Chapter 69: Flowers, Cats, Conspiracies, Oh My (Part 1)

To those used to the rapid industrialization, cyberpunkification and dystopification of much of the world Morocco might seem downright quaint, even alien. Absent were the proliferation of machine surveillance, towering monoliths of glass, concrete and steel, incessant advertising of obnoxious billboards or even the esoteric trappings of the Supernatural, Moonlit and Demon worlds.

No, Morocco was like a snapshot of the world before it had taken a rather abrupt turn for the insane, a sprawling and cozy collection of homes and businesses that was overseen by a large and elegant yacht moored at port.

"Just the way Van Fem likes it. He would wish to preserve just this one small slice of Humanity before it was 'tainted' by a thousand other outside factors."

Letting those idle thoughts and observations chase each other inside his head like a hamster on a wheel Zelretch allowed the pleasant atmosphere to wash over him, inhaling the rich scent of untouched nature and Human domiciles to grace his nostrils before he would inevitably find himself annoyed by the coming conversation.

It was a sad thing indeed that the people he would describe as allies or comrades were so often the ones who gave him something of a massive damn migraine.

"Hmph. With friends like these, who needs enemies?"

Finding that thought to ring true ever more blatantly as he beheld the moored Joy of Living in all its pristine and advertised glory the Wizard Marshal slipped past the winding line of eager tourists awaiting their chance at boarding the infamous vessel, ascending the gangplank reserved for VIP members and flashing an ID card towards the waiting security guards, the action allowing him past the first level of security before one of his fellow Ancestors' latest creations barred his path, a young and lovely woman wearing a tasteful dress that stared up at him with a blank and reserved expression.

It was a textbook case of appearances being deceiving, what with a living, breathing Demon Castle staring him in the face.

"Is he waiting in the usual place?"

A mute nod, Zelretch spotting a few new additions to the security in the form of gently floating flutes that, to his experienced eye, glittered with unreleased mystery more than ready to rain on someone's parade.

They were also gaudy as hell and he quite disliked them.

While he would never pretend to be some dour and consistently serious old man his passion projects were typically only revealed to the unfortunate souls that had earned his ire, ensuring maximum novelty whenever they were revealed.

He certainly wouldn't have strung up his Jeweled Sword like some sort of cheap piñata as Van Fem did with anything and everything he considered of passing worth.

Without further comment - clearly being the strong silent type - the Demonic Castle stepped aside, permitting the Wizard Marshall to stroll further inside past an ever expanding roster of miscellaneous games of both chance and fancy, keen eyes picking up the hidden details that would have escaped those with less astute or mundane eyes, bits of Magecraft and Mystery interwoven with more standard technology and VR to craft a truly excessive experience for those with that capacity and means to partake of it.

Zelretch decided it gave him a mildly upset stomach.

A few more twists and turns, a number of sidestepped or deactivated Bounded Fields and a familiar, rich mahogany door was pushed aside, the Wizard Marshall not bothering with a preamble as he announced, "I see you're expanding your roster of tricks and gimmicks. Thinking of breaking into the party favors business?"

"A sedentary business is the same as a sedentary lifestyle, both equally unfulfilling and placed at the mercy of shifting whims and whiles from the outside, little room left for individual expression and headway."

Zelretch met the smirking features of his longtime 'business partner' as Van Fem inclined his head, languidly observing, "Perhaps you have spent too much time hopping around the myriad realities that surround our own, losing track of the smaller things in life?"

"Easily the richest statement I've heard in the last two months, considering the circus you've made of this boat that trumps any farflung timeline I've borne witness to. And I spend a great deal of my time at the Clocktower."

A dramatic sigh left the Wizard Marshall's counterpart as he made himself comfortable on one of the sofas that littered Van Fem's personal office, the soft material and excellent embroidering probably running a price tag that most people wouldn't make in a year.

"Must we always fall into such debates the moment we enter each other's presence?"

"You started it."

"See? No more than a minute and schoolyard insults have already been thrown about with all the care and weight of a buzzing fly. Perhaps we should space out our visits more? Once or twice a year must be far too often."

"As much as the idea of a delayed high school reunion appeals to the senses the reality is we are on something of a timer. There exists an opportunity to nip a problem in the bud and I fully intend to capitalize on it."

The Kaleidoscope pulled out a series of folders from his coat before passing them along, Van Fem plucking them from the air and perusing their contents, consisting mostly of what had occurred with Prima, Lute and Real.

"So he was left at the less than tender mercies of the Governor-General? How barbaric."

"Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. And the Grigori's methods are effective, we were quick to confirm what we had already suspected."

He steepled his hands.

"Which is worrying in its own unfortunate way. While Sanctuary is beginning to move against this threat in a more forceful and open manner I believe everyone is overlooking a rather critical point."

"And that would be?"

"Well we wouldn't know about this, obviously. Any of it. The connection between the OSF, Nomad, Ereshkigal, splinter sets of the Supernatural Church…and let us not forget the rather concerning fact that Altrouge and her band of sycophants have seemingly given up the search for Crimson Moon's Knight Arm shortly before this whole tableau unfolded and Ereshkigal reentered the public eye, so to speak. All of this was only because Lute stumbled upon it by seeming chance."

Van Fem hummed noncommittally, flipping through pages before snapping everything shut, archly inquiring, "Are we truly going to let one of Alaya's mutts wander about with such a long leash? The previous ones were nothing if not disruptive and highly undesirable. I will freely admit to being no great fan of this decision of yours."

"This one is different, of that I have no trouble admitting. Considering it was his action that averted the Rose Prophecy resulting in your demise I would have imagined you would afford him some small benefit of the doubt."

Fem rolled his eyes, drolly remarking, "I very much doubt I was any factor whatsoever in this Surveyor's actions. Thus, my thanks is unrelated to the matter at hand. Do you know how difficult it is to resume business as usual when you don't actually die as expected? The amount of revoked insurance claims is atrocious."

"And my heart is breaking for you, truly. But if all those factors aren't enough for you at least be reassured the Toujou's are keeping a close watch on him, just in case."

"I find it rather concerning that so many seem to have little care for the fact that there is now one of Norman's creations in the care of yet another agent of Alaya. And you trust the lab cats to properly assess and watch over such a volatile source, when they themselves are no paragons of stability?"

Adopting a pensive air Zelretch idly remarked, "You know what? I don't very much care for that nickname. They don't either."

"Hmph. You always did have a soft spot for the wild cards and the mavericks."

"It's worked out for me pretty well so far. You as well, if I may reiterate. How many other Apostles can say they averted the Rose Prophecy by simply doing nothing?"

Clicking his tongue in annoyance Van Fem tossed the folders aside, inquiring, "So what is the true purpose of your little visit, Kischur? This has the trappings of a social call but I highly doubt I would be so blessed as to receive your attention simply because you missed me."

A humorless smile graced Zelretch's features, the Vampire explaining, "With all that's happened we decided to take a closer look at some of Real's accounts, see if we could find anything interesting. While they've covered their tracks well there were a few breadcrumbs present that either weren't swept away or were so secret that nobody even knew what they really were. But I know a receipt pertaining to the Alysebury ritual when I see it."

"A faulty receipt then, that whole sordid mess was done and over with twelve years ago. We confirmed it and even Altrouge threw in the proverbial towel. It is not simply a project that one can abandon when convenient and revive at a more suitable later date."

"And yet a project titled 'Inchoate' was discovered to be using some of the same accounts that were used to fund the ritual in the first place, almost three billion USF not simply transferred but actively allocated, resources and all."

Van Fem let his fingers lightly tap against his chair for a few moments, seemingly lost in thought before abruptly clicking his tongue in vexation.

"From one Rose Prophecy to the next, hmm?"

"Well you've already cheated death once, try to spread the wealth a little, would you?"

A true Heroic Spirit she may no longer be but Medusa never labored under the delusion that she was in anything less than superhuman condition.

Even with the real, manifested body that struck an odd balance between familiar, spirit and sentient echo she had was no pushover, capable of performing feats that only highly trained and highly gifted individuals could hope to match, her strength similar enough to what she had possessed in the Grail War - losing out only in potency and raw power than any other limitation - that inbetween her, Sakura and Shirou their restaurant was equivalent in security to one of the more fortified corporate headquarters that littered the city.

Which was all to say that Yumi keeping pace with her on one of their more brisk morning jogs with only a slight sheen of sweat and shortness of breath to show for it was quite impressive, since while the girl had clearly been modified to one extent or another she was still mostly Human.

A final sprint through one of the safer parks near their domicile lead them to where Tosca was pacing Asia and Caren, the one time Gorgon feeling her lips quirk as the smaller girl - despite her recent ordeal - was obviously in far better shape than the other two, Asia in particular soaked in sweat and gasping for air, drenched ponytail slapping about like a sodden rope.

The group of five came to a stop as one, a nearby park bench allowing a wobbly-legged nun to collapse onto it as she gasped, "H-how…are all of you…so fast?"

"Well I don't know about Caren being fast, so to speak."

Yumi's clearly joking tone was met with a derisive sniff from the Exorcist, unconcerned posture not managing to hide her cramping legs in the slightest.

"Not all of us need devote our time and energy in the pursuit of brute strength. Some have more difficult and specific niches that need filling and cannot cover every role imaginable."

"There's a roundabout excuse if ever I've heard one."

"Oh come on, Yumi! Don't be so hard on Caren, she doesn't have the training or modifications we do, after all."

Tosca found herself the recipient of a dry look from her taller friend, Yumi remarking, "I think you're going to quickly find that she doesn't need defending, Tosca. If anything she's a threat to each and every single one of you."

"How cruel, to suggest that I am anything less than a complete and total saint. Do I not practice the faith and wear the vestments of a holy woman, bearing the countenance of an Angel?"

"I've seen the bodysuit you call a uniform. Not buying it."

Highly amused by the back and forth playing out right in front of her Medusa nonetheless spoke up with, "Girls? As fun as it may be seeing you act like the best of friends we had best be heading back, I imagine many of you would prefer a shower sooner rather than later, yes?"

Asia grimaced as rivulets of sweat dripped down her face.

"That would be…appreciated, Miss Medusa."

Letting the group catch their breath for a few more minutes they were on their way before long, Medusa eyeing the quadrupedal walker and local cyborg guards that were a fair amount of the reason why this area was so safe, sensitive ears picking up the almost inaudible buzz of surveillance drones overhead.

To ask for security in a place like this city almost always came at the expense of privacy, something that the former Heroic Spirit was still a fair bit uncomfortable with but had resigned herself to working around. It was something of a bad joke that the massive amount of surveillance and observing parties meant that it was easy to get lost in the proverbial crowd, the sheer amount of available information and opposing factions meant any attempt by those that would seek retribution against them would have to wade through one of the most dense and politically charged arenas on the planet.

"All I'm saying is that a little bit of cardio wouldn't hurt anyone and that you might actually come to enjoy it!"

"And when, pray tell, might I have either the time or inclination to enjoy such harsh exertions?"

"Well for one you could stop spending so much time badgering and winding up everyone else in Pier 16, that would free up a few hours of your schedule."

Bringing herself back to the present as Tosca, Caren and Yumi kept up a steady stream of conversation the Heroic Spirit felt her lips curl ever so slightly upwards, reminded of the incessant teasing and bickering her sisters had often engaged in, herself the perpetual victim as they arrived back at the pub, pushing open the door and presenting a rather…amusing sight.

"Such wanton consumption of spirits and lack of care for basic responsibility is an unsightly image, Cayman."

"And you can take a leisurely stroll to Hell, Caren. I've had one bitch of a week and have a perfectly valid excuse to get shitfaced this early in the morning. In fact, I'm so deserving of it that I don't really need an excuse, the justification writes itself."

Sprawled across one of the longer dining tables was the Surveyor himself, accompanied by a bevy of drinks, empty plates and a general air of contented laziness, Till keeping her head beneath a napkin as the now larger Fairy doubtlessly rode out a hangover.

"And just what, precisely, happened during this incredibly stressful and eventful week? You promised to share upon first arriving, after all."

Medusa lightly reminded the man of her promise as she smoothly seated herself across from him, the rest of the group following suit as Sakura placed a tray of fruit in front of them, Cayman gratefully nodding at the smiling young woman - no doubt calculating the earnings of his group's visit - as he languidly began with, "Well it ended with me having to perform my husbandly duties with a Succubus that I might have sort of kind of married. After a fashion. If that doesn't set the tone then I don't know what will."

Raising an eyebrow at the words - and inwardly smirking as Asia blushed crimson - Medusa languidly popped a grape into her mouth, deciding to dance around the subject at hand as she remarked, "Would this adventurous time have any relation to your rapidly expanding roster? Everytime you visit it seems you have more additions to the fold."

"Eternal growth and expansion is the dream of every corporation, Pier 16 is no different. Except instead of paying customers I get hyper lethal nuns and ninjas."

Feeling her lips twitch at the remark - Yumi not bothering to hide her brief chuckle - the Heroic Spirit inquired, "Then what just so happens to be your future goal with this 'eternal growth', as it stands?"

Rather than immediately answer Cayman merely arched an eyebrow, lightly posing, "You seem pretty interested in the goings and comings of my side of the equation. Thought you preferred the quiet and more domestic side of things?"

Momentarily freezing at the realization that, yes, she was feeling a slight call to adventure the woman quickly regained her footing, languidly shrugging before responding, "It never hurts to remain up to date on the current state of affairs. After all, you seem neck deep in it."

"Well, can't argue with that in the slightest."

Grateful that her quick response seemed to have diverted some of the mild suspicion Medusa buried her curiosity as the Surveyor instead motioned towards Yumi, Tosca and Asia as he stated, "Those three are going to start school soon so that's going to be a few of us with something resembling an actual schedule. And as for myself? Well I finally get a damn vacation."

"And all of your affairs from this exciting week are in order, I assume?"

Her guess was proven to be spot on as his expression soured, grumbling out, "Well you see, the thing is…"

"I think I'm under dressed."

"It will be fine, you look quite handsome."

"Easy for the walking sex appeal to say. You could stride in here wearing a dirty rodeo clown outfit and outdo the locals."

"Eh heh heh, I do so enjoy your flattery, Cayman~!"

Promptly engulfing his arm in a warm embrace Lilim released a sultry giggle, eagerly musing, "You know it will be quite the exciting thing, meeting Mirielle like this."

"How so?"

"Mostly because - if you don't mind me borrowing some of your verbiage - she tended to ride my ass incessantly."

"Kinky."

Her tail swatted him on the behind before continuing with, "Always going on and on about how a Succubus should act, how I was a disgrace and wasting my time with petty and lowbrow hijinxs. Hmph! We shall see who was 'wasting their time' now!"

"In her defense you did and still sort of do act like a gremlin."

Her pout was frankly adorable as they strode past the waitstaff, soothing lighting, trickling fountains, glistening floors he could have eaten off of and murmured conversation all giving the ritzy and upper class restaurant a real fortune 500 feel, Cayman's jeans and button down - all grabbed on short notice - a poor comparison to the glistening and highly revealing dress Lilim had somehow found the opportunity to switch into.

All he needed was some glasses, a slouch and facial stubble before he could absolutely pull off the spitting image of a tech nerd that only had such a jaw dropping lady friend because Google paid him obscene amounts of money.

"And there she is…"

Snapping out of his musings at Lilim's murmur he turned his gaze towards where a pair of figures - one familiar and one not - sat in a modestly private booth, both turning to face them with wildly different expressions.

Sharia with one of obvious embarrassment and more than a little annoyance, Mirielle - adorned in a flowing pink gown that matched her hair and imperiously lovely features - with one of idle intrigue.

Without further ado they took their seats across from the Demon duo, Lilim chirping, "Long time no see, Mirielle. Is it just me or have you perhaps gotten a little smaller?"

"I see you're wasting no time in luxuriating in your newfound…growth. I imagine we're all on something of a timetable so I hope you don't mind if I took the liberty of ordering for everyone."

A dramatic sigh left the woman, forlornly announcing, "Alas, I would have hoped for a more relaxed conversation so that I may impart upon you the majesty and class of a true Succubus. I doubt you have been graced with much in the way of slow and pleasurable seduction with that money hungry imp clinging to your coattails all the while."

"Well the rushed schedule is sort of the fault of someone at this table, not that I would be so crass as to name names."

Lilim also joined in with a scowl of her own, grumbling, "I forgot just how annoying you can be. And now that you mention it I feel like I should be a little bit upset by the fact that you set Ereshkigal on us. I understand that you think I'm a disgrace to the species but how long did we spend together in training? That's just a bit cold, don't you think?"

At the Awakened Demon's increasingly frosty tone Mirielle frowned, sharply retorting, "While I will freely admit that I found you incredibly aggravating, a stain on our species and a freeloading imbecile of a parasite…I would never have given you to Ereshkigal's clutches without good reason."

"And that reason is?"

Glancing out of the corner of his eye at one of the frostiest tones he'd ever heard leave the woman's mouth the Surveyor kept his peace as Mirielle motioned for Sharia to speak up, the tiny Demon relaying, "Two weeks ago a Rose Prophecy was relayed, one that stated Apostle Van Fem would perish a few days prior to this meeting we're now having."

Cayman blinked, slowly inquiring, "That's the one that says Vampires are about to eat it, right?"

"Yes."

"...And judging by the way you said that Van Fem isn't actually dead but very much alive."

"Yes. In the entire recorded history of the Ancestors only two other instances have occurred where a Rose Prophecy has been proven completely and utterly false, the events not coming to pass."

"Okay well that's really interesting but what does it have to do with-oh fuck it's me, isn't it?"

Mirielle nodded, pensively musing, "Your predecessors are the only beings capable of so completely and casually upsetting an otherwise infallible future prediction. Speculation abounds that all of you have been pet projects of the Kaleidoscope but personally I have my doubts. There are other practitioners of True Magic or reality-warping disciplines that have been unable to affect these sorts of changes until you and yours came along."

Cayman could only sigh, Mirielle continuing with, "That aside, the impetus for your involvement was more one of happy coincidence than any true masterplan. Sir Ambrose is on good terms with Van Fem and he instructed me and several others to find a way to either nullify or work around the prophecy. Seeing as how time was of the essence my available options were limited…but that was where dear Sharia came into play."

The older Succubus affectionately stroked the younger's hair, pride in her voice until she abruptly turned a displeased glare Cayman's way.

"Before we go any further, I should like to add that Sharia is now your responsibility."

"Sorry, what?"

He felt more than a little lost as Sharia blushed scarlet and Lilim even outright giggled, Mirielle continuing with, "Whatever strange interrogation technique you used on her thankfully did not create a singular, overwhelming dependance on your tantric energies but it's a close thing, were she to go more than a few months without absorbing life force from you her health would rapidly deteriorate."

The tiny pinkette added her own two cents with, "Even after I said I would talk you went ahead and did all that stuff anyway, so the least you can do is be my semen donor!"

Mentally counting to ten Cayman just sighed in quiet acceptance, wryly stating, "Alright, you've got a deal. I suppose that's only fair, considering I did, you know. Do that. Can we get back to the subject at hand?"

Both Succubi appeared mollified as he tried to ignore Lilim throatily whispering, "I wouldn't mind being addicted to your seed, darling~", while trying to piece together a steadily growing web of alliances and friendships.

Ambrose was a close confidant and loyal ally of Kamadeva, one that - if his memory served - was a pretty decent soul as far as Demon nobility went, one who had the rough outline of a moral compass. It held up that he would try to go the distance in saving the life of someone he evidently considered a friend or ally.

"Honestly you proved pivotal through a great deal of everything that came after. Ereshkigal's return would threaten Lord Kamadeva and Sharia was able to provide me with the knowledge that you were in close proximity to her. A simple 'leak' of information and you were put into a position to begin changing events for the better, as well as maybe have that dolt at your side get up off her now generous ass and begin performing her duties properly."

Lilim scoffed while Cayman felt the onset of a migraine, asking, "And how did you know any of that would save Van Fem's life? What's the connection between Lilim and I getting jumped by Ereshkigal and our business savvy Vampire getting to keep his head?"

Sharia shuffled in her seat slightly, slowly replying, "Now we don't know anything for certain but there were and still are rumors that Altrouge Brunestud was meeting with Ereshkigal's faction, some sort of trade deal potentially occurring between them."

"Wow. That's not highly worrying or anything."

The group fell momentarily silent as their meal arrived, Cayman gratefully inhaling the relaxing aroma of steak, artichokes and steaming bread as he once more pondered everything he'd just learned.

It started with Ambrose learning of a Rose Prophecy ending with Van Fem's death, whereupon he immediately tasked Mirielle and possibly others with finding a way to avert that fate. Knowing that previous predictions were stymied by Alaya's other agents Mirielle set Sharia to find what she could, the smaller Succubus having learned that he was in the company of Lilim and that there was strong interest from Ereshkigal's side of the equation to take out Kamadeva's heir. Playing on that connection Mirielle then engineered a meeting where he came into direct conflict with the queen bitch's agents, no doubt hoping that he would then go after her and potentially disrupt the potential link between Ereshkigal and Altrouge, affecting Van Fem's demise since she was almost certainly a part of the reason he was originally supposed to die. The teleportation incident and getting tossed directly into the firing line of the remnant Holy Sword Project and Ereshkigal herself was just a stroke of bad (good?) luck.

"I have to wonder, though…did disrupting Valper's operation also play a part? I mean the Excalibur fragments are a far cry from superweapons but I'd bet they were still potent enough to tip the scales in some fashion or another if they were included in the attempt on Van Fem's life. Wait, was Prima supposed to be a part of this?! I mean they did have her on hand and it sounds like she only activates for people like myself but still…"

Savoring a slice of perfectly cooked meat the Surveyor settled for simply stating, "Life, when viewed in reverse, really does seem like a whole lot of fated, coincidental bullshit."

"I prefer to think of it as keeping an open mind towards the plots and designs of others, as well ensuring that they have every reason to act according to my desires rather than against them. We are a race of manipulators, after all."

"That you are. Congrats on pulling this one off, then. Didn't have a fucking clue the whole time."

Mirielle beamed at his words as Lilim crossed her arms, nibbling on a slice of bread as she warned, "Don't feel too good about yourself, I still don't like what you did and I think a punishment or two might be in order down the line…"

A positively greedy expression crossed the Demon's features.

"Maybe I should have my darling fuck you senseless so that you can only live on his cum for the rest of your life. Wouldn't that be embarrassing for a Succubus like yourself, to be married to one single man~?"

"Stop, I can only get so horny."

Cayman's utterly deadpan tone was complimented by Mirielle souring her expression, promptly stating, "I do believe I would rather die, thank you. No offense."

"A surprisingly small amount taken. So I know Ambrose is buddy buddy with Van Fem but how did that even happen and why were all of you so hot to trot? He give out free cruises every year or something?"

The pair of Succubi briefly glanced at each other before meeting his raised brow, Mirielle asking, "Are you aware of the details of a project codenamed Inchoate?"

"No, should I be?"

"Well, here's the interesting part. We aren't either."

Punting away that memory as he finished an abbreviated retelling of the whole debacle Rider favored him with a bemused gaze, the Surveyor finishing with, "So, yeah. I kinda sorta got married to a Succubus I've met, like, twice, learned a bunch of worrying shit and have decided not to worry about said shit until I get back from vacation."

"You live quite the exciting life, it seems."

"Hell yeah I do."

While it seemed like Medusa had more to add she was distracted by Asia timidly asking, "Umm, Miss Rider? S-since school is starting up soon and it sounds like you're supposed to look your best for it could you maybe provide some beauty tips? Since you always look so pretty, that is!"

The Heroic Spirit blinked at the sudden request, Tosca and Yumi also looking on with keen interest as Caren merely smirked in the background, making it clear who'd sparked the inquiry in the first place.

"I think I'll let her field that one. Just one last stop to make at Touko's and then I've got that sweet, sweet vacation with an adorable Valkyrie to look forward to. Because I have fucking EARNED that shit."

We made it to the 69th chapter where I finally do a title drop but don't have any sex. Nice? Kinda feels like I'm betraying the spiritual purpose of this story.