☿ // 002; [text]

[fionnuisce]

[Standing in front of the terminal, Waver looked like hell. More accurately, like he got the hell to a terminal within two minutes of sleep paralysis wearing off. His suit jacket forgotten, the usual sunglasses were hanging off a collared shirt as black as his disheveled, untied hair.]

[Let it never be said Waver Velvet was an unkempt mess; there were just much more important things to consider right now than his personal appearance.]

I have a question. Technically several, though all geared toward the same subject.

Has there yet been any evidence of limits to this place's resurrection capabilities? An upper limit on times one can return, for example?

And what of side effects: has there ever been any indication of lingering illness or other such afflictions?

You'll have to excuse me if these are stupid questions. I hadn't had time or reason to consider the implications of this until now.

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

Sorry, I guess I am just bleeding off some of the stress from everything that has been going on. I...don't show this side of myself to many people as you can probably guess.

[He bows his head, the fingers of one hand twisting in the blanket on the bed. While he seems embarrassed, he is still smiling.]

I have to be relaxed and feel safe to be this way. It...doesn't happen very often, though it is happening more often now that I've met you and my brother.

[fionnuisce]

...I'm flattered. Really, I mean that.

[Waver smiled sincerely, putting a hand on Diarmuid's shoulder.]

If it makes you feel better, I never talk about myself like this. There's no one else I'd trust with this kind of thing. [Beat.] ...No one else I trust at all, actually.

[oathshackledbird]

I am deeply honored by your trust, and I will do my best to never betray that trust. I just hope that the tower allows me to keep your secrets.

[He looks a little worried for a moment before pushing that emotion away.]

Though, we should make you a few more friends. It never hurts to have more than one person to watch your back in a place like this.

[Diarmuid suddenly grins again.]

Unless, you really do want to move into the room with me.

[fionnuisce]

...I wouldn't really complain if that happened, to tell you the truth.

[oathshackledbird]

I don't know if it could happen or not. I mean something links us to our rooms and beds as proven by how we will die if we don't sleep in our specific bed every so often.

[Diarmuid runs his hand over the top of the bed.]

Can we be moved once assigned to a spot? I don't know. I suppose the only way to find out would be if you put a request into the request box, but that holds it's own set of dangers. Requests are often purposely misinterpreted when they are answered at all. When I asked for my second sketchbook, I made sure the request was as simple and straightforward as I could make it. I was lucky and did get it, but that isn't always the case.

And there is the fact that asking to move into a room with a specific person will be like giving them a note that says "I have a weak spot and it is this person."

Still...I wouldn't mind having you closer to me.

[fionnuisce]

Honestly I might be willing to risk it if it meant we were a little closer. It's stupid and not exactly a safe choice to make, but...I don't know.

[oathshackledbird]

Just think about it, my friend. There is no hurry--no reason to make the decision before you are sure.

[He gives Waver a reassuring smile.]

I will leave the decision to you. If you wish to try it, just let me know when you make the request.

[fionnuisce]

I'll think about it. Would you really be alright with taking a risk like that?

[oathshackledbird]

I will take any risk for you. If it will make you feel safer or more at ease, then do it. So far, I don't think any of the administrators really have a reason to target me. I spoke with Jason once, briefly, during a question and answer session, but I highly doubt he would remember me any more than he would remember any other from that session.

Well, unless this last week with my curse acting up is some kind of sign? I don't know.

[fionnuisce]

Hm... Do you know who usually handles requests like that?

[oathshackledbird]

From what I can tell? It depends on whatever administrator is in charge at the beginning of the month. If what I experienced with my request holds true, if you decided to place the request tomorrow it would sit for the rest of the month and whoever is in charge next month would fill it at the beginning of the month if they can or choose to. Yes, it's a long wait time, but I guess it's better than nothing.

[He laughs a little bitterly.]

And it's probably for the best. Jason is in charge this month anyway. I don't know if I would ask him for anything even if I desperately needed it. He is one who likes to twist requests more than most.

[fionnuisce]

From what I've heard, I wouldn't ask Jason for so much as a spare pencil.

[Sigh. Of course no one could just make it easy, could they?]

Next would likely be...Riki, I think? Assuming what I've been told is accurate. I can't say I've been able to find out much about him, but maybe the absence of 'he's sadistic and this is why' testimonials are a good thing.

[oathshackledbird]

A wise idea. Jason and Ruana seem to be the most hated with Riki being a little more neutral though still not trusted. Most people seem to think Zo is okay because he is so young.

[Diarmuid pauses for a moment, paling slightly.]

Riki was in charge when I arrived in January so he was the one responsible for the experiment that made most of us think we had been in the tower forever. As you know, that was a...difficult one for me. That was also the month when so many levels were added to the tower so quickly. Riki's..thing...for lack of a better word seems to be working with the tower and manipulating the floors and such. The experiment, for all the pain it caused, was just to distract us while they prepared things for all the new floors.

[fionnuisce]

Fantastic.

[Thinking the matter over, Waver put his sunglasses back on his head and crossed his arms.]

...Okay. If you're willing to risk it, so am I. I'll put in a request in the next couple days.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid smiles at him gently.]

Of course I am. Do you really even need to ask? And even if they won't move you, you do know you are welcome in my room at any time right? We only have to sleep in our rooms once every two weeks. It doesn't say where you have to be for the rest of that time.

[fionnuisce]

Now, if I didn't know better I might say you were trying to seduce me.

[Right back at ya, sassyboots.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's gentle smile is suddenly replaced with something much, much closer to a leer. He reaches out with one hand and runs his fingers lightly over Waver's lips.

When he speaks, his voice has picked up a low, breathless tone.]

Oh, believe me. Were I trying to seduce you, you would know.

[fionnuisce]

Ah--

[Waver's shoulders visibly stiffened, green eyes widened by a mixture of confusion and astonishment. Coherent thought gave way to something much more like a hyperspeed litany of 'ohmygodwhatthehellisgoingon']

D-Diarmuid-...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid leans forward, letting his hand drop away so that he can bring his lips closer. He doesn't kiss the other man, but he is close enough his breath will caress Waver's lips as he speaks.]

So, what do you think? Am I seducing you now?

[fionnuisce]

I...I- [Waver's voice faltered, bright color rapidly returning to his face as he tried to put together a sentence.]

I don't know what you're doing, but I...probably wouldn't complain too much if you kissed me right now. If you're seducing me, I'd say you might be doing a good job of it.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid really has to stop and think about if he wants kiss him or not. After all, he had just been joking when he started this, but at the same time, would this not be a good way to see if what they feel really is love?

Finally, he brings a hand up weaving it into Waver's hair so that he can cradle the man's head. There are many ways to kiss from the soul-stealing kisses traded during the heat of passion to the gentle caresses given by a parent to a scared child. The kiss he gives Waver falls somewhere in between--a touch that doesn't demand anything, but offers the chance to get to know more. When he finally pulls back, it's not all that far.]

Silly Magus. Of course, I'm good at it. Don't you know that the members of the Fianna were good at everything?

[fionnuisce]

[Waver could honestly say he didn't expect Diarmuid to do it. Even saying as much felt like it had been a mistake, as though perhaps that was the kind of passing thought best gone ignored.]

[So when the knight actually did close the distance between them, the lecturer completely froze. He was one who detested being this close to those he didn't trust, and only trusted one person. This was an utterly new and momentarily disconcerting experience, and yet...it wasn't really that bad.]

...how foolish of me. I'd almost forgotten.

[Idly, Waver noted he felt lightheaded. Strange; maybe there were some aftereffects of dying after all?]

[oathshackledbird]

And I must be slipping.

[A smirk curls the corner of Diarmuid's mouth as he sits back to give Waver some space. He doesn't remove his hand completely from the other man's hair though. Instead, he just lets it slip down to rest against Waver's shoulder, hair still woven between his fingers.]

If you can still so clearly speak after a kiss, that is. Even a gentle one such as that was.

[fionnuisce]

I guess I don't really know how to react to this kind of thing. It's not as if I make a habit of-...what I mean to say is...er...

[He glanced away, slightly uneasy.]

...That was my first.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's hand moves from its place on Waver's shoulder back to the man's head so he can turn it toward him.]

Hey, no hiding remember? It's just a shame you didn't tell me so I could make sure I did well enough so you would be convinced to come looking for another.

[He leans back in close to Waver.]

So what do you say? Do I get to try again?