AD 2206, 5/6, 1st Hierarchical City of Ookoto– Unknown Area

Carl groans as he comes around, his stomach heaving with the force of old Floridian hurricanes. He searches the blurry room desperately, and spies his savior, a bucket by the bedside. He hurls himself to it, and then hurls his stomach into it. Nirvana stands serenely in the corner, the traitor. He feels it getting into his shoulder length hair. After several minutes of continuous hurling, he sits back and wipes his mouth, grimacing at the slimy feeling of his hair slapping onto his clothes again. He looks to Nirvana.

"…" He glares darkly at her, that stung.

He harrumphs and stands, looking for his hat. He finds it on the hat stand near the door, and summons his pawn.

"Go run me a bath, please." It nods, and promptly runs out of the main room to obey. He sighs in frustration. His cloak is on the rack as well, thankfully, and his glasses sit on the vanity. He'll retrieve them once he's done bathing. He's got enough control of his faculties to supply the pawn with power, but not enough to safely activate the others. He doesn't want the Ars Magus getting out of hand on his first hangover.

He winces as a knock comes upon the door, echoing the knocking going on inside his aching head. He gestures to Nirvana, who approaches curtly, then cautiously cracks the door. It's that assistant of Kagura's, Kohaku. Summoning his wits about him, he bows as politely as he can in the space between the door and wall.

"Colonel Kohaku, good morning." Good manners go far it seems, for the normally stoic man offers him a smile in return.

"Good morning, Mister Clover. I've brought some things for you, may I come in?" He holds up a tray with a mug that smells tantalizing. Carl has always had a sweet tooth.

He weighs the risks and nods, opening the door properly. Kohaku walks in and places the tray onto the vanity, and only now does Carl see the bags hanging from his arm. Kohaku catches his eye and continues smiling.

"The general was kind enough to buy you some nice clothes while yours are in the wash. I couldn't guess what fashion suit you'd prefer, so I bought several. Feel free to keep them all, as a sign of the general's apologies for last night's… inconvenience." Carl hums and collects the bags, peeking inside. They're all the same style, and look to be his size. They also all have gloves, how thoughtful.

"Thank you, Colonel. Be sure to wish the general my best." They share a conspiratorial smile as Kohaku takes his leave. This must be some dent to have Kohaku in such good spirits after one of the general's infamous nights out.

"I will, Sir. Have a good morning and meet us in the dining room for breakfast at your convenience." Kohaku shuts the door, just in time for pawn to come back and excitedly wave him over. Carl smirks.

As he sips what is no doubt a hangover cure, and a delicious one at that, he makes his way into the bathroom to see the tub nice, bubbly, and steaming.

"It will be a very good morning, indeed…"

An hour later…

Carl smiles brightly as he puts on the new suit. A tasteful violet number that is breathable but not too loose. Perfect. He hums cheerfully under his breath as he deposits his other clothes down the laundry chute. Most would be afraid of his circumstances, he thinks idly. They'd be fools. Mutsuki is in no shape to fight his leaving with all the drink he'd consumed the night before, and Kohaku would hardly stop him.

He enters the dining room and takes the seat on the far end from a moaning Mutsuki, nursing his own heavier hangover, no doubt. Carl hums lyrically as he fills his plate with the variety of breakfast food left out by what is no doubt a master chef. Mutsuki looks at him with a glare.

"No one should be that happy during their first hangover." He glances suspiciously at Kohaku, who raises placating hands.

"I swear Sir, I found him like this. It must be his hardy constitution." Kohaku closes his eyes and smiles brightly. Mutsuki groans and mutters something that sounds rude under his breath. Carl eats happily, a good breakfast and a sporting show. What more can a man ask for?

Mutsuki eats his fill as well, though at a much more painstaking pace.

"His head must be killing him." Carl smiles quite boyishly. As if sensing his thoughts, Mutsuki glares at him again.

"You know, a good guest doesn't look so happy when his host is suffering." Carl finishes his bite, wipes his mouth daintily with a handkerchief, then huffs.

"A good host doesn't trick guests into inebriation to spirit them away to his home." He smiles elegantly at the sputtering man across from him. Mutsuki recovers his composure and hums darkly.

"As I recall, you agreed to a bet, Clover." Mutsuki begins to leer at him, Carl fights back a shudder.

"And as I recall, you cheated. There is nothing more to discuss." Carl leans back, looking at Mutsuki from down his nose and under his lashes dismissively. Mutsuki clicks his tongue and tuts, wagging his finger.

"Oh no, you don't. Hibiki?" Kohaku sighs and looks at Carl evenly.

"As a witness, I must attest that the general did not cheat, Mister Clover. You mistakenly believed him to be drunker than he was and lost fairly." Kohaku recites the lines mechanically, most likely from some form of script he's memorized for such occasions. Carl harrumphs and glares at them both. Neither one backed down. A pity.

Carl sighs. "Why should I go along with this? I don't need to be having you throw me upon random unsuspecting women, Mutsuki."

The man looks deeply offended. That's surprising, Carl didn't think anything could offend him.

"Hey! I have class, Clover. I'm not some pick up artist." Kohaku coughs politely. Mutsuki glares at him harshly. "I'm not. A pick-up artist. I just happen to know what the ladies want."

The twin deadpan stares are hard to shrug off, but Mutsuki soldiers on. "Besides, I thought you were looking to meet interesting people. For that… research of yours."

Mutsuki looks as uncomfortable as Carl has been feeling since they ran into one another. It's nice.

"I like to meet those with strong souls, Mutsuki. Unless you're planning to let me study yours, I doubt you'll be able to help me." Mutsuki shivers once, and Carl smiles lazily. This is a much better conversation.

Alas, Mutsuki stays on topic. "Don't look at me like that, it's creepy. And don't look at the girls like that either, or there's gonna be some serious problems." Mutsuki looks serious.

"And they say chivalry is dead."

Mutsuki huffs as if he can sense Carl's sardonic sentiments, he probably can. He must get exposure to such reactions often enough.

"Look, what I'm saying is that I won't be setting you up with just anyone off the street. It'll be women you know." At Carl's narrowing eyes, Mutsuki holds up a hand. "Not those three, though. They'd have my head. I know you guys are… complicated, right now."

Carl hums. That's one way to put it. His former schoolmates hadn't exactly forgiven him for attacking them and running off with his father, or the encounter with Noel after that Embryo business.

"But that doesn't mean I won't resort to them if things get desperate." Carl glowers menacingly. Mutsuki just rolls his eyes. "You guys are gonna have to talk it out at some point, you know."

Carl begs to differ. He considers his business with them to be at an end for a reason. He's solitary, for a reason. And no honor code is going to bind him to such a stupid— Wait. He's thinking about this the wrong way.

Carl frowns as he reconsiders. If he lets Mutsuki have his way, he could potentially meet stronger souls on civil terms, maybe even form enough of a connection to gain their trust and study them with consent. He's getting tired of hunting after the strongest targets the board has to offer, only to be able to see their anger and hate when he tries to conduct his studies. He's not his father, those emotions hold no interest to him. Maybe…

As Carl mulls over his new dilemma, Kagura sighs with relief. Things had been getting tense, and while he wasn't worried about taking Clover in a fight, much, he wasn't looking forward to the mess that would cause. Physically or otherwise.

Kagura watches the younger man think over his options, and smiles when he sees him come around to what he must think is his own idea. Kagura didn't run into him on a whim, or by chance. He'd had Hibiki feeding him information on Clover since his father jumped into the Boundary. Homura was wary of his scheme, remembering what happened to their mother all too well, but Kagura was confident that he could bring Clover around as an ally. He just had to play this from the right angles.

"Alright, Mutsuki. I'll go along with your plan, but I have some ground rules." Clover looks serious, and Kagura takes boundaries very seriously himself, so he leans forward on high alert.

Clover hums approvingly. "One, nothing too physically intimate, I'm not looking for that." Kagura nods, to each their own.

"Two, I get to leave whenever I see fit. I won't let you trap me on one of these blind dates." Kagura nods again, he'd never do that anyways.

"And three, the women must know who they are meeting with, and why. I won't be a victim of unfortunate, or unforeseen circumstances." Kagura nods, dumbfounded and offended. What kind of romcom did this kid think he was in?

Carl hums, then nods to himself. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll need accommodations." He rises, but Kagura puts up a hand, waving.

"Woah there, kid. The room's not that crummy. You're sticking with me. I don't want you to be a victim of circumstance and all that you just said, remember?" Kagura smirks as Clover huffs, looking like an indignant housecat.

"Very well. But I've had enough conversation for one morning. I trust I may take my leave?" Kagura shrugs.

"You do you, I got some errands to run anyway. Right, Hibiki?" Mutsuki looks to Kohaku, who is checking the time, no doubt to align with the general's presumably busy schedule.

Kohaku nods. "Yes, it's about time we all get going, we'll be busy today. The two rise and walk out of the far door, no doubt avoiding passing Carl while he's irritated. At least Kohaku has class.

Carl walks into the main hall and stops. He smells something vaguely familiar, comforting, yet stirring feelings of dread. What is that…

"M-Master Carl?" Carl freezes at the sound of that gruff voice, whirling around to see an exuberant Shishigami Bang. Kohaku, that traitor, It's the only way he'd know. Mutsuki wouldn't have been able to keep his mouth shut long enough. Carl thinks quickly, he can get out of this, he just has t—

"MASTER CARL!" Bang envelopes him in a crushing embrace, pressing his head into his sweaty pec. Carl's mind begins to slow with that damnable scent filling his breaths. He squirms futilely, his face going bright red with emotion. "IT'S BEEN SO LONG! How are you?!"

Bang pushes him away to arm's length and Carl shuffles uncomfortably under the sudden scrutiny. He forces himself to respond. "I-I am well, Mr. Bang. Now please, if you would kindly release—?!"

Bang's pec thankfully muffles his shriek as he's pulled in for another tight hug.

"NO! It has been too long since we last embraced, my disciple! I shall not let you slip away again!" Bang is crying now, that's just what his hair needs, more mucus. Carl manages to pull away enough to glare at him seriously, and Bang, despite his words, releases him at once. Bang doesn't trap people in truly unwanted touch, after all. No man of honor would be so cruel.

Carl shuffles, keeping his stance closed and guarded from further scrutiny, Bang looks away dejectedly, heart swelling with sorrowful guilt. He sighs. "I'm sorry, Master Carl. I don't know what came over me. Seeing you again after all these years… I'm sorry." Bang turns to leave him.

Carl sighs. "It's good to see you, Mr. Bang."

Bang perks up and turn with hope in his now tearful eyes. "Truly?"

"Yes." Carl tenses for a moment, but relaxes when Bang merely tussles his blonde hair.

"Good! I missed you so! But" Bang looks serious and his eyes gleam as sharp and hard as the nails he carries. "I have heard of the path you chose to walk, Master Carl. While I understand your motives, I can't stand your methods."

Carl hums and stares at him evenly, meeting his gaze dead on. "Then you needn't worry. I am not my father, and don't wish to trail after him. I only study those who consent or those I pursue for bounty."

Bang studies him for a long moment, then nods with a firm smile. "That is a relief." Bang walks past him, towards the sitting room. "Come, Master Carl, we have a lot of catching up to do."

Carl hesitates for but a moment, then follows. A small smile creeps onto his face. Maybe, just maybe, this won't be so bad after all…