short but sharp cry when Undyne gives him back his hilt. His expression alternates between horror and confusion before he finally settles for quiet resignation. He knows they could not have known they're handing him his skull, but he still wants to ask ... Why? ]

It's - it's a little hard to explain but I disappeared because my real form melted. You see, I'm a spirit born from a sword. [ to Undyne ] I'm not sure why you kept my hilt, but uh ... thanks.

[ He'll take a drink too since he's going to need to drink something after this. ]

Well, since I started, I'll get the introduction out of the way first! My name is Hakata. Hakata Toushirou. Will I be learning everyone's names today?

[detanimetion]

[Welp, that sure hadn't been the reaction she'd expected. What do you mean it's creepy giving someone a dismembered piece of their former body???]

It was the only thing left of you - I figured it might be important? Or that you might want it back. [Apparently not...oh well. She shrugs, moving on now that she's completed her fetch quest.]

I'm Undyne! You guys? [Zer0 and Chrollo she already knows, but the last two members of the group she's still lost on.]

[specialization]

[a spirit born from a sword. curious, but something he can pursue at a different time, he thinks. at least it explained his disappearance once the blade melted away. and that look on his face when he sees the sword hilt. perhaps it wasn't the kind gesture they'd thought it might be, and they should have left it with the man's corpse.]

Chrollo Lucilfer.

[if Hakata's going for his full name, Chrollo figures he might as well do the same in response. which explains why all his texts came from C.L..]

Nice to meet you all for real.

[faceplate]

[ a spirit of a sword? zer0 is fascinated by the prospect, since they often wield a blade. but they'll ask about it later. whether or not hakata is upset by it doesn't occur to them. ]

Zero.

[ they address the general gathering with their name. ]

[tsuranuki]

Saitou Hajime.

[ Introductions through, he addresses everyone in the room. ] My thanks for agreeing to this.

Am I to understand this information is of a delicate or confidential matter?

[businessboy]

[ Hakata is piecing together the names and the faces he just learned when Saitou mentions the reason why they gathered here in the first place. Putting the hilt aside for now, he leans forward.

There are plenty of questions he'd like to ask, but he'll save them for later. The other three probably has a lot to tell anyway. ]

[detanimetion]

[Eh, she's seen weirder monsters, she won't question the sword thing too much. She does glance at Chrollo and Zer0 for a moment though before taking out her contract.]

You two wanna cover this? Since you know more about the going-ons of this place than I do.

[specialization]

[in return, Chrollo takes out his one of the contracts from inside his coat, holding it between two fingers.]

Delicate is the right word for it. Confidential...CERES wouldn't be pleased to know we have it, but it belongs to all five of us, in the end. It's our decision what we do with it, in the end, whether we give it to the others who seek the truth or whether you see it as too dangerous to be brought to light.

[despite his actions, Chrollo would never go so far as to call himself the leader of them. they didn't choose him to do it. all he'd done was what was necessary in the moment. and that's why he has to say it will be their collective decision what to do with it.]

What we found, me, Zero, and Undyne, was a room full of CERES's contracts. Most of it was ordinary, but there were a few that were important enough that bringing them with us was the right thing to do. And those ones we have with us today, so you can read the truth they contain.

[unfolding his contract, it's the one to Dii Consentes - the one of CERES promising a huge amount of spiritual energy to them in exchange for money.]

[faceplate]

[ zer0's looked at the contract they possess since the event, remembered what they could, and kept the original close to their chest. they take it out to be looked at, if anyone wants to see. theirs is the sale of the colony cerealia itself, from julius vincere to bellona recreare. ]

It should be shared, but only with those trustworthy and accountable.

[tsuranuki]

[ He and Hakata died for paperwork. At least it was important paperwork. ]

Then only the people closest to us? [ These contracts do serve to fit into his mistrust of CERES; he's never liked thinking of himself as code and how easy it was to live and die. ]