Fate sits on the edge of a rooftop, overlooking a busy street below. Arf is right next to her, in wolf form, dutifully watchign her back. For a member of Eclipse, it might be a prime location from which to launch an attack and drain some energy or something, but that's not what Fate is here for. That kind of thing is, in her mind, someone else's job.
No, she's looking for magical artifacts. Specifically, she's looking for Jewel Seeds, but in her situation she's not terribly picky about what exactly she finds.
She reaches over to scratch Arf behind the ear as Bardiche tells her that there's nothing detectable in the area.
She begins to stand. Another failure. Precia would get mad if Fate kept falling short like this... but she really just can't find anything. Are they even around?
For the moment, at least, she isn't on guard. She might not notice someone approaching.
Runealy makes her way along the prime location from which to drain energy, but that's not what Rune is here for; she has come around to realizing it should be nobody's job.
Even if Fate is distracted, Arf might be able to pick up on her easily enough. Rune is leaping from rooftop to rooftop, occasionally pausing to catch her breath. Her pace isn't particularly hurried, and nothing appears to be obviously wrong. There no monsters chasing her, she's not attacking anyone either. She's just... leaping from spot to spot, boot wings pulsing with a silver glow on each jump, and occasionally stopping to rest.
During one such moment as she's slouched over, breathing in and out, Rune looks up and notices a familiar figure in the distance. "Hm? Isn't that the one from the park?" Her thoughts flash back to the few encounters she has had with Fate, remembering attempts to stay neutral, attempts to get away from her... attempts to help her out, and even Fate flying off as Rune lay choking.
She's not sure how to feel about all that, but keeps a raised eye in Fate's direction just in case. Notably, Rune's wand is stowed behind-back and not ready.
Fate stands up, sadly glancing down at the people below, before turning around to notice a somewhat familiar face. Arf notices her a beat later, circling behind Fate to keep an eye on Rune.
"Monster-san," is what Fate decides to greet her with. After all, Runealy did say something along those lines. That Fate might end up hating her, or something like that. The young girl probably took those words at face value a bit too much.
"You're not going to use weird magic again, are you?" Fate apparently remembers that, too. It was a pretty memorable thing to see, the dark crystal and the terrible effects it seemed to have.
Bardiche is in her hands, but she isn't making any hostile movements. There's nothing to fight over today, as far as Fate knows, and Fate remains blissfully unaware of Rune's previous exploits. All she really knows is that Hannah hates her for some reason that she wasn't paying attention to because there was a Lost Logia to get.
Arf watches silently. Her stance isn't threatening, persay, but it's very alert. An unknown is approaching her master, and she's not one to trust quickly.
Rune's head lowers as she's 'greeted', gazing down with heavy eyes. "No... I got rid of all of them. I'm up here exercising because of what happened." Then she notices Bardiche, and while Fate doesn't seem poised to attack... it makes the princess wonder. "I'm not here to be your enemy, I think. At least as far as I know. The problem is I don't know much about you. Who you are, what you want, any of it. Sometimes you've attacked my friends and I even when we said we wanted to stay neutral... though you did back off eventually," she concedes that much.
"Other times it looks like we could work together. Others, you look like you're working alongside someone who wants to ruin my life. I don't know what to make of you, so..."
She straightens up and nods once, "I'd like to find out that much at least. Maybe we're not enemies after all."
'Maybe we're not enemies.'
Fate thinks that over for a moment. Arf looks away, seemingly disinterested. "My duties are very important," is Fate's explaination. "I can't afford to lose the Jewel Seeds to anyone. Besides, if you used them, you'd probably just get hurt. Maybe you wanted to stay out of it, but a lot of people seek Lost Logia regardless of the dangers. I couldn't be sure that you wouldn't try to take it if I lowered my guard."
Well, that's how she addresses the part with the cat. As for the rest of it...
"As for the people I work with... I don't know what your fight is with the white-haired lady, or why she hates you so much. It's not something I'm involved in."
Fate's tone is a bit cold. She isn't sure what to make of Runealy, either. What she's seen has been confusing, at best.
"Lost Logia? If those are what I think they are, you can be sure I won't try to take it because I've seen what they do to people." Rune is rattled to recall the effects she saw in a certain 'magic battery' not too long ago, easily showing a visible flicker of fright in her expression. "Maybe you know too, and if you do... I can only imagine what your need is, what could be so important, as to need things like that."
She raises an eye as one of Fate's companions is mentioned. "White? We're... well, I guess we're still fighting, but not like before. Something about her seems different now, and we're not like how you saw us last time. I'm not going to ask you to take sides on that."
She pauses to gather her nerves, deciding to make a question that might be risky: "Can you tell me what your duties are?"
"Lost Logia are basically ancient magical artifacts that aren't very safe," says Fate. "It's not quite that simple, but that's the idea." Maybe she's hoping an explaination like this would save her some trouble in the future. "If you've been having trouble with a Lost Logia, I'd recommend getting rid of it before it's too late. Rarely one of them will even bond to a person."
Such as the Book of Darkness, for example.
Hearing about the fight between Runealy and White, Fate isn't sure what to think. Her expression might be hard to read, probably because she doesn't really have an opinion on it. On the topic of taking sides, all she says is, "I wont."
Runealy asks a difficult question, and Arf looks up at Fate. Fate hestitates before answering. "Well, I have to find the Jewel Seeds. My mother wants them."
Did she say too much? Fate hopes not, yet she can't see much immediate harm in saying. Certain people already know already.
Rune's exposure to Lost Logia comes from other sources, but that is easily enough for her to accept Fate's explanation. "No... I suppose they're not safe by any definition of the word. We got rid of it, but we'll be careful if we run into any more." She's definitely shaken by the topic, but taking the warning fairly well.
Then Fate reveals something even more interesting. A motive, one that immediately strikes Runealy as very important. "You are? For her?" This impresses Rune, and she takes on a faint smile. "That's pretty good." It isn't, but she lacks a lot of vital context here. "Is she trying to get rid of them, make sure others don't get caught up in all this?"
Fate smiles faintly. Someone understands her motives? Most of her coworkers don't seem to care. Fate's mother is wonderful, as far as Fate sees it. Of course, she's probably the only know who actually knows Precia and still thinks that way.
But then Runealy starts asking for specifics. Fate pauses. Should she tell her? Wait... what is there to tell her? Now that she thinks about it, Fate isn't sure why Precia wants them so much.
"Well... she wants them... I'm not actually sure why. The Jewel Seeds are especially important."
Arf snorts. The familiar's opinion of Precia is a bit lower than Fate's, though she usually keeps that to herself.
Fate starts to look a little nervous. "I guess that's not a good answer, I just never really asked."
"No, that's okay. You're trusting her on this, right?" This strikes Rune as an entirely reaosnable line of thought; the concept of 'Fate's mother' is a featureless, undetailed blob in her mind, so she simply makes assumptions based on her own mother's magical exploits and presumes something fairly positive.
"Still, it's pretty dangerous out there. When you go after these Jewel Seeds for her, do you have people who have your back? Friends to keep you safe? I can't tell how some of the people I've seen you with really feel about all that." White and Black offer obvious contrasts to one another in terms of morals and intent, after all. And everyone else in Fate's circle is largely unknown to Rune too.
Fate's hand reaches down to scratch Arf's ears again. "The one whose always had my back, from the start, has been Arf-chan. She's my familiar."
As for the rest of UMBRA and Eclipse, Fate pauses to consider. "The other people I work with... Well, they're new to me. They've backed me up before, but I think Riventon-san wanted to do study the Lost Logia, not get rid of it."
Fate shifts her stance a little. "They help me sometimes. I think part of that is because they're supposed to, though. I used to fight with Riventon-san sometimes, until my mother wanted to join them."
That in itself might be a red flag, depending on how much Runealy knows about Eclipse as a whole.
"Oh?" Rune smiles down to Arf, thinking she understands a little more now... and the lack of immediate outright threats from the familiar are helping get over any concerns over Arf's visage. "I'm not sure who or what a familiar is, but so long as you've got someone then that's good, right?"
Fate's admission ends up being more of a cautionary note; Rune doesn't have enough information to conclusively know that's a problem. It does jar her out of smiling, though. "Because they're supposed to? Not because they want to? And you were fighting them, but now you're not... that sounds pretty complex."
Fate tilts her head. Complex? Well, it is pretty complicated. "Well I mean, we were in the middle of fighting, and my mother called me and told me to help them, and I think they also got a call from their bosses."
Arf starts to tense up a bit. Something about the direction of the conversation causes her tail to swing a bit more quickly than usual. Yet... whatever her concerns are, she's keeping them quiet.
"I don't... really know how all of that works. I just do what my mother wants. ... but they've been nice to me since then, so... I don't know."
Fate's starting to look a bit sad, thinking that maybe her current friends might not actually value her much. Yet, what other conclusion could she reach? That's just the way things are for her.
"Huh..." Rune is really not sure what to make of this new information. It might, possibly actually be legit and maybe everything's actually okay. There are enough 'blanks' in her understanding of the situation that this is possible.
Yet what she does know of Fate's friends is suspicious, and emotional context from Arf and Fate likewise throw this in doubt. "I can't imagine why everyone would suddenly change sides like that, not without a good reason at least, but..."
Rune's voice trails off as her mind races through possibilities. She doesn't know enough to reach a definite conclusion, but she now has enough to be wary of the situation. To make sure to find out more. And so she makes a strange offer: "Tell you what. As best I can, I'm going to stay neutral toward you. I can't promise we won't wind up on opposite sides, who knows what's going to happen out there... but unless I'm given a reason, we're not enemies."
Rune holds up a hand, not expecting Fate to be enthused over just an offer of basic civility; that's not much of a 'gift.' So Runealy needs a moment more to add to it. "And if it's something like monsters on the loose, I'll try to watch out for you. To make sure you're able to go home safe to your mother. Sound good?"
"I don't hold anything against you," says Fate. "So there's no reason for us to be enemies, if we can avoid it. I won't promise not to fight you if there's a reason for it, but I'm not getting involved in the personal fights that my co-workers have."
Fate's still a bit untrusting, and she isn't going to say she wont fight Runealy occasionally.
"If it's just monsters out of control, we could team up to take them down." They've both seen the other in combat on several occasions.
It's a very loose arrangement, but that might be for the best. It's distant enough that Fate doesn't feel uncomfortable about it, and Arf doesn't feel the need to speak up.
Fate pauses for a moment, hesitating. "... I'm still not sure why you called yourself a monster, though. You seem like a normal person to me. I mean... normal for someone with magical powers."
"I understand. If you have a reason to come at me, do it. I'd rather not, but..." Rune shakes her head a few times, gaze lowering once more. "...'Nothing personal', right? I'll hold you to that. Fight if we have to, work together if we can. As for why I said that,"
She thinks on this for a second, and has an answer: "Because I did some pretty stupid, awful things. I knew they were wrong even as I did them, but... how far would you go to help someone important to you? I was doing it for them. People eventually got through to me, showed me I was making things worse. Now I'm up here, exercising," she repeats that tidbit from earlier in the conversation, "to start making up for the mistake."
So that makes someone a monster? Doing something stupid an awful for someone you care about? If Fate was a bit more self-aware, that might've stung a bit, considering what she herself is doing.
"I see. So, it was because of things like those crystals?" says Fate. "Those things looked really unhealthy. Especially if they make you a monster."
Fate holds Bardiche behind her back, pressed between her waist and her arms. "... but I understand, going that far for someone you care about. If they're really imporant, there's no telling how far you could go."
That's the second mention of exercise tha Fate has heard. "So... exercising makes up for it? Does getting stronger help you in some way?" In a way it makes sense to her, something healthy to counteract something unhealthy, at least as far as her understanding of the situation goes.
Rune says something very blunt to correct Fate. "They kill you. They're a trick; they make you stronger at first, but bit by bit they will poison whoever uses them." Then emotion pours out, voice picking up in tone and force. "I'm getting treatments for it, they seem to be working, but I really tore myself up with those stupid things! So that's why,"
She nods down to her boots, which briefly pulse with silver light as she hops up and down in place a few times. "I'm exercising to get myself back to where I need to be. Because I went too far, and now... maybe you saw it just a moment ago when I was out of breath just as I spotted you. Even basic things like this make me tired. Pretty pathetic, huh? No... what made me a monster is I was hurting people. Those crystals were just part of how I did it. Now,"
A single, deep nod. "I'm doing what I can to turn things around. To get back to where I need to be, and stop being a 'monster.' As part of that... maybe I feel like helping someone like you, who has one of the best reasons possible to go out there and face witches and demons and everything else."
"Kill you? Then... why..." Fate starts to ask, but she remembers part of the answer, it was for someone Runealy loved. "Who is so important, that you'd use something like that?" Fate's not quite socially aware enough to realize that might be a personal question.
"I actually practice a lot, when I'm not searching for Jewel Seeds." One might wonder what kind of training Fate does. "It's not quite exercise, like you're doing, but I practice my magic."
So... hurting people makes one a monster? But what does that say about the people Fate works with, or Fate herself? Don't they hurt people all the time? No... there has to be something more to it than that. Precia wouldn't want her beloved daughter to do something evil, would she?
At the compliment to her motives, Fate smiles again. Runealy seems a lot nicer than Fate originally thought. Maybe she isn't so bad? Though her expression changes a bit after she thinks about it. "... helping? Well... what do you mean by that?"
"Who?" Rune isn't sure she should answer this question from Fate so directly. It's not Fate she dis-trusts; it's that it's possible Fate would in turn tell 'Black'. And so Rune comes up with a partial answer: "In a way, it was for my mom. She didn't know, she definitely wouldn't approve. I did it for her sake anyway, even if it was dangerous and wrong." A few more headshakes follow as she lets out a sharp breath.
"When it comes to helping you? It sounds like Arf's already doing a good job of this, but I'll watch your back too when it comes to monsters. I'll do what I can to make sure you're able to go back home to your mom. You seem to take helping her really seriously, if you're out here practicing to make sure you do it right. That's pretty amazing of you."
"Practice is just what you do if you want to win," says Fate. "I understand that a lot of magical girls on this world don't have to train, but from where I'm from practice is necessary."
She apparently doesn't think that training is that amazing.
"... And, well if that's what you mean, that's fine. I'll watch out for you... as much as I can. Like you said, even if we fight, it's nothing personal."
But... that leads to another question on Fate's mind. "Do you think your mother would be angry with you if she found out? Maybe she doesn't need to know... you were trying to help her, right?"
"Some of them seem to get by just fine without training, though," Rune observes. "Maybe that's not the only right way to do this. Still, I respect it when I see it! So because of that... right. 'Nothing personal.'" She's visibly not happy about the thought, but understanding enough. "We both want to win, after all. Hopefully what's a 'win' for each of us is always the same, but if not... I'll know why. It's okay. Well, it's not okay, but it is. You know what I mean."
Then Fate brings up a really good question. One that causes Rune's eyes to outright snap shut, head looking down and aside. "I don't know. Angry, disappointed, scared, upset, worried... I know she wouldn't be happy about it, but I just don't know what exactly she would say. All I can say is whatever response she had would be the right one."
Fate frowns at Runealy as she speaks of her mother... not that she disapproves, but... more that she's a bit... worried? Maybe?
"I understand..." She actually doesn't. "... well, maybe it'll turn out okay? I mean, my mother gets angry sometimes too, and it's usually my fault..."
Is Arf cringing? Nah, couldn't be.
"... she's been upset for a long time, but I know one day she'll smile again. That's what I'm hoping for."
Arf starts to wander off. She leaps off the side of the building and onto the ground. She is so done with this conversation.
"Where are you going?" asks Fate. A short telepathic conversation follows, but Runealy probably can't hear it. Eventually Fate shrugs at Runealy and says, "Um... I guess she went to stretch her legs."
These revelations snap Rune out of her funk; she's visibly confused as she tries to reconcile Fate's situation with several unknown details... is something not adding up quite right here? The princess isn't sure. She does know she plans to keep a careful eye on Fate, to learn more. For now though there are simply too many questions, and Arf pacing off only raises new ones.
"Guess so," Rune 'agrees' in a flat tone. "Well... until that day, until your practice and care let you 'win' and get her smile back, I'll help you out when I can. But if I'm going to do that..."
She reaches up to her own forehead, removing the tiara. A flash of red light causes it to disappear, and her magical attire to be replaced by a distinctly old-style, European dress. Fancy, if centuries out of fashion. Rune nods to Fate once and introduces herself: "I'm Runealy, or 'Rune' for short."
Fate spends a moment or two looking at the direction Arf left in, but she turns her attention back to Runealy. An introduction?! Well, if they might work together in the future...
Bardiche turns into a small golden triangle that floats to the back of Fate's glove, where it fits into a slot seemingly shaped just for it. Her barrier jacket vanishes, showing very plain civillian clothes: a black hoodie and blue jeans. Her hairstyle doesn't seem to change at all.
"Fate Testarossa," is the name that Fate offers in return.
Fate takes a moment to look at Runealy's dress. She doesn't quite understand the cultural context, not being from around there. "That's a nice dress," she says.
Rune watches with some sense of wonder as Fate returns to normal in order to mirror the introduction. Local fashion, it seems... that tells Rune a few things about Fate. Still nothing conclusive, but that Fate showed this at all is an encouraging sign.
"Then that settles it. And thank you," she shifts around slightly to indicate the outfit. "I'm just glad you're willing to look at it, and show me that side of you too. So that's how it is now, we'll work together on that sort of thing and make sure you stay safe. Okay?"
Fate nods, and smiles up to Runealy. "Okay!"
Fate isn't sure what to make of all this... but it's nice to have someone at your back, isn't it? Fate doesn't really have a lot of people she feels she can really rely upon, and she still isn't sure she's willing to trust... but time will tell, wont it?
Fate glances again in the direction that Arf vanished into. Her eyes seem... somehow... apologetic? There's a soft regret in them. She turns back to Runealy and says, "I think she wants me to follow her... I better go."
Bardiche appears again, and the barrier jacket forms around her. Fate begins to levitate into the air. "See you later."
Fate begins to fly away, looking back one last time to see Runealy. With her speed, it wont take long for Fate to be out of sight.