[open] // it’s your blood that’s red like roses

[fionnuisce]

Characters: Waver and open
Setting: November 23rd
Location: floors 27, 15, and the dorm floors
Format: starting in brackets, I'll try to match.
Summary: Waver's having problems.
Warnings: Probably none?

[floor twenty-seven]

[Working usually took his mind off of things. Today seemed to be the exception; Waver stared blankly at his notes as though he wasn't really seeing them, pen hovering just over his paper. it seemed as though he was having trouble getting a train of thought properly started...or he was on a much less science-oriented one altogether.]

[floor fifteen]

[If the usual work on the collar fluid wouldn't hold his attention, maybe something more practical would. In the course of his day Waver found his way to the workshop floor; someone did need him to craft new swords. Film materials or not, he had every intention to do as much. So one could find him drawing up vague outlines for paired shortswords and collecting a pile of materials for them.]

[dorm floors]

[Maybe it just wasn't worth trying to do anything today. Not with the miserable mood that kept rearing its ugly, murderous, and nauseating head. Waver decided that perhaps just trying to actually accomplish things was best left for tomorrow. If he slept on the whole mess of Sephiroth and all that had happened for another night, maybe it would be less of an overbearing weight to handle.]

[Maybe.]

Comments

dorms

[vermicompost]

[Lancelot is worried about him and reluctant to let him leave the dorms alone. Which is fine. At least Kariya has some books to read, but he is feeling restless, especially since he's so much better and so much more capable of traveling. But he's all but defenseless now, without his Crest Worms, and dying will almost certainly cause him to revert to his earlier state. He doesn't want that. So he tries to satisfy his urge to do something by walking the dorm floors.

The sight of Waver presents a welcome distraction, and Kariya smiles. He heads in Waver's direction, but as he approaches him, he's clear-headed enough to realize that something's wrong. The smile on his face fades.]

Waver--

Are you all right?

[fionnuisce]

Oh...Kariya? [His tone was one of faint surprise, like Waver wasn't quite registering the situation today.] Lancelot was right, you do look different...good to see you in better condition, anyway.

[Shrugging his shoulders, the lecturer merely folded his arms.]

Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?

[vermicompost]

Oh, yes. I'm not surprised he told you. Someone got rid of the Crest Worms for me. Thanks.

[He smiles at this, but he doesn't particularly like talking about himself, or having any kind of fuss made over him, so he's almost relieved when Waver's reaction is muted.]

You look upset, that's why.

[fionnuisce]

Right...he mentioned as much. It's nice to know someone's got one less thing to worry about.

[Shaking his head, Waver glanced away as though trying to shrug something off.]

...difficult week, that's all.

[wormless]

[He nods.]

It's nice.

[He agrees, but avoids the subject of himself.]

Does it have to do with Sephiroth?

[Generally no one tells him things, but Lancelot does. Also, he can figure some things out for himself.]

[fionnuisce]

...It does, yes. How much do you know about everything?

[It seemed like half the Tower already knew. Waver might have been annoyed if he had the energy to do so.]

[wormless]

Lancelot told me some things about it. Sephiroth's his roommate. I know the basic situation.

[fionnuisce]

Look, if you're about to launch into a lecture on morality and how we're all idiots, I'd like to ask you to save it. I'm really not in the mood for another argument.

[wormless]

I didn't say anything like that, did I? [Kariya frowns. He doesn't appreciate people making assumptions about him, especially when he's trying to be nice. He hates being dismissed. Few things annoy him more than being brushed off. He doesn't snap back, but he does offer up a less than positive sentiment:] But maybe you shouldn't act like idiots if you don't want to be lectured.

I'm not going to argue with you, I was asking because I was concerned.

[fionnuisce]

...Sorry. [Damn. He really was on edge, was he? Waver pinched the bridge of his nose, giving a short but heavy sigh of frustration at his own kneejerk reaction.]

I'm...there's nothing to be concerned about. I'll get over it.

[wormless]

It's okay. I'm just worried about you.

[Sephiroth has always been perfectly pleasant to Kariya, but he's not about to defend him to Waver, and he's also not about to lecture someone for revenge killing, even if he doesn't think this was a good idea and has serious misgivings. He's well aware of what he's done and what he might yet do.]

I know it sounds trite, but it might help to talk about it.

[fionnuisce]

Nothing against you, but I'm not often the type to discuss my problems to many people. And if I did, it would be...very, very complicated to put into words.

[wormless]

I'm the same way. I understand.

[For years, since leaving home, he hadn't discussed any of his problems with anyone. There are things he still hasn't discussed.]

But I understand complicated things, too. You can see me as a neutral party. I'm not taking a side.

[fionnuisce]

...You do have a point. But to be completely honest, I can't really pin down what's specifically wrong. In a broader sense I might term it...dissatisfaction. What we did, it doesn't even out. We lost too much to stop him for such a short time. And I highly doubt Sephiroth had any great realization that his actions have consequences.

At the core of it, I think that may be what concerns me the most on a long, long list of concerning things.