in my darkest hours I could not foresee; (CLOSED)

[gandere]

WHO: Rin Tohsaka (gandere), Kariya Matou (waiting_for_the_worms), & Lancer (riastrad_ridire).
WHAT: One of the parental figures in Rin's life needs to meet her "boyfriend".
WHERE: Neutron Diner.
WHEN: June 24th, early afternoon.
WARNINGS: None. May have spoilers for Fate/ due to the people involved.

[ Rin's nervous. With the recent radio call followed by the frantic "investigators" of the town coming together with their own thoughts and ideas, it was important that dinner become lunch. She may have not been able to properly warn Kariya in time and besides, Lancer needed to get a good look at him to understand just who it is he was to protect over her now.

Well, she could insist on that point. Lancer tended to ignore her these days, choosing instead to favor the girl over any of her chosen charges instead.

So she'll be sitting at a table in the Neutron Diner by herself, waiting for the man to join her. Lancer should be nearby, he tends to be, so she doesn't seem wholly concerned. In fact, the diner is pretty empty in favor of other things going on in the town. How fortunate for her to choose this place and this time. ]

Lancer. There's something I should tell you first about this man. [ Rin will speak out loud even though he's yet to make an appearance. ] I consider him my uncle.

Comments

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Kariya's serious demeanor melts away at that, and he gives Rin a nod and a pat on the shoulder as his own smile broadens. He was originally more excited about this lunch date because of Rin trusting him over her father with emotional details of her life, but now he's forgotten about that and is just genuinely happy for her.]

All right, then. It seems like Lancer would take good care of you even without the contract binding him to do it. And you two seem perfect for each other, as strange as that seems, so who am I to stand in the way? I think I'm all right with this.

[riastrad_ridire]

...Well damn, that went a lot better than the last time I went to get approval from someone.

[Considering that ended in training from hell followed by killing the guy and eloping with his daughter anyway.]

[gandere]

Good, because I have something important to say. [ There's no way this is going to end well, but she had to get it out. Instead of saying it where Kariya could hear though, she uses the spiritual link between Master and Servant:

I command you to place this man as your number one person to protect.

She flinches in place shortly after, as a hand goes to the back of her neck. Rubbing the spot, she gives a nod before calling a waiter over. ]

Let's just get our orders in, alright?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[And without his circuits, Kariya is none the wiser that anything has occurred here whatsoever.]

Sounds good to me.

[gandere]

[ Rin's quick to make her order and is picky with every detail as expected. From how many pickles her burger should have to the proper amount of ice in her cup. For a moment, she might even seem as much of an elitist as her father.

She's polite enough for them to turn in their own orders at least. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[After glancing at the menu, Kariya puts in his own order.]

I'll have two hamburgers, a large fry, and a chocolate milkshake.

[riastrad_ridire]

[Just. Facepalming.]

I'm not all that hungry.

[Which, y'know. Was true.]

[gandere]

Idiot, just because I'm paying with Archer's money doesn't mean you have to turn down a good meal. [ Shooting him a glare. Plus she wanted to steal his fries when he wasn't looking. ] This man troubles me so much, Uncle Kariya.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Yeah, come on, Lancer. Don't be shy!

[Smiling cheerfully, completely oblivious of the shenanigans that took away Lancer's appetite.]

[gandere]

See Lancer, even Uncle Kariya is asking it of you. Hurry up and place your order before I beat you into doing it.

[riastrad_ridire]

[FACEPALM.]

You'd just hit me regardless, so I don't see the point. But if it'll put off you punching me in the face by a few minutes, I'll just get a coffee.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

She offered to pay, so you may as well at least get a free coffee out of it.

[Kariya laughs a little, trying to keep the mood light.]

[gandere]

[ It doesn't take Rin long to shoo off the waiter, leaving the poor men alone with her. ]

I guess we should talk about the seriousness of the situation we're in. [ Not that she really wanted to shift from the light-hearted mood that was between them so quickly, but it was necessary. Who knew what was going to happen next? She couldn't predict it, neither could either of them. ] About Mayfield and other villainous folk that just happen to be our neighbors.

[riastrad_ridire]

[Lancer sighed, but his demeanor barely shifted. Casual as ever, the only indication things had become more serious was a slight change in tone. And even then, he sounded more like he just wanted to get things over with than anything else.]

Might as well, yeah. What specifics did you have in mind?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

This is all still completely new to me, so anything either of you can tell me would be helpful. I already know some of it from having talked to Sakura and Rider, but if there's anything I should be watching out for, please let me know.

[gandere]

I've been careful enough to keep some things from Sakura. [ Rider as well, if Rin's been good. ] For example, I take care of the Shirou drone every night.

[ Maybe she shouldn't have said that out loud. ]

[riastrad_ridire]

I'm not sure where to even sta--wait, you what? Why didn't you just tell me to do that?!

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Take care of the what?

[gandere]

Because I'm able to handle it on my own. [ The girl insists on it, but the wearied look in her eyes gives away the truth easily; it's painful for her to kill a boy who had been romantically involved with her a year ago. ] That's what it means to be the elder sister, you know. I have to protect Sakura...

[ A sigh before she turns to face her uncle. ]

You can't tell her, but Sakura's boyfriend from home... He's been droned here. Everyone who comes here, well, they never leave. So you may see some people here from Fuyuki City every so often, but they won't acknowledge you as anything other than your Mayfield alias.

When they die though, their bodies disappear pretty quick so...

[ Just confessing that she's a murderer. What a hardcore magus Tokiomi raised. ]

[riastrad_ridire]

Dammit, Rin-- [Lancer scowled as she spoke, frustrated almost to the point of anger...which might have been why he stopped abruptly and put a hand to his head. like something was hurting him.]

Yeah, you're the older sister. And I'm your Servant. Last I knew, that involved me getting my hands dirty so you don't have to. I don't give a damn about the kid one way or the other, not like you do. So let me handle it.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

So you've been going out and killing the drone every morning before Sakura can see it?

[Kariya understandably does not look too happy about that, gritting his teeth as he tries to formulate a response. True, he's gone to some pretty ridiculous lengths himself in the name of shielding Sakura from danger and unhappiness, but something doesn't sit right with him about all of this. Especially because it's Rin. He knew her when she was an innocent little girl. Clearly, Mayfield and potentially also her upbringing has done quite a number on her.]

Rin... I can understand wanting to protect Sakura, but this... isn't that a little...

[No good. Nothing he could say would make him any less of a hypocrite. After all, before coming here he was about to murder Tokiomi out of petty revenge. And even worse, he didn't care who else he'd have to kill to win the Grail War just to save one little girl. He has no right to lecture Rin for having the same thoughts and feelings, so instead he bites his tongue.]

[gandere]

I'm sorry, Uncle Kariya. [ She can tell he's disappointed in her, but this is only the icing on the cake. While she hasn't done anything cruel beyond take out a drone (someone that isn't even real in her mind no matter how much she desires it to be), Mayfield was a cruel, cruel place. ] I really am, but this town brings enough pain and misery to the inhabitants here.

I won't let it constantly torment Sakura if I can stop it. [ This was something she was resolute in. ] Lancer has just volunteered to do it for me, so maybe I can sleep a little more.. That would be nice.

[riastrad_ridire]

You should have told me to do it in the first place. I don't want to see Sakura hurt either, and it really drives me crazy when you act like you have to do everything on your own.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

That's very kind of you, Rin... but Lancer is right. Sakura shouldn't have to bear that kind of pain, but neither should you. Not by yourself, at least.

[Kariya frowns, closing his eyes for a moment and shaking his head.]

...And you're sure the drone is a completely different person, right?

[gandere]

Yes, of course I'm sure. I double check by straddling him in bed and leaning in really clo---er, let's just say that I know for sure that it's a drone and not that idiot, alright?!