♟ 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

meadow

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer looks down at the horribly scarred man lying down in the flowers.]

[He frowns. The man smells of decomposing materials. Not in the same way as the Grail, but still an unpleasant smell.]

[He doesn't say anything, but just stares, wondering if the man is dead or alive.]

[vermicompost]

[He's resting, nearly dozing, but it's difficult for him to truly sleep. He hardly ever falls into a deep sleep. He hasn't since long before the war began. As much as he wants to sleep, he's jumpy, and in a few minutes, he starts awake, his eyelids snapping open as he senses someone watching him.]

What--

[He turns his head to focus his good eye on Lancer. He doesn't recognize him, but something about this man alarms him--there's a presence to him, a sense of power, that he can't explain. His chest seizes up. This whole place is alarming, and he wouldn't be surprised to meet someone--something--dangerous, even in this seemingly peaceful meadow.]

Who are you?

[puppy_lancer]

[Well, that answers the question of this guy being alive or dead.]

Call me Lancer.

[vermicompost]

Lancer? But you're not--

[That startles him further, his recognition of the name plain on his face. He's seen Lancer in battle, but this isn't the Lancer he's familiar with. Is he a Servant, or something else?

Kariya moves back, instinctively. Maybe he shouldn't have wandered off by himself. He's so vulnerable here.]

What do you want?

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer raises an eyebrow as he sees the man scooting away.]

Me? Nothing, really. Just came here because it was relaxing. And then I spotted you just lying there.

[vermicompost]

[He relaxes, slightly. Lancer doesn't seem belligerent.]

I just came here today. To this--tower. I've been walking for a while... I'm not sure where I am now.

I had to rest. It's so big.

[He doesn't want to think of making his way back.]

meadow; I am the latest niece...

[angramaintsu]

"Do you mind?"

There's a girl sitting just a little under a yard away from him with her back to him. It seems she's unaware of just who he is or else she might have been a bit softer in her tone.

But then again, since when was Rin ever kind? The twin ribbons of pink atop her head are reminiscent of the little girl Aoi used to hold, but the hair was mostly white, with a twinge of purple starting to peek it's way through the tips of her hair.

"I was enjoying a nap until you rudely intruded on it. Now be gone or else I'll dispose of you myself."

[puppy_lancer]

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure how this place functions either. Just that they've got specialize floors that look almost like some place outside, among other things.

[He sits down next to the scarred man.]

You chose a nice place, I guess.

[vermicompost]

Does anyone know? I just kept going until I got here. It is nice, isn't it? The flowers... It's better than most of the other floors I saw.

[Fortunately, the elevator had taken him to the twenty-first floor, not too far away.

He turns toward Lancer as Lancer sits down next to him, but he doesn't draw away again. If the man is a Servant, it isn't as if he can run if Lancer decides to harm him.]

I can't stay here. I have to go home. [He can't believe home was destroyed.]

No, just in time!

[vermicompost]

There's a certain familiarity to the voice--maybe in tone or rhythm. He can't place it, because it's the voice of an older girl than the one he remembers. Yet he turns toward the sound at once, curious.

His good eye focuses on Rin, and he takes in her hairstyle, her hair, everything he can see from this vantage point. This is one more confusing thing in a sea of them, yet the first thing he's found that reminds him of home. How can she be so familiar yet so strange?

"I'm sorry." His voice is soft, but hoarse, in his ruined throat. "I didn't see you there." Even though she'd been so close, he hadn't been thinking clearly. "I didn't mean to disturb you." He keeps his gaze on her. Instead of asking who she is, he says, "I'm Kariya."

[puppy_lancer]

I've gone up a couple of the floors. Up the art gallery, at least.

You've...still got something left for you at home, right?

[Lancer had seen the supposed remains of his home, but he still can't completely believe it.]

[vermicompost]

I saw the gallery, before I came here. There's something strange, about all these floors. They're not right. Even this one is odd.

[But he nods, readily enough.]

Yes, my nieces. [That's really all he has left that matters to him, the two girls and Aoi.] And I have things to do at home. Important things.

[He has a war to win, after all.]

[puppy_lancer]

I guess...I've got something to do too.

[Strictly speaking, he's still Ayaka's Servant.]

But I'm not sure whether or not I'm still needed.

[vermicompost]

You do?

[He relaxes further. It seems like the man is just--talking to him, for some reason.]

If you think you might be needed, it doesn't hurt to try. To help, that's what's important. To do all you can, for as long as you can. That's what I think.

[He lets out a deep breath, another sigh.]

[puppy_lancer]

She's a strong girl. I think...she might be able to handle it on her own.

[The only reason he had taken that contract was to kill Misaya. And now that she was at peace, he finds himself doubting his contract with Ayaka. After all, hadn't he done enough guiding her to Saber and then distracting Misaya and Sancraid?]

Dormitories

[scorchedchivalry]

Someone does come to call, but not the one Kariya wanted.

"You will not find him here," Saber said from behind, standing as she was at the end of the hall. "Most unfortunate for you."

[vermicompost]

[At this, he warms to Lancer, a little. He's just trying to help someone, like Kariya.]

I'm trying to help a girl, too. But she's so young. She needs me.

[There's no one else trying to help Sakura, and she's just a child.]

She's what I'm fighting for.

You can still try to help. Even strong people need help sometimes. [Offering help doesn't shame people, or Kariya doesn't think so.]

[faithstaynight]

[No one? No, someone does come. Noticing the man in such pain, a fair-haired girl in men's clothing approaches, a worried frown on her face. She reaches a hand out, and speaks in a soft, worried tone.]

Monsieur, would you like some assistance? I can guide you to the infirmary, if you wish.

[Despite her gentle appearance, there is undoubtedly an aura of power around her - the familiar magical signature of a Servant. She doesn't bother to hide it, since she heard him calling out for Berserker, but... she can ask him about that later. The important thing is getting him help.

Cafeteria

[fusedstars]

Hei had been busy in the kitchen, preparing not pumpkin related meals. People wandered in and out, and that tended to earn some attention. A man coughing as he tries to eat the oatmeal? That was not a good sign. And so he walked over to the man, staring down at him.

"Do you require assistance?"

[vermicompost]

He freezes at the sound of that voice, then turns. He knows who she is. He wouldn't have forgotten one of the Servants. It hasn't been so long since he saw Saber in battle. Although--she looks different, and he can't say why. It's not a comforting difference.

Of course, he's afraid. Another Master's Servant would naturally want to kill him. He may have accepted the inevitability of his death and its purpose, but he doesn't want to die. He takes a step back.

"Go away." It's a meaningless, almost childish thing to say, and he knows it. But he doesn't have any defense against her, because Berserker won't come. "I don't want to fight you."

[puppy_lancer]

Maybe you can find her here? All sorts of people end up here.

Oh? Is that so? I had someone I could fight for...once.

[He gives a little laugh when he hears the suggestion.]

Someone else told me the same thing.

[scorchedchivalry]

Saber's eyes do not move from him as he pleads for her to leave him alone. There was a burning rage in her chest that begged to be unleashed upon him. This man was the reason she had lost the chance to say goodbye to one dear to her. He in his desperation had prematurely snuffed out what Saber had come to see as the only light in the Fourth War.

She advanced on him with purpose.

"It would not be a fight. I need not even draw my blade to snap your neck."

[vermicompost]

Do you think so?

[Really, few things would make him happier. Or so he thinks.]

Yes. [He admits it with something like simplicity.] She's important to me. Who did you fight for?

It's true, I think. Even strong people need help, and even weak people can give it.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya's not so disoriented that he misses the air she has, one that's familiar to him now, even if she isn't. He pauses, frozen, slowly registering what she's said.]

I--there's an infirmary?

[He takes a moment to take in the fact that there's someplace like that in an awful place like this. He hadn't expected to find any comfort or kindness here, and why should he have? Kindness had been in short supply even back home. Maybe he should be more wary, but it's hard for him to say no to the offer. If a Servant wants to hurt him, what can he do to stop them on his own? Shortly, he nods.]

Yes. I don't know if it will help, but yes. Is it far?

[vermicompost]

He took another step back.

Fighting at this point would be worse than futile, but the worms were already stirring within him, making his lips curl into a grimace as they all but buzzed inside his body. He tasted the blood pouring from between his lips, more of it now. He could try to fight, even though there was no way he could win against a Servant. It would hurt, he knew.

"No, I don't--" He shook his head. "Please don't." He couldn't say what her anger was for, unless it was because he was an enemy Master. They'd had little to do with each other. The only Servant he truly cared about fighting was Tokiomi's Archer. Everything else would just be a way to win the Grail.