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.]

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[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.

As you command. I will do only what makes others happy.

[He disappeared into the shadows, without another word.]

[... Well. That was easy. Something he was not expecting at all. So once the shadow disappears, he makes his way over to Diarmuid and kneels down to the unconscious one. Debating whether or not to splash water on him, or just to simply shake him awake.

...

The latter wins, so Neah grabs his shoulders and begins to shake him.]
Diarmuid. Awaken.

Ow...

[There was an unfocused look to his eyes as he blinked dazedly--with the first thing he focused on being a pair of gold eyes, instinct mixed with no small amount of panic immediately took over. With what sounded like a curse in some archaic foreign language, Diarmuid immediately threw a weak and poorly-aimed punch.]

{Poorly aimed it was indeed. Even if it did hit him, Neah made no noise of displeasure, or acknowledgement. Just... a vague look of concern to his friend. Followed by a hand reaching up and resting on Diarmuid's shoulder.]

It would be redundant for me to ask if you are alright, wouldn't it?

...

[His punch grazed Neah's shoulder, Diarmuid blinking a few times in the realization that oh, this wasn't a Shadow.]

I-I'm sorry. I thought-...forget it. I'll be alright.

Do not apologize.

[He stood, offering a hand to the man on the floor. It wouldn't be right just to leave him there. He had to get to his bed, since the floor really wasn't a proper resting area.] He is gone. So do not worry.

Thank you. I'm truly indebted to you for your help here.

[He took Neah's hand, standing a little shakily.]

...What the hell was that?

I may have shot down your door, so I suppose we may just call it even.

[It was definitely odd to see Diarmuid like this. He, however, would not make a comment, and will just need him to the bed, so he can get proper rest.]

... You. It was you.

...yes, I know what it looked like, but he couldn't be--I'm the real one, I'm the only Diarmuid Ua Duibhne that's ever existed to my knowledge.

[Is this what the messaged meant? That they'd be fighting themselves? ... Then why is it that Diarmuid's was spitting out information?]

I am not sure. It seems to have known you far too well, Diarmuid. Far too well.

That didn't escape my notice either. That's impossible--it's true information about me is easy enough to find in this age, but there's no possible way he could have known so much.

Unless it is some part of you that we do not know about.

I've never encountered any such thing before.

...It may very well be connected to that call we heard some time ago. In which case I'm sure I am not the only one.

If I recall, the voice had said something about facing ourselves... So, I would not be surprised if we encounter ourselves in the near future.

[Just. Sighing.] Forgive me for prying, but what happened between you and him?

...He has powers I did back home. With that being the case, defeating him in this human body would be impossible. In short, he took me by surprise and tried to kill me while thoroughly humiliating me over the network.

Edited 2011-11-18 05:16 (UTC)

[... Well, shit.]

If what you are saying about their powers not being sealed like ours, then... This poses a bit of a problem.

[A bit, being a lot. Tl;dr We're kind of screwed.]

...Neah, I was a demigod with superhuman endurance and cursed lances.

It's a huge problem.

I am quite aware of that. I suppose I wanted to ease up the situation.

[Yeah, we're fucked.] Well, I believe it is the right time to use the modern day phrase, "We're screwed".

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

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