[ She says it without hesitation, but it's not entirely true. ]
But it doesn't matter. Our contract has nothing to do with that, Master. I don't intend to regret anything I do here. [ She hasn't, yet. Including their contract. ]
[He takes it at face value, crossing his arms like he was still standing in front of her, even though they're rather far away.]
You're right. I didn't mean to get deep with ya, I just wanted to know a little bit more about the person I'm dealin' with here.
[When it comes down to it, he does actually need someone around him that won't regret the hard choices that have to be made. Everything comes down to balance, right?]
Hey, speakin' of contracts. Can you sense anything inside me? Some other entity that ain't.... uh... you? I guess.
[He stops dead in his tracks, finding a set of trench knives on the floor. How... appropriate.]
Sorry. I know I promised you Olive Garden and all you got was Pizza Hut with me.
[Ryuji sucks in air through his teeth, a little frustrated at himself. He knows he's not the best magic user out there, but the reason he was asking wasn't necessarily because he wanted to acknowledge it, rather---]
I guess I summon it then? Huh. [He doesn't quite know how to turn the switch off to his own thoughts. Is that even possible?] I know I ain't spooked by somethin'. Was just wonderin' if you could feel my persona in me.
[As he picks up the knives there, he leaves them in his med pack. The pistol on his side is good enough for encounters, but ammunition is getting scarcer, he hears. He thumbs the outline of his mask, always hidden and ready if he ever has to use it, under his uniform.]
Are those places to eat? Take me to them sometime.
[ She's guessing, because she knows what pizza is, even if she's never had it. And she's a fatty fat. Anyway, she doesn't know what a persona is, but the word 'summon' clues her in. ]
So you have another familiar of sorts, then. [ ... ] Make sure it knows I'm the strongest. I won't be treated second-rate just because you had one before me.
Yeah, if we were back home, I'd take to you all the best freakin' places in Tokyo. There's a cheese place that's pretty famous near my house that has a huge cow statue outside of it.
[What's he trying to say]
Hah! You gettin' jealous already? Don't matter anyway. With you here, I ain't got enough energy to summon him. But I guess he's me? Kinda, in a way. Uh. He's the spirit of rebellion.
[ >He has to be stronger for Mordred. No question about it.
Ryuji, what the fuck, you're cute. ]
Good. You're not so bad yourself, Master. [ Sort of... nice... also holy moodswing. ] We make a pretty great team. I was worried at first, but I'm glad it was you who formed a contract with me.
[God, he eats this shit up like it's the best ramen in all of Shinjuku.]
Y'know, I dunno if I said this before, but Achilles wanted me to contract with him at one point, back in Paris.
[How does he say this without pushing her into I'M THE BEST OR EVERYONE ELSE DIES mode]
I didn't think I was really ready for the responsibility. Kinda glad I didn't, lookin' back. It was uh... I was pretty much a mess back there. And anyway, I think our personalities are better matched up. I wanna kick so much ass.
Ramblin', sorry. Probably borin' ya to tears. How's the supply run goin'?
You made the right choice. I'm way better than Rider.
[ Sort of. Kind of. Not really. But he's right that their personalities mesh better β both the good and bad. Even if she has to share her title, it's proof that they have a lot in common. ]
But it's fine. Talking like this... it's nice. [ It's something she could never do in life. No one really talked to her, and she didn't talk to anyone, either. ] Anyway, I got what you wanted. I'll be there soon.
no subject
[ Lol, no. But she's glad he can't see her face, because she's blushing. ]
But you should be careful, Master. My title in legend is the Knight of Treachery. Doesn't that concern you a little?
no subject
[Yeah, she threatened it already, Ryuji. Wasn't he paying attention?]
no subject
Perhaps. I betrayed even the perfect king, after all.
Just don't give me a reason to do so.
no subject
Any regrets?
[Finally, Ryuji sitting still is starting to bother him, so he starts to investigate more of the tunnels surrounding him.]
no subject
[ She says it without hesitation, but it's not entirely true. ]
But it doesn't matter. Our contract has nothing to do with that, Master. I don't intend to regret anything I do here. [ She hasn't, yet. Including their contract. ]
no subject
You're right. I didn't mean to get deep with ya, I just wanted to know a little bit more about the person I'm dealin' with here.
[When it comes down to it, he does actually need someone around him that won't regret the hard choices that have to be made. Everything comes down to balance, right?]
Hey, speakin' of contracts. Can you sense anything inside me? Some other entity that ain't.... uh... you? I guess.
no subject
[ When does Mordred say what anyone wants to hear, ever... but whatever. She feels their connection for a moment, then makes a noncommittal noise. ]
If you're worried about possession, I can't feel anything wrong with you. Don't try and blame something else for your deficiencies as a mage.
no subject
Sorry. I know I promised you Olive Garden and all you got was Pizza Hut with me.
[Ryuji sucks in air through his teeth, a little frustrated at himself. He knows he's not the best magic user out there, but the reason he was asking wasn't necessarily because he wanted to acknowledge it, rather---]
I guess I summon it then? Huh. [He doesn't quite know how to turn the switch off to his own thoughts. Is that even possible?] I know I ain't spooked by somethin'. Was just wonderin' if you could feel my persona in me.
[As he picks up the knives there, he leaves them in his med pack. The pistol on his side is good enough for encounters, but ammunition is getting scarcer, he hears. He thumbs the outline of his mask, always hidden and ready if he ever has to use it, under his uniform.]
no subject
[ She's guessing, because she knows what pizza is, even if she's never had it. And she's a fatty fat. Anyway, she doesn't know what a persona is, but the word 'summon' clues her in. ]
So you have another familiar of sorts, then. [ ... ] Make sure it knows I'm the strongest. I won't be treated second-rate just because you had one before me.
no subject
[What's he trying to say]
Hah! You gettin' jealous already? Don't matter anyway. With you here, I ain't got enough energy to summon him. But I guess he's me? Kinda, in a way. Uh. He's the spirit of rebellion.
[When you upgrade from a 2* to a 5*]
no subject
No one's more rebellious than me, got it? He can choose a different name. Like the Spirit of Revolt, or something.
no subject
Hold on, lemme check something.
[After a few moments of doing nothing, just pretending to waste time for the sake of authenticity to his research-]
Apparently that user name's already been registered in the persona compendium. You're gonna have to settle with sharing the title.
no subject
Not that I'm angry about something as simple as this! But if I have to share, I'll go on a rampage once we get back to BASE!
[ Ryuji... may hear growling over their connection. Like a dog. But like she said, it's not like she's angry or anything, right. ]
no subject
[This is pretty amusing to Ryuji. It's probably the most teasing he's felt since coming to the Great War.]
Tch, sorry Sarge. She wanted to prove she's the real deal. I'll go get the duct tape.
no subject
[ Then why is she arguing... shit, she played herself. ]
Fine. Just this once, I'll allow someone else to share my title. I'm not usually this generous, so you'd better appreciate it.
no subject
[Granted, how much life force he actually has to begin with is rather questionable at best.]
Generally speakin' though...
Absolutely. Of course I appreciate ya.
no subject
Ryuji, what the fuck, you're cute. ]
Good. You're not so bad yourself, Master. [ Sort of... nice... also holy moodswing. ] We make a pretty great team. I was worried at first, but I'm glad it was you who formed a contract with me.
no subject
Y'know, I dunno if I said this before, but Achilles wanted me to contract with him at one point, back in Paris.
[How does he say this without pushing her into I'M THE BEST OR EVERYONE ELSE DIES mode]
I didn't think I was really ready for the responsibility. Kinda glad I didn't, lookin' back. It was uh... I was pretty much a mess back there. And anyway, I think our personalities are better matched up. I wanna kick so much ass.
Ramblin', sorry. Probably borin' ya to tears. How's the supply run goin'?
no subject
[ Sort of. Kind of. Not really. But he's right that their personalities mesh better β both the good and bad. Even if she has to share her title, it's proof that they have a lot in common. ]
But it's fine. Talking like this... it's nice. [ It's something she could never do in life. No one really talked to her, and she didn't talk to anyone, either. ] Anyway, I got what you wanted. I'll be there soon.