[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

[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.

[croibhristeoir]

Rider's Master said something like that too. What was it...'personifications of our neuroses and insecurities.'

Mine said things no one, living or dead, should know save only for me. And he held weapons no one but me should ever be able to use.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

...Is it strange that I'm still a little glad? When I first heard that message, I thought that we were going to have to attack each other. I'd rather be driven insane by something that looks like me than raise my hand to someone I've fought beside.

[croibhristeoir]

No, I'm relieved that's not the case as well. But with this as the alternative...it's going to cause problems. Already has, for that matter.

[He raised his right hand to his head, sighing.]

It is better, still. I would rather fight a duplicate of my friends saying terrible things than my friends themselves.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

It is a small mercy. In times like this I have to remember to be grateful for those.

[croibhristeoir]

Of course.

I'm sorry, I got off track for a moment--you said you were hurt, is there anything you need me to do?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Just don't jostle me too much, and I should be fine.

[croibhristeoir]

I'll try to remember that.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

No more Shadow-fighting for me tonight.

[croibhristeoir]

That goes for the both of us, I think.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Good. I told you to rest.

[croibhristeoir]

You'll have to forgive me if doing so was a bit difficult after he came back.