[video] ⚔ lightning swordsman

[croibhristeoir]

[He stepped lightly among the trees around the Ryudou Temple, each motion almost impossibly silent. The steps of a skilled enough warrior were like that of a wildcat; practiced, agile, undetectable. His were no different, least of all as one who spent a year and a half running and avoiding detection. If Diarmuid Ua Duibhne chose to move unseen or unheard, you could bet no one was going to find him. Unless of course the community broadcast his movements as was the case today.]

[Once he'd reached a clearing, the knight stopped and took a breath, holding out his right hand--a long crimson lance took form from thin air to answer his call, green and black armor replacing ordinary human clothes in much the same way. All concerns about living in a world that seemed almost to have no place for him, about that shadow of uncertainty and unhappiness that had plagued him since the Fourth Holy Grail War, about countless other smaller matters--they were gone in a matter of seconds. This was his natural element, with a beloved weapon in his hands.]

[It twirled and struck at the air like scarlet lightning, moving in perfect synchronization with the knight wielding it. Not a single strike was anything less than flawless, not a single movement wasted. His imagined target was struck without fail, Diarmuid's motions almost like a practiced choreography--a graceful and planned dance that was nothing short of death for his enemies.]

[This was a knight, this was one of the Fianna through and through. For all his compassion, there should never have been any doubt the kind of superhuman skill he possessed. Kindness did not equal weakness. The fact that he'd sooner avoid unnecessary fights did not mean he wasn't able to bring a swift end to them.]

[A Servant was a weapon in service to a Master. A knight was a weapon in service to those needing protection.]

[If that was to remain true, then he would be as skilled a weapon as he could be.]

Comments

Permavid;

[healinguilt]

[ What she just witnessed could almost be an art, if she didn't know that every move he made had been developed with the intention to protect, to harm, or to kill. Still, that didn't detract from the beauty of it all. ] It's amazing what you're able to do.

[croibhristeoir]

Oh--

[The answer came some minutes later--still in the forest, his armor dissipated into nothing and left ordinary clothes in its place once more.]

Thank you. ...I didn't realize that was being recorded.

[healinguilt]

Is that just for practice? I doubt I'd get to witness something like that any other way.

video;

[chuanifrinn]

[You hear that? That is the distinct sound of what is referred to as a golf-clap. Loud enough to be heard, but soft enough to be polite and unobtrusive.]

video;

[croibhristeoir]

Wh-...oh. Y-you saw that?

[didiscareyouyet]

[He just pops up on the screen, eyes wide but without saying anything. He is so impressed right now.]

[croibhristeoir]

...H-hello. Is something wrong?

[glass_secret]

[She gives a long whistle of one who saw something very impressive.] Nice.

[croibhristeoir]

Thank you. I had almost feared myself out of practice.

Video

[nofarplaneyet]

*Another guy with a lance. The community had a lot of good fighters.*

Pretty good. About as good as Lancer.

Video

[croibhristeoir]

What? But I'm-

[He stopped abruptly, the obvious conclusion of 'there's more than one Lancer' clicking half a second later.]

Oh, you must mean the other one. Forgive me, I wasn't thinking.

[video forever]

[aquaticrush]

You really are amazing.

[croibhristeoir]

I am really not all that special.

[video forever as well]

[harlol]

*clapclapclapclap*

[croibhristeoir]

Oh...thank you.

[locked]

[anothersoul]

You really did go easy on me; if you fought like that I wouldn't have lasted a minute.

I'll have to become quicker. Heh... Now I have a goal. Next time we spar, Lancer-san, maybe I'll be more on your level.

[locked]

[croibhristeoir]

Having a goal to aim for is an important step in combat training. I look forward to the day you can keep up with me.

[heavenlyhome]

[She's seen him fight before, of course, through the videos that had previously posted on the community. It is quite another thing to see him in his element without a deep feeling of worry. It is breathtaking.

Kasumi lets out a soft 'oh' of amazement.]

[croibhristeoir]

Hm--oh, hello Kasumi. Is there something I can help you with?

[ video ]

[stillneedawish]

[ WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA. yeah she's letting out a long sound of amazement right now. ]

Diarmuid-san, that's amazing! Honestly amazing! [ yep still awestruck here sorry. BACK LATER. ] I knew you must be good, but I had no idea I had such an amazingly talented teacher!

[ video ]

[croibhristeoir]

[...madoka you precious baby girl]

You are truly very kind to speak so highly of me. I can not say I am any stronger or weaker than any other knight; all I have I've learned through experience and the teaching of those greater than myself.

[ voice ]

[not_that_lockon]

[ whoa. that is definitely impressive. Lyle's in one of the Ptolemy hangers right now so he can't risk a video, but voice can't hurt to express his appreciation. ]

You're showing up all the rest of us from the future.

[ he might have been aiming for teasing, but he can't keep the awe out of his voice, and honestly, he doesn't want to. ]

[ voice ]

[croibhristeoir]

My sincerest apologies.

[He laughed softly as he spoke, somewhere between amused and embarrassed.]

[ video ] so ends the 3-comment combo of lateness

[timey_wimey]

[ the Doctor appears to be on a planet today. a clearly alien one, though he's seated in what's recognisable as a cafe. ]

Practicing, are we? [ he's impressed, no doubt about that. it shows all over his face and in the tone of his voice. ] They weren't lying about your skill. Not that I was expecting them to, of course, but it's nice to know stories get some things right, isn't it?

[ video ] shhhhhh never late

[croibhristeoir]

You flatter me, truly. I worried the stories may have exaggerated my abilities over time.