[the walls of Chaldea are sleek and shiny, chrome lining the edges of practically every room. it was modern and chic, stylish and business-like, all in one. and already, it was beginning to drive Ritsuka crazy]
[who knew that cabin fever would set in so quickly with the knowledge that it was literally possible to travel to the outside world-- because the outside world no longer existed? it was at times like this that she appreciated the simulation room for at least being able to make it feel like she was breathing in fresh air. of course. . . for as much as she appreciated the simulation room? there were reasons to dread it, too]
WAUGH!
[that's a strangled yell of one (1) still inexperienced master crashing through the simulated woods with her Caster servant, the two of them pursued by a series of wolf-men with axes and bows]
Oh my god oh my god oh my god-- [Ritsuka wheezes as she runs, and she can't help but wonder how the everliving fuck she managed to survive the first singularity-- and how the everliving fuck she was going to survive what is to come-- if this is her life]
Please don't kill me in a simulation, that'd be super embarrassing!!
[Morgan is...well, she's having the time of her life. Of course she is. By now, Ritsuka's surely familiar with her Servant's quirks--Morgan never really lets anything get her down, not for a moment, and this situation is much the same. She's running, of course; she doesn't want to get hacked to bits, but...
Well, she's laughing, too, chattering all the way as she bounces along beside Ritsuka, her spell tome wrapped in her arms, cloak billowing behind her.]
This is a great battle simulation! Look at how they come at us from the higher ground--it's tactically very sound! They could rout us at any minute if they brought some archers along...!
[Not helping, Morgan, and don't sound so chipper about it.]
[Ritsuka's voice is a high shriek as she ducks behind a rather large tree, just in time to hear the dull thunk of an arrow bury itself into the wood where she had been standing just seconds earlier]
A-about those archers!
[oh god where's Dr. Roman when you need him. SHUT IT OFF!!!]
A pincer movement! Just like in the texts! That's pretty impressive for mostly brainless wolf monsters.
[GROWLS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY--they don't seem to appreciate that.]
Well, I guess we should do something about this, right? [Right? Right?] Your orders, Master!
[She is still way too perky about this whole thing, feet planted shoulder width apart as she flips open her tome, gloved hand outstretched. She's... technically looking to Ritsuka for orders, but it's really obvious she's already got her own idea for what they should be doing here.]
[Remember your training! Ritsuka thinks to herself as her body tenses, back pressed against the tree trunk. there she stays, even when Morgan stands up straight to face their enemies. cowering like this isn't really her style, even when she hasn't the foggiest idea what she's doing, but. . . she's well aware that she needs to keep herself as safe as possible. for Morgan's sake]
[a deep breath, and Ritsuka steels herself, shoving away the instinct to panic and drawing in on that inner strength she found amidst the flame-filled buildings of Fuyuki]
R-right.
[she can do this!!]
. . . do a magic thing!
[or. . . not. LOOK. SHE CAN GIVE BETTER ORDERS THE BETTER SHE KNOWS THE SERVANT. . . she and Morgan are still getting to know each other, which means she's only just now learning what it is Morgan is capable of in a fight]
[the one thing Ritsuka would never get over was the small spike of panic she felt every time one of her servants brushed close to danger. sure, she trusted in then and their abilities— she believed in their skills and their instincts— but her instincts always told her to leap out in front of them to protect them from danger first. fighting those instincts and focusing on keeping herself safe, knowing that her servants would not be able to continue the battle if she was injured or killed, still took practice]
Ugh, I hate those sharp things! Can't you— [a yelp and Ritsuka ducks again, an arrow thunking into the tree near her head a second time] — disarm them? Archers first!
[AUGH. . . maybe her commands are too simplistic. she winces a little at the criticism, though she isn't offended by it. this is why they're training, isn't it? so she can get better at leading her servants?]
[Ritsuka pokes her head out from behind the tree, brows furrowed]
S-sorry. Please, do your best-- and let me help!
[because while she's mostly relegated to watching from the sidelines and shouting out orders, she has one last support ability up her sleeve. . . or, well. tattooed on her hand]
[with a breath, she extends her hand, the bright red mark on the back glowing as she taps into the power of her mystic code. Ritsuka has never been a particularly skilled mage, but she has the power to do this-- to cast an attack buff on Morgan to make her battles just a tad bit easier]
[Oho... That power boost is nice, and Morgan takes full advantage of it; she ducks an arrow, flinging herself forward to slide straight through the first bow's string. It snaps, leaving the bow useless, and she turns, immediately flinging a lightning spell at the other archer.
Morgan spins with a grin, triumphant and bright.]
Hey, thanks, that was pretty good! You dooo have some tricks up your sleeve after all! I was starting to wonder.
[Don't be so brutal, Morgan.]
Anyway, hey--duck!
[Oh.
Well.
Hopefully Ritsuka is good at following directions, because Morgan's flinging another spell right at her face--to try to get the axe wielder behind her.]
[but she also obliges, hitting the ground hard, nearly faceplanting as she does so. but hey, at least that means the lightning spell is hitting its intended target, frying the creatures fur and leaving the faintest scent of ozone in the air]
[. . . honestly, most people probably wouldn't want to be within three feet of someone who nearly killed them and destroyed the world all in one go. Ritsuka, however? Ritsuka was intrinsically forgiving. the kind of person who could look past one's outward demeanor, the almost comical display of villainy that person wore as a mask, and see the good that shined inwards. she wouldn't say that Moriarty was a good person, but like many of the servants she had come to know and love? he didn't have to be]
[she believed in him, anyway. and she was pretty happy to show him his new lodgings in Chaldea's headquarters]
Uh. . . it's a little messy, so let's not go inside. [SHE DOESN'T WANNA EMBARRASS HERSELF IN FRONT OF CRIME GRANDPA. . .] Servant rooms are this way, so follow me!
[And most villains, even saturday morning cartoon ones, wouldn't want to be this close to the person who foiled all of their plans.
But Moriarty was different - in fact, he had been impressed with the plan she had come up with, moments before Baal's plan came to fruition, with how easily she saw through him and even made it a worthy ending.
-Of course, there were still a few secrets known only to him about that whole situation that he was going to keep close to his chest, but...as long as he was here, he would faithfully follow her.
...And maybe try to tempt her on the path of Evil, even though he knew it was useless. Still, a man could dream, couldn't he?
With a chuckle, he nods as she side-steps going into her own room.]
Of course, Of course. It would be rather rude of me to ask to go inside, after all! A maiden's secrets isn't something an older gentleman should be interested in.
[GOOD LUCK, GRAMPS. it'd be tough to tempt a heart as bright and strong as Ritsuka's, the kind of heart that stood in front of Goetia and decided to fight for the simple sake of living, to be tempted down the path of Evil. but hey! she'd probably be a little charmed by him trying]
[probably]
That's right.
[comes her answer, quick as a whip and without any hint of embarrassment, even though she has picked up on Moriarty's double meaning]
You don't want to gain a reputation as a pervert around these parts. There are some people who won't let you live it down.
[people who are terrifying like Scathach come to mind. . . . . . .]
[Jesus Moriarty, don't rattle the windows with your bellowing.
Still, he's pleased that she didn't stop her stride even though she picked up on his double meaning, keeping an easy stride alongside her.]
...Regardless, you're correct - I'll happily stay out of danger and keep to myself where matters like that are concerned. I don't have any interest in them anyway, hahaha!
[...hm.]
You said we're heading to the Servant rooms, correct? ....Does Holmes have a room there as well?
[she fully expects him to look for Sherlock later but THAT'S OKAY!! that's their business!! so long as Moriarty doesn't try to pull off any murders in Chaldea it's fine!!]
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morgan can be a caster servant or a chaldea tactician who somehow survived or something, just lemme harass ritsuka with her
I FINALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE MORGAN I FEEL SO BLESSED
[who knew that cabin fever would set in so quickly with the knowledge that it was literally possible to travel to the outside world-- because the outside world no longer existed? it was at times like this that she appreciated the simulation room for at least being able to make it feel like she was breathing in fresh air. of course. . . for as much as she appreciated the simulation room? there were reasons to dread it, too]
WAUGH!
[that's a strangled yell of one (1) still inexperienced master crashing through the simulated woods with her Caster servant, the two of them pursued by a series of wolf-men with axes and bows]
Oh my god oh my god oh my god-- [Ritsuka wheezes as she runs, and she can't help but wonder how the everliving fuck she managed to survive the first singularity-- and how the everliving fuck she was going to survive what is to come-- if this is her life]
Please don't kill me in a simulation, that'd be super embarrassing!!
YOU SAY THAT NOW...
Well, she's laughing, too, chattering all the way as she bounces along beside Ritsuka, her spell tome wrapped in her arms, cloak billowing behind her.]
This is a great battle simulation! Look at how they come at us from the higher ground--it's tactically very sound! They could rout us at any minute if they brought some archers along...!
[Not helping, Morgan, and don't sound so chipper about it.]
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M-Morgan!
[Ritsuka's voice is a high shriek as she ducks behind a rather large tree, just in time to hear the dull thunk of an arrow bury itself into the wood where she had been standing just seconds earlier]
A-about those archers!
[oh god where's Dr. Roman when you need him. SHUT IT OFF!!!]
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A pincer movement! Just like in the texts! That's pretty impressive for mostly brainless wolf monsters.
[GROWLS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY--they don't seem to appreciate that.]
Well, I guess we should do something about this, right? [Right? Right?] Your orders, Master!
[She is still way too perky about this whole thing, feet planted shoulder width apart as she flips open her tome, gloved hand outstretched. She's... technically looking to Ritsuka for orders, but it's really obvious she's already got her own idea for what they should be doing here.]
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[shit]
[Remember your training! Ritsuka thinks to herself as her body tenses, back pressed against the tree trunk. there she stays, even when Morgan stands up straight to face their enemies. cowering like this isn't really her style, even when she hasn't the foggiest idea what she's doing, but. . . she's well aware that she needs to keep herself as safe as possible. for Morgan's sake]
[a deep breath, and Ritsuka steels herself, shoving away the instinct to panic and drawing in on that inner strength she found amidst the flame-filled buildings of Fuyuki]
R-right.
[she can do this!!]
. . . do a magic thing!
[or. . . not. LOOK. SHE CAN GIVE BETTER ORDERS THE BETTER SHE KNOWS THE SERVANT. . . she and Morgan are still getting to know each other, which means she's only just now learning what it is Morgan is capable of in a fight]
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Oh my god.
Morgan's so ready--she beams when Ritsuka draws on some inner strength, when she drags in a deep breath, when she calls out--
..... And then she laughs, a peal of laughter that doesn't really stop her from ducking an arrow at the same time.
At least there's that.]
All riiiight, Master, whatever you say! Magic thing, go!
[She says that...but then she lifts a hand, tome's pages fluttering in the breeze she calls up, and far more officially:]
O wind born amidst clouds of shifting sand, mow down those who would do evil! Elwind!
[SHE DID THE MAGIC THING... and a nasty burst of razor sharp wind does a pretty good job of mowing down most of the axe fighters bearing down on them.
Keyword: most.]
Whoops! [Morgan stumbles backwards, barely avoiding an axe.] Hey, wait your turn--!
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[the one thing Ritsuka would never get over was the small spike of panic she felt every time one of her servants brushed close to danger. sure, she trusted in then and their abilities— she believed in their skills and their instincts— but her instincts always told her to leap out in front of them to protect them from danger first. fighting those instincts and focusing on keeping herself safe, knowing that her servants would not be able to continue the battle if she was injured or killed, still took practice]
Ugh, I hate those sharp things! Can't you— [a yelp and Ritsuka ducks again, an arrow thunking into the tree near her head a second time] — disarm them? Archers first!
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You make it sound super easy like that, y'knowwww.
[Still, even so...she reaches under her coat, sweeping out a sword.]
But I'll do my best!
[Time to go DISARM SOME ARCHERS.]
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[Ritsuka pokes her head out from behind the tree, brows furrowed]
S-sorry. Please, do your best-- and let me help!
[because while she's mostly relegated to watching from the sidelines and shouting out orders, she has one last support ability up her sleeve. . . or, well. tattooed on her hand]
[with a breath, she extends her hand, the bright red mark on the back glowing as she taps into the power of her mystic code. Ritsuka has never been a particularly skilled mage, but she has the power to do this-- to cast an attack buff on Morgan to make her battles just a tad bit easier]
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Morgan spins with a grin, triumphant and bright.]
Hey, thanks, that was pretty good! You dooo have some tricks up your sleeve after all! I was starting to wonder.
[Don't be so brutal, Morgan.]
Anyway, hey--duck!
[Oh.
Well.
Hopefully Ritsuka is good at following directions, because Morgan's flinging another spell right at her face--to try to get the axe wielder behind her.]
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MORGAN!
[but she also obliges, hitting the ground hard, nearly faceplanting as she does so. but hey, at least that means the lightning spell is hitting its intended target, frying the creatures fur and leaving the faintest scent of ozone in the air]
Ohmygod I almost had a heart attack. . .!
[Ritsuka's words are muffled against the ground]
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[That's not helpful.
Morgan skips closer, her tome wrapped in her arms, beaming brightly as she peers down at Ritsuka.]
Also, I think we killed them all. Good work, Master!
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POST-SHINJUKU CHALDEA TOUR, GO
[. . . honestly, most people probably wouldn't want to be within three feet of someone who nearly killed them and destroyed the world all in one go. Ritsuka, however? Ritsuka was intrinsically forgiving. the kind of person who could look past one's outward demeanor, the almost comical display of villainy that person wore as a mask, and see the good that shined inwards. she wouldn't say that Moriarty was a good person, but like many of the servants she had come to know and love? he didn't have to be]
[she believed in him, anyway. and she was pretty happy to show him his new lodgings in Chaldea's headquarters]
Uh. . . it's a little messy, so let's not go inside. [SHE DOESN'T WANNA EMBARRASS HERSELF IN FRONT OF CRIME GRANDPA. . .] Servant rooms are this way, so follow me!
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But Moriarty was different - in fact, he had been impressed with the plan she had come up with, moments before Baal's plan came to fruition, with how easily she saw through him and even made it a worthy ending.
-Of course, there were still a few secrets known only to him about that whole situation that he was going to keep close to his chest, but...as long as he was here, he would faithfully follow her.
...And maybe try to tempt her on the path of Evil, even though he knew it was useless. Still, a man could dream, couldn't he?
With a chuckle, he nods as she side-steps going into her own room.]
Of course, Of course. It would be rather rude of me to ask to go inside, after all! A maiden's secrets isn't something an older gentleman should be interested in.
[Though he does give her a smirk at saying it.]
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[probably]
That's right.
[comes her answer, quick as a whip and without any hint of embarrassment, even though she has picked up on Moriarty's double meaning]
You don't want to gain a reputation as a pervert around these parts. There are some people who won't let you live it down.
[people who are terrifying like Scathach come to mind. . . . . . .]
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[Jesus Moriarty, don't rattle the windows with your bellowing.
Still, he's pleased that she didn't stop her stride even though she picked up on his double meaning, keeping an easy stride alongside her.]
...Regardless, you're correct - I'll happily stay out of danger and keep to myself where matters like that are concerned. I don't have any interest in them anyway, hahaha!
[...hm.]
You said we're heading to the Servant rooms, correct? ....Does Holmes have a room there as well?
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[and at that. . . Ritsuka stops in her tracks, turning to level her gaze evenly at crime gramps]
No.
[he does but she isn't going to be the one to give the location to Moriarty]
1/2
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[HE'S TOTALLY GOING TO LOOK FOR SHERLOCK LATER.]
I suspect I'll at least be given a bed, yes?
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[also, uuuuuuh--]
I thought servants didn't need to sleep?
[A BEAT]
Yes, you'll be given a bed.
[they are not ANIMALS in Chaldea, please]
But I wouldn't expect quality or luxury.
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Anyway, at the mention of 'needing to sleep', he just gives her a withering look.]
'Needing to' and 'Wanting to' are very different from each other, you know. I enjoy sleeping every now and then.
[He sighs, though.]
...Well, so long as it doesn't make my back act up, I should be fine.
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[. . . ]
[heh]
They aren't that bad; I promise. It's just— you know.
Budget cuts?
[OR SOMETHING. Chaldea was only interested in utilitarianism, not comfort]
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He nods.]
Yes, I assumed from the way this place was built that they went for whatever would be the easiest for multiple people.
Most likely I'll be able to eventually acquire furniture suited to my own needs - in my own ways, of course.
[...Grandpa are you going to go out into the real world and steal an armchair. Is that what this is.
...That smile says that's exactly what it is.]