towerofanimus | i will storm the gates of hell

Entry tags:

i will storm the gates of hell

Characters: karna & you. yeah, you.
Setting: room 1-12, then wherever you wanna run into him, idc.
Format: again, i write in action spam because i'm lazy, but feel free to respond in either.
Summary: this is probably gonna be terrible.
Warnings: none yet, unless you count the traumatized hindu deity.

[ he can't believe what he's reading. his world is gone? his entire world? it's not possible. not yet, not now, and certainly not like this. karna understands what he is, of course, but why does that make him worthy of saving? he served in life, he served in death-- if anyone should have been protected, should have been spared, it should have been his master.

he can't.. think about this right now. he can't focus on how empty he feels. ten years he'd been connected to his master, knowing one another body and mind and soul. ten years their bond had existed, and now-- and now--

he wants to scream. it's like a limb is missing, ripped away and bleeding, and it's all he can do to breathe, to move. he's not ready. he'd known he'd lose him eventually, but he'd thought-- he'd thought he'd have years, not like this. they were supposed to have a lifetime together.

he doesn't have the presence of mind to banish his armor for something less conspicuous. all he can think of is how desperately he needs to get away. he leaves the letters on his bed, stumbling away, all but fleeing the room as the void inside him shrieks its loss. he has no idea where he's going, only that he has to keep walking. he needs to walk until he finds the end of-- of whatever this is.

this is fate, surely, but it's a fate that he was woefully unprepared for. ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Waver had been doing his best to balance 'working' and 'trying not to work oneself to death'. The latter was something of a difficult concept for someone that was used to working absurdly late nights or just constantly until whatever he needed to accomplish was done.]

[But of course Diarmuid had convinced him to at least attempt not to get hopelessly lost in whatever tasks he'd set for himself. Pressing a hand to his face as though that would force back exhaustion, the ponytailed magus stepped out of the laboratory with a yawn and started to walk in the direction of the cafeteria.]

[...At which point he very nearly walked headlong into what looked like an unfamiliar Servant in full armor. One hand went to the sunglasses on his head to make sure they weren't about to fall off, Waver hesitating before managing to determine an actual response.]

Sorry--I must have been distracted. [His right hand went to his jacket pocket, hiding his Command Spells just in case whoever this was happened to be less than friendly.]

[Lancer, his shift with the collar fluids done, is taking a rest on one of the beanbag chairs. He tenses up when he feels the presence of some unfamiliar Servant. He quickly jumps to his feet and glares at the Servant in question.]

Who are you?

[He's a bit snippier than usual, given the fact that he had only newly come off of collar fluid duty.]

[ for a few stunned seconds, who he's looking at doesn't really register, the shock too complete. but-- the energy is so familiar, even if their bond is missing. he looks almost exactly the same; a few minor details are different, but those don't matter. it's waver. he's here, and the letter had lied.

karna sucks in a desperate breath through his teeth, white noise roaring in his ears, pale eyes wide and so, so very grateful. he takes the short step that separates them, long fingers lifting to the human's face, cupping it with tender affection. ] Waver. [ there's no mistaking the tone of his voice; he can't hide his desperate relief or the terror he'd felt. ] I could not sense you. I feared you gone.

[ true, waver's own reaction to seeing him is-- strange, but perhaps he hadn't received the same notice that karna had. ]

[ it's the sense of another servant that cuts through the shock, like being doused in cold water. a servant? after ten years? the fifth war hasn't started yet, how would one be here of all places..?

still, he draws himself up, expression carefully even as he stares at the unfamiliar figure. ]

I am called Karna. [ he doesn't bother introducing himself as a class, of course-- he's beyond all that now, anyway. ] How is it that you are here? It has been ten years since the Grail War ended.

Huh. You're open with your identity.

[He's feeling just a little more relaxed. Always better to be around someone honest.]

Maybe it was in your world. It was still going on in mine.

[Waver froze solid at the sudden contact, shoulders set into a rigid line. Shock dulled by exhaustion twitched across his face, hands half-raised as though he didn't know whether to stop Karna or stand utterly still like an idiot.]

...I- [Words halting and hesitant, his mind was racing as fast as it could; this didn't seem like a threat, so calling Diarmuid was probably unnecessary. But then what the hell was going on? Was it possible this was another case of an individual recognizing someone that didn't recognize them in turn? That seemed the likeliest possible option; hadn't he felt a sense of relief similar to that on his own first day here?]

I'm, er...sorry. I don't think I'm the Waver Velvet you're looking for.

I have no reason not to be.

[ for a moment, the second part makes no sense. but then, karna's been a member of the tower for a decade, so it doesn't take long to connect the pieces. some kind of second magic, then..? ]

I see. [ to some degree, at least. ] Is it true? Our worlds.

[ something is wrong. why doesn't waver know him? why is he looking at him in such a manner? and then when he says that--

this isn't possible. this isn't possible. ten years they'd spent together, and waver doesn't know him? his own servant? his own lover?

his hands fall away as if burned, and he takes a swift step back, expression closing down to hide his shock, his hurt. no. no, no, no, this isn't happening. ] My apologies. [ he takes an unsteady breath, pale eyes sliding away from the familiar, beloved face. ]

No, I... [At least Diarmuid had recognized him, if not as his Master. Waver was utterly as a loss to who this even was, and that honestly made him feel a little guilty for being unable to soften the blow somewhat.]

...could I ask for your name, to start with? I'll try to explain this place and make it a little easier for you if I can.

...As far as I can tell.

[His tone is completely solemn.]

[The job the Tower has seen fit to assign Nue isn't one she has trouble with. She needs to retrieve bodies from the bottom of the ballpit? Fine. She can just fly, meaning she doesn't have to worry about that stupid suit or the stupid cord attached to it. It's not like there's anything to haul back to the surface most of the time, anyway.]

[...But even if the job itself doesn't trouble her, she's still here in this ridiculous playground, submerged up to her waist in cheap plastic. She's being used like some beast of burden. She feels caged and powerless and toyed with, and in a fit of discontent, she chucks one of the brightly-colored balls at the head of an unfortunately-timed passerby.]

~~[p.s. read this post]~~

[For once, as Diarmuid leaves his room, he is distracted, not by all the bad things that are going on, but by good things. Even though it's been almost two weeks since he and Waver had their talk, he's still feeling refreshed. There is a peace and happiness that can't be dimmed even by the terrible things that happen every day in this place...

Well, what had happened with Edgeworth had dimmed it a little, but Ryoji finally returning not long after had helped. Talking with Waver the night Edgeworth had died as his friend had healed his wounds had helped as well.

Now if only Edgeworth would take his advice and actually talk to him about what happened...

However, Diarmuid refuses to focus on bad now. Not with all the good and it's because of that he doesn't immediately notice the new servant's presence. Not until he runs into him.

Immediately, he reaches out to steady the other man but his apology dies in his throat when he see how upset the servant seems.]

Are you all right?

[It's a foolish question, but it's out of his mouth before he can stop himself.]

[ you know my name, he wants to shriek it, to shake him, to plead for him to remember. panic is clawing at his insides, tearing through his veins, leaving him shaking and terrified. this is so much more painful, somehow, to have him so close, so close, so close-- ]

I am called Karna. [ please, please remember it! ] I was summoned as Lancer by Waver Velvet in the Fourth Grail War. I defeated his enemies and won the Grail for him. [ for you, everything for you. ] It has been a decade since then.

[ his knees feel weak, suddenly. it's true. it's true, and his master is dead. ]

.. I see. [ a careful breath through his nose. ] You have not introduced yourself.

[ he dodges it with a simple sidestep, glancing back with a mild expression. for a moment, he's not certain what he's seeing, but it's-- shock, he thinks. he still can't think about it. ]

Have I offended you in some manner?

You-...

['Won'? How could that have been possible? What he'd seen of the Grail--rather, what must have been where the Grail manifested--was nothing anyone could have claimed victory on. Could they really have won and survived, both himself and his Servant?]

...how? I--was that even possible?

[ his immediate reaction should have been to recoil. the sense of this man is that of a servant, after all, and servants.. shouldn't be here. ten years after the fourth war, before the start of the fifth.. as far as karna knows, he's the only one thus far wished to incarnation. and he wouldn't wish his fate on another.

he stills beneath the hand on his shoulder, expression blank, pale eyes lifting to the face above him. he doesn't know this man, but that's unsurprising. he'd lived centuries before most servants, and he's been-- busy the last ten years. happy. in love.

still, the concern seems genuine, and it's not in him to be rude. he dips his head politely. ]

Arrival was a shock. [ that's an understatement. ] You are.. a Servant. [ how? ]

Lancer of the Fifth Holy Grail War. Though seeing how there's no Holy Grail and no War here, I'm more of a free agent.

[That he avoided being hit only makes her mood worse, so she whips a second ball toward him, petulantly.]

No.

[It's a young woman's voice.]

[Irisviel had come to the library in hopes of finding something to read to pass the time between dinner and bed, as she rustled through the stacks for something light and fluffy, she spied Karna from a distance, his form and aura marking him as no ordinary soul.

Watching from a distance for a short while before giving into her kind nature and choosing to at least see if this man required any assistance.]

Hello, do you need help with anything?

Yes, a terrible shock I'm sure. Take a moment to calm yourself. Rushing about this place without your focus can be deadly.

[How many people newly arrived wander onto the more dangerous floors of the Tower with no idea of how dangerous they are until it's too late? Fortunately, it seems like this servant hasn't been hurt. No, the source of his distress is obviously the shock of arrival.]

I am a servant as are you. My name is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, called as Lancer in the 4th Holy Grail War.

[When Karna reaches the bottom floor, he'll be given a bowl of oatmeal, as all newcomers are. This is what enables Zett to identify him as 'new guy'.

The demon approaches Karna with all the confidence of someone who could possibly not care less if his nature can be sensed.]

So, you're new here?

[Pale and frail and broken as he is, Kariya looks completely defenseless, but the appearance is deceiving, as his bond with Lancelot is strong enough now that at any sign of alarm from him, his Servant will appear. He trusts Lancelot, so he isn't afraid.

Kariya sits quietly among the lush exotic flowers, pallor against such vivid color. His gaze is fixed, as if he's watching for something or listening... but to what? There doesn't seem to be anything present until he becomes aware of Karna, at which point he starts and turns toward him. He blinks, taking in the sight of him.

Someone wearing armor, upset...]

Wait--

[ he dips his head in a nod, expression blank and even. ] There was.. a cost. But yes. You truly do not remember..?

[ his mouth thins uncertainly as he takes in the details, the changes in what seems like his master. and-- something strange occurs to him. ]

Is this-- [ a pause. he was never a mage, himself, but ten years surrounded by them means he's picked a few things up. ] This is Second Magic. Yes? [ which means his lover is truly gone. ]

[ lancer. this is the lancer who would have been summoned, then, perhaps. ]

I, too, was once Lancer-class. Well met, then.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 4

i will storm the gates of hell

floor 27

floor 38

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

floor 95 - ball pit!

Dorm Floor 4, Outside of Room 4-16.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Library

no subject

interrupts the castmate wagon- how about cafeteria

yeah yet another castmate! floor 101

no subject

no subject