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.]

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[Lancer pays his observer no heed for the longest time. He just calmly continues though his practices. However, once he finally grows bored enough with them to stop and realizes the boy is still there, he curiosity is peaked, if only just slightly.]

You must have a good eye to be able to follow me for so long. Or is it that you just enjoy staring into thin air?

I'm a bit out of practice. But I could make out parts of it. [It's been a while since he has had to watch anything at speed.]

I see.

[Lancer smirks and closes the last of the distance between them, resting his spear casually across his shoulders.]

And did you like what you saw? Would I be any challenge for one such as yourself even so out of practice as you are?

[Mockery drips from that last question. It's obvious what he believes the answer to be.]

[The mockery stings but the words stir something... a something that flickers in Suzaku's eyes.] Do you wish to find out?

[Lancer doesn't know Suzaku but those that do would see something in Suzaku that had been missing for a while, a flicker of life.]

[Lancer may not have come to know this particular tower resident over his many years as a captive, but he doesn't miss that flicker. He knows it too well from his own searches.

An answering flicker flashes to life in his own eyes and his grin widens.]

I wouldn't have asked if I didn't.

[Suzaku doesn't grin but that flicker gets brighter and he shed his cloak and stepped forward in answer..]

Excellent! Come then!

[Lancer turns his back on the boy, perhaps foolishly, and leads the way back toward where he had been practicing earlier. It's a nice open space, prefect for a warrior trained as he has been to fight in.

He really doesn't care if it's the kind of area that is good for someone like his opponent to fight in...]

I really don't know how you fight, nor do I care. Just don't be defeated too quickly.

[With that, Lancer drops into a ready stance and waits for his opponent to do the same.]

[People not caring is what Suzaku likes. It makes things simpler. Reminds him of home, before he met Euphemia and found Lelouch again..]

I shall do my best not to disappoint. [He slipped into a ready stance of his own and cleared his mind, waiting and watching, he knew how fast Lancer was from watching him and knew he had to be ready.]

[Lancer raises an eyebrow at the boy's simple preparations, but says nothing. Instead, he twirls his spear in a complex pattern meant to distract his enemy before dashing in to test the boy's defenses and speed.

He really has no worries about how this fight will end, but there's no reason for him to be careless.]

[He may be out of practice but he is still fast, he brought his arms up to block his body remembering Toudoh's lessons before his mind did. He concentrated solely on his opponent, focusing on dodging and blocking fast enough.]

[That is a good start. Lancer can't help but smile as his opponent at least has enough training to react without thinking, but the fight will be a very boring one if all the boy does is block.

Lancer flips himself backward and pauses a moment to study the boy across from him. Idly, he flips his spear from hand to hand. This is partly to see if the boy is foolish enough to take what seems to be an opening in Lancer's defenses and partially because...

...Well partially because part of him is already becoming bored. What fun is there in an opponent who won't attack? Is he really going to have to make the first move?]

[As a general rule Suzaku fought defensively, he didn't like harming others and only fought to protect himself or those he was sworn to protect.

However it was just practice, and Suzaku had hurt so many people it didn't really matter anymore. He didn't think he could actually hurt this person anyways.

So he rushed forward feigning a punch at the shoulder and then actually kicking out towards the left hip.]

There you go!

[Lancer is easily able to dodge his opponent's blows, but is thrilled to see him fighting back.]

Now the real fun begins!

[Lancer seems to skip back away from him, but almost impossibly fast he changes direction and comes back at Suzaku his spear spinning in several directions before finally committing to a course that would put it through the boy's shoulder.]

[He was hard to track and hard to follow but Suzaku span as best he could to follow the direction and move in time to avoid the spear, he turned his dodge into a spin kick to try and at least knock the man out of his path.]

Good good! Come at me!

[Lancer laughs in joy as he rolls to the side to avoid the kick. Only moments later, though, he is back pressing his attack. The spear again flies toward Suzaku--this time toward his legs in an attempt to cut them out from under him.]

[There is no laughter coming from Suzaku, only grim determination. He is enjoying himself though, in a strange way. It's been a while since he has fought in earnest.

Suzaku jumped just in time flinging himself to the side to avoid the spear coming towards his legs, he rolled and came back to his feet, turning and expecting the next attack already.]

[Not to disappoint him, Lancer has already spun around and started back at him. To switch things up, though, Lancer desummons his spear mid-attack and pulls the sword at his belt in one smooth motion. Another spin changes his attack from a frontal one to one from behind with the blade aimed squarely for Suzaku's neck.]

[This time Suzaku almost got hit, would have got hit because he moved forward and to the side to get out of the way of the sword, but the change of direction through him off.

However as the blade was about to hit something changed, if Lancer could see them he would see a ring of red flash in Suzaku's eyes, he moved faster than he should have and dodged the blade before blinking in confusion, ignoring the memory loss for now because he was used to battles being littered with holes where he was not in control of his actions.

He rushed forward again, for another kick.]

[Oh...now that is interesting. Lancer's not quite sure what just happened, but that near hit had triggered some...ability...in his opponent.

It is an ability he wants to see again.

Again, Lancer switches his weapon even as he is dodging the kick. His sword is sheathed and his reach suddenly expands greatly as his spear reappears aimed for Suzaku's heart.]

[Suzaku had half hoped he hadn't noticed, not that his Geass was a secret, but it wasn't something he liked speaking about, or thinking about.

He turned back to Lancer when his kick was dodged and found himself with a spear headed straight for his heart. His eyes flashed red again and he moved once more faster than he usually should be able to.

When he was a safe distance away the red faded and he went into a defensive stance, not attacking this time.]

[Lancer pauses as well when the boy doesn't continue is attack, actually desummoning his spear again and falling into a relaxed, non-combative stance.]

How interesting. You move quickly enough in that instant before a fatal wound that even I have trouble following you. If it is indeed movement and not some kind of instantaneous shift from one place to another, that is.

Tell me, what are you doing? That ability seems like one more suited for a servant than a boy like you.

[Suzaku flinched slightly at the words, he was a fool to get into this fight with someone who could kill him] A servant? [He knew what a servant was in the context of his own world, but not why one would not be able to die.]

It... It's not an ability it is something called a Geass, it was cast on me.

[Lancer ignores the inquiry about him being servant, his mind focusing instead on the word which had been the last thing he had expected to be the answer to his question.

Geis. The boy says the word slightly differently from how Lancer is used to hearing it, but that doesn't change its meaning.]

You are cursed not to be injur--

[He stops and corrects himself with a shake of his head.]

No, you are cursed not to die in battle. That is why it only activated when I had you set up for a fatal blow.

[Suzaku had never met someone outside of his world who recognized the word or guessed what form the curse took.

Or even one that called it a curse, even those from his own world would argue against him on that point.] Yes I was cursed to 'live'.

A terrible curse for a warrior.

[Lancer takes a few steps away from the boy. It's obvious that their little spar is over for now.]

Oh, outwardly it would seem a blessing. That is how they always seem, but inwardly? Not so much.

[Lancer looks back over his shoulder at Suzaku, his eyes distant.]

I am well acquainted with how much it hurts to carry such a curse. The heroes of my homeland far too often lived and died by them.

[He pauses and then adds softly.]

I lived and died by them.

Obviously! ;-P

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