storypaint | untitled (Eriol gen)

Title: untitled
Length: 528 words
Prompt: 365_characters: character sketch
Pairing: Eriol gen
Other: Just a character sketch, no continuity.
Excerpt: He sits in the Chair and plans. It is a Chair that has earned the capital letter by belonging to his predecessor, the great man who looms over him, guiding his steps like some twisted god.

He sits in the Chair and plans. It is a Chair that has earned the capital letter by belonging to his predecessor, the great man who looms over him, guiding his steps like some twisted god. It is that man that Hiiragizawa Eriol is thinking of right now, as he plans the next magical disaster he will use to trick Sakura into changing the Clow Cards. But it is always that man that Eriol is thinking of, isn't it?

Eriol was born knowing all that Clow knew-- the thoughts, the psychoses, the knowledge of centuries pressed down and overflowing into a little boy with Clow's mischievous eyes. That's how he tries to think of these trials, in the way that Clow did-- as mischief, as something he can be forgiven for, as though his duplicity was redeemed by the happy ending. The thing that bothers him most is that Sakura will forgive him, no questions asked, no retribution needed. That is the type of girl she is.

Eriol is unfailingly polite. If he is going to be a liar, he wants to be a friendly one. He will be the wolf in sheep's clothing. He will be the wolf who steals. He is attempting to slowly steal his life back from Clow. When this is done... he thinks now. When this is done...

Clow hadn't planned for "when this is done." For all he knows, he will dissolve into ash when Sakura commands the sun to rise. At least then Clow's memories will be able to rest.

Eriol tries not to think about his purpose, but sitting in the Chair, it is impossible. He rises and goes to the window; he looks out on Nakuru sunbathing in her swimsuit and he knows that Spinel's presence is in the other room.

He looks back at the chair and how it looms over his small form. Then he opens the window and calls to Nakuru.

"It is time!" he says, and smiles brightly, because he understands duplicity and he doesn't want her to worry. She is his, she is not Clow's, and he doesn't want to make her sad. He calls out to Spinel as well and then settles into the Chair, shutting his eyes only a moment as he feels Clow's presence fall upon him and he begins to speak, barely knowing what he says.

"And when we're done, I'll buy you an ice cream, Ruby. Would you like that?" he says, still grinning, and she jumps up happily and says that she would. Gently he pats Spinel on the head. "You can go on home after, if you'd like, and enjoy the quiet." Spinel nods.

He calls them into their true forms and puts on the robes that he sewed with his own hands, as if in a dream, feeling much more experienced fingers on his own, guiding the thread. He becomes Clow in these moments.

And then he will take Ruby for ice cream, and be Eriol, away from the presence of the Chair and as far from Clow as possible.

It is hard to love and hate oneself, especially when oneself is ourselves, but Eriol manages.

untitled (Eriol gen)

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