[video]

[sicharia]

Hello. [The person seated in front of the library terminal is a pale, white-haired woman dressed in something reminiscent of a nun's habit, though there's nothing to cover her head. One of her yellow eyes is covered with an eyepatch. She tries to smile and does about as well as one might expect of a person in her situation, the expression both pinched and weak.] My name is Claudia Kotomine. I've—just arrived.

[There's definitely some uncertainty in her voice about how she should describe the situation, but nonetheless, she carries on.] If there are any other members of the Holy Church here, I'd like to hear from them as soon as possible. Or— Anyone else I'm acquainted with. And, mm, even if there aren't...

[She trails off momentarily, her one visible eye flicking away from the terminal as she considers something. Her lips purse together for a moment, and then she sighs. Well, she doesn't want to be ungrateful—at least she's able to eat—but—]

Ah, it's just that the kitchen seems equipped to do a lot more than it currently is! [She laughs, but the sound is nervous.] Is the food always in the state that it is now? I just thought—if there are better ingredients around anywhere, I could make something nicer. I'm more than willing to share with anyone who helps me with this, so...

...Ah, in any case, thank you for your time. [She forces another slight smile.] If there's anything you would like to ask of me in turn, I'm happy to assist or answer you to the best of my ability.

[For those that would prefer action, immediately after this she can be found browsing the library (and frustrating herself with her inability to find anything of immediate use), and later on she'll be investigating the thirteenth floor/the cathedral.]

Comments

[canofworms]

[Ah, he's offended her somehow already -- that much is obvious, even if Kariya isn't sure how. There's the past tense, but that's not...

(Kirei had a wife? When? How? Is he really going to look her in the face and--)

He hesitates for a moment.]

Sorry. [A blanket apology. She's not the only one who doesn't particularly want to talk about Kirei.] I'm Kariya Matou -- there's two of us here in the Tower.

There are other people from alternate realities here... if you know a Waver Velvet, there's also two of him. [He doesn't know about the third yet oops.] We've been calling it Second Magic for convenience, but it's probably still confusing. Can't be helped.

[sicharia]

Mm, I see. Yes, I've already spoken to the other one, and he's mentioned the gist of the situation, so— I had thought so. [Though he hadn't mentioned an alternate self, now that she thinks about it. Well, that aside... Her smile shifts to something more apologetic, and she shrugs.] I apologize if I was curt with you. I'm just a little tired of people asking me that without even being polite enough to introduce themselves before they do so.

[...Okay, so maybe she's still being a little pointed. At least she hasn't started comparing him to his other self, as though they were a pair of siblings. He seems quite a bit different from the Kariya she is accustomed to, so this time, she isn't terribly surprised that he doesn't recognize her.]

Yes, it's something that will take some getting used to. It's a bit jarring, since I'm actually acquainted with a version of you, where I come from.

[canofworms]

You did? [He's caught by that particular turn of phrase -- this woman recognizes him? It's true that he and his other self don't look entirely dissimilar to those who know where to look, but...] Ah, right, I... I was surprised to see another Kotomine. I didn't mean to offend.

[He bows his head a little on the screen in a rare gesture of formality. It just -- seems called for, somehow. He has so many questions, but asking them would probably be as unwelcome as the first one. Everything turned out more awkward than expected.

Damn Second Magic.]

When you say a version of me, you probably mean the version of me from... the Fourth War? The other one. [He's really not sure how to refer to his other self in neutral terms, to be honest.] I assume you're familiar with the Holy Grail War.

[And if she isn't, she'd better get up to speed. There are far too many Servants in the Tower.]

[sicharia]

It's fine. Just try to be a little more considerate next time.

[You know, on the off-chance that something like this happens again.]

Mm, sort of. He didn't recognize me, either, and there are at least a couple of differences between the realities we come from. [So, not really the same.] Ah, and I guess I should add that I was actually acquainted with you before the War's beginning, but only in passing.

[canofworms]

... Yes.

[It's been a while since he's been scolded, hasn't it? Either way, he really hopes there isn't a 'next time' for this particular set of circumstances. One Kotomine is already a Kotomine too many, even if she seems like a nice enough lady.

He doesn't know what to make of it.]

You met me before the War...? It sounds like -- a very different reality. [He definitely doesn't remember any Kotomines in his life before the Fourth War.] It's nice to meet you anyway, I guess, even if this really isn't much of a place for it. You've heard about the basics?

[sicharia]

Yes, I suspect that's so. [She hesitates for a moment, then clarifies,] As I said, it was only in passing. Aoi and I were friends, and I took my daughter to the park along with hers sometimes, so of course there were a handful of times that we spoke.

[She nods.] Yes, I think I have the basics down. Thank you for asking.

[canofworms]

A friend of Aoi's?

[He repeats it blankly, without thinking; of course, after a moment's hesitation -- that makes sense, doesn't it, Kirei in league with the Tohsakas, his wife... but. He shouldn't jump to conclusions, right?]

--Um, yes. Yes, I guess we would've met in that case. [But why didn't we? That's the question, isn't it?] Just... be careful, because the Tower seems to change a lot. I haven't been here for the longest time, myself, but everything seems to bend to the whim of the administrators, and they're...

[He trails off for a moment.]

They can be fickle. God complexes -- if you'll pardon my saying so.

I'm literally too lazy to log into my AU account deal with it

[unhealing]

There's nothing to pardon. [She dismisses that issue easily, instead focusing on something more practical.] What kind of changes do you mean?

gg XD

[canofworms]

[It's largely because of how awkward he feels about this entire exchange that he remembered to excuse himself at all. Reverence towards the Church establishment isn't one of his usual traits.

Be that as it may.]

If you've heard about the admins here, it seems they each have a different... style? When it comes to managing the Tower. Last month we had wild weather throughout the Tower, for example. You've seen the cafeteria for this month. [A sigh.] I've heard of pranks involving the electronics, too.

[Maybe he shouldn't dump everything on her at once, though. His own arrival had certainly been tempestuous enough.]

Others would know more details about each of them. I'm more of a specialist on the monster side of things, I think.

[Wait, that sounds terrible, but it's too late to take it back...]

[sicharia]

[She nods slightly.] Thank you. I'll keep that in mind and be on the lookout.

Are you? [But that seems to interest her more than anything.] The, er—...

[Abruptly, she realizes she has no idea how to talk about one Kariya to another, and her expression turns from intent and serious to awkward.]

The, well... The other Kariya! He said that people think the monsters might be brought from different worlds, like we are, but he didn't really know much about them. Do know more?