#codecasts

" Hey, Hakuno.....can I ask you something?" with the way Ritsuka was acting, one would think she had done something terribly wrong yet it was quite the opposite.

They pass each other quite quickly, only he pauses to look over his shoulder. Hakuno looks like a woman on a mission right now. Where is she going? More importantly, why does she appear to be alone? Why doesn’t she have one of her Servants with her? He already knows the answer, they’re out there protecting the city. It doesn’t change the fact that seeing her without a companion doesn’t sit right with him. Charlemagne doubles back to catch up, his jog slowing to walk alongside her. He feels a little nervous at the idea of facing her but pushes it aside. “Excuse me... is it alright if I accompany you?” The original plan was to find some random creatures, keep the way clear, maybe work out some frustrations in the process — it can wait now. Even if she might not remember, he does; he’ll always remember as long as time will allow.

     Geez— what a poor excuse of a Servant he’s been so far. When this mist first engulfed the city, Achilles had one main priority— get to his new Master, and ensure her safety. If she had any plans beyond just surviving, he’d hear them out at that point. But it seems he can’t even finish the first part... While en route to that cafe his Master helps at, a roar had echoed throughout the city. Not just an ordinary roar... a war cry. One that was all too familiar— the cry of a female warrior, the cream of the crop... One who only had one name in mind in between those primal shouts.

                    ACHILLES...!!

     To think... that was all it took to make the great Rider hesitate-- to stop his journey to give him pause. There was a lot to consider regarding this terrifying possibility... But one conclusion was reach— I can’t drag Master into that blood bath.

     So against every other instinct as a hero... He ran. Ran as far away from Hakuno as he could— all for the sake of leading the unseen Amazon warrior away from her. This pursuit seemed to last for days— leading him far out into the city. And every now and then— that woman bursts out from the mist, eyes fiercely red with fury... ... Did she get younger? That didn’t seem to diminish her abilities much— every fight had Achilles on the back foot, unable to keep up due to his weakened state.

     He ran again. And again. Over and over... He ran. It’s one of the more cowardly acts a warrior can use— but there’s a goal more important than securing his honor in battle. Run away to fight another day... To fight for the girl who cannot fend for herself.

     And eventually, at long last... The cries of war were gone. Was he truly able to evade her— for good this time? ... Hm, it doesn’t seem like it’d have been that easy— especially without his godlike speed to help put distance between them. But for now— she’s gone... Rider needs to go back to his mission. He has to try and justify his initial failure— perhaps his Master won’t be too sad by her disappointment...

“So,” Medb began with a click of her tongue and a narrowed glare. “You’re the other master that my dearest Master has been ‘hanging out with’.”

(Medb used air-quotes with her fingers as she spoke those words.)

         it helped she was not alone in this venture. that strange girl who she briefly spoken to a month before was accompanying her. though a stranger in all respects, it at least made this more bearable. as the line moves and they finally reach the counter, Olga pulls out her phone, pausing to cast a glance at Hakuno.

     “ How many do we need? Just one, correct?” she does not want to be carrying around a drink tray of these things all over the city to get it back to the clone. while possibly being chased. she’s wearing white and Olga is at least 90% sure that the green drink would stain. then again, if her hunch about problems arising turned out to be true.....

“-- Two Baja Blasts, please. And put them in the most sturdy containers you have available. “ 

             ❝  it would seem i have made too much.  ❞ the recent festivities have yielded some pleasant experiences of late, including a baking class, within which he had found some enjoyment. perhaps he were too enthusiastic, as he appeared to have a heaping amount of baked goods on his person.

“No, really, that’s how it normally goes,” djeeta explains to the young woman next to her, holding up her index finger as if it were a matter-of-fact. “We gather chunks of meat as bait from either Behemoths or Bizarre Beasts. Then we use those to fight Primals – bigger bosses –“ is all she offers as a simple description, not wanting to fall into the details of how they’re born from people’s desires and wishes, or how Astrals forcibly incarnated legends and heroes from stories during the War “– for more honor. The crew with the most honor wins the round.”

the last thing she remembers before finding herself at the city again and on her way to her new lodgings was defeating zeus in their final rally. the captain needed a break and savior’s respite was just the perfect place for that. thankfully it wasn’t such a far trek from her new abode in golden ward. and in true skyfaring captain fashion she easily fell into a conversation with the other visitor. 

  it was inevitable. with the way the mist operated, it was only a matter of time until something crawled out of its depths with a bloodlust that only hers could satiate. she had a hope that the Oprinchki and Rasputin were all that had been conjured. that her problems would start with them and end there. ( but you’re never so lucky, aren’t you?) 

       she had originally assumed it was a memory, that the figure in the mist was just like Musashi: not there. but when the sharp edge of a sycthe sliced clean into flesh, blood flowing down her arm as pain followed suit, it was all she needed to know that it wasn’t. 

                      and that is when she ran.

    what could she, alone, do against a Servant? nothing. time has proved that again and again and despite her lack of self-preservation at times, she’s not so stupid as to try anything against the Moon Cancer who oh so wished to save her senpai from the horrors of the Lostbelts. but she would be damned if she went down without a fight. or, at the very least, without making the taking of her head an easy endeavor. she just needed to get back to the paths. if she can find one of the paths, then perhaps that’ll stop the Servant. maybe there existed some sort of barrier between the paths and the fog that couldn’t be breached. Ritsuka knows she’s betting too much on that, but she’s willing to risk it. 

    she chances a glance behind her, just in time to spot crimson tentacles aiming for her. she may not be as magically gifted as other mages, but she is quick enough to dodge the attack. she dives towards the right as the tentacles pierce the ground with enough force to cause a small crater, chunks of dirt and rock spewing as shadows erupt on impact. if BB wanted to, she could have caught up with her in an isntant. she knows the Servant is toying with her, enjoying a futile chase. Ritsuka curses under her breath, scrambling to her feet to take off again when she sees it. 

           long brown hair. a familiar stature, half of which is covered by something large and round....a shield..? Ritsuka feels as if she recognizes it, but there’s little time to try to figure that out. a flash of purple hair is seen in the mist behind the other mage and a laugh she’s heard too many times to count echoes. battle instinct takes over, but rather than backing up her Servant, her priority now lies in ensuring her friend survives.

 she pushes herself forwards with a speed that would surprise any who’ve never been in a fight with her. she takes no chance in waiting to see what will happen: she reaches out, arm circling around Hakuno’s waist tightly, lifting her up while sending them both to the ground to avoid a beam of energy where the brunette was just standing. Ritsuka positions it so she takes the brunt of the impact, using her body to cushion her friend. the pain hardly registers, adrenaline taking care to practically numb it as it pumps through her veins. good. she didn’t need it distracting her.

  “ Aha~! Senpai, that’s no fair! You’re supposed to play according to the game’s rules. Using cheat codes isn’t allowed. “

      Ritsuka ignores cheerful words dripping in venom as she moves to stand once more, positioning herself in front of Hakuno. damn it. she didn’t want to drag anyone into this mess and anybody she passed in her rush to get away was ignored... but, wait-- why would BB ignore everyone else, yet take aim at Hakuno? Did she know Ritsuka cared about her....? she can worry about that later though. her eyes never leave where she saw the flash of color from, but her voice lowers, speaking to her friend. “ ....Are you alright, Hakuno?”