sarumi | Call Me Out!

So it's some kind of curse? What kind of curse?

[Yata's as curious as ever. It wold be nice to be able to chat with Lancer all day but...]

Even if they aren't dumb questions as your father said, sitting around here chatting isn't going to do us much good. Not that I don't want to talk...but shouldn't we be coming up with a plan?

A love curse...

[Diarmuid's gaze drops to the side as if he is embarrassed, before he forces himself to look at Yata again.]

Any woman who sees my face falls in love with me. As you can imagine, it's quite troublesome since I cannot control it and it is always active.

[And as if he wants to change the subject quickly--which he does--he moves right onto Yata's next questions.]

Sitting around will not do us any good, but rushing into such an unknown situation will not help either. We have no idea what is waiting beyond those doors. It doesn't hurt to find out as much about each other as we can. Is there anything else you think it would be good for me as a fellow fighter to know about you?

[Yata feels a little awkward about the idea of a love curse. Then again, he blushes and stutters around girls, so he couldn't imagine what it'd be like to have them falling for him because of a curse. He feels sorry for Lancer- of course he probably distanced himself from girls because of this. Maybe even certain types of guys, too- insecurity and jealousy tended to be labeled a chick thing, but Yata knew that was bullshit. Damnit, he wasn't supposed to be thinking of Fushimi now...]

I guess you got lonely. That sucks. To tie that thought into your question, I'd have to say I rely on my loyalty to Homra. But I guess that's nothing new to you, eh? Lucky Homra is good, but that doesn't mean we always go the good way of doing things. We aren't knights or cops. But if we catch you being a shithead on our turf or getting in our way clearing out the shitheads, there'll be hell to pay.

[Yata pauses a moment, as if something he said made him have a sudden thought.]

Hmm...I wonder...

[Yata appears to be concentrating for a moment. Suddenly he is surrounded by a deep red glow. It looks hot to the touch. In fact, if Lancer gets closer, he will feel heat radiating from it.]

Well, my powers are still in tact.

I was lucky enough have a few friends and family who never left my side even though perhaps they should have...

[Diarmuid pauses a moment, eyes downcast wondering not for the first time since he had been called back to life what had happened to Oscar, Oisin, and Fionn that day on the hill after he had died. Had Oscar carried through with his threat to kill his grandfather and Lord? Had Oisin with his wise words been able to stop that confrontation? Diarmuid has no way of knowing.]

Loyalty is important. It is something to anchor yourself and your values. I am glad you have that within you. Keep it close. I expect you will be needing the strength it provides you.

[The servant watches as Yata tries his powers, eyes widening in surprise.]

That is your power? I feel heat. Is it some kind of aura or shield?

Think of it as fire. And it can be shield if I use it properly! I'm pretty strong, but not as strong as Mikoto-san. He is the King after all!

[Yata gives Diarmuid a smile.]

I'm still a good bit tougher than I look, even if Mikoto-san's a lot bigger and stronger. I don't know what kind of puzzles they are, but if it's a fight they won't, they'll regret fucking with Homra!

[Tough talk for a such a little guy, but he's serious. He knows Mikoto and the others aren't going to come strolling in to help, but honestly- Yata was one of the first ones Homra sent in when Mikoto couldn't be bothered.]

[As a fighter often underestimated because he relies on speed, agility, and tactics instead of brute strength, Diarmuid is the last person who will underestimate Yata because of his size. In fact, he is quite impressed by the boy's display.

Quite impressed and quite curious.]

How much energy does it take to keep that up? Do you tire easily or can you use it for quite a long time? Do you have any limits to how often it can be used?

[Diarmuid stops suddenly in his questioning, realizing he is being not only rude, but invasive.]

My apologies. I am just trying to make sure I understand how it works.

No, no, no, you're fine. To be honest, I don't know much much about how these powers work. I wasn't curious one. That would have been Saruhiko.

[The boy says the name with venom, but it's obvious there's some unresolved issues there.]

I can't answer your questions in detail but all I can say is I've never really had an energy problem with it and it does burn...

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at the venom attached to that name, but doesn't ask about it for the moment. He expects there will be plenty of time for that later.]

It is good that it seems to have so few limits. I have a feeling this place is probably going to try and find a way to push us to our limits and then past them over and over again. However forgive me for being confused but you say it does burn. Do you mean it burns you when you use it or just that it burns things in general like a fire would?

[The boy hadn't seemed to be in pain when he used the power just moments ago, but if he was used to it injuring him he might just have been hiding the pain.]

It's never burned me when I use it like I showed you! But I guess it would burn me if I started a fire and stuck my hand in it.

[Yata's not the sharpest tool in the drawer but he's not that dumb.]

[Diarmuid nods knowing how important it is to know the limits of one's powers and glad that it seems that Yata knows the limits of his.]

It is good that the flames don't hurt you. Even if it might hold us back some, if the power hurt you, I would have to request you not use it. I would not want to see you hurt just to make things go a little more quickly.

[He falls quiet for a moment and then motions toward the door.]

What do you think? Shall we finally get started?

[Yata's touched by Diarmuid's concern, but it's quite unnecessary. The boy was full of pride; not conceit, but pride. The boy did not think much of himself alone, but he had massive faith in his link to Homra.]

Yeah, I think it's time. Oh look...a skateboard...

[Yata finds a skateboard leaning against the door, and by it is a metal baseball bat. A quick inspection told him it was his skateboard from home, and the bat probably was as well.]

This'll come in handy. Shall I, or do you wanna do the honors?

[He gestures towards the door]

Those weren't there before, were they? And you seem to recognize them. Are they the ones you mentioned before? From your home?

[Now that is odd... Still, it is best if they are going into such an unknown situation, that the boy have things he is familiar with to use instead of having to risk using a weapon he doesn't know.]

I mean no disrespect to you, but I think it might be best if I go first. I have more fighting experience than you and Servants are stronger than normal humans are. If something attacks as soon as we open the door, I will be able to better withstand the attack.

[He could and should argue, given the nature of his character, but he will not, however. He gives Diarmuid a nod instead. For some inexplicable reason, he feels that for once it'd be within his best interest to bite his tongue and trust this other man's judgement.]

Alright, you first then...

[As much as he'd like to run headfirst into the room just to prove to Diarmuid that he can handle it because, you know, he was a Homra member, he stays quiet.]

Thank you.

[He can see the conflict in Yata's eyes and he is glad, for the moment, the boy has chosen not to argue with him. Diarmuid flips his spear into a ready position and then approaches the door. He pauses before opening it to look back at Yata.]

If something attacks right away, I will try to draw it away so that you can attack it. Don't worry about hitting me. Believe me. I am fast enough to dodge any attack you make.

{Yata believes Diarmuid for the moment. He has no reason not to. The boy stands at the ready.]

...Right. Just so you know, I'm something of a...wild attacker? Not sure if that's the right word, but I'm sure you get the point. But I'll take your word for it that you can look after yourself. This once.

[He gives the other man a nod as he stands at the ready by the door.]

[Diarmuid smiles at Yata, a bit of challenge playing in his eyes even with as serious as the situation is.]

Don't worry. You won't have to believe it for long. I am sure very soon I will have the chance to prove it to you. In the meantime, do as you do best and fight as you fight best. I have fought alongside a great many people with many different fighting styles. You will find no matter how wild your style, I will be able to adapt.

[He nods to Yata and then takes the door knob into hand and after a moment's pause to focus himself, opens the door, bracing himself for an attack...that doesn't come. After a few moments, he steps into the room and warily looks around. It's obvious he doesn't trust what he sees, but motions for Yata to enter anyway.]

Be on guard... This smells of a trap.

[Yata is definitely on guard, following Diarmuid. He's ready to spring at a moment's notice. However, the room they walk into is a fairly ordinary room, except there looked like the walls were made out of cages, almost like what Yata would think of as a dungeon from medieval times. He's not sure what exactly Diarmuid is doing because he's trying to get a better look in the cages.]

Nii-san, I think we'll find clues in these ca-

[Yata stops mid sentence because a small light has just flickered on and off again inside one of the cages and he's gotten a brief glimpse inside. It was a monster- something straight out of a child's nightmare or one of those scary movies he'd watched sometimes with Saruhiko back in middle school. It shouldn't be something that was real outside the imaginations of children and horror fans. Sure, it frightened him, but there was something in the back of his mind that said "It's just a dude dressed up". That was all fine and well, until the lights flickered on and stayed on, and Yata could see they had weapons. Dressed up humans or real mutant pig like creatures, they were dangerous. The cages were slowly opening. Yata could tell there were at least 10 along the walls.]

...Run!

[And Yata ran the only place he could- down a small, dark hallway.]

[For a moment as the monsters are revealed, all Diarmuid can do is stare at them. While they are really more human than animal...

Boars... Why did it have to be boars?

He shakes himself, pushing away the memories of his past and dropping into a fighting stance as he watches the cages open. Were he alone, he would probably at least attempt to fight them if for no other reason than to test their abilities.

After all, he had taken down armies during his first life single-handedly.

Diarmuid isn't alone, though. He has Yata to worry about and since they don't know each other's fighting styles well, it is best if they do not stand and fight when the odds are so against them. At the moment, he is only giving the boy a chance to get farther down the hall before he joins him, willing to play the distraction if it comes down to it and the cages open too fast.

They don't. They open slowly and Diarmuid actually waits for the monsters to finally be free before he activates his full speed and literally disappears from view leaving the monsters--for the moment-confused and looking for him in the room as opposed to starting immediately chasing them down the hallway.

A few more moments to plan their attack is something Diarmuid won't complain about.]

They are not too bright, but they will follow soon. Is this...some kind of maze?

[Diarmuid starts speaking before he fully drops back into view next to Yata. Sorry if it's just a tad startling. He's in battle mode and not really thinking of how his abilities might surprise his partner.]

[Yata is surprised by Diarmuid's sudden appearance, but he does his best not let that show. It does some to be a maze as they run into a small room where Yata takes a moment to catch his breath. He'd used his skateboard part of the way.]

Yeah, it does seem like a maze or something. I'm betting on these things being stupid, but I'm not gonna put a ton of faith in that. I wanna get the hell out of here as soon as possible.

[Yata walks toward the exit of the room, tapping on the wall curiously.]

Nii-san, these walls are pretty thin. It's pretty cheap stuff.

[Yata's red aura burns a moment as he smirks.]

I don't know how long this maze is, or how fast those things will catch up with us, but I can make this easier for us.

I don't blame you for not putting faith in it. I put very little faith in anything about this place.

[And that includes what might happen if they 'cheat' so to speak and go through the maze instead of...well...going through the maze.

Still, they have no way of knowing how long the maze is and if it is likely to double them back and right into the monsters who are chasing them. Going with Yata's plan is probably the best course of action.]

Be alert while you are doing it. I expect while it might be okay for our captors to break whatever rules this place has, they might not take so kindly to us breaking them. I will watch your back. Make sure to watch around you as you burn through the walls.

[Yata was relieved that Diarmuid had gotten the idea of what he was going to do without him having to say it. This meant that Diarmuid was smart; probably smarter than Yata. While the hotheaded boy would likely take that true observation poorly in any other situation, he was glad for it right now He didn't have to waste time explaining the plan, and quicker action left more room for success.]

Alright, here goes! I'll just let you follow me!

[Yata burns his aura as hot as he can, which is pretty hot considering the powers he'd received from his king fit him so well. This was nothing more than crashing a drug dealer's warehouse and destroying it, things he'd done many times before. With a huge grin, he hopped on his skateboard.]

No blood! No bone! No ash!

[With that chant, he heads straight for thin wall of the maze ahead of him, the bright red aura burning down the wall as he crashes through it.]

[Again, Diarmuid doesn't follow Yata immediately. Instead, he trusts that the boy will watch out around him as he has asked him too and stays behind to make sure they aren't followed by anything. Also, he doesn't want Yata to hold back on his skills just because he is worried about the fire hurting his partner.

However, when he sees one of the monsters turn the corner, he knows it's time to start following. Again, it doesn't take him long to catch up to Yata.]

Keep it up! They are behind us and I don't think they like the fact we are cheating instead of playing the game by their rules!

[Yata continued to burn holes through the building. Indeed, the tower did not like the way were doing things, but honestly, if they got out this alive, what did it matter?]

Fuck their rules, we'll make our own!

[One thing that Yata did not like about this maze is that it didn't seem to want to end. Hadn't he just broken down that wall?]

[Despite being on foot while Yata is on a skateboard, Diarmuid has no trouble keeping up with him, though he does stay back some to make sure the boy doesn't have to worry about catching him in the effects of his power.]

You're going in a straight line?

[It's a stupid question. One Diarmuid can see the answer to by looking back behind them, but he--like Yata--is worried by how much the maze just seems to keep going on and on.]

Could it be this is going to force us to solve the maze the old-fashioned way?

[Yata burns through another wall, taking note of Diarmuid's obvervation that he's going in a straight line.]

Alright, alright...

[He turns to the side and starts burning walls in another direction. Maybe this will lead them somehwhere.]

Oi, looks like I've found something...

[They are taken to a small room with a door. Was it the way out?]

Call Me Out!

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if you need an edit let me know

It is just fine! :-)

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