Nero...

Ritsu leans back a little when Caligula tilts their chin up, conceding that if they can’t bury their face against his shoulder then they can, at least, sneak a hand to latch onto Caligula’s wrist. No running off without them quite yet, sir. The full coherency is unexpected, Ritsu’s eyes widening a little. “Oh. You’re talkative again.” It’s nice, honestly. Ritsu’s generally confident with their ability to handle Berserker yelling, but having everything spelled out in coherent conversation does make things very much easier.

It makes sense. There’s no moon here, and things are more reliant on internal realities than external. No reason that Caligula’s curse can’t have periods of remission.

“Yeah, the whole place is open, we can sit wherever you like. The temple is the most intact.” Wherever they end up, Ritsu’s rather intent upon not letting go of Caligula, even though their grip feels only barely-there. It’s an irrational fear, Ritsu knows. There’s no reason to assume that Caligula will vanish before one of them wakes up, and either way Ritsu clinging won’t change that, but logic doesn’t weigh too heavily on them at the moment. Clinging makes them feel better at the moment so it’s what they’ll do.

Ritsu tugs a little bit, leading Caligula over to somewhere that’s rather even, at least, to be seated. “I didn’t exactly pick it on purpose, but I’m glad you wanted to show up. What is it you wanted to talk about?” It’s a good thing that Ritsu’s pretty talented at remembering their lucid dreams (even if they don’t often make that common knowledge, save some certain Servants from concern or embarrassment). Conversations here count.

Taking seat on a nearby pillar Caligula leaned back resting making sure it was comfortable before pulling Ritsuka down leading the boy to rest on the emperors lap all the while making sure the two had constant contact in both visual and physical aspects. To be this down into one’s subconscious it’s important that the two stayed together less be separated by the labyrinth that dreams can contain. Although that might’ve just been a selfish excuse the Berserker told himself to justify his own innate desire to cling to master finally getting a chance to have the one on one time they’re never allowed in Chaldea. Being summoned after the alternate version was defeated in Septem the two had grown close fighting through demons and gods alike saving humanity multiple times in the process. This home, with Ritsuka fujimaru had been the closest thing to a family the emperor ever felt since those days in Rome. Before the hatred, before the constant death, when life had been simple. Caligula loved Ritsuka and not simply for letting the emperor have a chance to reunite with Nero but because the admiration over the years they spent feeling the same if not stronger then his time with his wife Milonia . Raising an open palm Caligula softly brushed his hand through Ritsuka’s hair speaking in a calm collected voice, 

@flucticulus-diana // u say dreamscape starter but all ritsus dreams are terrible

The dream is desolate, because Ritsu’s dreams always are. It’s why they try not to sleep alone; the presence of someone else tends to keep them from dreaming. Failing that, the mental walls on the Circuits between them and their Servants are intentionally weakened, let anyone who wants to run off with them. (It backfires often of course, the Chateau d’Ilf was only one of those times – but even being in a prison is better than being alone.)

But no one’s here now except for Ritsu, perched nervously on the ruins of Goetia’s temple that their subconscious has decided to conjure up. The only thing here is dead silence and the pervasive sense of nothingness, that no one else is here and Ritsu’s breath echoes emptily in their chest, like not even that belongs. It sets them on edge to be here. A mix of wariness and melancholy. The tension between wanting to pace and the weight of loneliness.

They just fidget instead.

It’s a near prayer that someone else is wandering, dreams a vague enough magic where maybe wanting is invitation enough. Or maybe they’ll suddenly learn to lucid dream enough so they can change the setting. 

When someone else’s presence is noted, it’s the impetus Ritsu needs to hop up and sprint toward the figure. It’s someone who’s human-shaped and that’s enough, because it means they won’t be alone here. Ritsu manages to skid to a stop before body slamming the visitor. It’s Caligula they notice, almost later than they should have, and the immediate sensation is still to tackle him into a hug just because any reprieve is better than the crushing loneliness that’s always so much worse here. But – that’s no good. “Hi,” Ritsu wheezes. “Hey. Uh.” So a midline, they step forward until they can lean against Caligula, hands clenched into fists and just a little shaky. “This is mine. Sorry it’s like this. Can you stay, just a little bit?” Plaintive, a bit desperate – they really do hate dreaming.

The cruel reflection of Artemis the goddess that some could say saved Caligula with the grief of the loss of daughter and wife by forcing the bond of love in the form of madness. Others might call this torture for the weak man who couldn’t protect his loved ones from the person closest to them.. All the same Diana’s affection either way translated into the madness of love, headaches and voices calling from the sky calling for the emperor.  However there were some places where even the moon couldn’t shine it’s sinister glow. The depths of dreams ruled by Somnus the reflection of Hypnos was a relief a place where Berserker could be similar to his original self. The proud emperor that lead Rome through prosperity the Rome that was grander then life itself was able to manifest in control of his form. 

Last time the Master of Chaldea and this version had spoken was deep within the world of dreams inside of the nightmare of the count of Monte Cristo. To manifest here the reason was clear if Caligula would pull himself this far just so they could speak. Last time the words they shared were more just simple advice and a warning to be weary of the madness that had lingered in that world. This time it was more personal, matters of the heart. A relationship that in all sense should never manifest between Servant and Master. 

  Ah, a world familiar even to this version the sacred battleground between the demon pillars that had resulted in Humanities saving. It was beautiful in it’s own sense, battlefields long overgrown and forgotten to time and memory able to be viewed once again untouched by human hands. Caligula would’ve taken more time to marvel in the beauty of the scenery until he head the stomping of feet in the distance. Here he was, right on time. Silently listening and watching it was interesting being able to view Ritsuka Fujimaru with stable thought. Feeling his body press against his however was more enjoyable able to feel the touch of another without worry or anger. Reaching out Berserker placed thumb and index against the chin facing it upwards so the two could meet eyes as he spoke. 

“Oi, oi,” Ritsu pipes up, taking Caligula’s hand in both of theirs. (A common response when they don’t know what else to do; manhandling. They bounce with it a little, as if that’s any logical reasoning.) “You’re here, aren’t you? You don’t have to be, but you are. And Nero and Rome welcomed you, so that makes you worthy of somethin’! Even if it’s just a little bit. If I’m your master and a Rome, then me saying I want to give you some appreciation has gotta be a little true, right?”

Caligula could easily manifest himself as an anti-hero or ignore Chaldea’s call entirely, but he didn’t. So that makes him good enough in Ritsu’s eyes to be rewarded and befriended, flaws and madness and all. Ritsu’s standards might be low, and it’s a silly thing to argue… but it’s important to Ritsu. “At least just pretend to go along with me, for a little bit. You don’t have to be perfect to get some praise. Otherwise, I’d be ungrateful for all the times you help out, yeah?”

It is mollifying to be complimented, but it only distracts them for a moment or two. Ritsu just laughs. “You don’t need to worry so much. She’ll get the adoration of the whole crowd. But if that’s the case, am I supposed to appreciate you only after Nerofes?” It’s half a compromise, as Ritsu descends just a little bit into teasing tone.

“It’s Nerofest, so Nero has everybody appreciating her already! And I’m supplying plenty of tribute to her.” Read: roses and the like in exchange for desperately needed berserker gems. “Nerofest is also for Rooomeee,” (saying it like that is a habit gained from Romulus, thank you), “which means it’s a good time to appreciate the other Romans and Nero, yeah?” Ritsu leans up and pats Caligula’s cheek. Sorry, friend, but Ritsu is just as stubborn as if they were a Berserker themselves.

“And there he is! The man himself! You’re doin’ a great job today and every day.” Ritsu is unperturbed. Can’t stop the Appreciation Train.

“Today we appreciate Caligula.”

⚔     Altera watched him bend down and start collecting the hot cookies again, placing them back onto the tray so calmly. … Roman… Bad… tch… Bad civilization…

She kicked the tray across the hall without so much as a smirk. Ever inexpressive, her lack of emotion somehow made the action more personal.

⚔     “… Tch…!”    Swiftly, a backhand SMACKED the tray right out of the Roman’s hands to scatter the food on the floor, the metal tray clamoring loudly against the floor in a violent interruption to the otherwise quiet evening. Tanned hands balled into taut fists at her side, and Altera eyed the Roman with bared teeth that slowly disappeared behind her lips, silently staring and questioning why he dared to even approach her. 

She had no patience for bad civilization.