⚔ 008; [video; morning of 10/24]

[croibhristeoir]

[ooc: This is a joint post with caliburns, because misunderstandings happen a lot with these guys. Expect responses from both of them.]

[The phone fell to the floor when a small misstep caused Lancer to nudge the table it was on--in accordance with Murphy's Law, of course the video turned on. For the moment, it focused mainly on a lump of sheets and blankets a skilled eye might recognize as Saber. Just offscreen, a familiar voice could be heard muttering to himself.]

...thought for certain it was here yesterday, it's not as if it could just wander off.

[Lancer wandered onscreen, mostly in the background as he carefully examined yonder closet.]

[Now, Prospero, you may well notice three things about Lancer. One is that his hair is notably disheveled. Another is that he has a nasty looking pair of scars from some kind of stab wound lined up on his chest and back.]

[The third, directly following the second, is that he's not wearing a shirt. Sharing a room with Saber and not wearing a shirt. Scandalous. Also hot damn.]

Are you awake, Saber? I seem to have lost something. [Pause.] Additionally, I think that perhaps we should discuss last night. That was an occurrence of no small significance for both of us, I think.

[Silence. The blanket lump shifted--you have disturbed the sleeping lion, Lancer.]

...It is at least safe to say I will be feeling the effect of that final thrust for some time yet, Lancer.

...perhaps the conclusion was a bit more forceful than I'd intended, yes.

[WELL SHIT PROSPERO, DOESN'T THAT SOUND LIKE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. TOO BAD, VIDEO CUTS OUT THERE.]

Comments

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

Is it not difficult to enjoy victory when you are helping me to recover from it?

action;

[croibhristeoir]

Saber, it is a far less simple matter than merely enjoying victory. There are a great deal of aspects to these events I find myself enjoying, and helping you with your injury would take away none of that.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

[ A great deal of aspects, eh? That catches her curiosity. ]

Such as?

action;

[croibhristeoir]

Last night was...notable, to me, for many reasons. Whether I won or lost is irrelevant, as events themselves would still have been significant.

That was the first time I have fought for purposes entirely my own. In doing so I was able to give you the respectful and honorable duel you deserved, seen through to its end. I would have been just as content to have lost under such conditions.

I'm...happy, Saber. For the first time in so long that I'm not sure if I have ever truly felt as such.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

Happy..

[ Way to make the guy happy for reasons unrelated to their UST, Saber. ]

I understand. It soothes my own thoughts to know that I could have helped you in such a manner.

action;

[croibhristeoir]

[Somewhat unrelated.]

I'm glad to hear that, Saber.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

You are?

action;

[croibhristeoir]

Of course. I would be concerned if our duel somehow resulted in any kind of malice between us.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

Malice... no, I cannot think on such things.

action;

[croibhristeoir]

I would hope I've done nothing to upset you.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

[ Suddenly, something does dawn on her as she pulls the sheets in closer to keep herself fully covered. ]

You.. you did not look at me when I was returning your shirt, right?

action;

[croibhristeoir]

I didn't exactly go out of my way to do so, why do you ask?

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

WELL WHY THE HELL NOT, LANCER?

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

[ No, that other tag isn't real... ]

I thought I should inquire about it.

action;

[croibhristeoir]

[Sure it isn't.]

...I am not the kind of person my reputation must surely make me seem like, Saber.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

I care not for your reputation of the past, Lancer. I mean .. even now.. I..

action;

[croibhristeoir]

[She didn't? Lancer knew that shouldn't have been surprising to hear, and yet...somehow it was.]

...I'm listening, Saber.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

Never mind it, Lancer. We have things of greater importance to discuss. You made mention of it last night, no?

action;

[croibhristeoir]

Ah...right. I did say something like that, didn't I?

If you would still be willing to listen, I might like to speak freely about it for a change.

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

I will always listen.

[ Even if she's curling back up fully in the bed. Saber pile will listen. ]

action;

[croibhristeoir]

...I know that it has been a very long time for you, so I would not assume you remember every detail of the fourth war.

But do you remember the last day we met before coming to this city?

[Lancer certainly did. But it was hard to forget one of the top contenders for 'worst day of my life'. More so considering his Noble Phantasm through his heart wasn't something easily forgotten.]

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

A very long time.. that is all too true.

[ Her voice is distant as she thinks back to it. Her life was almost gone before she arrived here. She should have been dead and her life should be devoted to Gaia. ]

Of course I do.

action;

[croibhristeoir]

I see.

[So she really was different from other Servants. No matter--it really wasn't his business to ask if she didn't wish to speak of it. Saber's circumstances were nothing Lancer needed to know, and so he wouldn't dare interrogate her about her.]

I...want to talk to you about what happened just before we crossed paths that final time. I confess it's been weighing heavily on my mind and heart until last night. But now, I really just...want to speak of it so it can truly be done and over with.

...you'll listen, won't you?

action;

[ex_cashcow493]

I will always listen to you, Lancer.

[ It was a simple phrase, but powerful in it's own way. After all, Saber was sworn to him above all others. ]

So will you speak?

action; 1/2

[croibhristeoir]

...I'll try. It's unfortunately not an easy thing to speak of.

[Lancer closed his eyes and sighed--when he opened them again there was something blank to them. As if he'd killed off some measure of his own emotions in order to simply tell her this story. Which wasn't all that untrue; he felt a crushing sense of shame about what happened that night.]

[But after their duel last night...no, this was the final thing that weighed him down. If he simply spoke of it, allowed it into the open with the one he trusted, then...maybe the fourth war could truly be over for him. Diarmuid could finally truly start over.]

I don't need to tell you that my Master and I did not get along. From the first day I was summoned he didn't trust me. My loyalty meant nothing to him. Perhaps his suspicions had merit given my past, but...even my word was not enough. And he refused to give me a chance to prove my loyalty to him.

After Sola disappeared during the fight with Caster, I did all that I could to find her. Ultimately, I returned alone--Kayneth didn't exactly like that.

I tried to explain that I had only a weak connection to her, but he still blamed me for losing track of her in the first place. It wasn't until he called me a womanizer that I realized why he didn't trust me all that time. He'd thought I would run away with Sola as I had done with Grainne.

[His voice was almost deadpan. Almost. There was a faint shaking quality to it, as if the pain he'd felt at his Master's words had still been lingering all the months he'd been in Prospero.]