⚔ 010; [video; dated to mid-Dark Hour]

[croibhristeoir]

[The video shows what appears to be Lancer in his hotel room, face mostly obscured by a book and wearing a suit he's never been seen in before. Behind the chair he sat in, a pair of lances leaned against the wall--a long crimson one and a shorter one in vivid yellow.]

'Hate'.

[Lancer's calm and collected voice had an extra layer to it today, an almost demonic echo that turned gentle tones into mocking amusement.]

'Let me tell you how much I've come to hate you since I began to live'.

[He lowered the book slightly; his eyes were the same yellow-gold as ever, but today they were ice cold and glowing faintly in the dimly lit room. Instead of his commonly seen casual smile, he wore a condescending and cruel smirk.]

Such an interesting volume to have in my small collection.

Because oh, do I hold within myself such hatred. Such spite and rage, I truly am a worthless knight. But why should I do anything but hate? Being kind and generous has gained me nothing but pain. I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand...! Why does it hurt so much? Tell me why everything I do only causes me pain!

'Please, allow me to help you.' 'What can I do for you?' 'How can I assist you?' I never asked for anything in return, I never even asked to be thanked for my efforts. If I'm not helping people, then what is the point of my existence? Have I been placed here only to feel pain in my failures?

Kayneth wished to summon a King of Conquerors--he never even wanted me. And why should he have? I am hardly a hero at all, next to people like Iskander or Ireland's precious hound. I am but a man who stole Fionn mac Cumhaill's betrothed and ran like a coward.

I have neither purpose nor right to live. My hatred is the only thing strong about me. I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the man who cursed and corrupted the Holy Grail itself!

[There was a quiet sound of movement off-camera, directing Lancer to look at the floor with a cruel smirk.]

You're wrong...

[The voice offscreen was strained and shaky, but unmistakably Diarmuid's--without the demonic layer this one had. The first Lancer's smirk only grew wider at that.]

...Do you know what I hate most of all, Prospero?

[He reached off-camera, picking up the original Diarmuid by his shirt collar--slightly bruised and scratched up, wincing in obvious pain. The second one with the cruel smirk on his face calmly took off Diarmuid's glasses and put them on himself, expression not changing in the slightest.]

More than Kayneth and Kiritsugu, more than my own disgusting need to make people happy?

Arturia, please help me--

[He choked that much out in a rushed, almost desperate voice; for the first time, Diarmuid was afraid. Not of death, no, but of the fact that his other self's words seemed to ring true in a dark corner of his heart.]

[He was afraid, and he wanted her at his side.]

More than anything...I hate myself.

[The video cut out suddenly, without another word.]

Chapter 07 ~ Video/Action [forward dated to the dark hour]

[best-king.livejournal.com]

Accidental Video

[ It's just a quarter past midnight, and anyone keeping an eye on the network will be greeted by the sight of not just one, but two Gilgamesh. You pause to wonder if this is some kind of horrible dream, but continue watching. You'll notice the 'other' Gilgamesh is slightly different than you may remember him during his stay in Prospero. His hair is combed back, and even in the moonlight his golden armor is bedazzling to gaze upon. And if you care to look closer, you'll see his eyes are not his trademark red, but a dim gold. Ah, so this must mean... ]

First some child prances around pretending to be my Enkidu, and now some mongrel dares to copy my image!? I hope you're prepared to crushed, worm!

Tsk, tsk. Always so quick to resort to violence. Has that really ever gotten you anywhere? Besides, everyone knows you're all talk.

What would you know? You're a coward hiding behind the image of a king to superior to you. Shed your disguise and face me in your true form!

But this is my true form. I am you. Or rather, what you wish you could be. Compared to me, you're merely a child. You can't even gain access to what I hold.

[ Why, yes. That IS the infamous Gate of Babylon opening up behind the armor-clad Gilgamesh. And it only serves to further infuriate Gilgamesh. ]

How dare you lay a hand on my treasures! There's no way you could be me, because only I am the one worthy of the title as King of Heroes! I'm going to show you just who the hell you're messing with and then reclaim what's rightfully mi--

[ He really shouldn't have said that. With a single flick of his wrist, Shadow Gilgamesh sent forth no less than a few hundred noble phantasms at the former king. Sadly, the video feed cuts off before anyone can see the result of what was sure to be a fatal attack. ]

Action

[ Although, those who are actually near by will probably hear the resulting scream and hideous laughter. Those who come to inspect will find no trace of the shadow left, but instead something that looks more similar to a grave of swords, lancers, and other weapons. In the middle of them lays the golden jerkass, maybe not mortally wounded, but he might as well be. Various limbs are pinned down by blades, and he looks... completely miserable. You know, compared to his usua; self. ]

Nn... That bastard...

ｉ． ⚔ ｖｉｄｅｏ；

[chastehuntress.livejournal.com]

❝forward dated to the dark hour❞

[ G'evening Prospero. Here's an interesting figure who's never made her presence obvious before and it's right during the Dark Hour. How suspicious!! Facing away from the device, it seems as though she's discarded it in favor of cleaning a Nice Bow. For those who tend to focus on other things, they may notice the ears resting on the top of her head. ]

Are you loved?

[ A simple message before she turns around to grab at the phone with yellow eyes and a gaze so sharp it could pierce titanium. ]

Or are you loathed?

[ Click! ]

[Voice]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

It's dangerous out here tonight. Is everyone else in good health?

[Something is off in Issei's voice, besides the earnest way he asks his next question:]

Please, can I do anything for anyone? I'll do anything. Anything my meager skills can accomplish.

[It's a shame that the post is only in audio, so there isn't anything like a pair of golden eyes to warn the listeners... Well, unless he switches to video upon commenting. Then it's a little more easily apparent.]

00110011? (Video, dated to Dark Hour)

[notxmyxproblem.livejournal.com]

*The camera is pointed at the sleeping form of Allen Ridgeley, at first giving the impression that this is an accidental post...until it turns and shows another Allen, with eerie yellow eyes.*

Of course he's asleep. Oh well, I might as well take advantage of this to lay a little groundwork, since I doubt he'll listen if he's just hearing this stuff during Dark Hour. Good thing he can't pull that ghost thing here. Oh, right, nobody's supposed to know about that. Oops.

*The Shadow rolls his eyes, voice dripping sarcasm at the mock apology.*

He's so ashamed of me, but the part of himself that he embraces is the really embarrassing part. It's not like it does him any good. He had to get himself half killed to get anyone to recognize him as anything, all because he was too afraid to stand up for himself and be anything other than normal.

It's really no wonder it's been so long since he's talked to Dad. He knows our father would still say he's nothing special. Chief of First Division at Vector Industries? What a joke, nobody there gives him any respect. Talk about lame. If he just listened to me, he might actually get what he wanted. But he always has been thick skulled.

Oh, hey, he's probably going to see this when he wakes up anyway, but one of you should direct his attention toward it anyway. Otherwise, he'll probably just pretend it's not here.

[006: Action and Video: During the Dark Hour]

[techno-logical.livejournal.com]

Action

[When April went out during the Dark Hour, she was just expecting to fight some Shadows as usual. She was not expecting to run into a Shadow that turned into, well, herself. But it wasn't her; her doubles eyes were a cold and eerie bright gold and her expression was so... blank and emotionless; the complete opposite of how she usually is. And when her double started to speak, she did not like what she had to say.

So people out during the Dark Hour may see two Aprils standing face-to-face, the normal one glaring and on-edge while her double is impassive. Though her Shadow soon vanishes, leaving April to just blink at the empty spot in shock.]

... W-what the...?

Video

[Sometime after the encounter with her Shadow, April decides to speak to the others in Prospero. While she tries to hide it, it's clear that she's spooked.]

So, uh, you guys remember that message we got sent a few days ago? About facing ourselves or whatever? Well, I, um, think it meant that literally; I-I saw a Shadow that turned into me a-and it said stuff only I would know...

H-has anyone else seen something like this?