six.

[sicharia]

Characters: Claudia Hortensia & OPEN
Setting: Floor 1 (or 48, 50, 101)
Format: Brackets preferred
Summary: Returning from her dead world
Warnings: TBA

[Waking up in the Tower again is—nice. Claudia wouldn't have ever thought she would find such a thing nice, but when she opens her eyes and finds herself in the dorm room, all she feels is a dim relief. It's been days—weeks?—since she's seen another living human being, and she thinks that if she had needed to stay on that planet any longer than she had, she would have gone insane.]

[...But she doesn't really have much response other than that. On her world, she had wandered like a ghost, but now that she's here again, she doesn't feel much differently than she did there. She doesn't know what she should feel or do. So, she just does what she would normally: get breakfast.]

[Really, heading down to the cafeteria is probably the most logical decision she could make, anyway. After more than a few days in that world, she lost track of time, and she's been here long enough to know she can likely tell how long she has been gone by what's being served there. This is quicker and simpler than trying to find someone she knows, then asking.]

[The selection of food makes it immediately clear what month it must be, and numbly, she thinks she couldn't have been gone too long, in that case. With the same shell-shocked detachedness that pervades her thoughts, she takes her pancakes and moves to find a place to sit, not as alert to her surroundings as she maybe should be.]

[Around meals, she'll linger here before and after she eats, as most of the people she would like to see now will have to pass through here at some point in the day. When she isn't in the cafeteria, she can be found performing her rounds in the graveyard or skulking around Floors 50 or 101.]

Comments

[unhealing]

Mm, no, I understand how you feel. [She smiles, a little, as she tells him that.] It's just... Hm, even if something happened, I wouldn't want people to feel too sad about it. So, since it's already done with now, I really wouldn't want you to spend any time wishing you could have done more!

[thirtybits]

No, well, I just wish I was capable of more in general, that's all.

[unhealing]

[She laughs, a little dryly.]

I think we all do! We'll just have to make do like this, though. I think you do fine.

[thirtybits]

I don't know, I don't really have any skills, most people here seem to have so many. But I suppose it's true that everyone just does what they can, anyway. I do like that about this place.

[unhealing]

I'm in the same boat, you know. I can't even really protect myself on my own. But! I do my best, so if that's enough for me, then it's enough for you, too.

[thirtybits]

[He nods, smiling.] We're just lucky most others can offer protection, huh.

[unhealing]

Mm, in some ways, we're really lucky. But I guess being in situations like this can really bring out the best in people. [A slight pause, and then:] You have people who will look out for you too, right?

[What she's really asking is if she needs to give Assassin another assignment, or course.]

[thirtybits]

People to look out for me...?

[He pauses, which really means 'not really', but...]

Yes, of course.

[unhealing]

[Hm.]

[She has a suspicion about what that pause means, but she doesn't call him out on it directly.]

Well, that's good! But if you ever need it, there's someone... Ah, she's strong and hard-working, and she would happily help you if I asked her to.

[thirtybits]

You don't have to do that, I'm sure she has better things to do than look out for Judas.

[unhealing]

Maybe, but I'm her boss, and she's a good person. If I ask her to watch over one of my friends, she'll willingly do so.

[She doesn't generally think of her relationship with Assassin that way, but it seems appropriate to be blunt with Judas now.]

[thirtybits]

[He boss? Judas doesn't know anything about the Grail War, and certainly not about Claudia's involvement in it. So the logical conclusion seems...]

...Another woman of the church?

[unhealing]

A woman of a church. She's a sister in faith regardless, though.

But really, she's more like my bodyguard.

[thirtybits]

Ah, that's really lucky, I definitely feel better knowing you actually have something like a bodyguard!

[He beams.]

But then it would definitely be best to keep her near you.

[unhealing]

Ah, it's fine, really! I spent months without her, and there are people who protected me in her absence, so I'll be in good hands regardless! Hm, though if it really bothers you, you could just stay with us both if things get bad?

[thirtybits]

No, really, I can't trouble you two. I'm already enough trouble for others, and I don't really do anything dangerous.

[unhealing]

[She shakes her head.]

You wouldn't be troubling us. Sometimes things happen here that we can't control, and— And I care about what happens to you! So even though I can't do much on my own, I want to make sure you aren't hurt.

[thirtybits]

...Thank you, you're very kind, Claudia. Just that anyone would think of me that way is uplifting.

[unhealing]

Well, if I've made you at all happy, I'm glad. But in return, I'd really like it if you'd consider what I said. Alright?

[thirtybits]

[He hesitates, but finally nods a little.]

Yes, I will, thank you. But really I think I should be alright, I think I'm going to be spending a lot of time in the other kitchen. Staying stationary helps.