watch the dog chase its tail

[puppy_lancer]

Characters: [AU3] Lancer, [OU] Zero Lancer, and you!
Setting: all over the Tower, throughout the event
Format: anything goes
Summary: Lancer acts as a group C worker. See here for details.
Warnings: Blood, gore, death, and euthanasia so far. If you tag him after the 15th, there's a chance he'll attack and try to maul you.

1. Dormitories (limited to the 15th)

[Lancer had thought that the modifications would stop at compelling him to work with maintaining the Tower or tearing apart the corpses of the fallen even with his twisted limbs. He hadn't expected blackouts. Nor had he expected waking up to realize he has been staring at someone in their sleep. When the person sleeping seems to stir, he scoots backward into a corner, trying to hide himself the best he can. He hates the idea of being seen in this shameful state. Hopefully, he would be called to his next task before anyone sees him.]

2. Aquarium

[By now, Lancer has become accustomed to the blackouts. It seems he does nothing but stare at people when his mind is taken from him. It's a relief. He knew what he could be capable of when he loses his rational thinking.]

[Currently, he's trying to scoop out the fish with his hands. Constantly fighting against his urges exhaust him. In addition, he's been taking extra precautions to try to avoid the people he knows when he doesn't have his shifts.]

[Perhaps if he ate something, he could regain some energy. However, the modification done to his limbs to make them dog-like makes his movements awkward. Pretty soon, he's abandoned using his hands and is just thrusting his face in the water. For the time being, he forgets to even watch out to see if anyone is approaching him.]

3. Dormitories (with Diarmuid/oathshackledbird)

[The sleep paralysis lasted for an hour after his revival. The first thing he notices is that he is still in his modified state. If he had his voice, he would laugh. Not even death can free him from this state.]

[He's about to jump from the bed and go to some task, any task, but he notices something.]

[His brother is lying next to him, perfectly still.]

[He wants to scream, or even gasp, but again, he can only silently stare.]

Why? Why is he here? Didn't Lancelot save him?

[He inches closer to Diarmuid, and then places his head on Diarmuid's chest so he can listen to the other Lancer's heartbeat. He silently sighs in relief as he hears that sure sign that his brother is alive right now, no matter what might have happened yesterday.]

[He lifts his head...and then nudges Diarmuid's face with his muzzle. As he is, he can't call out to Diarmuid, or shake him or kiss him or hug him. All he can do is nuzzle up to Diarmuid in the hope that he can offer his brother some comfort. Or at least show that Cu Chulainn was no longer a threat.]

[After a while, he stops pushing at Diarmuid and leans over Diarmuid's face, watching his brother just lie there either sleeping or paralyzed. A couple tears slide off his face and onto Diarmuid's cheeks. He hates this body that can do nothing else.]

4. Floor 38

[Lancer is a good little drone. He wipes the floors and the glass walls. For once, he doesn't seem to have any sign of malfunction.]

[Even though the task is banal and it sucks to have just about no control over his body, it's still better than malfunctioning, or spending every waking hour exhausted because he's fighting his urges.]

5. Lower Levels

[Lancer wants to scream. This is by far his most gruesome task, taking apart the bodies for soul extraction. He's seen more of Jason's techniques in these few days than he could care to see for his entire life.]

[Of course, he just has to malfunction down here too. Pretty soon, he's dragging organs out with him, holding the gruesome souvenirs in both his hands and his mouth.]

6. Meadow

[Even drones should be allowed to enjoy themselves. This might come to mind as the residents come upon a particular dog-like unit rolling around, apparently having fun. That is, if it wasn't rolling around in a pile of intestines and eyeballs.]

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

[From the corner, he begins slinking along the wall, trying to get to the door. He has no voice with which to answer, or else he would have assured her that he was alright.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Fear grips her for a moment, as she's left her room enough to see the things that are happening to some of their fellow refugees outside, but concern for her friend wins the struggle inside her and she soon puts the Mythgraven Blade away so that she can cross the room to him. ]

Lancer...

[ Once beside him, she reaches out to put her hands on his shoulders in order to stop his moving. This close though, she can see the changes that have been done to him and it takes all the strength she has not to audibly gasp in horror.

It's disgusting what Jason's done to him and she clenches a fist to keep her sudden flare of anger contained. ]

I don't know if you even hear me, but please, stop. It's fine. Rest.

[puppy_lancer]

[His body keeps on moving despite her calls. He has work. He can't stop.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil doesn't know what to do. It's obvious he wants to leave the room, but she doesn't want him out there— not after the things she's seen happening. On the other hand, though, keeping him here was going to require force and she didn't know if she could win. If he's a Servant like Diarmuid, he may be faster and stronger.

So she follows him along the floor on her knees, stroking his hair in hopes of getting him to snap out of whatever trance he's in. ]

[puppy_lancer]

[He stops. Perhaps, this is another malfunction, but he does want a way to show her that he appreciates her efforts.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil is genuinely stunned when Lancer finally halts and for a handful of seconds, she's only quiet and still herself. Then she sighs and rests her head against his shoulder for a moment before speaking again. ]

A dear friend of mine from my world arrived here, in the Tower, like you told me may happen, but he disappeared recently, just as you did. Diarmuid wanted to help me look for him, but I told him to focus on finding you. Then I received your letter. I... I made a mistake. I haven't found him yet, but I will. I will try to keep him safe.

[puppy_lancer]

[His heart sinks. He wants to tell her not to try and find the man, since it might make her sadder to see him in a warped state. As it is, though, he can only remain still and offer her a shoulder to cry on.]

[proteusmoon]

[ The fact that Lancer stays with her is both heartbreaking and encouraging. It means he's self-aware. Cecil has never experienced one of Jason's experiments before and while she presumes these changes won't last forever, what if they do? Lancer seeming to understand her is at least comforting in that it's still Lancer's consciousness inside the body. It's upsetting because he knows what's been done to him. ]

I'm sorry for this... Why did you volunteer? You shouldn't have. What can I do for you?

[ She opens the door they're near. ]

I think you're safer here, but I won't stop you from leaving.

[puppy_lancer]

[He starts scooting toward the door slowly, almost reluctantly. He's sure that work can wait in favor of offering Cecil whatever little comfort that he could. Especially since his malfunctions didn't seem to be dangerous ones.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil realizes he doesn't quite want to leave either, but she nods to him and presses her palm to the side of his face reassuringly for a moment. ]

I will be all right. You may go, if that is what you truly want, Lancer.

[puppy_lancer]

[The thing is, leaving isn't what he truly wants. It's what his body is making him do. He wants to turn and reassure her that he'll come back when he's back to normal, but his body takes him out of the door without looking back.]