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

[riastrad_ridire]

...

[He materialized in the seat directly across from her, leaning his head on his hand.]

Is he as stuck-up and hard to deal with as your father?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Kariya walks into the diner before Rin has a chance to answer that question, looking around for a moment or two before spotting the happy couple.]

Rin!

[He gives a friendly wave as he makes his way to their table, making sure he's smiling despite his reservations about Rin dating a Servant.]

So this must be Lancer.

[riastrad_ridire]

[Wouldja look at that? Someone that isn't a douche right off the bat like Tokiomi. Lancer responded with a wave and a bright smile of his own.]

Yo.

[gandere]

Yes, this is Lancer. [ Her anxiety fades away as her confidence, stubborn and cool, intrudes on her normal mannerisms. ] My loyal Servant since geez, how long ago was it? Over a year for sure.

[ It doesn't take her long to shake her head though. ]

Lancer, this is my Uncle Kariya. Please refrain from threatening to punch him in the face.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Kariya takes a breath, nodding as he puts his hand out for a shake.]

Nice to meet you, Lancer.

[And after the pleasantries, he sits down on the other side of the booth, opposite the couple.]

So, a whole year? Is that how long you've had the contract active, or have you been dating that whole time too?

[...Wait a sec. Cutting off the questions there for the moment.]

Sorry, hang on, I'm getting ahead of myself. We should order first. It's on me today. I found a wallet with some money in it in the house today that apparently belongs to me.

[riastrad_ridire]

Likewise. [He shook Kariya's hand, grinning like an idiot as usual.]

We've had the contract for about that--hm? Don't worry about it, I'll cover this one. Rin'll probably start shoutin' at me if I don't.

[gandere]

I wouldn't shout at you for a dumb reason and especially not in front of Uncle Kariya!! [ No, but she'll prove him right by instantly laying into him, fists and all. ] And I wouldn't be able to tolerate this idiot for more than a year!

[ She wants to insist the contract has been 15 months and their relationship nearly 7, but nope. Too busy flailing in Lancer's general direction. ]

And I'm paying for it! I stole Archer's wallet before he was droned, so I can!

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[...Well, this was not exactly what he'd expected when Rin said she had a boyfriend. Kariya is sort of left wondering if this is what their entire relationship looks like, or if fights always escalate so quickly between them. But one thing is clear: Rin's the one in charge here, which makes him at least a little more relaxed about the situation.]

All right, all right, I don't mind if you pay! I didn't mean to cause a fight.

[riastrad_ridire]

Ow--! What the hell, you're shouting right now!

[Facepalm.]

Believe me, if you didn't cause it, something would have.

[gandere]

Oh and what is that supposed to mean, Lancer? [ Huffily getting up from his side and promptly forcing Kariya to let her sit near him. ] Well? Do you dare insult me in front of my dearest uncle?

[ This is pretty much their entire relationship. Rin doesn't feel an ounce of remorse for anything she's done so far surprisingly, staring Lancer down as though she was silently daring him to say otherwise. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Still utterly mystified at this, Kariya moves over to let Rin in.]

...How long did you say you two have been dating?

[Because it's either 'two days' or 'eight years' with the way they're acting.]

[riastrad_ridire]

It means you use me as your personal punching bag. But whatever. You know I can take it.

[Fine. Sit on that side, it's harder to reach him.]

...A while.

[gandere]

[ She can still reach his knees with a well-timed kick.
Take that, idioooot! ]

Seven months since he can't remember. Must be an Irish thing to be incapable of counting or maybe it's because he's spent years out of those seven months drunk. [ Whatever, she'll earn Kariya's favor by giving him a bright smile. ] See, Lancer isn't that bad of a guy when he's not pissing me off.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Rin knows how to play this game with Uncle Kariya. He smiles back at her, nodding.]

Well, as long as you're happy with this.

[But he does need to say this to Lancer at least once, so...]

And you make sure to take good care of her too, all right, Lancer? Rin's always been tough and independent, but make sure you're there for her when it counts. Consider this the 'don't make my little girl cry' speech, for what it's worth.

[He's smiling a little, but the tone is unmistakably serious. If there's one thing Kariya values more than anything, it's the happiness of the Tohsaka sisters, after all.]

[riastrad_ridire]

Yeah, yeah, I know.

[Siiiigh. Rin, why you gotta be like that.]

She drives me up a wall more often than not, but I've upset enough women in my lifetime. Not really lookin' to continue the trend, know what I mean?

[gandere]

[ Even if Rin wasn't willing to admit it, the manner in which she gazes at Lancer gave away her thoughts and feelings. This moment was how she always dreamed it would be; a man who cares for her facing off against a parental figure and both getting along surprisingly well.

That's not the way of magi. For example, if this were Tokiomi, Lancer would have punched him and the man would have prohibited Rin from ever seeing him again. He might have even taken her Command Seals for himself. ]

Uncle Kariya. [ Her voice is soft as she turns her attention back to him, a subtle smile on her face. ] Lancer may have not been my Servant during the Fifth Holy Grail War, but he's the only one for me here.

[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.]