[video]

[croibhristeoir]

Why am I...here...?

[Lancer looked pale and shaky, trembling as he tried to form proper words.]

I...died. Didn't I? I-- [He pressed a trembling hand to his heart, as though expecting to find a gaping wound.] He...they killed me. They killed me and yet I still breathe, how?

[Crimson tears left golden eyes as he spoke, Lancer clearly having difficulty remembering he'd left his canon timeline quite a long time ago.]

Wh-where am I?

Comments

video;

[jailbirds]

Diarmuid? [ he "died", huh... maybe - ] Are you talking about that zombie thing? Issei said you were fine...

video;

[croibhristeoir]

I'm not--...who? I am not certain I know what is going on.

video;

[jailbirds]

Gotta be a virus... Sheesh. Y'know, you always seemed like the stable one to me. [ SIGHS. ] Okay, where do you think you should be?

video;

[croibhristeoir]

I...I should be dead right now. At least I think that's right...isn't it?

[jailbirds]

Mm... I've never known you to be dead. So, I can't help with that. But your memories are probably just getting messed around with right now.

I'm Minatsuki, by the way. And if you're where you normally are, it's probably Issei Ryudo's temple.

video;

[chuanifrinn]

[He's not sure how much crazy he can handle, and he's rarely the calm one...but they do say cooler heads prevail.]

There really is something skeevy going on...hey...uh...try to relax, though I guess it's not easy...and tell me what you remember.

video;

[croibhristeoir]

I-...I am the Servsnt of Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi. I was f-fighting Saber and there was...he ordered me to die, he ordered me to kill myself, why am I here?

video;

[chuanifrinn]

It's a pleasure, Servant of Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi...I'm Cu Chulainn [he's playing this as carefully as possible] and...and you're here because there are people who love you.

video;

[croibhristeoir]

L...Lancer. My name is Lancer--i-it's Diarmuid, I mean.

I don't understand. They-I should be dead this isn't even real, I'm dead and it's their fault, it's their fault and I hate them all--

video;

[chuanifrinn]

A brother to my own soul...we're the same, you and I...I understand exactly how you feel...

...You're alive and warm and safe now...though I can't speak for what is real since that's relative...but we're talking now, I could touch you if I wanted to...

video;

[croibhristeoir]

Why? I shouldn't--I should just disappear. That's what dead Servants do, isn't it?

video;

[chuanifrinn]

Yeah, that's what Servants normally do, it's what I should have done...but...you were chosen by this nexus and the people here love you...you're here because of that...that's why. You were rescued, saved from death.

[Action]

[unknownrival]

[Not even bothering with replying, just coming straight to where Diarmuid is in the temple.]

It's okay. You're going to be all right, no one has killed you...

[Action]

[croibhristeoir]

They did--I did. I killed myself on his order, I did, so why am I here...?

[Action]

[unknownrival]

You didn't. T-timelines are mixing - this is where you live.

[Action]

[croibhristeoir]

You're wrong. I'm not-...I don't live anywhere.

[And he's crying blood all over your floor.]

[Action]

[unknownrival]

A rün... [Issei pulls out a handkerchief (not a white one) and reaches to wipe away some of the blood.]

[Action]

[croibhristeoir]

Don't touch me--!

[Diarmuid recoiled almost immediately, snarling like the vengeful spirit he'd turned himself into.]

[Action]

[unknownrival]

[Issei cringes and takes a step back. He... he's afraid of his Diarmuid like this, and he hates that he's afraid of someone who he should be able to stand by when he's in need.]

I don't want to hurt you. I just want to help.

[video]

[aquaticrush]

*Retasu is back in the hospital hooked up to equipment after having had a long lecture from the doctors about breaking out. She quivers at the screen.*

Lancer-san, please be okay! It's all right, you're alive, aren't you?

[video]

[croibhristeoir]

I...I don't know. I shouldn't be.

[video]

[aquaticrush]

Please. You're wonderful. I don't know how to convince you.

[video]

[croibhristeoir]

No, I--this doesn't make sense. I just killed myself on his orders, so of course I shouldn't still be alive.

[video]

[aquaticrush]

It's a virus, Lancer-san. I remember about twelve different versions of my life.

[video]

[croibhristeoir]

...how are you not going insane? I feel like my head's about to explode--I don't even know if I'm supposed to be dead or alive right now.