animus_network

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I need to spar with someone.

Floor of your choice. I'll be using my sword only - I don't waste bullets on people - and my demons will only come out if there's deadly intent, which will not end well for you so I really don't recommend it.

-Aleph

[Lucifer can handle anyone who insults him by himself - except now that he's gone.]

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Family is... odd for demons. I wouldn't consider them anything they couldn't return, but demons and summoners can get pretty close.

I suppose it would be, but at long as there is something there what it is called really doesn't matter. You take care of each other and that is what is important.

[Aleph nods at that.]

If I asked how old you are now that you know my age, would that be offensive?

[Diarmuid smiles slightly and shakes his head.]

It's not an offensive question at all, just a difficult one to answer because of my very nature as a servant. You see, I may introduce myself as Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, but I am not, in truth, him. I am a copy of his soul brought back to life by magical means long after his death. However, I know everything he knew, I feel what he felt, my wishes are the same as his were and so I speak as if I were him.

If you want to be picky, when I died in the war, I was not even a week old, yet much like you I obviously look older than that.

[He pauses to laugh, though it's a little strained. Sometimes being so honest isn't easy. He doesn't like talking about being a copy of someone else's soul because it reminds him he isn't really real, that he shouldn't be here, that nothing he claims as his really is.

Even his much cherish family memories aren't technically his.]

And that is not even all of it. I died in my forties, though I looked much younger because of some magical berries that I once ate. On top of that, the magic that brought me back to life brought me back at my prime so I look even younger--perhaps around 25 or so.

...That is complicated. I'd rather think of you as in your forties since that's what you remember being.

[It's simple that way.]

[Diarmuid nods, smiling slightly.]

That is fine. It is truly a messed up matter. I probably should not know all of that, but between the Grail, the tower and my master I do. It is...difficult to handle sometimes knowing I am not what I really feel I am.

If it helps, I'm sure you're not alone.

Yes, that is what people tell me. It's just hard to remember sometimes when so much seems to be swirling around in my mind. Somehow, though, I don't think they will let me forget so easily and for that I am very lucky.

We're lucky for a lot of things - it's just easy to forget in places like this.

You are right, of course. I suspect that is part of this place's purpose.

[Diarmuid looks over toward where the demons have been fighting. It seems like they have finally cleared all of the monsters from the floor.]

It's a shame that killing off the monsters is so temporary. It would be nice if we could find a way to make things safer for everyone so we can just focus on the administrators' experiments instead of fighting the monsters too.

If we could make any progress, that would be nice.

[Shrug, as the demons start to return to him, chattering to each other.]

But I'll take what we can do, for now.

One step at a time, right?

[Diarmuid nods at the demons.]

Thank you for letting me see them work again. Do you feel any better?

A little. The fights earlier today today helped, too.

I am glad to hear it.

[He smiles.]

If you don't mind, I think I will leave you now. I've been trying to regularly patrol the new floors to keep those who don't know them out of trouble and I should get back to it.

[Diarmuid pauses a moment.]

Would you like to join me? There are always plenty of monsters to deal with, so I won't turn down any help I can get.

[He shakes his head.] Actually, I think I'm no good for monster fighting tonight. I might just take an early night. Though I could leave one of my demons with you for the night.

I appreciate it, but...

[He gives the demons a look over and smiles a little sheepishly.]

...I think I will pass. To be honest, they do frighten me a bit. Besides, you guys work well as a team and breaking up a team makes the team members a lot less effective.

[Diarmuid nods at him and turns to make his way to the staircase.]

Have a good night. It has been good working with you.

[He bows slightly and then takes off up the stairs.]

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