towerofanimus | Dark Knight of the Soul...

Entry tags:

Dark Knight of the Soul...

Characters: Zero Lancer and anyone else!
Setting: Various locations throughout the week focusing on the ones listed below.
Format: Action brackets to start, but whatever you want after.
Summary: It's been hundreds, if not thousands, of years for Zero Lancer. That is, if there is enough left of the knight of old that he can even be called the same person.
Warnings: Okay, things have gone downhill enough in some of the threads that I'm completely revamping the warnings on this. So New Warnings/Potential Triggers on: Language, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Psychological Abuse, Depression, and Mental Self-Harm.

Room 4-16:

[He stretches, shoulders rolling and bringing life to the large bird of prey tattoo that covers most of his back. Black and brown feathers glisten, but seem dim when compared to the glow of the bird's golden eyes.

It's late by Lancer's internal clock, but considering when he'd come to bed, late is really a relative term. Still, he doesn't rush to get up and moving. Why should he? It's not like he has any plans for the day. Nothing new anyway. Just the same pattern he's followed for the last...

A sigh slips from his lips. How long doesn't matter anymore. He just knows it's been far too long since he's found something able to keep his attention. Even sleeping is more interesting sometimes which is why he's started doing it regularly when he doesn't actually have to.

Lancer runs a hand through his now very white hair and finally slinks his way out of bed. Much like the tattoo, he doesn't actually remember when his hair changed. Honestly, he doesn't care. There's nothing interesting in pondering the whys after all.

He gathers his clothes from the floor and slides back into them. Long gone is the armor he used to constantly wear. Instead, Lancer's outfit consists of a black halter top given to him by...someone who had once said it was a shame to cover up even a small portion of the work that had been done on his back and a pair of black pants that fit much better than they have any right to. His feet remain bare, though. For a servant such as he, shoes are hardly necessary and he enjoys the feel of the floor against his skin.

Another sigh slips from lips that curl into a slight smirk. The tower feels slightly different today. Maybe...just maybe he'll find something interesting out there after all.]

The Restaurant (Floor 21):

[Golden eyes watch as people move in and out of the restaurant. While there is a slight smirk on his face, Lancer's eyes show nothing but boredom. There had been a time when he had found some joy in this place. He had purposely eaten there so that he would have the chance to go hunting. There had been a thrill--a hope--that sometime they might actually give him an item to find he wouldn't be able to.

That thrill hadn't lasted long. Even once he had added in his own rules to the hunt, he'd never once failed to find what they wanted in the time they wanted it.

Though...he's almost tempted to try again. It's been a long time since he's gone on a hunt and the excitement of even a bad hunt at this point would be welcome.

And so he stands there and ponders just how bored he truly is...]

The Gymnasium (Floor 39):

[At times, he's moving so fast that all a normal person can see is a blur. Those who are better at following fast movement or just have advanced eyesight will see much more--a man practicing a complicated series of strikes and parries with his spear. Each motion flows flawlessly to the next and the next with no sign of slowing down or stopping. Most of the time, his feet have a very loose relationship with the ground.

Then. there is a break in the flurry of motion as Lancer launches himself into the air and comes to light on the tip of his spear, bare feet resting far too comfortably on its sharpened blade. While he balances there, his face for the first time loses its bored look--he can, after all, do these practices with his eyes closed he is so used to them--and gains a satisfied smirk. How many men had foolishly died trying to mimic this trick? Too, too many.

Lancer flips himself forward off the spear point and drops right back into his practice though a bit of warmth fills his heart at the memories. They had been stupid enough to try and mimic his walk across Moralltach's blade as well. How had Fionn ever believed that these fools could have brought him down?

He laughs and flips himself to rest on the top of the spear again arms out and head back. It had been glorious if he gave himself the credit he should. He had defeated most of their army with just a few measly tricks and they had not even known it was him until he told them.

Fools all they were and better off dead for it.

Lancer flips backward off the spear this time desummoning it as he falls. One hand drops to his waist and pulls the short sword bound there free. It had taken him quite a bit of time to fashion it in the workshop, but after how long he has finally managed to make something that is both strong enough to survive being used by a servant and well balanced enough to strike true when needed since the last thing he wants to do is be stuck fighting a monster that can nullify his abilities for very long.

Okay, that is a lie. Now that he has such a trustworthy non-magical blade, fighting these kinds of monster has become a game for him just like fighting anything else in this place.

A smirk slides across his face as he starts into another set of strikes and parries, this time with the blade. Perhaps tonight he needs to test it yet again--play the game yet again.]

Any floor/hallway where monsters can be found at night:

[Lancer leaps backward slightly opening the distance between himself and the monster. He doesn't know what it's called and doesn't care other than it's one of those who are able to cancel out abilities. And this particular monster has a couple of friends who aren't too far away and are closing in on him pretty quickly.

The smile on his face is entirely too happy for the situation he's in. Most people would be terrified. Him...he's just waiting. Waiting for them to gather all in one place. Waiting for that moment...

He suddenly dashes forward. A quick set of twists and slashes later and the monsters are dead at his feet, their blood dripping down his face and staining his hair.

Lancer is quiet for several moments before throwing his head back and beginning to laugh. The laughter is sad, though. Even without his powers they were no challenge. None at all.

So much for having chance to play tonight. Perhaps if his is lucky on the way back to his room he'll find someone interested in a different type of game entirely...]

Anywhere else:

[During the day or night Lancer can be found prowling around the tower just about anywhere looking for something--anything--that might spark his interest.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wait, Diarmuid.

[He had only given that warning out of the little amount of concern he still had for that other Servant.]

If you really want to do it, I'm not against it. But let me suggest my own rule for that competition too.

[Turning an opponent's challenge to something that he could use to his advantage was one thing that Lancer had some expertise in.]

[He stops walking, but doesn't turn back. There is a small part of him that really wants to hear the idea in hopes that it will make things exciting again, but most of him doubts that is actually possible.]

I'm listening.

If you lose, then you have to go back to acting like the way you were when you first came here for a week. Oh, and I get to act as your Master to keep you from going overboard. You think you can manage that?

Edited 2013-01-14 04:51 (UTC)

[For a long few minutes, Lancer is silent and still. Part of him is screaming a denial--that he can't be his old self since there is nothing left to be--but that part of him is quickly being overwhelmed by the other part of him.

And that part is screaming because it's not been this excited in a long time.

He takes a moment to calm the hitch that's developing in his breathing and then he turns back to his roommate, grin wide across his face.]

And what do I get if I win? Do we reverse the deal? Do you serve me?

...Yeah, we can do that. Don't try ordering me to kill anyone I like, though.

[He reserves the right to refuse that even from his Master.]

That shouldn't be a problem.

[A smirk slides onto Lancer's face and he crosses the space between them in just a few steps, stopping to kneel at the other man's foot.]

You win. I concede this challenge to you. Tell me, what do we do first...Master?

[The smirk on his face grows, though his bowed head hides it. This is the challenge he wants. He doesn't care about seeing who can find some stupid item in the tower first. Lancer wants to see how far he can push his roommate. He wants to see how the other man deals with him.

He wants to see which of them will break first.]

[Lancer is almost disturbed by how easily Diarmuid conceded. He has to wonder what the other Servant is trying to do. However, he had given the challenge and Diarmuid has concluded it. All he can do is accept the results.]

First thing...huh? Then...how about we go find whatever you owe this place. Wouldn't want my "Servant" to end up losing body parts under my watch.

[He offers Diarmuid his hand, intending to pull the other Servant up.]

[Lancer laughs and shakes his head, but doesn't move from his kneeling position.]

You misunderstand, my dear master. I haven't actually ate. I was merely pondering doing so when you arrived, so there is no debt yet. Perhaps you would like to choose a different order? Or if you are truly set upon a hunt, we could go eat now. It is your decision.

If that's the case, then...

[As a Servant himself, Lancer wasn't that good at delegating tasks. And even with their current arrangement, he's not sure he can trust Diarmuid with watching over people he likes. If anything, he'd rather do it himself.]

...How about you go take a quick look at Illya and Saber. Just see if they got caught up in this recent madness or not.

As you wish. Please forgive me my rudeness in asking, though, which Saber am I checking on? The dark king or light?

[Honestly, the answer doesn't matter too much to Lancer because he can just as quickly check on both. It's just the dark king prefers her privacy even more than the light one and it is usually best not to bother her unnecessarily.]

Though, I'm not sure what you mean by "caught up in this recent madness." Things have been quite calm recently. Should I be looking for something specific for you when I check on them?

Both. Would prefer if you found the dark one first, though.

[Despite her more aggressive exterior and her corruption from Angra Mainyu, he liked Alter better. First, because he had known her longer and second, because she could at least stay loyal to her Master instead of selling them out for a wish on the Grail.]

You haven't seen? All these people looking and acting either older or younger than they should be.

If that is your command, then I live to fulfill it, My Lord.

[He shakes his head, though, at his master's answer to his other question.]

Forgive my rudeness again, but I have no idea what you are talking about, Master. No one seems oddly aged to me. They actually seem pretty much the same as they have been for the last hundred or so years. Yes, some of them should have died long, long ago, but I suspect the administrators in the tower are responsible for keeping them from doing that. Life and death are all a game to them, after all.

[He opens his mouth to say that some people had their memories fucked with, but closes it again when he hears Diarmuid's off-handed mention of the elapsed time.]

"Hundreds" of years?

[Lancer doesn't know how many years passed, but it certainly wasn't a hundred yet.]

[Lancer finally looks up at his master, concern and curiosity in his eyes.]

Yes, that is what I said, Master, but you know this. You have experienced it just the same as I have. After all, you were here when I first arrived over a thousand years ago.

[He shakes his head and sighs.]

Though time does start blending together after a while. At least, it has for me. For so many years, we hoped to find a way out of here or a way to stop them, but after a while we just gave up. You chose to focus your energy on your master. Why waste it elsewhere when all those attempts came to were failures? And I just...

[Torn my own heart out. Died inside. Just...stopped.]

No, not that long.

[He quickly shakes his head.]

Ayaka is still alive. Rin is still alive.

[But Diarmuid had already become this. Ever since Rin went mad and there was the Lesser Grail business and Diarmuid got caught up in it...]

Yes, Master, that long.

[Lancer's voice is gentle, not the mocking tone someone might expect in this situation considering his recent behavior. Instead, he almost sounds concerned.]

The others, they are alive because the tower wants them to be. I'm even starting to think that they are altering their memories so that they believe it's been less time than it really has because it would be hard for them to accept having been alive so long.

[He pauses, considering what he just said and worry fills his eyes. Might his roommate have suffered a similar fate despite being a fellow servant?]

How long does it feel like it's been for you? How long have I been...like this?

I...

[He sighs.]

I don't know. I know it's been a pretty long time and Ayaka is an adult now. You've started changing around the time with Rin and the Lesser Grail mess.

[And Lancer knew he should have helped. He would have helped if he wasn't busy focusing on Ayaka.]

You've been acting like this for some time.

[Long enough for Lancer to get used to it somewhat.]

[Lancer closes his eyes and an odd smile curls the corners of his mouth.]

So very long ago, dear master. So long, I don't even remember how I was before. And so, already I am a failed servant to you. You asked me to be myself again. To be how I was back then and I cannot. I don't recall how.

[He opens his eyes and looks up at his roommate with a steady gaze.]

Shall I be punished then? For daring to fail the great Cu Chulainn so completely?

Punish?

[There is a second of silence, and then Lancer bursts out laughing.]

Aren't you punishing yourself right now? Degrading yourself like that. Alright, new order. No more fucking yourself over.

Degrading myself? What am I doing that makes you believe I'm degrading myself? I am merely treating you as a knight should treat their master--with honor and respect.

[Lancer blinks at his master in confusion. He honestly doesn't know the answer to that question.]

And I'm afraid that I am going to have to ask you to rephrase your order. I-I have no idea how to begin filling it otherwise.

Exactly. You're a knight, so you shouldn't be saying things like "I don't know how to be the way I was" or "I failed you". What I'm saying is, have some better confidence in yourself and what you're doing. You did take the challenge, after all.

You say those things as if you think I'm lying!

[Anger flashes into his eyes.]

I don't remember what it is to be a knight! That I call myself that now is nothing more than mockery. Do you want to know what I can remember? I remember the pain--the agony of having all that I was cut out of me bit by bloody bit. But can I remember what those bits were? No, I cannot. Every time I try, the pain rises and I lose everything but it!

[His eyes narrow and gain a challenging gleam.]

I took that challenge knowing full well I would fail. If you don't want me to so badly, be a proper master and tell me what I have to do to avoid it!

[Lancer can't really put into words how he feels about Diarmuid's reaction. He knows that Diarmuid probably isn't lying, but at the same time, the other Lancer certainly believes the wrong things. He can't really say what all the things Diarmuid lost were. If only because Diarmuid was the only one who knew how much he himself had lost.]

To start with...

[He trails off her and has to think. He might be a knight, but his code of honor is too rough for someone like Diarmuid.]

To start with, try remembering you're not the only one hurting in this Tower. There's a lot of other people here too who are hurting. I guess you should comfort and protect them. Or at least, don't mock them.

As you wish, Master.

[His voice is low, defeated. Already, he's preparing himself for failure.

The funny thing is, Lancer does remember a time when he had been able to do the things just asked of him as easily as if he had just been asked to breathe. He doesn't remember what he was like at that time, but he does remember doing them. Being told to find specific people who could help him do more. Wanting to do more.

He tries to push forward. To make himself remember what he had been like then. To remember the knight everyone so wants him to be again...

...And has to bite his lip to keep himself from crying out when the only thing that greets his efforts is an overwhelming tide of pain.

His brow wrinkles; his breath hitches and when he speaks his voice is much weaker than he would like.]

And your next order?

[Lancer can't tell if the change is good or bad. Whether he's made some sort of breakthrough or if he's just caused the other Lancer to suffer more needlessly. He just hopes that any pain is temporary and can be worked through.]

The thing with Saber and Illya still stand. Also, there's the newbies. Take a look at them and then come back to our room. I'll have more orders for you then.

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He should be disturbed. He should be very disturbed...

Let's hope this doesn't end up in a fatality

Are you kidding? Why do you think he's doing it? He's excited at just that possibility, the freak!

And yeeeeep, Lancer just sent him after Saber Alter

If he interrupts her and Catarina, he really will be dead...

Re: If he interrupts her and Catarina, he really will be dead...

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