Video; Mourn the Past, Strengthen the Present

[oathshackledbird]

Last month, I posted to the Network asking for those who would be willing teach others how to fight--both with and without powers--to contact me. Many of you were willing to share your talents with those who needed them, and I thank you very much for that.

[Diarmuid smiles and bows his head for a moment before continuing.]

However, aside from a few people who I have already helped find teachers, I haven't really heard from anyone who would like to take advantage of the skills that have been offered. I understand that many of you have probably already found teachers amongst those who you know. For those who still might be looking, I thought that I would post a list of those who offered their services so you can take advantage of them should you ever wish to.

I will warn you, though, that most of these people are battle-hardened warriors and do not pull their punches. If you take them up on their offers, please be prepared to work your hardest. They will expect no less and those who you are fighting for deserve no less.

Here is the list. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Since I know most of the people on the list, if you are unsure who you should contact, I will be glad to direct you to a teacher.

Teacher List:

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne: Teaches armed and unarmed combat. Spear and sword focused. Duel-wield specialty. Can teach all levels of fighters.
Mayu: Armed Combat. Axe focus.
Cerberus: Teaches armed and unarmed combat. Knowledgeable with almost all weapons. Specialty in modern weapons.
Saber of White: Teaches armed and unarmed combat. Sword specialty.
Aleph: Teaches armed combat.  Knows melee weapons.  Sword specialty.
Sir Lancelot du Lac: Teaches armed and unarmed combat. Specialty in non-traditional weapons.
Ken Amada:  Teaches armed combat.  Specialty in spears and improvising weapons.
Enoch: Skilled in the use of slings. Also skilled in making them.

If anyone would like to be added to the list, please feel free to let me know. Also, let me know if you would like the information listed by your names altered in anyway or wish to be removed from the list.  This list isn't a static thing by any means.

On a sadder note, for any of you who knew Mami Tomoe, it has come to my attention that she has been sent home. I know she was close to many people. She left me a cookie recipe and since Riki has given us such a good selection of food this month, I can think of no better way to honor her memory than to bake some of the sweets she made so well. Anyone who would like to join me is welcome, though, I cannot guarantee my cookies will be anywhere near as good as the ones she made.  I--

[For a moment it seems like Diarmuid will continue, but after a few seconds, he just shakes his head and ends the feed.]


----

(OOC: If anyone would like to meet up with Diarmuid in the kitchen to try making those cookies, feel free to tag your response with Action, Kitchen and cooking shenanigans can be had!)

Comments

[puppy_lancer]

[He wipes the egg and flour from his head.]

Ah, that. Yeah, I had some issues with that too, in the beginning.

[He gently takes the egg from Diarmuid's hand.]

Just barely use your strength, then.

[oathshackledbird]

I am just barely using my strength!

[It's obvious Diarmuid is very frustrated with the eggs and his inability to crack them properly.]

And I am still crushing them. I don't know what else to do.

[puppy_lancer]

Watch me.

[Lancer holds an egg with only his fingertips and gently taps its narrower end against the edge of the bowl. The egg is still intact, so he taps it again, a little stronger this time. And then, when that fails to crack the egg as well, he taps it even more strongly, almost caving in the top of the egg in the process. With a finger of his free hand, he pulls away enough fragments to make a hole and gives the egg a shake. And then another. Until most of the egg has trickled into the bowl.]

...It gets the job done, just not quickly.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid watches his brother closely, though his expression seems to say that he doesn't think it's going to be as easy as his brother makes it sound or look.

In fact, when his brother succeeds the first time, Diarmuid is almost pouting.]

Let me try.

[He picks up an egg and tries to mimic what he just saw his brother do. Unfortunately, he hits the egg too hard the first time and it crushes just like he has been doing before.

Those aren't pretty words he's muttering under his breath...]

[puppy_lancer]

[He snickers slightly. Then, he puts his hand over Diarmuid's hand.]

Come on, Bro. Practice makes perfect.

[Though he neglects to say that in his case, finding out how to properly handle eggs was less a case of practice than it was pressure. "I'll crack your skull if you don't cook those eggs properly you stupid dog" sort of pressure, in fact.]

[Misaya was a tough Master to please.]

How about I guide you here?

[Though cooking wasn't exactly his hobby, it still felt good knowing that he could teach his brother something. If only so he could repay Diarmuid for teaching him so many things.]

[oathshackledbird]

[He gives pouting look to his brother.]

It's not funny you know.

[Diarmuid looks down at their hands and then back up at his brother, his expression much more serious than it should be for simple cracking an egg.]

Show me.

[puppy_lancer]

Nah, it's not funny. Just cute.

[Guiding Diarmuid's hands, Cu Chulainn has him pick up an egg. Then, he slowly, carefully, uses as little force as possible to tap the tip of the egg against the edge of a bowl.]

See? If it doesn't crack, go just a tiny bit stronger.

[oathshackledbird]

I'm not cute.

[Diarmuid's pout returns for a moment before he refocuses completely on the egg. When it doesn't crack the first time, he nods acknowledging his brother's point and then lets him direct the next hit. Diarmuid smiles slightly when the egg cracks and doesn't end up crashed.]

Just a little more...

[puppy_lancer]

A wee bit harder and...

[The tip of the egg cracks more and more.]

Think you can do the rest, bro?

[oathshackledbird]

[He was doing okay. Diarmuid was doing so well, and then his brother said 'wee bit' and for some reason he totally loses it and starts laughing, crushing the poor egg in his hand.

Perhaps, Diarmuid should be disappointed since he was so close to cracking the egg correctly, but at the moment all he can do is laugh. He's not sure why, but hearing that phrase from his brother of all people...]

Did you really just say 'wee bit?' Really?

[puppy_lancer]

...Yeah?

[And then, realizing what he's said, he blushes.]

I-I'm not talking about my parts here! Or yours!

[oathshackledbird]

I know. I know!

[Diarmuid pauses to try and get his laughter under control.]

It's just one of those cute sayings. Hearing it come from you...

[puppy_lancer]

Aw man, did I really make myself seem too cute?

[He grins.]

But I'll have as many cute sayings as you do.

[oathshackledbird]

[He shakes his head, finally getting his laughter completely under control.]

I don't know if I would say too cute. I mean, it is cute, but I think it was more the combination of the strange situation and the words than just the words that set me off.

[Diarmuid looks over at his hand a what is left of the egg.]

And I was so close too...

[puppy_lancer]

[Now it's Lancer's turn to laugh.]

Man, you look like a kid talking to his teacher!

[He goes to get more eggs.]

I ain't Scathach by a long shot, so I say that we have plenty more eggs left and plenty more time to get it right.

[oathshackledbird]

Well, you are my teacher right now, remember?

[At the mention of Scathach, Diarmuid's face pales.]

I think I would rather not have her as a teacher. I mean no insult, but I do like breathing...

[And not having eggs chucked at his head with deadly accuracy and force. Besides, he doesn't want to think about what might happen if she somehow fell victim to his curse. Surely her magical skill would protect her, but...}

[puppy_lancer]

...A wise choice, brother.

[Scathach was a tough woman and a very special one. She could paralyze even the greatest warriors with fear should she have been irritated. Lancer can see why someone might try to avoid her.]

If you could get on her good side, though, it's worth everything she throws at you.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at his brother.]

Do you think I'd have a chance of getting on her good side? I just have a feeling she would hate me from day one. For my curse and what it does to women if for no other reason.

[puppy_lancer]

Oh. That's right.

[His expression falls. While it's not Diarmuid's fault that he has that curse on his face, he knows that women with magic resistance might take it the wrong way and believe that he was doing it on purpose.]

If I was with you, I'd vouch for you. Ferdiad and I were her favorites. She'd listen. I think.

[oathshackledbird]

I know you would brother. I wonder... Do you think one with her skill in magic might actually have been able to help with the curse?

[Diarmuid laughs.]

Once I earned the right to her help, naturally.

[puppy_lancer]

I think she might. She did teach me all I knew, though I'm pretty sure it's not all she knew.

You're a hard worker. I'm sure you'd get that right...after a few years!

[oathshackledbird]

Most teachers hold back a few tricks, but...

[Diarmuid pauses a moment, not sure if he wants to bring up what will probably be sad memories for his brother.]

...she wanted you to kill her. What good would hiding something that might help with that from you be?

[puppy_lancer]

...She didn't hold that back.

[Gae Bolg appears in his hands.]

I could have done it with this. Not even a God could have escaped Gae Bolg's curse. But I didn't.

[His tone is grim. He had laughed it off. Thought that he could have found an alternative. But there had been none. And he had left his teacher to fade into the land of the shadows.]

[oathshackledbird]

'Could have?'

[Diarmuid blinks in confusion, his face paling.]

What do you mean 'could have?' The stories I was told said you tried, but even Gae Bolg's power was not enough to kill her at that point. It was just too late...

[puppy_lancer]

[He slowly shakes his head.]

The story was wrong. I never tried. She gave me this spear, told me to do it, and I laughed it off. And afterwards, it was too late.

[His grip tightens around his spear. He should have learned his lesson here, but when he was given a repeat of the situation, he still failed. He let Misaya die of that curse, even as she told him to kill her to keep her from such a fate.]