[closed] // rule the battlefield

[fionnuisce]

Characters: Lancer, Other Lancer, and Waver.
Setting: Floor 93 and outside room 4-16
Format: Action if no one objects?
Summary: After monster hunting for a while, Waver properly meets his friend's roommate.
Warnings: Fighting, dumbasses, and fighting dumbasses.

[floor ninety-three]
[It seemed the safest choice as far as terrain went. No sand to provide an unstable foothold, no crystal or any other sort of ground for one to slip around on. Aside from the rain, it seemed the most harmless of floors in a monster-infested tower.]

Now I usually can't stand resorting to this in a fight when it's not necessary. But since you asked to see what I can do, I suppose a small measure of showing off is acceptable.

[He glanced over at Diarmuid with a smirk, the makeshift mercury umbrella quickly shifting as if called to attention by his next words.]

Automatoportum defensio: Dilectus incursio. [Shifting into a fighting stance, Waver seemed oddly at ease for someone moments from a fight to the death against untold horrors.] Now...let's get started, shall we?

[outside room 4-16]

[After quite a bit of fighting and having returned his Mystic Code to the vial he kept it in, Waver walked along beside Diarmuid back to the latter's dormitory room. The ponytailed magus seemed in fairly high spirits, having no concept of the blue-haired trouble incarnate they were about to walk straight into.]

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

I understand.

[Though his tone sounds a little reluctant. He still wants to try negotiating with the Witch at some point. Even if he has to slap her around a bit to make her recant the demands she put on Diarmuid.]

You think maybe she just forgot?

[fionnuisce]

...

[Waver's own silence said quite a lot. He was already thinking of how to find this Endless Witch and have a...'civil conversation' with her without present company finding out about it.]

[oathshackledbird]

Somehow I doubt that. I really expect she is just waiting. Well, I will just have to make her wait....

[He pauses and gives them both a hard look.]

I mean it! I don't want either of you risking yourselves over this! She may seem childish and irresponsible, but she is really very dangerous.

[Right. Diarmuid doesn't expect them to actually listen, but he has to at least try. If either of them are hurt because of his foolishness...]

[puppy_lancer]

...I've probably killed worse.

[He grumbles under his breath. He had fought no small number of hags during his various adventures. While he disliked killing women, sometimes it was just a sadly inevitable chore.]

Come on, do you really expect us to just stand aside and do nothing?

[fionnuisce]

I'm with your friend on this one, Diarmuid. I can defend myself just fine, so I'm hardly afraid of challenging someone that thinks they can push you around.

[oathshackledbird]

I know you two can take care of yourselves. That's not the point!

[Diarmuid presses his hand to his forehead, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. Finally, he lets his hand drop away.]

I care about both of you. I could never forgive myself if you were hurt because of my actions. Please, just let this go. I promise I won't let her push me around. You have my word on that.

[puppy_lancer]

It's not just your actions! I'm responsible too!

[It might be a last-ditch attempt to argue, but in a way, Cu Chulainn does feel responsible. Because in that false timeline that Diarmuid remembered, Cu Chulainn had not realized the bond they shared until it was too late. He had never called Diarmuid his brother, and by the time he realized he should have done so, Diarmuid had slipped far, far away. He had never realized the other Lancer's suffering, though they lived in the same room.]

Besides, friends should be able to bear each other's burdens. Brothers even more so.

[fionnuisce]

I don't think I can simply let this go myself, either.

[Much calmer, but no less stubborn.]

[oathshackledbird]

[It is just one of those things that happen. At no point would Diarmuid be able to say, "I meant to do this," but he is happy about it all the same. He doesn't say anything at first. Instead, he just steps forward and grabs his brother with one hand and Waver with the other, pulling them both into a hug.

Several moments will pass before he is able to softly speak.]

Thank you.

[puppy_lancer]

[Cu Chulainn wraps one arm around Diarmuid, and then, slowly and awkwardly, wraps his other arm around Waver's waist. It's his turn to be silent as he listens to Diarmuid and waits for Waver to possibly suggest something.]

[fionnuisce]

[Group hug. Okay. This was a new and unexpected experience for Waver, but he didn't object or pull away. He just put one arm around each Lancer's shoulders, thinking for a few seconds before speaking up.]

I don't have plans to charge directly into trouble. But you're wrong if you think I'm just not going to defend you should she break her silence.

[oathshackledbird]

That is all I will ask. Please don't start any trouble with her. If she starts something, I won't stand in your way...

[If things go badly enough, he might not be able to.]

...but don't cause any trouble. She...scares me. At first I just thought she was a spoiled child with power that she would never use in the right ways, but now I know more about her and she...just isn't right.

[puppy_lancer]

What do you mean not right? Like, is she a huge bitch just like the Morrigan?

[fionnuisce]

...I'm listening.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid releases them both from the embrace if only so he can wrap his arms around himself.

Honestly, his brother's question is not one he really wishes to answer.]

As terrifying as it might be to say this, I believe the witch may be even more fickle and cruel than the Great Queen herself.

[He closes his eyes for a moment, almost as if he expects to be struck down for his words.]

There are a great many horrid things in the stories from our land, and I think I would rather meet with most of them on a dark night then to meet with the witch on a bright day. Especially now that she has so clearly stated what she wants from me.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer tsks his tongue. He hadn't expected it to be this bad.]

[On one hand. maybe he should just play this waiting game. On the other hand...]

Then what good would waiting do? If we let her make the first move, would we still be able to fight back?

[fionnuisce]

Be patient. Attacking when we're not sure she'll even make a first move at all would be equivalent to walking up to Gilgamesh and slapping him in the face.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid puts his arm around his brother's shoulders.]

I have to agree with Waver. Maybe if we leave her be she will just forget? Or more likely, decide I am boring and no longer worth her concern.

[Diarmuid doesn't really believe that will happen, but he has to try and calm his brother down. This is exactly why Diarmuid hadn't told anyone about this. With so much else going on, why make them worry more about something that can't really be changed?]

[puppy_lancer]

[He almost wants to tell Waver that slapping Gilgamesh in the face isn't too hard to do--in fact, he'd be happy to show them right now. But he knows this isn't the time for debating technicalities.]

I'll wait. But I won't just let her be. If she contacts you in any way again, tell me.

[fionnuisce]

[He gave a small nod in agreement, looking to Lancer with a calm but serious stare.]

I want to hear about it too, if that happens.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment. He had hoped that maybe he might be able to get them to just agree to let things go for now, and then he could have just not told them about anything else that happened.

So much for that.

He opens his eyes again, giving them both a steady look before speaking.]

I promise. If she contacts me at all, I will let you know. Just please, let things go for now.

[puppy_lancer]

Alright...

[He clutches his bundle a little more tightly.]

So, are we gonna get going?

[He really needs a drink. Not just for celebrating, but for washing away his worry over that Witch.]

[fionnuisce]

Yeah--let's go before this conversation gets any darker, shall we?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods. He is also happy to let things drop. A little liquor sounds really good right now.]

We will meet you there soon. Come, brother.

[He flashes a strained grin at his roommate.]

I will race you.

[And just like that, he's off toward the stairs.]

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer laughs and follows after his brother.]

Last one to the top has to clean the room!