I have called you children, I have called you son

[vermicompost]

Characters: Kariya and OPEN
Setting: Floor 100, mid-late in the week
Format: any; I'll match
Summary: Under the strain, Kariya completely loses his grip on reality.
Warnings: Standard Individuation warnings! Severe delusions. Chance of blood and body horror because Kariya.


[It's springtime, and the park is beautiful at this time of year. The flowers are blooming, and the leaves are gentle, lighter shades of green than they'll be when summer settles in with its weight and heat. Everything is new and fresh. Even the air feels light, and there's a gentle coolness on the breeze. He sits in the grass and leans back against one the trees, letting out a long, contented breath. His camera rests beside him on the ground.

It's a perfect day.

Sakura and Rin are playing on the swings, and he keeps an eye on them. They're laughing, Rin determined to swing the highest, each arc seeming to bring her a little closer to the sky, while Sakura keeps a steady, even rhythm, keeping up without trying to compete. His children. He loves them so much, his heart hurts. He puts a hand to his chest, but the pain is fleeting, and he smiles. He's so happy. He's never been happier.

He turns to the woman sitting beside him. His smile is for her, as well. Flowers and butterflies may be pretty, but she's the loveliest thing he's ever seen. He reaches out to take her hand.]

We should take them for ice cream later. They'd like that.

[In reality, Kariya is lying in the middle of the one hundredth floor, so weak he can barely move. He's surrounded by shadow children. They're speaking to him, but he doesn't react or so much as glance at them. He doesn't appear to be aware of them at all, his gaze bright and unfixed. The liquid in his collar is faded, but not pale, more of a sky blue.]

You're so quiet today. What are you thinking about, Aoi?

Comments

[vermicompost]

Ah, I--

[He breaks off for a moment, confused, his brain trying desperately to make some sense of this new information.]

Of course I do. They're my friends.

Listen to yourself, Lancer. The things you're saying don't make any sense. How could that be true?

[puppy_lancer]

B-because it is!

[The things he had lived through could be called strange, even to a user of magic. But he can vouch that everything is true.]

[vermicompost]

No, it isn't.

Just think of what you've said. That's not--rational. Different worlds, people disappearing, us not being friends...

You really don't remember?

Lancer... I'm worried about you.

[puppy_lancer]

I...I really can't. But I know I'm remembering the right things!

[Maybe if the glamour flickers, Kariya will see.]

[vermicompost]

[Sorry, Lancer, it's not the glamour anymore. It is 100% all in Kariya's mind. The park, the street, the children, Aoi, the school, Fuyuki... it's all quite real to him.]

Maybe you've been working too hard.

If you'd like, you could come to stay with Aoi and me for a little while. I know it's not exactly a vacation, since we live so close, but you could rest and have someone look after you. That could be nice.

[puppy_lancer]

...Do you even know where your room is right now?

[Right now, he's just really, really confused.]

[vermicompost]

[He doesn't exactly understand the question.]

I know where my house is, so, yes.

[puppy_lancer]

Uh...we don't have houses here. We have rooms.

[He points up at the ceiling.]

Right above us.

[vermicompost]

Lancer...

[Kariya doesn't know how to deal with this. Is Lancer really sick? He's never had to handle a situation like this before.]

My house is right down the street, where it's always been.

[puppy_lancer]

What street?

[There weren't streets. There were stairs. How else did Kariya even get here?]

[vermicompost]

That street. [He points at--nothing in particular, just a point in his hallucination.] I don't know what's gotten into you today, Lancer.

Is everything all right, with your son and your friend?

[puppy_lancer]

['We're not alright.'

'Because you killed me.'

'Because you left me to suffer.']

...They're as fine as they can be in this state. I'm trying my best to help them.

[vermicompost]

Oh, I'm sorry, I--didn't realize. Is there anything I can do to help?

[He's so lucky, to have his family, but he knows not everyone is so fortunate.]

[puppy_lancer]

Just...smile at them and remind them you're friendly, I guess?

[vermicompost]

All right, I can do that.

[He smiles, although he's very confused by this whole situation.]

I think I'm friendly. I try to be.

[puppy_lancer]

['You're making him waste his time. He can't save us. He won't save us. No matter how friendly he tries to be.']

[Lancer looks over at Kariya.]

I think they heard you. And I think they know you're friendly too.

[vermicompost]

That's good. I'm glad. I do want to help. I'm sure everything will be fine.

[puppy_lancer]

I hope everything is gonna be fine.

[He sounds more doubtful than Kariya.]

...This wouldn't really help them, but Enoch's got his equipment. The stuff we had to get when we went down to those floors.

[He hopes Kariya will understand what he's saying.]

[vermicompost]

It will be.

What equipment? Who's Enoch?

[No, Kariya doesn't understand at all.]

[puppy_lancer]

To test some things with. Things we got from the administrators. You don't know?

[vermicompost]

Test? Administrators? You make it sound like a science fiction story.

[He shakes his head.]

Lancer, I don't know what you're talking about. I think you have been straining yourself.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer opens his mouth to argue, but then decides that it might just bring on a new round of arguing about where they were and who was here or not. In the end, he just sighs.]

...I'm fine. Forget it.