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

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hm? Since when was this any of your affair, dear Neah? You seem so angry, and on behalf of one you hardly know...

Hardly known or not, Dearest imposter, it became my affair when you decided to disrupt the night.

Me, an impostor? I regret to inform you that you are quite mistaken. I am exactly who I say I am: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Servant Lancer. The sad little puppet with its strings cut.

[Oh shit. How the hell does he know about that --]

How do you know about that?

You said it to me, didn't you? You compared me to a puppet--such an apt description, for a Servant. We are but our Masters' puppets, their sword and shield to be discarded when no longer useful.

That's all I was to Kayneth. That's all I ever was in their precious war for the Holy Grail.

My, were you ease dropping on our conversation?

A knight would never do such a thing. Besides, you were speaking directly to me. How could I eavesdrop on that?

You are far too "creepy", kind sir, to be Diarmuid.

And yet I am. How else would I know what you said, Neah? Can't you recognize your own friend?

With a voice like yours, hardly.

Voice or not, I am who I say I am. I'm the one who betrayed my lord's trust. The one who stole a woman on the eve of her wedding and ran for a year rather than face justice.

Don't you dare talk about-- [The original's sudden outburst was cut off by what sounded remarkably like a punch.]

Now, now. You can't silence the truth. Anyone with knowledge of your name can just pick up a book and confirm all that I say.

What do you mean? [Neah is just... going to start walking around the hotel. If he recalls, Diarmuid does live on one of these floors. So he'll just have to search and shoot down his door.]

Oh, you don't know. of course you don't, I'm hardly a truly well-known hero like precious Cu Chulainn. The Persona I don't deserve, the hero I have no right to stand beside.

They call it 'The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Grainne'. Quite a story, full of betrayal, a coward's flight from the lord he so wronged, and a woman who deserved so much better.

Shut up--shut up, shut up, shut up!

[You know that awesome moment where you feel like a friend is being tortured and you can't do anything about it until you can be there in person? Yep. this is one of them.]

Why are you doing this to him?

I've denied the truth for too long. Why should I not speak it now?

My. What a rude one you are.

What are you planning to do with Diarmuid?

Kill him, obviously. He is a worthless, lying copy, and I will replace him.

You cannot replace someone that is you.

I can and I will. There are two of us, and when I am finished there will be one of us.

You are wrong.

[Hear that? That's a sound of a shotgun being fired directly at the door hinges, so that the door falls from where it's standing.]

[Well damn, that's hard to argue with.]

[The Shadow very calmly turned to look at Neah with an amused expression, while the original was slumped against the wall and presumably unconscious.]

...This is almost funny. The knight in shining armor is the one that needs rescuing.

My, you are quite creepier than I imagined you'd be. [Neah's eyes drifted to the unconscious Diarmuid.]

Now if you do not mind, I will be taking him.

By all means. I would not dare raise a hand to one who I am so unworthy to call a friend.

[For once, he hesitates for a moment. Eyes trailing back at the shadow, then back at Diarmuid. Unsure if he should trust the man in front of him.]

Then leave.