⌛ 003 ⌛ [action; video]

[tosaveyou]

[action]

[Kariya Matou is a woman on a mission. Sort of. She's interested in finding out all she can about the Gardens, in exploring as much as she can. It's slow going. She's hampered by her poor health and often has to sit down and rest when she's tired or out of breath. She lies down in the grass or leans back against a tree, the veins in her face pulsing.

The worms have been quieter, but they're still active, and they still hurt. She was only supposed to live a few more weeks, at best, but her progression toward death seems to have been halted, or at least slowed, and she's heard that she can't really die here. She's gotten better at meditating and working her way through the pain, and some days are better than others. So she keeps going. She sleeps in a structure if she happens to wind up near one, but she doesn't mind sleeping under the stars. She thinks of playing outside, in the park. It's like that. If she listens, she imagines she can hear the creaking of swings, the laughter of children. Sometimes the birds come to pull at her hair and sing, or the rabbits nibble on the sleeves of her hoodie. She doesn't mind.

She doesn't exactly know what she's looking for as she wanders, but she's looking for something. Answers, maybe. When she meets someone along her way (and she might show up anywhere), she doesn't hesitate to nod and smile crookedly, only the right side of her mouth rising.]

[vine; video]

[Kariya addresses the Vine quietly, but not nervously. It's simply hard for her to marshal her thoughts at times.]

I was wondering if--it's possible to speak to the Queen. Or anyone who knows her, anyone who has some power here, who's from this place. Or even someone who knows a lot about it. I'd like to... [She trails off for a moment, then smiles hopefully.] Ask some questions.

Thank you. I'd appreciate it very much.

Oh! [She almost forgot.] And can anyone tell me if there was ever anyone here named Aoi-- [A pause.] Tohsaka, or Sakura, or Rin?

Comments

[action]

[hungry_like_the_wolf]

[Gavril could be found wandering the gardens as well, though for an entirely different set of reasons then Kariya. Bored out of her mind, but not enough so to bother Zinc about the matter, she had taken to looking for something small and furry to brutally maim and then make a lunch of it. But spying Kariya from a distance, that was more interesting then devouring yet another of the queen's little pets]

Yo, what's up?

[action]

[tosaveyou]

Hello. [It's good to see a familiar face, here, and she gives her habitual little wave.] It's nice to see you again.

[Gavril is certainly--different, but Kariya isn't worried about that. There are a lot of people who are different here.]

I'm just--looking. [She thinks.] I'm not sure for what.

Re: [action]

[hungry_like_the_wolf]

Well, I hope you find whatever your looking for in this place faster then I did. This place gets pretty freaking boring if you don't have something to keep you occupied.

[action]

[tosaveyou]

I don't mind it. It's calm and peaceful now. [So much nicer, and less painful, then things were at home.] I like it this way. I don't need much.

Maybe... I thought I could look for the Queen. Or a way back. Or something useful. But maybe I won't find anything.

What did you find--? Oh, you must mean your girlfriend.

Re: [action]

[hungry_like_the_wolf]

The head bitch is pretty secretive far as I can tell, so I'm not sure if you'll get anything outta her.

My Girlfriend is a big part of it, but it ain't not just her though, I've organized some get-togethers for the girl's here and they seem to enjoy em even if things get a little bloody every once in awhile.

[action]

[tosaveyou]

I'll try. [She says this often. She's determined, even if success doesn't seem likely.] Even if it doesn't work. It's worth it to try.

[Kariya looks worried for a moment, and a little surprised.]

Bloody? I hope--no one gets hurt?

[video]

[mnementomori]

The Queen doesn't talk to us much, so you might have to wait a while...and she doesn't always answer questions. But if you want, I could try. I'm not from this place, but I've been here a long time.

I haven't heard those names before, though...I'm sorry.

[video]

[tosaveyou]

I thought so. [She looks visibly crestfallen, and not only because of the Crest Worms.] That's what I'd heard, but I wanted to try anyway.

I'll have to keep looking. [And she looks a little hopeful at this. She hasn't given up yet.] It's important that I talk to her. I know time stops here, but I need to know if she can help me with something back home.

Rin and Sakura are children. Aoi is their mother. But--if they were here, you probably would know their names. [She sounds disappointed, but smiles, a little sadly.] They must not have been here. Thank you.

[video]

[mnementomori]

You should watch the Vine a lot, just in case. If you make friends with it, it might show you when the Queen is talking.

Back home? [she knows its not right to pry, but...] I don't know. Once she brought someone here...because I asked her. And she's put books in the library and things like that.

Mother... [Sora and others had explained families to her, and she'd felt it a little, in Sora's own memories. But it's still an elusive concept for her.]

[video]

[tosaveyou]

Make friends? [She looks down at the Vine with new interest, reaching out to brugh a tendril with her fingertips.] All right. I'll try that. [She spends a lot of time resting, so why not make friends with a plant?]

So she has done something like that? She could affect things, maybe. After all, I was thinking--since she brought us here--! And she keeps us here, in her own world. She must be very powerful. [More powerful than Archer! Kariya's a little caught up and carried away in thinking of the Queen and her power, but she remembers to calm herself down, and she takes a deep breath. She feels a cough coming on. She doesn't want to cough while talking on the Vine.]

Aoi's my best friend. I'm like their aunt. That's what they call me. Rin and Sakura, I mean.

[video]

[mnementomori]

I think she is pretty powerful, but she loses people all the time, too. So it's hard to say...

[there's nervousness in her voice; she doesn't want to be one of those.]

But she does want us to be happy...at least, she's said that. But she's not very good at understanding other people's feelings. She said once that she wants us to be here because she's lonely, but that just...made it seem like she only thinks about herself.

[she's a little resigned, because while she's grateful to the Queen, she knows other people have more important things to be doing.]

Aunt...mm, I sort of understand. So you're really close?

[video]

[tosaveyou]

She loses people? You mean, the ones who return home at random? I heard about that. It could be that she's very powerful, but unstable. I know someone like that.

[She nods.]

Lonely... I can understand. But it isn't right to bring people here for such a selfish reason. Taking children away from their families. I only wish--I could speak to her about it.

[Kariya frowns. This especially upsets her.]

Yes, Aoi and I have been friends since we were little, so I was friends with her children, too.

[Her face, already sagging, falls suddenly. She thinks of Sakura. Sakura is why she's fighting in the war. If she were here, she'd be safe.]

I wish they could be here, instead of back home.

action

[bloomnobly]

[blink-blink]

...Kariya-san? Are you looking for something?

action

[tosaveyou]

Oh. Hello! [She turns and smiles.] I didn't see you there, Yuyuko.

[She has to take a second to consider this question.]

I'm not sure, exactly. But there must be something to find. Maybe the Queen, or a way home, or-- There must be something.

sorry for the late!! ;;

[bloomnobly]

[She giggles, just a little bit.]

I've heard she's notoriously hard to get a hold of.

No problem at all! ♥

[tosaveyou]

I heard that, too.

[Kariya seems to deflate--or deflate further.]

It must be true. I haven't found her yet, or anyone who's from this place. I wonder if I'll ever talk to her.

I haven't found anything at all.

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro is wandering about as well, clearly having no destination in mind. She's not carrying anything, either, except a large stick that's leaving trails in the dirt behind her. But she looks up at Kariya when she hears the other coming, and smiles a tremulous smile before giving a little wave with her free hand.]

Hi. Um, are you lost?

[tosaveyou]

Hello.

[She smiles. She does get a little worried about seeing young people here--they should be home, with their families--but at least most people here are friendly, and it's peaceful.]

Oh, no, I'm just--you could say I'm exploring. Looking for things. [She pauses to look at the trees surrounding them.] It's beautiful here, isn't it?

[whataprettyname]

[Yes, yes they should. Chihiro, for her part, would like nothing better than to be home with her family.

But, in the meantime, the people here are nice, and she has a nice futon at a nice shrine to call her very own.] Yeah, it is. It's even more beautiful than back home.

What are you looking for? Maybe I could help you find it - I've been walking for a little while, so I might have seen it.

[tosaveyou]

It's much more beautiful than my home, too.

It's not anything in particular. That I'm looking for. Anything that stands out. Maybe a way back, or a way to help people, or a way to find the Queen. I'd like to speak to her, if I can.

[Her thoughts tend to get away from her, but she focuses her attention on Chihiro.]

But it's nice to meet you. My name's Kariya. Have you been here long?

[whataprettyname]

My name is Chihiro. [Chihiro thinks on the question, scuffing her shoe against the ground...and then she frowns, evidently concerned.] And...I guess I have. I think it's been a few weeks. It must have been. I...I didn't realize.

[Then she looks up at Kariya, eyes bright and earnest.] So I want to speak to the Queen, too! I'll help you look! Maybe we can find a way out together!

[action]

[pervy_elf_fancier]

The Duchess is, for once, dressed and out of her bath when someone chances on her at a hot spring. She nods to Kariya, a subtle and instinctive bow, and places her crown on the top of her head.

"I dare say that this is the most comfortable kidnapping I have ever endured," she says, with a laugh. Her eyes are narrow, but what bitterness she has doesn't creep into her voice.

[action]

[tosaveyou]

"Oh, hello." Kariya waves when she catches sight of someone else at the hot spring she'd been passing by. "I didn't mean to disturb you," she says, inclining her own head in return out of politeness.

She follows this up with a friendly nod, taking a step closer. "I think so. That is, it's the only one. I've endured. But it's better than I expected a kidnapping would be."

Re: [action]

[pervy_elf_fancier]

"No apology is needed; I have not been disturbed." Her Grace curtseys, with a shallow inclination of her head.

"I have been taken against my will a bit more often than I'd like. Often because I was mistaken for the Princess Aerisland." She sighs. "It is not something I would like to keep up practice in."

[action]

[tosaveyou]

"I'm glad." She smiles her half smile, the good side of her mouth rising higher than the other side. It's a brief smile, but definite enough.

"But I'm sorry you've been abducted that many times. No one should be. Maybe you'll be sent home soon. I hear that happens sometimes. The princess is--someone you know?"