[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

[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--?!

[shortforever]

[Just going to set her down on a nearby bench.]

There.

And despite that, I'm not a Caster. Funny, huh?

[fujimaru]

[ She continues to sit rigid and unblinking for a few seconds, and then finally squeaks out: ]

Wait, you're not??

[shortforever]

Nope, Archer here. Guess how I shoot stuff at people.

[fujimaru]

[ Don't make the "the Archer class is full of archers!" joke, don't make the joke, don't make the joke-- ]

Guns, maybe?

[shortforever]

[Just. Levitating a bullet now. Where did he get that he's like 15.]

Nope.

[fujimaru]

...

Telekinesis?

[ That's probably the next most likely choice after Gun, even without the whole display going on in front of her. ]

[shortforever]

Close enough.

[He will put the bullet back in his pocket though.]

So I guess we're working together, huh? Think you're up for it?

[Go team short redheads!]

[fujimaru]

I'm tougher than I look.

[ She gives him a critical once-over in assessment. While Ritsuka might not be a mage, and there's no real way for her to actually tell power levels or abilities with a look, she has gotten good at reading Servants, especially before they start taking her seriously. ]

What about you? You think you'll be able to keep up?

[shortforever]

[He reads as cocky and sure of himself. Whether those feelings are misplaced or not remains to be seen.]

I think I'll do just fine with that. Chuuya's the name. But you can call me Archer if you don't wanna be too personal about it.

[fujimaru]

...Chuuya-kun.

[ Please. She knows so many Archers. It'd be fine if this was a completely 1:1 partnership, but she has no doubt that there will be others popping up at some point, whether they're hers or not. ]

So, do you know what's going on?

[shortforever]

[He won't say it but he is happy to hear her use his name instead of 'Archer'.]

As far as I've figured out? Some book nut summoned a bunch of authors as servants. A lot of 'em ended up as Casters, but a few lucky ones- like me- got other classes. I think they messed up with me though. They summoned me as a teenager instead of an adult.

[Chuuya Lily...]

But now all the authors have grouped up based on nation of origin and they're all fighting it out. The American writers are fighting the British, who are also duking it out with the Japanese, And Russia and China are involved in there too. There might be others as well but those were the ones I recognized. The Americans have a pretty nasty berserker too, and the Russians have an Assassin.

[fujimaru]

[ Chuuya Lily...

She thinks it, but she doesn't say it; instead she listens to his report, nodding along, a small thoughtful frown forming on her face. ]

So, is someone trying to make this a Holy Grail War properly? Though if there's more than seven of you, that already throws things off... but I'm gonna guess that if you're all fighting, no one knows where the Grail is yet.

[shortforever]

There's a ton more than seven of us. I think each faction could run its own grail war. And I don't know where it is. I was trying to get Dazai to cooperate with me, but he said he can't hear short people.

[Chuuya is only 160cm. He is short people.]

[fujimaru]

[ He's still taller than her, (by like 2cm) ]

Dazai...

[ This is the face of someone who knows she probably should recognize the name. It feels like it should be familiar. Is it? Did she pay attention at all in any of her literature classes? No, and no. ]

Is it worth getting his cooperation, or should we try and work without him?

[shortforever]

It's worth it. He's an adult here, but he and I met when we were the age I am now and have been work partners for years. He's just a huge asshole and we need to butter him up to get him to cooperate.

He can also nullify Noble Phantasms, which is definitely worth it.

[fujimaru]

Nullify, huh...

[ Her first thought is Edison, with his "copyright" trick, but she nods slowly. ]

So, what does he like? Snacks? Fancy drinks? I'm underage to buy alcohol, but I'd look the other way if we had to rob a liquor store.

[shortforever]

Canned crab and booze are the ticket items. So it looks like robbing is what we'll do.

We're gonna piss off some of the other Japanese writers, but that's fine.

[fujimaru]

Canned crab...

[ We are an ISLAND COUNTRY Dazai are you KIDDING HER. ]

Why are they going to be mad?

[shortforever]

Some of 'em are sticklers for rules. You'll see. C'mon.

[He offers a hand out to her. Come along?]

[fujimaru]

Oh, we're gonna have problems with that...

[ She takes his hand without hesitation; her expression is mostly solemn, but there's the hint of a laugh in her voice. ]

You've gotta be willing to win, not just play by the rules. That's what I've learned.

[shortforever]

Then you're a smart Master who might be able to win this. The rule-sticklers are gonna die quick even if they don't know it yet.

[It's not always the strongest who wins, but in those cases it is always the craftiest who does.]