"Oh, by the way, Director? Da Vinci is right: Your social skills are absolute trash. An angsty preteen would give better motivation and reassurance than you. For your sake and..... practically everyone else's, please work on that."
“
You talk an awful lot of shit for someone whose hands are free of blood and death,” Ritsuka says. “
I’m not here to motivate you, like some two-bit shrink at some cushy, Ivy League Mage Academy,” she says, “
I’m not here, to reassure you that it’s all going to be okay, and hold you hands, like your Mommy when your scared.” Ritsuka narrowed her eyes, “
I’m here, because your last Director was a self-assured, ignorant fool and now, she’s a puddle of blood in a Coffin, and I was next in line. Because, unlike you, Reginald, I didn’t choose this position - I was forced into it.”
“Unlike you, I didn’t get to say, “Yes. I’ll do it.” There was no-one left.”
Ritsuka leveled her gaze. “
You want some motivation? You want a little reassurance? Don’t fucking die, then. And, remember this, Reginald: You’re eighth in line. Seven Riders came before yours, and they are all dead. 48 Masters died. 48 Servants dethroned. 96 Lives ended, so you can talk shit to me,” she says. “
So, for your sake, and practically everyone else’s, please, keep this in mind: You will never understand the stress I’m under. So bear with me..”
“
...awkward...” Penni frowned.
Da Vinci melted back under the table with a dramatic groan. This was going to be hell...
EDIT:
“
More helpful words from the peanut gallery...” Ritsuka says, trying her eyes on Da Vinci and Penni.
“
Helpful? No. I’ve only been alive for, maybe, three, four hours,” Penni says. “
But, context does matter, you know,” she says, “
After all, you never said they all died this morning.”
Ritsuka grit her teeth, and curled her fist into balls so tight her knuckles were paling. Hadn’t she? Had she not stressed that? No. No, she hadn’t. She was trying to be cordial, professional, yet serious and direct, but indirect - she didn’t want... what...? Them to worry? To be scared? To lose hope?
...or was that what she wanted for herself?
...to not worry?
...to not be scared?
...to have hope?
Did she just want that for herself?
“
It’s a hell of a thing, dying,” Penni says. “
Clarifies your place on this dusty rock. Brightens colours that dulled with age. Really shows you the fallibility of the Human condition,” she stood up, “
In the end, we’re all bit actors, playing a role. Enter stage left. Exit stage right. I’ll be at my Coffin. Come, Mary...”
“
It was just this morning... it’s only been -- ”
“
Ten hours. Twenty minutes. Forty-seven seconds,” Da Vinci says, “
And, not once have you stopped to grieve. To cry. To even... accept,” she says, “
Olga Marie is dead. You saw her Coffin. All of them. You need to accept that you have to step up. She isn’t going to walk through that door, and hold your hand.”
Ritsuka looked at Da Vinci, but the Servant didn’t balk. “
Those eyes don’t scare me. Not even they, themselves, are brimming with fear. Take a nap, Ritsuka. I’ll handle the Rayshift. You can oversee, when you awaken.” Ritsuka lifted her fists from the table, and dropped her shoulders. “
Go.”
“
Fou, c’mon. We’re taking a nap,” Ritsuka says.
“
About time. I’m tired,” Fou says, abandoning the rest of her cake, and skipping over.
Silently, the two would leave. Sighing, Da Vinci looked back to the remaining. “
Thank you for coming. Please, go rest as well. A text will come to you with the code to your Coffin and the elevator code to reach them. Don’t be late,” she finalized the text to everyone, and sent it. “
The fate of Humanity depends on it.”
Iwannabeyours
Crusader Lord
Neziul
Bacon