I don't own Re:Zero or any of the characters.

Back to Work

Ian spun around Garfiel, pivoting a full rotation to get behind him, then a second to slam the crook of his elbow into the side of his head. Garfiel flipped, landing on his feet as Ian charged, Garfiel's amused smirk eclipsed by the wide, excited grin on Ian's face. Garfiel launched himself forward, punching, and Ian ducked out of the way, escaping by millimeters as his own fist slammed into Garfiel's diaphragm. Garfiel lifted into the air, eyes widening, before Ian's grin grew and he grabbed him by the head and spun, bending forward at the waist as he slammed him down on his back, knocking the wind out of him. However, the match wasn't over. For either of them. Garfiel contorted out of the way of Ian's fist and slammed a kick into his chest, knocking him backward, then flipped to his feet, twisting and drilling a punch into Ian's jaw. Ian staggered away, then stopped, his grin growing as he looked back at Garfiel. Garfiel grinned as well, and they launched themselves forward, trading blows rapidly. The more strikes they threw, and the more they received, the more excited Ian's grin grew until he was positively buzzing with an adrenaline high. Then, he ducked under Garfiel's fist, lunging forward and drilling a fist into his gut, his magic focused around his hand and sending Garfiel flying. As he moved to follow, however, Ram stepped out in front of him, holding her wand to his face. He froze instantly, his grin fading as his adrenalin high began to diminish.

"You've been getting more violent," Ram said. "It's been slow, so most of the others haven't noticed, but Ram noticed. And so has Rem."

Ian nodded. "I'm not sure what's been happening. I've just been getting excited when I'm fighting Garfiel."

Ram nodded. "I believe it may be because of Ram's blood that was given to you after the fight with Elsa. You have to be careful to control it. You do not think or use strategy when you lose yourself to it."

Ian nodded. "I'll try."

"Also, Miss Emilia sent me to find you," Ram said. "There is a visitor here that she is speaking with, but she has requested you and Subaru's presence. Petra has gone to Costuul to collect Subaru."

Ian nodded. "Alright. Where are they?"

"Follow," Ram simply said, walking back inside, Ian rolling his eyes and smiling as he followed her, grabbing his sword belt on the way past it, having been wearing it as the belt for his pants with the jacket open so he could draw his swords.

They walked through the mansion to the foyer, finding Mimi waiting.

"Ian!" Mimi cheered. "It's been fooooreeeeeveeeeer!"

"Sure has," Ian smiled. "Did Anastasia send you?"

Mimi nodded just as the door opened. She spun, finding Subaru, Beatrice, and Petra had arrived and bounded over, greeting Subaru the same way she had Ian. Ram turned, telling Ian she'd let Emilia know they were back, then be back to lead them all to her. As Ram left, Subaru introduced Petra and Beatrice to Mimi, who somehow decided Beatrice was Subaru and Petra's daughter. Then, Mimi all but drags Beatrice into the room, hopping onto her shoulders and inviting them to a party Anastasia was planning. Finally, Subaru rescued Beatrice, holding her on his hip, only for Mimi to ask to be held too. When Subaru refused, Mimi began to try to climb him. He turned to Petra for help, only for Petra to ask if she could climb him too. So, he began to run in circles, Mimi still clinging to the back of his tracksuit jacket and Petra running after them.

"I leave you alone for only a minute, and here you are, monkeying around in the foyer," Ram said, having returned and now standing at the top of the stairs at the back of the room. She glared at Subaru for a moment before speaking again. "Filthy."

"You're the filthy one for reaching that conclusion!" Subaru snapped as Ian smirked, shaking his head. "Maybe you can argue about how sound this is, but it's still a heartwarming scene!"

"I'd say it's more stomach-churning," Ian said. "I mean really, Subaru, three little girls?"

Subaru glared at him. "Says the guy actually dating two sisters!"

Ian shrugged.

"Ian, Subaru, please go to the parlor, Miss Emilia is waiting," Ram said. "Petra, to the kitchen."

"What about me?" Mimi asked excitedly. "Huh? What about me?"

"I ask you to accompany Ian and Subaru into the parlor, dear guest," Ram said. "I'm afraid your companion is unsettled by your absence."

"Okay!" Mimi smiled. "Guess I gotta go back, then. I done a no do."

Ian smiled, shaking his head, and walked up the stairs to Ram, giving her a quick kiss. "How's Frederica holding up?"

"You'll see at the parlor," Ram said.

Ian smiled and nodded, heading to the parlor with Subaru and Mimi, Ram walking along behind them.

"Where's Rem?" Ian asked.

"She is preparing dinner, with Petra as assistance," Ram said. "Frederica is currently in the parlor with Miss Elena, Miss Emilia, Garf, and Otto. If the guest is an assassin, Garf and Frederica should be more than adequate to deal with them."

"That depends on if they're from the same organization as Elsa and Meili," Ian said. "They could definitely stall them, assuming they don't have any special tricks."

"There's no need to worry about direct attacks," Subaru said. "I already told Mili to use Otto as a human shield."

"If I ever feel in danger and do not have Ian or Rem with me, that's what I'll do, too," Ram said.

"I'm thinking we should probably invest in armor for Otto," Ian said. "Then we can use him at least twice without losing our meat shield."

"Good thinking," Subaru nodded.

"He never gets his reward, I suppose," Beatrice said. "I don't even know why he's friends with you, in fact."

"It might be invisible to others, but me and Otto are tied together with a solid bond of masculine friendship," Subaru said. "Rock solid."

"Ooh!" Mimi said, before parroting, "Rocka solid!"

Ram sighed, Ian smiling and shaking his head. Mimi was going to be an eternal child.

Finally, they reached the parlor just as the door cracked open, Garfiel peeking out at them. "There y'are, Captain. Ya were takin' so long I was thinkin' I'd haveta go'n get ya."

"He got swarmed by his harem," Ian smirked.

"Ooo!" Mimi said.

"Shoulda known," Garfiel grinned.

"It would've been funny if you all were leaving to look for me and left Otto there on his own," Subaru said.

"Crap, it woulda," Garfiel grinned wickedly, exposing his fangs. "Now'm imaginin' him panicking everywhere n' freakin' out." He jabbed his chin into the room. "Get in here. The guest's sayin' y'gotta be here if we're gonna talk. Otto n' Miss Emilia were tryin' t'give 'im a welcome, but it all just looked like a comedy."

"Oh, I kinda want to see that," Subaru said.

"Cease this foolishness and enter the room," Ram scolded. "We're already delayed."

She kicked Subaru in the back, sending him stumbling into the room as Garfiel stepped smoothly out of the way. Ian chuckled and walked after him, glancing to the side at Frederica, just as Elena slipped her hand into Frederica's, only for Frederica to take her hand back and take a small step away, her eyes flicking to Elena, who maintained a small, mischievously innocent smile, Frederica's own face remaining stoic. Ian sighed, shaking his head. Elena had been going out of her way to try to flirt with and seduce Frederica, but had been making little obvious headway. Then, he turned his gaze to the other guest. He had a handsome face, violet hair in a ponytail, yellow eyes, one of which was gazing at Subaru through a monocle, and he wore a well-tailored suit. He gave off a scholarly air, but his expression and gaze betrayed disappointment and a hint of disdain. His gaze shifted to Ian, appraising him as harshly as Subaru, though Ian suspected his impression of Ian was less disappointed than Subaru.

"And this would be..." the man more said than asked, his voice trailing off, rather than curling into a question, giving Ian an impression of arrogance.

"Right," Emilia nodded. "I'm sorry they arrived late. These are my Knights, Subaru Natsuki and Ian."

"M-May I point out that he seems, uh, enraptured?" the man asked.

"Subaru," Beatrice said. "Stop making funny faces, I suppose. He's going to think..." she stopped, eyes widening as Subaru began unconsciously tightening his grip. "Huh? Um, this feels quite forceful, in fact. No, you're...holding too tight. Suba-Subaru! Ow! Ouch, I suppose!"

Ian smacked him in the back of the head, Subaru instantly releasing the pressure on Beatrice and rubbing his head, looking around. "Uh, sorry! Was tripping."

"Get a grip, Subaru," Ian said. "You're making Emilia look bad."

"Sorry," Subaru grimaced before straightening up. "As previously stated, I'm Subaru Natsuki. I serve as Knight to Miss Emilia, who makes her presence before you. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"You humble me," the man said. "I am...I myself am Joshua Juukulius. I am visiting you as an envoy on behalf of Miss Anastasia Hoshin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ian said, using the same fake bow he'd thought up when lying about being a former Knight. "Juukulius. Younger brother of Julius Juukulius?"

Subaru went stiff beside him but said nothing.

"That's right," Emilia nodded. "They're both supporting Anastasia together. It's sooo sweet."

Subaru seated himself at Emilia's side, Ian standing at her other side, playing the part of bodyguard perfectly.

"What, so he's Julius's brother," Subaru mused. "Actually now that you mention it they are pretty alike. You have that disdainful...or no, intense, gaze of his. Or that mocking...or no, elegant, smile of his. Or that hellish...or no, pretty, hair color of his."

"If you have to force it every time, then would you care to refrain from commenting!?" Otto snapped, obviously nervous.

"Did you lose weight?" Subaru asked Otto.

"Life here is simply too exhilarating, yes!" Otto snapped. "When things in this exact vein keep happening in constant succession, the mental fatigue leaves me too exhausted to exercise, and thus skeletal! Skeletal!"

"Skellytall! Skellytall!" Mimi cheered, accidentally aggravating Otto further.

Beatrice looked around at the seat before dropping into Subaru's lap, Subaru's hands naturally wrapping around her to keep her from falling.

"Now, to the main topic-" Subaru began.

"P-Please wait!" Joshua stammered, flustered. "Who is this girl!?" He pointed at Beatrice as he leaned forward so forcefully that his monocle slipped.

"Geez, you're so behind, Joshua," Mimi said. "This is Beako, she's Subaru's baby! And beside him's the mommy, and beside her's the housekeeper?"

"Honestly I am far too unconfident about what my current standing is to be hearing that I'm the housekeeper so would you please care to stop?!" Otto screeched.

"Housekeeper! Housekeeper!" Mimi cheered. "Wow! It's like a Mabeast name!"

"Sorry for not introducing her," Subaru said, everyone ignoring Otto's shoulders slumping. "We're just so used to sitting like this that I forgot to explain."

"Otto forgot to mention it, as well," Emilia said. "And it caught me unawares as well."

"Who says 'caught me unawares' anymore?" Subaru asked, Ian using his sheathed White Whale Sword to smack him in the back of the head, Subaru completely ignoring him. "This is Beatrice. Mimi's right. She's the child of myself and Miss Emilia."

"What!?" Joshua gaped.

"Geez, no she's not, Subaru," Emilia sighed. "Look at how you shocked Joshua. I know we kissed but you can't make babies by kissing. I've been studying."

Ian barely managed to restrain a snort, though his grin managed to slip through just slightly, his lips scrunching up in an effort to take it back. Behind him, he heard Elena giggling into her hand.

Subaru grimaced. "Ah, sorry, Mili. I think some private stuff just got thrown right into the open. It was my bad so I'll just introduce her normally."

"This is what you get for using me for tomfoolery, in fact," Beatrice said. "You best regret it, I suppose."

After a moment of silence while Subaru was lost in thought, Joshua cleared his throat. "So, Miss Beatrice's true station would be..."

"I'm sorry that the conversation keeps slipping," Subaru said. "Beatrice may look like an ordinary, loveable little girl, but she is actually my contracted spirit. She is a loligranny."

"Exactly," Beatrice nodded. "I am a spirit, in fact." She glared up at Subaru. "And I know you are mocking me with that word loligranny, I suppose!" She dug her head under his chin as Joshua's face went frigid, a very complex, unfriendly emotion filling his voice as he spoke next.

"I see. She's a spirit."

"Hey, guest," Garfiel said, unimpressed. "You got a problem with our Captain havin' a spirit with him?"

"No," Joshua said, shaking his head. "It's nothing important. Just, it struck me that Mr. Natsuki is a Spirit Knight. As I myself am sure you already know, my brother is a Spirit Knight. The title is so rare that you could call him the only holder in the nation."

Subaru nodded. "Yeah, I know. When we were fighting the Witch Cult, he...um, he...he really hel...h-hel..." he made a noise somewhere between a groan and a gag. "Helped me, out a...lot, so..."

"Are you truly so reluctant to accept that he saved you!?" Otto demanded.

"I heard that there was another knight who uses spirits, in fact," Beatrice said. "What an odd turn of fate for it to be your brother, I suppose."

"What do you mean 'odd turn of fate,' spirit?" Joshua asked.

"It's obvious what I mean, in fact," Beatrice said. "Precursors are destined to be excelled, I suppose. His best place is an ornament on the glorious road that Subaru and I-" she shrieked in protest as Subaru messed up her hair.

"Don't pick fights with people we just met," Subaru said. "And I've got nothing on Julius. I'm never gonna beat him at what he does. I don't beat people who are good at puzzles by challenging them to puzzles. I beat them by challenging them to Mario Kart."

"Subaru, I will whoop your ass at Mario Kart any day of the week," Ian smirked.

"That's true," Elena said. "Star Fox, too."

"Shut up!" Subaru snapped, then bowed his head to Joshua, pushing Beatrice's head into a bow as well. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to make a fool of your brother. Or really, I know that I'm less capable than him. This spirit here is just being a braggart."

"An admirable, and correct, judgment," Joshua said. "When comparing yourself to my brother, it's natural to recognize your inferiority."

"Oh, now I want to whoop Julius's ass all over again," Ian grumbled.

"I'm sorry, again?" Joshua asked. "Meaning you've defeated him in the past?"

"He challenged me to a duel and I won," Ian said. "Wooden swords, granted, and he wasn't using his spirits, but a real fight would be the same."

Joshua's eyes narrowed. "I doubt that very much. Is it proper for a Knight to lie? My brother is amazing. At the age of twenty, he is the second most capable of the Imperial Knights, the finest Order of Knights of the Kingdom. His service to Miss Anastasia currently distances him from his station as an Imperial Knight, but once her wishes are fulfilled he will be secured a place as Head of the Imperial Knights. He has a close, amicable relationship with the Sword Saint Reinhard, and holds himself impeccably in both public and private contexts. He is strict on himself and others, disciplined, ambitious, and always seeking improvement. His beautiful looks enrapture scores of women, and his personality is accordingly excellent. Yes. My brother is amazing. You're nothing compared to him."

Ian's eyes narrowed, only for Emilia to hold her hand in front of him, stopping him from responding.

"You obviously love your brother sooo much," Emilia said. "It's sweet. But I will not tolerate you insulting my Knights simply because you cannot accept that he did, in fact, defeat Julius. You will apologize to him, and then we will move on to the main topic."

Joshua's eyes widened before he bowed his head. "Forgive me. I meant no disrespect. I simply have some difficulty restraining myself when it comes to my family."

"Meant no disrespect?" Ian asked, eyes narrowed and fists clenched at his sides. "You called me a liar to my face, and then gave a speech about how amazing your brother is, ending said speech by telling me that I'm nothing compared to him. What part of that was not disrespectful?"

Joshua remained silent, and Subaru sighed.

"The main topic," Subaru said, Emilia nodding.

"It took us a long time to get here, but what is this visit all about?" Emilia asked, all business while Joshua struggled to act calm.

"I speak to Miss Emilia on behalf of my master, Miss Anastasia Hoshin," Joshua said, pulling a letter from his pocket. "Miss Anastasia wishes to invite yourself and your associates to the city of Priestella."

"An invitation to Priestella City," Emilia mused. "Priestella is the Water Gate city, yes? The big city near the border between the Kingdom of Lugunica and the Kararagi City-States."

"You are correct," Joshua nodded. "Miss Anastasia is currently sojourning there, rather than the capital, and she wishes to invite you."

Emilia looked to Subaru for advice while Ian narrowed his eyes slightly. It was almost time.

"Priestella is a scenic place," Joshua continued after a moment of not getting an answer. "The city is distinctive in itself and makes for a popular tourist destination. Miss Anastasia finds herself delighted and at ease there."

"It'd be great if you were just showing us a nice place...but you're not, are you?" Subaru asked. "Emilia and Anastasia aren't friends."

Joshua grinned. "Miss Anastasia has invited you out of her beneficence. She has noticed the valuable object you are searching for in Priestella."

"What I'm searching for?" Emilia asked.

Ian sighed. Joshua had stolen the dominant position in the negotiations.

Joshua's grin widened. "In Pristella City, there is a shop selling spellstones, in which slumbers the high-grade colorless stones that you desire. I believe that you are currently seeking an anchor for the Great Spirit?"

"That's none of your business," Ian said flatly. "You are dismissed."

Joshua's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, everyone else staring at him.

"There is nothing we can use as a counter offer, our only options are to accept or decline," Ian said. "We will consider, then tell you our answer and any conditions before we send you out the door. Until then, kindly wait in the foyer. Garfiel and Frederica will accompany you."

Both siblings nodded, and after a moment, Emilia did as well. Joshua and Mimi were led out of the room by Frederica with Garfiel taking up the rear. Once the door closed, everyone turned to Ian.

"We could have talked more," Subaru said.

"No, we couldn't," Ian said. "He took the upper hand, talking any longer would have given him ample opportunity to simply gain more sensitive information for Anastasia. It's bad enough that we confirmed that Puck is out of commission. We have no guarantee that the stone is actually even in Priestella, or is strong enough to be useful, and all we've managed to do is confirm to Anastasia that we need one and be invited to what is possibly a trap."

"So, you don't think we should go?" Emilia asked.

"Unfortunately, we have no choice," Ian said. "Technically speaking, Anastasia is still a part of the alliance we formed, so attacking us outright isn't an option for her. However, there's a chance for her to hire assassins, so we still have to be careful. On the other hand, we do need that stone, so we need to at least verify if it's there at all."

"So, we have to go," Emilia said.

"With conditions," Ian said. "For example, Anastasia will meet us at the gate and give us a tour personally. That will prevent an ambush by her forces and get her close enough to become a hostage in the event that she tries something. In the event of an assassin attack, if it's Elsa's organization, they'll either hold off so as not to kill their employer, or they'll simply target her, too, so her being there should help to negate that threat, at least in part."

"Good thinking," Subaru nodded. "Since you seem to have thought this through already, how ready for a fight should we be?"

"Assume it's inevitable," Ian said. "And given our group's collective luck, prepare like you're expecting a visit from Regulus Corneas."

Everyone nodded, Ram's eyes narrowing slightly. They all decided that was the best they could do and everyone left to get preparations ready, Ian heading to the Foyer with Ram to give Joshua their condition and pass along the preparation instructions to Garfiel and Frederica. Then, once Joshua and Mimi had left, Ian headed to his room, picking up his Gospel and reading through it again, committing the near future and everything he needed to do to memory.

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