Video

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer looks outright haggard as he appears on the feed. However, he at least has his normal form back.]

Master. Brother. I'm okay now.

[And then he shuts off the feet.]

Comments

video

[proteusmoon]

Of course I would. Nothing that happened was your fault.

Re: video

[puppy_lancer]

Have you...even heard about what I really did?

video

[proteusmoon]

[ She doesn't want to bring up the situation, but she nods after hesitating briefly. ]

...I know what happened with Diarmuid.

Re: video

[puppy_lancer]

Oh.

[He shifts around, a little awkwardly.]

Shouldn't you be more worried about him then?

video

[proteusmoon]

I am worried about him, but I can afford to split my attention as I wish. I saw him the day afterward.

Re: video

[puppy_lancer]

...Alright. He's telling me to come see him now, so I'll go find you later, okay?

video

[proteusmoon]

I understand. Be well.

action

[puppy_lancer]

[And a long while later, Lancer is knocking on Cecil's door.

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[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil hasn't dropped her guard since Kain and Lancer first disappeared and it's obvious by how she's in a defensive stance when she answers the door. ]

Lancer...

[ She stands aside to let him in and replaces her sword back inside its sheath atop her storage trunk. ]

Re: action

[puppy_lancer]

Easy there.

[He holds up his hands in mock surrender.. At least, right now, he looks less like he's on the verge of breakdown.]

Everything should be already over. I mean, I'm back the way I'm supposed to be.

Re: action

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil shakes her head, her eyes sad in response to his reassurance. ]

No, I... I'm sorry. It isn't you. I've just... been more on edge lately. A lot has happened over the last few months.

[ Still, she tries a smile, because she is at least happy that Lancer is able to joke again. ]

I'm relieved to see you back to your old self again. Please— come inside. Sit down.

Re: action

[puppy_lancer]

[After hesitating a moment, he steps in. But he remains standing instead of sitting down.]

You sure you're alright then? I'd listen if you had anything you need to get off your chest.

I lost this tag. ;~;

[proteusmoon]

[ Cecil arches an eyebrow at him asking her if she's all right, but shakes her head. ]

I'm fine. Tired, but... I'm decent. Alive still. I should be asking you that.

it's okay

[puppy_lancer]

Pretty much the same here. Give me a couple of days and I'll be good as new.

[proteusmoon]

[ For a while, Cecil is quiet, accepting that as an answer, until she sits down on the bed, her hands gripping the edge lightly. It's difficult for her to decide right away how to phrase the things she wants to say, but after the experiment, she doesn't feel comfortable leaving them unsaid. ]

When you told me when we first met that you didn't think you lived up to the role of a knight, I told you that a knight lives for a cause, that a knight has a heart and protects those around him.

And when I told Diarmuid that I knew you, he explained to me that he thinks you often keep your pain buried deep.

I understand why this is preferable to sharing what hurts you, but more than that, I understand what happens when you do this too often. It will come out in some way.

[puppy_lancer]

[He shakes his head.]

Not if it goes away before it can come out. Time does heal all wounds, you know.

[proteusmoon]

And ignoring how you feel -- denying that you feel that way, even -- does that?

[puppy_lancer]

...It's worked so far.

[proteusmoon]

I don't believe you.

[ But even so, she smiles sadly. ]

It's never worked for me.

[ Maybe he's right. Maybe she just never gave herself time enough. Maybe she should try. ]

[puppy_lancer]

[There's a moment of silence, and then he shakes his head.]

It's hard, huh? Knowing you need to be strong for someone else.

[The second part goes unsaid: "When all you wanna do is curl up and cry."]

[proteusmoon]

...Harder than most initially expect.

[puppy_lancer]

That's why you don't have to be strong for me. You can just let me be strong for you.

[He smiles, but the smile is strained.]

[proteusmoon]

[ Likewise, Cecil's ensuing laughter is a bit hollow. ]

Unfortunately for you, that is not your choice to make. It's mine. I don't do this out of a sense of obligation--

[ Well, all right, that's not entirely true. ]

--but because it's what I want to do. You are my friend. I want to protect you. It does not matter to me if you can defend yourself. This is how I treat people I care for.

[puppy_lancer]

Then we really are stuck at a stalemate. I wanna protect you, you wanna protect me. Guess we can only wait and see who gives first.

[proteusmoon]

Have you met many women knights before?