>>41320922 >Lothar narrows his gaze to Mortdecai, not at all appreciating how... brash he was being. However, he had to respect the kid's desire to get things done, especially when the task at hand involved a rogue mage.
>At his quip regarding the "somewhere on the continent", his lips twitch upwards slightly in an almost unnoticeable smirk, finding Mort amusing at the very least.
>>41321272 >Turning to Valus, Lothar nods and takes his hands out of his pockets, crossing his arms instead.
Right. My apologies.
>Listening to Valus's hunch that the criminal may be at Alaestus, Lothar nods some more, closing his eyes. He was already beginning to respect the scientist and his openness to trusting a hunch.
Very well. Alaestus is where we'll head first then. As you said...
>There was that phrase again, and that strange tone, that sense of doubt over capability that came with such a thing. Mortdecai wasn't actually sure what a 'children' was, but it seemed derogatory and Mort didn't like the term very much. Plus, Ragnar was better than moral support! Or whatever that meant. The Doctor's tone was even more insulting with that phrase than the children thing.
>>41323356 >And then there was this guy, smirking and nodding and playing along. Now they were going to go to Alaestus for another boring set of meetings about a man who might be there but probably wouldn't be, because anyone who knew anything about how to hide probably wasn't where anyone expected them to be.
Why do we even care about this guy? Huh?
>What was so special about him? What was so special about this girl they needed to capture? Why did they have to trek all across the continent to find them when none of it really seemed to matter? He'd been happy to go along at first because his Dad told him he needed to go, but... wait, what else was there? Had that really been it? He'd just gone because he was told to? No, surely it was because there was a fight tied to this, but... was there? They'd just been travelling without a hint of anything else for weeks.
What's the point?
>It felt like the first time he'd ever asked that question.
>>41330966 >At Mort's annoyed question, Lothar immediately turned to face him and let out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes before closing them smugly. He wondered why this kid was even here if he didn't know why they were chasing Patrick Frye.
You don't know?
>He shakes his head.
Patrick Frye is one of the most notorious criminals to make a mockery of both the Church and the Royal Family of Termina. He is extremely dangerous, and seems hell-bent on creating trouble for people around him, and more importantly, the Church.
>Lothar smirks slightly, clenching his gloved fist in front of his chest. Opening his eyes, if Mort were to notice, he'd see the unmistakable glint of bloodlust in his gaze, staring directly at him.
He's a menace, a pest. And like a pest... He needs to be exterminated.
>Letting out another small sigh through his nostrils, Lothar shrugs and shakes his head slightly.
As for the girl, well... I suppose we'll have to rescue her in order to look good on the paperwork.
>If it were up to him, he'd give her the same treatment as Patrick. But unfortunately, he had regulations to follow, rules to adhere to. However, he didn't exactly hide his apathy towards Melody's situation from the others at all, clearly showing he didn't give a single care about her safety. Only Frye's destruction.
>>41330966 >>41334197 >Ragnar had been keeping silent throughout this. Mort's outburst had caught him off guard, and did pose an interesting question. If this guy had 'made a name for himself' like the Doctor had said, wouldn't he have been dealt with by the Templars? Or even the Royal Guard? Why us? Mort was strong, sure and Ragnar himself could hold his own in a scrap, but if this guy was some kinda criminal mastermind, why not send an army out?
>All of those thoughts vanished into thin air, however, due to one sentence from Lothar.
<"As for the girl, well...I suppose we'll have to rescue her to look good on the paperwork."
>Ragnar snarled in anger as his fists clench and he steps forward, an angry look on his face
You don't care?! If this guy's the criminal you say he is, this girl could be scared and alone with this 'menace' and she's just PAPERWORK to you?!
>So much for the Red Templars being the Holy Flame's appointed Guardians of all that is good.
>>41330966 >>41334197 >>41335464 >Well now. Wasn't that interesting.
>Ignoring the responses of both Lothar and Ragnar for now, Dr Valus stares curiously at Mortdecai.
>He'd never asked 'why' before. Not about a mission. He'd been quite happy to go in whatever direction he'd been pointed in and wreak havoc...But now, he was asking why they were doing it.
>As fascinating as it was, Valus wasn't quite sure how to respond to it. The Church would probably be less than pleased if their 'perfect weapon' was sullied by free will, or something even slightly akin to it. But, if he could ask a question, he could learn beyond simple fighting capacity. He might even be capable of making his own decisions and choices.
>Dr Valus didn't like being called Mortdecai's father, but it was necessary to keep him from finding out the truth before he was ready. Aside from it stretching the truth, to call him an actual human being was dubious at best. No, he was not his child. He was to be a weapon, and nothing more...And yet he couldn't deny the part of him that told him he was responsible for Mortdecai's growth, whatever that may lead to.
>Dr Valus sighed. It was a moment of weakness, and perhaps he'd regret it in the future. But Mortdecai had asked a question, and as a parent scientist, he had a duty to answer it honestly.
We care, Mortdecai, because he has a kind of power that nobody knew existed outside of one of the members of our own Royal Guard. This power has been put to use in causing trouble for our country fair, and we were asked to capture him. However, if you want to be specific, I care because of his interesting type of magic.
>He points lazily at Mortdecai.
You should care because he managed to nearly fight one of the Royal Guard's top generals to a standstill, and he should provide a good catalyst for you to either prove, or IMprove your skills.
>And he looks over at the seething Ragnar
Mr Whitsun, I imagine, will care or not care depending on you. However, what he definitely SHOULD care about is mouthing off to a highly skilled Red Templar, people have been injured for less.
>And finally to Lothar.
And our new guest cares because his organisation's reputation has been damaged, and he seeks to remove a consistent thorn in their side and repair their image.
>He neglected to reproach the man on his somewhat callous approach to the girl they should be recapturing. Dr Valus would never claim to be the bleeding heart center of morality that Mr Whitsun had made obvious of himself, but writing off the captive of a terrorist did leave a bad taste in his mouth.
>Of course, making an enemy of your assistance is how you lose wars, so he didn't bring it up, instead turning back to Mortdecai.
That's an abridged version. I don't usually discuss your missions with you beyond the brief, since you don't usually ask, but if you want to know more I have no problems going over it with you.
>This felt...weird. He'd only had a few interactions with Mortdecai, and that had suited him just fine. But now he was trying, he felt stiff and awkward. Back to his academy days all over again.
>>41334197 >A mockery of who and what now? The Church vaguely meant something to him, those were the people who tended to order Dad around who in turn told him to do things, but why were they the people who get to tell others what to do? And Royal Families... they were important, right? Families were where one person told the other ones what to do and then they'd do it, but they'd also talk and eat food together. So where did the Royal part come from? Were they just more important?
So like a rat, then? I didn't know we were all hired on to be rat-catchers. Who hires mages to do that?
>>41335464 >And what was Ragnar going off about? The girl apparently - he always had a weak spot for girls, so maybe this was also about that 'hot' thing he kept talking about.
>>41335466 >Then he heard a somewhat familiar yet very different kind of sigh coming from his Dad, like the ones he heard in the office but somehow slightly more begrudging. But then he seemed to settle, and actually started to explain, which was actually incredibly interesting since the man wasn't known for patiently doing so.
A unique kind of power, huh...? Strong magic to rival the strongest.
>A grin started to form on his lips, thinking about that. If there was any one thing he truly understood, it was that he was meant to be a vessel for powerful magic himself. So far the only one who'd managed to stand up to that was the irritating redhead and her explosions, but to think that there were others...?
No... no, I think I get it. >More importantly, he'd found his reason to care. This guy's causing problems for a lot of people, I guess. And they're sending you out to fight him?
>Mort's attention suddenly turned to the Templar in a new light. Sure, he seemed like a weird, arrogant type, but then so was he, and arrogance tended to imply power, as only the powerful deserved to be arrogant. It tinged some curiosity into his impression of the man, with the white-haired boy beginning to pace about the courtyard.
Take it that means you think you're strong, right?
>>41335464 >>41335466 >Ragnar's sudden outburst certainly surprised Lothar somewhat, eliciting a look of slight shock on his face as he was yelled at. Raising his eyebrows, the Templar stared at Ragnar for a good few seconds, before giving him a stern glare. He had to put considerable effort into controlling himself, the young man's blatant disrespect towards him rather irritating.
>Luckily the doctor managed to speak up just before Lothar was about to, giving him some much needed time to think about what he was about to say.
I suggest you heed the Doctor's advice, Mister Ragnar. I understand your anger, but I will tell you one thing: At this moment, Patrick Frye's capture is a much more urgent matter than the safety of a single child.
>He lowers his chin back down, and ceases his harsh glaring for now.
Patrick Frye has the potential to hurt a very large amount of people with his magical power. I refuse to let that happen especially at the hands of a mage, and if a child need be sacrificed to save those people from a fiery demise, so be it. The lives of many outweigh the life of one. It may sound harsh, but it is the truth.
>He lets out a small sigh once more, looking away from Ragnar finally.
Besides... Growing attached to the targets of a rescue will only make it all the more painful if the mission fails. I suggest you keep that in mind.
>>41336732 Finally finishing up with Ragnar, Lothar turns to face Mort, curious towards his questions.
Yes, if a rat was capable of melting through a castle wall.
>He joked without a smile. However, the second question certainly caught him off-guard, causing him to blink a few times in surprise. Tilting his head, Lothar shrugged slightly before that arrogant smirk of his spread across his lips.
I wouldn't consider myself strong. Just very capable.
>>41335466 >>41336732 >>41337081 >Ragnar growls and grinds his teeth together, the admonishing from both Dr Valus and Lothar causing the familiar hot flush of shame to course through his body. Was nobody going to care about some poor hostage? Of course, he bites his tongue. He wasn't going to start this argument again any time soon, even if he completely disagreed with how they were treating it.
>Dr Valus, on the other hand, sighed deeply once more at Mortdecai's question. Another reason why he was more than willing to indulge the very rare questions he had. The fact that his charge seemed incapable of understanding anything that wasn't combat.
>Valus turns to Lothar, a somewhat exasperated look on his face
Excuse Mortdecai, Mr Walpurgis. He's very...confident in his skills and he likes the chance to stretch them a little.
>The scientist taps at his chin. Actually, a match between the both of them could benefit himself. If Mortdecai lost, then he might see the use in Lothar and not object to his presence further. If Mortdecai won, it would be further proof of his growing capabilities and would look good on his report.
>Valus nods. He had a plan.
I may have to ask you to indulge him in some light exercise. It'll give him a chance to stretch his legs and show him some other brands of power that aren't his own. Of course, I can't force you. It's your decision.
>He aims a sharp eye at Mortdecai
However, if he DOES agree, you have to make sure that you don't seriously injure him. I know how...excited you get.
>Which was a euphemistic description of the corpses he left in his wake.
>>41337081 Means the same thing. Physical strength, mental aptitude, magical ability, capable skills, they're all just a path to achieving what you set out to do. That's strength.
>In one of his rarer moments of displaying his more intellectual nature, it seemed that Lother had triggered one of the few subject that his developing mind could splinter several thoughts about. Though the focus was still on 'strength', it was easy to tell that this wasn't just a rampaging psychopath - only mostly.
>>41338026 >The look from his father was one he knew well, often when he was being lectured for going 'overboard' on certain tasks. The only time this talk hadn't happened was when he returned from the bandit incident, but he suspected it was because his body had been injured and needed treatment rather than a good telling off.
Well if he's 'capable' like he says he is, then he won't get injured, will he? Besides...
>Stretching his rather skinny arms, he gave both shoulders a bit of a crack as he began getting the blood to flow a little better through the muscles.
I've been meaning to test a few things for a certain... task.
>Ragnar would likely immediately know what he meant by that, with Mortdecai having spoken about the 'revenge' plan at any opportunity in which the subject came up.
>Aside from that, however, there was total confidence in his body language and expression, as though the thought of losing to almost anyone was barely on the fringes of his consciousness... though it was still there, at the back of his mind.
>>41338026 >>41340272 >Lothar shakes his head at the doctor, smirking dismissively and raising a gloved palm towards him.
No worries. Even I understand how it is to be a young man.
>However, his expression changes to one of curiosity at Valus's proposal, clearly intrigued. Tilting his head slightly, he rests his right hand on the pommel of his sheathed sword, tapping the handle with his fingers. The whole thing had clearly caught his attention.
Light exercise, you say? I... suppose it would be prudent to see each other's skill levels first-hand.
>Nodding, he steps forward towards Mort, staring at him with an interested, if somewhat lackluster expression, wrapping his fingers around the handle of his blade.
I'll, of course, use the blunt edges. I don't want to end up hurting anyone too badly.
<Ragnar couldn't hide some semblance of excitement at the process of seeing Mort and the new guy fight. Partially because he wanted to see the two in action, partially because he wanted to see Mort kick the tar out of the jerk but mostly because he wanted to see if Mort had taken their training to heart. It was a long and gruelling process. And it was one that you probably didn't ever end.
<After all, when did a person truly know how to dodge?
>Dr Valus, on the other hand eyed their surroundings.
While I might have suggested it, I also assumed that it would perhaps be a good idea to move. We don't want to cause any stress to the passers-by, now do we?
>There was also the teeny tiny problem of incredibly expensive property damage that often reared it's head whenever Mort was called on to do anything.
I'd say we should take a trip outside the walls of the city. This was only ever intended to be a brief stop anyway, and we can continue our journey once we're done. Shall we?
>The good doctor gestures past him, before starting his walk away.
This post was edited by its author on 13 May 2016 9:50:55 AM.
>>41340452 That's if you can hurt me at all with that thing. Seriously, I don't think anyone holding one of those things knows how to swing it...
>Mort didn't actually know the pain of being cut by a blade, only the slight boredom of watching them bounce away and get stuck in the ground or other people's bodies. The only thing he feared at the moment were explosions, and even that he deemed to have worked simply because of the widespread application of force over a large area.
>Still, perhaps a Templar's blade would be better than a bandit's.
>>41340983 >There was that 'collateral damage' thing again, which he remembered to be explained to him as unnecessary damage or destruction to people or property in a given area. Truth be told, to him it always seemed like necessary damage, but it wasn't like leaving this arena would be much of a hassle.
Oh, fine. I guess it'd save time later.
>Not like he had a choice, his dad was already leaving. It did mean that the newcomer was likely to be joining them more permanently after all, but it'd be interesting to see just what that meant. For now, he figured he'd break out a little magical power, 'stretch his legs' a little.
I'll meet everyone down there, I don't feel like trudging along behind everyone else.
>Walking over to the wall, he hopped up onto the top where Ragnar and he had been sitting only a little while earlier. How far was the drop down the cliff? Some several hundred feet? It didn't really seem all that bad. Turning around, he looked over to Ragnar, giving him a shrug of apology.
Sorry to leave you with these guys, we can hang out later.
>And just like that, he leapt backwards off the cliff face and began to fall the many hundreds of feet to the base of the gateway...
>From above, all that could be seen was a sudden dust cloud, whilst from the ground level Mortdecai had committed to a near-perfect landing.
>Using his magical control over direction, the forces that would normally have shot through his body upon impact, breaking bones and scattering his innards across the floor, were instead directed towards the ground and air beneath and around him, causing a large deal of shock and surprise from passers-by as a small crater formed on the beaten path, dirt blasting into the air and scattering around.
Theeere we go. That was way faster. Now I just walk to the southern gate and wait, I guess...
>>41340983 >Lothar immediately releases the handle of his blade at Valus's suggestion, eyes growing wide for a split second. Straightening himself out, he nods to the doctor.
Of course.
<"Although it would be nice to have an audience..."
Outside of the city, then. Very well.
>Turning on his heels, he began to walk down the street with Valus, until...
>>41342089 >>41342093 >Until Mort just leaps off of a hundreds of feet-tall cliff, causing Lothar to immediately go wide-eyed in shock as he begins to jog over to the wall. However, he stops midway there as he hears the loud "boom" as Mort stuck the landing. Sighing in relief, the half-elf shook his head and smirked as he mande his way back to Valus.
Mages... Always love to show off.
>With that, he began to head down towards that same gate as well at a relatively leisurely pace.
<Ragnar doesn't have any time to respond to Mort catapulting himself away from him, instead resorting to clenching his fists and growling
You never let me catch up!
<And so the young man barrels off in the direction of the gate, whooshing past the good Doctor and Lothar in his haste.
>Dr Valus sighed deeply and matches Lothar's leisurely pace. Youth, eh? In some ways, he missed being Mortdecai's age.
TIIIIIME SKIP
>Now standing a fair distance away from the prominent town gates was the intrepid party, Ragnar panting in exhausation from his non-stop dash. Dr Valus glances between his runaway charge and the new arrival.
Now then. I feel that we won't be disturbed here, nor will we disturb anybody. This little test can begin as soon as you're ready. No lethal force, for either of you.
>He glares sharply at Mortdecai before his eyes flit to Lothar.
First to five hits wins, provided you don't give up first. Are the terms acceptable?
>Dr Valus raises a questioning eyebrow at the pair.