[closed]

[sicharia]

Characters: Claudia Hortensia and Kirei Kotomine
Setting: Various places; throughout the event
Format: Brackets
Summary: Catch-all for various interactions over the course of the event
Warnings: Blanket Kirei warning; otherwise, will update as needed

Comments

[god_damned]

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.

[sicharia]

[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?

[vermicompost]

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.]

[god_damned]

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. ]

[sicharia]

[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?

[vermicompost]

[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.

[sicharia]

[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...