No one is alone

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Who: Kariya Matou, Lancer, Rin Tohsaka, residents of 1666 Nelson Street, and all of Rin's friends.
What: A party to prove to Rin that she has friends.
Where: 1666 Nelson Street.
When: Saturday afternoon.
Warnings: Possible tsunsplosion. Action tags to keep things going.

With the help of Lancer, Kariya had managed to get in touch with all of Rin's friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who views her in the slightest favorable light.  The party had been thrown together somewhat at the last minute, but since it's really just a gathering of friends, there actually wasn't that much specific planning to do.  There's plenty of food and drink - both alcoholic and non - set up in the kitchen and dining room area, and a separate table for anyone bringing presents to set them down.  Apart from that, he's just sitting there with the assembled group of Rin's friends, waiting for her to arrive.

Comments

[adropofjupiter]

Don't really wanna be here.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

... Oh.

Why?

[adropofjupiter]

Just not feeling party-ish.

[She shrugs. It's hard to explain what the real deal is because she knows it's just going to make people pity her.]

Rather be in my workshop.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

Mmm. Makes sense. What sort of stuff do you make there? [ She still kind of wants to visit Tsuchinoko. Don't think she forgot. ]

[adropofjupiter]

Make? Uh... Potions and some enchanted items.

Mostly, I do research.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

On what? Spells and things?

[adropofjupiter]

A lot of things. Basically if it has some association with magic and it grabs my interest, I'll look into it.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

Like my unrestricted methods.

[ She smirks a little. ]

[adropofjupiter]

Yup. How else do you think I figured out how to do the wing thing?

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

I hadn't really thought about it. What other kinds of things have you learned?

[adropofjupiter]

Some new barriers, reinforcement and Rin's favorite spell. Plus some other stuff, but a magician doesn't reveal most of her work.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

Not even to their friends? [ There is a trace of teasing in Shana's voice. ]

[adropofjupiter]

Especially to their friends.

[There's a shadow of Marisa's normal grin with that, but it doesn't reach her bloodshot eyes.]

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

Mou. That isn't any fun. [ But she's smiling immediately after her scowl. ]

Let's go steal some food.

[adropofjupiter]

...from where? There's plenty on the table over there.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

I meant from over there. Really I just wanted to see you smile a bit more.

[adropofjupiter]

[Marisa sighed.]

Shana... Patchy's dead. I don't want to smile.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Shana looks at her, very sadly. She very clearly doesn't know what to say. </small.]

[adropofjupiter]

[...]

Don't pity me.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Shana's face hardens, not with anger, but with a sort of mixture of embarrassment and regret. ] I'm not. I just don't know what to say.

[adropofjupiter]

You don't have to say anything. Just don't look at me like that.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Shana looks away. ]

I... [ Her hands clench. Shana is the worst at emotions or understanding, or even empathy, sometimes. She's run into a problem she can't just slash to death or burn away. She knows Marisa is hurting, and she wants to help her but she doesn't know how. Her body tenses, back still to Marisa. ]

[adropofjupiter]

[There's a slight hardness to Marisa's voice when she speaks.]

You're what? Sorry? Don't bother. It's not your fault. This place fucks us all over eventually.

[enpatsushakugannouchite]

[ Shana's voice calms a bit, though she's still obviously tensed. ]

No, I just wanted to be there for you like you were there for me when I hurt. I'm... bad at this. Mou! All I know how to do is be a Flame Haze. [ She is the worst at being human. ]

[adropofjupiter]

It's okay. Not like anything matters anymore.

[And there's no one left to give Marisa what she actually needs. Not while the witch still blames Reimu and Arc is too emotionally retarded to see it.]