☘ 015; [phone/action]

[riastrad_ridire]

[The phrase 'Cú Chulainn killed his best friend' was fact. It had always been and would always be fact. It was the one deplorable act of his life for which Lancer would show no remorse. Connla? Sure, deep down he regretted what happened with Connla. Even if his own survival had meant his son's death, there were moments Lancer wished he had just kept his mouth shut in the first place.]

[But Ferdiad had been a necessity. Out for the blood of the hound he'd called 'brother', and challenging Lancer at the one time when he was contracted to accept. Did the reasoning matter? He had killed the one person he'd called a friend, that was how that day ended. Circumstances were irrelevant when placed next to just how much pain that had caused him.]

[Here in Mayfield, he had done it again. Delivering a swift death to Rin in order to end her suffering after drinking the milk had been one thing. He had been prepared for the worst case scenario that entire week.]

[But Diarmuid? No. Lancer wasn't ready for that. It hurt less without the sting of betrayal that Ferdiad had inflicted on him, yes. But it still hurt. Diarmuid was someone who respected him without question, looked up to and even admired Culann's Hound, and he couldn't save him.]

[And then there was his droned former Master--he still couldn't get the sight of her disembodied arm or the sounds of her screaming out of his head. The less he thought of her, the better.]

[What kind of knight couldn't protect anyone? What kind of hero could only end the suffering of those he cared for with death?]

[A; action; Olney's Tavern]

[It was probably safe to say Lancer wasn't feeling so great. Not that it was remotely easy to tell. He stood inside the magecraft-reinforced building with a glass of who the hell knew what in his hand. Blood was splattered all over the clothes he was wearing, but he seemed utterly unconcerned with that. On the scale of 'problems I have today', bloodstained clothes were pretty much dead last.]

[B; phone]

Hey. Listen, if anyone needs shelter around here the tavern's pretty well protected. if you don't want to be out there on your own, speak up and I'll bring you here myself.

[...it had been a day, right? Lancer knew through experience that anybody killed would ordinarily have woken up at midnight.]

Anybody seen that other guy calling himself Lancer? Black hair, gold eyes, too damn nice for his own good?

[C; action; around Mayfield]

[He couldn't just stay hidden the whole time. Soon enough the Servant in bloodstained civilian clothes was back out among the undead and with a horse at his side. Liath Macha would be more than valuable here, having been the horse to kill over fifty men at his dying master's side. Not to mention he could carry notably more than Lancer himself could, if someone needed that.]

[Lancer spoke a few short words in the archaic language his current partner would understand--something to the effect of 'let's go'--and the two were off sprinting through the city, cutting down whatever shuffling undead stood in their path.]

Comments

A;

[gandere]

[ Keeping Lancer within this place was good for Rin, for the both of them. Their spiritual link was closest within the confines of this building, a precaution Rin thought of well before she made the pact with him. Even if she's surrounded herself with powerful heroes who swore to protect her, there was something their blades could not parry. A hidden opponent that their shields could not deflect.

Her emotions. A downfall only to herself, kept hidden behind a veil of stubbornness and spite. Words never come when she sees Lancer like this, sitting at the opposite end of the bar in silence. What was there she could say? "I'm sorry for killing your beloved Master?" No, there's no way he could believe words of that sort. ]

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

[He didn't speak for a long few moments, idly taking note of just how bloody his clothes were at this point. Troublesome, but nothing more.]

...Y'know, I'd ask 'what's wrong', but I feel like it'd be a hell of a list.

[Casual as ever. Lancer silently pushed back whatever conflicting emotions he felt so that he could function as whatever Rin needed him to be. Servant, friend, shield, or sword.]

So what is it specifically?

[gandere]

You reek of blood and it's giving me a headache.

[ Just one of the many complaints just threatening to be unleashed. ]

B

[doudemoe]

No, I haven't seen anyone like that.

[Another "Lancer"?]

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

Eh, figures. He's around here somewhere, I'm sure.

...What about you? You managing alright?

[doudemoe]

Eh, I'm hanging in there. Taking a break would be nice though.

[And by that, he means a nap. Who would have known zombies keep you up all night?]

But what's this about another Lancer?

B

[uberchickmagnet.livejournal.com]

[Well, he was back. Which was an odd surprise to him, even though he knew that he'd been told that people who die here do come back. Still, it doesn't make it any less weirder to him.

Picking up the phone, he heard Lancer's voice, his heart throbbing a little in pain.]

Lancer.. [He paused for a moment, wondering what words of comfort he could give to his friend, letting him know that he was back.]

...I am not too nice for my own good, and I assure you, I can be assertive at times!

[GDIT DERPMUID]

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

Well shit, coulda fooled me with the whole 'Prince of Light' nonsense every other sentence.

[Snarking was a little easier knowing he hadn't permadroned the guy, at least.]

You alright?

[uberchickmagnet.livejournal.com]

Mm. Somewhat achey here and there, but I am fine, for the most part.

...do you want me to come over, or should I not bother you for the time being?

C

[murderpuppy.livejournal.com]

[Isn't that person over there familiar, Lancer? That little person with blond hair who's doubled over, breathing hard as though winded, with an arm wrapped around his middle?]

[He's not winded, though.]

[hunger hunger hunger hunger hunger]

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

[Finally, dammit.]

Connla? Where the hell've you been, kid?

[...okay wait a second, something didn't seem totally right here.]

[murderpuppy.livejournal.com]

[Something wasn't totally right here.]

[It really wasn't.]

[hunger hunger hunger]

A; Action

[gauntlethades.livejournal.com]

[And look, here's the nonchalant bartender coming in for his shift.]

Got into some problem, did you?

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

When the hell did you get back?

No, forget that, I don't care.

[gauntlethades.livejournal.com]

Some time ago.

[Wiping those glasses.

Also oh there's blood on his clothes.

...good thing he's not bitten.]

A

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

[ Garviel is also blood-stained, and stands beside Lancer, his bolter cradled in both hands. ]

This is so like the last battle I fought... has Chaos come to mayfield, I wonder?

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

No idea, Garviel.

[Yep, throwin' back another drink.]

I don't know if the town caused this or if it was something else. Hell, I don't know if it'll even stop until we're all dead.

and now for something totally lightheartedish...

[partytoastess.livejournal.com]

[ OH HEY. SHE THOUGHT SHE SAW YOU EARLIER.

BUT YOU HAD BROWN HAIR THEN. Her confusion is peaking, but, she ignores it instead to act highly energetic towards Lancer. ]

Oh! Your hair's blue again and it's not brown like when I met you earlier! Why does your hair change colors? [ Oh. Yes. It should be noted that she has a pet baby tiger on a leash with her.

Sometimes the strangeness manages to top itself because a girl named Nena Trinity got involved. ]

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

[Once he'd stopped being insanely enraged, Lancer just...stopped feeling a lot of things. His expression was oddly deadpan as a result--that and how the hell was he even supposed to respond to that.]

It's always been this color. [Monotone.] I don't know what you're talking about.

C

[bitemescumbag.livejournal.com]

[And around that corner the street looks to be mostly cleared of reanimated cadavers, and the brown-haired man leaning against a lamppost and catching his breath is just about covered in blood and grime as Lancer himself is.

The servant is noticed, red eyes meet red eyes, and Yuri nods slowly.]

...Nice horse.

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

...thanks.

[Liath Macha flicked his tail, snorting in what might have sounded like appreciation.]

B

[velvet-cake.livejournal.com]

[Hey, it's that kid who has no sex life. Just what you wanted, another tsundere.]

[His voice is stiffly polite. If it were possible, he would've been talking to Rider, but he couldn't get into contact with that idiot.]

Lancer. Since you are offering, I would appreciate an escort.

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

[HOW DO I HOLD ALL THESE TSUNDERES]

No problem, kid. Where are you?

A.

[brotherseyes.livejournal.com]

[Nina only stepped into the tavern to get food, and so she and her brother could rest for a bit in a safe area. When she sees Lancer, though, she smiles and goes over to him.]

How are you doing?

[riastrad-ridire.livejournal.com]

[By now, something had long since snapped in Lancer's mind. But he'd gone past 'shock' and 'berserk rage' into...nothing. He was in agonizing pain with a side of horrible guilt, and yet he was just completely on autopilot. Surviving came first, anything else could wait.]

...been a hell of a lot better. What about you?