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[It's been a while since Irisviel's taken a moonlit stroll. So long that she got caught in the Dark Hour, and she had been pulling out her phone to call Saber. After all, she still had not managed to awaken her Persona, and even if she had her abilities here, she only knew healing and defensive magics. Nothing that could defeat a Shadow. The video was switched on as she started to make her call, then she stopped, her face turning happy and surprised.]

Kiritsugu! [She lowered the phone as she took a step to her husband] I am so glad to see you. How- [Her voice abruptly broke off as the figure of Kiritsugu pulled out his gun, pointing it right at her face. What was going on...? Why would he-] What... Kiri, please, don't do this...

[The gun didn't lower. The stony look on his face didn't change one bit, not even as he slowly curled his finger around the trigger. Irisviel started to back up, her hands casting out for her strings. If only she had her magic...! That would be enough to slow him down while she figured out what had caused such a change in Kiritsugu. She threw up her arms in front of her face as he squeezed the trigger, her cry being hidden by the gunshot]

[Then-]

[Light. Blinding light. Irisviel fell to one knee, her shoulder bleeding from the shot. But even that started to slow as the light concentrated around the wound, a weak Dia working on her body. Irisviel looked above her, seeing a figure floating there. It smiled at her- no, she smiled at her. This was female, clad it what appeared to be a rainbow. She spoke, her voice reverberating within Irisviel]

Thou art I, and I art thou. My name is Iris, the messenger. We shall walk this path together.

[The figure slowly disappeared, taking the light with her. Irisviel looked over to where Kiritsugu was, only to see nothing. She swallowed, lifting her nearly forgotten phone and flipping through her contacts to call the woman she had originally started to contact]

S-saber.

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Are you okay?

[Not a Saber, but still worried.]

V/V. [Not a Saber, but still a welcome face] I'm... needing a little help home.

I'll come get you. Don't worry.

Thank you, V/V. And please, be careful.

I will.

[Gone to find her! Oh, there she is. V/V comes to her right away.]

Edited 2012-09-26 21:44 (UTC)

[Irisviel was not paying attention, trying again to summon her Persona for another Dia. As V/V walked up, she managed to do so despite the first summoning sleepiness kicking in]

Come on, come with me. It's not safe out here.

[She nodded, standing unsteadily] Did you see where that man went?

[Shake of the head.] Don't worry about him right now, okay?

Kiritsugu... [What had happened to him? Irisviel shook her head, starting to follow V/V away]

[V/V isn't the strongest captive of Prospero, but she's had Alice for a while, so it's not too hard for her to defend Irisviel from the few Shadows they encounter.]

Be careful, V/V. [She was still going to worry. V/V seemed so... innocent.]

I'll be okay. I'm protecting you, so I can't let anything bad happen.

[Irisviel nodded] I trust you, V/V.

I'm glad. Thank you.

You're very good at protecting people. It's a good gift to have, V/V.

I'll make sure you get home safe.

[She smiled at V/V, then]

Watch out! [Irisviel pulled her back as a Shadow came to attack]

[! V/V retreated, then-]

Alice!

[A small girl appeared, and without further prompting, sent a ball of violet light at the Shadow, which writhed in pain from the attack.]

I hadn't realized that you were able to cause such pain to Shadows. [Irisviel's voice is hushed, a little awed and a little upset that V/V had to fight like that]

It should die with another one or two. [Even V/V sounds unhappy, and with a nod Alice sends another few attacks, which finish off the Shadow.]

[Irisviel gently took her hand, squeezing] We should get going.

Uh-huh. [V/V led her closer to the hotel, making sure not to go too fast for her.]

[Notgoodnotgoodnotgood--]

[Luckily Lancer was already out in the Dark Hour, against even his own better judgment. Injured or not, it didn't take him too long to track her down.]

Irisviel--are you alright?

Lancer. I'm... well, now. Did you see where he went?

I'm afraid I didn't. But if this is anything like the other cases I've seen, I highly doubt that to have been Kiritsugu at all.

Not... [That would make sense. Kiritsugu wouldn't have fired on her like that. Not for any reason] Then who would that have been?

I can not answer that with certainty yet, as I haven't any idea.

[Irisviel was quiet as she stood slowly, her hand still on her shoulder] Lancer, thank you for arriving.

...Diarmuid. Just call me Diarmuid.

And it is no problem. I am simply glad you aren't hurt.

A bit... informal, isn't it? Calling you Diarmuid.

[She only smiled at that, hiding the pain in her shoulder]

Is it? I can't say I mind--it is better that than 'Lancer', truly.

Hm. If you prefer... Diarumid. It still seems a bit informal given our previous relation.

If you're uncomfortable with it, fine. Call me what you like, but shall we at least return home before any other catastrophe should take place?

[ Exhaustion has been evident in Saber ever since the night she fought for Diarmuid; she leaves every night early enough to ensure the house is well protected and doesn't return until the rise of the sun, well after the Dark Hour. To account for recovery time, of course. So when she sees the video, she's out on the streets within seconds, a sword out in her hand.

Using Pendragon for another night in a row, she's quick to discover her form on the radar. Enjoy one knight without her armor appearing on the scene. ]

My lady. [ She's out of breath, but here. ] What troubles you?

Kiritsugu. He was here. He- no. [She shook her head] I had... lost track of time.

[ The name of that man still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth, but Saber chooses to instead focus on her despair. ]

Did you get a good look at his eyes?

His eyes? No, I- [Wait. Wasn't there something odd about his eyes?] They were... gold.

I know it may be difficult to tell when it comes to those here who have eyes of that color--[ Trust her, she's always frightened that one day Diarmuid will be like the one who took her lips for the first time months ago. ]--but they are not real. Shadows, twisted visages of people who used or who have never been here.

[ She pauses to consider telling Irisviel just why she's been out, finding it probably more appropriate to do so now here than to avoid the topic later. ]

They have infested the island during the Dark Hour so I have joined the fight against them. I am fortunate I was able to find you before any harm fell upon your form.

That... that would make sense. Kiritsugu wouldn't have... he just wouldn't have shot me. Not like that.

[Irisviel looked at Saber, frowning a bit] Saber, are you sure? The hour is late, and if you do this every night...

[ He would shoot Saber like that though. As much as she wants to say that, she doesn't. ]

What else would you have me do? Stand by and listen to everyone speak about missing individuals? Many innocent lives were taken already.

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