> Animus: Assemble

[caliginous]

Characters: Members of Group A and YOU
Setting: Fourth Floor -- the white lounge.
Format: WHO EVEN KNOWS
Summary: Karkat attempts to pull everyone into one place for counter-resistance.
Warnings: MALFUNCTION MAY OCCUR, that means depending on who you tag and who tags in, your character may end up injured. Please check individual sub-threads for malfunction warnings! There's also obvious body horror warnings here due to modifications from the event.

[In a room full of white, its not hard to spot the various victims of Jason's latest experiments. Each sits or stands in their own corner on or off furniture talking amongst one another or simply staring at the door waiting for someone to approach them.

Some of them don't look all that approachable, even if it appears that they are completely sane at first glance. Some of them might even look like they don't want to be there.

You won't really know until you approach them.]

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

I would not lie to her anyway. She deserves better than that.

[Diarmuid's eyes narrow slightly. While the red knight might look completely different, some things apparently never change. Archer has only said a few words and already Diarmuid wants to punch him.]

Perhaps you cannot tell, but your connection seems to be affected by all the changes. She told me she cannot feel you. Considering your condition, it is probably for the best.

[Diarmuid's expression seems to soften for a moment.]

I'm glad you are smart enough to realize you are in not shape to be around her right now. I would have to kill you if you were foolish enough to risk her safety by coming to her like this.

[So maybe 'soften' isn't quite the right term...]

[swordedpast]

[From the way his eye shifts within the helm, it's not a bad guess that Archer's sneering beneath it.]

You won't lie to her. You'd kill me if I endangered her. How honorable of you.

[The way he says it, it sounds like a curse.]

Don't you think you're making a few assumptions there?

That you could kill me.

[oathshackledbird]

[He might not be able to see the sneer, but he can definitely hear it in Archer's voice. It's good that Diarmuid has so much practice controlling his own urges because that urge to punch Archer is going stronger with every word the man speaks.]

Perhaps I couldn't, but if you put her in danger I would give everything to protect her including my life. I made a promise to her after all. If you have forgotten, I believe you also made a similar promise to her when you became her servant.

[So much for not antagonizing him...]

[swordedpast]

[His visible eye narrows.]

But you aren't her Servant. So why do you need to protect her, Lancer?

If you're only doing it to follow some noble ideal of knighthood, it's meaningless. It's not for her. I should strike you down right where you are.

[oathshackledbird]

I am a knight no longer, Archer, and even if I was, I wouldn't be doing it for just some ideal. I would be doing it because I care about her. She is a good person who has been hurt more than anyone should be hurt. She hates herself when she should not. What is wrong with me simply wanting to see her happy?

[Diarmuid sighs and runs his hand through his hair.]

Look, I didn't come here to start a fight with you. I came here to help her. Let me do that. Be honest with me for once. Is there anything I can do to help you? Anything at all?

And think before you answer. Think not just for yourself, but for her. We really should be partners in helping her, not be at each other's throats like this!

[swordedpast]

[For a long moment, his visible eye remains narrowed, the bitterness blazing within it. Archer says nothing; a struggle goes on within him.]

What can you do to protect her from this, Lancer? Not just from those of us already taken and changed, but the administrators, the ones who've done it. What can you do against them?

[Within their gauntlets, his hands are clenched.]

[oathshackledbird]

I don't know!

[In his frustration, Diarmuid turns from Archer for a moment. Honestly, it's a foolish action considering how much Archer has been changed. Fortunately, Diarmuid seems to realize how foolish the action is for he soon turns back to face the other servant.]

If I knew how to defeat them, believe me it would already be done and we would all be going home. At the moment, all I can do is try. Try and never give up no matter how hard things get. This is what I do for her. I never give up and I will never give up. It might not be much, but she will be happy someday. I'll see to it.

And hopefully, you will help me.

[swordedpast]

[ Something flickers in that one visible eye.

All that pure determination--

Something stirs within Archer's heart. ]

Lancer. You should leave, and quickly.

[ Beneath the helm, he's gritting his teeth--

And then swords flash into his hands. ]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's first reaction is to argue, but the appearance of the swords in Archer's hands give him pause. A closer look reveals just how upset and angry the other servant is.

And how tense. Almost as if he is fighting against something.

It hits Diarmuid then. With all the modifications, Archer doesn't have full control...

He takes a step back from the other servant, and nods sharply.]

I understand. Archer, be careful.

[He doesn't explain what Archer should be careful of because it would take too much time. Diarmuid can only hope the other servant understands what he means without explanation because starting a fight in a room where so many of the modified are would be suicide. That is why, without another word, Diarmuid drops into spirit form and is gone.]

[swordedpast]

[ And not a moment too soon. The instant Diarmuid vanishes, one sword slices through the air where he was, and then another. An incoherent cry of rage echoes from Archer's covered mouth, but he's left there alone, shaking with fury. ]