[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!
[. . . 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?
[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]
[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!!]
[Morgan rocks back and forth on her heels, clearly pleased by the praise. She's so easy...]
Thanks! It was a good battle, but we really need to make sure to end up with the tactical advantage next time! It's only you and me right now, so it could be really bad if we let ourselves get surrounded again.
[Idly, she flicks through her tome, head tilted back as she soaks up the sunshine, for all the world looking like a girl without a care in the world.]
Next time, let's find higher ground and a good vantage point first, and go from there.
[a bit flustered, Ritsuka lifts a hand to pinch a lock of her hair between her fingers, twirling it together as she does so. there isn't much else they can do until Dr. Roman shuts down the simulation from the outside, which he'll likely be doing any minute now. but. . . these few moments between the end of the battle and when the sun disappears. . . she can at least pretend the world around them isn't fake, right?]
[Ritsuka looks up as well, expression softening]
You're a really experienced tactician, aren't you, Morgan?
Page 1 of 3