one » action & video.

[broduil]

[ action ]

[ anyone passing through thor district may find one (1) lancer making conversation with the resident rude snowman-- where 'conversation' means 'a snowman hurls insults while a knight is polite'. ]

I assure you, snowman, my attire was not meant to offend you. [ but no matter what he says, all he seems to get is more comments on how stupid his armor looks... and his hair, too. ] Nor will dumping snow in my hair prove to be a substantial improvement. If you continue to provoke me needlessly, I will be happy to give you a reason to do so.

[ eventually he lasts the five minutes and recieves his reward: and despite everything previously said, he's sure to thank the icy creation sincerely before leaving with the gift. ]

[ video ]

[ shortly after after passing the snowman's 'test', lancer shows up on the network with a wooden box in hand. curiously, he opens it, pulling out his silver mug and jar of tea. ]

... Has anyone else recieved a gift today? [ he already knows he's not the only one, but he's still curious about the variety. ] Whatever their disposition, I believe these snowmen have good intentions. Whether this is some kind of test I cannot say, though it is probably easier to simply hear them out than to try and argue.

[ a beat, and then-- ]

Saber, would you like some tea? [ there's enough here to share, after all. ]

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video.

[broduil]

[ it's okay lancer has enough manners for both of them. ]

I do not know of this Moon Cell, but I assure you the tea I recieved is of the highest quality. [ he holds up his silver mug, smiling. ] For all his insults, the snowman had good taste.

video.

[aestusaurea.livejournal.com]

[Good. They'll be getting along very well, then.]

Very good! I shall not accept anything but the best, so this accommodates me rather nicely.

However, Lancer... You are a Servant, yet you know not of the Moon Cell? Just which Grail Wa---No, which year are you from?

video.

[broduil]

[ he has a feeling this is going to be quite the learning experience. ]

The year of my summoning was 1994, though such numbers held little meaning during my own lifetime. [ wandering bands of warriors didn't carry calendars around for some reason. the more you know. ]

video.

[aestusaurea.livejournal.com]

[Hm. So it wasn't just a matter of different worlds here, and the matter of time was far greater than Saber had assumed. She folds her arms across her chest with a nod as she takes this information all in. She seems surprisingly deep in thought.]

... I see. Then it may be possible that I am from the future, where true Holy Grail Wars have ceased to exist, due to the complete exhaustion of mana on Earth.

[broduil]

[ as absurd as that sounds, he can't really argue with the theory. while he has the knowledge of magic every servant does, such a hypothetical situation would be a more suitable question for someone like his master. ]

Your war lacked a true grail, then? [ maybe you should look at your own grail first, lancer... ] For what purpose were you summoned?

[aestusaurea.livejournal.com]

[Saber nods. Hey, at least your grail isn't some sort of giant alien computer thing.]

The Holy Grail had been replaced by a system on the moon called the Serial Phantasm, or SE.RA.PH for short. It has the ability to force reality towards certain paths at the whim of the war's victor. Our Holy Grail War is merely an approximation that takes place in a Reality Marble the SE.RA.PH creates, called the Moon Cell.

A magus participates by connecting their soul to the system through their magic circuits. In this case, a magus's skill is determined by how adept they are in technology as opposed to real magic.

[Hope you like infodump, Lancer.]

[broduil]

[ saber he didn't ask for a novel okay... though this is probably a lot shorter than if he asked her to talk about herself or something ]

... I see. A war based around that kind of skill would certainly be the downfall of many, had it occured sooner. [ it... makes sense in a kind of weird way, if he throws most things he knows about magic out the window, but at least he can joke about the incompetence of magi when it comes to technology. he'd like to see kayneth's face after hearing about this. ] I thank you for your explanation, Saber, though in the end such details hardly matter-- in a place such as this, we are free to put aside our status for now.

[aestusaurea.livejournal.com]

[Yes, it certainly would be. Also, never EVER ask for her to talk about any play she likes or she will go on for hours.]

Umu, you speak the truth. However, it is also these differences and details that allow us to understand each other's perspectives and prevent confusion in the future.

It certainly is refreshing to be free from the bonds of the SE.RA.PH, though. Perhaps one day I shall even start addressing myself as "Nero" rather than "Saber" when I grow comfortable enough...

[broduil]

As it is a relief to meet with others on such even ground. Though the war carries great purpose, it does not allow much time to simply converse with fellow warriors.

[ and he likes that feeling of familiarity. at least have a drink with someone before you go off and try to kill them, so long as they're not crazy or anything. ]

Then I will refer to you as such as well, when that day comes. I have little issue with sharing my own name, though I suspect it is not yet time to announce such things freely.

[ he does want to, but a. that's more a decision for his master to make, and b. it might be good to have it hidden if more people from the war start to turn up. ]

[aestusaurea.livejournal.com]

That does seem reasonable. Though I hope that addressing you by name in private conversation is acceptable?

[Saber wants to be buddies after all, but she also respects that blurting it out in the open wouldn't be the greatest of choices, knowing what situation he is in.]

In my case, you are free address me however you like. I am comfortable with either.

[broduil]

Naturally. There is no need for secrecy among friends, or those with honor. [ and the two are almost always one and the same, really. he has no problem with anyone who isn't going to use his identity against him-- he'd rather the war allow both parties be upfront about it from the start, for the sake of more honorable battles. ] But if you are comfortable, I will offer you the same courtesy.

[ it's not like he can't tell the sabers apart or anything, but it might be nice to have something a little more to go on than "the one with bigger boobs the red dress". ]