Because This Will Surely End Well... [Video]

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer is slowly getting better at this network thing, though he still doesn't know how to do anything fancy with it and doesn't really like it.  He would much rather be talking to people face to face, but he knows in this case, that is just not a feasible option.  Not if he wants to find what he's looking for in an acceptable amount of time.

The face that greats the network this afternoon is somewhat pale and uncertain, though very focused on his task.]

Forgive my intrusion, but I was wondering if I could ask for some assistance from the residents here.  After last week's experiment, I would like to try and find a few things to gift to others.  I arrived shortly before the experiment started and so, I'm afraid I don't really know where to start looking for these things.

Specifically what I'm looking for are things related to tea and serving it, but I'm open to other suggestions if you have them.  I don't have a whole lot since I'm new, but I am a skilled fighter among other things and very willing to offer my services in trade for any assistance I receive.

I thank you all in advance for your help.  It is greatly appreciated.


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(OOC:  This post is open to anyone who would actually like to help Lancer with his task, but also to people whose characters would like to troll, hurt, or otherwise take advantage of this poor sap who apparently still hasn't learned his lesson about being so trusting.)

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

...

[His expression softens.]

Hey, I'm not mad or anything. And if I was, it was the good kind of mad. You know, the sort that friendly teasing should get out of a person.

[Well, consider the "challenge" answered now.]

[oathshackledbird]

Oh...

[Lancer suddenly blushes in embarrassment.]

See...this is what I meant. I just don't get it sometimes. It's actually kind of frustrating to be perfectly honest.

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer breaks into a barking laugh.]

Don't worry about it! Everybody teases each other now and then. The thing is that you can make them blush and growl and pout, but remember that tears and stomping away are overdoing it.

[Of course, it also varied from person to person.]

[oathshackledbird]

I guess I would rather just not do it than risk upsetting someone for real.

[Lancer shrugs.]

Oscar and Oisin were better at it than me anyway. Why not let them take care of it? And then I took care of getting them out of the trouble they inevitability got themselves into.

They...would have liked you.

[puppy_lancer]

You're too nice, you know that?

Really? Then I guess I would've like them too.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, and I would have had to get all three of you out of trouble then. Geez...

[Lancer rubs the back of his head, nervously.]

Why does everyone say that like it's something extra special? Why shouldn't I be nice? It is really so odd how I act?

[puppy_lancer]

Nah, it's not so odd as it is...pleasantly surprising. I mean, you're nice. The real sort of nice. Not like the Saber from my world.

[Saber's niceness had felt too formal, too forced. Even during the few occasions they joked around with each other, it felt like Saber was merely humoring him.]

I guess it's just that I've been hanging around the assholes from my Grail War for a little too long.

[oathshackledbird]

I suppose I can understand that. When you have been around people who only play at being nice for a long time, it is probably a little weird to run into someone who really is so.

[Not that Lancer really thinks he's all that great, but...]

It's still surprising to me how different a person can be between worlds. The Saber I know sounds like almost a completely different person from the Saber you know. I bet you were pretty shocked when you realized the Saber here is female instead of male like the legends say.

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah, it was quite a surprise.

[He can still remember their...explosive first meeting during which he had actually accused her of being a cross-dresser.]

But, even if she's harsh, she's honest and means well.

[He remembers the first conversation he had with Diarmuid, when the other Lancer had first arrived.]

Have you seen her around yet?

And for the moment, we will pretend the texts with her happen after this...

[oathshackledbird]

No, not yet.

[He pauses, eyes growing distant for a moment.]

Well, during the experiment you sent me to find her, but she was busy so I didn't bother her. That is the closest I've come to meeting her.

sure thing

[puppy_lancer]

[Maybe that was for the best. He wonders what Saber would say about what Diarmuid had become.]

I'll have to find a way to introduce you guys someday. She'd happy to see you, I guess.

[Given that Diarmuid was the exact sort of knight that she was, and counted as an old friend of sorts.]

[oathshackledbird]

Maybe...

[Lancer's face and voice are much less sure than his roommate's.]

I have talked to the other Saber who is here and she was happy to see me. From what I have heard of this Saber from you and Catarina, I can't be so sure. She seems to have changed in a great many ways since I saw her last.

[The fact that she now has gold eyes instead of green ones still bothers him.]

I have no way of knowing if she cares to meet me again or not.

[puppy_lancer]

I don't know how she was when you knew her, but she values chivalry and courtesy greatly still. As well, she hasn't forgotten her old friends and lovers.

[Even corrupted by Angra Mainyu, Saber was still a noble king.]

I think she'd care.

[oathshackledbird]

You haven't slept with her, have you?

[The words are out of his mouth before he realizes it and he turns bright red as soon as he does.]

I mean...ah...I...

[puppy_lancer]

[Diarmuid is not the only one going bright red. Cu Chulainn is too.]

WHAT THE FUCK? FUCK NO!

[He had too much respect for her as a knight to think only of bedding her.]

What, have you tumbled her?

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer turns even redder at that question.]

No, of course not! I-I...

[His voice drops to a whisper, though it's still very intense.]

I'm merely a knight! I would never be so arrogant as to think myself worthy of such an honor! It's just you mentioned lover and...

[puppy_lancer]

Not me. I ain't her type.

[While he's not outright saying it, he doesn't consider himself worthy of that "honor" either. Saber is too noble, too mature.]

Her lover is a beautiful woman with silver hair. They're a happy couple.

[oathshackledbird]

A...woman with silver hair?

[Surely he didn't mean her master!]

[puppy_lancer]

What, you've seen her around?

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, if she is who I think she is, then that woman is her master from the 4th war.

[Lancer pauses a moment in thought.]

I guess it just surprises me that they would be lovers here. They showed no sign of it back then and if I remember what her master told me right, technically, she is married though I have no idea if he survived the war or not.

[Somehow, he manages to avoid adding "I hope not" to the end of that, though his expression does darken some.]

[puppy_lancer]

Hey, it's not impossible for Servants and Masters to develop affection for each other. And just marriage doesn't mean love.

[Given what little he knows about Diarmuid's history, hadn't the other knight eloped with a princess who was going to marry a man she disliked?]

Besides, they've had time to develop their relationship in this place.

[oathshackledbird]

[Lancer rolls his eyes up at his roommate something...odd and not quite identifiable flashing across them.]

I suppose you are right. I wouldn't know. I never really got the chance to make many choices for myself when it came to my relationships.

[puppy_lancer]

...Did...I say something I shouldn't have?

[The look in Diarmuid's eyes didn't seem to be anger or pain, but Lancer still feels a little discomforted. The only guess he can make is that he said the wrong thing yet again.]

[oathshackledbird]

No, it's all right.

[Lancer brushes off his roommate's concern, though there is actually sadness in his eyes now.]

It just made me think of the past and the things that happened back then. Made me wonder about things I shouldn't wonder about since there is no way of ever knowing the answers.

[His voice becomes very soft, suddenly.]

Like I wonder what my life would have been like if I could have picked the woman I married. If I could have fallen in love and courted her instead of having to run off like I did. How would that have changed things? Would I even be here? Would I have still been collected by the Throne or would I just have been a knight like any other who lived their life happily in the shadow of their lord and who was forgotten when he died?

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer slowly shakes his head.]

I don't know. I mean, I chose everything in my life, including my bride.

[He smiles as he remembers that. Emer was an amazing woman.]

And I still ended up in the Throne. Then again, I already chose to follow the path of a hero. But you...

[A pause.]

You could've gotten in on your chivalry. Even if you didn't elope, people would remember as a loyal knight.

[And now he's curious about the details of Diarmuid's life.]

...Say, what was she like anyway? That princess you married.