animus_network | [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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

A bit rude to imply your brother puts himself before everyone else, don't you think?

[She doesn't bring her sword to the ready, instead beginning to prowl around him at a leisurely pace.]

But don't get me wrong. I probably will go looking. Just not until I'm done here.

I implied nothing. You merely read into it what you want to.

[There is definite irritation in his voice now. Especially as she just keeps walking around him. If she had her weapon ready, he would not be so bothered. It would just be one warrior evaluating the other. As it is, he feels like she is evaluating him in a completely different way.

In a way he very much does not wish her to.]

Ready your weapon and lets begin. Otherwise, I am going to take my leave of this waste of time.

[He usually doesn't initiate fights. However, in this case he is very much considering doing so if it will stop her from looking at him like that.]

Rude.

[Says the girl who's doing her utmost to raise his proverbial hackles. But she stops and shrugs, and doesn't even give so much as an 'okay fine' before shifting the sword into a two-handed grip and darting at him with a slash that starts near his knees and moves up.]

[Diarmuid easily flips backward to avoid her attack, though the moment his feet touch the ground he leaps back at her again, spear spun around in an attack aimed at her waist. It is a direct attack and aggressive, something much more suited to his brother than himself, but that would be his anger slipping into the fight.

Later he will be upset that he let his emotions have such free reign on his fighting, but for now all he is focused on is the fight in hopes of driving away both his anger and the loss that was the cause of this whole little match to begin with.]

[It's a sign that she's done well in getting him angry if he's attacking her head-on like that. It's also a bad idea, because even without the cloneblade, Asagi is still fast and brutal in astounding measure- but then again, she's made that way.

She parries the strike to one side and steps forward into the rush, turning on her heel to put more force into the strike she counters with toward his shoulder- and then redirects, mid-swing, toward his midsection instead with a smile as she hums-]

Hate to chance harming that pretty face.

[Her strike is deflected not by Diarmuid's own weapon, but by the armored back of his left hand. His deflection carries much more force than it should because of his anger, and it is probably only because he holds back at the last moment that the weapon doesn't break. Instead, it is driven out and away from him. However, he doesn't follow through with another attack, opting to place some distance between them before narrowing his eyes at her and answering her taunt with a hiss.]

I worry not for my 'pretty face' when I am fighting. My opponent shouldn't either lest I begin to wonder if they have forgotten how to fight properly and end the battle before they get hurt.

You should know better than that with me.

[Asagi isn't worried about how angry he's getting- if he gets out of hand, she can handle it. But he needs to learn to work through it one way or another. So she closes the distance between them again, sword held at her side so she can try and slam it into his midsection.]

If anything, it just makes me want to fight harder.

[Diarmuid easily deflects the blow, attempting to push her in one direction with the momentum while spinning around behind her and raising his weapon to try and strike at the back of her head.]

Then prove it! Cease speaking and fight!

Awww, what's the matter?

[She twists, dropping to a knee as she turns and bringing the sword to block, bracing it with both hands. She winks at him even as her arms tense at the impact of the strike, smirk widening.]

Did I make you mad, Diarmuid?

No, Asagi, you haven't made me mad....

[Diarmuid gives a bit of an extra push to his weapon before stepping back and letting the sword drop to his side. No, of course he's not mad...]

All you have managed to do is annoy me with your ceaseless chatter. I thought we were going to spar. Perhaps some other time when you are less chatty?

[He makes a dismissive motion with his sword and then turns from her to walk away.]

[Video/Action] Bittersweet the Bonds of the Heart

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