dawning light.

His pale face grew deadly white at Ritsu going to ask Holmes about whether he was there in Shimosa or not. This is not good, last thing he needs is that insufferable detective being a smug bastard boosting about convincing Avenger to investigative in the psuedo-singularity. There goes his facade throw out of the window acting clueless.

“Wait-” He was really going to swallow his pride in order to avoid facing any humiliation, and perhaps maybe Count was a tad too dramatic, but that’s the whole point of his reputation is built around being mysterious and edgy as hell.  

“Yes, I was there to make sure you wouldn’t died while you were in the coma. Everyone was worried about you when that happened, so I took the necessary step to ensure you were able to make it out of there alive…does my answer satisfied you, Master?”

They knew that mentioning Holmes was a threat, but they weren’t expecting Count to react that strongly! (It’s somewhat of a surprise that he can go any paler than he already is, but that’s a digression.) Ritsu’s close to considering stepping down, offering a ‘no, nah, don’t panic’, before Count concedes first. 

The admission visibly delights Ritsu. They give a little clap. (A detective job well done! Homes should be proud. ...Well, if he lowers his standards a bit.) “Yes! It does, actually.”

They very nearly miss the gift, curled up weirdly as they are (Fou sitting somewhere over their midsection). An unusual time, where Ritsu’s exhausted enough to sleep dreamlessly, just flopping into the bed (it takes a lot out of a guy, going down to the Underworld and back!). But notice it they do, when Ritsu slides out of bed, awake enough to want to start the morning but nonfunctional enough to only move via shuffling.

The spyglass attracts his attention first. Larger, draws the eye. Ritsu holds it up, looks through it, fiddles a little. At first it’s unclear, but -- ah, there it goes, a blue flaring line shows up on the floor. He knows where Chaldea’s situated, the leyline that comes to a head right in the summons room. So that’s what that does... useful, and this little knob on the side must have some function that he’s not quite seeing at the moment. Excellent, he’ll have to fiddle around with it in the field. His pirate quests might make use of it.

And something else, just peeking out on the edge of the pillow... Fou paws at it, and it’s a narrow race for Ritsu to snag it from Fou’s grasp before the little Cath can gnaw on the edges. Nope, no! Especially not when Ritsu sees what it is -- no chewing on any Robin’s saint graph, please!

Ritsu laughs when they hold it up to the light so it can catch and make the latent magic in the card sparkle. And here Caster was gonna play him off! Nope, nope, every Robin is good. Where this Caster is now, though, Ritsu doesn’t know (perhaps dragged off somewhere by Santa?) so, for the time being, he gives the top of the card a brief kiss -- it’s probably just superstitious thinking, but maybe Robin will feel gratitude from somewhere. Enlivened a little, Ritsu hops up properly with a stretch, saint graph and spyglass in hand. First thing first, he’ll have to put this in origin storage with the rest of them, keep them safe and secure so any Servant can always come back to Chaldea.

If Dantes is like an unstoppable force, then that makes Ritsu an immovable object who remains unfazed in the face of an incoming storm no matter how fearsome it may be. While he is filled with restless rage, his Master is the opposite who shows kindness even to their worst enemy they extend their hand to. Such trait is both strength & weakness if comes a day where someone plots to betrayed them, the Count won’t allow anyone no matter who it is to dare lay a hand on Ritsu as he will always watch over them from a distance lurking in the shadows. (And yet, he wouldn’t bring himself to voice his concerns towards his idealistic Master).  

“I did what was necessary to make you overcome your fears as it was simply a warm-up for far worst things to face to save humanity. Kuhaha, you are a foolish person, but still sharp as always, Master.”

They were right, no matter how naive they may be, one shouldn’t underestimated Ritsu’s uncanny ability to understand one’s actions. Such contradictions they possessed that makes Count despise it while at the same time admire their determination in them, truly they embodies humanity’s will to live with such hopes.

“Hmph, even then you still shouldn’t let your guard down so easily. Just don’t bored me too much until our contract ends.” It was harsh & cruel, no hint of warmth to his voice. Was it a warning or Dantes’ attempt to keep his distance from Ritsu? Who knows except the Count himself.

Ritsu resists the urge to laugh. His statement is ture, sure, but he’s putting it in much harsher light than necessary. Ritsu still believes there’s something a little more altruistic about it. “Maybe so, but it still means you care about a foolish Master like me.” That is the thesis there: take that, Mr. Count of Monte Cristo. You care a smidge at least.

“It’s not down so much as you might think. I know I’ve got plenty of people to cover my back.” If there’s an underlying meaning to that statement, it’s impossible to tell. Ritsu merely leans forward with their smile unfazed, to make Dantes look them in the eyes. He might be harsh and difficult to read, but... this is Ritsu, who gets along with anyone.

It’s a skill, treading the thin line between seeming like a friendly idealist and seeming like someone too stupid to change anything. Ritsu manages. (Mostly. They can hope.) They test their luck: hands dart out and, before Dantes can stop them (hopefully, again), they take his cheeks in hand.

He’s a human, too. Even with all the anger and resentment, he still has the feeling of a human. 

Ritsu paps his cheeks then their hands are gone once more and the hint of a laugh colours their expression. They step back. “Don’t worry, Count, I’ll be sure to keep you on your toes!” That might be... an understatement. Ritsu laughs. “You don’t need to worry about being bored around here.”

The guest room feels muffled, like his ears are stuffed, but Robin can still hear his shoe heel tap against the stone floor as he thinks, chin held in hand, staring at Ritsu’s bright eyes and flushed face. (Probably got the courage up to say something held back for a while, thanks to the vine.) He has to look up to see them, as they sit on the arm of the study-chair and play with his hand, looking down at it intently but without particular focus. Their hair is in their eyes now, where earlier it had been brushed back; they’re talking quickly, non-linearly; their chest shudders every now and then with nerves. 

The more Ritsu talks, though, the more flushed Robin becomes. He stammers, as if attempting to interrupt the cascade of words from Ritsu’s mouth, but they keep going, and he cuts himself off as he remembers their earlier threat—they’d make good on it, too. He furrows his brow, though remains (mostly) silent, hand on chin, ears burning, cheeks tinting, leg impatiently thumping like he can’t get away soon enough. They talk about kissing him, about his hair and his body, and outright admitting that deep and abiding love in their heart for him. How is he supposed to respond to that? How is he supposed to reciprocate? By the end, Robin’s sitting with one leg crossed over the other, face in hand, burning from ears to fingertips, as Ritsu leans against him. 

get! a! ritsu! kiss! // accepting

It’s Robin who’s waiting totally-not-on-purpose against the wall where the mistletoe is hung a little higher than normal, so conveniently a little bit above Robin’s own height. He makes a very not-subtle face at Ritsu, an expectant ‘ah, what could that be over my head’.

Ritsu laughs and trots over obligingly. “You helped put these around, didn’t you?” Ritsu grins at him as they put their arms around Robin’s shoulders. “Should I wonder if, perhaps, you had... an ulterior motive?” Probably not, Ritsu knows just enough to know that mistletoe has been associated with winter since before it had any attached Christmas theme, but it’s more fun to tease Robin.

The doctor was deep in his thoughts as he was reading reports of their researches, not being fully aware of were exactly he’d stopped on the hallway. He was seemingly frustrated with that dissatisfied frown upon his face as his eyes moved, following the lines of the document.

That’s when he felt a soft kiss on his cheek, erasing his mind in an instant.

Raising his head from the tablet he blinked in surprise for a few seconds, his face slowly getting red, then turned to the direction he got the kiss.

“R-Ritsu?? Wh-What? Why?” He stuttered, confused and embarrassed. He had absolutely no idea he had stopped under a mistletoe and stood in the whole time. He blinked a few again then smiled awkwardly back at the master. “Uhm, thanks… I guess?”

At least he wasn’t frustrated anymore.

[ @savepnt​ ]

Ritsu is unaffected and merely beams brightly back at Roman. They’ll kiss him again if they must, see if they don’t! ...Fortunately for Roman’s confusion not getting any worse, a single smooch seems to have been satisfactory to distract him from whatever foul mood the good doctor had gotten himself into.

Ritsu counts it as a win. They’re not embarrassed in the slightest, either, doling out affection as easy as any other sort of encouragement.

Astolfo holds the mistletoe up above them with a sparkle in his eye, and Ritsu shall not refuse the offer! Ritsu takes his hands in theirs, pulling Astolfo’s hands back down and Astolfo closer to them in one fell swoop. “Wah, Swordstolfo, you’re so cute.”

get! a! ritsu! kiss! // accepting

Someone’s gone around decking the halls with... mistletoe, actually, which Ritsu thought was a slightly non-traditional choice to deck with, but who are they to argue. They’re walking back from an exam with Mash at their side, a little of a pep in their step. It’s coming back after Salem, and the approaching holiday is putting Ritsu in good spirits.

They stretch, glancing up briefly, though that brings them to a stop as they notice something on the threshold a step above them. “Ah! Mash, look.”

Ritsu points. It is a sprig of mistletoe, hung with a bright ribbon from the ceiling. Looks like someone took advantage of that on the walls to put the mistletoe somewhere more... usable. “I have to give you a kiss now. It is Christmas law.” And Mash wouldn’t make them a Christmas criminal, now would she! Of course not. So Ritsu cups her face in their hands and leans down to place a dramatic smooch upon her cheek.

which means that in salem, their resistance to circe’s poison was the effect of Ritsu just going “no thank you” to poison

ritsu: well i woke up one day and decided i simply wasnt going to be vulnerable to poisons any more. i thought to myself that i’m just not going to be affected by them. it would make serenity sad if we couldn’t have movie nights where she sits on my lap any more, and i would never make her sad. so im just never going to be harmed by poisons from here out. thank you.

circe: thats not how that works??? thats nothing?

Oh, good. He didn’t seem upset with him, and Sanson wasn’t sure if he had done anything mildly upsetting (?) to warrant his Master to tear up like this. Although emotional stress was a thing, and the executioner simply placed his hand upon Ritsuka’s shoulder. 

“I never left your side, Master. If you could give be a briefing on it so that way I may hand in my report, then we may turn them in to Da Vinci.” In fact, Ritsuka did seem a little worn. 

“…Perhaps a rest, too, is in order, Master. Or, if you do not want to, I may make some tea.” Since hot tea always quelled the nerves- that, and hot tea sounded pretty good right now. 

Ritsu exhales slowly, doing their best to relax again. Play it cool! They’ve always been pretty good at playing it cool! Time to use that skill to their best ability. “Yeah. You’re right.” He didn’t, really. Sanson’s a good guy. 

A pause, slightly confused. “Did you not already give a report to da Vinci? I thought she got one from you during your exam... or, I assumed, anyways. She said you didn’t remember anything, so wouldn’t be much of a report.” A rest... no, their dreams would be way too weird. Sleep’s never really been their friend, anyways. “Tea sounds good... do you want to have some with me? I can tell you some of Salem. It kinda sucked, actually, so it’s not a super fun story, but I can give you an outline.”

They’re still clinging to Sanson’s jacket in their best, most powerful hug.  Just a little bit of a step back when he asks if they’re mad at him, though it’s just to make perfectly clear the answer is no. Ritsu couldn’t be mad at him! They are, perhaps, a little overwhelmed to see him after watching him hang.

✦   ─ ━ Ѕһɩɴоβɩ   ❝Of course, my lord lets make some together but making the Fuuma manjuu out of the question I’m afraid. ❞ Bond level has increased by 1!

@savepnt​

as Charri put it, “Ritsu’s just unhinged”

(frankly theyre so used to being in mortal danger that they just dont fear injury any more, and work under the logic that ‘getting hurt cant scare me if i have a boner over it right’)

(when theyre not in a high stakes environment theyre not actually that kinky, its the constant threat of death and very much wanting to make certain Servants approve of them at any cost makes them a little more feral than usual.