(no subject)

[maguskiller]

[Action, Phone, 1488 Kramden Road]

[Kiritsugu finds himself in a dilemma. On one hand, he knows both of his children are here, which makes him happier than he's been in years. On the other, he's aware of how dangerous this environment is for them. Subsequently, he has been working on formulating an escape plan with the letter he was given, yet has proved no more successful than anyone else.]

[He already applied for a job as an office worker, however. Mainly to help sustain the household until he comes up with a plan, but also because that's pretty much how he planned to spend the rest of his days before this happened.]

[He's not quite sure how to react to Father's Day, having spent the last nine years in seclusion. He understands that family gatherings are common, but he still thinks that could be really, really awkward.]

[However, if anyone's aware of his identity, or simply his status as a new resident assuming the father slot, it's still possible to contact him through phone. He's been keeping it at his side in case he needs to call someone.]

Comments

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[ Shirou hasn't really had a chance to properly celebrate father's day in a while... so he'll definitely come by at some point early in the day to do that, with a wrapped present in hand.

And looking oddly nervous about it. ]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[After looking through the window to see who it is, Kiritsugu opens the door, greeting his son with one of his weary half-smiles.]

Hello, Shirou. Do you want to come in?

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

Oh. Please. [...though does he have to be that polite with his dad? no harm in doing it.]

Ah, Happy Father's Day. That's what I came to say.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

...Thank you. I'm glad you're here for it.

[He steps aside, allowing entrance. Although he's been keeping tabs on who leaves the house since running into Kotomine, he doesn't know if Illya has left her room yet. Still, despite knowing that they may very well know already, he figures it's about time he actually got around to introducing his family to each other.]

[Despite wanting to, he does not ask if they celebrate this day in their time. He knows very well that the chances of that being true are slim.]

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

This is for you. [ he hands the present over a bit awkwardly.

He wasn't really sure what to get, so he just picked out a rather plain tie at the store. Pretty boring, but he figures... well... he's not sure what he figured, but he wanted to get him something at least. ] Sorry if it's not that great, I'm not really good at picking out things like this.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Considering Kiritsugu's childhood, which mostly had presents come in the form of firearms, this gift seems to be a confirmation of the life he's trying to adopt, which lends itself to his appreciation of the gift. Instead of repeating his previous statement, he opts to nod his gratefulness.]

Don't worry about it. I like it.

You just arrived here about two weeks ago. How have you been settling in?

[Yes, he's aware Shirou has been here longer than him, but he can't help but express concern.]

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

Everyone's friendly, and there are others from back home here too. [he smiles and nods.] I'm doing fine.

How about you?

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

That's good to hear.

The lifestyle's been difficult to adapt to, but I'm still trying to keep up. In any case, I can't say this town doesn't have its good parts.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[he nods in agreement.]

I know this isn't a good place, but I'm kind of thankful to it.

But things will probably get worse eventually...

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

That seems likely.

...Shirou, have you met anyone else capable of using magic in here?

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

There are a few people. Magus from back home, and other people.

I'm... not sure about everyone else, but I think there are other magic users here too.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

I see... There are several things I should warn you about, then. Have you met one wearing priest's robes yet?

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

Kotomine.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

You have, then...

[Kiritsugu notices quite a bit more resentment than he would expect from two weeks in here. He begins to fear that this may not be the first place they've met in, and so, waits for his son to elaborate.]

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

I met him too. During the Grail War.

[...his feelings are rather complex when it comes to Kotomine though, but he may as well state what he knows to be absolute fact.] We fought... and I won.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Though this is the first Kiritsugu's heard of Shirou joining the Grail War, it's not a thought that hadn't crossed his mind. With it happening a mere ten years after his, and with the conviction Shirou had displayed back then, it seemed inevitable.]

[Not that he isn't completely, unbelievably proud of Shirou for getting through it with no visible amount of trauma.]

From what I gather, it's impossible to kill people in here. Regardless, having him here won't be a good thing. Be careful, Shirou.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

He's already lost. [ regardless, he nods in agreement. Kotomine's still dangerous, even after losing his motivation and purpose.

As soon as he finds another... ] I guess a lot of things happened that I should tell you.

I'm okay with either an actual explanation or simply saying that it happened.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

I do feel like I've got a lot of catching up to do.

[Kiritsugu nods towards the living room, proceeding to take a few steps to sit in there himself. Judging from everything Shirou's said, this could be a long story.]

i'll opt for the latter in the interests of laziness then...

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[And he'll follow him into the living room, before taking a seat himself.]

I'll try to explain it as best as I can... but it's a long story. [He takes a deep breath, before quickly trying to be as detailed as possible, leaving nothing out.

If only because he's sure Kiritsugu might be able to offer some insight into everything that happened.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[Kiritsugu absorbs all of the information. He's prepared this time around, and so, keeps an instinctive poker face all throughout the story.]

[Well. Almost. He can't help but flinch at the last parts involving Illya. He would be pretty much broken right now, if he didn't know for a fact that she's safe and sound somewhere inside the house.]

I suppose I should offer some explanations as well.

By now, you likely know I participated in the Fourth Grail War. I eventually found out the truth about it, and tried to destroy it... Evidently, I failed where you succeeded.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[he nods at his father's explanation... of course, he'd already heard all that from Kotomine before. but even so, it's a different thing to hear it from Kiritsugu directly.]

Why did you choose to destroy it...?

[the answer was probably obvious enough, but he still wanted to hear it anyway. it was the holy grail after all... something that could grant any wish. and the circumstances of the fourth war had been far different from his own.]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

It was not the wish-granting machine everyone thought it would be. At least, not in the way we expected. I couldn't let anyone else summon it when it posed such a danger to everything.

[What he went through upon seeing it certainly helped him decide, but Kiritsugu already has enough trouble sleeping with that memory. He doesn't need to share it.]

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[Shirou nods, understanding that well enough... regardless of whatever that thing was meant to be, it wasn't something that could ever be allowed to be born. Though he can't help but feel a tinge of pride that his father had felt the same way.]

Heh... this isn't really what I came to talk about though, is it? This ended up being a lot more serious than I expected.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

It seems like it. In that case, I'll make up for it. Have you eaten yet?

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

Oh... no, not yet. If you want, I could make something for the both of us. My cooking's gotten pretty good.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

Impressive. I hope you won't mind if I help.

[Kiritsugu's not a particularly good cook, being much more partial to less elaborate food than the Einzberns provided, but he's tried to pick up a thing or two after taking upon responsibilities.]

It'll be a good opportunity to discuss more mundane topics.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[he nods as he makes his way to the kitchen, putting on an apron before realizing.]

Illya lives here too, right? [she'd told him her address before...]

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

[For his part, Kiritsugu draws a few ingredients.]

She does. From what I've gathered, she could very well be from a world different to ours. Still, that doesn't change her identity to me.

[It feels bizarre to mention her name in front of his son. So much time spent on hiding that part of his past from Shirou...]

I was surprised to hear you met her... especially under such circumstances.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[He nods... he's learned that from her as well.]

Her world is a lot different, but she's still Illya.

[He smiles a bit... before shaking his head. The fate of the Illya he knew was quite different.]

I'm sorry I couldn't protect her. No... that I needed her to protect me.

[maguskiller.livejournal.com]

...No. I'm the one who should apologize.

[About not returning to her. About not living for just a little longer. About a large number of things he attempted, but just couldn't reach.]

It won't make up for it, but until we find a way to leave this place, I'll... I'll try to have things go better.

[9bulletrevolver.livejournal.com]

[he nods in agreement.]

If there's anything you need my help with, let me know.

I guess this is my chance to finally repay you a little bit.