Violent frustration--

[god_damned]

WHO: Kirei Kotomine and YOU
WHERE: The Dojo which has a name someone smack me
WHEN: Evenings of Monday through Friday.
WARNINGS: References to prior self harm on Kirei's part and a forced suicide. Otherwise just intense kung fu fighting.
SUMMARY: After learning of his death (mistakenly blaming the wrong Servant), and the destruction of the Holy Grail, Kirei is faced with a crisis of purpose.
FORMAT: What is the opposite of Kirei Kotomine? Quick.


[ Depending on how late in the night you find him, Kirei will be in an increasing state of exertion. Come early enough, and you might just be setting up, but if you arrive later he may be near collapse, sweat coating his skin and his breathing short. Either way, he is focused and intense, despite how his mind is preoccupied. This is a man who trained to kill since childhood, and his discipline is obvious in his every motion; almost unconscious at this point.

There are a few things which give away the chaos in his mind. He doesn't stop when he ought to, when his limbs burn with exertion and his breaths scratch in his throat. His body is dead -- it died in the fire of Fuyuki City. His heart which beats so quickly now with adrenaline is a false one, a creation of the corrupted Grail... and that Grail has been his goal, and in his future, he has failed to achieve it. The Grail is destroyed by his student and the child of his nemesis, and he is killed by his one companion.

Gilgamesh killed him in retribution for his ordered suicide -- why had he given such a command? What had happened in those ten years between himself and the King of Heroes?

Now, he has no Servant. No future in his home. No Grail. No goal. What does he seek here? He could have been appeased by his stay in this City by knowing what awaited him should he return to Fuyuki... but now his future is exposed, and he is damned.

What does he seek?

Years ago, when such hopelessness struck him, this had been his response: to abuse his body. Be it a deliberate assault, proven in the scars which are visible on his bare back, or an indirect means -- training himself into an exhaustion. He falls back onto this routine now, the sweat on his brow dampening his bangs.

Again, he feels nothing. ]

Comments

[swordedpast]

[ It's late on Monday night by the time the janitor shows up. After all, by that point he expects everyone to have gone home, leaving it to him to quietly clean up. In fact, hearing the noise of vigorous exertion from one room has him avoiding it at first, intending to leave its occupant to their business.

Eventually, though, Archer makes his way to the room this mysterious visitor is using, with every intention of shooing them out for the night so he can clean up. He has a sarcastic comment on his lips, he's ready to let it fly--

But something familiar about the man's stance stops him. Something about the brutal, self-punishing way he trains. It's familiar.

Archer remembers a time when he trained in a not all that dissimilar fashion. Ignoring the limits of his body, valuing only the borrowed dream towards which he could bend and break it.

In the pause this contemplation affords him, as he stands in the doorway, he realizes who this is. Only a moment after that does he speak. ]

Man, I really thought you were supposed to treat your body as a temple.

[ He's still holding a mop in one hand. ]

[god_damned]

[ There is another Archer on his mind completely before the current one arrives. Kirei had won Gilgamesh to his side partially by revealing Tokiomi's intended treason: that he would order Gilgamesh to kill himself to complete his ritual for the Grail. Is that what Kirei did ten years later? Did his teacher's goal become his own? It isn't impossible, but he has no way of knowing...

His mind is so preoccupied that he does not even notice Archer's presence until he speaks. Kirei stills his movements, straightening up, and he takes a moment to steady his strained breathing before he replies. ]

Archer.

[ If his body is a temple, it has been defaced for quite some time. He turns to face Archer, putting the scars on his back out of view.

He glances to the mop, frowning. ]

You take the title 'Servant' to heart.

[swordedpast]

You've got no idea what I take to heart, priest.

[ Why did he have to speak like that? Archer's almost surprised himself at his petulance. But he hides any shock in his eyes; he only shows mild irritation. ]

I work here. It pays.

[ Not very well, he doesn't add. ]

[god_damned]

You could illuminate me.

[ the offer is spoken flatly, and he does take conscious note of how defensive the Servant seems. ]

I would imagine your talents could be put to better use.

[swordedpast]

I could.

[ And he's back to being cool and reserved again. ]

Well, there's little reason for me to. There's also little reason for me to do much more with my so-called talents. Why should I put them to better use? Hmph--for that matter, shouldn't you?

[ And he gestures at Kirei as he is now, his body exhausted and abused. ]

[god_damned]

I merely wondered, as you were so particular about your... heroics, the last we met.

[ Or anti heroics, if that is the term Archer is using.

Kirei moves to pick up a towel, wiping sweat from his brow as he watches Archer. It's late, and now that he has been disturbed he won't return to his routine. Besides, conversing with another Archer is not an entirely displeasing alternative. ]

What would you imagine my talents be used for?

[swordedpast]

[ Bitterness flashes in Archer's eyes. Not that this is that much of a change from the background radiation of his expression most of the time. Anyway, he covers it up quickly and shrugs. ]

Heroism is hardly the entire fiber of my being.

[ And he lies, before moving on. ]

To tell you the truth, I don't know. I know little of the Church, but shouldn't you be tending to your flock instead of this?

[gandere]

Kirei?

[ Naturally it has been a few months since she's had any practice (something she keeps a secret from her Servant). So when she's gone to check out local dojos in the area that he might never catch her at, she's just surprised to see her "legal guardian" practicing himself. ]

You're not training against someone? Geez, are you feeling sick or something?

[god_damned]

[ Rin's voice cuts through his racing thoughts. He lifts his head, touching his fingertips to his sweat-damp bangs as he glances at her. ]

Rin. [ Once his shock passes, he addresses the first question. ] No; I do not have an appropriate partner.

[ The second he leaves unspoken for; he is certainly ill in some manner -- a toxic dread on his consciousness -- but such things he will not speak of. ]

[gandere]

[ An appropriate partner? Curiosity flickers over her eyes as it dawns on her suddenly that of course he doesn't know. How old again was she when she first began training under him? ]

You could have called me. [ Not that she would have answered seeing as sending Kirei Kotomine to voice mail is a lot better than anything else. ] Now that I'm here though, I suppose there's no getting around it.

[ Kicking off her shoes into a pile nearby. ] There's no one else here, is there? I didn't see anyone when I walked in.

[god_damned]

[ For a moment, her suggestion makes him pause. Why would he call her? But then the answer is obvious. He was left with the duty of being her guardian, of training her in magic -- and it would follow that he should teach her physical combat, should she desire it. It certainly was not mentioned in Tokiomi's wishes; this was a decision between the two of them. Had he been the first to recommend it, or did Rin? ]

No, there are not many who train at this hour. I prefer it -- as do you, it seems.

[ He watches as she removes her shoes, contemplative. ]

[gandere]

It isn't all that bad. [ Rin begins in a tone that went along with her usual teasing remarks. ] You, me, all alone in this place together.

Do you think you can handle the pressure?

[ Shifting her weight onto one of her feet, she stands in a stance meant to indicate she'll be coming at him soon enough. Figures, an offensive posture after interrupting his training session. Ladies first after all. ]

[god_damned]

[ Her response is almost playful in her banter, and Kirei frowns somewhat. Perhaps if he had been in a better mindset, he would be amused as well. For now, he responds accordingly, taking a defensive stance. He is curious to see what she can do. ] I believe I can.

[ With a gesture of his hand, he urges her on. ] Come.

[topslug]

[ Yako's in no condition to fight. Her wrist is still in a cast, and she's walking a little stiffly as she tries not to pull her stitches. While she's insisted on resuming her duties at NOHoPE as soon as possible, she's still showing strain from the events of one week ago.

The conclusion she's come to after reflecting on the experience is simple enough: in the City, she needs to become stronger. It's not that she's been mentally shaken, but she can't rely on that alone. Unexpected situations have a way of cropping up in the City, and she needs to be prepared for them.

She was caught off-guard and ill-prepared, once, and she's determined not to let it happen again. Even with her injury, she's come to see what she can do to get started on learning how to defend herself. Her work for the day means she gets there a little past dinner, with no real intention of getting down to physical activity but to simply observe and decide whether she can find someone to teach her what she needs.

She's distracted by her own thoughts, though, so she enters an occupied room by mistake. Once she realizes her error, she doesn't correct it immediately, and ends up quietly observing the man move through what seems to her to be a brutal yet precisely controlled routine. ]

[god_damned]

[ He almost doesn't notice her at first -- which betrays a lot more of his state of mind than it would to any other man. Kirei has been trained since he was incredibly young, and it is no small feat to evade his notice. Just how engrossed he is in his own mind is utterly obvious at this point.

He does pick up on her presence eventually, but he does not make it obvious. He continues his routine, until he is finished, and only then does he turn to her, offering a slight bow of his head. ]

You are injured. [ He states this instead of a greeting -- he doesn't consider that a rudeness, since she herself stepped in without announcing herself. ] Is that why you've come here?

[topslug]

[ She doesn't seem to be taken aback by the bluntness. It is only fair, since she's intruded on what appears to be his private time. She also bows her head before she responds -- dyed hair notwithstanding, she's still obviously Japanese. ]

In a sense, yes. I'd like to avoid getting injured again. [ Her uninjured hand rubs at the cast, fingers absently picking at the rough edges. ]

Are you one of the teachers here?

[god_damned]

[ He follows the motion of her hand, the frown remaining on his features. ]

I am not. [ Nor has he had any real history with passing on his knowledge; he has yet to live the years where he teaches his technique to Rin. ] But I can offer my own experience.

[ It's a seemingly kind gesture. ]

[topslug]

[ Kind, perhaps, but she's not entirely certain yet of the motives behind the offer -- if it is indeed one. She doesn't immediately respond, instead looking him over. ]

I appreciate the offer, but it seems like you've got something weighing on your mind. [ Not that it's an outright rejection, just a candid assessment. ]

[god_damned]

[ Kirei makes a small, thoughtful sound at her comment. He is not used to being so transparent; he supposes his conflict is not exactly subtle at this point. ]

I have only just arrived here in this place. [ By looking at her, he feels she is one of the few summoned here as well. There is something about her which does not seem to Fit the rest of the terrain. ] I am feeling its consequences.

[heartlessglitch]

[ there are any number of things that frustrate her about this organic body, but few as much as it's softness. it's unreliable nature. how often it requires feeding and washing and rest-- and training. as a mechanical being, her strength was consistent and never faltering. she could lift a car with minimal effort. she could fight without getting tired. now everything is infinitely more difficult. this body is weak.

she chooses the dojo because of its hours-- daylight is primarily for work, though she doesn't keep regular hours regardless-- and it's later at night than most normal people would likely train. she prefers it that way. with the mood she's been in, interfacing with humans isn't something she's been as tolerant of. so, she's almost annoyed to hear the sounds of someone else in the dojo this late, toeing off her shoes and stepping inside to confront whoever it might be.

annoyance is quick to change into recognition, maybe even mild surprise. this is unexpected. after a pause, finally: ]

These are not the circumstances under which I thought we would meet again.

[god_damned]

[ The moment she enters, he goes still. His surprise is equal to her own, though it only shows slightly on his face. He drops his posture, rising to his proper height, and he steps down to meet her. There is a dull burn in his calves with every motion, reminding him of his exertion, but it pays it little mind. The discomfort is minimal compared to other pains he has endured. ]

Danger. [ He gives a small bow of his head. ] I did not expect you here.

[heartlessglitch]

[ her eyebrows draw together slightly as he approaches, her eyes attentive-- as if she means to determine by observation alone how long he's been here before her.

her answer comes curtly: ]

I don't ordinarily require training. Mechanical bodies are somewhat more reliable.

[ a pause, then perhaps a bit pointedly: ]

It is late.

[god_damned]

So it is. [ He agrees with the sentiment, but he does not indulge the hint hidden within it. ]

It would be a mistake to not know the limits of your human body. [ As Kirei knows his own, and while he has been training for quite some time now, he has not exhausted himself completely. ]

You would benefit from a partner.

[heartlessglitch]

[ she can't help but acknowledge the truth of what he says. this softer, fleshy body has yet to see a fraction of the combat that her robotic one has. it is inexperienced, despite her high level of skill, and strong though she may be, pain is not something she has fully acclimated to feeling yet.

whether or not he'll make an appropriate partner is another issue entirely. ]

Perhaps I would. [ she reaches to scoop the wild tangle of dreadlocks and braids from the back of her neck, tying it back from her face with a thick rubber band from around her wrist as she goes on: ] Are you assuming you will be a match for me, Kirei?

[god_damned]

[ Of course, she doesn't know of his experience -- which is nothing compared to an entire existence programmed for combative measures, by all means, but Kirei is no amateur. He has given her no indication of his history as an Executor, and what that entails.

Kirei bows to her, respectful, before he returns to a fighting stance. ]

I imagine I may surprise you.