♟ 001 ♟ In the Tower With Kariya

[vermicompost]

Characters: Kariya and OPEN
Setting: various
Format: either
Summary: Kariya's arrival in the Tower
Warnings: blood, possible body horror


Dormitories:
It's confusing, arriving here. This place, the letters, they're alarming. How could the world be destroyed? Where's Sakura? Where's Aoi? Kariya's heartbeat is accelerated, his breathing harsh and quick. His own agitation agitates the worms within him. In this state, it's difficult for him to walk, let alone make his way through an entirely new, strange environment, but he does his best. At times, he staggers and coughs, or stumbles to one side, disoriented. He has to pause to rest, more than once. Blood flecks his lips, gathering at the corners of his mouth and sliding down over his chin.

"Berserker, Berserker..." He calls out now and then as he goes, but no one comes to his call.


Cafeteria:
He managed to make his way down to the cafeteria. Sitting at the table, he gazes down at his oatmeal he was given, mournfully. He's not very hungry. He tries to eat it, but even just the plain oatmeal is difficult for him to choke down. It takes him a few tries, but he takes his time. When he pauses to cough, he wipes up the scattered bits of oatmeal flecking the table, a little embarrassed.


Infirmary:
The medical facility looks promising, but Kariya isn't sure if they have anything there he can use. He doesn't know if there's any medicine in existence that can help him. He'd like to try, but he doesn't want to risk disturbing the worms further. It's hard to say how they'll react to any stimulus. Much of his life has become a matter of worm management. He walks in slowly, quietly. "Hello, is anyone here?"


Meadow:
After wandering restlessly, at last Kariya settles himself, all but spent, exhausted from his wandering. He sinks down among the flowers with a sigh. When he focuses his gaze on the blooms, he feels more content, calmer than he was before. The flowers are lovely and fragrant, the petals soft and colorful. He just wants to rest a little while...

Comments

[vermicompost]

If you're glad to be here, than that's good. I don't like this place, but at least it's good for someone. [He tries another smile and manages it, lopsidedly.] Have you heard if there's any way to go back?

They said... [He trails off, uncertain.] They said our worlds were destroyed, but I can't believe that. I won't believe it.

Yes, there's someone I need to take care of.

[forfeiture]

I'm.. not sure if it's true. [ and she has no way to check for sure whether it's true or not, although.. ]

The only evidence I have that they might still exist is the fact that one of my children is here. [ both, in fact, but she only knows of one - she noticably seems a little more genuinely happy at the mention of this topic though. ] He is much older than when I last saw him though, so that must mean the world still went on even after I was taken here, right? So in that case.. the person you need to take care of is alright too, I'm sure.

[vermicompost]

I won't believe it. [He repeats himself, emphatic.] If I believe it, then... Nothing matters.

Oh, your son is here? [That makes Kariya brighten a little, too. Family is important to him, and he's happy for her.] You must be glad to have him with you. What's his name?

That's good to know, that the world is still going, but it's important that I help Sakura--my niece--as soon as possible.

[He coughs again, the look on his face plainly worried again.]

[forfeiture]

His name is Vergil. [ the smile on her face already says enough about what she feels about it, yes - despite it being dangerous and not too pleasant here.. she's glad, her sons mean everything to her. ] He has a twin brother back home too, his name is Dante. They're both amazing boys.

.. [ at the cough her look turns a little more worried again though. ]

Should I maybe get you something to drink? [ for the cough.. ] Then you can tell me about your niece too.

[vermicompost]

Dante and Virgil, those are nice names. [He smiles back.] You're lucky to have such wonderful sons. How old are they--or were they, when you were with them last? [These time discrepancies are confusing.]

[He shakes his head.] Oh no, you don't have to. I don't know if it will really help. [It's not his throat that's the problem. It's going to happen, no matter what, if the worms decide to move.] But I appreciate it.

Sakura's a sweet girl. So soft-spoken and gentle. She's always been very good.

[forfeiture]

[ She was about to stand up already, but once he says it's okay she still hesitates for a moment, but.. then just remains sitting. Talking might be good enough of a distraction for him either way, right? ]

They were eight. .. And.. when I saw Vergil in this tower, he was quite a bit older. [ She would compare him with Kariya, but.. he looks much older than his actual age due to everything.. ] It's strange, but it's good to see him okay all the same. It's a lucky opportunity to meet him again like this, so I can't complain.

[ even if it's dangerous, but he seems to know how to handle himself by now, either way. ]

.. Sakura sounds like a lovely girl though.

[vermicompost]

[He is glad to have someone to talk to, someone kind, who seems willing to listen.]

I can't imagine, suddenly seeing your own child, grown so much older. But he must have been happy to see you, too. You're very fortunate. I hope you can treasure all the time you have to spend with each other.

She is. I care about her very much. Her and her sister both. They're important to me.

[His most important people, along with their mother.]

[forfeiture]

[ She can't help but laugh just a little - but it's warmly, at least. ]

It's been a while since I've seen a man this dedicated to their family. But.. it's nice all the same. It makes me a little glad to know there are still people out there like that. Family is.. important, after all. More than anything. [ even if it's not direct family, in his case. ]

[vermicompost]

[He nods, smiling.] Yes, family's the most important thing. That's what I think, too. The family that raised me was...

[They weren't like a real family. It's hard to even think of them as his. They'd made him realize what family was by failing to be one.]

They weren't there for me. I want to be there for my nieces, to be everything my family wasn't.

[forfeiture]

.. It must've been painful. [ Was that why he looked.. well, pretty bad? She can't help but wonder about it, but she's not going to ask out loud. ]

But.. I'm sure your nieces are grateful to you. They must like you a lot.

[vermicompost]

It was. [It's hard to express the cruelty of the Matou family, and why would anyone want to hear about it?] They've always been that way. That's why I left them.

[He nods, brightening at the thought of Sakura and Rin.]

Whenever I came to visit, I'd bring them presents. We'd play in the park together. [He realizes, belatedly, that he's speaking in the past tense, and he swallows, hard.] We get along well. I wish I could see them more.

[forfeiture]

If there is a way to get out of this place and go back home.. then I wish for the best for you. And for both your nieces as well, they sound like adorable girls. It almost makes me wish I would've had a daughter..

[ she chuckles, apparently it's half-joke, she already loves her two sons enough. ]

[vermicompost]

Thank you.

I wish I could have had a daughter, too.

[Kariya, slightly embarrassed, almost instantly feels like he's said too much with this, but it is what he wishes, more than anything. To have his own children, his own family.]

But--yes, they are adorable. Daughters or sons, children are wonderful. They make life worth living.

[forfeiture]

[ Even if he might think it's too much, she doesn't seem to think so. In fact, she seems just the same - all smiles right now. It's a sentiment she can agree with, after all. ]

In that case.. could you maybe greet my son if you ever see him in the tower? It's better to know people in this place, after all, and I would be glad if he could meet a person as kind as you.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya returns her smile, gladly.]

If I see Vergil, I'll be glad to say hello. I'd like to meet him, too. It does seem better to know people here. It must make it more bearable.

What does he look like?

[forfeiture]

Thank you. [ and there does seem to be quite some gratitude behind her words - she can't help but worry about her kids, but if Vergil at least has some company here.. ]

He's a little bit older now, I suppose he must be in his twenties by now.. His hair is white like his father's, and he usually wears his blue coat here.

[vermicompost]

It's my pleasure.

[He's very happy to be able to do anything to help, and she seems so kind. He'd like to assist her, if he can.]

White hair, blue coat--I'll look out for him, I promise.

[forfeiture]

Thank you, you really are too kind. If there is anything at all I can do for you in return, then feel free to tell me, okay?

.. I think we should all help each other out in a place like this, after all.

[vermicompost]

You've already been a help. You've been very kind.

[He tilts his head to one side, smiling lopsidedly again.]

You've made me feel better about being here--

Oh. If you could keep an eye out for Sakura or Rin for me. Just in case they come here, it would be nice if people could look out for them. I wouldn't want them to be alone in a place like this.

[forfeiture]

Then it seems I've accomplished my goal, at least. [ She knows what it feels like - if she hadn't met kind people when she first arrived, along with her son, everything would've been much more difficult, even if she's used to dealing with difficult situations by now. So she smiles back at him, warm as ever. ]

I will make sure to keep an eye out for them. I'd like to meet them either way, so maybe that can be a small good thing if they do end up here, even if it would be better for them not to.. [ ah, wait-- ] What do they look like?

[vermicompost]

I suppose you have, haven't you? I'm glad.

[Her warmth is contagious. He returns it with his own smile.]

I'd appreciate that. I'm sure they'd like meeting you. It would be one good thing about them being here.

Oh--yes, I have a picture here of them, actually.

[He takes it out of his pocket. It's of himself, his friend Aoi, and both her children, Rin and Sakura. It's an older picture of him. His hair is dark, his face smooth and unscarred. Everyone in the picture looks very happy.] That's Rin, and that's Sakura. Though Sakura looks a little different now. Her hair and eyes are violet.

[forfeiture]

[ The difference is noticable - the difference in him, of course. He looks.. completely different on this picture, so did something happen to him between having this taken and what he's like now? Part of her can't help but worry a little, even if she doesn't voice it out loud, instead focusing on the kids. ]

Ah, they're so cute and pretty..! I can understand why you like them so much, they seem adorable.

[vermicompost]

They are, they're adorable, aren't they? I think so, too. And they're so fun to be around. I always looked forward to when we'd play together.

[This statement meets with complete approval from Kariya.]

They're different, too. Rin is always bold and speaks her mind, but Sakura is quiet and gentle. But they get along so well...

[He's quiet for a moment, then. They shouldn't have been taken away from each other. That wasn't right.]

[forfeiture]

My sons are a little like that as well. [ Totally just bonding over kids here.. ]

Dante was always slightly more outgoing than Vergil, even if they both are great boys. It seems that sort of thing happens quite often with siblings, hm?