#but what is good is ritsuka's humane feelings and nothing more

[basedbogwizard]

gudao/angra mainyu posting again because i am once again sick in the head about them. this time im just going to drop some random headcanons i have about them. slight nsft warning as well. oh and ordeal call 2 spoilers.

- it starts off with gudao crushing more on angra mainyu. angra isn’t not receptive to it, he just doesn’t take it too seriously, doesn’t really believe it.

- angra definitely teases gudao nonstop about it too. once it’s reversed on him though, he loses some of his composure though…he’s not used to this overwhelming kindness, attention, and affection. it feeds this unknowable hunger for more inside of him.

-meanwhile, gudao is just throwing himself at angra in the most blatant displays he can manage. grailing him, snagging sweets for him from the cafeteria, gifting him weird items he’d think would give him a laugh: just small tokens of his affection.

- i think gudao would wear the red bandana angra mainyu gives you for Valentine’s Day somewhere in his person, like around his upper arm. it breaks angra’s brain and he can’t think straight when he sees gudao wear what was supposed to be the lamest valentines ever like a badge of honor.

- i heard a head canon/idea lately that all of the avengers care deeply for ritsuka in their own way, hence their fierce loyalty, almost to the point of yandere behaviors :>. i think angra would hide it in his own way since he is all the world’s evils, and if he were to truly have gudao all to himself, well…that wouldn’t be too good for humanity. can’t kill humans without any humans around :p

- they are definitely freak4freak. I don’t think it’d be toxic yaoi (ok maybe a little if you wanna get weirder with it).

- I know that angra mainyu technically doesn’t leave chaldea at the end of OC2 since he’s just always been there, but thru the fgo story. but like…what if gudao wanted to make him stay, since he’s starting to disappear slowly?

- he asks angra to make a time loop so he can figure out how to keep him around. and angra mainyu just…lets him try, for a while. because of course he wants to stay, but he knows that the dead must always go back and leave those in the living world to live. if Gudao can carry on, then…

- of course gudao won’t let angra mainyu leave. he knows that this has happened to him before: saying goodbye to his one chance at happiness, to see off his loved ones live again…second chances don’t come often. Gudao wants angra mainyu, the one he loves, to be happy.

- which is why gudao says: “possess my body, and live in my skin until we solve the bleached earth phenomenon”.

- he says no, outright. Gudao says they’ve done this before, he can handle his curses, the corruption. (based on a diff fic I wrote dw bout it) it’s rotten work. not if it’s you.

- plus, absorbing all 6 billion of those curses…angra worries it would kill gudao. he left that out of the equation last time. Gudao doesn’t care, can’t imagine a life without him in it. he’s already seen hell seven times over, survived the garden of lost will by the skin of his teeth. what’s another gauntlet of horrors for him?

- angra keeps denying him, as tantalizing as the idea is…because of course, it would be a dream come true. possessing gudao, living in his skin, seeping into the marrow of his bones…owning him, and being owned by him in mind, body and soul…nothing would be closer to heaven for him.

- so he agrees, and falls into a short coma once angra releases the deluge of curses. he wakes up a week later with some…changes.

- angra is gone, but present in his thoughts, his feelings, his physical ticks. he can feel him looking behind is eyes, feel his thoughts brushing against his own. it’s strange and enrapturing. they can still have “fun” together in their dreams.

- I think gudao’s skin would turn chalky pale, and have some remnants of angra’s tattoos marked on him. angra’s eye colors would also surface occasionally. Gudao opts to hide these changes most of the time, but he can’t hide all of the tattoos (not that he’d want to).

- angra can also take control of his body when gudao is willing, which can lead to some fun activities :3

- ok im tired gn bye

[mako-neexu]

sorry...begu of jp fandom works are too good... i have to say my thoughts..!!

The girl who is the Last Master of Pan-human history and the Insect of the Abyss, Winter Prince and Great Liar of the recent short story of Kairi. I love their dynamic in this story too much. Fujimaru Ritsuka is a Master. Oberon wanted to destroy the 'Last Master of Panhuman history in his own way. That title alone entails to many things...such as concern for her 'first time', her body, her mind, and her future. 

And Oberon saw all this in the short work. Her fear of her first time being taken instead by monsters and other creatures that would leave her scarred more than she already is, her thinking of Oberon having to take it instead being the better option, her habits and her skill of learning fast, no doubt because of her experience, her body that she was conscious of, to which oberon only stroked her scars which ritsuka only smiled and laughed because his silent response instead of saying something that will twist his words with his curse.  

Ahhh I also really loved that part where when he touches her chest, its not automatically linked to sexual feelings...rather, she was so used to medical exams that the sensitivity was different. And that links to her experience as Master of Chaldea. And his goal for that night was to destroy her. Reduce her to a 'woman' and a person named Fujimaru Ritsuka. Not some grand hero with the title of Last Master of Panhuman History. And that angered him so much!!! It was disgusting!!! He wanted to break that mask!! And erase the pressure of being Master in her eyes. 

I love that detail of covering them both with a blanket. To trap Fujimaru Ritsuka in before she could slip away from his grasp and be replaced with nothing but Master. It's too much. I like it too much...   I also love seeing her express fear but not for taking her 'first time' but fear for falling into pleasure and letting go of the role of 'Master'. Too good!!!! Also the aphrodisiac made should have affected her severely or should have broken her, but the 'Master' was still there. Seeing through Oberon so easily with his actions, calling him a bad person yet someone who was kind at the same time. Even after he finished inside her, the brillance of her golden eyes didn't fade. Like a star in the night. 

At Mike's tavern, to see him surprised is too good!!!AHHH!!! You haven't broken the Master yet. She will pretend in front of others no matter what. As long as she breathes, as long as she is alive, even if she was defiled, the 'Master' will perfectly play her part in the stage. With that 'Master' as the leading actor because that was what everyone wanted and needed, the woman who was 'Fujimaru Ritsuka' would slowly disappear from his reach. 

www Page six...the moment of realization was the best. After that, was even more "best" than ever. I'm sorry I loved the story too much. The dream that Oberon sees is where he realizes he and Ritsuka are the same. He was the one who had been waiting for thousands of years, waiting for a human to defeat Cernunnos even before the prophecy. The realization of her having her own abyss match his, her as a destroyer of worlds, his predecessor even... Them having the same 'role'. Fujimaru Ritsuka who could fully understand Oberon, just as Oberon fully understood her. This girl who had to keep going forward in the vast expanse of snow with nothing to rest on nor warm herself with, this girl who was bloodied, this girl who no longer has a place in proper human history. His realization of his feelings for her was the best. His realization that he has someone like him made both me and him happy. www I have more feelings but i have to stop here www

[nobuverse]

@midnightactual ll Plotted

It had been a routine mission at first, one Nobunaga and many other servants with the skill of Independent Action would often undertake. Davinci's sensors had located a holy grail replica, somewhere in the reaches of time. A singularity, as they called -it a breach so grand in the timeline of history that it threatened the very reality they were trying to restore.

Nobunaga's inherit powers as an archer allowed her to stay manifested for around two days without her master around, but they never dared send her out for more than a few hours to scout ahead without Ritsuka, and only when the threat to reality was considered rather minor - the type of thing that would barely require an effort to fix. As faint as the signal was that the staff achieved, they didn't disturb the young mage's sleep to mention the situation. They'd report to him in the morning, everyone figured, after Nobunaga's return report.

The coordinates are set for somewhere in Japan, sometime after 2016. Close to the time period they had wrongly labeled as "The final singularity". Simple. Easy, even.

But something goes wrong. Drastically so. The servant could knew it before she had even finished rayshifting to the coordinates. A blinding, searing pain shot across her nerves; like all her mana circuits had been fried at once. It ends as quickly as it starts. She stumbles out of the coffin with a gasp as the thing slowly dissolves from the world. She attempts to contact Davinci back on the ship, but gets nothing but static in her communicator. Useless.

Although she didn't feel any pain, it somehow felt as though she was missing a part of her- like a limb had detached itself without warning. Regardless, she figured the best thing she could do at the moment was simply get on with the mission that had been assigned to her, if for nothing else than a distraction.

She decides to begin in spirit form, walking in the space between the physical and ethereal planes. Though she can't interact with anything around her, she can at least take a good view of the city without drawing attention to herself. She finds nothing unusual, much to her dismay, but a thriving city. Certainly, one with its fair share of some less than appealing areas, but nothing that could explain what had peaked the interest of the radar. She would have usual taken the time to revel in the modern marvels far outside her time period, but she can't focus now. That uneasy feeling of anxiety was only growing stronger and stronger.

She materializes back into the physicals realm a few hours later. Thankfully, she was able to get a hold of Chaldea this time. But, as expected, the news isn't good. She's ended up no where near where she's supposed to- in another universe, entirely, even. It was one that ran parallel to that of their own - not interfering with their timeline at all. It means she can't simply rayshift back, it'll take a long time to get her back. Then, comes the worst news of all: her contract's been severed. She's lost her connection to her master- her source of mana. Though they'll try everything they can to save her, it's unlikely to happen within the span of two days. It's suggested she stay in spirit form to conserve the mana she has left.

-----

Two days come and pass, although it seems like an enteral wait. It's through either determination or sheer luck that she's managed to live this long, hoping to be reunited with her loved ones on board the ship: her wife. her brother. her best friend. her niece.

----

It's in a vain attempt to distract herself, spirit wandering from one rooftop to another, that she sees it for the first time. This shadow, a presence unlike any she's ever seen dragging its lumbering feet through the city gravel. It's half the size of an average house, figure both human and distinctly inhuman all at once. A large hole in its chest, gnashing teeth behind an ugly mask.

Nobunaga's first thought is how incredible it is that no one's reacting to its presence: only the destruction it accidently causes as it moves along. This beast was moving along unseen, overturning sidewalks and bending light posts.

She wants to reveal herself, but can't. She's been warned that if she manifests in her physical form again, there wouldn't be enough mana in her left to turn back - and she'd drain away her reserves before the end of the day.

Foolishly, she follows it. Even though she knows her time in Chaldea has made her soft, even though she knew she wouldn't be able to stand by if it went after a human life.

The result is predictable, in hindsight. When the mangy creature reaches for a teenage boy, sleeping on a bench in the middle of the summer afternoon, she breaks. Feet hit the roof tiles with a clatter as she manifests, a wave of her hand summons a matchlock rifle, and she fires. It roars as the bullet goes through its shoulder, the teenage boy awoken by the sound of the gunshot. Her rifle falls, sliding down the roof as it dissipates again. She focus on running now to lead it away, manifesting another between two houses, just enough to allow her to jump the gap. Her communicator has to be turned off, as it's already started annoying her ceaselessly. ( No doubt with Davinci and Sherlock screaming at her from the other side. )

She sprints as the beast runs after, leaving debris in its wake as it tries and fails to reach for her. Her only thought is getting it away from the general population, into an empty, open soccer field she had noted earlier.

Her landing is anything but graceful. She stumbles, almost falls. She decides to conjure one last loaded rifle, into her arms this time. She aims, and fires just in time as the white mask comes only a few meters from her. Blood splatters on her face as it falls, hopefully for good.

" Freak." She muttered, spitting at the ground. She had to get one last insult in before she collapses to her knees. Exhausted, but also not gone yet.

In a few hours time, though, that would change.

[animegirlsakurablr]

Shenanigans in the Grand Order, part 837

Goredolf... 🥹

(Also, lmao almost everyone calling him out)

And we're going back to where it all started.

Finally, Mictlān is over. Now that it is fully released, I can say that personally, this is perhaps my least favorite LB chapter (and out of main story chapters, second to last from the bottom).

Before I go into what I didn't like, I will say what I do like. I enjoyed Kukulcan and Camazotz as characters, and the map is very impressive (well, it's a little laggy, but once you complete the story it isn't, all because the "sun" is gone, lol). The only other maps that had layers are event ones, and even then they never went as high as nine. It's actually kind of fun to see just how far it goes, to the very back (er, bottom, technically?). Also, while not a positive, I'm ultimately neutral to the Deinos. I just wish that something else was done with them, and I think it would've been fine if they were replaced by humans. And speaking of which, going over to what I don't like...

The ocelomeh. It is revealed after the attack on Chichén Itzá that they weren't humans, but actually apes that were from the Lostbelt. While this did answer that yes, they are from Mictlān, it somehow comes off as more racist. Ah yes, let's just dress up humanoid apes as stereotypes of native people from Central and South America. Sincerely, Nasu, what the flying fuck?!

And the racism (or colorism, still bad) gets worse, with the designs of Tezcatlipoca and Tlāloc/Tenochtitlan. Look, I don't care how good their writing is, or how endearing they are, nothing will make me look past their designs. There's no real need to make them look like that, beyond that Nasu just doesn't want to give them darker skin, beyond ~magical corruption~ reasons.

Hell, he even revealed during New Years that Camazotz is darker skinned because of said corruption, for a question that had nothing to do with that. You know what it was asking? If him grabbing Nitocris was when he fell in love with her. Nasu did answer this with a yes, and then he kept on talking, adding that on. There was no reason to do so. There was no reason to drop that for a question which wasn't even about Camazotz's skin. What the genuine Hell, mushroom man.

Even if somehow their designs didn't bother me, I just found them incredibly meh. Tlāloc, like Mélusine before her, had the least amount of interaction with the player/Ritsuka (not only mainly being antagonistic, but also having beef against someone and something else), yet ended up having the hots for them and practically erasing what personality they did have upon be summoned. The only things I did like about Tezcatlipoca is his inability to properly shoot a target (briefly shown in the story) and his parting speech after fighting him for the last time, but again that isn't enough to make me forgive his hideous design. Also, I may have developed a vendetta against him, because of said last boss fight.

Also, speaking of partings, U-Olga. While I did warm up to her a little during the chapter, I didn't feel anything when she sacrifices herself to (try to) end ORT. Doesn't help that before Olympus, Olga hasn't been mentioned past Singularity F, the prologue chapter for the game. If there were mentions by Mash and/or Ritsuka/the player that they missed her during the rest of Part 1 and Part 2 before Olympus, then I wouldn't be complaining about it.

Fun fact, during the ORT raid, right before said sacrifice, I was getting a sense of déjà vu for how long it was going, and then I remember my least favorite scene of Olympus - the scene where Chaos appears and Musashi sacrifices herself. Suddenly, it makes sense. That part wasn't done by Sakurai, it was Nasu. Should've known, since she (Musashi) is one of his characters...

And finally, ORT. As I said previously, I don't have much knowledge on the Nasuverse beyond Fate, and one of his works (Mahoyo) was on the bucket list to watch, until I got tired of Nasu after Avalon and especially the first half of Mictlān. I know his other works are dear to his fans, and it is partially on me from not looking into it more before Mictlān, but I just don't care about ORT. My main interest to FGO - to Fate, is the historical, mythological, and literature figures, often with how they interact with the original characters. With the main draw put in the background, I just sort of stared off to the distance. Instead of some kind of epic showdown to kill the impossible, it just came off as an annoying, buzzing fly that refuses to die. Again, from what I know, ORT is impossible to defeat, to kill, but still.

There's more I could go over, but it's rather obvious that I didn't enjoy this. If you did, more power to you, I guess.

If anyone needs me, I'll be going through the Valentine's event and rewatching more Kingdom Hearts cutscenes. Already went through Birth by Sleep, KH1, and CoM, now to watch Days. I should also watch UX and DR too, I heard that there was someone who did a dub for the former on YouTube...

SQ: 0

Revival stones used: 5

[vyragosa]

on mobile so im putting it in tags nsfw gudalimbo

[versegm]

Prior to Ritsuka, Artoria (Caster, she who chants, child of prophecy, ect ect,) hadn’t really interacted with any humans.

Nothing specist about it. Castoria dislikes people in general, humans and fairies alike. But there were no humans in Tintagel, so she knew way less about their innards than she does about the average fae.

Which is really a long way to say, she thinks she can be forgiven for taking this long to figure out what exactly is wrong with her friend.

“Ritsuka?” Her knuckles rap against the door. ��Do you have a moment?”

She hears shuffling, then the door swings wide open. “Artoria! Always a pleasure to see you.” There are bags under their eyes, as it is sadly commonplace, but their smile is bright with truth. 

Artoria steps inside and closes the door behind her, discreetly casting a spell to keep it locked. No offense to the other servants (okay, a lot of offense,) but this is important and she really doesn’t want to be interrupted.

“You got good timing! Cat stopped by earlier with some experimental snacks.” They bend over to look under their bed, because of course that’s where they store snacks apparently. (And before anyone accuses her of hypocrisy, Artoria would like you to know that she does not hide any food in her room. If she gets snacks, she eats them all right away. No one can take away what has already been consumed.) “They’re like, nuts coated in chocolate, they’re pretty neat-”

“Ritsuka, are you possessed?”

Ritsuka pauses, for half a second. They straighten their back, casually. (Lies.; they only appear casual. Stress. Fear. Confusion. That’s more accurate.) “I’m sorry?”

“I said,” Artoria walks close to them, “Are you possessed? Do you need an exorcist? Do you need me to kill someone?”

“No!” They whip around to face her, waving their hands frantically. “No no no no to any of that!” Truth, truth, lie. “It’s not really- I mean, I guess it is, but I’m not- it’s not-” their gaze darts to the door, then the window, and at last the vents. “How did you even-?”

There are a lot of things wrong with Ritsuka. Their shadow is often too dark and too thick. Their weight is inconsistent, lighter at times and heavier at others. Their skin sometimes feels too smooth regardless of any hair or scar, as if they were wearing a film or an invisible cloth over their arms. But what veered Artoria away from there’s weird servant stuff going on into there is something REALLY wrong is much simpler:

there’s an echo when they speak.

Not a literal one, mind you. Not one she can hear. Ritsuka speaks in a perfectly normal way with a perfectly normal voice articulating perfectly normal words (if with a slight accent she cannot pinpoint.) But it’s an echo she can see. An echo in the lies, that reflect two contradicting intentions, an echo in overlapping lie and truth at once, an echo with no sound that constantly invade her sight, and after months of rattling her brain over what could be the cause of this the only thing Artoria could come up with was there is more than one person speaking at once.

Ritsuka sits on their bed, dragging a hand across their face. “Sorry. I’ve never had to explain that one before. I don’t… know where to start.”

Artoria sits next to him. “First thing first. Are you certain it’s not dangerous?”

“They’re helping me,” Ritsuka says, which is not a no. “In battle and such. They give me advice on battle formations and such.”

The sentence rings true, but it’s frayed at the edge, the way lies by omissions often are. And such. That can mean a lot, and such. “What else do they do?”

Ritsuka shrugs. They seem dead set on avoiding the question. “So this thing is dangerous.” Go figure. Ritsuka always curry the favors beautiful and deadly things. 

Artoria is willing to tolerate the likes of Douman or Koyanskaya, but she draws the line at being inside their head. As such, she gathers mana inside her palm, ready to-

“No no no!” Ritsuka grabs her wrist. “No exercising, no blowing shit up.”

Artoria raises an eyebrow. “If it’s hurting you, I’m not giving you much of a choice.”

“It’s not hurting me!” Truth (genuinely believed) lie (but you should know better.) “They just- sometimes it takes me a few times to get a fight right, that’s all. It’s not pleasant, but I’m grateful for the extra chances nonetheless.”

That’s a truth, but not one that makes much sense. What does that mean, a few tries? Artoria has fought by RItsuka’s side. They rarely get more than one try at a fight, for the simple reason that if they lost, they would be killed-

It clicks, not as a sudden realisation, but as a slow, growing horror that this would be something really fucked up. Oh, fuck, that could actually be it. Oh, FUCK, she thinks it might be it.

“Ritsuka,” she asks, very, very slowly, voice burning with ice, “are you telling me this thing rewinds time anytime you die.”

Ritsuka shifts uncomfortably and looks away.

“How many times.” When her demand is met with silence, Artoria reaches out to grab their arm. “How many times, Ritsuka.”

“I don’t know.” Truth (they lost count) truth (it never cared to count.) 

Anger flares in her guts like violent flames. She wants to hit. She wants to kill. She wants to chuck a bomb at this thing. Who does that? Who fucking does that?! Who would deny someone the simple escape route of death- who would force someone to keep going again and again and again and again through countless pains through endless suffering who would be cruel enough to force someone to live with the memory of being killed?

“It’s not like that,” Ritsuka says, because of fucking course they do. “They would let me go if I asked, I think. They’re only giving me this for as long as I wish for it. And,” they have a small smile, “I do want to live.”

So it’s some demon taking advantage of their desire for- what? Amusement? She grinds her teeth. She still wants it away from her friend. “What even is this thing?”

“They don’t really… speak. Not like people do. So I’m not quite sure.” Ritsuka tilts their head to the side. “I think they’re an Outer God. You know what these are, right?”

Vaguely. The Chaldean summoning ritual filled her on these sorts of things. The general concept of god is still one foreign to her, but if nothing else, she still remembers Cernunnos, still remembers this creature so massive it wasn’t even aware that it’d died yet. Granted, Ritsuka doesn’t need any help to get pumped full of curses, but that still doesn’t convince her that this thing should be allowed around any longer. “Yes. And this one seeks you as a vessel… because?”

Ritsuka is silent. For a moment, Artoria thinks they’ll dodge this question too, but before she can asks again, they answer: 

“They love a lot. I can tell. But… they’re a god of war, you know? They know nothing but battle. They can bring nothing but violence. They’re a herald of blood, but they want to be so much more than that. That’s what they want to use me for. I am fine with that.”

Ah.

For all her anger, Artoria cannot argue against that. She knows all about people who try to be more than what their purpose wants them to be.

“How can you tell it’s love?” She tries, a last-ditch attempt, even if she already knows it pointless. (That last tirade sounded like truth and truth.)

“I know all their emotions. They can’t speak, but they feel. Oh, Artoria, how they feel.” Ritsuka sets a hand on their chest, above their own heart. “They loathed Britain. That was annoying. When our feelings clash, it can be distracting. They love the servants. I love them too. When we feel the same, it echoes, it amplifies, it grows so much it sometimes spills. It’s not always better, but it is easier to cope with for me.”

That… explains a lot. About Ritsuka, as a person. “You did not hate Fairy Britain?”

“Oh, I did. But not to the point of wanting everyone dead.”

(That’s the thing about Ritsuka, isn’t it? When they see someone in a pickle, they try to save them. It’s not that they want to save people necessarily. It doesn’t matter if the person deserves to be saved, or if they’ll live long after being saved, or if they’re someone they like or dislike on a personal level. If someone can be saved, Ritsuka has to save them.)

(Then again, Artoria supposes she’s not much better. To each their star. To each their wish. To each their reason to doom themself.)

[animasend]

1, 12, 20

canon questionare. -- accepting

What made you pick up this character?

okay so i always loved olga and was sad she went away in the story so soon but at the time i actually got into fgo, the only one i wanted to write was ritsuka. olga hadn't yet hit the braincell but it was the combination of me enjoying her as a character and at the suggestion of a friend that i decided to take her up!

and here i am, years later, losing my mind for a month and a half straight bc lb7 came into my home, ate my food, called me a fool and left me crying on the floor while ALSO proving all the theories i've had about her and like hell yeah i won but the cost of winning...

What would you say is the most unique trait about your character?

how she's just so achingly human in how she acts and behaves and nothing is able to destroy that or take it away. like i've said before, back when she was just supposedly a mage, she wasn't your typical mage. lev pointing out that her reaction to learning of her father's demi-servant experiments was not how a mage should react. she was horrified and appalled that nobody did anything to stop that and sick to her stomach so being told ' aren't you a mage?' shows that Olga just, has never had it in her to be so cold and cutthroat and logical as a mage should be.

she cared and had her morals and yes, she acted arrogant and cruel and cold but that all had a purpose. it was what she was led to believe what was needed from her. she had to be an Animusphere, a mage, something her father would be proud of but never 'Olga Marie'

i'll be vague but even in lb7, even after her amnesia and the truth about her being learned, she kept her promise to Chaldea. she wanted to stay with them, as the weaker version of herself, rather than be their enemy. she cared despite her stance of it just being her duty to help at the time before remembering everything. she knew she wasn't perfect and criticized herself and acted hot and cold often, but that's just part of being human

at the end of the day, while she herself may not be human, she had always acted far more human than she ever should have and it just makes me feel so much at how that trait of hers could never be taken away from her

If you could sum up your character with one sentence, what would it be?

it messes me up how everyone refers to olga as like a star or a dream and it is impossible to sum her up in just once sentence because there's so many facets to her character that everyone so easily overlooks bc she's 'cringe' or her character design or some other ridiculous reason like that but. if i HAD to, i'd go with something she herself said

' that's a nice dream, if only it had worked out'

just because olga tries so hard and struggles and is messy but messy in the way of she's human in her emotions with the good and the bad but no matter how hard she tries, things just never work out in the end for her and it makes me SO. SAD. LIKE CASE FILES REALLY IS THE ONLY TIMELINE WHERE SHE'LL EVER BE EVEN REMOTELY HAPPY

[mako-neexu]

(It's the angst anon again! The one who brings all the guda angst prompts!) This time it's a gudako that is tired of being the last master of humanity that just wants to be someone else for one day. So she starts to lean in heavily to the other roles. One week she's "Christine". The next she acts like what she believes to be the perfect wife for Morgan (Morgan does not like it). In between she juggles being a good daughter for Raikou and mother for Jack. And then a different role and another role. Taking them on until it is clear that the servant has gotten sick of the act and she moves on to the next (she does still continue to be the master when needed, so most just let it happen so long as it makes her happy).

One week she's finally confronted by non other than Oberon when she tries to take on the role of "titania" and (in his own confusing way) tells him to just give up the act and be herself, be "ritsuka fujimaru".

She simply stares blankly. And states "but I don't know how to be "Ritsuka Fujimaru""

Concept is really interesting!

Having more than one role is necessary for life right? You could be someone’s teacher, someone’s mother, someone’s daughter, someone’s lover, someone’s inspiration, someone’s envy, someone’s savior, someone’s rival, someone’s friend.

To Fujimaru, who wants to attain a normal life at best and be with her friends and current family, i think she definitely try her best to be “someone” for them.

Since shes no longer in her “normal everyday life”, all her previous friends and family must be like hazy figures at best, and at worst, she can no longer remember who they are. Only by records and data in her medical profile and data about her.

To take on a role is to discard something first, sacrifice something first. To be that “someone” who can fulfill that person’s desires and in which they seek, she has to make room for things to take place inside her. Shes limited, she’s human in the end after all.

I havent read what titania acts like in shakespeare’s story but she’s a concept right? Only fiction, only derived from inspiration. But she’s compassionate and loyal, head strong, a little like ritsuka that she doesnt have to change much. Yet she does anyways but maybe acts as someone who feels like a fairy, not one, but just feels like it. 

If you watched read oshi no ko, you’d know akane-chan right? She studied Ai’s personality and background so much that when she acted out “her”, Aqua was seriously speechless. I think thats a scenario i want to do between oberon and fujimaru ritsuka in this concept.

Playing a role so perfectly you can’t distinguish what is mask and what is face that when you ask them to stop, stop this at once. You are not her. You will never be her. So stay as “you” are. This play pretend is sickening. It’s as vile as the Abyss, as vile as you. So just be “Fujimaru Ritsuka” goddamnit. That Fujimaru Ritsuka who fought and in the incineration of humanity, that ritsuka who held on too much even if it was painful and the goodbye was inevitable. Just be that for fuck’s sake. 

Just be you.

A graceful tap of a finger on her lips in a pondering manner, Ritsuka hums and smiles, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, Oberon.” Even her speech, even the way she sits, it was similar to how Aurora acted, similar to how “Titania” acted.

You know what I just fucking said. Quit acting like her or are you seriously dea-

Then, the mask was dropped.

What Oberon saw was a void of a “person”, blank in its entirety, its face shaped to fit an expression, a feeling to suit the atmosphere, to appease and smile for show.

“I’m sorry,” A hollow voice, lacking a role, lacking a purpose, lacking the feelings that are connected to it. Another person- entity so different from the other personalities adopted and developed in these past years. 

An original replaced, shredded, put together, used, discarded, leaving behind nothing but its shell still somehow conscious and moving of its own volition.

“But I don’t know how to be that person anymore.”

[hopeled]

that was the response she was expecting. after all, for two people who were good friends in this city to meet back in her world? some would call that a twist of fate and perhaps it was. but Ritsuka would hardly call it anything bad. the excitement courses underneath her skin like electricity and she just can't stop the smile from growing the more she thinks about it. even if she has to divulge some of the less than happy aspects of what happened, that was okay.

" Something had happened to Nero. A shadow had fallen off of her. Remember what I told you about the Beasts? Well, this shadow had become one. At the time, we thought that she had somehow forced a contract with me in order to help her escape the Counter Force going after her. But that wasn't the truth." as she speaks, Ritsuka watches Hakuno's every reaction, knowing that the other knew she was telling nothing but the truth.

" It was you. You had come to me and tried to introduce yourself as someone named Francis, I think? You didn't tell me your true name but when the memories came to me here, I knew you from appearance alone. Anyways, I asked if you were her Master. You said no but that you were Saber's Master. But even so, that you didn't feel right turning a blind eye to her suffering and abandoning her. That you were the one who forged a contract between me and Draco, which was this shadow's name."

" You were watching over me and Draco and Chaldea. You...were the reason what happened was happening, in a way. Draco was in trouble and I told you to help me get her back but you had a question for me. Can you guess what you asked me?"

lips pull into something of a grin, but her features reflect nothing but warmth. " You said that to walk besides an Evil of Humanity is to accept what their love is head on. You asked me if I would still do this, even knowing that her flame would burn everything to ashes." fingers carefully intertwine with Hakuno's as a gentle squeeze is given, something of a laugh following.

" You trusted me to look after her and I made a promise that I would. You knew that nobody else could. So, you see? Even in another world, in some place where you're not even a human anymore, you're not forgotten. You're someone's shining star."

      ❛   — Me ?   ❜   HAKUNO   repeats, head tilting ever so slightly to the side. Wow. Her assumption couldn't have been any farther from the mark. 'Hakuno and Ritsuka Fujimaru meet' was nowhere on her metaphorical bingo card, and she's so stunned by the very idea that for several seconds she has nothing to say. Until she processes the rest of what she's said, that is.

     Nero Claudius being a subject of discussion isn't exactly shocking for her. Hakuno's already well aware that all three of the former Servants of the Moon Cell had come to call Chaldea home. Just as some miracle of merging with the Moon Cell core allowed her to have recollections, however vaguely, of all three, so too did a miracle certainly take place to allow them to rely on one another to protect yet another third-rate mage. Ritsuka seems like she's practically bursting, so... that's a good sign, at least. She wouldn't exactly be so excited if it were something bad about her red Saber. However...

      ❛   … I think I'll be needing some of those dirty details anyway.   ❜   Being able to see, hear and touch Hakuno Kishinami — former winner of the Grail War, perpetual ghost in the machine — is one miracle she can't quite accept.

[akari-hope]

lgbtq+ anime for pride month

decided to make this for anyone looking for new recommendations, or anyone who’s wanted to get into anime but doesn’t know where to start! all recs will include a summary, genres, applicable representation, and how accessible it is to people brand new to anime, as well as any major content warnings.

(a quick disclaimer for those new to anime - some series on here will NOT have explicit rep, but rather be heavily coded or have implied queer themes. however, these are included generally because the implication is strong enough to treat it as text, or because the series has been generally accepted as queer. i’ll be sure to clarify whether something is canon or coded in each entry.)

ouran high school host club (comedy, romance) summary: haruhi fujioka is an honor student on scholarship at the prestigious ouran academy, who’s only looking for a quiet place to study when he runs into the notorious host club. in his frantic attempt to leave, he accidentally breaks a vase valued at 8 million yen. club leader tamaki suou has an idea for how he can pay them back - working for the host club. rep: crossdressing/drag are staples of this series, nothing explicitly stated but there are definite themes of gender identity exploration, and the show doesn’t shy away from homosexual themes or ideas accessibility: newcomer friendly! the english dub of this series is notably good. content warnings: some 2000s-era language in regards to gay/trans people that may be seen as offensive today, one scene that implies intent of sexual assault (while there is no actual assault and it is quickly played off, it may still be upsetting to some viewers)

yuri!!! on ice (sports) summary: yuri katsuki is a professional figure skater, recovering from a crushing defeat at the grand prix final. he returns to his family home to debate what he plans to do for next season. he goes to the local ice rink to clear his mind, and shows his old friend there something he’s been practicing - his idol victor nikiforov’s latest world-winning routine. unbeknownst to yuri, he’s being filmed. the video goes viral, and before he knows it victor is standing right in front of him, offering to be his coach. rep: canon mlm romance accessibility: newcomer friendly! content warnings: a few scenes that briefly display anxiety/panic attack-like symptoms

given (drama, romance) summary: one day on his way to his favorite napping spot in school, ritsuka uenoyama finds a boy, mafuyu satou, dozing in his spot, clutching onto a guitar with rusted, broken strings. uenoyama wakes him up, berating him for not taking better care of his instrument. mafuyu, noticing his knowledge of the instrument, begs uenoyama to repair it and teach him to play. uenoyama initially refuses, but mafuyu is persistent, even following uenoyama to band practice. it’s not until uenoyama hears mafuyu sing that he changes his tune, offering lessons if he joins the band as their singer. rep: canon mlm romance accessibility: newcomer friendly! content warnings: discussions of grief and loss additional note: given also has a movie sequel, which has a scene involving sexual assault.

sweet blue flowers / aoi hana (romance, slice of life) summary: fumi manjoume and akira okudaira were best friends in elementary school, until fumi moved away. now in high school, fumi is back and attending the same school as akira once again. their relationship isn’t the same now, though. the two must navigate the new trials of high school while trying to revive their waning friendship. rep: canon wlw romance accessibility: newcomer friendly!

bloom into you / yagate kimi ni naru (drama, romance) summary: yuu koito has always dreamed of the sort of soft, heart-fluttering love in shoujo manga. when a boy finally confesses to her though she feels...empty. she begins to wonder if she only understands love conceptually, but cannot feel it. yuu is still mulling over how to respond to her suitor when she witnesses the student council president, touko nanami, turn down a love confession of her own. she decides to approach touko for advice, but then the unexepected happens - touko confesses to yuu. rep: canon wlw romance accessibility: newcomer friendly! content warnings: some mild sexual content, depictions of homophobia

stars align / hoshiai no sora (drama) summary: toma shinjou is desperate to recruit new members to the boys’ soft tennis club, which is on the verge of being disbanded due to poor performance. maki katsuragi, the new transfer student, immediately catches his interest due to his quick reflexes. toma persuades maki to join, and maki’s skill quickly becomes driving momentum for the entire team. through their shared sport, the boys of the soft tennis club explore their own capabilities and hardships as they navigate life. rep: canon nonbinary character, discussions of gender identity and sexuality accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable, but not necessary content warnings: discussions and depictions of abuse, bullying, and violence

mahou shoujo madoka magica (fantasy, psychological drama) summary: madoka kaname and sayaka miki are good friends, regular middle school girls with regular lives. one day, the mysterious homura akemi transfers into their class, and strange happenings begin occuring. they meet a strange cat-like creature known as kyuubey, injured and on the run from homura. as thanks for saving its life, kyuubey offers them a reward - he’ll grant any wish they desire, and in return they’ll become magical girls with the power to help others. homura, despite being a magical girl herself, discourages them, saying everything is not as it seems. rep: sapphic themes and implied romantic feelings accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable content warnings: blood, violence, major character death, unreality, grief additional note: madoka magica has 3 movie sequels, with a 4th on the way. while the first two are merely recaps of the series, the 3rd, rebellion, is a continuation of the story.

no. 6 (sci-fi, drama) summary: the world has been ravaged by war - the last safe haven of mankind lies in six walled-off city-states. shion is an elite resident of one such city-state, no. 6, given priority housing and treatment due to his exceptional abilities. one night, a fugitive by the name of nezumi sneaks into shion’s room, and threatens to kill him. despite knowing he’s a fugitive, shion instead tends to his wounds and shelters him for the night. when his transgression is discovered by the authorities, shion and his mother lose their elite status, and are relocated. now just a regular citizen, shion begins to discover a new side to the city he’s called home. years after their first meeting, he reunites with nezumi once more - their meeting putting in motion a series of events that will unveil the secrets of no. 6. rep: canon mlm romance, trans/nonbinary coded character accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable, but not necessary content warnings: blood, violence, major character death, body horror, insects (bees)

seraph of the end / owari no seraph (supernatural, action) summary: a virus ravages the human race, infecting and killing everyone above the age of 13. their food source now threatened, vampires come out of the shadows to take the remaining humans captive. the children of the hyakuya orphanage are among the survivors. yuuichirou detests the vampires, and is determined to escape. mikaela has hatched a plan to do just that. the hyakuya kids make their way to the exit of the vampire city, only to be ambushed by a vampire noble. yuuichirou is the only one to escape. he’s found by the japanese imperial demon army, who say they’ll use him against the vampires. believing the rest of the children dead, yuuichirou joins immediately, determined to seek revenge against the monsters who killed his only family. rep: implied romantic feelings between two men (in the manga the anime is based on this is canon, and the localization team views the relationship as romantic) accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable, but not necessary content warnings: blood, violence, death, body horror, unreality

banana fish (action, crime drama) summary: ash lynx is a runaway on the streets of nyc, taken in and raised by the godfather of the mafia, dino golzine. now the leader of his own gang, he begins investigating “banana fish” - the only two words his brother will speak after returning from the iraq war. ash meets his friend skip at a bar, where he’s shunichi ibe and eiji okumura, japanese photographers covering american gangs. however, their conversation is cut short, as dino’s men storm the bar and kidnap skip and eiji. ash sets out to rescue them and continue his investigation. rep: canon mlm romance accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable, but not necessary content warnings: blood, violence, major character death, drugs, homophobia, pedophilia, sexual assault, rape

wonder egg priority (fantasy, psychological drama) summary: after the suicide of koito nagase, ai ohto is left to grapple with reality without her best friend. under instructions of a mysterious entity, she purchases a wonder egg. ai breaks the egg in the world that materializes in her sleep, and is tasked with saving people. under the belief that she’ll be able to save koito, ai embarks on a journey where she must recognize the relationship between other people’s demons and her own. rep: canon trans characters, sapphic themes accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable content warnings: blood, violence, death, suicide, self-harm, transphobia, fatphobia, bullying, abuse, pedophilia, sexual assault, rape additional note: wonder egg priority has a special airing on june 30th, 2021, meant to wrap up the original series - as of writing this post, the series is technically incomplete.

flip flappers (fantasy, sci-fi) summary: cocona is an average middle schooler liing with her grandmother, no clear goals in mind for the future. she meets an odd girl, papika, who inites her to join the organization “flip flap”. cocona finds herself dragged along by papika into the world of pure illusion, a mysterious alternate dimension where papika searches for crystal shards. as cocona and papika explore pure illusion, they awaken to the power within the crystals, transforming into magical girls. they must learn to work together in order to unravel the mysteries of pure illusion, and their pasts. rep: sapphic themes and exploration of sexuality accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable content warnings: mild violence, unreality, mild sexual themes and nudity

noir (action, drama) summary: parisian assassin-for-hire mireille bouquet receives a strange email from kirika yuumara, a japanese student, who invites her to make “a pilgrimage to the past”. mireille makes to dismiss the email as nonsense, until it starts playing a song she recognizes from her youth. when the two meet in person, they’re ambushed by gun-wielding men. to mireille’s surprise, kirika is able to fend for herself - even more surprising, kirika has no memory of how she has such skills. the two of them team up to unravel the mysteries of their pasts, operating under the codename “noir”. rep: canon lesbian characters accessibility: some prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is desirable, but not necessary content warnings: violence, death, implied rape and csa (not shown)

revolutionary girl utena / shoujo kakumei utena (fantasy, psychological drama) summary: after an encounter with a prince who comforted her after the death of her parents, utena tenjou is given a rose-crest ring, and a promise that they’ll meet again someday. however, utena has now committed to becoming a prince herself! after witnessing the abuse of fellow classmate anthy himemiya, utena is drawn into a dangerous game. duelists with rings matching her own battle for the ownership of anthy - the “rose bride”. utena decides she must free anthy from this fate. rep: canon sapphic characters, implied romance (in the movie sequel, this becomes canon) accessibility: prior knowledge of anime tropes and themes is necessary to fully enjoy this anime content warnings: unreality, violence, abuse, homophobia, pedophilia, incest, sexual assault, rape (for a comprehensive, spoiler-free breakdown of all potentially disturbing content, click here) additional note: the movie sequel, adolescence of utena, gives more explicit canon romance than the original series. however, the original series is considered an absolute classic must-watch for sapphics.

if anyone has questions about any series on here, feel free to ask! any other recommendations, feel free to tack on! (please include a summary, rep, accessibility, and any content warnings!)

[300iqprower]

Mash suffers from being a Ritsukasexual character way more than Jalter. I have said this before and I'll say it again, the writers don't know what to do with Mash when she isn't talking to someone she knows or being passive-aggressive when Ritsuka talks to female servants. Btw I would like to express how much I despise that part of Mash's character. It's so fucking annoying. I remember how I was doing one Jeanne's Interludes and Mash got more screentime than Jeanne in Jeanne's Interlude.

100% agreed. Avenger Jalter’s character got compromised but she’s at least still allowed to have an actual character. What’s more Jalter’s stuff is usually restricted to what few times she actually has a main role, whereas Mash is…borderline omnipresent. I’ve outlined before how the terribly written (or rather the issue being how much they DIDNT write anything about it) Galahad “twist” meant they did effectively nothing with Mash’s character for most of part 1, and then when it finally seemed like she was becoming a great character with Babylonia and Solomon, the game had her completely fucking gone for all of the pseudo’s (i mean afaik Salem is like the others, and if you think i’d count Agartha’s comm lines then i have a hacked JP account to sell you). This isn’t even touching on as you said how Mash, despite having no meaningful character, would invade on things that were supposed to be meant for other characters to get meaningful moments though of course 90% of year 1-2 interludes were a waste of time regardless…

The sad thing is Mash is really well written in the Lostbelts….only to force her into being fucking garbage in gameplay because like i always point out, Nasu and DW’s reaction to players finding ways to get a consistent safety net is to break out the scissors. Apparently they’ve even forcibly nerf her hp if you grail her above 100? If that’s true then how I not seen anyone ever mention that, that they went so far out of their way to force you to use an incredibly shit playstyle that they did that thing they’ve said for years they “just CANT do!” and change a servant’s stats?

The other potentially even sadder thing is that mash isn’t well written because she’s her own good character, in fact so far (through LB4) she’s at her weakest when they try to capitalize on her previous relationship with the crypters. She’s good because she’s become a proper player surrogate who is as much in the deep end as Ritsuka and rather than that grating cutesy kouhai shit, she’s a mirror/equal to Ritsuka in the devastation they feel and the barely remaining will to carry on they cling to. The idea that Ritsuka is being crushed under the weight of the worlds they kill off, their need to find humanity in everything and protect the worlds they know they have to inevitably end….that’s more reflected by Mash than it is EVER shown through Ritsuka themselves. It has to be, because Ritsuka is not a character, they are a proxy. A proxy in a gacha at that.

TLDR, after Galahad got revealed Mash was en route to finally become a character whose love for Ritsuka was more than just for the sake of it, as shown with Babylonia and Solomon, only for them to pointlessly bullshit a reason to remove her from the story completely and when she came back the thing EVERYONE could at least love about her (how good she was as the main free unit) was stripped away (probably because they thought “okay they’re this invested let’s make sure they HAVE to gamble to keep up”). Then when she actually did return it wasn’t to continue the character she originally was/was becoming but rather to just use her as a mirror to Ritsuka so they could loophole their way into giving Ritsuka an identity while technically not giving a metaphorically faceless protagonist an identity.

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #Gudako: Gudako

Happy April Fools! We were going to do Scathach today, but this thing crawled into my home and it won’t go away until I make a build of it. So here’s Gudako.

Check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet over here!

We’ll then return to our regularly scheduled Scathach.

Race and Background

Ritsuka Fujimaru is a human, but you’re an awful little gremlin with a penchant for lechery. In other words, a Lightfoot Halfling. That gets you +2 Dexterity, +1 Charisma, and makes you Lucky, Brave, Nimble, and Naturally Stealthy. This means you can re-roll ones on attacks, checks, and saves, have advantage against being frightened, can move through larger creatures, and can hide behind them as well.

We’re also making up a Gambler background for you, giving you proficiency in Deception and Insight. 

Ability Scores

Even if you’re a weird awful version of FGO’s master, you’re still FGO’s master, so your Charisma is pretty freaking good. After that is Constitution- I don’t know how you survived the end of that last book but you did, so that’s probably con based. After that is Dexterity. It might just be the art style, but you’re kind of noodly, and incredibly fast. Your Strength isn’t amazing just yet, you’re still kind of a nerd. After that is Intelligence, then Wisdom. You play a gacha game. Enough said. 

Class Levels

1. Sorcerer 1: Mages in the Nasuverse are kind of a weird mix between sorcerers and wizards, but since you never really learned about magic that means you’re 100% the former! 

Thankfully, being a sorcerer opens us up to the gacha of the magic world, Wild Magic! At first level you can cast Spells using your charisma, and first level or higher spells can activate your Wild Magic Surge. After casting such a spell, you roll a d20, and on a 1 you then roll on the big ol’ table and get weird magic stuff. If you’d rather roll more often, your Tides of Chaos can force the issue. You can spend it to gain advantage on an attack, check, or save once per long rest. That being said, you can speed things up at your DM’s discretion, recharging the tides with a mandatory roll on the wild magic surge table.

Speaking of spells, you get a bunch of cantrips here. Friends and Mage Hand will improve your relationship with Mash, Prestidigitation takes care of all of that “actual magic” stuff, and Message lets you use your phone like a phone. Weird, I thought this was a gacha console?

For first level spells, Chaos Bolt brings the gacha into your combat, with the spell’s damage type based on the damage roll you make. It also has a chance of bouncing off and hitting another target for theoretically infinite damage. Expeditious Retreat will give you that gremlin speed you’re known for.

Finally, you get proficiency with Constitution and Charisma saves, as well as the Arcana and Intimidation skills. You just kinda give off this aura, y’know?

2. Sorcerer 2: Second level sorcerers become a Font of Magic, giving them sorcery points equal to their level that they can spend to make new spell slots. You can also do the reverse, but that won’t be useful until next level. You also learn how to bring out a creature’s hidden desires with Id Insinuation, which forces a wisdom save (DC 8+chr mod+ proficiency) or the target is incapacitated and takes psychic damage. There’s a reason your little eggplant has trouble fighting you off.

3. Sorcerer 3: Third level sorcerers get Metamagic, ways to use your sorcery points to enhance your magic. You strike me as a buster meta player, so Empowered Spell will let you get the most damage out of your spells (and also let you cheat a bit on Chaos Bolt). You also learn how to skip the casting animations on your spells thanks to Quickened Spell, turning an action casting spell into a bonus action.

On top of that, Hold Person lets you hold a person down while you have your way with them. By that I mean attack them, duh. Get your mind out of the gutter.

4. Sorcerer 4: Use your first Ability Score Improvement to bump up your Strength. Trust me, it’ll help out later.

You can also cast Create Bonfire for the survivalist in you, or you can Mind Thrust on the people you’re holding. It’s still nothing lewd, it just deals psychic damage, and if a creature fails the intelligence save it can’t take reactions until the end of its next turn and has to choose between moving, taking an action, or a bonus action next turn.

5. Sorcerer 5: Fifth level sorcerers get third level spells, and Conjure Lesser Demon lets you summon Mephistopheles to the battlefield! Actually it’s just eight manes or dretches, but it sounds like it would summon Mephistopheles. Those demons are just as loyal as Mephy though, so... keep your distance.

6. Sorcerer 6: Sixth level wild mages can Bend Luck as a reaction, adding or subtracting 1d4 from any check, save, or attack you wish near you. Now you really have protagonist powers! You can also cast Haste now for additional gudaspeed.

7. Sorcerer 7: Seventh level sorcerers get fourth level spells, and Conjure Shadow Demon does exactly what you think it does. You can conjure a shadow demon- I think Cursed Arm would probably count for this? Also, this demon’s slightly more cooperative, but it will probably turn on you after the fight’s over.

8. Sorcerer 8: Use this ASI for more Charisma. You can also Conjure Barlgura, which also does exactly what you think it does; conjures a barlgura. What, you don’t know what a barlgura is? Yeah right, everyone knows barlguras! They’re so iconic I don’t even have to tell you which servant they’re like!

----------------------------------------------------------

What the hell? It’s been eight levels already and we haven’t even summoned a four star yet! I’m so salty I’m gonna....

9. Barbarian 1: Going into barbarian lets you turn your gacha salt into Rage, giving you extra bonus damage on attacks, getting advantage on strength saves and checks, and you get resistance to physical damage types. You also get an Unarmored Defense, letting you continue your fight even in the nude.

10. Barbarian 2: You can now make Reckless Attacks, gaining advantage on all attacks for the turn at the cost of taking attacks at advantage for the round. Your Danger Sense also gives you advantage on dexterity saves that you can see coming. You might think that’ll help when Berserker of Learning with Manga turns on you. You’d be wrong.

11. Barbarian 3: Did you think the gacha was over just because of a class change? Hah! Thanks to Tasha’s, you can set down the Path of Wild Magic at third level, giving you Magic Awareness, an action to sense magic within 60′ of you proficiency times per long rest.

More gachaly, you get a new Wild Surge when you rage. It’s a smaller table than your sorcerer surges, but it’s more consistent. It’s the friend point gacha to the other’s quartz gacha.

You also get Athletics proficiency from your Primal Knowledge, for better sprints.

12. Barbarian 4: Bring your Strength even higher so hitting people is actually a good idea.

13. Barbarian 5: You get an Extra Attack each action now, and your Fast Movement adds 10′ to your movement speed, making you not the slowest person in the party any more!

14. Barbarian 6: At sixth level, your Bolstering Magic lets you spend an action to either A) add a d3 to a creature’s attacks or checks for 10 minutes, or B) regain a creature’s spell slot, with the level based on the roll of a d3. You can use the second one once per creature per long rest, but your total number of uses is equal to your proficiency bonus each long rest.

15. Barbarian 7: Seventh level barbarians let their Feral Instinct take hold, gaining advantage on initiative rolls. You also can ignore surprise by raging. Your Instinctive Pounce lets you move up to half your speed when you rage. You like pouncing.

16. Barbarian 8: Use this ASI to bump up your Constitution for more health, more AC, and stronger rage spells.

17. Barbarian 9: Your Brutal Critical gives you an extra die of damage when you deal a critical hit, as you rub gacha salt in the enemy’s wounds.

18. Barbarian 10: Your last wild magic goody is the Unstable Backlash- when you take damage or fail a save while raging, you can roll on the wild magic table and replace your current effect. More gacha, MORE GACHA! 

You also get more Primal Knowledge for Survival proficiency. I think you kinda ended society as we know it in at least one timeline, so you’ll need it.

19. Barbarian 11: Your Relentless Rage gives you a guts skill of your very own! When you would normally drop to 0 hp you can make a constitution save to say at 1 hp instead. The DC increases each time, but resets on short rests.

20. Barbarian 12: Your final level is another ASI for more Strength. Hit people, it’s real simple.

Pros:

You are just so random, which makes it hard to strategize against you. Your enemy can’t know what you’re gonna do if you don’t!

You’re pretty beefy, but you can also send in a demon squad to cause chaos in your stead when you’re feeling lazy.

Halfling’s lucky is so useful it honestly deserves its own pros spot. Nat 1s are for nerds!

Cons:

Mixing conjuration and rages is never going to end well, especially when those conjurations want you dead.

You’re so random that you can’t really strategize for anything. Yeah, it won’t be boring, but you can’t be as precise as other builds.

For a lot of this build, your shortness can be an issue when it comes to mobility. Being the slowest person in the party when running from demons (that you may or may not have summoned) is a serious problem.

[x0401x]

Given the Movie: TV Guide Interview

Nakazawa Masatomo: “Both Eguchi-kun and Asanuma-san are reliable people, so I didn’t feel nervous during the recordings!”

Eguchi Takuya: “Asanuma-san himself is a bundle of talent.”

Asanuma Shintarou: “Nakazawa-kun has, if nothing else, tolerance.”

The TV series “Given” aired in 2019, portraying the youthful drama of young people having a heart-to-heart through music. It became a hot topic by depicting the love circumstances of mainly Mafuyu (Yano Shougo) and Ritsuka (Uchida Yuuma), while its continuation, “Given the Movie”, was finally released on August 22nd after having the release postponed. We had the main cast of the movie – Nakazawa Masatomo, Eguchi Takuya and Asanuma Shintarou – discuss inside stories about their mental state, the recordings and the movie’s highlights.

——The story of “Given the Movie” centers around Haruki (Nakazawa), Akihiko (Eguchi) and Ugetsu (Asanuma), who are played by the three of you. How was it when you heard about that?

Eguchi: I was simply happy, like, “So they’re going to depict it that far!”. I felt that I was looking forward to the condition of the adults’ romance, which is a bit removed from the high school romance of Mafuyu and Ritsuka.

Nakazawa: I was surprised, and at the same time, a bit anxious. There are many things in my life as a voice actor that I am experiencing for the first time through “Given”... but both Eguchi-kun and Asanuma-san are reliable people, so I didn’t get nervous during the recordings!

Asanuma: Ugetsu didn’t appear in many episodes of the TV anime, but in the movie, I got to read the preliminary narration for the first time. At the same time as I got to personally feel that I was in a position of main, I also felt the high spirits of the production team, so I was also quite nervous at the beginning (laughs).

——After the TV series, Haruki, Akihiko and Ugetsu gradually change. Mafuyu’s existence is indeed big.

Nakazawa: In the TV series, Haruki, who was in a position similar to caretaker of the band members, took notice of Mafuyu’s talent and was influenced by Mafuyu’s song, so the feelings that he had been avoiding to look until then were portrayed as steadily growing bigger. Besides, he also felt impatience at Mafuyu’s sudden growth spurt and created a complex. As always, he is in the role of being swayed around in the movie too (laughs), but his emotions become unclear, so the amplitude of his character grows a lot.

Asanuma: Ugetsu is a genius violinist, and it is exactly because he is a genius that he doesn’t turn his eyes towards things other than music very often, but through coming in contact with the song of another genius, Mafuyu, he starts having interest in them. Ugetsu, whom nobody can grasp, changes even more upon coming in contact with Mafuyu, who speaks out his thoughts straight up, so I think this is also one of the highlights of the movie!

Eguchi: If I had to say it, it might be that Akihiko’s change starts from the movie. He seems like the kind of man who’s insanely good at swimming with the tide, but in the movie, the moment he confronted the issues he was deeply involved with, I felt a change in that his capability of dealing with things worsened... The one there is the awkward and realistic Akihiko. During the recordings, I tackled Akihiko while thinking that I should, in a good sense, skillfully destroy what he had become until that point.

——Then, were there any changes to everyone’s relationships from when the TV series and when the movie’s recordings ended?

Asanuma: There wasn’t much of a change, right?

Eguchi: Because, although the TV series and the movie have different forms of display, what we have to do doesn’t change. But maybe we managed to record more relaxed and enjoyably for the movie. I personally feel that we have managed to create something good. Also... I remember that the taiyaki they gave us as snacks were delicious!

Nakazawa: Yeah, yeah! They were tasty.

Asanuma: The sweets that (the author) Kizu Natsuki-sensei bought for us were delicious too.

Nakazawa: True, true... If it goes on like this, the fact that the snacks were yummy will turn into the main topic of the inside stories (laughs).

Asanuma: That might be bad (laughs).

——Then, was there any moment during the recordings in which you have sensed each other’s talent?

Asanuma: Nakazawa-kun has, if nothing else, tolerance. Haruki does, too, so he might be the one who is closest to the character he plays out of the three of us. He envelops you warmly no matter what you do, so you find yourself thinking, “I wanna try causing him trouble” and, “I want him to spoil me”.

Nakazawa: So that’s what you thought of me! I’m happy!

Asanuma: This was my first time participating in a BL series, but when I found out that Eguchi-kun was the one who would play Ugetsu’s partner, Akihiko, I was very relieved. After all, Eguchi-kun also grants a feeling of security with his precise acting.

Eguchi: You say that, Asanuma-san, but you’re a bundle of talent yourself, so I always felt that the way you clad yourself in the air of a genius when you’re playing Ugetsu was amazing. I sometimes think, “If I were playing another character, how would I perform them?”, but frankly, your interpretation of Ugetsu surprised me.

Nakazawa: Right! Asanuma-san’s Ugetsu feels like a different kind of existence. The feeling that he silently oozes out his aura is honestly so cool.

——I am looking forward to watching the movie even more now.

Nakazawa: I believe that the story of how these three people who have listened to Mafuyu’s song will show their feelings for one another is told in a very natural manner. I want people to enjoy it by all means.

Asanuma: People have nothing to lose when they are high schoolers, so they convey their feelings straightforwardly even when it comes to romantic love without thinking about the consequences, but when they turn into adults and accumulate experiences, they come to know feelings of inferiority and complexes, so they end up learning how to deal with others by distancing themselves from them. When they do that, the forms of romantic love naturally change. I see the phrase, “I’ve become an adult” in many works, but I think “Given the Movie” literally depicts the romance between three people who “have become adults”.

Eguchi: That’s right. The taste of the romance changes in comparison to the TV anime. It’s the kind of series that makes you think, “Human beings are such a pain, so complicated”, but taking all these points into account, it also makes you go, “Human beings are great”. By all means, I want people to watch it!

[havetheavengersdoneanythingwrong]

An Interlude — Me, ‘Yourself,’ I

Two Masters pick up another ‘them.’

Many other ‘them’ — of times and Masters long gone, each filling each other’s roles in stories meant to be the same.

Like a play filled with understudies, where the choice in lead actor changed everything —

...Then, what to do about that?

<Pt. 1/???>

featuring story from @hasbbdoneanythingwrong + @hasquetzdoneanythingwrong

--

"...It's you."

A being from his dreams, a being beyond rational description.

A Singularity had appeared, hadn't it? One only recently, showing its face, a remnant of what should've been destroyed.

The coward believed such a thing was the only cause of a being haunting his dreams. A shapeless, formless, yet all-encompassing, formed being, that threatened to vanish from his sight and take him over, simultaneously.

And its words, too-

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Made no sense.

No, nothing the being said would mean a thing to the cowardly Master, and yet it made sense all the same. Two opposite extremes, filling him not with the words it spoke, but the emotion those unspeakable tongues filled in his mind.

"...I don't understand. I... I don't get it at all."

No, so much 'strange' had occurred, in a matter of mere days. A Servant had spoken of a world not unlike his own, another Chaldea, and another Master. Then, replaced soon after, by a Quetz who spoke of it only as a faint dream, barely recalled, but fondly looked back on.

And mere days afterwards, this thing -- that which now sought to fill him with unending fear, and discomfort, as it held itself within him, seeking to spread itself within his mind like a comforting, but foreign virus to the human conscious.

╟╧╜╚╕╘╧╨╪╬╗

...His heart, suffocating under the mass of the 'it,' that threatened to encompass his entire being, envelop it into itself--

...Yet, its words made its way to his mind, before the cowardly Master forced himself to wake with a bite to his finger.

Y o u a r e n o t a l o n e . S e e k T H E M .

...The being, so foreign, spoke now as if the Master himself were speaking to 'him' in a mirror.

...The seeping, crawling feeling faded in an instant, as the familiar 'My lord!' awoke him from his slumber.

With Da Vinci fussing over something in the other room, surely preparing to announce the time of their Rayshift, the cowardly Master made a beeline for somewhere -- someone -- he knew would help.

--

"Oh, hell no."

Ritsuka had spent a solid five or six seconds just laughing incredulously, before their eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to speak.

"--I'd heard it from... something. Ritsuka, we already know they exist, and... We need to know what they're up to. If they're allies, we need to get their aid, and..."

"It's not that."

Ritsuka interrupted my speech by placing a finger over my mouth. Breathing out, they placed their index finger on their temple, as if trying to formulate what they were to say next.

"Thing is, Cadence, we have a serious problem with time stuff right now. We already have a sudden Singularity that's just happened, despite our best efforts, and your first idea is to go check other timelines? And off the advice of a weird thing that appeared in your dreams after the Singularity was formed, no less!"

Ritsuka breathed a long, drawn out sigh out, as I took the opportunity to get a word in.

"This time stuff is something we can take advantage of, especially because we've just achieved a sort of contact with it. Remember Quetzacoatl? She was acting as if she were in a different Chaldea entirely, for the day we summoned her, until her Spirit Origin 'shifted.' All things considered, we need to check up on that."

Placing a finger to my neck to calm myself, lightly scratching its side, Ritsuka waited a moment before responding.

"...Listen, if you're right, we can't do this willy-nilly. You know full well how dangerous this is. But..."

...Ritsuka shook their head, raising their hand in what I could only assume was the brief consideration of punching themselves in the face.

"...You're not the type to take stupid risks. The fact you're not avoiding this like the plague says to me that you've got something in mind. After all these things we've seen up to now... I can't believe I'm saying this, but I guess we'll have to look at even more time shit."

...The Master laughed, in disbelief, before turning on their heel and beginning to move south.

"...I think, if anyone's going to know about this, it's going to be a certain Moon Cancer."

"--You're not seriously thinking of going to her for advice, right?!"

"Less advice, Cadence, more a way to figure out what the hell has been happening outside our little bubble. I doubt we'll be able to see everything, but even just a little bit will do. It'll tell us who our allies might be if we end up forced to one of their worlds."

Ritsuka raised their hands over their head, stretching themselves out and yawning loudly to get out the slight ache of sleeping on a Chaldea bed.

"...Or, if a Singularity forces us into contact with them," he continued with an awkward laugh, "we need to figure out who won't kill us on sight."

...Turning a corner of Chaldea's hallways, he'd knock upon a very certain door -- greeted by a purple-haired lady, smiling wide, with a gaze best described as a mixture between intimidating, venomous, yet also fairly innocent for the moment. "Why, if it isn't my favourite senpais. What brings you here so soon? Ritsuka, you usually at least wait 'til noon to try out some BB slots."

The lady took her seat on her bed, resting her chin on her right hand and raising an eyebrow -- turning an ear to the two of us.

"No slots today, sadly. BB -- I'd like you to help us understand other people."

"...Other people? Senpai, you're not exactly lacking in the social department. Although, C--"

"--Not like that," I quickly clarified, if only to save my own pride. "We're looking to understand people from... different Chaldeas, if that makes any sense."

...At that, BB's eyes widened, if only for a moment -- then smiled, with a sort of distinct softness, before it returned to its usual mischievous aura.

"Is that so..? You're sure about this, right, Senpai~? Surely you wouldn't wish to be jealous of Masters better off than you two."

Before I could respond -- frozen just for a moment at hearing that -- Ritsuka piped up in my place.

"Yeah, we're alright with that. At day's end, we want to see other people like us. What they've done, and... If they'd be allies for us, should we somehow meet."

...The mischievous lady only nodded, before placing a floating screen just in front of them.

"If that's the case, I have no choice but to show you all the other Senpais out there! ♥"

...And, mere moments after -- our first sight showed its face.

--

"--You vermin should know that I am the only one who can hurt my centipede!"

An annoying voice, marked with an angered 'sigh' that would've made most anyone's hairs raise on end.

Yet, to the Master they now saw, such a voice could bring only the brightest of smiles. Two beings of seeming opposites, giving each other a knowing glance before a wave of confidence enveloped them both.

With the casual smile only a devil could muster, the Moon-Cancer made short, easy work of the mere beasts in their way. The icy wasteland, seeping away at the Master's bones, did little to harm the sense of warmth that seemed to envelop them both.

"Now, now, Quin," the lady spoke with a chuckle, "don't get too happy yet~! There's a cave to hang out in not too far away -- we can talk there!"

Quin -- That was the Master's name. A spare glance at their BB's face told them all they reckoned they had to know -- in place of her devilish grin, remained a mischievous -- yet warm, glowing smile.

The moment they fled into an otherwise dark, empty cave, Quin collapsed to tears -- perhaps in part of fears that could only come from traversing a Lostbelt alone, but seemingly mostly of relief.

"How... H-How did you get here..?!"

Through sobs, the Master spoke, as the Moon-Cancer only smiled, and laughed, crouching down beside her Master.

"Quinny, I'm hurt~! You should know by now that I can pretty much do whatever I want."

Neither Master observing the event could truly understand the pain she went through just to reappear at the side of her Master -- but Ritsuka, sparing a glance to look at the BB that manifested there, saw teary eyes, and a soft smile.

...The face of someone who had almost certainly been through hell.

Cadence focused upon the Master themselves, finding himself awed. A Master who, despite all that remained against her, found herself with allies that wouldn't so easily give up and leave her. A Master who, though almost assuredly afraid, still stood up and kept pushing forward. And a Master who stayed with the Moon-Cancer who seemed as if she was her exact opposite, as both impacted each other permanently.

--

"...That was Quin, senpais~!"

Spending a moment holding a hand to her eyes, BB soon returned to her usual self -- Ritsuka only smiled, but didn't elaborate on it any further.

"...That was..."

...She seemed to be a good person. A 'hero' -- even allied with someone considered evil, she...

...She was a hero. In her own right, she was a hero -- even if she were afraid, she still pushed forward, and fought with the bravery of a hero.

"...Well, we probably have one ally, Cadence.”

Ritsuka smiled a bit, as if to ease me of something I'd not realized I had, before returning to the Moon-Cancer.

"What's our next sight, then?"

To that, the Servant only winked, before another screen enveloped their sights.

--

"...Hey."

A black-haired man, narrowed eyes at two writers not far in front of him.

No time for grief, for there was still something to do. The eyes of a man who had a plan -- even if far out, one he would place his faith in.

Those eyes -- sharpened, fire sprouting within that pupil of his -- were eyes of sheer determination.

"If you can turn fantasy into reality, how about we pull a Moriarty on me?"

A sentence truly outside the realm of 'reality' -- one that caused Cadence to recoil in shock. Yet, the cowardly Master still found himself leaned in to listen, as the other Master beside him smiled and nodded to themselves.

Mash, turning to face the black-haired Master, raised her eyebrows in some form of confusion.

"--Huh..? Senpai, what are you talking about?"

"Moriarty has that gun from that one German story. If the authors here can do something similar to help me, then..."

...The Master spent a moment in thought, but it certainly wasn't one spent in hesitation. No -- both observing Masters knew the look well.

It was one of focus, and of finalizing their plan. It brought back memories of Reines, of Chen Gong, and of El-Melloi.

"...That doesn't sound outside the realm of possibility."

The taller author -- Murasaki, at a closer glance -- spent a few seconds staring upwards in thought before replying. The smaller author, surely Hans, stared at his colleague and Master with a mixture of incredulity -- and, just as much, curiosity.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Let me see if I can find what I'm looking for."

To this, the Master flicked his fingers delicately from a row of comic books situated carefully on a shelf, up until he pulled a certain issue out, as if it were made for this very moment.

"--This! This, here."

Opening the comic to a specific page, as if he'd done this a thousand times before, he placed his finger upon one panel in specific -- a planet made of dark ooze, its inhabitants slimy parasitic creatures.

A middle-of-the-road author, almost assuredly Shakespeare, took a close look, and smirked, as the Master elaborated.

"Symbiotes. From Marvel."

As the determined Master watched the author's expressions, Shakespeare decided -- as usual -- to be among the first to speak.

"Interesting."

...Hans, meanwhile, twisted his face into a frown.

"...I'm not sure how I feel, adapting a modern work like this."

"Just do it. I'll be able to save her with those powers."

The Master only furrowed his brow, his voice taking on a slight firmness to it. Andersen picked up on that tone of voice -- one of someone who had already weighed their options, and one that had already decided their fate. The author silenced himself for the time -- at times like this, even he recognized that he had to put his author's code to rest.

"Senpai... Is this really a good idea?"

Mash spoke carefully, placing her words best to try and ensure her friend had thought it through. She had faith in his idea, the observing Masters could tell, but it was certainly best to avoid acting rashly.

"...I need to save her, Mash."

The Master, certainly, had already made his decision. As he elaborated, Mash's concerned expression shifted to a soft smile -- assured that, at least, he was sure of this action. If he held faith it’d work, then she felt she could as well.

"I hate being without her. And I want to skewer the fools who took her away."

...Murasaki, at that, only nodded.

"I can see the pain he's feeling. We... should help."

...At his fellow authors' words, Hans raised his hands up, and grinned awkwardly.

"Fine, we'll turn you into an alien monster. But it likely won't stick when this Singularity's fixed."

"So long as I get my wife back, I'm fine with it."

The gaze of the Master said it all -- he would stop at nothing to find, and save, someone he loved.

Suddenly, to the two observing Masters -- the sheer determination of this Master, even as he requested a possibly dangerous procedure, now only made sense.

...He, too, had something to protect.

--

The Moon-Cancer smiled, for a moment, before closing her screen.

"That, Senpai, was Rex. A Master who managed to tame even a lady like Quetzacoatl~!" Ritsuka gazed back at me, the look in his eye saying it all.

"...That was his Quetzacoatl?!"

Of course, his incredulous statement immediately after solidified things -- as, giving it some thought, I'd realized myself what had happened.

"...Well, now I feel a bit bad, summoning Quetzacoatl like that. Probably should've used a catalyst that wasn't a T. Rex plushie."

As Ritsuka casually said something that made even BB perform a double take, my mind fell a little bit -- as I tried to make heads or tails of that Master.

'...That man... Despite a situation so grim that he had to alter his own body, and add a Phantasmal Spirit to its structure... He didn't look fearful at all.'

No -- it wasn't fearlessness. That was sheer grit, made only stronger by what was on the line. His sharp tone, the fire in his eyes, wasn't from foolish aggression or rashness -- it was from a man whose life and love were all on the line. A man who knew how bad the situation could get, and one that could swallow their fear and fight for the sake of someone they loved.

'...No wonder she was so insistent on finding him.'

The horrible taste of jealousy caught in my throat -- my eyes closed, seeing only that fiery gaze.

...That was bravery.

...My eyes flipped between screen after screen -- Rex' fiery gaze, and his risky yet high-reward plan just to save his lover. Quin's emotional strength in the heat of the moment, holding out and fighting long enough to find safety, being such a kind Master that even one like BB would cherish her.

'...Compared to them...'

...That jealousy, that surrounded my neck, tightening it and stealing my breath away. Envy at their strength, where I had lacked it.

Those -- were heroes. Those were the people that would surely save their 'Chaldea.'

...Certainly, I knew my own weaknesses -- but it only became clearer, where I stood.

"...Cadence, I think he's an ally. Whaddya think?"

But the jealousy cleared itself from my neck as Ritsuka shouldered me lightly, and as a hand formed itself upon my shoulder. Silent though it was, I knew that grip as well as the back of my hand.

"...He's no Genji."

...An approving voice -- Ushiwakamaru, doffing her mask and blindfold and sitting just beside me.

"...He fights our fight. An enemy of the Genji is a friend of mine."

...That jealousy wouldn't so easily leave me -- but I only allowed my mind, for a moment, to recognize my own strengths.

Even if I paled in comparison to these two heroes, I still had something.

"...I think he's an ally, too, Ritsuka. Maybe a little blunt, but... I've only ever seen a gaze like that in you."

The Master beside me scoffed.

"Are you kiddin' me, chief? I don't think I've seen anyone so determined to help someone. And seeing as how you're showing us that, BB, I assume he succeeded."

"Correct~! Both of these two are just as alive as you are. And, y'know, this isn't the end of our marathon."

...Ritsuka raised an eyebrow.

"Jeez, just how many saviours of humanity are there? I find it hard to believe so many Earths got the crap end of the stick."

"You'd know if you counted to infinity, senpai~! I'm only showing you the ones you'll probably meet. I snuck a little charm into that Quetz' pocket, you see, and now you're linked~!"

...

"What."

Ritsuka took approximately five seconds before responding.

"It was just a bit of stomach medication. A little baggie I gave her. I don't even think she knows it's there."

...

"What."

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding~! Maybe."

...As me, and Ritsuka, found ourselves completely sidetracked by what was best described as 'the worst thing we've heard in centuries,' BB clapped her hands together and began pulling up a few more screens.

"I call a little intermission~! All three of you, get some treats and come back later. I promise you'll love the next ones."

--

...

An ever-shining light, bypassing such simple screens, watched 'them' in their many, many seats.

Them who threatened to suffocate and take over 'them,' 'him,' but who satisfied themselves watching the production of Life.

The rakugo theatre intrigued them all -- as a lone 'it,' playing the parts of them all, laughed and dropped another punchline to the tale. Surely, a dramatic, comical, saddening, heartmelting, uplifting 'rakugo' --

...As the actors raised their hands to follow suit, and drive the coward into the next act of his performance, 'it' held up its fan and its cloth, waving the acting Masters to their next story -- to the next ochi.

▄▀▄██▌▌░█▓╨╨╜╓═

The ever-shining light laughs, and cries, and screams, and smiles gently.

The performance has only just begun.

[hopeled]

Fate/Grand Order Dialogue Meme

Repost, don’t reblog!

SUMMON:

" Huh. Well, isn’t this a strange turn of events? Never thought it’d end up like this......ah! Right, I forgot: introductions! Forgive me. Fujimaru Ritsuka-- yep, the very same one. Ha, you look surprised! Me too, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure you make it out of this in one piece. “

LEVELING UP:

Level up – “ So this is what it feels like.....Arturia was right. They could use more flavor.” First Ascension – “ Outfit change is a go! Kinda like those old superhero movies, but much more efficient. What do you think? Pretty cool, huh? “ Second Ascension -- ” You think if I ask da Vinci-chan, she’ll let us put in a system that plays the level up noise whenever this happens? No? What do you mean it’s pointless?!”  Third Ascension – “ Mmm. I used to always doubt what I could do to help, but I will not let this be a waste. ” Final Ascension – “ I told you from the start I would make sure you came out of this in one piece. I intend to keep that promise and like this, I can. So thank you for believing in me like this. Everything that I am is yours. ”

BATTLE

Battle Start – “ Let’s go, Master.” Skill 1 – “ Don’t get cocky.” Skill 2 –  (imitating a Servant’s laugh) “  Hm? Too much? Sorry....” Skill 3 --  “ Playtime is over!” Attack Select 1 – “Gotcha.” Attack Select 2 – “You better keep your eyes wide open!” Attack Select 3 – “ I see.” Extra Attack – “Did you think I was finished?” Noble Phantasm Selected – “ So it’s come to this...” Noble Phantasm Deployed – “ Humanity must bear sorrow and tears, but still they struggle towards the sky. No matter far we travel, that is our guiding hope. For their promise of tomorrow, your end will be here. Don’t worry....for even this ending will be beautiful. ” (Anti-World, AOE: Apply Ignore Invincible to self (3 turns, activates first), deals increased damage against [Threat to Humanity] enemies (1 turn, activates first),  inflicts heavy defense ignoring damage & lowers defense (3 turns) to all enemies and applies debuff immunity to self ( 5 turns) ) Regular Damage – “Hngh--.” Damage from Noble Phantasm – “Dammit--” Defeat 1 – “Ah....so it’s like this....but.....” Defeat 2 – “Don’t think.....this means you’ve won-!- ” Battle Finish 1 – “  Come on, time for food! ” Battle Finish 2 – “ I wonder.....would you be proud....?”

MY ROOM

Bond Level 1 – "No, I’m not hiding! I just....I’m not sure how the others will handle it if I just walk out like ‘ Hey, guess who’s back!’ without warning. ” Bond Level 2 – “ Come on, let’s talk. No, not about me but you. Ah, you wanna know something first? Alright then.  Don’t let any stories fool you-- I was nothing special when I was a Master....and I was always afraid. “ Bond Level 3 – “ I never thought I was Servant material, nor did I really want history to remember me for obvious reasons. Despite doing all I did....I always wondered: would it work? Would things go back to normal? But I had to try, at the very least.” Bond Level 4 – “ You want to know how it happened? To be honest I....can’t really remember the details. I don’t know if that’s the Throne’s interference or something else but maybe it’s better that way.  ” Bond Level 5 – “ I think I finally understand now....why so many did what they did for me. The path you’re on isn’t a cruel one. It will hurt you and try to break you and push you beyond your limits. It’s merciless, saving the world. You’re giving everything to it. But when you’re on your knees and wondering how you can keep going on like this, don’t worry. You’ll find your resolve in that moment and you will get back up. How do I know this? Because I was you, once. You don’t have to say anything because I know. And I promise I will be there with you, every step of the way. Both as your Servant and as your friend. And if you can’t find the strength to, I’ll carry you until you do. Your burdens are mine as well-- don’t forget that.”

Dialogue 1 – “I think it’s taking everyone some getting used to....seeing me like this. I can see that look in their eyes everytime I’m around.” Dialogue 2 – “ Come on, lay down. It’s rare to get free time around here, what with everything going on. So sleep. Hm? Oh, don’t worry! I know a few good spots where you won’t be disturbed and even then, I’ll make sure you get your rest. ” Something you like – “ My likes? Food! And napping, but Servants don’t need sleep huh.....I also enjoy origami. Sometimes, the Casters will animate the little creations for the children Servants....it’s nice, seeing them laugh. ” Something you dislike – “ Ha.....that’s too long of a list, you know? But I’ll go with something less serious-- I would not mind if cherry tomatoes were obliterated from existence. I don’t like their smug aura....it mocks me.” About the Holy Grail – “ The Holy Grail....I won’t lie, it’s tempting. But I don’t want it. I’d rather accomplish something with my own hands.” During an event – “Well, what are you waiting for? Go! Have some fun!” Birthday – “I know this probably isn’t how you expected to celebrate your birthday, but....it’s not a bad thing. Go on-- I’m sure Emiya has made the best cake you could ever hope for. Enjoy it while it lasts because if not I can finish it for you! Hey, don’t make that face, I was joking!”

[fgodestinyawakenings]

FGO Destiny Awakenings: CDD #5

Definitely not a good chapter, because I planned two scenes inside for flashback in here. One is an alternate short POV in the Command Room explosion, the other is the first meeting between Fujimaru Siblings. And also, mainly a development for Ritsuko to grow less cowardly and now to make her move now to fight for humanity... Which hence it took me very long and probably in the not very well conveyed how she develop from this.

Lastly... My Dad passed away last year September, so my mind had a mental breakdown in processing emotions which make my mom worry. Of course work life being shit and overwhelming workload didn't help too.

However, this chapter will have Trigger Words of post family abuse aftermath result in it for safety. Because I'm not even sure it's triggering or offending people on the topic of post-family abuse situation. I'll be clear that my writing may not reflect realistically on what happen in actual real life abuse.

But if you do have friends or yourself in a violent family abuse situation that really needs help, Wikipedia is unfortunately not the best answer as I needed a list of worldwide hotlines for every countries here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_domestic_violence_hotlines

=== Author's note:

Ritsuka & Ritsuka (Gudao & Gudako) profile can be found here: Tumblr Link

For Ritsuka's father, he looks like an older version of Charlemagne of Fate/Extella with complete black hair

For Ritsuko's mother, she resembled more towards Haydee a little but still an adult looking version of Ritsuko

Both are not drawn so please imagine as you wish OTL

--------

Ritsuko: *stares* Mash: ? Ritsuko, passive aggressive whisper: When can we be lesbian?

-- Mash tending Ritsuko's wounds gained from strengthening magecraft training

AO3 || Fanfiction.net || Ritsuka & Ritsuko's Profile

Cowardly fools are more blessed than others

“Feel the heat as the source of your mana…,” Ritsuko muttered to herself alone inside the dimly lit training room.

Her hands hovering above a small lit-up glass lamp brighten than natural by her mana for today’s training lesson.  

The ongoing transmitted magical energy continuously illuminated more, diminished their shadow until there was nothing.

A small smile twisted on her lips, thinking to herself in delight. “Alright! Just like this and—!” 

KLANG!

“Ah!” Ritsuko raised both arms to shield herself from the shattering glass lamp. Once the burst of light flashed again from her overcharged lamp faded…. She gawked at the remains and let out a frustrated groan. “Oh, come on! And I was close too!!” 

The broken lamp before her joined her mountain of failures on her left. 20 lamps she requested from Sadakuni, only 4 charged and illuminated the initial dark training room. 15 or now 16 lamps broken set aside, the orange-haired Master sighed. “I don’t think Sadakuni-san will spare me any more lamps. There won’t be enough if a sudden blackout happens.” 

Switched her attention to mama charged lamp, Ritsuko picked one of them to inspect with a frown. “I can’t be running on sheer luck at this point! If I can’t be consistent in channeling my mana, everybody will—Wah!” 

The dimly lit room burst with light after being switched on. Ritsuko whirled her head to the entrance, finding a familiar pair of stunned and concerned Mash. And behind her, the Archer Servant Emiya’s expression where a brief surprise at her Master’s whereabouts.  

Breathed a relief sigh, the orange-haired Master greeted. “It’s just you two, Mash-chan, Emiya-san. Did they call us to support any sort of help?” 

“Yes, Ritsuko-senpai.

“Emiya-senpai and I were looking for you to discuss with Duston-san on inspecting maintenance duty shift—!”

The Demi-Servant’s answer was cut short when her purple eyes widened at what she saw. 

She rushed towards the orange-haired Master, lifting the latter’s bleeding fingers and palms as her face paled at the sight. “Your hand is bleeding, Senpai!” 

“What?” Ritsuko’s initial confusion transformed into realization upon following Mash’s gaze.

“O-Oh, this is from the strengthening magecraft! I suppose the last exploded lamp was a bit too much than I guessed!” 

The flustered laughter from Ritsuko only intensified the Demi-Servant’s worries. Before she could interject, the tan-skinned and white-haired Archer spoke up behind her. “I’ll fetch the first aid kit. Please stay to tend Master, Mash.” 

Watched the Archer Servant spun and vanished into his Spirit firm, Mash peered behind her with a thankful nod. “Thank you, Emiya-senpai.”

-0-

“Fou fou?” Fou sat down a distance behind the two girls, his head examining the broken glass of a lamp.

Before he prodded it with one of his front paws, a broom swept away the glass, accompanied by Emiya’s warning. “Try not to come too close, Fou.”

“Fou!” The white furry creature acknowledged with a squeak, observing the Archer Servant cleaning the training room.

Meanwhile, Ritsuko seated with the Demi-Servant where the latter tending her injured palm.

After cleaning and ensuring the bleeding ceased, Mash carefully dipped a gauze cloth covered with anesthetic ointment on the wound.

Winced at the stinging pain a few times from the medication, Ritsuko breathed out a whisper. “Thanks for the help, Mash-chan.”

Mash shook her head while remaining attentive with a faint beam on her face. “It’s not a problem, Ritsuko-senpai.”

More than an angel, Ritsuko thought to herself after seeing her in a closer view. Her violet eyes carried a soft and warm emotion. The delicate lips curved a smile as though to admire the hands as she fastened the bandages closed.

Though as much as the orange-haired Master wished to admire longer, her curiosity got the better and pressed with a slightly teasing mood. “Is there something on my hand you’re smiling about?”

“W-What? N-No, nothing at all, Senpai.” Mash’s cheeks burned red on recognizing how embarrassing she must’ve appeared before her Master. She promptly returned with a bashful grin and admitted. “I remembered back when the control room exploded, and I became trapped under the debris. Senpai held my hands with her own until Ritsuka-senpai came for us.”

The bespectacled Demi-Servant’s admission caused her Master’s jaw to drop. A groan escaped, and Ritsuko nearly slumped down in a humiliated face. “O-Oh, that, huh?! That was embarrassing. Please don’t bring it up again! Just thinking about it makes me want to crawl into the closet and never come out again….”

But, for Mash, she laughed warmly despite the protest. “To me, however, it wasn’t Senpai. Because…”

-0-

Darkness was Ritsuko’s companion before her team’s turn to reyshift into Fuyuki. It would be a stretch to say it wasn’t nerve-wracking. There were few others aside from her gagged and fainting before they started the mission.

The orange-haired girl remembered the irritated, high-pitched shriek from Olga Marie.

Even a distance away from her, Ritsuko heard her yelling to Lev, ordering him to have the Head Doctor show up to tend the weak Team B. All the moments where she was—!

“…. Senpai!” A familiar voice cried out to her from the darkness urgently.

“E… Eh?”

Next, another familiar squeaking noise cried to rouse her from the darkness. “Kyu…. Kyu, fou!”

“Fou-kun…?” The orange-haired Master recognized the noise once her brain processed the awareness for Fou and…

Mash’s worried and panicked voice shouted for her once more. “Ritsuko-senpai, please wake up!!!”

Black transformed from white to a blazing fiery orange surrounding them. Small broken debris on her body and the smell of smoke nearly overwhelmed her lungs… Ritsuko weakly choked while struggling to fixate her vision.

“Mash-chan…?” The orange-haired Master’s eyes landed on the bespectacled violet-haired girl and the white squirrel-like creature.

“Fou-kun…?”

“Fou fou!”

While Fou squeaked a few times to respond in joy, Mash let out her own shaky relief breath she held the whole time. “Thank goodness you’re alright, Senpai.”

“What do you mean—?” The orange-haired girl’s own question was solved by the alarm’s noise. A horrified gasp escaped upon seeing the sight before her. Flames continued to spread and scorched everything it stood. Broken coffins with unconscious participants in or dropped out of the capsules…

And there were the Chaldeas instead of brilliant shining blue…. A dark ash gray reinforced their impending catastrophe and death. Ritsuko then muttered once her orange eyes settled on the globe. “What… What happen?”

“To be honest, I don’t have any clue. Just when I was to return to my coffin before the reyshift, an explosion happened.” Mash shook her dejectedly, hints of frustration as she went on at how clueless she was. “Everyone in the A-Team was badly injured…. Along with the rest of the candidates, Senpai. Only you are the one who’s alright and.”

“This is horrible…,” Ritsuko muttered. If the cold sweat didn’t chill down her spine at their plight, later, the sense of dread doomed in her heart to what Mash explained. “An explosion… Then, Ritsuka…!!”

“Senpai, wait!” The bespectacled violet-haired girl yelling fell deaf onto Ritsuko. She at once hopped out of her coffin and sprinted towards the exit.

Fou’s cries and Mash’s shouting muffled by the blazing fire and the collapsing Command room. The noises of Ritsuko’s own heart hammering and frantic running fueled the panic in her head. “Of all days, it had to be the first day of our job to have a disaster! Would anywhere else be attacked?”

Even her own lungs demanded a respite against the vast smoke. The orange-haired girl shook her head and pressed on. “No, Ritsuka should be fine. There’s no way it would reach there. But, he could still be sleeping thanks to simulation….”

She shook her head repeatedly. Her heart pounded as harsh as how her leg muscle ached from the fatigue of running. “No, no, the explosion here definitely reached him. Someone would wake him for sure! He’s going to be alright! Ritsuka is—!”

“Above you, Senpai!!!” The last scream from Mash towards the orange-haired girl. Where the former shoved the latter forward roughly...

Then a mighty rumbling roar and deafening thud engulfed the area with dust and smoke. Ritsuko coughed against the sand, blew towards her. “Mash… Chan?”

Upon her sight, when the smoke cleared, Ritsuko became frozen, rigid with terror. Her skin paled matched with Mash’s unconscious face except for the blood dripping from her head. Her spectacles broke from the impact of the large rubble above her…

As blood slowly dyed her clothes in red, Fou cried out anxiously for his owner. “Fooou! foou!! Fou! Fooooooou!!!”

“Mash-chan!!!” Stumbled in horror, Ritsuko hurried and kneeled to her side. One hand grabbed hold of Mash’s own. The other moved to her face and tapped a few times lightly. “C-Can you hear me, Mash-chan?! Please answer me! Mash-chan!!!”

A weak groan and eyes gradually opened from Mash. She blinked a few times and acknowledged. “S…. Senpai….?”

Ritsuko breathed out a shaky relief sigh. A few tears fell from her eyes. She shook her head and pleaded. “P-Please stay with me….! I will get this off you, so hang on—!”

“No… You must leave….” Mash mustered as much ounce of strength against the crushing injury of her ribs to lift her arm. She raised her hand above the orange-haired girl’s own hand to stop and urged her to leave. “Ritsuka-senpai must be…. Worried about you, Senpai. Hurry or else—!”

“I’m not leaving you here!” Ritsuko interrupted while grabbing Mash’s raised hand with both of her hands. “I’ll bring us both out of here! Ritsuka may be glad to see me safe if I went ahead….”

Tears returned to overflow around her orange eyes, Ritsuko declared with a resolute voice loudly. “But I won’t ever forgive myself for letting you die if I came out alive!! Because you’re my friend, Mash-chan, that’s why I want to save you too!”

Despite how courageous and assuring she wished to sound, Mash noticed the trembling in her hand and how deeply the orange-haired girl felt for her. A single thought formed inside the Demi-Servant’s own mind...

“At that time as you say such words, whether to put a strong front for me or yourself… I’ll never forget the warmth of your trembling hands is the reason why I never hesitated to accept the condition from the Servant given inside me.”

-0-

Mash wore a nostalgic smile with her eyes closed while recalling and concluding. "That's why whenever I'm down or in fear, Senpai's quivering hand, you and Ritsuka-senpai, who stood by my side…. They will ever be the source of my strength."

"Mash-chan…."

No matter how awed and gratefully Ritsuko's soul swelled at the Demi-Servant's sincerity, her head sank down sadly at what she recalled otherwise.

"But aren't I just coward?"

"Senpai…?"

"Thinking back to what happened in Fuyuki, I doubted if that brave part of me was even there. At the sight of enemies and dangerous Servant, I hide and rely on Ritsuka's aid to save me. I'm sure Ritsuka is also afraid, but yet I can't tell if he is or not. Then again…."

The orange-haired Master showed a deprecated smile to Mash's uncertain look and laughed. "That's why I admire Ritsuka the most. Even when his thinking can be skewed a little, he'll always be a cool head to get us out of trouble. If I were like him, I wouldn't drag all of us down in Fuyuki."

Not only the Demi-Servant, but Fou also went towards Ritsuko. Both of his front paws planted on her lap as though seeking to comfort her. "Fou…"

A severe difference between the Fujimaru siblings, Ritsuko often recalled and reproached herself.

Even when Ritsuka held his anger towards Lev, he remained calm and shielded her before the professor attacked them.

Even up against Medusa and the two other Servants, she realized she's the most significant burden for her passiveness by her cowardice.

Mash wouldn't have been in a perilous position on forcing herself to invoke a Noble Phantasm if she hadn't fallen for Caster Cu Chulainn's self-proclaimed training trap….

"What you said is correct, Master." Emiya's voice agreed with the conclusions she bemoaned to herself as he approached. The two girls whipped their heads over to face him while he continued. "I'm sure you understand that sort of behavior will kill you two if it wasn't likewise for Mash's quick-thinking to save you all. The hesitancy that occurs would've been a handicap to drag the mission further."

"Emiya-senpai?"

Cool black orbs from the Archer assuredly to the Demi-Servant's concern about his chiding. He shifted back to the orange-haired Master, who bore a bewildered face. "That would've been my lecture if you're an experienced Mage. You're a new Master. No, a new Mage. I know how you feel.

"You must be frustrated with how powerless by your own fears of what you've been through, but right now, let's keep looking forward. Isn't that right, Ritsuko? Will you stay petrified with fear? Or would you move forward to strive for your goal?"

“Isn’t that obvious…?” Ritsuko’s reply trailed away once her gaze settled on what her white-haired Servant handed to her in his grip. The familiar unlit lamp was yet used because of the welcome intrusion of the two Servants.

Emiya’s subsequent admittance answered the purpose of the lamp he handed over to her. “Whether it was fate that I’m summoned by you or not…. I’m clear it was no mistake you have your own strength and capacities as a Master to lead us with your brother, Master.”

Accepted the lamp into her hold while the orange-haired Master’s eyes fixated on the object. Her thoughts were elsewhere. This wasn’t the time to punish herself by comparing Ritsuka and her own person!

Twins were alike for their names only when she boasted with pride and joked to her elementary school friends. But, they would always be their own person, no matter whoever sought to compare the two.

Ritsuka’s mature intellect with athletic capabilities was himself and why he was elected as Student Council President.

And she…

“Fou fooou fou!” Fou squeaked, seemingly agreeing again to the orange-haired Master’s conclusions and judgment.

“Right!” Ritsuko closed her eyes after letting out a sigh from her lips. If her Servant wanted to see her worth as his Master, then the answer was the steadily glowing charged lamp.

While it flickered from time to time by traces of worry and hesitancy, Mash noted as she observed. Fou let out another expected squeak. “Foou…”

The light continued to illuminate further and better by her resolve or the energy of her mana.

Unwavering and headstrong optimism to illuminate out the gloom as it ended.

After exhaling her own breath, Ritsuko opened her eyes and widened at the full charge glowing lamp. “I… I did it?”

“Fou fou kyu fooou!” Fou squeaked and hopped around the orange-haired Master to congratulate her for the success.

Even the violet-haired Demi-Servant’s face lit up with a soft red blush and commended. “Amazing! You did it, Senpai. A fully charged mana lamp with no backlash!”

“Y-Yeah! I couldn’t charge it without a bit of the painful spark that caused overcharging. But now it just lit up with no issue!” Ritsuko picked up her charged lamp to study again in incredulity. No hints of sudden outbursts or even diffusions happened when she rotated the lamp around.

It was the brightest and stable lamp among the four other lamps.

Or, to be exact, this was the correct potential of her growing magical powers, Emiya noted mentally before presenting his acknowledgment of approval.

“Before a Master, both of you are ordinary people foremost.

“Emotions such as your fears and doubts are factors to never run away from but to carry forward with your head held high. That’s why it’s normal to get anxious at first, but…. It seems my concerns on the effect of my words weren’t necessary.”

“Emiya-san….” Ritsuko muttered to the concerns he harbored at first. Yet, by the faint relief emotions from the Archer’s words, he accepted her worth as his Master. A brilliant smile curled on her lips, and she shook her head gratefully. “It should be I who is sorry to you and Mash-chan for worrying you guys. Thank you for the encouragement to wake me up, Emiya-san!”

While the white-haired Archer returned with a terse nod, Mash returned with her own reassuring smile. “There’s no need to thank us, Ritsuko-senpai. Ritsuka-senpai, Caster, and all of us would be more than willing to cheer you up!”

After Ritsuko showed an enthusiastic grin to the Demi-Servant, a strange thought produced in her mind.

Her head whipped to face her Archer Servant again. “Hey, Emiya-san…”

“Hm?”

“You and that Caster met before, right? What’s your beef with him? Is he that terrible as a Servant to have?” Or what else explained to Ritsuko on hers and her brother’s needs to split them like earlier before they ravaged the training room.

And it was because Emiya provoked Caster Cu Chulainn’s incompetence to harden his staff to a spear for his longing to be a Lancer-class.

While Caster countered by begging to differ, at least he wasn’t suffering an inferiority complex from his previous experiences.

“Ah…. That huh…,” Emiya sighed upon reminding the earlier event. “In terms of our view and ideals, we just don’t get along. But when our mission begins, I promise to aid you and Ritsuka to the fullest. Even it means compromising with the unpleasantness of working with him again.”

“Well, please do to ease our incoming headaches,” Ritsuko acknowledged.

At least her Servant was more agreeable in obeying his Master’s wish. That’s one worry settled in her heart.

Mash lifted a hand to her chin thoughtfully and wondered. “Senpai, are you bothered about Ritsuka-senpai since the last training?”

“What? N-No!”

Despite her initial denial, the orange-haired Master confessed with sighed at how adorably concerned her Demi-Servant’s face presented.

“Alright, maybe a little…. I trust he won’t turn around and start attacking us in the back for his ‘training.’ It’s just that I’m glad Ritsuka is opening up and having fun to looking forward to meeting the historical characters he worships.”

“And Senpai is concerned because…?”

The Demi-Servant prodded again with confusion.

The orange-haired Master’s face colored with nervousness and reluctance to explain her reason. However, the furrowed brows on Mash, along with Emiya’s own under his impassive mask, resigned her fate. “This is only between us three, okay? Well, Ritsuka wasn’t like this in the past. Or, at least when I first met him….”

“When I first heard from my Mom, I’m going to have a new older brother from remarrying my stepdad, I was so excited on meeting him.

“I always hear stories how my friends talked about having a sibling to play with. Though even when they sounded annoyed, there’s so much love they have for them so I can’t wait to meet him.”

A young orange-haired girl swinging her legs happily on a chair inside a private room of a high-class restaurant. Her hair was tied in a single loose ponytail with a yellow and white flora pattern.

Ritsuko’s cheek painted red with a sunny smile, hoping her favorite orange-colored sundress impressed her new brother.

From the noise of footsteps coming into the room a few minutes afterward, Ritsuko perked up to the older orange-haired woman resembling her. She hopped off from her seat and rushed to where she was. “Are they here yet, Okaa-san?!”

“They will be soon, Ritsuko-chan.” Her mom responded, dropping her body slightly and patting her daughter’s head. “Try to be a bit more patient, alright.”

“Hehe!” Ritsuko giggled as her mother’s chiding had no bite. The latter understood how restless she was when she first learned about having a new brother. The 10 years of raising her daughter by herself may have made her lonesome when she’s working in the office.

But, with a new father and brother, she only hoped Ritsuko’s solitude softened a little.

The young girl spotted the smile on her mom’s face transformed into a gloomy expression.

She kneeled down on both knees to look into her daughter’s eyes. “Ritsuko-chan, there’s something you must know before we meet them….”

“What is it? Is that man Okaa-san marrying being mean…?” Ritsuko asked. Her heart pounded with panic at the possibility of her new father was an evil person. And he forced her mom to do things she didn’t like.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” The orange-haired girl saw her mom laugh assuredly.

She held both of her daughter’s hands in a delicate grasp and explained. “It’s your new brother, Ritsuko-chan. Six months ago, Charles couldn’t contact and find him for months after his mommy disappeared with him on their visit to her family. And when Charles finally found them, Ritsuka… He has been through a lot of bad things by his mommy and nearly died.”

Whatever temporary relief Ritsuko had for her mom took over with horrified fear at what her new brother went through. Her orange eyes grew big, her hands holding her mother’s own stiffened as she demanded. “W…. Why would Ritsuka’s mommy do such a thing to him, Okaa-san…? What did she do to him?!”

“I’m sorry, Ritsuko-chan. I can’t tell you yet. You’re too young to understand…,” Ritsuko’s mother shook her head in sadness. “But Charles was glad that he was alright after bringing him back to life from his supposed death. From that day forward, Charles took your brother with him after the divorce and ensured his ex-wife won’t see him again.”

“But, Okaa-san…! What happened—?!”

Ritsuko’s mom interjected once more and requested with a painstaking tone. “I will explain to you when you’re older. But please take care of each other, okay…?”

“… Yes, Okaa-san…,” Ritsuko accepted with reluctance.

Even as her mother stood and patted her head apologetic and assuredly, the curiosity, worries and fears etched in her heart remained.

“I wanted to ask more, but I know my mom will just give back the same answer. ‘I was too young understand’, she said. Telling me Ritsuka’s mom did something really bad to him so Dad ensured his mom will never come close to meet Ritsuka again.”

At the next minute, the door clicked opened got their attention. A tall, dark-haired man in a white coat and black shirt entered while carrying a child in his hold and closed the door behind them. Spun around, the man showed his face in his early 30s.

The man’s blue eyes spotted the mother-daughter pair, next greeted with an apologetic bow of his head.

“Kaoru-san, I’m sorry to keep you waiting….

“I had to take another direction after the traffic intersection would not move for an hour.”

“No, we weren’t waiting that long. As I have brought up, this is my daughter, Ritsuko.” Kaoru grinned assuredly, moving one hand placing it behind her daughter’s back.

On cue, Ritsuko presented the most gracious bow she practiced to them. She didn’t want her mom’s boss to judge them negatively, recalling they came from a somewhat wealthy or something family. “Pleased to meet you!”

Though Charles acknowledged with a modest, gentle smile, the orange-haired girl’s attention was elsewhere. To be specific, it was the young black-haired boy in his hold. His head rested against his father’s shoulder, facing away from them.

Sensed by the interest from Ritsuko, Charles beamed and introduced. “This is your older brother, Ritsuka-san, Ritsuko-san. Though he’s older than you by a year, he will study in the same grade as you. I hope the two of you will get along with each other.

“I see….” Ritsuko murmured while studying her new older sibling being set down gingerly. A plain white T-shirt and dark-colored shorts were worn that would have fit the dark-haired child’s size...

“Even that shirt and shorts was about his size, it was 10 times bigger by how visible his bones were. The blue eyes have no single light inside him, staring at nothing except the abyss….”

In plain view, Ritsuka’s skinny arms, legs, and body were all skin and bones by how the shapes of the bones stuck out. Maybe it was because of that. Charles forgone without the shoes for his son and carried him in. His face facing downwards was near spectral at how pale he appeared and his sunken cheeks.

Charles next kneeled on one knee by his son’s side, putting one hand on his head gently and introducing. “Ritsuka-san, this is your new mom and little sister. It’s alright. They are nice people to be a family, especially your sister.”

Yet, Ritsuka did no movement or sound to answer his father’s words.

His head remained bent downward, gazing at nothing in silence.

The dark-haired man’s eyebrows furrowed in worry at his sullen behavior.

Even Kaoru, furrowed with worries at her new stepson, but... Ritsuko moved to stand before him. She grasped both of his frail hands and threw her brilliant grin. “Nice to meet you, Ritsuka! My name is Ritsuko. I’ll be your new little sister from today onwards. So, I hope to be in your care!”

Her introduction caught Ritsuka’s attention to shift his head and look at her. She giggled as a cheer to herself. Her idea was achieved successfully. After all, the orange-haired girl just needed to show her new brother that she and her mom accepted him into the family.

“Ritsuko-chan, where are your manners to your big brother?!”

Ritsuko whipped her head over to where her mom was. Her cheeks puffed and formed a miffed pout. “But, Okaa-san! Since he’s going to be in the same grade as me, and both of us sharing about the same name, we could be like twins!”

Kaoru raised one hand on her temple and shook her head exasperatedly. “Honestly, I’m glad to recognize the first thing is you both look nothing alike to be twins.”

“It’s alright, Kaoru-san,” But the dark-haired man begged to differ with an affectionate chuckle and grinned at Kaoru.

“Both Ritsuka-san and I are pleased to welcome such a cheerful girl into the family.”

A cheerful grin curved on the orange-haired girl’s lips at her new step-father’s approval. She suddenly felt a faint movement and returned to face her brother. Ritsuka’s vacant blue eyes now meet back at their held hands.

It seemed he sought to reciprocate her gesture with a weak grip of his bony hands, later a faint nod to acknowledge her. Taking a few minutes to process her new older step-brother struggling to convey, Ritsuko smiled with her eyes crinkled in delight. “Hehe! Please take care of me, Onii-chan!”

“While I’m glad Mom was happy with her new husband…. It wasn’t an easy job to get Ritsuka to reply in his own way being quiet all the time. He’d be always somewhere in the house sitting down with a book staring motionlessly. And in school, he’d drift from class to class, often getting scolded by teachers for not answering in class.

“Beating up people who talk bad about Ritsuka was easy, I had practice when boys and girls make fun of me for not having a father when my mom raised me all by herself. Even so, he’s still my Onii-chan who is willing to play with me when our parents are working.”

After school hours inside an elementary school classroom, Ritsuko shoved the classroom sliding door open.

Her head darted around, then onto the notable raven-colored short-haired boy.

“Ah, sorry to keep you waiting, Ritsuka—!”

Amid the classroom, a recognizable raven-haired boy was seated at his desk, reading a thick book in his grip.

Unlike his frail former appearance, no bones were evident in the orange-haired girl’s view after opening up and joining in during meal times.

She stopped beside Ritsuka to peep at the front cover of the book he was reading. “Hmm…. ‘Hans Christian Andersen: The Life of a Storyteller’… You really like these books about big famous people, huh….”

As expected, the raven-haired boy never responded to her remark. His still lifeless blue eyes still staring at the currently open page he’s concentrating on.

“At least no teacher is complaining to Okaa-san again…,” Ritsuko murmured to herself with an exhausted sigh.

Today’s school was thankful without trouble for being called by teachers about her brother’s attitude.

It seemed they more or less accepted or turned apathetic to the new transfer pupil character.

Still, it’s troubling for the orange-haired girl if Ritsuka didn’t show signs of recovery.

Still, while thinking about what other topics to make her brother talk to her, Ritsuko recalled with a brightened face. “Speaking of Hans Christian, there’s an old movie called The World of Hans Christian Andersen!”

Her heart surged with satisfaction when Ritsuka turned his head to face her.

His dull blue eyes revealed brief interest and curiosity at the famous historical man she suggested.

Ritsuko grinned at her older brother to affirm. “I found the movie DVD inside the fiction corner on our last trip to Namekawa Shiritsu Kodomo Library. If you’d like, let’s ask Okaa-san and Otou-san to bring us there this weekend!”

As though trying to process her idea for a few seconds….

Ritsuka came back with a nod to acknowledge and accept his younger stepsister’s idea.

Ritsuko’s orange eyes sparkled while giving one last sparkling and biggest smile. She rushed towards her seat to pack her school bag hurriedly. Once done, she zoomed to the exit while her legs bounced vigorously on the spot. “Come on, we got to hurry home for dinner, Ritsuka!”

Her older brother nodded, bookmarking and placing away the book in his bag. He picked up his school bag and accompanied his sister, making their way close to the school gate.

Though Ritsuka was her silent companion, the orange-haired girl appreciated that he constantly listened to her chatting about their days in class.

Or, even when she grumbled about their teachers providing them surprise quiz out of nowhere.

The small nods and shakes of his head were proof to Ritsuko. Her step-brother was gradually opening up to her.

Ritsuko grinned when he nodded about their Japanese teacher had handed out less homework to play more on the weekends. “And we simply need to create three sentences based on the ten different Kanjis learned for the entire week! This should be easy—!”

“Look who do we have here! If it isn’t Class 4-C Fujimaru Ritsuko and her freaky brother!”

Whirled her head to the origin of the nasty voice, Ritsuko’s orange eyes narrowed angrily at the familiar three different colored size boys. She strode towards them and folded her arms with a glare. “And, if it isn’t the three Senpais from Class 6-B that I’ve kicked your backsides weeping to your mommy. Are you here again because you haven’t gotten enough?”

The large-sized boy’s cheek was aflame, embarrassed at the shame of getting pummeled by a younger girl like Ritsuko. “Why you! We’re only happy to offer to help your brother talk again. It must be a pain to have such a big brother who clings to his sister like a zombie.”

“Ritsuka isn’t a pain! We’re together because that’s how siblings should be between an older one and a younger one.” The orange-haired girl exclaimed furiously. Her orange eyes blazed with fury at the insults hurled to her step older brother, who didn’t budge or react at his spot.

Her proclamation didn’t react a bit to the three bullies, only to the average-sized boy to jeer at her. “Oh yeah? Then maybe he doesn’t talk because of your weird family. I bet he doesn’t even like you or your mom, ever!”

“He does!” Stepping another foot forward closer to the bullies, Ritsuko stood firm with her trembling hand clenched tightly. “Ri… Ritsuka definitely loves us! He loves my mommy just as much as his real mommy. Ritsuka might not show it, but I’m sure he does!”

Because indeed, when Ritsuka constantly hesitated and didn’t allow his stepmother to come close to give physical affection... The orange-haired girl understood he didn’t despise them at all. His slight nod responded and replied, ‘thank you for caring for him.' And in his own way, Ritsuka helped do household errands without their mom learning of his act.

Ultimately, the last shorter boy among the trio snorted his insult to her. “Hah! That’s why his mommy doesn’t want him or his old man anymore. Even being top in class, his mommy must’ve hated him for being a weirdo—!”

Offended by his abusive comments, Ritsuko charged forward to knock the more petite bully down, straddling on top of his body to throw her punches into his face. “You take that back! How dare you say awful things about Ritsuka’s real mommy! I’m sure Ritsuka’s real mommy didn’t give up on him for no reason. And because he loves his real mommy the most, you take back those mean words to Onii-chan now!!”

Threw one last blow to the more petite boy, the latter rose with both palms up to shove Ritsuko off him roughly. “Get off me!”

“Kyah—! Ow!” Ritsuko yelped after falling to the ground, afterward wincing in pain as her side ponytail-haired was yanked up by the large-sized bully.

Powerless to free herself by the tight grip through her attempts, the orange-haired girl didn’t notice the bullies approaching to surround her for payback. While punching his fist into his hand all the moment, the giant-sized bully declared in a grunt. “We’ll make you pay this time, you little—!”

THUMP!

Ritsuko directed her head up at the noise, seeing the familiar black-colored bag slammed into the bully’s face.

She found herself pulled behind, and an unexpected voice filled with rage…

“Get your hands off her!”

At that moment, Ritsuko couldn’t breathe as her orange eyes widened in disbelief. The sight of the raven-haired boy standing in front of her, instead of the dull, impassive expression…. Blue eyes flickered with life and anger, and he delivered a punch across the giant boy’s face.

“At that moment, it was the first time… I finally heard my own Onii-chan’s voice after half a year of his silent replies and acknowledgements.”

Watched their comrade knock back Ritsuka’s punch. The remaining two bullies charged ahead.

Ritsuka whipped his head and ducked down, directly nudging the smaller bully’s gut. Then he rose to deliver his fist against the average-sized bully.

As the bully balked in pain, he dashed to Ritsuka once more with his fist raised. “Damn it! I’ll beat you up this time—!”

“I said…,” Upon coming to his range, the black-haired boy caught the bully’s shoulder. And the former smashed his forehead with an intense smacking noise onto the other. “Stay away from my little sister!!”

The impact knocked the average-sized bully out cold, tumbling onto the ground unconscious. Ritsuka stomped with one foot onto the body, whirled his head to where the two bullies remained with a chilling glare.

Trembled at their overwhelming adversary, the two bullies panicked, hastily collecting their knocked-out friend and retreated for their lives.

“L-Let’s get out of here!”

He…. He finally spoke out his first words, which were to protect her.

And Ritsuko wasn’t daydreaming about the light in Ritsuka’s blue eyes.

They were real. Ritsuka finally spoke with life in his eyes.

But, when the orange-haired girl was about to ask, Ritsuka jerked back to his little sister and yelled. “Idiot, what were you thinking?!!”

His sharp yelling caused the orange-haired girl to cower from his words. Ritsuka went back to stand in front and scolded. “Going up against three bullies bigger than you? Are you crazy?! Did you know how worried I would be if anything bad happened to you?!”

Even when Ritsuka’s cheeks burned red from his anger, his younger sister still gawked at him with an astonished look on her face. He gritted his teeth and demanded angrily. “Well?! Don’t just keep quiet, answer—! R… Ritsuko…?”

“… Hic…. Uuu….” Large and fat tears formed around Ritsuko’s eyes when he yelled at her. Shortly enough, streams of tears ran down her face, sobbing loudly before her step-brother. “WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!”

Fear and regret stained Ritsuka’s face for going too severe with his scolding. He quickly tried to console her, likewise examining if there were any bruises by the bullies. “R-Ritsuko, I-I’m sorry! I… I’m not angry with you. D-Don’t cry, hey! I’m sorry, I’m only just worried about you! But, I’m—!”

“Waaaaah!!!” The attempts to comfort the orange-haired girl had little to no effect. It got worse in front of him as she cried louder and harder. Her two fists lifted to wipe her tears that wouldn’t stop.

While still unsure what other ways to stop her tears, Ritsuka immediately hugged his younger sister in confusion. “T-There… T-There… I’m here? Nii-chan is alright. Nothing bad happened, see. Um, Ritsuko…? Please…?”

“Despite how hard Ritsuka tried to cheer me up, I kept on crying and crying… Until Ritsuka piggyback me all the way to our home, when I fell asleep from all the tears I cried out. However, we both got scolded from our Mom for getting involved in a fight by those bullies. But, the scolding didn’t last long when she too got shocked on hearing Ritsuka calling her ‘Okaa-san’ and speaking for the first time.”

-0-

Back in the present at Chaldea’s training room, Ritsuko chuckled to herself at the memories. “But really, if you asked why I cried… I don’t remember at all. I’m not even clear if I cried because of the bullies, Ritsuka’s scolding, or the happiness of seeing that bit of life return in Ritsuka’s eyes. I even thought it would be impossible by what they claimed to get closer to him.”

“You must love Ritsuka-senpai a lot, don’t you?” Mash smiled fondly at the cheerful smile on the orange-haired Master. The Demi-Servant looked back at how her face lit up at happy moments and expressed fears for her brother in her voice.

“Oh yes, I sure do,” Though Ritsuko agreed with her Servant’s words, she rolled her eyes and made a frustrated huff. “He may as well be my second mom by his nagging now and then. The one time I just got a perfect ‘D’ to pass my literature class, it was him demanding I read Macbeth once every four hours to get a good idea!”

Fou squeaked at her grievances from the spot where he sat. “Fou Fou!”

“Hehe, annoying, isn’t it, Fou-kun?” Stood up from the ground, Ritsuko dusted herself and assured the two Servants.

“Anyhow, I’m assuming too much of that Caster. If it’s Ritsuka, I’m positive he could control him too.

“He isn’t our student council President, being able to go up against both our own and neighborhood school intimidating gangster to settle on their smoking habits.”

As Mash picked her furry companion into her arms to follow her Master, the latter twisted her head behind when she arrived at the exit. “I’ll head back to my room for a quick shower before finding Duston-san for the duty shift. After that, we’ll settle down for—!”

Unknowingly to Ritsuko, the door behind her opened before she pressed the button. She bumped into the enormous figure in front of her when she stepped forward. “Ah!”

“Careful,” Emiya popped up behind his Master in time to hold her up before she fell.

However, the individual in front wasn’t lucky as they fell back down with a loud ‘thump’ and sounds of items scattered onto the ground. “Oof!”

“Are you alright, Ritsuko-senpai?” The Demi-Servant jogged over at the commotion. She did a brief glimpse to assess that no physical injuries occurred for her Master when she peered over…. Her left violet eye widened in surprise. “Ah!”

While delivering a glance behind to the Archer to murmur ‘thank you,’ Ritsuko reverted to the front and widened her eyes too in shock, “S-Sadakuni-san?!”

Groans of ‘ow’ and pained cries escaped the Section Chief’s lips, kneading the back of his hips that required Romani to examine if needed.

The two recognizable exclamations from the young girls made Sadakuni move his head over to express his own surprise face to the three.

“Mash-kun, Ritsuko-kun, what are you two still doing here?!”

“Well, I was sort of having my own additional training in the strengthening class today. So, Mash-chan and Emiya-san came by to see for me when I didn’t report to Duston-san on which duty shift I preferred.” Ritsuko offered her hand out to the Section Chief, pulling him up carefully.

Mash pointed out while kneeling down to help pick the large cloth and ink-written talisman. “It’s as Ritsuko-senpai said. 16 lamps broken leaving 4 lamps lit up and charged after her practice while injuring her hand.”

“Th-There’s no need to tell him that part, Mash-chan!”

The orange-haired Master’s face turned red with embarrassment and let out a mortified exclamation, yanking her hand back once Sadakuni stood up.

“You drop this,” Emiya handed a talisman slip into the Section Chief’s hand after fetching it from the ground.

When Mash passed him his belongings, Sadakuni checked to see none of his stuff was missing and revealed a broad, grateful grin. “Oh, thanks a lot, Mister Emiya! And you girls as well.”

Returned him with her own smile, Ritsuko examined the items in the Section Chief’s hold, noticing a few familiar objects, and inquired.

“Sadakuni-san is an Onmyodo practitioner?”

“Half-correct, Ritsuko-kun.

“While the Agano family possesses a deep history of Onmyojis, the magecraft we use differs from the ones you’ve known of.”

Sadakuni’s answer only made the orange-haired Master confused, allowing Mash to offer a further specific explanation.

“The Agano family uses their Onmyodo magecraft in style with Nine Hand Seals, known famously both as Kuji-in and similarly Mudras.

“Under the mantra incantation, they called forth their spell.”

Sadakuni nodded, directed his head back to the Master, and continued.

“Like what Mash-kun mentioned, our forefather was exceptionally well-versed because of his discipline as a Ninja.

“But for reasons or another, our ancestors hid our lineage from the Mages Association.

“Now realizing about it, I think most Magus households in Japan are not in contact with them once before, until recently, by the Animusphere family—!”

“In that case… Please train me how to use your Onmyodo, Sadakuni-san!”

Ritsuko’s sudden request with an earnest tone startled the three individuals and Fou.

Sadakuni was the first to break out from being taken aback. “W-What did you say…?!

“Ritsuko…?” Even Emiya’s face painted with his slight surprise at what his Master wanted.

His black-colored eyes stared at Ritsuko, trying to understand what the orange-haired Master desired from learning the magecraft.

Biting her inner cheek, Ritsuko strode a foot forward to plead again to the Section Chief. “I realize this is both sudden and too much that I’m suggesting, but please—!”

“H-Hold on a second!” Sadakuni held out a palm to stop her. Then, his hand drifted to rest on his waist, his face expressing reluctance and uncertainty while clarifying to the young Master. “Wait here, Ritsuko-kun…. It’s true. I notice you both have pursued to learn the various magecraft located in the libraries. However, I’ve discussed before Chaldea’s solitude away from Mages Association. It will not have enough materials for me to cover what you need if you plan to go onto this road.”

“I know that, Sadakuni-san. But, I…,” Clenched both her hands to ball them into fists, Ritsuko admitted with anguish in her voice. “I’m tired of running from the fear when engaging a monster or Servant show up in the Singularity for our next mission. Ritsuka now studying up his own magecraft he found, while I’m stuck here in the basics. And, I want no more of that! No more running behind my brother’s back to stay and cower in fear.”

With now an intense look on Ritsuko’s face, she proclaimed aloud. “This time around, I want to stand by my promise to Emiya-san and Mash-chan. I’m one of two of Humanity’s last Masters to restore our home. Together with my brother and everyone… I want to walk and work together by Ritsuka’s side to protect those we love. So please, Sadakuni-san…!”

To fulfill her promise with her brother, also, for Ritsuko….

To prove to Lev and herself that humans deserved to continue to mark their history, no matter how insignificant they were.

The said Section Chief was silent, listening in with mouth opened slightly. Emiya seized this chance to step beside his Master to vouch for the inner unrest he sensed.

“Whatever doubt remains in your mind; they are unnecessary to be worried about.

“Ritsuko’s conviction and actions she took in from Fuyuki would’ve been more than enough to take her as your student, Sadakuni.”

“I think so too,” Mash nodded in agreement.

“Ritsuko-senpai’s commitments and efforts prove her enthusiasm to undertake any challenges to become a proper Master.”

“Yeah, I think so too,” Sadakuni surrendered with a short laugh, thus nodded. “The Servants you and your brother had summoned put comfort in our hearts to know all of us can count on you two to restore our history.”

Orange-colored eyes widened in shock.

Ritsuko murmured for confirmation, “Does that mean…?”

“Yes, Senpai.” Mash grinned with Fou’s own squeak to affirm what she interpreted of the Section Chief’s words. “Sadakuni-san recognizes you to be his pupil!”

“But do not expect me to go easy on you,” Sadakuni informed with a slight smirk. “If you’re prepared to experience yourself the balance between the blessings and curses of a Magus, I’ll coach you all I know of, Ritsuko-kun.”

“Of course not!” Ritsuko countered with a sharp and welcoming grin of her own. “Give me your best shot, and I’ll absorb them all!”

Because… This was merely the first step Ritsuko finally discovered to take off her life adventure she would never forget as one of two Chaldea Master.

End of Issue #5

And not the best chapter title too! But some of you got your dose of GudaMash in this chapter. For those who have read the bio and now looking at Ritsuko's magecraft, yep she will learn it except I won't put their magecraft here in this arc. Both Gudas siblings magecraft will be shown in the next arc which is better to show even at the cost of not a single chapter of them training it

Lastly, my favorite scene while it took long to write, it was both Gudas childhood first meeting flashback. Gudako aka Ritsuko's own intiative to welcome her brother into the family and even able to open him up is why I wanted to write both protagonist inside. We're down with another two chapters (wait I thought you say there's was two previously???) before we finally close this arc once and for all!