tvklogs | I still can't trust everything. [OPEN]

WHO: Ainosuke Tanaka (

hidari_me) and whoever shows up.
WHAT: Wasting time and observing his surroundings.
WHEN: June 27th, just before the Dark Hour
WHERE: Bayview Hotel, Lobby
RATING: PG-13
WARNINGS: None yet.

One week had passed.

One week had passed and Ainosuke still knew little more than he had when he had arrived. There didn't seem to be any sort of pattern between the arrivals. His theory on the entire thing being an experiment seemed more believable than anything else, though he hadn't seen anyone who might have been responsible for it and hadn't been personally prompted for anything. If his brother was behind any of it, Ainosuke was sure he would have heard from him by now. The other always did enjoy holding things over his head. However, it hadn't happened. People were reporting strange hallucinations and losing their abilities... There was also the fact of what happened every night at midnight. Every night. There wasn't anyone he could ask about how long this had been happening either, because no one seemed to be aware of it other than the group he was part of.

Tonight, Ainosuke had settled himself in the lobby, various drawings spread out on the table in front of him. They consisted of the shadows he'd seen, the coffins, the buildings, as well as lists and arrows trying to connect everything together. There had to be a connection, an explanation somewhere, but he couldn't find it just yet.

The Dark Hour was approaching soon. Ainosuke sank down into his seat, sketching at a new drawing as he occasionally glanced up at the clock and around the room. No one looked particularly suspicious yet, but he was doing his best to investigate.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Likewise, I've not gone all that far just yet. I'm familiar with the immediate area around the hotel, but little else."

He didn't mention that he'd managed to get a job at a bookstore under an alias. It was a rare stroke of luck for him, really. Even without his curse in effect, Lancer could be damn charming when it was necessary. Lancer had chosen that particular location mainly so that he could learn a little more about the era and country he was in without seeming suspicious.

And partially because hey, apparently needing money was a thing. Go figure.

Lancer stopped in front of Ainosuke, hand tightening on the metal pipe at his side. He'd expected tonight wouldn't exactly see them wander around unchallenged; it was all a question of just when they'd meet some opposition.

"...I was starting to wonder what was taking them so long."

"Do you want to stay, or should we go?" They didn't have to be there, after all. It was just investigation, though Ainosuke knew he could use the fighting experience. He just didn't want them to end up in a situation where they would be outnumbered and he didn't want Lancer to end up injured again. Before he received a response, Ainosuke already moved into a defensive position, his back to Lancer's as he'd done the previous time they'd fought together.

Nothing was coming from his direction yet, but he didn't want to leave the other's back exposed. Not that Ainosuke didn't think the other couldn't handle it, but it was still a good thing to do as his battle partner.

"If you think retreat would be better, then we'll leave. I would just as soon stand and fight."

Lancer twirled the metal pipe in his hand again, getting better used to the weight and balance of it before shifting into a fighting stance of his own.

"It's not like I'm going to be able to run every time we run into something. As long as you're here, we might as well see what we can do." Ainosuke knew the bag he was carrying might work against him, but hoped it wouldn't get in the way too much. If all else failed, he could take a moment to toss it aside.

Shifting his weight from one leg to the other, he shook out his hands and took a deep breath. His voice still sounded unsure when he spoke, hinting at how little confidence he had in his ability to hold his own.

"I need to do this."

"Understood." The shadows nearby moved and shifted, three of the masked creatures slowly manifesting from nothing a short distance away.

"Try to stay close. It's when they outnumber and corner their target that they're dangerous."

"Got it." Ainosuke didn't bother looking behind him. If anything was appearing on that side, he couldn't see it, but he trusted Lancer to watch his back for him. The ground in front of Ainosuke shifted a bit and he was dashing forward before the creature even had a moment to materialize, swinging a hit at it. He'd forgotten how solid they were, despite their appearance.

There were two on his own end. He would dodge a strike, still showing a strong talent for being able to avoid hits, then deliver a strong counterattack. At every moment he had, Ainosuke was reminding himself not to turn his back away from Lancer. He couldn't let anything get between them.

"...Shall we, then?" Lancer spoke more to the approaching shadows than anything else, pointing the makeshift weapon in his hand at the adversaries before him.

Lancer moved before the others could, intent on getting the first strike--armed combat was his specialty, even if the lance he held wasn't exactly a lance at all. The former Servant moved quickly and naturally, as if the object in his hand was an extension of his arm instead of a weapon. Each strike was careful and precise, driving back two in order to have the space to disable the third.

This was, very obviously, his area of expertise.

Ainosuke would have appreciated the chance to watch Lancer fight. It really was fascinating to watch someone else move like that and the only time he'd ever seen someone else fight, in any form, was boxing. Still, he knew it could wait until another time when he could afford to take his eyes off what was in front of him.

The bag wasn't in his way as much as he had expected. Ainosuke still managed to keep his balance and swing hits without allowing the extra weight on one side, small as it was, to throw him off. He looked behind him only to confirm how much room was between him and Lancer, and only when he could afford the seconds it took.

The fight also went faster than Ainosuke expected. While he only took a couple hits (a result of getting too close and his enemies attempting to pile on top of him), they'd backed off without him taking too much damage. He stood still, shaking his hands out, and doing his best to pay attention to what Lancer was doing while keeping an eye on the surrounding area. It was getting a little easier to fight them, though his confidence wasn't improving.

Lancer trusted Ainosuke to watch his back while simultaneously doing the same for him; the knight spared only a second or two at a time making sure he wasn't in imminent mortal danger. Most of his concentration was directed at the shadows, makeshift lance twirling and striking like a tornado focused on driving them back.

Lancer's movements were slow, by his standards--by those of a human, he'd probably have looked like an out-of-practice expert with a substandard weapon. Lancer's motions were precise as he forced two to retreat, spinning the pipe around in his hand before landing a solid hit on the third. It recoiled, seemingly dazed for a moment before thinking much better of what it was doing and following the others.

"Are you alright?" He lowered the metal pipe, looking back at Ainosuke with a small smirk on his face.

I still can't trust everything. [OPEN]

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