[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]

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.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

H-he came back?

[croibhristeoir]

That is in fact what I said. Arturia tried to take it upon herself to fight him, but things...went a little wrong.

[His hand went to his bandaged left arm, Diarmuid clearly less than happy about things.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I-Is there anything I can do?

[croibhristeoir]

I'm afraid not, Issei. Gae Buidhe is--was--a cursed lance granted to me by the king of faeries. Wounds inflicted by it will not heal, not even through the use of magecraft.

My left arm is essentially useless to me now. I can move it somewhat, yes, but my hand can't grasp or hold anything. Not even a sword.

[Completely calm. As if the loss of half his defense and attack was nothing. As if it wouldn't be a death sentence here.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

...And even after that you still went after me, are you a moron? No, is there anyone else who can face him before he attacks anyone else?

[croibhristeoir]

I can still fight. Take away half of one's weaponry, and another half still remains.

[In the immortal words of Inigo Montoya, 'I am not left-handed'.]

Do you think he will attack anyone else? He seemed remarkably...passive, when I spoke to him. Not like mine did.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

He did? He was all too willing to attack me.

[croibhristeoir]

Yours did nothing to attack me, just as mine did nothing to hurt Arturia.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

That's strange. I'm not sure what that means.