sicharia: pixiv id=343705 (Default)
Claudia Hortensia Kotomine [AU: Master] ([personal profile] sicharia) wrote in [community profile] towerofanimus2013-08-30 12:27 pm

three.

Characters: [AU9] Claudia Hortensia & OPEN
Setting: Floor 101; Floor 50
Format: Brackets preferred
Summary: Claudia looks at pictures of her family, prays, and cries! But mostly cries.
Warnings: Prrrobably lots of self-hate in this post.

I. Floor 101
[It might be better to do this somewhere more private. Then again, someone else might say it would be better not to do this at all—it's like a form of self-flagellation, if not a physical one, with Claudia purposefully hurting herself because she deserves to be punished. The atmosphere of the hanging garden attracts her, though, and, at least in her own mind, this is something she needs to do.]

[It's not as though this is the first time she has looked at the photo album that came with her inside her trunk, and it's not as though it has never made her feel melancholy before. This is, however, the first time she has been able to bring herself to touch it since the appearance of those shadows. There are photos of Kirei, and her wedding, and her daughter, and her family and Risei—and now looking at them hurts so much she cries until she can't see.]

[So, late in the morning, this is where she'll be, her head bowed as she tries not to sob out loud.]


II. Floor 50
[Claudia still refuses to visit the cathedral floor, so this is where she has taken to praying. The brightness of the floor, between the windows and the overhead lights, helps to clear her head, so while it could perhaps be a little more comfortable, it does well enough. She can be found here, kneeling by one of the windows with her hands clasped in prayer, in the afternoon and into the evening, apparently without regard to the time of day despite lacking the ability to defend herself.]
vermicompost: (five)

floor 101

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kariya's not able to make it far, these days. The elevator ride to the cafeteria is almost too long, but he can descend a floor or two from the dormitories, and he does. The garden is beautiful, at least, and he still does like to see the park, in spite of everything.

He pauses when he catches sight of Claudia, hesitating as he studies her, as if not quite sure of who she is. After a moment, he steps forward.
]

Hello...
vermicompost: (thirty-eight)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you all right?

[He continues to move toward her, slowly, uncertain himself. He glances at the flowers at either side of him, as if slightly distracted by them, but he knows where he is.]

It's beautiful here. It's like... a dream. I wonder why they would make it so beautiful.
vermicompost: (thirty-six)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
It's all right. There's nothing wrong with crying.

[He sinks to the ground, not far from her but not too close. He seems to be relieved to be off his feet.]

I used to get in trouble for crying, when I was little, and that wasn't right. No one should feel bad about it. It's fine to show how you feel.

I'm okay. I'm more worried about you.
chevalier_mal_fet: (said the knight/how many shall be mine)

II. Floor 50

[personal profile] chevalier_mal_fet 2013-08-30 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[The day grows darker, and Lancelot is moving through the Tower in his spirit form, illusion though that form may be.
His Master is sleeping, and he takes this time to enjoy the solitude, as well as to kill what Monsters he comes across, as he does take some pleasure in battle.

At the sight of Claudia, the woman who his Master cares for so much, he pauses.

After a moment, his body takes form before her, and he bows.
]

Lady, it is not safe here.
vermicompost: (twenty-seven)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
But you can.

You're important to me.

[He feels the same, that he doesn't matter--but it's true, about him. (He may be a hypocrite in this.)]

Really--? What?

[He's not exactly sure what she's asking him. His brain isn't particularly adept at the best of times, not since his training began.]
chevalier_mal_fet: ('twas you saw/to the last edge)

[personal profile] chevalier_mal_fet 2013-08-30 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[He stands patient and still, waiting for her response, then listens solemnly when it comes.]

You have naught to apologize for, my Lady.

[He suspects there is more to it than simply losing track of time, but he will not pry. It is not his place. His place is to Serve.
His Master would wish for him to ensure her safety.
]

But please, permit me to escort you to a safer place. The hour has grown late.
vermicompost: (pic#6474711)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 09:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course.

[He insists, earnestly, with a nod. She's one of the most important people to him.]

Yes, I'm--

[He's not sure how to express it. He feels ashamed of himself, and at the same time, uncertain; he's not quite sure what is real and what isn't. But he thinks this is real, even if it's also an illusion...

...the Tower makes everything more confusing.
]

I'm better. I think.
chevalier_mal_fet: (pic#6150559)

[personal profile] chevalier_mal_fet 2013-08-30 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I am glad to hear it. You are most welcome, Lady. I am ever at your Service.

[Without hesitation, he extends a hand to her.]

It will be my pleasure.
vermicompost: (eighty-five)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Then we're both fine. I care about you, too.

[He leans into her touch as her arms come around him. He glances at the photo album as it moves, curious, but he doesn't ask about it yet.]

I'm sorry if I--upset you. I wasn't myself.

[He's still not sure if he is. His memories are confused and confusing. He hopes that he didn't make her angry, but she doesn't seem angry.]
vermicompost: (twenty-nine)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
No, it was my fault. It was completely my fault.

[The Tower hadn't made that happen to him. It hadn't changed other people's memories. He had done that to himself. He looks down, still resting against her, unwilling to give up their contact.]

I just--I'm very weak. And selfish. I'm not really a good person... I'm sorry.
vermicompost: (forty-two)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
You aren't bad at all, Claudia. You've always been kind, and good to me. I don't know why you're so hard on yourself. You haven't done anything wrong.
vermicompost: (nineteen)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-30 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
But I-- It's different, for me.

[He pauses. He'd made nothing but mistakes. He'd made life miserable for everyone he'd cared about. He'd failed them all. It's hard for him to live with himself.

But--if Claudia wants him not to say it...
]

All right. If you say so. Then I won't.
vermicompost: (twenty-eight)

[personal profile] vermicompost 2013-08-31 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome.

[He'd do almost anything for her. He would blush when he kisses her, but he's rather bloodless, so he blushes rarely. Instead, he smiles and kisses her back, moving into the touch on his head.]

I've tried. I always want to protect you, to be good to you. But--I probably should have told you things that I... didn't.

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