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.]


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(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

[fionnuisce]

You're wrong. You're wrong and you have terrible taste. There must be a dozen other people here better suited for you than me.

[Waver scowled, knowing he'd already lost whatever coping mechanism or metaphorical defense he'd separated them with. His arms fell to his sides, though Waver's demeanor retained as much of that distance as he could manage.]

And we can't because there's not nearly enough time for it. Focusing on the emotional aspect of matters leaves us susceptible to mistakes. We can't even begin to afford to make any missteps.

[He looked away at Diarmuid's last few statements, frustrated. This wasn't right. Logic should have prevailed over something as unpredictable as the apprehension that settled in his chest like a several-ton rock.]

...I'm not lying. We are short on time. It would be reckless to divert much of our attention to something like this. [Waver's hands curled into fists as he pushed a indescribable sentiment back further; that strong feeling that made him want to say all kinds of things he'd regret.]

[Of course he wouldn't lie. But that didn't mean he'd tell the whole truth.]

[oathshackledbird]

I don't want other people, Waver. I want you! Why can't you understand that? Whether you believe it or not, you are the best friend, master, and partner I have ever had. Why would you want me to have less than the best?

[At first, Diarmuid had allowed Waver his distance. He doesn't want his friend to shut down on him completely after all, which is a real possibility considering how much of the last ten years Waver has had to spend doing just that--hiding his true wants and needs, shoving his weaknesses away so no one can use them against him.

But Diarmuid is someone who craves that closeness. After so strictly restricting himself during his first life because of his curse and his time in the war because of duty, now that he has been convinced it's okay for him to want this, all he wants to do is give comfort and, yes receive it as well, though that closeness. That is why he finally closes the distance between them, putting his hands on Waver's shoulders and leaning his forehead against the other man's in a gesture they have done many times, but one Waver can pull away from if he really needs to.]

Not only that...

[His voice is softer now.]

I want you to forget all of this. All we have to do here and all we have to do once we go back home. Just for a moment, forget everything but what Waver Velvet really wants, what he would die to have if he could have anything and not have to worry about other factors influencing his decisions for once.

Nothing has to change Waver. We have felt this way for a while about each other and it's not influenced our work so far. It's just Karna arriving that has forced us to look at things in a new light. What happens will happen with only one difference. We are now aware of what we are feeling and this damned placed won't be able and take that and spring it on us at the worst possible time imaginable. Because, you know it would. You know it!

Let our bond be our strength. It always has been. Don't be afraid of it. Don't be afraid...of me...

[fionnuisce]

This is stupid. You know this is stupid...I--there's no way they won't use this against us. We'll j-just be asking for trouble, so don't-... Don't...

[Despite his best efforts, all possible arguments seemed to be dying in his throat. His rigid posture cracked and faded to what seemed like exhaustion, shaking hands reaching up to hesitantly rest on Diarmuid's face. Of course they were asking for trouble; even if they weren't trouble would find them anyway. Even though it was absurd, illogical, and suicidal, wouldn't it be better if they faced it together? Wouldn't that be the logical response?]

...don't leave. Please, don't leave.

[oathshackledbird]

Let them try and use it against us. It is our strength. Our bond. In the end, it will always give us back more than anyone else can make it take away.

[Diarmuid looks Waver in the eyes as he says this, leaning into his touch. After a moment, he brings his arms up and pulls Waver into a tight hug.]

I will never leave you Mo Stór. Never. Whatever happens, we will find a way. Everything we do, we do together. That will never change. After all, there is no reason for me to learn to be my own person and stand on my own if you aren't there.

[He buries his head in Waver's hair.]

Thank you for not pushing me away. Thank you for not hating me for this...

[Because this? This isn't what Waver signed up for all those months ago when they first contracted. It isn't what Diarmuid had signed up for either, but he's not going to question the direction things have gone. He's far too happy for that.

In fact, this might be the happiest he's ever been.]

[fionnuisce]

...I don't understand any of this. Am I...have I been in love with you this whole time or something? What the fuck does that even mean? [Waver sighed in defeat, leaning his head on Diarmuid's shoulder.]

What a stupid, tired mess of cliches. This whole thing is patently absurd.

[oathshackledbird]

Don't worry about the details so much. Will knowing them really change anything? As long as we know now, that is the important thing.

[Diarmuid lifts one of his hands and starts to stroke Waver's hair.]

It might be absurd, but...is feels good right? It makes you happy?

[A bit of concern enters Diarmuid's expression as a thought suddenly pops into his mind.]

Are you happy? You aren't just giving in to make me happy, right?

[fionnuisce]

I...don't know. There's no way to describe this in such simple terms. While I don't feel blatantly unhappy about this...I believe the most dominant thing I'm currently experiencing would be better termed 'apprehension'.

Don't you realize how likely I am to end up hurting you somehow? Do you comprehend that no small percentage of the risk we're taking comes from me alone? I am not and will probably never be the kind of person suited for this kind of thing.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

I'm not afraid of you, Waver. I know you would never hurt me on purpose. If it happens on accident...you know I am just as likely as you are do to something stupid. I might have been married once, but I never got to fall in love with her. Not like I have with you. I really don't know what I'm doing, but as long as we keep trying I am sure we will figure something out.

I love you for who you are, Mo Stór. Every flaw and imperfection just makes you more beautiful to me.

[fionnuisce]

...that's stupid. You're such an idiot sometimes.

[His argument didn't seem to carry all that much weight, spoken automatically more than anything else.]

[oathshackledbird]

Your idiot, though.

[He rests his head against Waver's again.]

And that makes being so completely acceptable to me.

[Diarmuid smiles softly.]

Don't worry, Waver. It will be okay. I promise. It will be okay.

[fionnuisce]

I don't have your confidence or belief that it will be. I'm not even sure I'm okay right now.

[He sighed, frowning just slightly.]

What a blasted mess this is.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid kisses Waver lightly on the top of the head before stepping back so he can look the magus in the face.]

What can I do? Is there anything? You know I will listen to whatever you have to say no matter how confused or jumbled those thoughts are.

[fionnuisce]

I--n-no. It's fine.

[Waver stumbled over his rather insistent words, crossing his arms.]

...rather, I think it less 'fine' and more something I should likely attempt to work through on my own.

[oathshackledbird]

I...understand.

[Diarmuid shuts his eyes to hide the sadness and guilt that suddenly dampens his happiness. Perhaps now it's finally hitting him that this might not be the best idea, but he doesn't regret his decision. Not in the slightest.]

If that changes, you know I am here. I'm...sorry I added this to your already full plate. I just...

[He shakes his head suddenly.]

Never mind.

[fionnuisce]

...Don't start doing that. I'll admit this isn't the best time, but you haven't really done anything wrong. So there's no reason to act like you did.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs self-consciously.]

Sorry, you know how I am.

[He reaches out and rubs one of Waver's arms lightly.]

Thank you...for putting up with me. Is it really a mystery why I will put up with anything for you?

[fionnuisce]

A mystery, no. Evidence of terrible taste in companions and endless patience?

[Waver took Diarmuid's hand and pressed a small kiss to the back of it before smirking.]

Absolutely.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid smiles at the gesture, turning his hand in Waver's so he can return it, drawing the man's hand up to his own lips for a light kiss.]

I think you got that backward. Am I not your knight? If anyone is to be kissing a hand, it should be me.

[A pleased look enters his eyes.]

Though, I find I do not mind in the slightest. Your kisses, I mean. They are always welcome. Especially, if I have the chance to return them in kind.

[fionnuisce]

Are we really going to argue over which of us should be kissing the other?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs and kisses the top of Waver's hand again.]

No. Not as long as we are doing it. I'm certainly not going to argue.

[fionnuisce]

Good. Because if you were going to argue your case, you should have done so in a far more convincing manner.

[oathshackledbird]

I'll keep that in mind.

[A smirk suddenly crosses Diarmuid's face.]

I suppose this means I should really kick up your kissing lessons, hu? After all, I'm going to be the one directly benefiting from them...

[fionnuisce]

That does sound like an idea. But first I think we should finish what we started here, don't you?

[oathshackledbird]

You mean my grand quest to destroy the kitchen single-handedly?

[Diarmuid laughs, kissing the top of Waver's hand lightly once more before letting it go.]

I suppose we should. Come show me how it's really done, Mo Stór. It can't actually be as hard as I am making it.

[fionnuisce]

It doesn't look that way, though I admit this is nothing I have experience with. Although judging by the recipe, it seems like a simple form of chemistry.