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

[waiting_for_the_worms]

You should already know the price the Matous pay for their magic.

[gandere]

[ ... ]

This place is a blessing, Uncle Kariya. Where we might fail in fixing the damage that might come with that, other practitioners of magic might be able to come up with a solution.

[ As naive as can be: ] I think it's well worth the risk.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

I'm really not sure about this...

[gandere]

Your problem is you worry too much about what might happen. Embrace it now while you have a loved one nearby. If you're to get something back due to this town on a whim, it'll be unfortunate if it happened when you were alone.

[ Geez uncle, it didn't seem to bother Sakura that much. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

It's worse than you think, Rin. I know you don't remember much about it since you were small at the time, but I was in really bad shape. Are you sure there's someone in town who can help with that?

[gandere]

Only one way to find out.

[ Sorry uncle, but Rin's always been an impulsive kind of girl. She can't determine what she's up against if she's unable to see it, so guess who will be ripping it open right about now? ]

1/2

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Rin, no-!

2/2

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[But of course, it's already too late. Even as the words are leaving his lips, as soon as the wrapping on the package is broken, thousands of Crest Worms come swarming out of the package. They know instinctively where their home is, and immediately make for Kariya with an alarming speed.]

No! Not again! Get away from me!

[Kariya's screams are in vain, as it's not long before there are worms forcing themselves into his mouth and down his throat - along with every other available orifice. Some of them wriggle in around and behind his eyes. Some of them crawl into his ears. Some of them into his nostrils. Still others swarm in below his clothing, into holes Rin would probably rather not consider.

And as the worms fill his body once more, his flesh returns to the sickly, diseased state it had been in during the Fourth Grail War. His left eye goes milky white as his vision begins to blur, his hair similarly losing its color as his veins begin to bulge and pulse, fat with the putrid parasites that now infest every inch of his insides. After a few minutes of writhing on the ground, the worms are nowhere to be seen, and Kariya can barely muster enough breath to continue screaming.]

[gandere]

[ Mayfield has brought a lot of horrifying sights to her, so despite all of this going on, Rin refuses to look away. She has to watch the sight before her in order to understand just what it is she's facing. This town's made her into this hollow person who sometimes forgets what it's like to care for others, but she finds herself caring right now. ]

Uncle Kariya?

[ Her voice is quiet, afraid of his answer. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Kariya's breathing is labored and ragged, his body once again forced to adapt much too quickly to the presence of the worms. After about a minute of gasping for breath and the sickly sight of his skin crawling around as the worms spread throughout his body, his vision finally focuses once again as Rin's voice manages to reach his ears.]

Rin...

[Choking back tears, he sharply turns his head from her, covering it with one of his hands. He doesn't want her to see him like this right now - weak and useless.]

[gandere]

[ She's down on the floor beside him as she reaches out with a trembling hand. ]

Do you need for me to get some medical help?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Too late for that.

[He can't bring himself to look at her, so he pulls his hood over his face and reaches out a hand to weakly grasp at hers.]

[gandere]

[ Once he takes her hand, the other arm reaches out to try to pull him in for a hug. Forget whoever might be watching, this just felt like the first time she's needed to do this willingly. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[His first instinct is to flinch away, but even as ashamed as he is, this is a genuine and caring hug from Rin. She's finally showing him the kind of affection he's always hoped she'd open herself up to. Shoving thoughts of his own inadequacy and how he doesn't deserve this aside for the moment, Kariya hugs back tightly, burying his face in his niece's hair. He'll apologize for soaking it in his frustrated tears later.]

[gandere]

We're going to make it through this, Uncle Kariya.

[ Her optimism shows even with a hushed whisper, the girl pulling him firmly against her body. She doesn't care how strange it feels or even shows any fear of the bugs that infest him coming for her. No, all she can do is try to make up for this. ]

I promise.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

Rin... I'm afraid.

[Kariya shudders. Going through this all over again is breaking him. It was bad enough the first time, but here... he'll die over and over from the worms, and for no reason at all. At least at home he had a goal. Something to fight for. Something to focus on. But here, there's no Grail, and Sakura's a drone. His entire reason for taking on this burden is meaningless in Mayfield, and all that's been left behind is despair and a hole in his heart.]

[gandere]

I'm scared too.

[ Tugging him in even closer. ] We're going to make it through this though, however, and then we'll live our lives happily here.

If we just believe in it... it can happen, right?

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Unfortunately, Kariya's more than a little skeptical of optimistic claims like that. Nothing he's believed in has ever gone the way he'd hoped. That kind of magic apparently doesn't exist. Or maybe his heart is just too weak to make it happen. But hearing it from Rin makes him want to at least try, for her sake.]

...Right. You're right, Rin. I won't give up on myself.

[He isn't sure how log he'll be able to keep it up, but he needs to put his best foot forward for Rin. She is quite literally all he has left in the world at this point.]

[gandere]

You better not. If you do, I'll never forgive you.

[ Adding back with a slight tease. ] Trust me, you don't want me to hold a grudge. Lancer did something I can't even remember and he still has to pay for it.

For now we should get you into a bed so that you can rest. That must have been... exhausting. [ For lack of a better way to describe it. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[Kariya gives a shallow laugh, coughing into his fist a little as he tries to sit up and steady himself.]

You're right.

[He's still feeling pretty weak, though.]

...Mind helping me up?

[gandere]

Yeah, let me just reinforce my arms. I wouldn't want to drop you.

[ Because she's a good niece. Even if she inflicts PAIN AND SUFFERING just by being impatient. It doesn't take her long at all to do; a silent incantation under her breath and suddenly strength not fit for arms that thin appears. ]

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[He honestly can't complain. Kariya blames himself squarely for his current suffering, even though Rin was the one who opened the regain. After all, he knew the original risks and took them anyway. Allowing himself to be hoisted up, he drapes an arm around her shoulders and leans on her as they walk.]

Thanks, Rin.

[gandere]

You shouldn't be thanking me for causing you further problems in this place. [ At least she can admit that much. ] Come on, the master bedroom isn't that far from here.

[waiting_for_the_worms]

[She receives a small nod in response, but Kariya remains silent otherwise as they make their way upstairs. Anything he can say at this point is just likely to make her feel more guilty. Best to let it go for the moment.]