tvk | ⚔ 008; [video; morning of 10/24]

Entry tags:

⚔ 008; [video; morning of 10/24]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Where you live is your choice. I would not ask otherwise, least of all when neither of us are severely wounded and I can therefore not believe it to be for either of our protection.

I'm...not upset, Saber. [Because he couldn't be, not about this. Why should he be? They were both knights of equal standing here. Asking her to stay just because he was pathetic enough to be lonely...how ridiculous.]

[If Diarmuid had just told his first lie, he'd done it to himself far more than to Saber.]

Alright.

[ There's no reason to suspect he's telling an untruth, but she remains close to him, almost as though she were afraid to pull away. ]

I keep my phone under my pillow at all times, Lancer.

Saber, please--...

[Lancer stopped himself as soon as he was aware he was actually speaking. He couldn't ask her to stay. No matter how he wanted to, no matter how easy it would have been to say...he couldn't. And he had no idea why. Would it be a slight against her honor to say he wanted to stay by her side? Would she think he didn't believe she could protect herself on her own?]

[All he knew was that he hesitated to ask her. The Fianna didn't hesitate--purity of our hearts, strength of our limbs, and action to match our speech. They spoke only that which they could support with what they did. If he asked Saber to stay, he would have done everything in his power to make it worthwhile. To make her happy like he could not do for the last two he had given his loyalty.]

-I...

[But it surely wouldn't be enough. Because in the end, loyalty was all he could give--nothing more. Gilgamesh had everything, Shirou Emiya had his love for her, and ultimately Diarmuid had nothing.]

[He couldn't ask.]

[So why was he trying to say something?]

Edited 2011-10-31 03:45 (UTC)

[ The feeling of dread begins to seep into her mind as she her body grows deathly still. It's with the chill of the air that the realization strikes her: the cool wetness along her index finger wasn't their imagination.

Slowly she withdraws her hand away a bit, but not entirely. Fingertips resting on his cheek, she remains drawn in towards him for the moment. ]

Lancer. [ It's a struggle to say his name now. ] What reason do you deny me your words? Have I not proven myself to be a suitable listener? My own in return are lacking, but if I must conjure the words, then I shall. It is hardly honorable that you speak and speak while I do nothing but listen.

[ That must be it. It has to be it. ]

As of this moment, I clear you of any wrongdoings your previous Master has left upon your mind. Allow his words to leave your mind as they have your lips and instead embrace those who have come to appreciate you here. Those who you train need you.. that need us. If we are to do battle side-by-side, then you must vanquish those long since expired thoughts! Let not the insults of a coward who never gave you a chance in the first place weigh you down as though you were an anchor in the sea. Let not the insults of a man who never forgave you when love forsaken him bind your hands and prevent you from using them for your own battles!

[ Her other hand ignores the sheets around her form (thankfully they remain intact) as she grabs at his shoulder, a look of desperation visible in her eyes for just a brief second. ]

Lancer, if you will not dismiss your guilt, then I shall be the one to burden it instead of you! Will you not begin your life anew here with me at your side? I have sworn myself to you and only to you in this place. I am your shield. I am your spear. So why do you only treat me as though I am a prized possession you must keep at a distance?

[He was struck speechless at that, for a moment or two. She was right...this wasn't fair to her. They were equal. So why should he be afraid to ask her something so simple?]

...forgive me. It was not my intention to upset you, and for that I apologize.

[He was no less than any other hero or Servant. And he stood on equal ground to the knight he now spoke to, each sworn to the other in turn rather than one superior to the other. It would be no step out of line to speak his mind.]

Saber, I...I want you to stay here. I have neither concrete reason nor understanding of why I seem to think being alone is a fate worse than death, but I know I wish to be by your side and have you at my own.

['Action to match our speech'.]

[He didn't know what he could really do to justify such a request. But damn it, he was going to try his hardest.]

I leave the choice to you--I would not dare think less of you should you refuse.

Stay here?

[ It was so simple of a request that she's struck in shock for it. That is what he kept from her? ]

[He was kind of still getting used to the whole 'equal' and 'hi I'm my own individual' things.]

...it's strange, I know. Perhaps I shouldn't have asked.

I gave my word to Archer. [ Giving a heavy sigh. ] Something.. happened at the end of the war and I must keep a close eye on him. It irritates me, but it is something I must do.

[ Does she sound a bit conflicted in her decision? ]

...I see. [He glanced away at that, seeming embarrassed. Maybe he really shouldn't have troubled her with such a request.]

Lancer.

[ A firm tone. ]

Yes, Saber?

Remember when I told you about the corruption of the grail?

...yes, I remember.

[He might have winced visibly at the mention. Thinking you singlehandedly destroyed the most powerful magical artifact to exist was not an easy thing to live with.]

Archer was caught up in the spill as I destroyed it during the Fourth Holy Grail. When I met him again in the Fifth.. he was different. More dangerous.

...

[And as far as Lancer knew, that was his fault as well.]

I understand. I'd not spoken to him enough in the Fourth to see a difference, but I can't deny he's dangerous now.

I was given the opportunity to keep a closer eye on him--[ At the risk of her own well-being. ]--and I took it.

...Saber, I do not mean to imply that you can't defend yourself, so forgive me if it sounds that way.

But...please, be careful.

I shall.

[ Time to put on a brave face. ]

Do you miss my companionship?

Truthfully? Yes.

Then I will come up with a solution soon enough.

I understand. Please, do not go too far out of your way to do so.

...We're equals, correct? So...it would be alright if I requested one other thing of you, right?

Of course.

[ ~~Is he going to make out with her now?~~ ]

[~~Maybe later.~~]

If it's alright with you...then just call me Diarmuid. I'm a little tired of going by my class name, and with the fifth Lancer here now I think it would likely be less confusing for all involved if I simply dropped the name altogether.

Besides, I would rather not be known as a Servant if I'm to start over here.

[ Oh, that's something she wasn't expecting. ]

Your name?

If it's alright with you. I don't know if you'd consider that too informal or not.

There's no reason I can think of to hide my identity. I disliked doing so from the start.

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;