[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]

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.

[croibhristeoir]

I don't know either. I don't like the complete lack of understanding any of us have...we need to figure out what on earth's going on here.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

For now, I want to actually rest.

[croibhristeoir]

Yes, of course. I'll stay nearby in case he should return.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

You're supposed to rest as well.

[croibhristeoir]

I said 'in case'. If he doesn't, we can consider that resting. It's not as if I'm running around fighting everything.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Human bodies require sleep. If you don't sleep, you forfeit the rest of your ability to fight. You are going to get some sleep.

[croibhristeoir]

Human bodies also need to not be strangled by a very angry duplicate of themselves, but that didn't stop mine from trying.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

We'll discuss this in my room. Come along.

[Huff.]

[croibhristeoir]

[Hey, he's followed more huffy people before so why not.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[Card key, room, bed that Issei basically falls over onto.]

Go to sleep, Diarmuid. It'll be good for you.

[croibhristeoir]

[He didn't ignore Issei so much as he didn't hear him. Diarmuid crossed the room to the window, glancing out as if expecting one or both of their Shadows to be staring back at them. He walked a fine line between caution and paranoia now, and as long as he remembered his Shadow's words sleep wouldn't come easily.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

No, really, go to sleep. I'm too tired to sing lullabies. At least lie down.