eachdraidh | video ✨ seelie/unseelie

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video ✨ seelie/unseelie

[ This isn't the first time she's discovered a powerful necklace capable of miracles beyond being a plot device, but as an experienced magus who is used to artifacts passing along messages over cell phones, it's no trouble to adjust to it. While she doesn't understand why it works the way it does (what's the purpose of keeping a conversation permanently), from what she gathers it is a primary tool used by many of the others here. Having met someone already from her world, there remains the possibility there may be others so she sits all prim and proper for her debut. ]

Good evening. I'm sure the lot of you are tired of hearing introductions, but it'd be poor manners to not announce myself. While it would be discreet to do this one by one, idle time is limited so I'll make this brief and as memorable as I can.

I'm Rin Tohsaka. [ Surname second only because she assumes Japanese mannerisms are frowned upon in this world. ] Though I've been called away from my studies in London to fight in a war, I must admit my experience in combat is limited. From what I've gathered, there are many like me here. What is there for us to do? How can we aid beyond training and letting our inexperienced manner add to the favor of the opposing side? Showing both intelligence and courage can only get you so far. It seems rather meaningless to have us younger adults throw ourselves into the fray.

So what is it that you do to be of use? Every person brought here must have some value to them and hearing of your experiences may be able to help guide me towards my own. Keep it brief and with as little bias as you can--I frankly don't care to hear about the war this or the war that. Thank you.

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That's correct. The oddity is a result of the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War.

[ And a bit too quickly she adds: ] Those details aren't known to me well so I'm afraid I'd be unable to tell you how it ends. Only that it does.

[ She could tell him that the Grail is a phoney, that there's something residing within it that's inhuman and that she eventually dismantles it with Waver Velvet of all people. She could do that.

But she won't. ] It is strange.

[Diarmuid nods in understanding, though, he does notice how quickly she answers.]

That is all right. The war is just starting for me and I have no real interest in knowing how it ended before it ends for me. I have sworn a promise to my lord and I will see it done no matter the cost.

[Diarmuid is confident in this. He needs no one to tell him he succeeds at his task. He knows he will.]

If you don't mind, I will ask my lord what might specifically cause such a thing. Perhaps he will know...

Your lord--is he here?

[ Can't blame a magus for being invested in that piece of information. ] Since you're aware that I'm a Master with my own Servant due to your eavesdropping, isn't it fair to return the favor?

It's hardly eavesdropping when the answer is right out there for anyone to see.

[But since he had tricked her into confirming the information...]

My Lord is here. Well, a version of my lord is here. It seems that because we are from different points in time, our contract has been severed. How I am remaining manifest is beyond me. Hopefully, we will figure that out soon.

[Not knowing makes Diarmuid justifiably uneasy.]

[ We can all thank Lancer's STUPID BIG MOUTH WITH HIS TONGUE HANGING OUT LIKE A STUPID DOG for that.]

I suspect it has to do with the shard within you. [ Seems she's already had this conversation with someone else since the answer comes to mind so quick. That or she's a really good magus. ] Serving as a catalyst to this world, it's as if you're something akin to the Counterforce of our world.

Will you be reforging your pact with your lord then? You seem loyal to him so it's odd that you haven't gone through the effort of doing so just yet.

[A sudden grin crosses Diarmuid's face.]

My lord actually suggested the same thing. It seems like a good possibility to me, and it's nice to speak to someone who agrees. I am hoping that if I find out more about the shard, I might be able to figure out exactly how it works. Perhaps it is as you say...

[Just as quickly as the smile comes, though, it shifts into something slightly uneasy.]

I would be glad to reforge our contracted if my lord wished it, but he has shown no interest in doing so.

[ That only further concerned her. Just what kind of arrogant jerk doesn't take advantage of a Servant this loyal? Rin would have given half her fortune away for a partner that didn't abandon her every time she turned her back away. ]

Is this because your lord is on the opposing faction? It's strange for a magus to not accept the benefits that come with having a Servant to fight for them and vice versa--especially if you're so willing.

I know. I think it strange as well...

[A worried look crosses his face for a moment. Did something happened during the time that Kayneth has been through that Diarmuid hasn't to make his master doubt him?]

We are both in the same court, so I really don't know what the reason is, and he has never really liked having to explain his decisions...

Is it possible he's had a change of heart regarding servitude in general?

[ Fat chance, but Rin admittedly can't think of a reason. With both Saber and Archer here, she's found herself concerned for them in a vaguely familiar way--a way she hasn't felt in over a decade. Whatever this strange feeling was, she's certain that others who have had a bond with a Servant must feel the same way... right? ]

Give him time and he'll come to his senses. It could be that he's still taking in all of this.

Somehow...I doubt that...

[A sad, almost troubled, look crosses Diarmuid's face. The moment he realizes it's there, though, he pushes it away and smiles a little hollowly at her.

He doesn't bother to specify which of her statements that line applies to. It is possible it applies to both.]

Oh well, it doesn't matter at the moment. We have more important things to worry about and I am stable. If that changes, then we can worry about it.

[Diarmuid just hopes he will have time to worry about it...]

[ That's another Servant's that claimed to be stable by the world around them. Just what was going on? Wouldn't it have been safer for this world to pull these heroes from the proper time instead of during the Holy Grail War? ]

More important things? What is there for you to be concerned about beyond the well being of your Master and your pact?

Do not get me wrong. Those things are very important to me. I made vows to him that I will not break. However, I do not need a pact to force me to fulfill those vows. I do not break the promises I make.

[Diarmuid sighs, reaching up to run a hand through his hair.]

My vows are tied to the war back home, though, not the war here. That is why it is so important to me to find a way to finish this war, so I can go home and fulfill them.

[ Hoh? ] What a simple response. You wish to finish things here quickly without knowing the full extent of what is going on just so you could return to your vows prior?

Isn't that a bit hasty? You haven't had time to study the politics and history of this world, have you, Servant Lancer?

Ah, now who is making assumptions, Lady Tohsaka?

[A grin turns up the corner of Diarmuid's mouth.]

My vows are very important to me, but I am also a patient man. No war is won without gathering information, and so I am doing just that. Have no fear...

[ Assumptions and Rin go hand in hand. ] You're patient, but your goal is to finish the war here. Isn't that a bit of a conundrum for someone like you?

More importantly, you're one of the knight classes of Servants and every knight I've met--[ Not counting Archer class because what the fuck, you guys. ]--has a bit of honor to them. Ending the war means eliminating an entire side.

[Diarmuid's grin falters and he shakes his head.]

You don't have much firsthand experience with war, do you? Yes, that is one way of ending a battle and, lets be honest, that is the war the Grail War we both know is run. However, that is far from the only way. Every battle has it's own unique way of ending and no one knows what that way will be until it is time for it to happen. Sometimes, the biggest battle plans are rendered moot because of last minute negotiations.

But you are correct in one thing. Honor is very important to me. The fewer lives lost in all of this, the better. Sadly, this is war and so I also prepare myself for whatever might happen.

You mean you've prepared yourself for killing a bunch of people who don't know how to fight a Servant. [ She says it boldly to reaffirm that in his mind.

The loss of that smile of his only encourages her to try to sway him into not fighting. As futile as the gesture may be, it's all she has for now. ]

I've studied wars and battles all my life. I might not have experienced much of them and it'd be childish to say the war I was in was worse than yours, but to disregard my experiences just because I'm a child who has lived in a cushioned time is a grave mistake, Lancer.

[Diarmuid's eyes narrow slightly and his voice is a touch harsher than it has been until now.]

Lady, I am going to have to ask you to stop assuming you know how I feel and why I do what I do. You know nothing about me, just as I know nothing about you. If you wish to know things, ask straight questions, but stop assuming before your assumptions turn someone who might be an ally into an enemy because your assumptions insult them.

It is true at the beginning I underestimated you slightly, but that assumption was very quickly cleared away. No one without a good head on their shoulders could win a war. Lets stop talking up and down to each other, shall we?

[ Fine, fine. She gets it. Talking this way might work with someone like Emiya or the Lancer of her war, but with this guy it's getting her nowhere. ]

All right. It's agreed upon: we started off on the wrong foot.

I wasn't expecting for my identity as a Master to be revealed so callously I behaved after. It took me by surprise--and why wouldn't it? This is a completely different world where most of the people who knew I was a Master were long gone.

It's all right. I don't blame you. Even though I don't really like all the secrecy in the War, I do understand its purpose.

[And just that quickly, the anger simmering below the surface fades and Diarmuid relaxes again.]

Especially considering you were the winner as well. I am sure if the wrong people show up here, that could put you in danger. Do you happen to have any idea how many people from some version of our world are here?

I have an inkling. [ Enough to defend herself against the ones who would bring harm to her, that much she's certain of. ]

Saber of the Fourth and Fifth War. Lancer of the Fifth War. Archer of the Fifth War. Berserker of the Fourth.

Now the Lancer of the Fourth, I presume?

Yes, my war is the 4th.

[If his words seem distracted, it is because they are.]

You said the Saber of the 4th and 5th wars? Your war must be very different from mine, because the Saber I know from the 4th war could only be found in my court and she is not here.

She isn't from my war either.

[ Rin says without any hesitation to it. ] Second Magic is what has brought us here, but it's the work of the Fifth Magic at play here. Do you recall what you said of your lord appearing from a different time?

What if I told you it's possible to have allies here from a completely different realm? A parallel world.

[Second and Fifth Magic? Diarmuid understands the basics of both thanks to the Grail and that is part of the reason he finds it so hard to believe that both are at work in one place. True Magic is suppose to be rare, but...

Well, what else has made logical sense in this place? Magic doesn't often mix with logic.]

I wouldn't argue with you. It is hard to argue against anything being possible considering what we have already seen here.

Then that's what we have to deal with. People who we thought were friends can be enemies and how they perceived us could be entirely different. You should tread with caution when speaking with a familiar face.

[ And that's as much of a warning as she can give him about Saber. ]

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