To see a world in a grain of sand

[god_damned]

Characters: Kirei Kotomine and OPEN
Setting: The Dormitories (1-04). Floor forty-eight (the graveyard). Aaaand wildcard meanderings which you can happily place at your leisure!
Format: Brackets.
Summary: Kirei wakes in the Tower and explores his new surroundings.
Warnings: General disclaimer that Kirei is an awful person, discussions of suicide in his thread with Claudia, and specifics will be added as necessary.


Dormitories
[ He reads the letter, and he feels nothing.

What should he feel? Sorrow? Perhaps another person would label his utter lack of response as a state of shock or disbelief, as if he were denying the gravity of the message. However, while Kirei is reserved about taking those words as full truth, it is not a fool's hope which motivates him to such skepticism. What was lost in that world that he could mourn? Very little, in the end.

However, there is the War he left behind – and with it, he left behind the Grail, and his one chance to have his questions answered.

Perhaps it isn't nothing after all, but the feeling in his chest is not that of an honest man. But does it matter? Now, there is no remaining trace of his life save for a trunk of impersonal, unimportant things.

Regardless, he opens it, changes into his vestments, and exits into the hall. ]

Floor Forty-Eight
[ It is only natural that he finds himself in a place like this.

The graveyard stretches before him: like an echo of the world which he has been told is gone. He steps toward and kneels before a stone, trying to read its worn lettering with no success. It is difficult for him to determine why he makes the effort; perhaps he expects to see a name he recognizes.

Perhaps he expects to see his own. ]

Wandering
[ It is similar to the day he woke with the Command Spells, in a way, when he finds himself in this place. He was thrust into a world of unknown to him, of magi and their Holy Grail War. At the beginning, he had not understood his involvement in such a battle. Then, he spoke to Archer...

Perhaps this Tower is the same: he does not understand it now, but he can explore. He can discover more of it, and of himself.

But will what he finds favor him, or destroy him? ]

Comments

[infesting]

[ he shakes his head, then hesitates, uncertain if that's the entire truth. ]

S-Sort of, I suppose. [ he fidgets, gaze ducking, fingers fraying the edge of the bandage wrapped around his left hand. ] I've met people here who're nice, but I think it's just me from my world, maybe.

[ he glances back up again through his lashes, shy and certainly meek. ] Did-- you just get here, too?

[god_damned]

[ The more the boy speaks, the more the likeness stands out to him, but Kirei is aware that it cannot be what he imagines. The years do not match in the slightest; Kariya Matou was a grown man when he took in his family's magic and poisoned his body. After all, there are many reasons for a child to be ill, or to have lost an eye. Was his wife not similarly injured? ]

Yes. I just arrived. [ He glances down at the boy's hand when he fidgets with his bandages. ] Have you injured yourself?

[infesting]

[ not that kariya's any sort of expert, himself, but he supposes he should probably give this priest the same sorts of warnings that sephiroth and others gave him. ] Um. Everyone tells me it's really dangerous here, so-- so you should be really careful. And-- this place is really, really big. And you might see people that look like people you know, but are different. [ a brief pause to make certain he has most everything--

but then he shakes his head. ] No.. [ he wiggles his fingers, poking at the injured palm beneath the bandages. ] A bug ate its way out. [ he says it matter-of-factly, of course, because to kariya, it's just a part of normal life for him. ] I was scared and it was protecting me, but it hurts when they do that..

[god_damned]

[ As if prompted by Kirei's thoughts, the boy speaks in affirming the suspicion which brewed on his mind:

You might see people that look like people you know.

That could have been coincidence. If it is the truth of this place, then it may be nothing more than an essential forewarning that most were give -- but then the boy mentions a bug. Coincidence can only carry so far, and he wants to know for certain.

To encourage a response, Kirei gives a short bow and offers his own introduction first: ] My name is Kotomine Kirei. Would you tell me yours?

[infesting]

[ kariya looks a little bit startled by the politeness, though he probably shouldn't be. people here are not at all like his family. they-- notice him and talk to him and treat him with terrifying kindness. he doesn't know how to respond to it, exactly.

still, he returns the bow, straightening, fingers curling in the hem of his shirt in a nervous gesture. ] It's nice to meet you, Kotomine-san. I'm Matou Kariya. Are-- Are you a priest?

[god_damned]

[ Even if the appearance had been enough to betray him, it still comes with some level of a surprise to hear the name uttered. What does mean? Kirei debates should be spoken for a moment, and he decides not to speak of the War so suddenly, nor betray his knowledge of the boy's other self. ]

I am. [ That may perhaps put him further at ease. ] Would you tell me about your home?

[infesting]

[ kariya seems a little surprised by the question, but after a moment, he offers a hesitant nod. ] If you want me to, Kotomine-san. I don't know a whole lot about the rest of the world, though. Just about my family. I never left the house until a few months ago.

[ he gives a slightly furtive, unsettled glance to the rest of the hallway, fingers tightening in his shirt. ]

M-Maybe we should go somewhere else..?

[god_damned]

[ The more Kariya speaks, the more he wonders. This boy is a warped vision of the man who fights in the Holy Grail War as Master of Berserker. Is this the story of Kariya Matou, who had not run from his family? No, that could not be true; Kariya left as a grown man. This is something more complicated and darker.

Again, like before, he is becoming fixated on this man -- as Gilgamesh had illuminated for him -- except now he is nothing but a child.

Kirei nods to the offer, glancing down the hall as Kariya does the same. ] Where would you suggest?

[infesting]

[ he seems a little surprised by that question, too, not accustomed to an adult giving him the choice. for a few moments, he considers it, rocking a little on his feet. at last, though, he glances back up at kirei again, offering a small, tentative smile. ]

There's a floor that has a garden. If-- If you like, Kotomine-san.

[ kariya very obviously likes the idea, but he's also trying not to look too eager about it. after all, it's the priest's decision. ]

[god_damned]

[ If he likes. To be honest, Kirei would not favor any floor over another; he has no preference to draw upon. He supposes most people would find a garden pleasant, and peaceful, and he can grasp the reasons why without ever feeling it himself.

He consents with a nod of his head. ]

That is fine; lead on. [ Then, after a moment: ] Would you allow me to call you Kariya?