(no subject)

[nightskymaster]

Who: Hayate, Nanoha, Mitsunari, Archer, Saber and Assassin
Where: The Yagami estate
What: Hayate's Angels! Forming a pact between masters and servants
When: Before Spring Court
Warning: Moenari is Bozly.



To say she was a little nervous was an understatement. This was not the sort of thing that Hayate was used to doing, taking charge in a situation. Would everyone be all right with her proposition? What would happen if they weren't? But with the thought of the attack in Sawa heavy on her mind, something had to be done. Lines had to be drawn.

The hardest part was not telling Archer. She knew that the woman had secrets that she kept from her, such as her name. She did not hold that against her. But Archer was fighting on her behalf, and Hayate felt she had to do something to help her. If that meant asking for help, then that was what she would do.

Placing the birthday cake she had baked for Nanoha carefully on the table, she waited for her guests to show up.

Comments

Preparation

[nightskymaster]

[Wonderful smells came from the kitchen, the master chef moving through the kitchen like a pro. It was all that she could do to keep her mind off of the task at hand.]

[nightskysword]

[Archer is, as always, on hand. She senses...something from her Master. Resolve, certainly, and secrecy, which is unusual.]

[However, she'll probably remove her own fingers if she doesn't concentrate on the task at hand, so she keeps quiet. As long as Hayate's not ignoring pain again, her Master is allowed to keep secrets.]

[nightskymaster]

[Stirring a rather delicious looking stew, a buzzer goes off.]

Archer, would you mind pulling the cake out of the oven for me? I have to keep stirring this until it's ready.

[nightskysword]

Of course.

[Signum goes to the task with her usual careful efficiency.]

You're feeling alright today, right Hayate? If anything starts hurting again, be sure to let me know.

[nightskymaster]

[Lost in thought, it took a moment before Hayate answered.]

I'm all right, Archer, don't worry! Okay?

[nightskysword]

Understood.

...

[nightskymaster]

[Even she could tell that something was weighing heavily upon Archer, so she quickly turned the discussion elsewhere.]

Say Archer, did they have cakes in your time?

[nightskysword]

Not quite the same as this, and I wasn't much of a gourmet regardless...obviously. When we had desserts, they were usually made with honey rather than sugar, I think. I don't remember cakes that rose like this, either.

...I think I definitely prefer your cooking, really.

[nightskymaster]

Honey, huh?

[That sounded kind of good, actually. Maybe if she tweaked a few of her recipes a little...]

I'm glad you like it! I really wish I knew more about your home, though. I could try making things that you like.

[nightskysword]

I didn't mention this before, but I barely remember my original life. What I do remember...I think I prefer things now.

Dinner

[nightskymaster]

[With everyone here and seated, Hayate was last to come to the table. A bit quiet at first, she finally spoke, trying to hide whatever hesitance she might be feeling in her voice.]

I need to talk to you all. It's about the Grail War.

[fox_of_sawayama]

[Mitsunari nods, too nervous to touch his food (even though he's already downed two glasses of wine). He may outrank everyone else, but Hayate has a quiet resolve that he lacks. He's still troubled by the looming disasters that consume and cloud his precognitive ability.]

Whatever it is, Hayate... Shiki and I support you.

[killed_shiki]

[Assassin snorts softly at this, but doesn't say anything to the contrary. She's not showing any indications of flipping out and killing people, but she's not eating anything either. Just sitting next to Mitsunari, occasionally playing with her dinner knife and occasionally glaring at Archer. And Saber. And Hayate. And Mitsunari.]

[ihu2carl]

*Nanoha looks up from the table, worried.* Hayate-chan... I guess we can't forget about it right now, can we? Not with all that the other Masters are doing.

[nightskysword]

...I didn't want to involve you directly, Master, but I suppose it can't hurt to talk about it openly by now.

[Her voice is tense. This isn't really how these fights are supposed to be conducted - she thinks - and even bringing it up among "friends" is extremely dangerous. She watches the other Servants closely, returning Assassin's glare when it crosses hers.]

[gotbefriended]

It can't be avoided forever.

We're friends... [It's still strange to say something like that, for Saber.] Whatever you have to say, I'll listen.

[nightskymaster]

[She felt a bit reassuring knowing that at least a majority of the people here were supportive. Shiki... always unnerved her a bit, truth be told. But she did her best to not let her sour look make her lose face.]

Thank you, everyone... And it's okay, Archer. I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I'm a master too. I need to start acting like one.

[She smiled a bit. Channeling a bit of her brother's calmness, she looked toward everyone at the table.]

I want to propose an alliance. I don't want to see the people of Sawa hurt like they were again. Not if I can help it...

[fox_of_sawayama]

[Mitsunari is so distracted by Assassin that he doesn't hear Hayate at first.]

Shiki, please put the knife down... and don't make that scary face... ah, what?

Oh!

I-I agree. We need an alliance to protect the safety of this kingdom's citizens, as well as for our mutual protection. I realize that we're all involved in this war for different reasons, all of them very personal... but none of us would accept a victory that comes at the expense of innocent lives.

[nightskysword]

[Archer remains silent.]

Cake and festivities!

[nightskymaster]

[With everything out of the way, it was finally time (for the girls at least) to try to have a bit of fun. The adults were, of course, invited to join or brood off in the corner, depending on the way the conversation went.]