☿ // 008; [text]

[fionnuisce]

There is a concept in my world known as 'Second Magic'. The details of it are not common knowledge, nor is it widely used or explored at all by more than one individual. What is known is its definition in the broadest sense: 'the operation of parallel worlds'.

In short, parallel worlds where I come from are confirmed fact. And while I am not a scholar of Second Magic itself, now I find myself seriously considering the subject. Personally, I don't believe things are predetermined...and yet now I find myself wondering. Even if we restore everything to the way it was, what is the probability any of us live in a timeline that will end well? Mathematically, the odds are astronomical.

I don't know what I hoped to accomplish by communicating this. Maybe I'm so fucking tired I'm just going to ramble incoherently about magical theory until I officially go insane. Of course, maybe I already have gone insane. I might not be able to tell anymore.

On the slim chance anyone decides to come looking for me, I'll be in the laboratory. Exhaustion or not, I have work that needs to be done.

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid has to admit, he is a little surprised that Waver lets himself be knocked down instead of trying to avoid the sweep, but once he sees the magus in motion, he understands. However, he doesn't plan on giving him a lot of time to recover, lunging forward without even pulling himself completely back to his feet after the sweep. He would like to be able to bowl the still recovering magus over and, hopefully, not get kicked in the head in the process should Waver recover more quickly than Diarmuid expects him to.]

[fionnuisce]

[Oh, that was a problem. Waver reacted rather than plan out a specific strategy, throwing himself to one side to avoid Diarmuid's attack. Quickly getting to his feet and back into a fighting stance, he made a note to be less impulsive. There probably could have been a way to turn that to his advantage instead of simply opting to dodge.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid rolls with the dodge using his momentum to put a little distance between them. As he circles around, he rises back up into full standing position and debates how to continue. After a few moments, it seems he's made a decision and again moves in to attack. This time he feints quickly to the left and then right before aiming a blow for the middle of Waver's chest.]

[fionnuisce]

[He'd expected a feint, Diarmuid wasn't the type for a simple frontal assault. No, he was far more subtle than that. The second feint nearly tricked Waver into reacting before he took a calculated risk and stopped; that seemed as though he hadn't fully committed to the attack, so he disregarded it and prepared for a third.]

[Grinding his heels into the ground and holding his position, Waver's own hands moved quickly; one struck in an attempt to parry and push Diarmuid's arm aside, the other reaching to try and grab the knight's arm itself to lock it behind him.]

[Of course, if he screwed this up, it was probably going to end up hurting.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid spins as Waver twists his arm behind him. Usually, he would use that momentum plus his own strength to free himself, but since he doesn't have his usual strength right now, he improvises swinging his free arm back at Waver's head. The magus will ether have to take the blow or let him go to dodge.

Unless he gets creative that is...]

[fionnuisce]

[Creativity in the face of danger was one of Waver's lesser-used skills. Keeping his grip on Diarmuid's arm, he opted to duck the blow entirely--compromising his stance for another attempt to throw Diarmuid to the ground.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Well...that is different and Diarmuid lets himself ponder it for a moment too long. As a result, he ends up on his way toward the floor again. He tries to pull Waver with him, but he has a feeling since he's tried this trick before, it's not going to work a second time.]

[fionnuisce]

[Not quite so much, no. Diarmuid almost managed to get him off balance, but after the last time Waver figured out he needed to reestablish a solid footing before that happened. Having managed to knock the knight to the floor, Waver locked one arm behind him again in an attempt to pin him down with a smirk.]

Give up?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid squirms for a moment trying to get free, but since Waver has his good arm pinned and his other is not recovered enough from his wound to really get a good grip on the magus...

Well, it's not like he actually has issues with having to do something for Waver anyway...]

I give.

[And because he's a nice guy, Diarmuid doesn't even add, 'but only because you are so cute.']

[fionnuisce]

...Wait, really?

[He let go and straightened up, honestly surprised. Diarmuid wasn't one to falsely surrender, but it was hard to believe he'd actually won even in a sparring match. Waver held out his hand again, trying to process that.]

[oathshackledbird]

Don't sound so surprised.

[Diarmuid laughs and takes Waver's hand.]

You got my good arm pinned. Wasn't that the plan? I should have been more careful.

[fionnuisce]

Sure it was, but even so I didn't expect to win.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid grins.]

You underestimate yourself, what can I say? Do you know what you wish to ask for as your reward?

[fionnuisce]

I was mostly joking when I said that. I don't really expect anything from you.

[oathshackledbird]

Oh no, you are not getting out of it.

[Diarmuid crosses his arms over his chest and raises an eyebrow at Waver.]

You have to ask for something. We had a deal.

[fionnuisce]

Wh--I don't even have anything to ask for.

[oathshackledbird]

Mo Stór, come now. Don't let your creativity disappoint me.

[Diarmuid frowns slightly.]

There must be something. Make me stand on my head or cluck like a chicken or kiss you... Something.

[fionnuisce]

[A shrug.]

Fine--kiss me, then.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid sighs at how easy that was, but isn't about to argue if that is what Waver really wants. He steps forward and reaches out to run a hand over Waver's hair before leaning forward to kiss...

...or not. Oops...looks like that kiss is going to have to be given with interest because Diarmuid just blinked out of existence and back to the void.

Stupid E-Ranked luck.]

[fionnuisce]

Wh-...

Oh, god fucking damn it.

[oathshackledbird]

[One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand... All in all, it is about five minutes before Diarmuid returns. The first thing he does once he has is start cursing under his breath.]

I swear to whatever gods that are listening...

[Then he stops himself and just decides to finish what he started, leaning forward to kiss Waver.]

[fionnuisce]

Welcome back.

[He was annoyed, but there wasn't much complaining would accomplish. It was better to just brush it off, so Waver simply put his arms around Diarmuid's shoulders and accepted what he'd (apparently) fairly won.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid tightens his arms around Waver and just kisses him instead of commenting, perhaps a little more desperately than he had originally planned since blinking back to the void like that is unsettling even knowing that he's not the only one who's doing it. Once he finishes, he rests his head against the magus' shoulder.]

Can we not make a habit of this? Vanishing at moments like that, I mean. I completely approve of making a habit of kissing...

[fionnuisce]

I would be quite pleased if we didn't, but I'm not optimistic.

[Frowning, he ran a hand through Diarmuid's hair.]

Still, I have some thin shred of hope this is merely temporary.

[oathshackledbird]

It has to be.

[Diarmuid tries to sound optimistic, but his voice just comes off as being tired instead because the exhaustion that is lingering after giving his energy to the Tower and being depowered from switching out his collar fluid.]

It has to be...