♟ 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]

Yes, that's true. Things used to be different, didn't they? You lived in another time, a time of heroes. It must have been wonderful to see those things.

The magi I know are petty and small, selfish and cruel. They only think of themselves.

[Well, especially Zouken and Tokiomi, but that's generally who he means when he's talking about magi.]

[puppy_lancer]

I knew some good magi even in the modern day...it's just that a lot of the time, the circumstances didn't let outside people see what they were really like. The Grail War had most of them on edge, you know.

[vermicompost]

I suppose there are. I haven't met any of them.

Growing up in a magus family didn't give me any love for them.

[Just the opposite.] The War does make it worse. They're more grasping and selfish than before. [His face twists, suddenly. He's one of them, he knows.] I hate it.

[puppy_lancer]

What about you yourself? Or that kid? Sakura? Don't you count as good magi?

People these days are too tense. If only it could be like back in my time. As long as the other guy is fun to hang out with, who cares if he's technically an enemy?

[vermicompost]

Yes, but I'm hardly a magus. I never wanted to be one. I only became one to enter the War.

[He knows he'll never be much of one, and he doesn't think of himself that way. It's only thanks to the worms that he can perform any significant magecraft.]

Sakura's just a child... But I guess you're right. Sakura and Rin have magic circuits, too.

Most people don't think like that. Enemies are enemies. [Kariya wouldn't hang out with his enemies, but then, he hates them too much.] They can't be friends.

[puppy_lancer]

[His expression turns serious.]

If this were a Grail War. And your Servant and my Master were still here. I would fight and kill you if so ordered. But as long as no such order comes along and you're not attack me, I think it's fine to just sit around a talk, or maybe even get a drink if I enjoy your company.

[A pause.]

Of course, I'd still be willing to kill you. No matter how much I like you as a person.

[vermicompost]

[He considers Lancer solemnly, his smile gone.]

I understand. You're a Servant. That's what you have to do. I only want to kill the people that deserve it, but I'll fight anyone I have to to win.

[ Of course, all the other Servants have to go. It's nothing personal, as far as he's concerned (with the exception of Tokiomi), but how could he fight someone he liked talking to?

I haven't talked to any of the other Masters. [What good would that do?] I couldn't kill someone I cared about. [Or so he thinks.]

But we're not fighting in a Grail War.

[puppy_lancer]

Not even to make alliances?

[His expression relaxes again.]

Nope! I'd still like to see the other people from my world again, though.

[vermicompost]

I don't need any alliances. Berserker is the strongest Servant.

[Kariya: not a strategist. He doesn't see the point in alliances with people he's going to have to fight.]

You would, even though you were fighting them? [He pauses. His own expression is still tense.] I wouldn't. There's someone from my War here. She wasn't happy to see me, and I'd like it better if she wasn't here.

[puppy_lancer]

You didn't have any Masters come up to you offering alliances, even temporarily?

[Lancer isn't much for strategy either, but he still knows how basic alliances would work.]

Sure. They were okay guys. Yeah, there were some stinkers too, but there were some cute girls! I dunno if I want them to come here per se, but I'd like to see them again.

[vermicompost]

No, you don't know the other Masters. There are none of them I want to ally with.

[He'd rather die than ally with Tokiomi, for one.]

No one wants an alliance with me. [Yet. Berserker's manner doesn't exactly invite allegiances.] I don't want to know any of them better. Most of them I'd rather not know at all.

I only care about winning, for Sakura. [He can't let anything stand in the way of that.]

[puppy_lancer]

Were there any cute girls?

[Though Kariya doesn't seem to be the sort of person who would be able to appreciate it, seeing how he was caught up in the Grail War.]

I've heard some Masters try to ally with whatever Master who has Berserker, if only to get some muscle on their side.

That's some dedication you've got. I like it!

[vermicompost]

None of the Masters are women. Only Saber.

[And he only has eyes for one woman, anyway.]

I showed them our strength, but I've stayed hidden. It's safer.

Yes, that's right. [And now, he does smile again.] I'm going to win, no matter what. [He means it, too.]

[puppy_lancer]

...Your Holy Grail has no taste.

[If he had his way, then the Grail War would be just him...with cute girls as all the Masters and other Servants.]

Even if the Grail isn't worth winning? Or are you gonna deal with it when the time comes?

[vermicompost]

Probably not.

[He laughed at this, a little bitterly.]

I don't care about the Grail for itself. I'm going to give it to Zouken--my uncle. Then he'll let Sakura go. That was the deal I made.

[puppy_lancer]

Well, a deal's a deal then. What would count as "giving" it to him?

[A big hole in the fabric of reality isn't really the most maneuverable of items.]

[vermicompost]

Right. I promised. [He doesn't quite understand the question.] I said I'd win the Grail for him, that's all.

The Grail's all he wants, so he can live forever. That way, he won't need Sakura as an heir.

[He knows Zouken isn't trustworthy, but what other choice did he have?]

[puppy_lancer]

And...do you have a way to move this Grail? Or are you just gonna let it sit and shit while you go get Zouken?

[vermicompost]

I don't--know. Exactly.

[It's almost as if Kariya didn't think things through very well--imagine that. But he can't admit that to himself.]

There must be some way to give it to him. When I win, he'll know. He'll come. He's a very powerful magus.

[puppy_lancer]

[There is something wrong when Lancer gives more consideration to a subject than someone else.]

Don't see why he couldn't have just gone and fought for himself, then.

[vermicompost]

[It's probably not a good sign.]

I don't know why. [There are a number of things he doesn't know about Zouken, who is a mysterious individual in some ways.] But the Grail didn't choose him. It chose me. I'm glad it did, so I can save Sakura.

[In spite of the toll it's taken on him.]

[puppy_lancer]

Is...that so? Even after everything that happened...

[He knows quite a few people who would've been happier not to be chose.]

[vermicompost]

Yes. I--there are things I don't like. Of course. I don't want to be like this.

[Decaying, dying. Nearly dead already. It shows in his face, what he is, what's happening to him. Like his grim determination shows in his voice.]

But I can help her this way. And--it's what I have to do. To make things right. So I'm glad. No matter what happens. As long as I can help her.

[puppy_lancer]

Did those scars come from your family's magecraft, then? Or did it have something to do with the Grail itself?

[He doesn't say anything in reply to Kariya's second remark. Sacrifice...Lancer hadn't really sacrificed much in physical terms, but he had dragged his honor through the dirt.]

[vermicompost]

[He nods, slowly. He feels relaxed enough with Lancer, oddly enough, to tell him. It can't hurt to tell him, can it?] It's magecraft.

My uncle's familiars are worms. They carry the family crest. They--

[They're eating him, honestly.]

I had to work with them, to take them on, in order to fight in the war. My magic circuits weren't developed enough. The worms stimulate them.