you should smile, little thing

[infesting]

Characters: au kariya & open.
Setting: out & about. .. ngl he's probs lost.
Format: i action-spam, but feel free to reply in prose if that's more comfortable for you.
Summary: this is one upset little body horror.
Warnings: body.. horror via worm infestation?

[ waking up in a strange place when he'd just been with lancelot had been not only jarring, but extremely upsetting. he'd spent the first few minutes in a terrified haze, vainly searching the room for his servant. he can't sense him anymore, though the seal remains on the back of his right hand. so.. shouldn't that mean he's still here? he'd said he wouldn't leave kariya. he'd sworn it, that he'd be by his side as long as he could.

that had been before saber, though. before he realized he'd have to fight his king for the grail. that he'd have to choose between her and a little boy he barely knew. maybe.. maybe he'd made his decision.

there are letters, but kariya can't focus to read them right now. he's upset and frightened and he hurts. he always hurts these days. father says the pain is a good thing, that it means the crest worms are making him stronger, to take care of his family. kariya doesn't understand it, of course, but if it's what father says, then it must be the truth.

father isn't here. lancelot is gone, father is gone, and kariya is all alone in a strange place and he doesn't know what to do.

he has the presence of mind to fold up the letter, tucking it into a pocket. he slips out, then, little bare feet silent on the floor. he has no idea where he is, and there are rooms everywhere, and stairs, and-- he has no idea where he should go or where he should begin looking. surely, after all, this is a test. father likes testing him. so.. so he can't cry, because crying doesn't do any good. and anyway, it always makes father angry. instead, he takes a deep breath, picks a direction, and starts walking.


residents of the tower may later find a small, white-haired boy with an eyepatch and bare feet wandering the various halls and rooms. ]

Comments

[fionnuisce]

[On one of the dormitory floors, Kariya might just stumble upon a tired-looking magus coming out of his room and placing a pair of sunglasses on his head with a yawn. Seriously, did he just wake up?]

[(yes. yes he did.)]

[Waver looked around at the sound of motion nearby, gaze finally landing on Kariya with an expression that was largely confused with some element of surprise to it. Was that who it looked like? But he was...for lack of a better word, tiny. What was even the proper reaction to this?]

...Are you lost? [He certainly looked it, so Waver decided to take the most tactful approach he could think of.

[infesting]

[ kariya startles at the voice, turning to blink up at waver. for a moment or two, he looks as if he might bolt, fingers clutched in the hem of his shirt. (and though the sleeves are long, yes, the seal is visible one the back of one tiny hand.)

he ducks his gaze a moment later, nodding, voice a meek murmur. ] I can't.. find Lancelot.

[fionnuisce]

[and i can't html, we've all got problems kariya]

Oh... [Waver hesitated, casually moving his right hand to his coat pocket to hide his own command spells--no need to unnerve the poor kid further.]

Did you just get here?

[looselips]

[As it turns out, Shinji's room isn't all that far from Kariya's room. So, the chances that they would stumble upon each other sooner or later were pretty good to begin with. When Shinji comes across him while heading to the elevator, he double-takes, and then he squints.]

[Naturally, he marches right up to the other boy. His demeanor isn't exactly a reassuring one.]

Hey, you.

[infesting]

[ .. oh. someone that looks close to kariya's age. for a few moments, he just.. stares, a little surprised despite himself. which is silly, of course, because he knows there are other children in the world. he's even seen them from a distance. but he's never met one before.

at the greeting, though, skinny shoulders straighten, fingers going nervously to adjust his eyepatch, making sure it covers his blind eye properly. ]

.. Kariya. That's.. my name.

[looselips]

[...Ugh. He had been hoping the white hair and covered eye were just a coincidence, but no, he can't be that lucky, can he? He frowns.]

You're another Matou, right? [Seeing as he can't even take family lines for granted in this place... THANKS, RIN.] My name is Shinji. You look like you're lost, so I'm assuming you just got here.

[He's more confident about that assumption.]

[kindofademon]

[When Kariya reaches floor three of the dormitory floors, he'll find that it's considerably less occupied than one and two; it happens, people come and then people leave empty rooms behind.

There is, however, one redheaded young man leaning on the wall, who calls out to him.]

Good morning!

[He's noticed his resemblance to the other Kariya, but there are a lot of people in a lot of worlds and (probably) only so many ways a human can look.]

[infesting]

[ that voice.. sounds familiar. for a second or two, kariya freezes, staring down at his bare feet and unwilling or unable to look up to confirm its owner. he can't. he can't be here, he's dead, he and berserker both.

it's not him, it's not him, it's not him, it's not him, it's not him, it's not him--!

slowly, almost as if drawn against his will, his gaze lifts, single gray eye going wide and horrified in his face as he sees the familiar red hair (shouldn't it be blood-streaked?) and cheery face.

before he realizes it, he's clapped his hands over his mouth to muffle a hysterical shriek, crowding himself back against the wall as if it'll protect him. ]

[kindofademon]

[That shriek gets a puzzled expression from him.]

Something on my face?

[Either that (he rarely ever forgets to wash off blood, it's not a mistake you usually make twice), or somebody's been warning the kids about him, which would be terrible.

Ryuunosuke pushes off the wall and approaches.]

[integrous]

[ Asahi is a little brash. Okay, more than just a little bit. But it's exactly why she doesn't expect to run right into someone in the hallways, especially when it's a kid small enough for her to overlook at first moment.. so when she's running down the dormitory hallways, she bumps right into Kariya, the force making her stumble back two steps as she rubs her head, wondering what happened.

But then she spots the boy, and instinctively she apologizes, a little loud-- ]

A--ah, sorry!

[infesting]

[ kariya, being.. well, tiny, is knocked off his feet. he lands in a sprawl on his back, dazed for a moment and in something approaching agony as the fall aggravates damage done by the crest worms. the pain fades quickly enough, though, and he pushes himself carefully to his feet again.

the apology startles him, and he lifts his head to blink up at her. ]

O-Oh, no, it's okay. I-- I should have been more careful.

[integrous]

N.. no, it's my fault, I shouldn't have been running around without looking--

[ It's then that her eyes fall on the little boy, and with the way he looks she.. well, only gets more awkward, really. She manages to hold herself back from gasping, but instead she coughs somewhat awkwardly instead to hold the sound back. Suddenly she feels so ashamed-- and guilty, really. ]

.. Really. S-so don't worry about it. [ She puts her hands on his shoulders for a moment as if to steady him or maybe wipe some dust off his clothes. ]

[pure_as_snow]

[Out and about in an attempt to gain a sense of the size and scope of her new home, Irisviel couldn't help but notice a small child occupying the same hall as herself. A mother herself, she simply could not leave him alone, after all, who knew what could happen to an unattended child in a place like this!

Her maternal instincts guiding her, Irisiviel called to the boy from a short distance away in a sweet and gentle tone.]

Are you lost?

[infesting]

[ he glances up as someone calls out to him, then freezes, gray eye widening in surprise. isn't that.. saber's master? but.. there's no sign of saber. and anyway, he doubts either of them are the type to attack him with no reason and no servant to defend him.

with that thought in mind, he gradually allows small shoulders to relax, chin dipping in a solemn nod. ]

Yes, Ma'am. Where-- Where are we?

[pure_as_snow]

I'm afraid I really don't know much about that myself aside from what I read in the letter I was given.

double kariya thread yeah!!!

[sicharia]

[Claudia knows of Kariya's trouble with solid foods, and the issue is (obviously) one she can empathize with, even if the problem isn't immediate for her anymore. It's something that stays on her mind when she makes note of what ingredients are readily available. This month, there's chicken in the cafeteria, which provides her the opportunity to make broth from the bones.]

[It's in the afternoon that she steps into the elevator, weighted down by a covered pot, a ladle, and some bowls. The broth probably isn't very warm by the time she reaches the dormitories, but she would rather take it to Kariya than tell him to come down to the cafeteria. As she is, she has a tiny bit of difficulty knocking on his door, but she manages.]

Kariya?

[vermicompost]

[He starts at another knock on the door, but relaxes almost immediately at the sound of Claudia's voice. He smiles at the younger Kariya.]

That's Claudia. You'll like her, I'm sure.

[He raises his voice so Claudia can hear him.]

I'll be right there.

[He makes his way slowly across the room to open the door for her. He could probably just tell her she can come in, but he feels like he should make the effort of opening the door. It's more polite and gentlemanly.]

[pinnaculum]

[Sephiroth is often out patrolling the tower, often moving quite swiftly, or teleporting across open spaces. He stops at the sight of another child. A child that seems weak. Obviously, this is a case where he should offer his assistance. For once, he remembers not to suddenly appear before someone, approaching Kariya at a normal pace.]

Hello. You need shoes.

[His tone isn't chiding, but matter-of-fact.]

[infesting]

[ oh. it's another boy. for a few seconds, kariya stares, not entirely sure how to respond. how does one speak to someone around kariya's age? he's been so isolated that, honestly, he's not exactly sure. (it's not as if anyone but lancelot ever wants to hear what he has to say, anyway.)

still, the comment earns a glance down to his bare toes, and he nods, fingers curling in his shirt. ]

I-- I wasn't wearing any in the house.. Before I was brought here, I mean.

[sunflowerfairy]

[When she wasn't wandering around the rest of the Tower, Yotsuba liked to wander about the dorms and talk with the people she encountered. This was one of those times, but when she saw a boy with no shoes and an eyepatch that looked..familiar, she wandered up to him, looking a bit puzzled.]

Hello! Where are your shoes? Did you lose them? And what's that on your face?

[infesting]

[ he startles a little at her direct manner, blinking curiously at her hair (is it really green?). at the questions, though, he blinks down at his feet. ]

I-- I don't know. I wasn't wearing any when I was brought here, I suppose..

[ his fingers go to his eyepatch, then, adjusting it fussily. ] And this is my eyepatch. Because, um, I can't see out of this eye.

[ had that been okay? talking to people around his age feels strange (mostly because he doesn't often have much reason to talk at all, but also because.. well, he's never met other children before). ]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer blink in surprise as he sees the strange little child.]

Woah, kid, what are you doing?

[infesting]

[ he startles as he's greeted, blinking up at the unusual man with one solemn gray eye. a grown-up. a grown-up that.. is maybe mad at him for wandering where he isn't supposed to be?

he ducks his head immediately, dipping into a polite bow. ]

I-- I'm sorry, I'm.. I'm lost. I'm not sure.. where I am.

the tiniest body horror boy ever

[bowandblade]

[Archer is relishing the ... stability that came along with the turn to a new month -- no moments of seeing the hideous true side of the tower, no more barebones cafeteria menu with granola bars and water... So far things have been okay for the horror tower.

And so he is strolling the floors, keeping an eye out for monsters. Whether it's day or night, there's bound to be something lurking around, after all.]

he is sad and pitiful be nice archersan ;w;

[infesting]

[ something turns out to be a very tiny white-haired boy with an eyepatch rounding the corner looking lost and distressed. he definitely looks new and his feet are certainly bare. he probably doesn't even realize he isn't wearing shoes.

he glances up when he realizes he isn't alone, freezing uncertainly. that bright gold hair and crimson eyes-- they're immediately familiar. he hasn't seen the tohsaka master's servant except from a distance, but he knows how strong he is. even lancelot had been both impressed and a little disturbed, and it takes a lot to shake the knight.

he hesitates for a few moments, then dips into a polite, shaky bow, rising again with his gaze ducked to his feet. without even really thinking about it, his left hand creeps to his right, fingers curling over the seal on the back of it. ]