[open] (jenna marbles voice) no one can stop me

[fujimaru]

[[ I don't have a musebox because I only play one or two characters at a time and also thinking up usernames is hard. So let's call this an open post to function as a CMO for Ritsuka, such as people may want it. (•̀ᴗ•́)و ̑̑ ]]

Comments

[serrer]

[I don't know what the story for the latest event is and neither does Phantom, but it doesn't matter. What's important is when he sees Ritsuka in her new Mystic Code, his visible eye lights up.]

O Christine, O Prince Charming!

[Thankfully, 'you look great!' is a fairly simple sentiment to get across even with Mental Pollution in the way.]

[fujimaru]

[ The important thing is that she has the outfit, okay, and that she's testing it out before Halloween itself. And that maybe she'd been hoping for some compliments, because Ritsuka's internal relationship with her looks is a handwavey complicated matter, but she does like being told she looks nice.

So when she gets that, she beams, though her posture is less Dashing Prince and more slightly sheepish pleased embarrassment. ]

You think so? Haha, thanks.

[serrer]

[Ritsuka would look great in a paper bag and half the Servants here would say so if it ever came up.]

The wardrobe is finished - all that's left is to cast you in a starring role.

[This may be literally wanting to cast her in an opera or may be metaphorical. Or both. It's Phantom so probably both.]

[fujimaru]

I don't think I'd be into that, sorry.

[ She doesn't want to be the star! She wants to be a stagehand at best--someone working in tandem with a team to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

Which is maybe more apt than not, but also-- ]

For one thing, I've never done more than just casual karaoke. No operas for me.

[serrer]

The stage is bereft with your absence, Christine.

[She'd be great in an opera! This is definitely based on facts and not just his opinion of her as a person.]

[fujimaru]

I think everyone will survive not having to listen to me butcher showtunes.

[ Or enka, which she is even worse at, but look... sometimes it's fun to go all out in the drama of the delivery. ]

[serrer]

Your audience adores you, no matter your range.

[Or... relative lack of one. Her Servants would definitely support any production she was in!]

[fujimaru]

[ ALL DREAMS END EVENTUALLY. No matter how nice or how satisfying they might've been, they end. Ritsuka's always known that.

So one day, she wakes up in her bed in Chaldea with apparently only a couple of days having passed (funny that), and the knowledge that there is a minute Singularity in Heian-era Kyoto for them to deal with--but hey, she gets a couple of new Servants out of it! Including a weird clown!

And then from there, let's assume that Yu Mei-ren, on a whim (and perhaps some bad influence encouragement from aforementioned weird clown) and a randomly-found Holy Grail, decides she wants to have a little honeymoon joyride with her beloved Xiang Yu in the era they lived in. Through circumstances that do not need to be explored at this juncture, this apparently involves a dragon's lost pearl and increasingly ridiculous demands from Yu Mei-ren about the ultimate honeymoon experience! Only the best for Lord Xiang Yu!!

Anyway. Sometimes you go off on your own because you need to escape while people are arguing about what really counts as "properly lovelove honeymoon style" before someone inevitably tries to loop you in. That way only lies madness.

But also that means you are completely on your own when the inevitable enemy mob ambushes you. Sucks to be Fujimaru Ritsuka, but this probably means this is a great time for a random out-of-nowhere rescue, huh? ]

[lifeban]

[it SURE IS.

dan heng is in his subtler form, with clothes less anachronistic for the Singularity-- he's been genuinely trying to blend in. but he's still clearly himself, even in swift motion as he dispatches the enemies.]

[fujimaru]

[ GOOD JOB RITSUKA, YOU MANAGED TO NOT DIE YET AGAIN,

she'd been about to say something when he first appeared, and then she'd seen him, and then freezes up. ???????????? it's a good thing he's handling things because she's useless even after the fight is over. ]

Dan Heng...?

[lifeban]

[there are a few lingering, likely harrowing moments where dan heng is silent, as he scans their surroundings for any signs of lingering danger

then he's whirling on his heel to take her face in both hands.]

Ritsuka?

[fujimaru]

[ please she's a tiny vibrating supernova right now

there's a second where she just stares, then lifts her hands to cover his. ]

Wait--wait, are you real? Seriously?

[lifeban]

You do remember... thank goodness.

[stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. warm and real.]

[shortforever]

[Surprise! It's a random singularity in Yokohama! Something something celebrating the authors of Japan or whatever. There are going to be so many casters here it's not funny. But it's the start of the singularity, so Ritsuka is going to wake up in the middle of a park without any of her normal servants. Instead, there's a redhead crouching down and poking at her cheek.]

Hey. I know you're not dead, so c'mon. Wake up.

[Come earn copies of your new 4 star archer. (the 5 star version is him as a grownup, hope you have quartz for that.)]

[fujimaru]

[ She has quartz and also the power of word of god and anime being the protagonist good luck on her side. But that's not important yet.

For now, she just makes a grumbling noise, small and whiny, lifting her arm to swat blindly at that hand. What if she IS dead, huh? What if she is!! ]

Five more minutes...

[shortforever]

You're on the sidewalk, Sleeping Beauty. At least get up and move to the grass.

[There's people here and they're staring!]

[fujimaru]

[ Learn to embrace cringe and not worry about these things, Chuuya.

She grumbles again, still waving at his arm. There is no way she is connecting, but the intention is there. ]

Why'm I on a sidewalk...?

[shortforever]

Hell if I know, I found you here. Now are you gonna get up, or do I gotta pick you up?

[That is the only warning she gets, and he will wait 10 seconds before tapping her forehead and levitating her.]

[fujimaru]

--?!

[ That gets her eyes snapping open, abruptly startled; in a heartbeat, she goes from completely relaxed to wire-tense, vibrating a little. ]

What the--?!

[goatsongs]

[Congratulations, you've been dropped into... a singularity! At least, it's probably something like that. Right away it's definitely weird, the surrounding grasses and trees look a bit off - and with a bit of squinting, Ritsuka can see that the scenery is actually formed of Japanese written characters in different shades, clumped together in the shape of a forest.

Also none of your Servants are here. There is a blond midget with a hat though.]

...You don't look like a Taint, so you must be an author, right?

[fujimaru]

[ This is... not familiar, but it's at least not completely wildly unfamiliar, either. At this point in her life, Ritsuka just kind of expects random shit to happen, and hopes it'll all make sense later.

It doesn't always, but she expects it anyway. ]

Nope. I'm just a random scrub. Sorry to intrude.

[goatsongs]

Huh. Are you even dead?

[chuuya you can't just ASK people if they're dead]

[fujimaru]

No.

[ She's not even offended, just mildly confused at the question. ]

Is that somehow a qualification for being here?

[goatsongs]

Well, yeah. Living people can't go inside books, you've got physical bodies and all. ...Except I guess you can, because you're here now?

[He's as confused as she is!]

[fujimaru]

...

Maybe I'm dreaming?

[ Oh boy. If her consciousness has completely left her body for this, she's going to be in so much trouble when she wakes up... ]