animus_network | Once the Honeymoon is Over... [Video]

[The face on the camera is tired, the look in Diarmuid's eyes making it clear that the source of his weariness isn't physical, but mental and emotional as it so often has been since he arrived here.]

Has anyone see my brother? Ah...you probaly know him better as Lancer. I know he is still in the tower because his belongings are here and his name is still on the door, but I cannot find him anywhere and I have looked. Those who know my skills know quickly I can do that.

I am worried because I just remembered something he said to Jason a while back. He said he would volunteer for his next experiement and since this is Jason's month in charge and so many others have gone missing, I fear for what that means for him.

If anyone has seen him in the last few days, will you please let me know?

[Diarmuid pauses a moment, suddenly looking a lot more uneasy.]

Also, I want to apologize to all the people who were affected by my curse about week ago or got caught up in everything that was going on. For those who don't know, I carry a curse that forces the women who see my face to fall in love with me. It has been mostly inactive in this place but for some reason during the end of March and the beginning of April it flared back to life affecting both men and women. Unfortunately, I have never been able to tell when it is active and when it is not so far too many people were affected before I knew what was going on.

I...do not know why this happened. It has gone inactive again and I think by this time all those affected should have had the effects wear off. If not, take the knowledge that your strange feelings are caused by something outside of you and focus on that...

[Suddenly, he turns away from the screen as if someone has tugged on his arm, which they have. When he speaks his voice is quieter and directed at whoever is standing just off camera.]

Tony, just a moment, okay? I will play with you then.

[Diarmuid turns back to the camera, quiet for a moment as if he is collecting his thoughts and then continues where he left off.]

Focusing on the fact that your feelings are not your own will help you overcome the effects sooner. It is not something that worked that well during my first life, but there is a very strong pattern of it working here...

[There is a sudden scuffling behind Diarmuid and he is yanked away from the camera. The scuffling continues as his voice drifts back toward the terminal.]

Tony! Tony wait! I'm not done...

Gah! Does anyone know how to stop an alien abduction?

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(OOC: Diarmuid's responses will come a few hours later when he has given Tony the attention that the little gray alien seems to want so badly.)

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[Diarmuid gives Rin a confused look.]

Rin? Is something wrong? I don't understand...

Your curse. Did you rack up the number of lovers you had in order to retaliate against me?

[ Yes, she's blaming him entirely for it. ] I won't cry over it, you know. Crying over a guy... who would do that?

[Diarmuid's eyes widen and he pales completely.]

What? No! I have never taken advantage of someone under the spell of my curse and I never will. It is wrong!

...

Why do you think I would be retaliating against you? You have done nothing to me that would call for such a thing.

[A concerned look fills his eyes.]

Rin, what is wrong? I know I have been busy lately, but I have told you more than once that if you ever need me for anything I am here for you.

[ Wary to trust him outright, she just huffs up more. ]

Because of what I said. That I had multiple lovers. Weren't you trying to make me jealous?

[ A pause, then: ] You weren't, were you? No, you're too honest of a person to do that.

No, Rin. I'm not. I know the pain that jealousy can bring far too well. Why would I ever cause it to another?

[A soft, almost begging look enters his eyes.]

Will you please tell me what is wrong? Something has happened...

Archer's gone. [ A rare moment of trust. ]

I don't know where he is. I can't feel him anymore, but his name remains on the door. It took me a while to find his room, but I did.

Just like Lancer. He's gone and I don't have anyone.

[Diarmuid presses his lips together in a frown. As much as he dislikes the other servant, hearing that he is missing much like Cu Chulainn is not good news.]

No, he hasn't abandoned you, Rin. His name is still on the door which means this absence is likely not his fault, but the administrators'. Knowing Archer, he is probably raging at them for keeping him from you right now.

And I know it might not mean much, but I am here. You know I will not leave you alone.

The administrators?

[ She pauses, then glances down. ] They're in that floor below the cafeteria. I'll bring this entire tower down upon them and have my Archer returned to my side.

[Diarmuid shakes his head sadly.]

It's not so easy as that Rin. We don't know what they may or may not have done to him. Doing something like that may get him killed, and with no administrators to bring him back to life...

[He doesn't mention all the other people who would be hurt or killed in the process. The idea terrifies him actually, but he also knows that it won't hold the same terror for her because she knows how little those people think of her and that makes them completely expendable to her.]

He could revert to spirit form. [ Rin says bluntly. ] He's a Servant, so that's something he can do.

Hm, but what about myself? Is it a noble sacrifice to save him if I do that... geez, since when do I care about that?

[Her words cause an odd sort of conflicting feeling inside of him. On one side, he is happy to see he so willing to sacrifice. It means she actually is caring about someone besides herself, even if that someone is Archer. On the other side, he would really rather she not get herself killed over this.]

I would guess the answer to your question is an obvious one. People often become less afraid to die when it is in the process of saving someone they care about. However, I really would rather you not get yourself killed if it is all the same to you. I will be glad to help you with rescuing him if it comes down to that.

Tch, who says I care about him?

[ Hmph. ] I just rather die so that he dies wherever he is. Even if I can't feel the pact, it still has to be there. How can he exist otherwise?

[ If Rin can't have Archer, no one can. ]

I'm only joking, of course. I wouldn't kill myself for some worthless Servant that's gone and got himself captured.

Of course, you wouldn't.

[Though Diarmuid's face is mostly solemn, a small smile turns the corner of his mouth up. She may say she doesn't care about Archer, but Diarmuid is starting to learn to read just enough between the lines to know that she does care about him in her own odd way.]

I will be looking for my brother so I will look for him as well and if I find him, I will let him know just how much you don't care about him, since he's not a good enough servant to even avoid being captured. Is that acceptable?

... Yeah, that's acceptable.

[ A suitable enough pause to determine if it was or not. ] Let me know right away when you find him, Lancer.

I will, Rin. You know I will.

[Diarmuid nods, smiling in a way that he hopes is reassuring.]

Please be careful in the meantime. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to let me know. You know I will do whatever I can for you.

Once the Honeymoon is Over... [Video]

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