TEST DRIVE MEME

[behind_the_box]

Starting now, we'll put up a new one of these very month! Feel free to use the current setting of Pandora (Christmas in July) or make up your own! You can also use the following scenarios if you'd prefer:

1. Mushroom Kingdom

Have you ever wanted to be a fairy? Well now you are, even if the answer was no! The City is a big, big place, all of a sudden. Houses are roomy affairs inside giant mushrooms, there are colorful flowers everywhere you look, and the animals are always friendly! Unfortunately, the only food items being sold in the market this month are fruit, fruit, and.... more fruit.

2. School Town

You may be too old to attend the academy, but that doesn't seem to matter; your attendance is mandatory anyway. Or perhaps you're there to teach, because you're the only resident of Pandora that possesses a certain skill. It doesn't matter if it can't be learned; you have to come up with a lesson plan anyway. At least the uniforms aren't some god awful color, right?

3. Zombie Apocalypse.

There's no coming back from death in Pandora, so you'd better do all you can to survive. Three quarters of the city are already infected, and this is the last stand. Are you going to pool your resources and try to make it together, or is it time to stop trusting others and go it alone until the month is over?

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

You called me that as an insult.

[He holds Gae Bolg at an odd angle, pointing it at Saber's feet.]>/small>

I'm no mere wild dog, Saber.

[shatteredservice]

And calling me a 'womanizer' when we have not even properly introduced ourselves isn't an insult?

[There is part of him that screams for him to attack, but another part--a less dark and tainted part--recognizes what the odd angling the other servant has done to his weapon means. He also knows what the result of an attack from said weapon would be. The stories all say that Gae Bolg never failed to find the heart when used seriously and as ambivalent about death as he might be after all that has happened to him, Diarmuid really doesn't want to die so soon after arriving in this strange new place.

Reluctantly--if a fading glow can seem reluctant--the runes vanish from Moralltach's blade. The weapon falls from attack position, to Diarmuid's side before disappearing. In the stories, Cu Chulainn was many things and among those things, he was listed as being a honorable man. Hopefully, that part of the legend is true and he will not attack an unarmed person.]

Back down. Death will gain neither of us anything.

[puppy_lancer]

Only because you told me I wasn't worth to carry this spear.

[Though he's also reluctant, Cu Chulainn lets his spear disappear as well. His opponent has already backed down. No need to press his attack.]

Fine. I don't fancy such an abrupt battle either.

[shatteredservice]

[Diarmuid looks him up and down before sighing and crossing his arm over his chest, resting the hand on his shoulder near where his other arm should have been.]

Can you really blame me? You are not what I expected. Not considering the stories I grew up hearing...

[He's just a little let down his hero turned out to be an Ancient Irish Frat boy....]

[puppy_lancer]

Well, stories get changed. A lot.

[He looks Diarmuid over again.]

And you're way stuffier than I expected.

[shatteredservice]

[He should be insulted, but instead of getting angry again, Diarmuid's gaze just shifts to the side.]

It would probably be best if you don't compare me to anything you might have heard. What I am now...is not what I once was. His story shouldn't be tainted by what is left of me.

[puppy_lancer]

...Huh?

[He scratches his head.]

Wait, how would you taint your legend?

[shatteredservice]

His... And it doesn't matter.

[Diarmuid's voice suddenly grows very quiet.]

If you have never known its touch, then you have been blessed.

[puppy_lancer]

...Sounds like something pretty nasty happened in your Grail War.

[And something nasty had happened in his.]

Man, I'd be glad if I never saw one of those Grails again in my life.

[shatteredservice]

[Diarmuid laughs, though the laughter is bitter in tone.]

Perhaps you would like my world then. The Grail is gone now. Not that that helped anything...

[Indeed, the destruction and dismantling of the Grail had only made things worse.]

[puppy_lancer]

Really? Who blew it up this time?

[shatteredservice]

I don't know all of the details. It is said a Servant destroyed the Lesser Grail during the 5th War and the Greater Grail was dismantled by a pair of magi during the time between the 5th and 6th. But considering there was a 6th War, obviously things did not go as planned.

[Diarmuid's mouth presses into a frown.]

I heard someone with the Association muttering about how it might have been those actions that allowed the Corruption in the Grail to find its way deeper into the world and that is what eventually lead to the Throne of Heroes shattering and sending us all back into the world. It's a wild theory at best, though.

[puppy_lancer]

WHAT THE FUCK? THE THRONE SHATTERING?

[Nothing could have prepared him for this news.]

[shatteredservice]

Yes, the Throne shattered and sent every hero on it back to earth.

[Diarmuid really doesn't blame the other servant for his reaction. The idea that the Throne of Heroes could ever just shatter is one of those impossibilities no one believes until it happens.]

I was drawn from my world about the time the Association--you might know it better as the Mage's Association--began to desperately gather some of the heroes together to stop the others who basically just started fighting--some for land, some for wealth, some to settle old feuds. The earth is in real danger of being destroyed by the sheer amount of power being unleashed and so that is why I agreed to join those who were trying to stop the fighting.

[puppy_lancer]

[He whistles.]

Holy shit.

[He slowly shakes his head.]

That's...something, alright.

[shatteredservice]

[Despite the seriousness of the topic, Diarmuid can't help but grin slightly.]

That is one way to put it. Something...

[The grin on his face fades and Diarmuid's hand drops to rub at the spot where his arm should be.]

It is a shame that something didn't see fit to make me whole again before spitting me back out.

[puppy_lancer]

...You mean your arm?

[He stares at the other man's stump of an arm.]

That's weird. I mean, you didn't lose you arm or anything before you died, did you?

[shatteredservice]

I did not...

[Diarmuid looks away from the other servant, his expression disgusted.]

My master took it from me when he sacrificed me to the Corruption...

[puppy_lancer]

S-sacrificed you? Corruption?

[Lancer's eyes reflect many conflicting emotions. Rage and disbelief and pity, and even grief upon remembering his own experiences with the Grail.]

...Why?

[shatteredservice]

The Corruption offered him what he wanted and it offered to give it to him without making him win the war.

[A great many emotions flicker through Diarmuid's eyes. Anger, pain, disgust, sadness, fear...]

He trusted in that dark power more than he trusted in me. It's a betrayal I am sadly growing used to...

[puppy_lancer]

...That's tough.

[There's not much else he can say.]

Hey, uh...wanna go help me find a bar? I'll buy you a drink.

[shatteredservice]

It was not pleasant.

[Diarmuid cannot help but smile a bit at the other servant's offer.]

I have no idea what we are suppose to pay with, but I guess that is something we can worry about after we find that bar, hu?

[puppy_lancer]

Of course. If we really do get stuck, we--I--can always help out with the cooking and cleaning.

[shatteredservice]

[Diarmuid laughs and steps forward, clasping the other servant on the shoulder.]

I may have only one arm, but if it comes to that, I will help you in any way I can. You won't be alone.

Shall we start looking?

should we end it here or keep going?

[puppy_lancer]

Yeah! Just let me sniff out a good one.