Finally, another party

[puppy_lancer]

Characters: ProtoLancer puppy_lancer, Zero Lancer oathshackledbird and anyone interested in attending a birthday party. Details here.
Setting: Meadow
Format: Anything goes
Summary: Lancer throws his brother a party. Everyone can come except for the Archer (meaning they can come crash the party anyways)! Feel free to tag into any of the threads set up or invent your own scenario.
Warnings: None yet!

[It had taken some preparing, but the party was finally set up in a satisfactory way. There was a table for food and drink dragged in from the cafeteria, a wooden bucket filled with water with fruit floating in it, a strange paper mache Jason head pinata stacked on a scarecrow body, and a board with a pig with a Ganon head scribbled on it along with several spiraling paper "tails" attached to thumbtacks. There are no party decorations, but Lancer figures the flowers and sunshine should be decoration enough.]

[Now it's just a matter of waiting for people to show up.]

Comments

[bowandblade]

[Gilgamesh hums when he hears that question, his smile not slipping from his face. So this was not the magus he had met by the dorm elevators, somehow mutilated in a way he had presumed was the fault of the tower?

How interesting. Just how different was this one?]

You introduced yourself as such. [His voice is smooth and nonchalant.] But I could always refer to you as the Matou magus.

[vermicompost]

[It takes Kariya a few moments to realize that this must mean Archer had met his other self. He doesn't appreciate the lack of warning, but he expects no less from his estranged self.]

That wasn't me. [He all but winces at that title.] Don't call me that.

[bowandblade]

The other you introduced himself as such. [There is practically a shrug in his tone, as if there was nothing wrong with how he had decided to open up the situation.] I take it, from your reaction, that you know of me as well.

[Well. Of another version of him, at least. He was enjoying playing with mes and yous for the moment.]

[vermicompost]

He did? [He is more of a magus than Kariya will ever be.] Like I said, he isn't me. [Unfortunately, he and himself don't get along. That fact still rankles. It's hard not to take it personally when you don't like yourself.] I know who you are.

[There's no sense denying it, if he's already given it away.]

[bowandblade]

[Having learned what he has of the other Kariya, Archer's eyes drift down to the exposed skin of the other man, as if searching for a command seal. It's an idle search, really; he's not really expecting much. But with alternate versions like the darkened King of Knights around, it was worth a moment of time.]

How troublesome! Now I will have to come up with different ways to refer to the two of you. [Despite his words, he doesn't sound bothered at all. Even with how Kariya had stepped away, Archer could still reach over and prod at the man's left cheek.]

[vermicompost]

[Archer will be able to see the Command Seal on Kariya's hand. He makes little effort to hide it in the Tower, where the Grail War doesn't really matter.

When Archer actually touches him, Kariya recoils, his eyes widening. He takes another step back. Diarmuid or Lancelot touching him is one thing, but he doesn't appreciate it from Archer. He doesn't like him.]

You don't have to call me anything.

[He would rather the Servant not refer to him at all.]

[bowandblade]

[He hums in amusement when Kariya startles, somewhat reminded of a small animal that was a bit too shocked to make a proper escape. But the movements make it more obvious that the veins on the man's face are a sign of further damage down that side of the body, as there is a noticeable limp and stiltedness to his movements.]

Of course I do! It is my choice to do so, since you obviously know me.

[He leans forward again.] You may wish to sit down; you may last longer that way.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya doesn't care for that amused noise, and he doesn't like being prodded. Archer rubs him the wrong way, and probably would even if not for the fact that he mentally connects him with Tokiomi. If his hair could rise in irritation, it would.]

I don't really know you. I know who you are, that's all.

[And he doesn't sound happy about that.]

I'll stand.

[And he might like to sit down in the flowers, as he so often does when he's here by himself, but he's going to stubbornly remain standing.]

[bowandblade]

[And, of course, Archer will call him out on that.]

Such a stubborn man! But I would imagine that is why you are a Master. [Why yes, he did see that seal on that hand.] You bear the same intensity as the other, but more so. Taken in the middle of the War and unable to let it go.

[His smile shows off perfect teeth, and he continues to talk even if Kariya was just going to be a terse invalid.]

But if you are here, you must be acquainted with the honored guest. How can you possibly greet him with such a miserable look? Smile!

[vermicompost]

[Guilty as charged.

So Archer knows that about him? But the other Kariya can't have said that much, can he? After a moment, Kariya glances down at his Command Seal. It's certainly evident enough. Well, there's no helping it now.]

That's right. I have the strongest Servant. I'm still going to win the War.

[He doesn't know how, and he doesn't know when, but he's going to, damn it.]

Diarmuid and I are friends.

[Kariya sounds a bit defensive, in part because of his own conflicted feelings about their friendship.]

He'll understand.

[bowandblade]

[His eyes narrow faintly at Kariya's words, and he bites back the urge to laugh. The strongest Servant. Such a bold claim to make in front of the most powerful Heroic Spirit in the entire world.

He simply hums at the short responses, then shakes his head.]

Ah, perhaps Lancer will understand, but you should still smile! It is a party, and you cannot be in attendance and not do something to enjoy yourself.

[Does he need to make you enjoy it, Kariya?]

[vermicompost]

[He still thinks Lancelot can kick Archer's ass, even if he's not under Mad Enhancement.]

I'm enjoying myself fine.

[And he smiles a small, grim smile. It doesn't exactly light up his face. He doesn't actually look any happier.]

[bowandblade]

[He sighs at that and stands with arms akimbo, leaning forward to stare hard at Kariya's eyes. A long moment, as if reading into that one working eye.]

Unhappy people live much shorter lives than those who are happy.

[That's all he says before straightening, lifting his chin with a faint smile. He remains standing there in front of Kariya for a full 20 seconds without a word. If Kariya doesn't move or say anything in that time, Archer will turn and wander back to the refreshments.]

[vermicompost]

[He doesn't care for the smugness in that smile any more than he cares for the comment. He knows it's obvious that he's dying. He won't let that stand.]

I'm very happy. You don't know anything about it. Or me.

[Not that he sounds particularly happy as he says this.]

I'm a lucky man.

[He has his friends and his Servant and Sakura and Rin, and even if things are difficult now, and he's not sure what to say to Diarmuid, he won't die because he's unhappy.]

[bowandblade]

[And to that, Archer laughs and wags a finger in Kariya's face. Perhaps fortunately, it's nowhere near his scarred side.]

Perhaps you are lucky, but you are not happy. In a place like this, where death is not permanent, your unhappiness will be your end.

[He sounds confident in his logic, unsurprisingly. Even with that declaration, he pauses in consideration.]

Or insanity. Insanity seems quite likely in this place as well.

[vermicompost]

[He leans back, away from the shaking finger. In truth, sometimes he thinks he's lucky, and sometimes he thinks he's unlucky. But he'll say he's lucky when being criticized by the likes of Archer. He doesn't like to be told about himself.

I told you, I am happy. Just not now, because--

It's complicated.

[He doesn't intend to discuss his problems with Archer.]

I won't go mad, either.

[He says this quickly, because losing himself is a real threat, and not one he likes to consider. Also, he seems to be developing a habit of disagreeing with Archer. He pauses, considering the matter.]

It is difficult here, but I won't.

[He can't let himself.]

[bowandblade]

[He looks very amused by Kariya's attempts to respond, and it's the leaning back that prompts Archer to again step forward, this time to tug at a fringe of white hair hanging over Kariya's eyes. Another hum escapes, and he smiles.]

You may be the braver one.

[vermicompost]

[He doesn't understand Archer at all. He would have expected him to be angry, or violent, or other than what he currently is, which is just... annoying. Why does Archer keep touching him? That doesn't seem right. It's confusing. Kariya is still afraid of him, though not as afraid as he would be if there weren't at least three Servants in the vicinity who could protect him.

He doesn't appreciate yet another touch, but he isn't quite ready to go so far as to swat Archer's hand away, and he steps back instead, the veins on his face twitching slightly.]

Stop.

I do what I have to do, that's all.

[bowandblade]

And so humble, too. [His eyes stray to Kariya's veins with piqued interest, and his hand curls as if he intends to poke at Kariya's face again.]

Are you telling me what to do?

[vermicompost]

[Kariya winces, even though he hasn't been poked again yet. He puts up a hand to cover the left side of his face. He can feel the worms moving there. There's a dull, throbbing ache in his left temple.

He feels a flicker of fear at Gilgamesh's question and wonders if he should call for Lancelot. He knows how dangerous this Servant is.]

No... but I wish you wouldn't.

[He hopes that doesn't count as "telling him what to do". He simply doesn't want to be manhandled.]

[bowandblade]

[His eyes remain fixed on the way Kariya's veins move, even if Kariya's hand attempts to protect it. Like snakes. Likes writhing snakes. Gilgamesh's eyes narrow at the thought, and he lightly grips the man's hand.]

So. If I were to continue, how much longer would it take before your little bugs showed up?

[He sounds so nonchalant, still watching those twitching veins.]

[vermicompost]

[Kariya's own eyes narrow. He steps back again. He doesn't know why Archer keeps touching him, and he continues to not care for it. The man seems to be tormenting him for no reason, and he doesn't like the way Archer is staring at his face. It makes him more conscious than usual of the way the worms move, all down his left side. He hates that feeling.]

They wouldn't. My Servant would.

[That's right, he has a Servant, and he's not afraid to use him.]

[bowandblade]

[He grins, still holding Kariya's hand even as the magus attempted to step away. His eyes shone with a little more excitement -- those were the words he had been waiting to hear.

My Servant. Confirmation that there was indeed a Master-Servant bond.]

How boring.

[His interested tone belies his words, and he grips Kariya's hand a little harder against his own veined cheek. Just a little nudge.]

Well now you've done it, Lancelot will enter the thread!

[vermicompost]

[He doesn't care for the look in Archer's eyes, and even worse is the continued touch. He doesn't have to suffer this.]

Berserker--

[His Servant might not be under Mad Enhancement now, but Kariya doesn't want to reveal his identity if he doesn't have to.

Still trying to pull away, he turns to look for Lancelot, who can't have gone too far.]

Have At You.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Changes in Kariya's relatively consistent low level of distress he had attributed to some conversation or other that he hoped the man might be having. But when Lancelot feels the urgent pull of Kariya's Will, the shifting of his Prana, he knows it is not so. His Master would never call him upon Diarmuid ua Duibhne.

He vanishes from his chosen spot only to reappear at his Master's side, armored, but as yet unarmed.
Archer. He might have known. The sight of the other Servant grappling with his Master in such a way is an unwelcome one to say the least.

When he speaks, his voice echoes within his helm.]

Archer. If you would keep them, take your hands from my Master.