☿ // 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]

[Diarmuid leans forward so that he and Waver are practically nose to nose.]

You mean besides practically everything? Don't worry, though. I won't tell anyone that you can be so very cute sometimes.

[He kisses Waver on the nose again before sitting back.]

And, of course I will teach you the practical things, but don't you want to learn some fun things once and a while too?

[fionnuisce]

...you can be such a jerk sometimes.

[Calming down somewhat, Waver responded with a mock long-suffering sigh.]

Let's at least try to have some measure of priority here.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, I suppose I am.

[His expression falls slightly as he realizes he's probably pushed too far again. Would he ever get it right?]

Of course, this would actually be a good month to work on the hunting and cooking since it is a Jason month. You may have missed it with everything going on, but the only things available to eat are these rather tasteless bars called nutrition bars. And the restaurant is closed so risking that isn't even an option.

[fionnuisce]

Don't look like that. I was only kidding.

[Waver reached over to the few strands of hair hanging in Diarmuid's face and tugged on it lightly; his equivalent to Diarmuid's own myriad ways of teasing him.]

At any rate, I'd noticed. Does he always do that?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid closes his eyes and is about to apologize when Waver pulls on his hair. The gesture makes him smile slightly.]

While this is my first month with him in charge, from what I have heard, yes this is his usual method. It seems he likes to carefully control what we eat so he can keep track of all the variables for his experiments. Supposedly, the things that happen during the months with others in charge aren't actually experiments, just events or in Ruana's case, games. Only Jason's months are actual experiments because he's a real scientist.

[There is no small amount of disgust in those last two words since Diarmuid still remembers well how Jason had or more accurately, had not, answered his questions.]

[fionnuisce]

Hmph. [Scowling, Waver crossed his arms.] How deplorable. Someone like that shouldn't even pass for the vaguest definition of 'scientist'. People who invoke the name of science and research to excuse cruelty make me sick.

[oathshackledbird]

When I spoke with him, I was trying to find out if he was actually in it for the science or if he was just a monster using that as an excuse. Unfortunately, that is about the time he decided to stop talking to me. I can only guess that the answer was he is a monster. I don't know why I thought I might get a different answer if I tried since so many people hate him, but...

[Diarmuid shrugs.]

I guess I was trying to find out if he might become predictable at some point. A man of science would have certain routines and such. A monster would have no such thing.

[fionnuisce]

I can't say I know the type. But I would imagine someone capable of the kind of things he apparently does follows no rhyme or reason save only for his own.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods.]

I know that now. Back then, I think I was still trying to find some way to control things I could not hope to control. To bring order to things that could not be ordered. I thought if I could figure out even something little about his motivations, it might have helped, but it was nothing more than a wasted effort. At least now I know better and will waste no more time.

[fionnuisce]

You've been doing your best, despite the results or lack thereof. That's all I could ever ask of you. Besides, it was a good idea to at least try to comprehend his motives--even if the only conclusion is that they're incomprehensible.

[oathshackledbird]

I just wish I could have figured out more. Small steps are okay, but that isn't even a small step.

[He pauses, a thought having hit him.]

I suppose that is why I have been gathering so much information on the tower floors. If I can't figure out the administrators, at least I can figure out the floors and help others with that information. And that is definitely a step forward. A large one. Getting that information out will help so many people.

One of my friends has even found what appears to be an old printing press. He is going to try and figure out how it works. If he can do that, it will make copying the lists that much easier!

[fionnuisce]

...Okay, I'll ask. Where on earth did someone find a printing press around here?

[oathshackledbird]

He said he found it hidden in one of the corners of the library. Hmmm...he didn't say which one and there are two floors.

[Diarmuid pauses to shrug.]

I guess it doesn't really matter. He says it's very old, but he's learning how to use it and once he does he will show me so that I can use it. The process will be slow, but it will still be faster than coping information about over 100 floors by hand.

[fionnuisce]

There's probably not much point in questioning it, so I don't know why I felt I should.

Magi love archaic things like that--maybe not quite to that extreme, but I might be able to take a look at it if he needs help.

[oathshackledbird]

They do? I suppose that makes it even odder for one to stoop to using a gun like...

[Diarmuid pauses and then shakes his head. He's not dealing with emotions from that time right now. There is too much other stuff going on.]

My friend's name is Sephiroth. The younger, not the elder. The elder I would rather you avoid if at all possible. He is a very dangerous man.

The younger, however, I am sure would appreciate your help. He is a very intelligent and well trained boy. In fact, sometimes I find myself forgetting how young he is. He seems more like one of my fellow knights than the child he actually is.

[fionnuisce]

Oh, him? We've met. In fact we had a long discussion on magic not long after I got here. Smart kid; a little unnerving, but smart.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs lightly.]

Yes, that would be him. He asked me a lot of questions about our world's kind of magic when we met the first time as well. He actually tried to cure my curse with his magic, but obviously we know now that didn't work. My spear's dispelling magic wouldn't work against his magic either. They both may be called magic but obviously they are very different things.

Anyway, he is working on a project. I forget exactly what it is after everything that has been going on, but it's something to help newcomers when they arrive much like my own project. He is an extremely helpful boy. It's so hard for me to understand how he and the older version of him can be the same man.

[fionnuisce]

That's something else that interests me: the amount of different worlds with some value of 'magic' isn't shocking, but the sheer variation among them is fascinating. When he told me about his world's materia, I thought I was going to faint. Can you imagine, just attaching something to a weapon and suddenly being able to use magic?

Anyway, you're the second or third person to warn me about his older self. I haven't met him, but it seems hard to imagine.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, that materia really surprised me as well. It is so versatile and useable by so many. It could not be more different from our magic if it tried.

[Diarmuid pauses, shaking his head.]

He broke Tohko's arm over a small matter. I know sometimes she gets in over her head when it comes to things, but she still didn't deserve that and lately...

[A dark look enters Diarmuid's eyes.]

...he has been following Ryoji. I do not like it. Especially, after a few things Ryoji has told me.

[fionnuisce]

Something that could allow anyone to use magic with no prior training...it's exactly the kind of thing I could use. If I was able to bring some of that home or even replicate it... [He sighed almost wistfully, shaking his head before returning to the more pressing subject.]

Guess I really will have to keep an eye out. Not to say I'm planning to get in trouble, but it's not like I'll just stand around letting people like that cause trouble.

[oathshackledbird]

You would have to talk to him about that, my friend. I don't know if something like that could be replicated off his home world or not.

[Diarmuid frowns.]

Sephiroth has very powerful friends in addition to being powerful himself. I think if you don't want to becomes just another victim of his you need to find a way to attack him besides head on. As much as I hate it, I am going to have to talk to others to find a way to help Ryoji. I know I cannot do it myself. I would probably end up dead and that would just destroy Ryoji. I can't do that to him. He is hurting too much already.

[fionnuisce]

You worry too much, my friend. [Waver shrugged his shoulders, leaning his head on one hand.] I may not amount to much, but you've got me on your side already. I don't doubt there's something we can figure out.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, I do worry too much.

[He laughs.]

I thought you of all people knew that, but I have to be extra careful with this. If the wrong people find out, then Ryoji and everyone he cares about will be in even more danger. I can't let that happen. I don't know for sure, but from how he was acting, I think someone already has been hurt or even killed because of all of this. I think the only reason he even said anything to me was because of the curse. He was affected and doing his best to protect me.

[fionnuisce]

...hm. So it's that complicated, is it? No, maybe I should say 'of course it's that complicated'. No one can just make my life easy.

[Sigh.]

It sounds like you're right; we just need to tread carefully for now. Observe and evaluate things, develop the proper strategy to deal with this and until then, only intervene directly if someone's life is in immediate danger.

[oathshackledbird]

Yes, and I don't think he told me everything either. That makes things even more complicated.

[He sighs and reaches up to rub his eyes.]

I can't think about it anymore now. I'm too tired after everything. It's been going on for a bit now. It will have to go on for a while longer. I don't want to make any mistakes in this.