SoulGemmed Mailbox

[oathshackledbird]

You have found the Mailbox of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Lancer).  If you have business with me, please leave a message and I will return it as soon as possible.

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[action; 2/17, evening]

[lapidarius]

[A knock on Diarmuid's front door came a little after sunset that evening. Standing behind it was one Noriaki Kakyoin, holding himself rigidly straight and wearing a controlled expression that seemed more like the look of a soldier than a teenager.]

[It was probably best to just get this over with as soon as possible.]

[action; 2/17, evening]

[oathshackledbird]

[The person who answers the door is the very opposite of Kakyoin's stiff and controlled posture. Diarmuid is tired and it shows, but that is a good thing oddly enough. During the battle with the recent Nightmare, Diarmuid burned out his emotions with his time stop ability, but when the burn out wore off, he forced himself not to use it again. Emotion levels are starting to get back to normal, so he has no excuse to keep chaining it just so he can burn himself out.

No excuse except being addicted to the quiet having no emotions brings and that is really something he cannot allow himself to become. When he sees Kakyoin's stiff stance, though, Diarmuid can't help but think maybe it would be better if he was burned out right now because just seeing the young man like that makes his chest ache. He takes a deep breath and tries to smile, but in the end the smile just won't come.]

Kakyoin. I wasn't expecting to see you today.

[lapidarius]

I'm not one to run away and hide.

[That was what he'd said once, wasn't it? That if the legacy of his family was to run and hide, he'd have no part of it.]

[Easier said than done. Even if Diarmuid wasn't Dio, part of him wanted to turn and get the hell out of there. Knowing what he could do stuck in the back of Kakyoin's mind like a shard of glass carving through scars that had barely healed.]

...I don't intend to explain myself. What may or may not have happened to cause my reaction has nothing to do with anyone but my family. All I came here to do was make sure you fully comprehend what you're holding right now.

[oathshackledbird]

There are times to run and then there are times to turn and face what you are running from. I have never doubted that you know the difference between the two.

[Diarmuid pauses to take a deep breath. It's probably good that he is so tired since it makes it hard to get angry. Even so, he feels a bit of anger bubbling inside of him as Kakyoin continues talking.]

I had no plans on asking you what happened. I know the signs of one who has been traumatized by something and you showed all of them back when it happened. You still show them now. It's all I need to know, but what I need you to know and understand is that just because someone used this power against you in a horrible manner, doesn't mean that I am foolish enough to do the same. You are not the only one who has faced trauma and been scarred by it. I would rather die than do something with this power that will cause another to look at me the way you did when you realized what happened.

4/3; action/continues shitting this up

[lapidarius]

[Knock knock.]

[It was early afternoon when Kakyoin came to Diarmuid's front door, wearing the ragged hat he'd arrived to Nyoi-cho in and carrying...well, what looked like a neatly-wrapped box of something.]

Oh darn... :-P You know, I am afraid to ask what is in the box...

[oathshackledbird]

[It takes Diarmuid a moment to answer the door because he's been working very hard on finishing a woodworking project he promised Madoka. After what just happened, having something to remind her of her family will probably be very comforting. He has to set aside the wood, the tools, and most importantly, brush all the wood chips off himself.

Somehow, he manages to get rid of most of it by the time he gets to the door to answer it. Most of it, aside from a few stray chips that have somehow made their way into his hair. Oops...

A startled look crosses his face when he sees Kakyoin and the box.]

If you found that on your doorstep with my name on it as the sender, I swear I didn't do it.

don't be SILLY

[lapidarius]

What--no, it's okay. [His free hand tilted the visor back far enough to look at Diarmuid rather than hide underneath it.] I wanted to...try and extend some kind of peace offering, if you haven't eaten yet.

I...could I come in? If that's okay.

[phone/tablet- 8/14]

[songlessbluebird]

[ Following their earlier conversation over the mirrors, Chihaya calls into Diarmuid's fancy high-tech tablet. She fervently hopes it isn't too far different from, you know, NORMAL phones. ]

Hello?

[phone/tablet- 8/14]

[oathshackledbird]

[Chihaya, you have no idea how confused he was when the store clerk was very enthusiastically--especially for a normal town resident--explaining how it worked to him. There was a lot of smiling, nodding, and experimenting once he got home.

Think of it as magi-skype. It's close enough.]

Greetings. Can you hear me all right?

[Diarmuid has the tablet balanced against one knee now, speaker on. There is no one around at the moment, so he figures they will have all the privacy they need.]

[songlessbluebird]

[ Chihaya's always been at home, so she doesn't have to worry about privacy on her end. And if Kakyoin entrusted Diarmuid with his life- and those points- then she has no reason to doubt the ancient hero's judgment on this sort of thing. ]

[ Of course, it helps that she isn't familiar with the whole speakerphone thing. ]

I can, yes. Thank you for agreeing to this.

[ The former idol is silent for a moment, before deciding to stop beating around the bush and just get to the point. Which she does, her voice subdued and somewhat halting. ]

Um... Yozora told me that you were the one who... fought, her. [ Yes, that does sound better than "killed." ] A few days ago.

15/10; phone/tech

[cl0ckwork]

[ After having caught on to Kakyoin's public message, Aradia has a few questions to ask. Following the redhead human's advice, she does some digging around until she finds a way to message him privately through a phone she acquired at some point during her stay. ]

Um... Diarmuid-Lancer-sir? ... Hey! Is Lancer like a title you got in a game or something? That's how I got mine, I'm a Maid of Time and– [ she cuts herself off with a soft "No, no! That's not it-" ]

I'm sorry, I got carried away... My name is Aradia Megido and um, I talked to the red-haired human, Kakyoin I think? He said you'd be staying in this town when the search party departs and I thought I should talk to you about it. If you find the time for it, please message me ba--- [ beep! Voicemail over. ]

15/10; phone/tech

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid can't help but be amused by the randomness of the call's flow. It's nice to hear someone sounding so upbeat when there is so much serious stuff going on. Not long after he gets the message, he will contact her back.]

It's nice to meet you, Aradia. Please, just call me Diarmuid. Lancer is actually my class title from the war I was summoned into back home. While I can fight with many weapons, calling me into the Lancer class focused my traits and abilities on using my spears the best I possibly can.

I am staying in town when the others leave. What questions can I help you with?

[cl0ckwork]

[ Aradia picks up the phone almost immediately, a little gasp of excitement audible on her end. He replied - and so soon too! The sooner she gets this out of her chest, the better. ]

Wait, so you could have been summoned as something else? I... Wow! I mean... I know now thanks to my wish that my ancestor had a different title from mine although we share the same aspect- that's Time, by the way. I'd love to have a whole chat about the war you've mentioned and about the one I was involved in, so we should plan that! I mean, I'd talk about it now but... [ She trails off, humming softly. ] I'll try to go straight to the point. Well. Well- yeah, I'll try.

Back home where I come from - well, not home-home but I mean I was dead in our homeworld and that's another thing... [ She huffs. Alright, focus miss! ] Basically I was involved in a very big adventure and I'm feeling a few paralells that I can't help but worry about. We - my adventure companions and I - were split into two teams as well and eventually once we got back together, we ended up splitting into another two teams with these human kids we met. I could go on about how that's sort of a constant that I've been experienced - well, should according to my wish - but what I mean is: I'm really worried! I know everyone else must be as well and I'm sure everyone knows there's a huge chance that either or both parties will be walking right into a trap, but I can't help but to reinforce the fact that people must be aware of the consequences of... Anything and everything they choose to do. Or to not do.

[ Whew. That was a mouthful. ]

I know I'm not very intimidating and I know I'm still young even by human standards - I mean, I'm only your human equivalent of thirteen years old! But I want to help with an expedition back into the dungeon as soon as the other group takes the train. I want to know what the countdown is, even if it ends up being a bomb or a doorway into another evil dimension. And I want to help. I'm staying behind and I want to keep my best friend safe and I want to help keep everyone else more or less out of trouble if I can, too.

... So then I talked to that Kakyoin human and he mentioned you and here I am! [ :D ]

11/6

[lapidarius]

thank you for being kind to her

i'm sure it meant a lot

[oathshackledbird]

[Now there is someone that Diarmuid is glad to be hearing from even if it is just a text.]

You're welcome. She deserved kindness just like anyone else. All of them were victims, just like you were.

How are you doing now that you have had a little time to recover?

[lapidarius]

i don't really know

i feel like i might be okay eventually but i'm pretty far from it right now

morning, 24th

[crosslaced]

[A letter on Diarmuid’s doorstep:

Should you feel motivated enough to discuss the state of your magi, find me during working hours at the library today. Obviously something is wrong.
-L.

The handwriting incidentally matches that on an anonymous gift delivered to Diarmuid's mailbox last night; of a book, slightly charred and with the cover replaced. A sci-fi thriller. But that's irrelevant.

Should Diarmuid do as directed, he'll find the library closed when he arrives- but given that children have gathered around the locked doors to throw paint and rocks, enough of the glass doors have been smashed that it's possible to sneak in. Occasionally a child does; they're quickly turned around by some unseen force inside the building.

If he's feeling too much holiday negativity, that's fine, too.]

[oathshackledbird]

[The negativity is having an impact on Diarmuid's mind--his out of character reactions to Lemmy yesterday were proof of that--but, fortunately, he has not fallen so far that a note like this can be ignored. The book he will make time to read later since it will be a wonderful jaunt into a world he never would have been able to imagine during his first life, but first whatever is going on now has to be dealt with. After all, who knows how long they have before all the naughtiness becomes something more violent?

Diarmuid makes his way to the library with thin wrapped parcel in one hand. He is pretty sure he knows who 'L' is, so why not bring along a gift of his own to lighten what is going to be a very serious discussion?

Of course, when he sees how the children cannot seem to enter, he begins to wonder if he will have any better luck. There is only one way to find out, though, and that is to try. When none of the children are watching, he slips into one of the broken windows to see if he too will be turned back.]

[crosslaced]

Hello- oh, it's you.

[And there's the blonde head, turned towards the sound of Diarmuid’s entry. He's seated at the front desk with a book in his hands, in full magi regalia- natives still shy from a Soul Gem in this season, it seems.

He gestures for Diarmuid to come over, then goes straight into it.]

Something is making everyone on the Naughty list act destructive. Has behavior been influenced like this before?

gonna assume they've exchanged numbers already | text, 1st may

[crosslaced]

How are your horsecare skills? I need a favour.

You assume right. :-D

[oathshackledbird]

A knight who doesn't take very good care of his horse isn't going to get very far. What kind of favor do you need?

[crosslaced]

Going to check on the dungeon. Maribelle needs a place to stay in the event that I die. y/n?

THE REVIVAL | 16/6 ish??

[crosslaced]

[An interesting fixture materialises as the house reforms. Among the sturdy furniture and wax candles is the holographic form of a man, uncannily like the one in Laurent's January dream, wandering the house without much aim. He's huge, at least a head taller than Laurent, and alternates between reading and snacking in a variety of places. Occasionally he smiles at the corpse, who is at this point maybe just comatose.

Two hours later the first sign of life comes from the hologram; he starts, finally realising that Laurent might be dead, and rushes to fuss over the blonde.

“Laurent? You're hurt. Laurent-”

The blonde makes a low noise. Not long, now.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Once Laurent's house fades to void after his death, Diarmuid completely loses track of time. It could have been minutes or even hours later when he finally made himself move away from his friend's body. He settles not far away though, knees pulled up to his chest. At one point he sends out a short text asking a friend of Kakyoin's who has a soft spot for animals to check in on Maribelle. He doesn't want anything to happen to her. Laurent will have a fit if a hair on her head has been disturbed when he comes back.

Laurent...

Diarmuid presses his eyes closed to keep himself from crying again. It's not going to do him any good to spend however long he is stuck here crying. It won't bring Laurent back; it won't erase his mistakes or his inability to protect someone else he cares about. This is his punishment. He will wait until it is done and then afterward... Well, he'll deal with that when the time comes.

It's surprising when the hologram appears. Diarmuid half wonders if he is hallucinating until he realizes he recognizes the man from Laurent's dream. It's strange. Diarmuid knows only parts of the man's story. He wishes he knew more. Maybe in time Laurent would tell him.

Or maybe not. After all this...]

He'll wake up soon.

[Will the man even acknowledge him? Diarmuid has no idea, but he can't help but try to calm him anyway.]

[crosslaced]

[The apparition doesn't respond to Diarmuid at all. He's completely focused on Laurent, doing things that no one in this town would get away with- caressing Laurent's face, brushing his hair. The intimacy is suggestive. Even more so that Laurent, surfacing hazily into wakefulness, doesn't seem to be alarmed.

Well, it's his own imagination.]

I think I need some water-

[“Okay”, the figure says…then looks at Diarmuid as if just noticing his presence.

“Laurent, you have a visitor.”]

Mmm…

[Pause.

“Should you be having-”

The tension in the air flares back to normal Laurent levels. The hologram explodes into nothingness, mid-word, as Laurent sits up violently enough for it to definitely be poor for his health. His eyes say fuck, then fuck, headache.]

You-

[Nothing. He's been too recently dead to have prepared for this. But he seems very stressed out about having someone in his space so soon.]

How long have you- did anything happen?