nsamusements | Call Out Meme: Version 5.0

[Diarmuid doesn't pay much attention to his rescuer right away. He can't. Two orcs dash at him even as the three others are cut down behind him. Blades flash forward cutting the head from one and taking the arm off another. Diarmuid spins the other blade in, finishing off that second orc and looking to see if there is another waiting...

What he finds is no orc, but his own face. For a moment all he can do is stare. Then, he sighs and closes his eyes.]

Really, Ruana? A game of duplicates? Are you tired this month? Do we have you distracted?

[Lancer frowned at the apparent greeting, lowering his lances without yet dropping his guard.]

I do not know any 'Ruana', and I would claim you the duplicate here. I already tire of whatever game this may be, so I would demand it cease and return me to my Master immediately.

[This reaction gives Diarmuid pause. He flicks the blood from his weapons and sheaths them in an odd display of trust. Or, perhaps not so odd if his suspicions are correct.

It...had only been a matter of time before it happened, right?]

You woke here today, didn't you? Master missing, bond gone, and letters by your nightstand that explain nothing you wish to hear.

... [Narrowing golden eyes at the gesture, Lancer dismissed both of his Noble Phantasms as well. If his apparent double was going to be relatively unarmed, it was only right he should do the same.]

I did, and of course believed none of it. This is certain to be the doing of someone like Caster, and I will see it end immediately.

[Diarmuid cannot help but smile slightly at that confidence. It is nostalgic to see it on his face again after so long...so very long.]

If you wish this to end, then the first thing you must do is begin to believe. We are all fighting to defeat the Administrators who have brought us here, but we need fighters, not doubters to help us.

[He crosses his arms over his chest, wincing slightly as his wound reminds him it is there.]

Caster might be locked in this cage with us, but he is a child compared to the true terrors within these walls.

I refuse to accept that the world from which I came could possibly be simply gone. [His hands curled into fists at his sides, serious expression turning to a frown.] My Master is certain to be waiting for me in Fuyuki still.

[For a moment, a dark expression crosses Diarmuid face. He actually has to force himself to turn from his double and take a few steps away to keep himself from saying something he shouldn't about that lord. After all, while it is likely this version of himself was summoned by Kayneth and will face the same fate he did, Diarmuid doesn't know that. Maybe...maybe this one was summoned by Waver...

...and that is a whole other problem if it is true, isn't it?]

It is not gone. It is dead.

[There is a sharp edge to his voice.]

I know that isn't much difference, but it is an important one. Were it gone, there would be nothing left for us to fix. It being dead means there is still something to fix and that is exactly what we are fighting to do.

That can't be true.

[His voice was harsh, shoulders rigid as Lancer's gaze dropped to the floor. This was beyond impossible. He couldn't have failed.]

You're...you have to be wrong. I can't have failed him after-... [After what? 'Everything'? Lancer couldn't seem to finish his own sentence.]

[The harshness in his double's voice doesn't phase Diarmuid. What bothers him more is the quick assumption of failure.

Well, some things never change, do they?]

You haven't failed.

[The words are surprisingly soft for how sharp they are.]

This is beyond your control. You didn't choose to have this happen to you or your world. The only way you could be a failure is if you give up now and choose to not help us fight.

[Diarmuid turns back to Lancer and smiles.]

And I know you aren't going to choose to do that, are you? Not where there is so much for you to...go back to.

You're speaking of repairing the irreparable. How can anyone resurrect an entire world that's just died?! I--he's-...

[He trailed off, falling silent for a moment or two.]

...I don't understand fully what exactly has happened or how this conversation is even possible. But if it is even remotely possible that I could return to him--please, allow me to help.

I would get used to accepting that the impossible is possible here. It's pretty much how this place works. For example, dying here isn't true death. You will return 24 hours later healed and whole once more. I don't recommend it, though. Dying still hurts.

[And there are those pesky consequences if if happens too often, but...]

Has your master ever mentioned Second Magic to you? Waver and I tend to just blame everything on it in situations like this one.

[Oops...maybe he shouldn't have mentioned Waver, but Diarmuid can't take it back now. At least, he will likely find out if Waver did summon this version of himself or not this way...]

Death isn't even permanent? I-- [You could just hear the mental record scratch.] What did you just say?

Impossible is possible.

[Diarmuid shrugs.]

I have died seven times, in fact, and yet here I am standing before you. However, unlike many other things that are just unexplained in this place, I can actually explain the why of this particular 'impossibility.'

[You might want to sit down for this other self.]

You know what exactly Servants are, correct? We are copies of souls given life and form by magic. Here, in this place, everyone is a soul who has been placed into a false body made to look like their own. You will see, soon enough, when the glamour flickers, what the real state of your body is.

[He pauses in his explanation, a curious, also slightly worried, look entering his eyes.]

Or, perhaps, are you questioning something I said after that...

I don't care what the state of my body is or how impossible our predicament is.

[Which was true, of course. To Lancer, there were far more important matters than himself to be discussed.] Why are you speaking of my Master as though you know him? If this is some game in which I'm to be replaced by some illusory double, you should know I will protect him with my life.

Edited 2014-02-07 04:02 (UTC)

Of course you would, because I would--and have quite literally--done the same.

[Diarmuid reaches up and rubs at the bridge of his nose. On his hand, a sliver ring with Celtic knotwork on it is clearly visible for a moment before he lets his hand drop again.]

Let me make one thing clear to you before we continue. Each and every one of us comes from a different world here no matter how similar those worlds might be. Your master is currently dead, and we are working to fix that. However, there are two versions of him within this Tower. The younger will know you, but not as his servant. Much like the Waver of my world, he summoned a Rider class servant, not a Lancer class one.

My part--

[Diarmuid checks himself. Must not be possessive, must not be possessive...]

The other Waver is 10 years older than you remember him, but he will know you as his servant.

[A gentle look crosses Diarmuid's face.]

You...helped him grow into a fine man. You should never believe yourself a failure no matter what happens once you get back to the war.

It took Lancer a long minute or two to get past the part where Diarmuid confirmed his Master was--at the moment, apparently--dead. From the genuinely pained and upset look on his face, that was a dark line of thought he didn't want to follow or dwell upon, and fortunately it was replaced by a thousand more questions soon after.]

I don't...understand. I haven't done anything of worth or value for him yet, so it's impossible for a mere Servant to have held such influence. And you weren't--he didn't summon you? And is he--are they alright?

They are fine. The younger has a way of taking care of himself thanks to Rider's influence and the elder...

[Diarmuid raises his hand again, drawing more attention to the ring this time. Okay, so he's going to be a little possessive...]

...has me. We are currently not contracted because I am going through a process that will allow me to regain my real powers, but as soon as those return, we will be renewing our bond.

[That is the plan anyway. He has to believe that won't change just because of this particular arrival. Waver had sworn it to him.]

However, he will be very glad to see you. You and I...we have this problem with seeing the good we do for others. Believe me, you have done him a lot of good even if you cannot see it, and I suspect he will tell you as much if you ask him about it.

[Hmm...how convenient. Diarmuid has completely failed to address who summoned him...]

... [The implications were strange and seemed nigh impossible to Lancer, but it wasn't his place to question what any version of his Master chose. Even if that choice left him with a clearly downcast expression.]

And yet if another Diarmuid from another world protects him as you say, is there...is there no use for me in this place? Am I so easily-...

['Replaced' didn't quite seem to make it out of his mouth. Lancer folded his arms, pulling back both physically and emotionally. Either this was far too much to process all at once or he was lapsing into a severe moral crisis.]

No.

[Diarmuid walks over to his double and reaches out...to flick him in the forehead.]

If he hears you say that, he will do the same thing so save yourself the time and the head-flick and don't say it. It might surprise you to know he and I have talked about what we would do if you ever arrived here. The long and short of that conversation?

[That gentle look comes onto his face again.]

I would never replace you and you would not replace me. We are two different people. Twins, perhaps, but twins are not the same.

[A twinkle enters his eyes.]

Besides, you know him. Do you realize how much of a relief it is to have someone else to help me keep him out of trouble? I mean...he stole the hair conditioner of a insane man who thinks he's a god while he was shoving a demon chicken into said man's trunk.

I need all the help I can get...

Wh--ow!

[Lancer pressed a hand to his forehead, genuinely caught off guard and confused.]

But I--he's... [Admitting defeat, Lancer trailed off and sighed.]

That doesn't seem like him. The ongoing mess with Caster aside, my Master was not one who went looking for trouble. Have things really changed so much?

Ten years is a long time and on top of that, he has been in this place almost a ye--

[Diarmuid's eyes go wide. That's right. It will be a year in March, won't it? A year since he started to live again...]

The Tower changes you. Sometimes for the worse, but sometimes, surprisingly, for the better.

[He laughs softly.]

However, in this case, I am going to blame his younger self. Rider...influenced him in some interesting ways.

We'd not crossed paths with many enemy Servants, so I can't say I know of our world's Rider at all. Most of what we had come across were Berserker, Archer, and...unfortunately, remnants of Caster's presence.

[Diarmuid flinches at the mention of Caster.]

Waver...still has nightmares about that...

[For a moment, he's quiet before continuing.]

I should warn you. Caster and Berserker are both in the Tower. Along with a version of Archer who is not from our war. Berserker has been an ally and sane for a good part of his stay, though if he will retain his sanity with his powers returning, I do not know. Archer, I have not spoken to much, but he seems to not be causing trouble so far.

Caster...is being watched. Closely. Especially since his master is also here.

[Diarmuid gives his double a curious look.]

Have you met Saber yet?

[Lancer frowned as he listened to what Diarmuid was saying--anyone sane would likely be scarred for life upon seeing something like that, so it wasn't surprising to hear. Concerning, maybe.]

I hope they aren't still contracted, for his sake. While I don't know the name of whoever was unfortunate enough to summon Caster, he was in a miserable state when we came across him. Berserker doesn't concern me so much as his own Master does...my master seemed to be outright terrified of him, and of course I will not stand for such a thing.

[He raised an eyebrow at the mention of Saber, wondering why that class was coming into question specifically.]

No. Have I missed something?

[Diarmuid shakes his head, smiling gently.]

No, but you will like her. I will make sure to introduce you soon. As you might have guessed from my question, she is here too.

[His expression grows more serious as he thinks over what Lancer is saying.]

I realize this might seem strange to you, but the version of the War you and Waver come from is very different from the one most of us here came from. The masters you know do not match the servants you think they should. For example, have no pity for Caster's master as he is here for he is just as murderous and sadistic as Caster is. They are truly a terrible pair.

As for Berserker's master--the one Waver so fears--in most worlds it is not Berserker he summons. It...is Lancer.

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If you think I believe that tag w/Waver's account was an accident, I've a Holy Grail to sell you...

IT REALLY WAS I SWEAR OKAY....

Uh hu...sure... :-P

>:V

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