[Voice]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

It's dangerous out here tonight. Is everyone else in good health?

[Something is off in Issei's voice, besides the earnest way he asks his next question:]

Please, can I do anything for anyone? I'll do anything. Anything my meager skills can accomplish.

[It's a shame that the post is only in audio, so there isn't anything like a pair of golden eyes to warn the listeners... Well, unless he switches to video upon commenting. Then it's a little more easily apparent.]

Comments

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I'm Issei Ryudo, the part of him that's not a liar. The part that can admit that we're not friends - ah, but please, if you'd like to call us that, continue! I'd never contradict you at all.

[croibhristeoir]

You're no more Issei than my duplicate was me. But why would you say we aren't friends?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

That implies that we're equals, and we're not.

[croibhristeoir]

...

[Boy, he is not liking where this is going. So he'll just carefully lean over and shake Issei's shoulder.]

Issei. Can you hear me?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Mm... A little...

[He's not getting up yet, though.]

[croibhristeoir]

Don't strain yourself. It's alright, I'll protect you.

[He hadn't taken his eyes off the Shadow, leveling a calm and cold stare at him.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You haven't told me yet. Is there truly nothing this worthless self of mine can do for you to gain your affection?

[croibhristeoir]

...You're not really him. I don't need to answer to you.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

But I am him, and he is me. I can do nothing more than his limited abilities will allow me to, and yet still, I have to try. Because if I don't strive endlessly for your affection, then you'll ignore me and leave me behind as trash.

[croibhristeoir]

He's my friend. Issei doesn't need to do anything but ask for my attention, and he'll have it.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

My 'friends' are liars. They say they're your friend and they ignore you, won't trust you, will stab you in the back if it suits them. But that doesn't matter to me. My loyalty to them is eternal, so if they tell me to slit my throat I will gladly do it with a smile.

What do you want from me?

[croibhristeoir]

...I don't want anything.

[Okay, now you're just sounding kinda....familiar.]

I would ask nothing of you but your companionship, and I have that already.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

That isn't good enough. Why haven't I done more? If I did more, surely I could have helped you...

[croibhristeoir]

It's already more than I could ever ask for.

...Issei, can you stand? We need to try to get out of here.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I-I think so. [Slowly, Issei got to his feet.] Just to the hotel? I can make it that far.

[croibhristeoir]

I'll help you if you need it. We just have to leave before things get worse.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'll be alright.

[croibhristeoir]

Right, let's go. [Still not taking his eyes off that Shadow, nope.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[So a knight and a monk walk into a hotel...

Without a Shadow bothering them, in this case.]

[croibhristeoir]

[You may possibly have notice, Issei, the considerable amount of bandages wrapped around Lancer's left arm.]

[Or the fact that he's not moving it.]

Are you hurt?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Not as badly as you, but yes.

[croibhristeoir]

Is there anything I can do to help? What happened?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

After leaving you I tried to take care of some Shadows - I don't know why, stress relief perhaps. It showed up. We had some disagreements.

[croibhristeoir]

I'm starting to think all of us must have one. Do you remember that voice on the network?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Remarkably well. This must be it.