[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

[puppy_lancer]

...Oh.

[He turns away, looking sheepish.]

Well, I'm sorta calm now, so I ain't lashing out any time soon.

[And if Diarmuid lashes out at him, he can take it. After all, it's the least he can do for his brother.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head and reaches out to ruffle his brother's hair.]

I am not worried about you. I'm worried about me. I don't want to make the same mistake I did before.

[He doesn't think that he will lash out, but lashing out hadn't been the cause of his scar. It had been his lack of attention...

At least, that is his view on things.]

[puppy_lancer]

Alright.

So...uh...what do you want to do now?

[Anything is alright, as long as they're together. This is a Ruana month, so he wants to keep track of his loved ones.]

[oathshackledbird]

[What did he want to do? To be honest, there is part of Diarmuid that still just wants to curl up and cry, but he knows he can't keep giving into that. Not if he wants to move forward like he knows he must.]

How do you feel about braving the kitchen to make cookies again? They will have to be pumpkin because of the current menu, but it shouldn't be too hard to alter the recipe, right?

[puppy_lancer]

[He gives his brother a thumbs up.]

Sounds like a good idea! Hey, maybe having pumpkins will make making cookies easier?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs.]

I don't know, brother. I guess all we can do is try, right?

[puppy_lancer]

Better than nothing.

[He climbs up and dusts himself off.]

And if you get bored of that, just tell me. I'll stay together with you for anything you wanna do.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, also standing.]

You saw the trouble I got into the last time I tried to do this. Somehow, I don't think I will get bored anytime soon.

[puppy_lancer]

[He grabs Diarmuid's hand, giving it a quick squeeze. As he waits for his brother to start walking, he might be leaning in a little too close.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid returns the squeeze and then starts toward the stairs. He stops rather quickly, though, once he notices how close his brother is walking to him.]

Is everything okay?

[puppy_lancer]

...Yeah, everything's okay. I just want to stay close by you.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid puts his arm around his brother's shoulders.]

Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, okay? I just need a little time and I will be my old self again.

[puppy_lancer]

It's not just that.

[His expression is grim.]

Bro, it's a Ruana month. And it's Halloween.

[oathshackledbird]

Do you think she will be worse this month than the others when she is in charge?

[An uncertain look crosses Diarmuid's face.]

Riki said he would try to get her to take an easy on us after what happened...

[puppy_lancer]

It's a modern holiday that's like a late version of Samhain. And she really likes it. Last time, she was pretty eager to play her game.

[oathshackledbird]

The one with the costumes, right? I've heard about it...

[And not good things, but then again what good ever came of Ruana's games?]

Do you think she will try something like that again?

[puppy_lancer]

Either that, or something worse, since she might be angry about everything we've done.

[oathshackledbird]

Or perhaps, there will be more explosions and she won't have a chance to do anything.

[Diarmuid frowns as he thinks about that.]

What can be causing them? They have happened two months in a row now. That can't be coincidental...

[puppy_lancer]

I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the power outages?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

Who knows. The Administrators seems as in the dark as we are. That...isn't a good feeling. What if they aren't the real enemy in the end? What if there is something else out there?

[puppy_lancer]

One step at a time, Bro. We regroup and beat up the real enemy when they show. That's all.

[oathshackledbird]

Of course, you are right.

[Diarmuid shuts his eyes for a moment.]

I am borrowing trouble. One step at a time. It is all we can do.

[puppy_lancer]

And the very first step is to keep you safe.

[Lancer gives his brother a reassuring smile.]

So, cookies?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid could argue with his brother about that first step, but it's really the last thing he wants to do. So, instead of arguing, he just smiles.]

Yes, cookies and with luck a non-destroyed kitchen!

[puppy_lancer]

[If this was any other time, he would suggest racing. But right now, he's worried about the Ruana month. So he just silently goes toward the staircase.]