their lies and truths that run rampant and wild

[bowandblade]

Characters: Archer [AU3] and you! (open)
Setting: Floor 25, Dorm Floor 1, and a general all-over-the-tower bit
Format: Using action brackets, but will match in threads.
Summary: So the week started well enough. And then these strange messages started appearing around the tower... (If you want to react to the ever-changing 'Lancer and Archer' rumor, feel free to pick any version.)
Warnings: Nothing at the moment.

Floor 25 - Meadow - prior to the rumors appearing

[Ever since he visited the meadow to watch V/V's concert, Gilgamesh found himself returning to the floor whenever he found himself wanting to enjoy something simpler. It was quiet and free of irritants (the "monsters" of the tower), so he could remain there as long as he wished, whiling away his time.

Not that he has anything to do out there. Not really. But sometimes idle fingers fiddle with the longer blade of grass, or pluck flowers out of the grass to twist at the stems.]


All over the tower

[The message on the wall in the first dormitory level is the first that he sees. At the time, it had been nothing more than a small amusement -- something to smirk at with mild puzzlement, as he didn't know either of the people mentioned on the message. But he soon becomes aware of the other messages-- graffiti, as people began editing them-- on the different floors.

So what does he do? He goes on out there to look around and see just how many obvious messages there are. With so many floors, that's bound to take awhile.]


Dormitory Floor 1

[...It's almost ironic that he finds himself back on the first dormitory level, staring at the same patch of wall he had seen at the beginning of the week. The message keeps changing, and every time he walks off to find something else to do, he just seems to come back to find it changed again.

Maybe he should stick around to see who's changing the rumor. That sounds like a good idea.]

Comments

Dormitory floor 1

[vermicompost]

[Kariya has no intention of changing the rumor, but he's seen it. He's believed two rumors about Archer now: first that he and Lancer are cheating on each other, and secondly, that they kill happy couples and families, which rumor he is currently believing. He's a little confused.

He glares at Archer when he catches sight of him.]

You should leave Lancer alone.

[Since obviously, everything is Archer's fault.]

[bowandblade]

[It's hard not to smile when he sees such a petulant display of anger aimed in his direction. After all, he had already acknowledged the pallid magus as both stubborn and brave -- so the anger was easy to dismiss as trivial.]

Which Lancer are you referring to?

[vermicompost]

[For a moment, Kariya isn't sure. That's a good question. But he has an answer for it.]

Both of them.

[Since obviously, Archer should leave them both alone.]

But I meant the one with blue hair. I don't know what you're doing with him, but you should stop.

[He'd just assumed it was that Lancer, for some reason. He's not quite sure if they're supposed to be dating or killing people together or both.]

He's my friend.

[bowandblade]

[His shoulders shake with laughter as Kariya describes the Lancer he knows. But his smile also sharpens as he recalls one of the earlier messages on the wall that had been stricken out.]

Is that so? [His voice is just a tad softer, almost thoughtful.] You would have us stop what we are doing?

[vermicompost]

[Kariya doesn't approve of this laughter, and he frowns. This is a serious matter.]

You can't just hurt innocent people like that. You have no reason to. They didn't do anything to you.

[Happy couples and families. That strikes a nerve with Kariya. He's never been part of a couple, and he's estranged from his family, but those are the kinds of things that should be protected.

He doesn't know why Lancer would want to be with Archer, but at least he shouldn't be doing something so horrible. Archer is clearly the worst influence. Lancer would never do something like that on his own.]

I don't know what happened between you, but you don't have to bring other people into it.

[Believing so many rumors in short succession has hurt his head.]

[bowandblade]

[Completely wrapped up in the messages that had been written on the wall, Archer has to make an effort to suppress further laughter. He leans forward, looking directly at Kariya.]

You are right. There is no reason to hurt innocent people.

[His eyes darken and, for a moment, look thoroughly inhuman.] Unless we feel like it, of course.

[vermicompost]

[Kariya takes a step back, remembering to be afraid. This Servant isn't like Lancer or Diarmuid or Lancelot, as far as Kariya is concerned. He's much more dangerous than that.]

You can't-- I can't let you do that.

[His voice sounds faint as he says this, and he takes another step back, but he can't allow blameless children to be hurt. What kind of man would he be if he did? What if they hurt Sakura? Or Shinji? They're part of his family.

At least he knows he can't really die here. He wonders if he should summon Lancelot, but he doesn't.]

I know Lancer wouldn't do anything like that. You must be making him, somehow. Please, just stop. We have to suffer enough here already.

[bowandblade]

[He allows for a mock sigh, giving Kariya a long look.]

I must be making him, is that it? I must be a terrible, corrupting force!

What terrible ideas you have, pale magus.

[vermicompost]

That's right. Lancer's a good person.

[Rough around the edges, but good. Though Kariya has the clear idea he's being mocked.]

I have? You're the one who-- [He breaks off, unsure of what, exactly, Archer has done, other than being Tokiomi's Servant and poking his face.] I have a reason for them.

Don't call me that.

[bowandblade]

Oh yes, right. Kariya. [He gives the same mocking emphasis; really, it is all too easy to mock and tease this one when he finds so many things to flinch about.]

Tell me your reason. Tell me why the deigned King of Heroes has earned your ire.

[After all, the Sabers had given their reasons. Why not one of the Masters?]

[vermicompost]

That's right. [It's still not hard for him to tell he's being mocked, but he remains stubborn about it.]

We're enemies. You're Tokiomi's Servant, and I've sworn to kill him.

[(Not to mention the whole face-poking thing.)

Even if the Grail War isn't ongoing here, he still wants to kill Tokiomi.

Although this reminder that Archer is the King of Heroes doesn't exactly inspire Kariya to say this as boldly as he might.]

[bowandblade]

[There is a moment of silence, as if Gilgamesh is expecting more of a reason for Kariya's attitude towards him. When there is no further explanation, his shoulders shake with laughter.]

So it is a matter of being guilty by association!