hello, how are you? | for plancha

[fujimaru]

[ So, that happened.

That whole, "the world almost ended in a truly spectacular way in Uruk at the hands of Beast II, and then immediately the assault from Beast I and the official end of the Grand Order" thing. Technically speaking, Ritsuka's journey is over.

But technicalities have rarely ever worked in her favor. There's still the inspection from the Mages' Association that's due to come at any day now. And that in part keeps Ritsuka tethered to Chaldea, though she'd be one of the first to admit it goes deeper than that. It's hard to think about leaving this place when it's become pretty much the first real home she can remember having. Even if most of the people that helped make it such are gone.

...Most, but not all.

It's early one random afternoon, maybe a few weeks after the end of the Grand Order, and Ritsuka finds herself knocking on a particular door. Mash is busy with helping Da Vinci and the rest of the staff; the other remaining Servants are scattered widely throughout the base, and if Ritsuka is 100% honest with herself, she's lonely. And when in doubt, her preference has always been to seek out other people. ]

Hello...? Quetzalcoatl? Are you in?

Comments

[plancha]

Sí! Un momento, por favor.

[There's a bit of rustling in the room before Quetz's footsteps can be heard approaching the door. It opens, revealing the smiling face of one Mesoamerican Goddess.]

Ah! If it isn't my adorable master~♥ To what do I owe such a nice visit?

[fujimaru]

Ah-- you know...

[ Now that she's faced with Quetz, Ritsuka's a bit more bashful, curling a hand behind her neck. It never really gets easier, trying to reconnect with someone after they've come to Chaldea for the first time, but after everything that's happened...

Well, if she's honest, she's feeling a little needy. She wants to be in that brightly friendly company. ]

I just wanted to check on you. You know? How're you doing, how're things here, is there anything I can do...

[ Can I please hang out with you, she isn't actually saying aloud, but is trying to project as hard as she can into her tone. ]

[plancha]

[Luckily Ritsuka's going to get just what she was looking for. Quetzalcoatl smiles warmly at her as she listens intently to her Master's words.]

Anything you can do? [She pauses for the briefest of moments, pretending to think. Naturally she already had something prepared.] Well, there is one thing. I was just about to get some lunch and I've heard food tastes much better with company, yes. Would you care to join me?

[fujimaru]

--Really?

[ Whatever else can be said about Ritsuka, she's not the sort of person who's good at hiding her feelings, even when she tries. And it's pretty obvious the way her face lights up at the invitation. It's been a long since she's had lunch with anyone other than Mash, and recently, even Mash has been busy. Her expertise is more in demand right now than Ritsuka's is. ]

I mean! I'd like that! If you're really -- that sounds really nice. Please.

[plancha]

[Aww, the way her face just lights up is too adorable. Quetzcoatl's face brightens in kind, even turning a bit flush.]

Master, sometimes you're just way too cute for your own good. And mine.

[She giggles a little, regaining her composure after a few seconds.]

But yes, really. Shall we go?

[As she says this, Quetz extends her hand in offering. Ritsuka's free to take it if she would like, but if not she's not going to be too broken up over it. Whatever makes her Master happy is good.]

[fujimaru]

...

[ Ritsuka's own hand makes an abortive jerk forward, like she wants to just grab onto Quetz. She stops herself a little short, then takes a breath and makes herself complete the gesture. It was obvious already, wasn't it? There's no point in playing cool or pretending otherwise.

Okay. Okay! This is fine! Holding hands is okay, especially if she's been invited. Even if it is on the tip of her tongue to blurt something like is this okay?! ]

I'm just -- I want to make sure you guys are settling in okay. Stuff's been kind of... hectic, lately. [ Understatement of the year, but whatever. ] So I haven't really been as attentive as I should be. I'm sorry.

[plancha]

[Slowly, Quetzalcoatl's face softens into a small smile. It's different from her usual one. A smile aimed at understanding and reassurance. She begins to move, urging Ritsuka down the hallway. Nothing wrong with talking and walking.]

You don't need to apologize. A great burden was placed on your shoulders. I knew this when I accepted your summons. The desire to face great strife in order to make a better world...it's a very human thing, no? The kind of thing I love, yes. It'd be hypocritical of me to admire such a trait but treat it with disgust when my own master shows it. Even us gods and goddesses have a limit to our selfishness.

[She laughs gently at her own words. After she finishes, her smile shifts into a mischievous grin.]

Buuut... If you really do want to make it up to me, I won't say no to spending the day with my Master~♥ It's been too long since we..."hung out", yes? Am I saying that right?

[Even with the grail, language can be difficult, especially with modern phrasing added in.]

[fujimaru]

...It's called hanging out, yeah.

[ Her shoulders relax a little. Teasing, at least, she can handle, especially when it's this gentle. Given the sort of personalities that Chaldea attracted, this is the nicest she could hope for.

And honestly, she's relieved. On another day, she could have tanked something more abrasive without much issue, but sometimes... ]

I'd like that, too. They don't really have any need for me right now, so I'm just trying to keep out of the way.

[ Better to spend it with someone who is interested in her company than sulking off somewhere by herself, right? ]

[plancha]

[As they talk, Quetz is careful to not pull Ritsuka along. She's very gentle as she leads her master down the halls to the cafeteria. She's also not in any kind of rush, so it might take a little bit before they reach their destination.]

So you say, but I don't know about that. Still, I won't argue with you. I like having the extra time to spend with you.

[There's a slight spring in her step as she says this.]

Are you hungry, Master?

[fujimaru]

It's true, I swear. They're doing a lot of paperwork right now, and I keep falling asleep or getting confused... Mash at least understands everything they're referring to. The Mage's Association is pretty complicated stuff.

[ There are so many rules and regulations and This Is The Proper Way As We've Done For Centuries, and Ritsuka has broken a good 90% of those, if not more. After a moment, on a brave little impulse, she squeezes Quetz's hand. It feels so warm and solid in her own, and she takes a moment of comfort in that. ]

I could eat! Last I saw, Emiya was in the kitchen, so there's probably something good going on in there.

[plancha]

[Quetz nods in understanding. Tradition and law is a big portion of any society and it can be very confusing for newcomers to understand. However, she also knows that just because something has been done for centuries, does not mean it should still be done. If anyone knows that, it's Quetzalcoatl.

Besides. How accurate could those methods be when Ritsuka was the one to save humanity without them?]

Sí, Señor Emiya is quite the cook! I'm so happy to have someone as skilled as him working alongside us. He's introduced me to so many new and delicious foods! I wonder if I should try something new today as well. Though it is nice to eat something familiar every now and again.

[fujimaru]

There's always fusion cuisine!

[ Maybe not anything you'd get in a fancy restaurant, but also, Emiya always seems to make it a point of pride to fulfill any culinary requests that come his way. It has led to some definite near-catastrophes in the kitchen. We will never speak of The Fried Rice Pudding Incident ever again.

She's relaxing with the conversation, though; it's a pretty visible difference already between her uncertainty when she'd first showed up at Quetz's door and now. ]

A little something old, a little something new... like Chaldea as a whole, I guess. [ Are you just having this realization now, Ritsuka... maybe, but shhhh. ] But if you leave it to me, I'll usually go for curry as a first choice.

[plancha]

[Quetzalcoatl seems to have brightened even more at her Master's shift in attitude, happy to maintain or increase it to make her feel even more relaxed.]

As usual, you have excellent taste, Master! That does sound delicious...

[She giggles a little, thinking about it.]

Mmm... Maybe I'll have curry as well. Oh, but I think I'll have mine extra spicy, yes! And with extra meat, served over rice!

[fujimaru]

Spicy, huh... is it because you're associated with the heavens?

[ It makes sense in her head, okay. Scientifically speaking, Venus is a pretty hot planet! It's close to the sun! So heat = spicy, surely. Or maybe it's a culture thing? To be honest-- ]

I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to spicy stuff, honestly. I did the shishito pepper roluette once and I wound up taking myself out for the whole night. I couldn't taste anything after that.

[ Maybe she can do this! Bonding with someone over food... that's the fate/protagonist way, right? ]

sorry this is so late

[plancha]

[Quetzalcoatl blinks a bit at Ritsuka's response. A light giggle soon follows before her smile returns.]

No, it's just my preference! Although the Aztecs did enjoy spicier foods. I guess it's something that reflected back on me.

[Like a lot of things, really. Her connection with human interests was more notable than most other gods.]

But I won't force you to eat anything you don't want to. Food is something that should be enjoyed! Especially when you're among friends.

it's cool! hello <3

[fujimaru]

I like it better that way! You can have things the way you want it, and I'll be-- not trying it, but right here.

[ She was definitely one of those people who would in fact sometimes try to snitch a bite from friend's plates, in the time before Chaldea. At this point, she's learned better, but she's willing to playfully lampshade in. Her smile brightens until she laughs, just a small chuckle caught in her throat. ]

Maybe I'll work on building up my tolerance, while we've got the free time.

[plancha]

I think that's a wonderful idea, yes. Big sis will be there to help you all the way!

[Before long they're entering the cafeteria. All sorts of staff and servants are busy eating food at milling about. Quite a few wave at the pair, but return to what they were doing before. Surprisingly, the cafeteria isn't as packed as it usually is. Guess this is a weird time to grab some food.]

Heeeere we are. Looks like we came at a good time!

[fujimaru]

We avoided the Camelot rush.

[ By which, really, she means the Artorias, but honestly, the other knights can pack a lot away when they put their minds to it. Most of the brawler types seem to be like that, never mind that Heroic Spirits don't need food. Ritsuka's not going to call anyone out on that.

She waves back to those who acknowledge their presence, but for the moment, she sticks close to Quetz's side. They've agreed to this (not really, but sort of, but not really, but--) lunch date, and she's not going to be a bad one.

Without really thinking about it, she grabs Quetz's hand, pulling her over to the kitchen assembly line. ]

--So let's take advantage of that while we can. I bet you could summon them by saying "dinner" three times, but I don't wanna test that right now.

[plancha]

[Although she didn't expect Ritsuka to stray from her side, it was still nice to have her belief reaffirmed. It was also nice to be on the receiving end of having her hand held. The goddess smiles, a faint blush making its way on her face.]

Feeling more comfortable around me? I'm glad! [She says after Ritsuka takes hold of her hand. Her words come out as a playful giggle as her smile grows. It doesn't take Clairvoyance to see that her dear master was feeling more than a little off.]

But yes, I agree. Their company is usually appreciated, but today I'd like to take our time and enjoy each other's company.

[fujimaru]

I mean--

[ She stumbles over the words, but at least not her own feet. Her fingers flex a little more tightly in their grip on Quetz's hand, but she doesn't let go. She's gone and done it, and she doesn't regret it, no matter how bashful she might be about the gesture. Might as well own it, right? ]

...yeah. I wanted to spend more time with you specifically, so...

[ So, if she wants it, and Quetz wants it, it's okay, right? Right! Own it, Ritsuka! ]

Thanks.