yogen | life is full of games (OPEN)

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life is full of games (OPEN)

Who: Stephanie AND YOU
When: 29th-1st
What: Stephanie tries to keep herself occupied.

[all alone, unable to play outside, in a rundown location. how familiar.

but, somehow, Stephanie doubts that she can shoot a letter into the sky and fix everything, this time.

she always makes do, though, and as the days of spring break go by, she does what she does what she does best: play. she likes the auditorium best of all; until she can go outside, it's probably the most appropriate place to play. on the 29th, she's playing hopscotch, having drawn out a board using charcoal and using a piece of the same as a marker. on the 31st, she's playing Brave Knight Sir Pinky with the really neat resin knife someone decided to give a small child, fencing with her own shadow, with the sort of stance and surety that makes it clear that someone has taken the time to literally teach her fencing.]

En garde! Pret! Allez!

[she also finds herself drawn to the clock tower. sure, it's pretty high up, but it's the only way she can see outside. on the 1st, during the day, she can be found with her face pressed against the glass like a poor kid in a candy store, just looking. like she can somehow soak up some of that great outdoors through thick glass. she can also be seen writing intently in a notebook, idly nibbling on the very last of an apple core.

she has set up a makeshift bed in the corner of her homeroom class, with her extra uniform as a pillow and a "sleeping bag" that is just a length of fabric she's wrapped herself up in like a little pink burrito. she is in bed by 8:08 sharp every night, and asleep by 8:30. until such a time that this changes, she is blissfully unaware of the nightly silence.]

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Yes, very nice! [ The idea were set and motion, and the sword - or knife in her hand were small let alone could not suffice for real weaponry. ]

Oh? Mine sister was no less your age - actually younger. When she wished to find herself cordial to the idea of sword fighting. Merely because men and the church [ As it is, this is where she feels her doubts come from. ] would wish you otherwise, does not mean you need query against yourself.

Fret not! I am an advocate of women with weaponry, you need not swaddle yourself with uncertainties before me. At my behest, I would even teach you the manner of sword fighting much like how I taught my sister when she were young.

Training with toy or false weaponry at first is a good starting point - there is no shame.

[there's a moment when she wants to correct him, to say, "no, actually I am just playing because I am ten and ten year olds don't need to know this in my very normal world." but. of everyone she's met here, this guy reminds her of home in a way that makes her both smile and feel a little sad. it's a weird feeling, but not a bad one.

and, honestly, learning how to actually fight sounds really cool. Trixie will be beyond jealous.]

Yeah, girls can do anything boys can do! [just. bouncing on the balls of her feet. excite.] Will you really teach me? I'll work really hard, I promise!

Oh of course, you have the bountiful energy of you. There is nothing you surely cannot learn with time by your side. [ Gawain nods with some excitement in himself as well, he - absolutely unaware of the inner feelings or questions she had about the circumstances. ] It is good to learn sword fighting, as you never know when you need hoist yourself with a weapon and have arms against other foes!

... Do you think we'll need weapons here? [because that's been on her mind since.] I've kinda been figuring that whoever gave me this knife didn't do it just to be nice.

Oh why would you not? Is it so strange to keep yourself guarded in territory unknown? You need not worry yourself over the matters of why, merely prep yourself in the moment herein. [ There is a slight chuckle, amused by the others sincerity. ] I believe that they were! A weapon is a wonderful gift, I would welcome to have it myself. Unfortunately I have instead received Mashed potatoes.

[...]

Wait, like. In a bowl?

[ Suddenly hes so excited to talk about it! ] It was in a BOX! Heavens I haven't the slightest clue nor understanding of how it works - apparently if one places water inside of it. The small flakes will thusly turn into mashed potatoes. It takes the fun and delight of mashing potatoes frankly, however I am eagerly excited for being able to create it one of these days.

... Ohh, that's instant mashed potatoes! [she had definitely been thinking he just got, like. a boston market bowl stuffed in his locker.] They're dehydrated, so when you add water, they go back to normal. And they're not hard to cook at all; I can show you how! That'll be my gift for you teaching me how swords work.

Instant Mashed potatoes? That is indeed what the box said, I thought if I ate it I simply would taste them ordinarily. However, the taste was so odd. Not something without welcome of course. [ He makes a small questionable face, but he is still bright and enigmatic. ] Wonderful! I will not be cooking them anytime soon, since I do not need to feat. I am not one who needs consume food regularly unless my mana is weakening.

[oh no he. he ate the powdered mash. and was kinda okay with it. can't believe she's found sportacus' long-lost twin brother, swordacus.]

What's mana?

[ Perhaps the rules were different? He presumed everyone in the school were... A master the - ones that were aware of their position. He supposes he failed rather harshly in that prospect. This is something learned, he will no longer going forward speak plainly from magus to servant. ] I am reminded that you had wanted classes of sword fighting, shall I enlighten you? Or are you more interested in gossiping and chit chat? I for one, delight in both.

[now, there are times when grown ups can successfully boondoggle Stephanie away from her pointed questions. this is not one of those times.]

Am I not supposed to even know about mana existing if I don't already?

He means that because he's my Servant, usually I'd have to supply him mana in order for him to survive. Things are a bit wonkier around here, though. [Presence Concealment Rank EX—nonexistent, except when it's funny. Ritsuka appears beside Gawain to lightly flick him on the side of the head.]

Just because Stephanie's a kid doesn't mean that she can't understand this stuff, Gawain. She's quicker on the uptake than I am with magic, honestly!

I hope this doofus didn't give you too much trouble, Stephanie. How's it hanging? [Ritsuka smiles at Stephanie, casually leaning against one of the walls.]

Edited 2021-03-31 02:21 (UTC)

Ah Master! [ The thunk against his cheeks would go with a bit of sound - for hilarity probably as if hitting an empty box. Regardless he settles there beaming toward Ritsuka's appearance. ] Indeed, I was not certain she should be corralled into the meaning of it though, further the rules of this Grail War are strange.

[ Gawain pinches his chin thinking, in a normal war they would have to kill her no? But this wasn't a normal war, and he wasn't about to kill a child. Absolutely not. ] We were amidst teaching her sword techniques, I see no harm in having her learn? Would you like to join and teach her what it is you know?

[ Gawain eagerly wanted to know what his new Master was capable of at any rate. ]

... It worked.

[okay hold on ritsuka here comes a SPEEDING PINK BULLET, as she gets so exited she just full-on tacklehugs her into the wall, throwing her arms around her.]

It worked! You really did summon a hero!

It worked! [Ritsuka hugs Stephanie back, laughs, picks her up, steps a few steps forward, and spins her around for good measure. Just be glad she isn't mounting you on her shoulders and doing a full lap around the school, Pinky. Just ask Abigail when she got too adorable to handle.

(While she's this close, Stephanie can feel some of the raised scars on Ritsuka's arms.)

Putting Stephanie down gently at the end of the spin, Ritsuka laughs again.] I really didn't expect it to work, but it worked!

Ahem.

[Ritsuka steps back and Will Smith poses at Gawain.]

Meet Sir Gawain! Saber-class Servant and Knight of King Arthur's Round Table! Seeker of the Green Knight! Invincible under the light of the sun, and wielder of Excalibur's sister sword, Galantine!

He and I go way back. [Granted, the wayest back they go was when Gawain killed hundreds of innocent civilians on the regular and tried to murder Ritsuka several times, but that's a story for another time. Preferably not in front of Stephanie.] I didn't really expect to be able to summon someone I knew, even though he doesn't remember me.

That happens pretty often with these things though. Don't worry about it, Servant summoning is a pretty wonky business, and I should be thankful I got anyone at all, let alone someone as powerful as Gawain is.

And, uh, me? Teach her? [Ritsuka chuckles nervously, absentmindedly playing with her side ponytail.] I'm not sure I'm well equipped to teach Stephanie anything. The most I really know is how to put my dukes up and go for the soft spots. I'm not really a fighter myself.

[ It seemed only amiable to pose whilst she were posing too. He does as much, his chest now popped out and - pop ~ out came a button. It mattered not, it rolled away and Gawain suddenly then stood up straight as any Knight of his caliber would. He stands with the sun light glittering across him. ]

It is a pleasure to meet your radiance, and be officially introduced on my Masters behalf.

[ Gawain had not moved, from his spot glimmering and sparkling all the same. He notes of the others bashfulness, but he felt its important for him to see what she is capable of. So in the line of combat, if there was a worse case scenario. Unlike the Gawain she knew, several times over. The one before her were as if he were a newly summoned iteration of the Knight. The two unaware that the spell hadn't worked, more unaware of what was truly going on within the school itself.

They both treated this like it were a Grail War of some sort - or on Ritsukas behalf. A singularity. ]

Is it that you are only capable of spell work then? I see. [ He nods his head in understanding. ]

Edited 2021-03-31 05:57 (UTC)

Oh, wow! A real-life knight! [and even if the last time she played princess Ended Poorly, she is definitely filing that one away for a later date.] Do you have your sword? I know most of us didn't come here with any of our stuff...

[she gives Ritsuka a fondly exasperated look.] I bet you could teach me lots of fun things! Everyone has something special to share. For example, I'm going to teach Gawain how to cook the mashed potatoes the Locker Fairy gave him... Also, maybe how to sew?

[just. watching the button go. bye, button.]

Ahehehehe... no, I can't even really do most magic. Barely have the magic circuits to contract with Servants, really. I only knew the spell to summon you because I've seen it so many times. I honestly didn't even know magecraft existed until a few years ago. [Ritsuka shrugs, sheepishly smiling. Sometimes being the ordinary everyman has disadvantages. Like being, well, ordinary and without any talent for magic.] The system Chaldea has for summoning Servants is mostly automated, I mostly just act as a conduit for the system and directed you guys in battle.

Anyways, Stephanie, I'm sorry to break this to you, but you shouldn't let Gawain anywhere near cooking. Especially when it comes to potatoes, instant or not. [Ritsuka shudders exaggeratedly, although some of her lingering trauma from when she had the misfortune of catching him in the kitchen is real.] Just trust me on this one. You do not want to see what he can do to those poor tubers.

I have picked up a lot of trivia on my rayshifts, though. Ooh, and I'm pretty good at wilderness survival, though nothing like Robin or Geronimo.

I see. [ Within that moment Gawain had come to defer a few thoughts on the matter, his own judgement upon Ritsuka was one that could not be ignored. What when she were more a less a fraud of a Master - in actual terms to what Clock Tower Magus presume they should be akin like. The peculiarity of it, settled strangely upon his mind. Not that, he held doubt of their capacity as a Master. Rather, the doubt of her prowess as a Magus were now not only assured, but validated thusly.

How can one whom riddled with evident scars of the usage of magic, and battle worn arms. Seem capable of standing alone and alive before him the way that she were? It was obvious Ritsuka endured much that was left be imagined. The Knight was not blind to the mental scars of war, if anything he were a strong contender in understanding how deeply they go. Yet with Ritsuka, it seemed there was much more - much much much more depth to these scars that laid out thickly. ]

Fret not, perhaps then the classes can be shared between the like of both of you know? In good fun I suppose. [ Ritsuka bound about the conversation, rather whimsically. Gawain wondered if Steph could follow the path it had went. He adjusts and allows his tone to remain lofty. As was the conversation he continues with. ] I would have you know, my meals were favored by the King themself! You needn’t worry yourself, my handling of Mashed Potatoes will go unchallenged.

As long as we follow the recipe, we'll be fine! You can't mess up as long as you follow the instructions. [britain invaded half the world for spices etc etc

but ooh WILDERNESS SURVIVAL] We should all go camping in those woods once they let us outside! Me and my friends would go camping all the time back home.

The same King Arthur who taught Bedivere that unseasoned, charred black Gazer eyes are good eating. That King Arthur, [Ritsuka says, voice utterly flat.

Then again, eating those unseasoned, charred black Gazer eyes did save the lives of those refugees (that she saved from Gawain), but she's trying to make a point here.] You can try and teach him if you want, Stephanie, but I'm warning you it's a fool's quest. Even Beni-Enma couldn't get him to make proper food.

And if I can backpack across the width of North America while dealing with bloodthirsty Celts and capitalist automatons, I can probably handle a little camping trip. I'll see what I can do.

I see Master, perhaps we should let our cooking speak for itself then? [ There is a light chuckle, but he seems ardently confident in these placed words. His mashed potatoes and him go way back - centuries time in fact. According to Gawain that is. ]

A camping trip? It sounds like a good bit of fun, I hope then that things here settle down and we are allowed to explore freely otherwise.

[solemnly, hand over heart] I promise I won't let him burn the school down too much.

[but maybe he can have a little bit, as a treat.

and then she's just kinda excited bouncing.] It'll be so much fun! We'll go exploring and build a fire and make s'mores and tell spooky stories and [honestly it's been like two weeks without sunshine she's wilting like a fern she needs this]

We've got to find a way out of this school first... but failing that, I'll see what I can do in the courtyard once we figure out a way to get in there. That wisteria tree looks like a primo spot for chillaxing.

[Pardon Gudako's lingo, Stephanie. She's from the 2010s.]

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loyalbreed - 2021-04-05 23:34 (UTC) - Expand

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