♟ 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

I don't think Kariya and Berserker will win that contest

[vermicompost]

You're welcome. I'll remember that. [Kariya is very forgiving when it comes to young people and their foibles.]

That reminds me. I have a picture, too.

[He'd almost forgotten he could show something too, not that he'd forgotten the thing itself, as it's precious to him. One of the few things he has in the tower is a picture of himself with Aoi, Rin, and Sakura, back when things were better. He pulls it out of his pocket.]

It's a photo of Rin and Sakura, look.

Re: I don't think Kariya and Berserker will win that contest

[puppy_lancer]

Woah!

[He leans in to get a good look at Aoi.]

Your best friend is one pretty lady!

[vermicompost]

Yes, she's very pretty, isn't she?

[Kariya looks both pleased and a little nervous. He hopes Lancer doesn't say anything embarrassing.]

[puppy_lancer]

And...she's married, right?

[His tone, noticeably, doesn't carry any disappointment.]

[vermicompost]

Yes, she's married.

[Kariya isn't exactly happy about that, considering that he's planning to kill her husband. He doesn't sound happy, either.]

[puppy_lancer]

Is her husband always with her? Or does he leave the house on business or something?

[If Kariya could see what Lancer was hinting at...]

[vermicompost]

He's a magus.

[Kariya still doesn't look particularly happy, but when does he, when thinking of Tokiomi?]

His work is important to him. So yes. He must leave.

[More important than his family.]

[puppy_lancer]

And she's not?

[Didn't magus families usually marry whoever gave them the strongest children?]

You must have visited her a lot when he was out then.

[vermicompost]

No, she's not.

[He doesn't see the need to explain the Zenjou family. Family pedigrees are not something he cares about.]

I did, when I was in town. I've always liked spending time with her.

wow, Lancer is RUDE

[puppy_lancer]

...How are you sure you don't have any kids of your own then?

LANCER

[vermicompost]

[Kariya stares for a moment, startled by the remark. It takes a few seconds before he can speak again.]

I--I didn't--

I didn't do anything like that.

he needs a leash

[puppy_lancer]

But you said she was your best friend and she didn't have her husband around?

[As long as the husband didn't know, it was fine in Lancer's book.]

[vermicompost]

We're just friends! I play with the children. I didn't--

[Not that he wouldn't have liked things to be different.]

She was happy...

[puppy_lancer]

[He stares at Kariya for a few second before shrugging.]

Man, you modern people.

[Just because there was physical intimacy didn't mean there was emotional intimacy as well.]

But, if that's what made all of you happy.

[vermicompost]

I don't think it's modern, it's just what happened.

[He'd rather have the emotional intimacy.]

It didn't make me happy.

[He murmurs this.]

[puppy_lancer]

[He's barely able to hear that final murmuring.]

Why didn't you ever tell her?

[vermicompost]

[Kariya's eyes widen again. He almost looks as if he wants to protest, but he doesn't.

He sighs, putting away the photograph. He's never discussed this with anyone, but it's not as if he needs to worry about Lancer telling anyone who's involved. He's so far removed from the situation.]

I couldn't. It was complicated. I only wanted her to be happy.

[puppy_lancer]

Ah.

[As much as he doesn't agree, he can understand the sentiment.]

Good for you then, I guess.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya stares down at his hands. He could have done things differently. Maybe they would have turned out better, instead of like this.]

But I was wrong, and in the end--she wasn't happy.

[Or so he thinks. But he saw the sorrow in her eyes at having to give her own daughter away. How could anyone forgive Tokiomi for that?]

[puppy_lancer]

Did she like you better all along?

[If so, they could've just eloped and filed a divorce later. It was legal, at least in Lancer's time.]

[vermicompost]

No, I don't--know.

[It's painful for him to talk about.]

Her husband sent Sakura away.

[puppy_lancer]

Oh yeah, you talked about that. She still has Rin, right?

[vermicompost]

That's right. The girls were split up. Sakura has to act as if she never had a sister.

[Kariya turns away, his face twisting.]

I hate him.

[puppy_lancer]

Maybe he only meant for the best.

[Adoption and fosterage existed back in his time.]

Still, that's gotta be tough, knowing someone you love loves another person you hate.

[vermicompost]

He didn't! He knew what my family was like, what they'd--what they'd do to her.

[He can't believe someone like Tohsaka would fail to realize the form the Matou family crest would take. He knew far too much.]

It is... I can't bear it. Not anymore.

[Talking about Tokiomi takes some of the humanity from Kariya's voice.]