In the Shadows of a Midnight City

[Shoutarou Faulkner]

Shoutarou turned down the street and looked towards a building in the distance. It was in with the rest of the buildings on the street and seemed to have an entrance to a back area of the building. It went up about 2 floors and had an angled roof that looked like it got up on the buildings in the area. It had a small wooden sign hanging from a hanger on the right side of the door saying "Faulkner Detective Agency".

"Nope, we're here in fact." said Shoutarou as he approached the building.

He unlocked the door and undid the security to let Marian in as he held the door open for her and hit the lights. As he smiled at her, he waited for her to come in and have a look for herself. When she entered she would see an open room where there were windows on the side and the front. Small Square windows that would be hard for most people to crawl into. On the left was a pole style coat and hat rack where Shoutarou put his jacket and where a white fedora was hanging.

Towards the back of the room was a big desk where it looked like someone worked. It was surrounded by bookshelves and a file cabinet that was against the wall. On the left side of the back wall was an entrance to what looked to be a kitchen. Near the left wall was a spiral staircase that lead upstairs. As he looked at Marian he said simply...

"Welcome to the Faulkner Detective Agency."

[Marian Fitzrobert]

Marian glanced around the room, taking in her surroundings. There were, not too her surprise, a few defenses she could sense designed to stop unwanted mages and the like as well as a more conventional security system. On the surface though, it was a well decorated, decently furbished office. “Nice place.” She followed her master in, taking note of the stairs before heading toward the first door on her left.

Through it she found herself in what must have been a kitchen – cooking utensils hung from the walls, shining bend and molded pieces of steel and copper. To one side was what must have an icebox, for a quick look been inside was met with a breath of cold air. Marian made a quick survey of the contents; she grabbed a cup of something and, after some digging around, she found herself a spoon.

She walked back into the main room as she took her first bite of what turned out to be strawberry yogurt, she turned to her Master. “So, what’s the plan? Not much more we can do tonight, not without undue risk.” She took another bite of her yogurt. “Add to that the fact that we have yet to have the chance to compare notes, and personally? I’m exhausted.” She drops into one of the chairs to punctuate the statement. “Though I should be alright keeping an eye out tonight – that’s assuming you don’t mind me staying corporeal for the time being?” She takes another look around the office, her gaze landing on the staircase again. “Any beds in this place?”

[Shoutarou Faulkner]

When he saw her come into the room he smirked slightly seeing that she had picked up a yogurt cup. Well she did say she wanted food, so he didn't mind her raiding his fridge. As he followed her gaze, he knew she wanted to get to know this place better. That was fine with him, especially since this was going to be his base of operations.

He looked at Marian and began to take stock of how tonight was going. He had met a servant instead of using his own methods to summon one. It worked out well for both of them in the end as he saved Marian and she in turn saved him. He had ever intent to be a good partner to her and hopefully find a way to use their combined skills to win the Holy Grail War. In the meantime, she had a good idea talking about taking time to rest.

"Alright, you've had a rough night, Archer, and if you perform as well after just recovering, I'm curious to see how well you are fully rested and charged." he said with a light smirk. "In the meantime, I think for tonight we'll take time to rest and relax. I don't mind you staying corporeal for now if that's how you feel comfortable operating."

It was then he turned his gaze to the staircase.

"If you're looking for the beds, you'll find them upstairs. We have four rooms and a bathroom each of them furnished with at least the essentials. Mine on the other hand is fully furnished at this point.

[Marian Fitzrobert]

Marian nodded. “Thank you. In that case, I think I’ll turn in for the night.” She started heading up the stairs toward the bedrooms. “Goodnight sir – wake me if anything shows up to try and kill us.” With that parting comment, she disappeared upstairs.

The floor was laid out as her master had said – identical doors lined the hall, with nothing to indicate which was which. Choosing one at random, she opened the second door on her right. Inside were tile-lined walls and porcelain pieces, the fragrance of soap lingering in the air. This, she surmised, was the bathroom. She took a moment to examine the silver spout over the wash basin, which spewed water with the turn of the handle. Ah, internal plumbing – why couldn’t they have had it back in her own time? She would have to try the bathtub tomorrow – at the moment, sleep beckoned.

Leaving the bathroom, she crossed the hall to another room, and found one of the mentioned guest rooms. The room was sparsely furnished – a bed, a dresser and a single nightstand with a lamp atop it – but those few items only emphasized the differences from the sleeping arrangements she was used to; Carved wood, soft linen, and electric lighting – such a fascinating time to wake up in. And, she though as she collapsed onto the bed, she could stay here if she won the war. As she let herself drift off, she wondered what a second life would be like, letting the thought linger as sleep took her.

[Shoutarou Faulkner]

Shoutarou smiled as she went up to sleep, he set up the security for the night, then sat at his desk as he pulled his typewriter to him. This was a nightly habit for Shoutarou when working at the office, especially now during the Grail War, as he would keep a record of his participation to put into the archive for future generations of his family to read.

He set about to typing as he thought back to what he had seen this night...

Faulkner Detective Agency
Assignment #2710
Client: None (Family Given Assignment)
Detective in Charge: Shoutarou Faulkner
Date: February 1, 2027

Daily Report #4: Grail War Night 1 Wrap Up

This day in Lucca started simply enough, I had sensed the other masters beginning to stir as it appears the War had begun. I laid low for most of the day, taking one last opportunity to search for any signs of master activity before summoning my servant. However, it seemed the grail war had other plans as I began my trek through the night life...

As I walked through the city, I ended up running into a Servant whom had already lost their master. Said Servant then asked for my help and in exchanged proposed to be my servant in the War. Considering that I had not yet performed the ritual, and the fact that she was without a master and in danger, I took it upon myself to become her master. This decision was made due to the fact that it seemed that we were both in imminent danger. However, the thing is, it wasn't a servant that took out the Servant's former master...it was a monstrosity that according to the Servant was made by the Grail itself. There will be more investigation done into why these beasts have appeared.

In the meantime, until proper security can be assured, I will not be divulging details of the Servant of to whom I am now contracted to in these reports. Only that I have confidence in it's abilities.

After finishing this report, Shoutarou picked it up from the typewriter and made his way into his private sanctuary...the Faulkner Archive hidden beneath the Office and where he put information pertaining to cases with more magical inclinations. Once down there, he took the file he was using for the grail war and put his report inside of it...so ending his Night one as he would now retire for the evening...