App for route_29

[wormed]

NOTE: This app was done in a rush and is nowhere near the quality I'd like it to be, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Player
Name: Typhie
Personal Journal: typhie
E-mail: typhlogirl@gmail.com
AIM/MSN: AIM: typhlogirl
Timezone: GMT +10 (NE Australia)
Current Characters in Route:
- Emmy Altava (snapandscoot) | Professor Layton
- Major Alex Armstrong (sculpted) | Fullmetal Alchemist
- Dr Kato (artfuldestruction) | Astro Boy

Character
Name: Kariya Matou
Series: Fate/Zero
Timeline: Falling into the alley after his battle with Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Canon Resource Links: Wiki link!

Personality: Kariya Matou is, frankly, a bit of a clusterfuck.

On the surface he's a polite man with a rather warm smile. Raised as the heir to a noble house of mages, Kariya managed to break away from the bonds of his family and live freely, despite being disowned and disgraced in the process. He's been in love with his childhood friend Aoi for years, but apparently managed to use up all his courage in his escape from the Matou house; he's never told her. Even now, she can strike him speechless with nerves with just a smile. You'd think such a thing would be ineffective now, what with the fact that she's married with two daughters, but not to Kariya. Losing Aoi to Tokiomi Tohsaka eight years ago is his greatest regret, and one that he doesn't intend to repeat. He still pines for her, even though he knows he cannot have her. Or does he?

Aoi, three years senior, thinks of Kariya as a dear little brother. Her children call him Uncle Kariya, and he is extremely fond of them. In particular the younger girl, Sakura. In his travels abroad, he often brings them back gifts, heaping unconditional love onto them. The arrangement is by no means his ideal, but he can still speak to Aoi, and see the girls. It's not perfect...but it's something. It satisfies him. Or does it?

The answers to those questions are quite promptly delivered when Sakura is given away to the Matou family.

Kariya is well aware of what Sakura is undergoing as part of the Matou family, being a Matou himself. Really, Kariya is the reason Zouken needed Sakura to continue the family magic; as the son of the household with the most magical potential, Kariya should have been the one to step up and take over. Instead, he fled.

This turns out to be the second greatest regret of his life; running away and having Sakura suffer for his choices. He can't allow it. He believes that if he hadn't refused his Matou destiny 10 years ago, Sakura could be living happily with her mother. He's filled with self-hatred.

...and another sort. Being giving the oppurtunity to participate in the Heaven's Feel gives Kariya a unique oppurtunity. Tokiomi Tohsaka, Aoi's husband, will also be participating. To win the grail, he has to kill him. As the full extent of the upcoming war dawns on him Kariya's buried, slow-burning hatred for Tokiomi begins to violently surface. He hates him for what he's done to Sakura, what he's done to Aoi. At least, what he believes he's done to Sakura and Aoi. He couldn't possibly be wrong. Once he kills Tokiomi, Aoi and her children can live happily and play in the park with him. They will be happy, and so will he.

...and there lies one of Kariya's biggest flaws. He fails to realise that Aoi truly does love Tokiomi, and has accepted the harsh rules that come along with marrying into a mage family. At this stage it's not so much a failing as it is a refusal; she couldn't possibly love him! Look at all the pain he's caused her! If only he hadn't allowed her to marry the man! What an idiot he is!

Kariya is kind of the embodiment of a Nice Guy. He's always been kind to Aoi; why wouldn't she want him? Of course she does! She's just stuck in an abusive relationship with that bastard Tokiomi! He'll free her of it, and then she'll be happy! Happy with him!

...at least he's got good determination? Kariya isn't all bad; after all, in order to become strong enough to be chosen for the Heaven's Feel, Kariya agrees to have the family's disgusting Crest worms inserted into his body; a torturous process that leaves him disfigured and crippled, and with about a month to live. While killing Tokiomi is a definite perk, the main motivation is Sakura. Love trumping hate, and all that.

...there's still plenty of hate, though. Plenty of hate. Kariya hates everything about Tokiomi. He hates his power, his looks, his charm, his Aoi. The two of them end up in battle later on in the Heaven's Feel, and Kariya's fight style can really be summed up with 'screaming bitchfit'. It's so convoluted and wretched that his opponent goes from feeling disgust to just pitying Kariya. Needless to say, Tokiomi curbstomps him, sets him on fire and hurls him down into an alley.

If Kariya has anything going for his personality it's his interactions, and love, for Rin and Sakura. Despite not being related by blood, Kariya loves those kids like he was their real father. He's willing to die to save Sakura from Zouken Matou. Really, he knows he's going to die; the Crest worms are eating him alive from the inside out. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that Sakura is returned to her mother and sister (not her father, we don't mention her father) and he can see their smiles. Even if it is for the last time. As long as they're happy.

Happy with him.


Strengths/Weaknesses:

✔ Determined - Kariya is determined not to let Sakura suffer for his mistakes, and goddammit if he has to die trying to help he will die trying to help!
✔ Selfless - Did I mention he allowed worms to eat him alive from the inside, crippling him, just to save Sakura? Because he did.
✔ Thoughtful - Kariya always made a point to give Rin and Sakura gifts he knew they would love and appreciate, rather than silly trinkets they wouldn't be interested in.

✔/✘ Introverted - Kariya is a quiet sort of fellow who only really needs a few certain people around him to be happy. I'll give you three guesses as to who those people are. No cheating!

✘ Stubborn - Aoi couldn't possibly be with Tokiomi because she loves him! No, he's a bad father and a bad husband goddammit!!
✘ Entitled - Kariya isn't going to let Aoi make another mistake like that again. And she will listen to him! Because he loves her so she should!
✘ Incredibly sickly - Even though Kariya will obviously get no power from the worms in Route, they've still fucked him up pretty badly. He can barely feel the left side of his body, his left eye is ruined, his skin is godawful and he tends to cough up worms and blood whenever he's feeling particularly crap. Camping in the routes is going to be awesome.

Pokémon Information
Affiliation: Breeder
Starter: Wurmple
Password: Raspberry Lemonade

Samples
First Person Sample: [[The feed opens in darkness. Slowly, the shape of a face comes into view, but the person has a hood pulled down over their eyes, particularly shielding the left side.]]

If anyone could help me....I would like to know where I am. Is Fuyuki City nearby?

[[His voice is soft, almost nervous, and he winces slightly when a Wurmple comes into view, climbing over his left shoulder and down his chest. It doesn't seem that he's flinching from the creature itself, however; more from the contact against his body. As if sensing his pain, the Wurmple moves over to his right shoulder, and the man visibly relaxes, letting out a soft sigh.]]

It would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[[The polite tone doesn't seem to be overly forced, but it's clear the man is frustrated, the words being forced from his body as he looks around wildly. Before he shuts down the feed, he looks at something on the back of his right hand, before it balls into a tight fist. The feed is cut sharply, the final image being that of the hooded man coughing violently.]]

Third Person Sample: It was a beautiful park.

Seated under a tree, Kariya silently watched a nearby group of children playing in the fountain, laughing and having fun. He smiled slightly. Ever-so-slightly.

It was an odd feeling, having the Crest Worms dormant. Oh, they were still within him; he could sense them, feel them, but there was no movement. They were just...still. Of course, that meant he was completely unable to summon an ounce of mana, but he had to admit that he hadn't felt so good in a while. He hadn't even coughed up any blood this morning.

But at the same time, frustration burned deep within him, especially as the symbol on his hand drew his eyes. Red and jagged, contrasting sharply with the paleness of his skin. Being in Johto, this...this alternate dimension...was he a victim of some sort of bizarre Noble Phantasm? Now, as he wasted time separated from Beserker, was the grail being won? Was this all a dream?

A dream...

He looked toward the children again. His smile disappeared.

At his side, his Wurmple happily finished off the berry she was eating, before wriggling over and climbing up his arm. It took her a little while, but she finally got him to look at her, squirming happily when he did. His small smile returned.

This familiar...this...Pokemon...he'd never experienced such unconditional love. She didn't care about his appearence, about his moods, his anger, his rage...through all that, she always stayed with him. There was an innocence about her that both filled Kariya with joy and stabbed him sharply in the heart.

Gathering her into his arms, he cradled his Pokemon gently, curling up against the tree. She squirmed happily again, making a sad clicking sound and nuzzling his face as a tear began to fall from his undamaged eye.

But he was smiling.