towerofanimus | [closed]

[When they reach the cafeteria, Claudia's thoughts are far more on searching for people here than actually eating—but, then again, that had been her motivation for their destination in the first place. Almost anyone should pass through the cafeteria sooner or later... Automatically, when Kirei touches her, she looks up, starting but not shying away. He gestures, and she looks in the indicated direction, and then her eye widens.]

Kariya!

[Something that is equal parts relief and worry washes through her, taking with it her concern for their surroundings. She doesn't think about the fact that they're in the cafeteria, or the fact that Kirei is next to her, and just goes to him, her arms immediately wrapping around him when she reaches his side.]

Kariya, are you...

[She trails off, and before she begins again, she leans in to kiss him fully on the mouth.]

Are you okay?

[He starts at the sound of his name, spoken in Claudia's voice. Fortunately, he has the presence of mind to successfully swallow his oatmeal. He puts down his spoon and starts to rise, but he's overestimated his ability to get up quickly, and he falters. Still, he doesn't fall, resting his one hand on the table for balance. He manages to stand up, so that when Claudia reaches him, he's able to put his arms around her in return. Seeing her makes him smile.]

Claudia. You're all right.

[He doesn't hesitate to kiss her back. He almost slides his tongue between her lips, but he tries to restrain himself, remembering that they're in public and that she doesn't like that (he doesn't care so much). For his part, he doesn't notice that Kirei is there.]

I'm so glad! I was looking for you! Yes, I'm fine.

[He would probably say this regardless, but he looks like he genuinely means it, he's so pleased to see her.]

[ Perhaps it is own inability to feel such pure, genuine emotion himself, that makes it difficult for him to predict what it is between Kariya and the woman who was his wife.

The way she rushes to him at first sight is not unexpected, given that she had expressed a closeness with him before, and he of her -- but then their lips join, and a great deal more makes sense to him.

Kirei bows his head, glancing aside from them. He does this out of courtesy to not stare, rather than out of any pain of witnessing the gesture. Perhaps he should feel pain, or jealousy. Some righteous fury should build up in him, in watching the woman he wed in the arms of another man.

But he feels no such thing. Instead, he thinks of what an image they make together: white haired and ill in their unique ways. It makes sense that they are drawn to one another, as similar as they are. After all, Kirei and Claudia could not be more unlike.

As she said: they are no longer married. It is not his place. ]

Claudia. [ Perhaps it would be more proper to leave without saying a word, but it seems more formal to address her first, rather than vanish with no explanation. She might misunderstand him otherwise.

It is really courtesy, or does he linger out of curiosity? Out of wanting to see her reaction? ] I am going to continue elsewhere.

Are you? I was so worried—

[She leans in and kisses Kariya again. There's a part of her that doesn't want to accept his answer at face value, but he seems so genuinely happy that it's hard to make herself to press. She needs to ask him more, about what happened, but for the moment...]

[When Kirei addresses her, though, she starts. She can't help herself. The abrupt realization that she has had an audience makes her feel—not guilty, but embarrassed. She had told herself that it hadn't mattered, but maybe she should have said something to Kirei beforehand. Even if she has no right to call him her husband...]

[She turns halfway toward Kirei, though she keeps one of her hands on Kariya. She's aware that she's blushing, and she has to look down for a second before meeting his eyes again.]

Um— Are you sure? [She feels like she should have perhaps said something else, but that's what comes out of her mouth. It's just that she doesn't know if he should feel obligated to leave, if that is what he feels now.]

I was worried too--

Oh--

[He's startled to see Kirei standing there when the man speaks, startled enough that something twitches, sharply, under his skin.]

No, you don't have to go, I--

[This is the first time he's found himself in this position. He's successful with a woman and there's another man involved. And someone like Kirei, who's so tall and serious and good-looking, unlike himself. He doesn't know quite what to do. It's--almost elating. Claudia is standing with him. Does this mean Claudia doesn't want to get rid of him? She chose to be with him? His bitterness seems to evaporate (not that his jealousy does), and he feels suddenly magnanimous.]

I mean, maybe we should all be friends?

[Is that the right thing to say at a time like this? He isn't sure. Kirei doesn't seem angry. There had been a time when he'd been willing to be friends with Tokiomi, but that had been a long time ago, it feels like, and he doesn't think of that time now.]

No, it's all right.

[ It isn't a lie. In fact, he is quite the opposite of upset. Seeing the blush on Claudia's face, and that twitch crawling under Kariya's skin, revealing the worms which have not entirely been removed... They both look like they have been caught, their faces seeming like children who expect to be scolded rather than grown adults.

It's satisfying, in some sick way. It isn't his own bitterness or hurt which makes him want to see them suffer; it's not a vengeful reaction. He feels no such petty jealousy. However, their tension and shame still pulls at something inside of him. ]

I told you that I would help you find him, and now that you have. I should not linger.

[ He bows his head to Kariya slightly as he is addressed. ]

I would like that, Kariya, but for now I will leave you two alone.

You obviously have been missing one another.

[At Kirei's final statement, Claudia really does feel like she's being scolded. She almost cringes, and while she manages to keep her response from being quite so overt, she can't quite suppress the tiny flinch she meets his words with. She just kissed Kariya in front of the man that was her husband. The more firmly that realization sinks in, the more awkward and embarrassed she feels about it.]

[It's true, though, that embarrassed or not, she stays at Kariya's side. Her hand remains where it is, squeezing lightly.]

If...you're sure. I don't think there's anything, ah— [—her eye flits to Kariya's face for a second, trying to gauge his feelings on the subject—] —so pressing that you need to leave right this instant, but—I'll see you later?

Oh.

[Kariya blinks, but the man doesn't seem offended, at least. Kariya might be jealous, but he doesn't wish Kirei any harm, and he seems like a decent person. He's being good abotu this, at least.

When Claudia squeezes his hand, he returns the gesture, glad to have her by his side. She really cares about him... He's so lucky.]

Yes, we have. I'll see you later, too.

[He doesn't think that was rude. Kirei said he was going to leave, after all.]

It's best that I go.

[ He speaks with finality, but not with any harshness in his tone. He addresses Claudia first, his tone flat and difficult to decipher. ]

He has been on your mind this entire time; it would be wrong to interfere with your reunion.

[ He bows to Kariya one more time, in acknowledgment, before he takes his leave. ]

[Kirei's tone may be less-than-open, but she's certain that the lack of ill will is genuine, and the statement he leaves her with isn't wrong. There's absolutely no reason for her to feel guilty—but that's exactly how she feels as she watches him go, even as she realizes that choosing to follow him rather than staying with Kariya would only make her feel worse. She breathes out a low, deflating sigh, her shoulders sagging.]

[She turns to face Kariya again, then. For a moment, she does nothing but look up at him, her guilt and discomfort apparent on her face. Finally, she moves to put her arms around him again, tucking herself close to his body and resting her cheek against his collar.]

I was really worried about you... [She mumbles it, the frantic relief she had displayed earlier replaced by something more subdued now. She keeps her face where it is, resting against him and gazing off to the side.] What happened?

[Kariya watches Kirei go, then watches Claudia, feeling tense as he picks up on her emotions. Yet he waits, patiently, and when she puts her arms around him, he returns the gesture.]

I was worried about you, too. Are you all right?

[He breathes in, holding her close. Her scent is familiar, reassuring, good. He's glad she chose to stay with him instead of to go with Kirei, but he's worried she might be dissatisfied by her choice. But what can he say?]

We were trapped in the room. But it was all right. Lancelot looked after me. I--don't really remember much of it.

[They probably can't stay this way for too long, if only because Kariya will have to finish his poor neglected oatmeal at some point, but for the moment, she doesn't want to move. It feels nice, to hold him and be held. As his question, she nods, thinking only of her physical condition. She is, after all, unharmed.]

Kirei looked after me at night.

[Idly, one of her hands moves against his back, fingertips tracing a circuit up and then down again.]

Good. I'm glad you had Lancelot to look after you. As long as things were okay for you...

[closed]

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no one invited me i'm just here to take your wife

me on my way to steal yo girl

shakes head

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