animus_network | [Video/Action] Bittersweet the Bonds of the Heart

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[Video/Action] Bittersweet the Bonds of the Heart

[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?]

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I don't know... Do you have a problem with having your heart ripped out of your chest with no hope of escape?

[Diarmuid's talked to a person who fell victim to the floor, Asagi. He'd really rather not see anyone else face that fate even if it is a rare occurrence.]

Not really.

[And she honestly doesn't.]

But kinda defeats the point of it. So I guess it's another visit to the gym floor in that case.

The gym?

[Now a confused look crosses his face.]

Do you want to spar? I don't know if I'm really up to that right now. The last time I sparred when I was this emotionally charged, I ended up with this.

[Diarmuid motions to the scar on his cheek.]

Well then. We'll just have to go hand to hand, won't we?

[She blinks at the scar, and then shrugs.]

It's actually probably better that way. You know what I'm like when the cloneblade gets involved after all.

[Diarmuid sighs.]

I don't really get a choice in this, do I? I get the feeling if I don't show up in the gym, you will probably come looking for me. Am I right?

Not particularly. I'm making practice weapons. They're kind of crappy, and they'll probably break...

But better than nothing, right?

Would you like me to help you make some that might hold up a bit better?

[Distractions are good right now. Things that will keep him from thinking too much without getting himself hurt or killed in the process.]

I have learned a bit about making weapons since I got here.

Maybe later.

[Distractions are good, yeah- but so's getting things out of your system.]

For right now, stop trying to distract me with quality craftsmanship and let me kick your butt.

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at her.]

What makes you think you will be the one kicking anything? Just because I am upset doesn't mean I still can't fight.

[Challenge accepted.]

Because your butt is like right there- it's pretty impossible to miss it even mid-fight. So why wouldn't I go for it.

[A snicker- Diarmuid can be pretty sure there was innuendo in that somewhere.]

Besides, if I can't use the cloneblade, then you can't use your crazy Servant powers. Seem fair?

Asagi!

[Diarmuid suddenly turns bright red, his eyes wide.]

Contact happens during sparring, so I wrote it off during our first spar, but now I can't help but wonder... Were you groping me? Some of those touches...

Hey, I keep telling people. I really like to fight, and the cloneblade only makes that worse.

[She is not in the least bit apologetic, raising her eyebrows a bit, mouth curving into a sly smile.]

You know, in as much as 'punching people feels fantastic' can count as 'worse'. Call it a side-effect.

[Diarmuid starts to respond, but after a moment, he just blushes harder and drops his head into his hands.

Congratulations, Asagi. He's speechless.]

Oh stop making that face.

[She smirks.]

At least you haven't been around when I've actually gotten to kill something.

[Because man, there are some interesting noises that happen during that.]

[Diarmuid peeks at her between his fingers.]

Do I really want to know?

[Her smirk widens.]

Dunno. Do you?

[That smirk...does not promise good things.]

I think perhaps it might be safer for my sanity to just meet you in the gym...

Smart move.

[She tilts her head, still smirking.]

See you soon.

Considering you will hunt me down if I don't show up, yes, I will see you soon.

[With that, Diarmuid ends his feed and makes his way to the gym. Once he arrives, he wanders into the center of the open space where he always practices and starts doing a few slow move sets to pass the time until she arrives.]

[Asagi does her best not to leave him waiting for long. Still, finishing up what she's doing takes a bit longer than she'd like, if only because even after she's done, she's still not sure how sturdy what she's made is.

Still, she figures it's better than nothing, and actually walks up to where he is instead of jumping- just to try and ward off the cloneblade's compulsion to fight him full-tilt.]

Hey.

[It's all the warning he gets before she throws a makeshift wooden spear at him, her own wooden sword settled on her shoulder. Neither weapon is actually of poor quality- but between his strength and hers, them lasting more than one fight is unlikely.]

Ready?

[It's gratuitous and he knows it, but Diarmuid tosses his spear into the air unsummoning it as it goes up and flips around gracefully to catch the spear she throws at him. He then grins at her.]

I was starting to think you got lost...or you know, scared.

[For as much as he argued against this, Diarmuid has to admit he's looking forward to the distraction the spar will provide him from his confused emotions.]

Scared? Of such a pretty face? Nah.

[The thing about Asagi is that even if she's not great at emotions, she can still tell when someone needs to let something out. Though really, she probably should have told Diarmuid she was going to try and piss him off, but she didn't think he'd be all that cooperative if he knew.

She drops the sword from her shoulder, rolling it around her wrist in her own little display before twisting it into her hand.]

Besides, then I'd miss out on all the action, and that armor of yours doesn't hide much of that at all.

Edited 2013-10-18 00:15 (UTC)

Excuse me?

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at her, not sure if she is just continuing the teasing from before or if she is actually suggesting something else. Like perhaps he is all looks and no fight even after their first spar. He rests the spear across his shoulders, arms resting on its ends.]

It's not like requested my armor to look like this. Mobility seems to be a factor, but besides that, it is not much like my armor of old at all. Perhaps you should be glad that I wear anything. While it was rarer during my time than my brother's, our people were known for fighting completely naked.

[Have that nice mental image, Asagi.]

Didn't stutter, did I? You make a good view.

[It's probably best if he takes it at the latter, and she makes a point of running her tongue along the edges of her teeth, setting the fingers of her free hand over her heart.]

Gets the blood going... among other things.

[The latter gets a throaty laugh out of her, and she twirls the sword in one hand before pointing it at him and then beckoning with it, brows rising.]

Really? Gotta say, I can't see it- you're too... tense for anything like that. [Her hand drops from her chest, both arms out in a helpless shrug.] No real fun at all.

Yes, however if you want fun, most people will tell you it is better to speak with my brother. He's the fun one. I am the one who watches out for everyone and tries to keep them as safe as I can.

[There is a slight narrowing of his eyes and an edge to his voice making it suddenly very different from before. They are the only hints that Asagi's plan is working, but the game she plays is a dangerous one. The wound she picks at is one that really should remain closed. Beauty truly is a curse for those who wish to remembered for something other than their looks. Especially those who would rather just not be remembered at all if that is all they are remembered for.

Diarmuid swings his spear into ready position, though he doesn't advance on her despite her beckoning.]

If it is fun you seek, perhaps you should go find him.

[Video/Action] Bittersweet the Bonds of the Heart

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