[Video/Action] Bittersweet the Bonds of the Heart

[oathshackledbird]

[Losing Mami, who he viewed as an adopted daughter, last month had been hard, but Diarmuid had worked his way through his grief by focusing on the happy times they had spent together.  However, when three more people he is close to are sent home--two of which he cares for like his own children--those happy memories become a source of pain instead of a route passed the grief.

When he appears on the Network, Diarmuid looks more lost and empty than he has in a long time.]

Usually, when I address everyone, I am asking for help on a project that will benefit the whole Tower.  Today, I am asking for help on a more personal level.

How does one handle losing a child?  Not just one, but several over a short period of time?  Nothing I try seems to work, and I am...

[His voice trails off here, shaking and uncertain.  A short time later, the feed ends.]

Action:

[After making his post, Diarmuid can be found wandering the Tower almost as if he hopes one of the floors might give him the answers he seeks.  There are some specific prompts below, but feel free to find him elsewhere.]

Room 4-16:

[A handmade wooden box sits on the bed next to Diarmuid.  Once it held chocolates, now it holds letters.  Several written in a childish hand are sitting on the top, but what Diarmuid is looking at is a pair of drawings that are usually set up near his bed on the nightstand.

He's not crying...  He's not...]

Floor 48 (The Graveyard):

[Rabbit would probably scold Diarmuid for singing what is suppose to be a funny song in such a sad voice, but it's hard to be happy when he is singing the song alone to the gravestone of the person who was suppose to be singing it with him.  He and Yotsuba had promised to get together to sing Rabbit's songs as a way of honoring their friend's memory...

Now that is never going to happen in any way other than this.]

Floor 3 (The Library):

[There is ink smudged on his cheek and his arm, but Diarmuid doesn't notice.  On the surface, he's focused on printing more copies of the Tower Guide to put out for those who might want them, but really he's in the Library for a very different reason.  Tohko was always here and it's like he feels spending time here will help him find her again--find that cheerful voice who had so often redirected him when he didn't know what to do next.  He almost expects to look up and see her there, smiling and ready to offer her help with what he's working on.

Unfortunately, no matter how long he waits, that will not happen.]

Floor 28 (The Music Room):

[Before even his brother, Labrys had been the first family Diarmuid had in this place.  Their bond created during the January experiment, afterward they had talked about learning to play an instrument together, but life in the Tower and his indecisiveness had kept them from doing so.  Now, as his hands run over the piano he had once heard her picking a tune out on, the sound of his grief blocks any music the instrument might make.

How is it that one who once lived his life with no regrets has so many of them now?]

Comments

[scentofmakai]

I can do both, really. Magic, claws, whichever kills them best.

[He doesn't have claws like this, but there is a large concentration of the gore around his hands, so it's not out of the question.]

Oh, I haven't introduced myself properly, though it's our second conversation. I'm Zett.

[oathshackledbird]

Zett?

[Diarmuid blinks in surprise. When he had pictured the person who had sent him the information so he could update the Tower Guide, he had not pictured someone who looked like this.

Granted with all that blood on him, it's really kind of hard to tell exactly what he looks like.]

I...

[He laughs at himself, embarrassed at how surprised he is.]

You are not quite what I expected from the tone of the letters, but that doesn't matter. It is still good to meet you.

[scentofmakai]

You expected someone taller?

[No, just less blood-covered, Zett.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, laughing again.]

No. To be honest, I'm not sure what I expected, but you aren't quite it. Perhaps I expected someone older? I hope that doesn't upset you. I mean no disrespect.

[scentofmakai]

That's all right. Though you should be careful, judging demons by their looks. Haven't you spent enough time with the Messiah to know that?

[He saw you at the wedding.]

[oathshackledbird]

Demon? Messiah?

[Diarmuid gives Zett a confused look. Perhaps, if he was in a better state of mind he would realize what Zett is talking about, but right now he doesn't make the connection.]

What do you mean?

[scentofmakai]

I saw you at Aleph - the Messiah's - wedding, so you must know him well enough to have met his demons, right? We're from the same kind of world.

[oathshackledbird]

Oh...

[Diarmuid blinks in surprise, searching back through his memories of the wedding to see if he remembers seeing Zett there. Sure enough, after a few moments, he does remember seeing him there, if only briefly.]

Yes, I have seen his demons. We've fought together on occasion. So, you are a demon like they are or are you different? You said a similar world...

[scentofmakai]

It's a different timeline of the same world, basically. You might even have met the 'me' from his timeline.

[It'd be easier to tell if he was in a more fly-like form at the moment.]

I'm a demon, just like them - I'm just not with a summoner right now.

[oathshackledbird]

Do...you like not having to serve anyone?

[It might seem like an odd question, but considering Diarmuid has been fighting with the whole master thing since he came here, it actually makes a lot of sense.]

Do you ever feel alone or lost not having someone there to turn to?

[scentofmakai]

I'm not alone. There are friends on my world and friends and family in the tower. Having or not having a summoner wouldn't change that.

Besides, I'm not a social butterfly anyway. [It's a silly pun that Diarmuid won't get.] I don't need that many people to make me content.

[oathshackledbird]

That is true. It has been good having friends and family again, even if I have had to deal with a lot of confusion since I am so used to having someone direct me.

[Diarmuid falls quiet, before asking a few questions.]

Would you mind telling me about your world? Why do you call Aleph 'the Messiah?'

[scentofmakai]

I don't mind.

Once upon a time, God sent his Son the Messiah to live among humans. When He died, it was promised that the Second Coming of the Messiah would save humanity and lead them to salvation.

Humans grew impatient over the many years since then, especially after the great destruction that left everything in ruins. The people in charge of the few settlements left of the world decided that, if God would not send them a Messiah, they would create one. He would be used as a figurehead, to do as they said in order to bring about their ideas of paradise - a place where no one was able to disobey God's commandments.

Aleph was that created Messiah. Unfortunately for those who made him, he had a will of his own and sided against them. When God was about to rid the earth off any life that would not blindly obey Him, Aleph - with the help of the king of demons, Lucifer - slayed Him. And thus he was a true Messiah, not sent by God, but a savior of every human or demon alive.

We demons have long memories, and our respect for the Messiah, at least in my timeline, hasn't faded even though he has long since passed away.

[Zett's admiration of Aleph seems genuine.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's surprised blinking is the only answer that Zett gets for a few moments. While he has heard several parts of Aleph's story, this is the first time he has heard them put together to form a whole story--a story that both horrifies and amazes him.]

Aleph...didn't tell me all of that...

[scentofmakai]

I understand he tries not to have an ego.

[Zett doesn't exactly talk to him, but he does stalk him on the network a little.]

[oathshackledbird]

He doesn't. Far from it. I know an ego-maniac. I can never imagine Aleph being like that. He is a very good man. I am lucky to have him as a friend.

[He smiles at Zett.]

I am glad that people still remember him for what he did in your time. He deserves the recognition.

[scentofmakai]

He deserves a friend or two, so please stick around him. Life doesn't have a lot good in store for him after he goes home, if what happens to him in my world happens to all versions of him.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid frowns at those words.]

Fate is never kind to her chosen is she? I will do my best. He will always have my support as long as I am able to give it.

[scentofmakai]

Good man.

...I should probably wash off at some point, huh?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at Zett.]

That depends. How much do you like your roommates?

[scentofmakai]

Romeo's a great roommate! [That immediately gets a bright smile.] I don't really care about Gamzee or Veigar, but Romeo's a good kid.

[oathshackledbird]

Even if you don't care for the other two, it would probably be a good idea to get cleaned up.

[Diarmuid smiles gently.]

Romeo is a good boy and you know he will worry about you if he sees you looking like that.

[scentofmakai]

Yeah, he will. I guess I have to wash off before I go back tonight then.

...Good thing Yotsuba can't see me from here, that would be embarrassing too.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods.]

Somehow, though, I expect if she was here you might not be out fighting quite like this. Or do your monster hunts often end like this?

[scentofmakai]

It was a little more gruesome than normal, yeah. But I do hunt monsters even when I'm not in mourning.