it's just a sunny day for you.

Okay, so it turned out waking up in front of a giant hole wasn't the worst thing that could have happened here. Waking up in some sort of futuristic prison on the literal moon was probably the worst thing, though he fears if this sort of thing is a common occurrence that there may be worse things in his future.

Ugh! But this was annoying, scampering around in the halls of this complex, ducking and dodging around corners to try and avoid the robots that had decided for whatever reason he would be a good person to copy for fighting! It wasn't even like he had any of his powers like this!

To make matters worse, all he really did have was this flimsy wooden sword they gave him. It wasn't even like he was good with a blade, unless he was striking when least expected!

He had terrible luck as is...but it seemed for once, fortune was in his favor, when he turned another corner and saw a familiar face. John was quick to dive behind her, clinging onto her arm and pointing his sword out from that position down the corridor where the robot copy was still giving chase.

"Master! Do something about that! It's been perusing me nonstop!"

rather than ask any unnecessary questions, ritsuka's gaze locks onto the robot that was giving chase, the one that had copied john himself. for a moment, she debates on what to do. last time she fought someone with the strength of a servant, it....did not end well. her scar prickles at the mere idea of it. but she reminds herself: john was new which meant he was at his weakest. that meant the copy was also at its weakest, but formidable enough to be a threat to her. however she couldn't just do nothing.

" You're gonna owe me for this!" because who has heard of the master protecting the servant?!

all ritsuka had was a broken, jagged handrail she took from a desolate room but it didn't stop her from dashing towards the robot copy. she waits until she's in close enough range – practically striking distance of the hologram wooden sword. ritsuka ducks at the last second, firing off the gandr at her fingertips as her knees slide against the floor. it collides with the chest of the humanoid-looking robot, cracking the metallic chestplate as it stumbles.

the sliding halts once she's behind it but there is only seconds. springing to her feet, she twirls her weapon in her hand until the jagged edge is at the forefront and with every ounce of her strength, jams it into the back of the robot's head. that wasn't enough. no, she grips the bar with both hands, twisting and using her body as a counterweight to swing the robot's entire body against the wall, as if it was a baseball bat and she was aiming for a homerun.

so, starter call for part 1 of the event! capped at 3 for now but castmates are exempt from that and can like past!

ritsuka may be human and not a very good mage, but she has somethings to help during the event

“ oh geez, i remember when that used to come on the radio, when was that, like ten years ago?? “

" What do you mean ten years ago?"

It wasn't heroic, in the sense that her tale was a story for the legends. And she wasn't like Richard, where she would be twisted and molded into the perfect "hero".

So it was because of that, he couldn't be surprised that she struggled here.

"I'm glad you've pulled yourself out of it, then. It wouldn't be fitting for you to wallow."

John finds himself nodding along with her explanation. Right. January to June, that was definitely six months.

...wait.

"Six years!? You've been trapped here for years and you're acting so casually about it!?"

Ugh...no. She would. She most definitely would. Maybe most people would and he's the odd one out, once again. But the thought of it gives him a headache. What in the world is he supposed to do here for literal years walking around like a normal person!?

maybe she had. few could learn their entire journey was but a lostbelt that needed to be erase, lose every memory they held so deeply, and go back to living a normal life.

the master motions with her head before she turns to lead them out of the theatre, steps familiar. " Yeah, I guess. It was weird at first but now......I don't know. This world is as dangerous as anywhere else but I've gotten to see many people again that I couldn't before. They come and go at the whims of the Stars'– one morning you could wake up and they're not their anymore. But it's nice to talk to them once more."

down the winding alleys and narrow paths she leads them, pausing to point out the ones that lead to the collection of bars and pubs with some praise thrown for the drinks at Dionysus' Chalice and some warnings about shadier ones.

" Even if I've been here that long, I still remember everything that's happened as it happens. Sort of. The memories just hit me when I don't expect it, mostly when I'm sleeping and it's like a dream." sometimes it was painful recollection, others almost....accepting. next she leads the to savior's respite, pausing to hold some of the thick bushes to the side to let john pass through first. despite the legends of this place, the view was a beautiful one, on she gives him time to see as she perches upon a particular boulder.

Though even he couldn't deny the irony of that statement. This was practically a picture-perfect reunion, straight out of some dramatized novel. Here they were, in a reflection of their first meeting. Of their final parting, before he had been summoned to Chaldea, anyways. Maybe he ought to stay away from theaters from now on.

Even if he was glad to see her.

"...you seem to be in good spirits even here at least, Master."

It'd be surprising if she was any other way, though. Even if he had a broader scope now, he can't help but think of the conversation they had, when they had first met after he pulled her away from the rest of her group. She was someone that pushed forward, despite it all. No matter the hardships she faced and the pain she endured. Being flung around combating issues that weren't necessarily hers to solve.

And he wasn't like that at all. Even if he was adjusting to this place fine so far, it was still frustrating and disorienting to be here. Oh well. Even for someone like him, John knew better than to open an interaction with self-pitying.

" You're right. Better to be in good spirits than not. You should've seen me months ago."

sad and angry, ready to fight at the slightest provocation, unable to look at anything that reminded her of what was lost. it certainly wasn't the first time ritsuka reached that low in this city and she doubts it'll be the last, but there is a simple desire to try and look at the silver lining of things. she couldn't stay down forever. it wasn't a part of who she is, no matter how dire things could get. yet none of that was important right now. sorrow was inevitable and would always linger, but she doesn't want to already rain on their meeting again.

'" Let's see it's June now......I got here in January.....so a little over six years by this point!" of course, she knows the math wouldn't line up. one of the many unique things about this city.

Say whatever you may about the irony of it, because it wasn't lost on him, but John had always enjoyed the arts. To a degree. He enjoyed books, but not stories. Music, but not songs. And that's what made a place like this somewhere he could see himself frequenting.

It wasn't lavish like the Royal Opera House in London, from what he had heard of it, nor was it like the one that stood proudly in Snowfield. But the open-aired view across the island while individuals performed their hearts away on the stage left absolutely nothing to be desired.

Though if you were to ask him, he'd suggest a change in the name, no matter how fitting it was for a theater to be named after the Muse of Epic Poetry herself.

Being able to sit like this and just relax in the presence of music was...nice. Relaxing. He finds himself lingering long after the performance ends. When he stands and turns to leave at long last, though, when the sun begins to set...he finds himself almost thankful that he took the chance for a break. All because of who he comes face to face to.

and when she came to watch the show, she didn't expect to feel the familiar signature of a servant until her eyes sought out the source and they spotted someone who stands out among the citizens gathered. rather than just surprise him right away, she waits. waits until the last round of applause is given, waits until she's done hopping silently down the walkway steps, waits until she halts just behind him.

she's gotten a certain flair for the dramatics since spending years here. in times like this, it comes in handy.

" I mean, if you want to! We can make this like a big, dramatic reunion for two characters who haven't seen each other since the fated end of it all." what follows is that bright smile of hers, the joy she feels genuine in every way. richard made her promise to help look out for him and for however long the avenger was in this city, she would do just that.