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This locket's pretty nifty. [Lancer, poised on the edge of a cliff, leaned his locket against one rock as he fiddled with a cloak and brooch, trying to pin one to the other without ripping it. He kept doing it over and over so he could weather it down and make it more comfortable to wear. When he got into a good little cycle of repetition, he spoke up, again.]

So, hey--I'm curious, has anyone heard about any 'help wanted' situations in Caer Glaem? I'd ask, but I figure this little artifact's got a good reputation is folks're using it so often.

[He continued talking, returning his eyes to the cloak and brooch.]

Let's see--I'm good with a plow, I know my way around horses and spreading seed... [Said nonchalantly, examining his handiwork.]

Pretty good at preparing and serving food. I wouldn't recommend me as the cook, though. I can read and write. [Conveniently, in every language on Earth.]

I'm a really good gardener, too--on top of farming, I mean. If you like flower-arrangement and things like that, you could say I've got a real knack for it.

[Lancer, seemingly content with the work he had done with the cloak and brooch, set both aside and began folding them where they lay. He crossed his arms and grinned back at the locket.]

So, if you folks know anyone who's hiring, put in a good word for me! You can call me [A pause. Lancer definitely stopped at that, thinking through his options.] Lancer. Yeah, I'll stick with that. It's gotten to be a habit, by now.

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Hmph. I'm gettin' the impression that even if I did resist, you'd insist on repaying me. I guess I'll just have to strategically flee from any chances you try to take. [Said loftily, if only because he thought it could actually turn out to be funny.]

But, I ought to ask--the situation's a bit different for me than most, I imagine. Alliances are gonna be tough, y'know? That Master is mine is actually the Seelie Queen.

Then I hope you know that I'm capable of keeping up with you just a bit. [ Now that's something to be proud of. ]

Hoh, so your Master is someone of that importance?

[ This poses a more difficult problem for her. If the nobles of this land were taking on Servants, there remains the possibility that Archer, Saber, or Berserker could end up as the Unseelie's leader's Servant. Best to talk this over with her mentor first. ]

Should I be taking this as a threat? If my affections are unwanted, as are my allegiances, you should simply say so.

Ahhh. See, there's the problem. I can't tell you right now if that's really the case--that she'd order me to just fight the Unseelie without giving me a choice.

[The problem with Masters, as usual. Still, he smiled plainly about it all the same.]

I could hope she's a pretty peaceful lady, but she's not easy to read. [Because she's in a coma.]

It only seems fair not to lead you on as an ally, when in the worst situation she could command me to take your head.

You might not know this seeing as events played out differently for you, Lancer, but I'm sort of used to my allies betraying me. If I was any less of a person, I'd hold a grudge for it, but at the end of the day we are all at war. If not for what we believe in, then to protect our very lives. Think of me as a child, but I'm not naive enough to believe that anyone here has my best interests at heart save for me.

I'd like to focus on forging pacts with others that aren't about whose side we're on, but more importantly our common goals. You're looking for work and I have work for you. Shouldn't that be enough to bind us together at least momentarily?

Edited 2014-10-05 20:22 (UTC)

[There was a low hum in Lancer's voice. He wondered what the hell he did for Rin that earned him that sense of esteem. She had seemed like she'd jump out of her skin when he remembered meeting her.]

Alright, alright. Enough tryin' to sneak me past my own words, missy. I know what your intent is, so there's no point in tryin' to talk me through it.

If this 'work' you've got is fair in my mind, I'll take it. Otherwise, I'm not allowin' a bargain that'll cause me to betray my Master. That's all there is to it.

[ He took out Kirei Kotomine after she found out the bastard killed her father and ruined her life, while saving her from Shinji Matou. Come on, that's worth devotion. ]

So now I know you're not desperate enough to consent to work without knowing what it entails. Interesting thing of note.

Very well. You said you can write, can you?

[Yeah, he killed a ton of people. He won't remember some dumb priest... Except he will, because the tofu that guy ate--]

I can. It depends whether or not it's just for notation or if it's got a specific purpose, though. Transcription's easy, but I'm not the best of magi.

You can write and you know your runes well.

[ That statement comes on a little strong as further proof they were allies or that she's at least seen some of his tricks up close. ]

That language.

What was it?

Mmph. Yeah, I know 'em. [A vast understatement. It was also confirmation that Rin had seen him in action quite a bit.]

Problem is, I can't imitate it now. My idiot King and Queen stole it away from me.

[Seriously, guys. Why?]

They were the runes from that old oak tree. The first one, I guess.

[ Letting little things like that slip in will only further her position on their acquaintance. If she can make Lancer understand she views him as a friend and is grateful to him over anything else that in time he may think fondly of her as well. ]

That old oak tree? [ Frowning a bit. ]

Why did they take away your abilities? If they want you to fight, it seems odd that they would remove them.

[Lancer would have been more opening to creating more friendly relationships with outsiders if not for the monarchs and their weird grip on him. He really disliked that kind of needlessly difficult pact.]

Yeah. What'd they call it? The root? The first tree.

Wait-- [It was insane how he could barely remember it. It was because he spent his education staring down the front of Scathach's tunic all day.]

Right, Yggdrassil.

Anyway, as for my abilities, I could hardly guess. They may just be sadists who want to see their champion struggle. To think they even forced a contract on me--!

[ So Yggdrassil taught Lancer how to rune and he's not capable of doing it now. She's missing out on a prime opportunity here, how dare his leadership keep that from her. It's almost tempting to go to war with them for that alone. ]

You know there exists a weapon that could break a pact.

[For all he knew, Scathach was lying and he was just collecting those runes at the Mythical Walmart.]

Ahhh? Really, should I believe my ears? That idea reeks of betrayal. [He was smiling all the same.]

[ Wale-Mart, you mean. You had an opportunity and you didn't take it. ]

Hoh and do you think I'm a master of that? Maybe I know a thing or two of being betrayed or doing the betraying myself.

... alternatively, someone could just kill your Master for you.

[Ware ware]

Jeez, you're startin' to really remind me of somebody I used to know.

[He already discussed his teacher with Rin, but he never mentioned her too intimately--just as the demonic lady who taught him how to use a lance. He felt it would go to Rin's head if he told her everything.]

Still, that's not the answer I'm aiming for. Those folks grant rewards to those who follow them, so I've got to grit my teeth.

Those runes were my pride as a student. If my Master dies, then I forfeit the years I spent in that hall of learning.

Well, if your Master dies, it can't be helped. It just means they were the lesser Master in the battle and you as their Servant should have been commanded better. It isn't as if you're a puppet on a string, but you still follow instructions from the row behind you as you battle in the front line.

Besides that, you weren't so broken up when your Master died in the Fifth Holy Grail War.

[ The asshole one, not the Irish fangirl hottie. Who is she, some kind of Extra character?? ]

It's a bit different. I've got to play along awhile so I can get back what I lost. I don't have any idea if I get it back if they die or if it's gone for good at that point.

[Lancer was curious about what Rin meant, but for the most part he decided to ignore it. He was 'Seelie', so he took it to mean that he wasn't allowed to make plans with potential enemies, Rin included. As long as those two courts existed and he was ringed onto a side, he'd have a tough time being liberal.]

So, I've got to obey if only because I want my pride back.

Is that how it is? [ Servants losing their abilities, huh? Rin can't say she's surprised by his choice or by that realization. ]

Suit yourself, Lancer.

Should I expect you to make an attempt at finishing what you started on the first night so many months ago?

Hah. Probably not until you make a big name for yourself.

[He grinned, knowing it was fruitless for Rin to even try winning him over. Funny enough, he still didn't know what he did for her and how that came to transpire in the first place.]

That said, it's not as if Servants have a choice in these things, right?

You're wrong.

[ That one comes out brunt, almost as if she's aware that he alone could defy a single command if given or survive long enough to act in defiance of it. ]

Every person has a choice and that's why they were brought here. Don't tell me you've overlooked the influence other cultures have had on this world, Lancer. You seemed to be more clever than that when we first met.

That's quite the unerring faith. What a pain... [Really, he just found that sort of situation to be irritating. Rin really did cast a weird sort of value on him. He remembered a few times when his Princess chided him like that.]

Shame of the matter is, even if I don't care for the situation, I'm not the sort of man who's gonna back down from this sort of challenge. My pride's a pretty important thing, after all.

--but is your pride worth dying for? [ Rin blurts it out already knowing the answer deep down. ]

...

[ Which means thankfully for Lancer, she's struck herself silent with the thought. ]

Hah.

[Even Lancer had to stop and laugh at that one.

Seriously, Rin. It's like you just started playing that game!]

[ Clearing her throat. ] I won't admit that I understand, but I'll try to keep that in mind.

Try to not scrub too many floors or pick too many flowers, else your pride may diminish in value.

I don't believe any man who thinks he's above a hard day's work is a real man at all. Moochers like that're closer to children who need adults to look after them.

[HE'S TALKING ABOUT YOU, GOLDIE]

You should consider a day job aside from all that dutiful studying you're probably into. Try out some fresh air, missy. You won't regret it.

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