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

dorm floor 1;

[holyswordwielder]

[ Saber has very conveniently avoided the first floor of the dormitories ever since he struck out the rumor that was written on one of the walls there and wrote another. It was supposed to be a harmless experiment at the time — the results of which would be at the expense of his fellow Servants, yes, true — but once it was done, it became obvious that absolutely nothing that happens inside the Tower is harmless. The King of Knights has proof of that scratched into his side, as if the rest of the madness this week caused by these rumors isn't testament enough of that.

As he's following the progression of the rumor, he notices that each iteration seems to get worse and he's silently glad no later version of it has come to pass (or so he thinks). Saber feels a little guilty that something he did out of carelessness nearly caused the deaths of many people and he frowns to himself as he takes a step back from the writing.

PEOPLE ARE OBSESSED WITH LANCER AND ARCHER. Well, that's not so bad... yet. ]

...At least two of these people happen to be Lancer and Archer themselves.

[bowandblade]

[Archer had almost taken to a scheduled patrol of the message written on the first dormitory floor. After seeing how many times it had been written over, it seemed natural to think that things would just get worse if he did not keep an eye on it.

There was also the simmering angry and desire to kill whoever had started this ridiculous stream of messages, but that was more of a secondary objective than anything else.

He purses his lips and looks over at Saber when he sees him by the wall.]

You would do well to step away from the wall, holy sword wielder.

[holyswordwielder]

[ The familiar voice causes Saber to raise his head. Now that he's gotten used to the idea of virtually being surrounded by other Servants, he's a lot less jumpy than he was. ]

Or...?

[bowandblade]

Do not test me!

[He levels a displeased look at the other Servant for challenging him, walking closer to him and glancing at the wall to make sure that the message had not changed again.]

These messages are cursed. [That was probably the best way to describe their effects.]

[holyswordwielder]

Yes, between the poisoned food in the cafeteria and the giant creature slamming into the Tower every so often, I've figured that out.

[ Despite not challenging Archer at all, Saber summons his armor and Excalibur. He dispels the Invisible Air around the sword and takes an offensive position. ]

Draw your weapons!

[ Normally, he wouldn't engage in a battle in the Tower where many others were likely to accidentally end up as collateral damage. This time, though, he can't bring himself to care. His focus is on Archer alone and defeating him. ]

[bowandblade]

[...What? Archer blinks hard at the smile on Saber's face, not having expected ... that kind of reaction. He doesn't even summon his armor or weapons, staring at Saber like he's gone slightly mad.]

A duel, holy sword wielder? Now?

[holyswordwielder]

[ Saber doesn't realize it yet, but he has gone slightly mad. ]

Now.

[ His reply is assertive, bold, and he's clearly not interested in waiting for Archer to issue either an agreement or a refusal. Why put off for tomorrow what you can accomplish today? He rushes Archer at break-neck speed, prana burst allowing him to move faster than the average Servant, Excalibur readied for an attacking swing. ]

[bowandblade]

[At the speed at which Saber is moving, Archer barely has enough time to backstep and simultaneously summon his armor; his body is a trail of gold as his garbs form around him, and he immediately summons his gates to put distance between them.

He needs to back up further, still a bit startled by this change, before he can start launching weapons at Saber. But as soon as he is able, he will -- with no regard to the fact that they were fighting on a dormitory level.]

[holyswordwielder]

[ It isn't the first time they've fought in public areas, exposed as such, but Saber doesn't stop in his charge at Archer. He is forced to slow because of the golden pools that open up around the other Servant, requiring preparation to defend against them. The weapons that fire from them are fast and strong, and at the speed he was moving at, he wouldn't have been able to deflect their blows. ]

[bowandblade]

[Deflected swords and spears scatter and smash into the walls and the ceiling, some sliding across the floor as Saber advances. Archer continues looking at the other Servant suspiciously, trying to make sense of what was happening -- but that suspicion was also warring with the sudden thrill of the fight, a fourth bout against his rival in war and love.

His gates fade as he jumps and kicks off one wall, coming at Saber from an angle with his swords drawn to attack. In narrow spaces like the dorm hallway, differences in height and angle added to the likelihood of a strike landing.]