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singularity // Hamelin 1284 A.D.
[ Shirou pushes his hood down further as he walks down the eerily quiet streets. Despite the sun still visible over the horizon, the houses are tightly shut, and the people are scarce, only few stragglers running through the streets. None of them stopped to greet or even acknowledge him, though he can sense eyes on him as he move about the town, observing him. He assumes that the townspeople must be gripped by great anxiety to hide themselves like this. What could have caused such a stir among these people? He has few guesses of his own, but making solid conclusions without directly talking to them would be difficult.
Rayshifting to this small monastery town was a surprise, at least for him. Originally, he wasn't assigned for this mission at all, as he was needed elsewhere in Chaldea. But the system refused to send the original group of Servants; even Da Vinci could not pinpoint what the cause for the malfunction. After some trial and error, the mission control surmised that the only Servants who could accompany Ritsuka to this Singularity were those yet of age. As he was one of the few Rulers young enough to accompany her, Shirou was asked to join this mission.
They must have been rather desperate to ask him, considering the risks involved. But well ... he can't complain.
He returns to the makeshift camp they made outside the town and takes off his hood. Jack the Ripper is snugly resting besides her Master, but the other Servants are nowhere to be found. He suppose they are on similar scouting mission around the area. Due to the mountain range nearby, there is a lot of ground of cover, after all. Assassin probably stayed behind to protect her "Mother."
He makes his presence known with a light cough. ]
As I thought, there is something odd about the town, Master. The townspeople are on high alert.
[ a beat. ] What would you like to do?
no subject
[ She looks from the forest, towards the sound of the music, and then at the Jack. What?
It's far from the first time she's ever encountered an alternate summon of one of her Servants, but usually not when she's brought that same one along for her current party. That makes it significantly easier to maintain a sense of disconnect, even when they imply they might remember her...
Her hand curls into a loose fist. She still has all of her Command Seals for now, but she's reluctant to break them out this early in the mission. They haven't even been here for a day! But if it comes down to that and their lives... well, Seals regenerate. It's just a matter of gambling correctly.
For now she stays close to Shirou as possible without getting into his range of motion. An actual fight between him and Jack is not something she wants to be in the middle of.
As she moves, she glances to the tent. ]
I'm fine. That's -- she's not ours, is she...?
[ It could be a Servant summoned by whoever's in charge here. That wouldn't be ideal, but it's better than the alternative. ]
no subject
Yet, whether or not if she is theirs remains to be seen. If they are dealing with any other Class, the answer would've been simpler, but Assassins are elusive bunch. Ritsuka's Jack could be concealing her presence, waiting for the right time to strike in the shadows.
He does have his reservations about the idea, especially when considering her personality. Would Jack really risk endangering her beloved Mother by hiding herself? Her, the legion of souls who were so relieved to finally receive affection from someone? Even if the situation would become much more troublesome, assuming someone is controlling their Jack would explain a lot of things. The deafening silence from the tent, for example.
He fixes the slender blades between his knuckles as Assassin takes a rigid step forward. The girl says nothing as she raises her dagger again. No excitement for blood, no childish taunts. ]
She is the only Servant I can detect at the moment. It's unfortunate, but I can't rule out the possibility.
[ He braces himself but keeps his distance to Ritsuka close, at an arm's length. ]
What would you like to do?
[ Meanwhile the flute's melody seems to reach its crescendo. ]
no subject
[ The seconds feel like they're dragging on way too long. Think, Ritsuka, think! There are other Servants where one can afford to take the time to strategize a response, even if it's only a minute. Jack isn't one of them. Most of the Assassin class favors swift, decisive action.
Think!! ]
If that's ours... we can't just take her down like she's an enemy. [ Which is the exact sort of thing that has gotten her called soft-hearted in the past. She could argue that it's grounded in practicality as well -- after all, they hadn't been able to bring along that many Servants with them this time around, and of them, Jack is one of the best. ] If she's being controlled, we have to figure out a way to snap her out of it.
...Do you think you can knock her out, Amakusa?
[ Just knock her out. If she's their Jack, then surely they can get through to her. They have to at least try. ]
Or at least get her down for a moment. If I have to--
[ She touches the seals on the back of her hand. If she has to, then she'll use one, and hope for the best. ]