IT'S THAT VERY SPECIAL TIME AGAIN.

[goodburger]

Time for.......


THE GODDAMN TEST DRIVE MEME

1. COMMENT WITH A JOURNAL OF A CHARACTER YOU'VE THOUGHT OF APPING/WOULD LIKE TO APP AS THOUGH THEY'RE ALREADY IN C&C
2. TAG AROUND WITH NEW JOURNALS OR OLD!
3. APP THEM ALL NOW!
4. IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO BE LATE SO DON'T YOU EVEN GO THERE
5. LINK THIS POST TO ATP ADS YOU POST LATER
6. THIS TEXT HAS BEEN RECYCLED AT LEAST 25 TIMES
7. HAVE SOME FUCKING FUN

Comments

[enigmaestro]

This nearly seems like an invitation to delve deeper information, doctor. Do you want to know politicians? In all honesty.

[enabeled]

I wouldn't mind it. Maybe I could use the perspective.

[enigmaestro]

I daresay it's more than merely perspective you could use. If I may? Why were you so keen to distance yourself from your presumed colleagues? Not for my benefit, I hope.

[enabeled]

Certainly not. I stopped practicing. So-- [ He gestures outwardly with his hands. ] I'm seeking a new profession. Just can't seem to... settle on anything. Maybe the change in location will make things a little clearer.

[failedprotagonist]

It's too easy to get used to things. People, places, anything... It's easy to take them for granted. We have to work to keep appreciating them. To pay attention. If we're not careful, we'll forget how short life is, and we can let it get away from us. Like this sky we'll never see again. [He's silent a minute, contemplating it again. It seems like he got philosophical after all. Oh well, it's an old man's right.] But we managed to catch it, so I think we did pretty well today.

[He laughs along with her.] I hope the sky's not going anywhere anytime soon. I don't know what we'd do without it.

Have you been here long, Minako?

[hellisforchildren]

Yeah. That's what a consolation prize is. And how I got this suit.

[ if she was expecting him to elaborate then welp ]

[enigmaestro]

Why did you stop? I assume it was a lucrative vocation.

[swordedpast]

"Going to" finish them?

[He tries to keep his gaze remote. It's working about as well as his attempt to be grave and serious did. He keeps stealing awkward glances at Kiritsugu's face instead.]

You're speaking to a heroic spirit. Of course, I have already done that.

[He shrugs and looks away.]

How stupid. They're stupid goals.

[failedprotagonist]

Right. Yes. [Of course, he would have already done what he'd set out to do.] A heroic spirit.

[It's just, why would a heroic spirit take on his goals and carry them out?] So you did it, then...

[The "stupid" comment surprises a rueful laugh out of him. Archer will get no arguments from Kiritsugu.] They are stupid, yes. They didn't do me any good, in the end. I should have told you that, if I was going to give you these ideas.

I'm sorry.

[enabeled]

A change of passion, mostly. Sometimes I can be very impulsive.

slams into you

[god_damned]

[ For reasons Kirei is very much aware of, his stores of alcohol last for much longer here in the City then they had during the War. This is the first time he has needed to refill them, and the gesture of doing so causes an uncomfortable association: does he really need to purchase it? The holy wines for the church are provided for him elsewhere; these are indulgent pleasures for his own tasting... but he hasn't really been drinking his wine since coming here. It isn't an activity that has half of the appeal when done without company. With that thought pressing in his mind, he turns the aisle, and goes very still.

Finding him here is almost comical.

Kirei does not believe it, at first, but there is no mistaking the King of Heroes when Kirei lays eyes on him. The pressure increases on his false-heart, and he can feel the Command Spells on his arm vividly.

Kirei could say a great deal, but instead: ]

...you'll be expected to pay.

[ Because he doubts the King of Heroes will think much of walking through the checkout like a commoner. ]

cradles so gently

[god_damned]

[ Kirei knows Kariya shouldn't be forcing himself to move. Kirei could have carried the man quite easily (Kariya cannot weigh much, given how wasted his body is) but he does not offer it. It is not out of respect for pride that he refrains; it's simply that he would prefer to see Kariya struggle with each torturous step. ]

The church. I can offer you sanctuary. [ Kirei offers a grin which is a bit too dark -- but he doubts Kariya will be too discerning. ] Some things remain the same.

What do you remember?

[filled]

[ struggle is something he does well; each moment is a struggle for him. to survive, to move, to force himself to keep going. his steps are unsteady as they begin to move, following kirei slowly while it feels as if every footfall is fire scorching his nerves. every breath is an agony, but this is easy. this is just one foot in front of the other. he can do this.

he almost misses the question, he's so focused on simply staying upright. he flinches a little once it registers, fuzzy mind blank for a moment before he can recall. ]

I-- was with Sakura. I think.. the war was ending.

[filled]

[ he sucks in a pained breath at the movement, squeezing his good eye shut until it passes. it seems strange now to think that he'd once been well enough that movement had just been that-- movement. not another way to torment himself.

the name makes him stiffen faintly, unfocused gaze lifting to the.. he has to be a servant, though kariya doesn't recognize him. he knows it isn't her, of course; his rin is just a little girl, and certainly not a master. but.. even so, the thought of her being here makes something in his chest clench. ]

Please, just-- I'm very tired.

[gandere]

Wha-? There's nothing conservative about this!

[ Waving her hands in front of her skirt. ] There's just enough bare skin here to drive someone's imagination wild and h-h-h-h-hey! Are you trying to paint me as a deviant all of a sudden?!

Geez Saber, something's wrong! What did the City do to you?! I'll kill them!

[autocratic]

You ask what this City has done with me? Hah! I should direct that question to yourself! This ignorant fool act of yours is beginning to tire me.

[ Deliberate pointing! Then Saber is suddenly behind Rin, and glancing d o w n... ]

Hm. You've covered your rear as well! Ye gods, the world must truly be ending!

[autocratic]

Hmph. What a crude suggestion - you will have to settle that matter with your "ally" yourself. She might find it troubling to have her original nearby.

[ Arrogance. ]

[autocratic]

You state that as if I am ignorant of what levels of value I place myself in, and should feel ashamed for it.

[ She waves her hand in a "shoo shoo" gesture. ]

Your saintly vestments and views are of no interest to me. You should feel honored I give you permission to leave my sight.

[filled]

[ he flinches at the mention of the crest worms, a hunted, panicked look taking over the good side of his face. for a moment, he considers trying to flee-- but he knows he wouldn't get far, and what would be the point? besides, he seems to be.. concerned, which is something so foreign that kariya isn't sure how to respond. why would he care? he's a stranger. and anyway, everyone knows the matou family magic is.. wrong.

he shakes his head, a small, mute gesture, arm tightening around his knees as dozens, even hundreds of tiny mouths devour him from the inside. ]

It's too late. And.. and anyway, I couldn't. Not as long as there's.. some chance. [ his breath hitches, vision hazing again as tears rise, and he ducks his head to hide them. after what he's been through, he's not sure he has the capacity to be humiliated by something like this, but.. ] I know that I-- I can't help Sakura on my own anymore. But.. if I can even be a distraction.. If Zouken is entertained by me, then.. then he'll leave her alone.

[twin_paradox]

And what if, by your permission, I refuse to leave?

[As a Saint of Athena, she wasn't obligated to listen to anyone not in her immediate chain of command. And Gold Saints only answered to the Pope and Athena herself.]

[enigmaestro]

That isn't always a good sign, Doctor Gideon.

[enabeled]

You aren't the only one to think so. Whoopsie. But what can I say? I just can't picture myself resuming it again now.

[enigmaestro]

A bit of a shame -- for the community, I mean, rather than yourself. [He shrugs, his eyes never leaving Gideon's.] As a leader of this community, I don't want it to suffer from misdirection.

hello, hello there uvu

[effulge]

[ The King of Heroes would never dream of such a notion. If there is one such truth in the world, Gilgamesh partook of what he had so desired in life.

He will continue to do so, now.

Even still, the King of Heroes knows when he is being observed - and that familiar voice does not take him off-guard. No, it is the opposite. The irritation that has been catching the fray of his nerves tapers minutely at the drop of syllables and he realizes, quite immediately, that there is one such thing he will not be unjustly deprived of, after all. ]

Will I, now?

[ He doesn't glance over, at first. He opts instead to skim his fingers over the necks of selections he cares little for - takes in their vintages with a certain tedium, before he settles. His fingers encircle, with no discerned effort, no matter the wear that appears fresh upon them. ]

Kirei. [ He shifts his attentions just as easily as he takes down his selection. There's still no immediacy in his movements, and he takes a moment to appraise the man before him. No matter the peculiarity of favor, there are two things he gathers upon sight: 1) Kotomine Kirei must have arrived some time before him, if his state was of any indication, and 2) that response parses incorrectly for the one who he had just witnessed in wake of the fire.

But, these inconsistencies aside, he seeks to confirm it. He wonders. ] Don't look so surprised, [ he drawls. And, already, he gestures languidly with the wine bottle, as if to extend it to him. He would not be paying for it, isn't that right? ] Have you been that sorely deprived of my presence?

[enabeled]

Misdirection.

I doubt that'll be a problem. The last thing I want is to misrepresent myself. No matter what I do.