Ruby City Mailbox/Inbox

[oathshackledbird]

You have found the Mailbox/Inbox of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, owner and teacher of the training school, Spiral. If you have business with him or the school, please feel free to leave a message and he will get back to you as soon as possible. Considering his abilities, that might be quicker than you think...

Comments

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[oathshackledbird]

In an ideal world, that would be true, but we all know this is far from an ideal world. Were it so, all of you would not have been forced into being what you have become. Besides, when it comes down to it, being mean and yelling at someone is better than physically striking out at them. The moment he lashes out and hurts someone innocent merely because he is hurting, I will become much less tolerant of his methods of dealing with his pain.

Is it safe for you to tell me what you think of Chassie's actions? Do you believe she should be punished?

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[charilandry_npc]

I...

I don't know. She did what she thought was best but she harmed all of us.

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[oathshackledbird]

Doing you best doesn't always mean you will be successful or do no harm. In my mind, as long as the intentions are good, then no punishment is warranted. Tim doesn't seem to see things that way. I wonder how long it has been since he tried his best only to end up hurting someone he cared about.

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[charilandry_npc]

[The response takes a long time to come.]

I'm not supposed to talk about that.

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[charilandry_npc]

Can I come and see you?

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[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid has a response to the first text half written when the second arrives and causes him to delete it in surprise.]

You want to come see me?

[There is a pause during which Diarmuid's shock passes and he realizes he never answered her question.]

Of course, you can. The school is open to everyone. Just watch your step when you arrive. I'm still repairing some damage.

[charilandry_npc]

I will. Thank you.

[As is her habit, Chari appears from nowhere moments later, though just out of sight. She walks into Diarmuid's view wringing her hands, and tries to smile.]

Hello.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid is just closing his watch when she appears. His smile is more successful than hers as he steps closer, fighting off the urge to take her hands so that she stops wringing them before she hurts herself.]

Hello to you as well.

[He leaves his watch on a nearby table and then takes a few steps toward the kitchen.]

Would some tea help calm you?

[charilandry_npc]

I'm calm. I am.

[Convincing no one, she darts her gaze towards the kitchen.

Dressed in her usual unassuming and unembellished white cotton dress, Chari has a new companion in the form of a small, white firelizard draped around her bare shoulders.]

But I would like some tea.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid could point out her very obvious lie, but decides just to acknowledge it with a nod instead, and then focuses on setting the tea to brew. Once it is doing so, he turns back to face her, leaning against the counter as he does.]

What is your friend's name? I've never seen a white fire lizard before. Is it an albino?

[charilandry_npc]

Dawn. He... was a present.

[She finds a seat and watches him. The firelizard sleeps.]

He came out of the egg too soon, but someone wanted one so badly. He isn't here anymore, so I brought Dawn to me. I'll keep him safe.

[...]

I came to talk to you about Tim.

[oathshackledbird]

The poor thing. I am glad he has you to be his family now. I am sure you will take good care of him.

[The scent of tea drift to Diarmuid's nose as he responds letting him know it is ready. Soon, he is pouring two cups, one for Chari and one for himself, before settling into a seat near her.]

I thought you said you weren't suppose to talk about it. I don't want you to get into trouble too.

[charilandry_npc]

There's a lot I'm not supposed to talk about.

[Chari grips the cup in both hands, watching the steam rising. Under her freckles, she's grown pale.]

They don't trust me. They're right not to. I loved one of you, once. I'm a risk. They know that.

[oathshackledbird]

Why is the deadliest sin to love as I have loved?

[They were words his father said once as they discussed how he felt about his son's own tumultuous love. They drift into mind and are muttered under Diarmuid's breath almost unconsciously as both the pain Chari's words carry and the pain he feels from the whirlwind that was Lisa Lisa returning and then being snatched away again so quickly mix together.]

No one should be faulted for who they love. It's only the fact that they view all of us as enemies that causes the divide. We aren't all bad.

[charilandry_npc]

It was never because you're the enemy.

[She sips her tea, eyes lowered, and thinks of her dear, sweet Jack. Broken but cheerful, lying to cover pain and betrayal, no longer able to be sure of just who he really was in a world that was no longer his.

It had been no surprise that they had been drawn together.]

It's because we are.

[oathshackledbird]

Why do you have to be?

[His hands tighten around his own cup and he only barely releases his hold on it fast enough to keep it from cracking under the pressure.]

Whose rules make it so? Is it because of how we make you feel? Because you were 'made wrong?'

[charilandry_npc]

[She closes her eyes and breathes in slowly, stirring the steam rising from the cup she holds as she exhales.]

I wasn't always... like this. [Disgust, bitter and acrid, momentarily laces her words.] I played the piano. I wanted to be a dancer.

[Chari bites her lip.]

My name was-- [She hesitates, stumbling on the word.] ... Harper. Isn't that silly?

[oathshackledbird]

What is so silly about it?

[He seems genuinely confused by her question, so confused he forgets about his anger for a while.]

I bet you would have been a great dancer. Since you played the piano, that means you already had an ear for music. My father taught me to sing and play the harp from a young age, so I have a great love of music too. I didn't know what a piano was until I was brought here, though. Now I think I might like to learn how to play one if I ever get a chance.

[charilandry_npc]

[She shakes her head and smiles, her expression distant.]

It doesn't matter now. We can't go back, and it hurts to think about the past. But it.. hurts Tim more, I think.

[oathshackledbird]

No one can go back. It's what makes the past the past, but that doesn't mean you have to let go of everything. Maybe if you take back a little of it, it will hurt less? Is there something keeping you from playing the piano or dancing here?

[A contemplative looks fills his eyes. After several moments of thought, he finally speaks.]

I get the feeling we are talking about a different kind of hurt than what the lack of humility in people today causes him.

[charilandry_npc]

Yes.

[Still with her distant smile she looks up at him and fidgets with the handle of the cup. What the 'yes' actually refers to, she doesn't elaborate, but presses on.]

He'd be angry if he knew I told you. You can't tell him I told you.

[oathshackledbird]

[He frowns a little at the vague answer, but doesn't press for now. Instead, he allows her to move the topic back to Tim.]

It must be something very important if he guards it so closely. I will not tell. I promise. The last thing I want is for you to get into trouble when you are just trying to help.

[Hopefully, this will end up better than Chassie's attempt to help did.]

[charilandry_npc]

[It's hard to say, as if something stops her, and she chews on her lip hard enough to swell it under her teeth.]

He had a boyfriend. Before. He was in the labs too. They watched each other change until they didn't know each other anymore.

[oathshackledbird]

[Suddenly, it feels like something has driven all the air from Diarmuid's chest. He presses his hands flat against the table for a moment and then curls his fingers inward, nails digging into the wood. Focus. Breathe in. Out. Push away the many images that pop into his head of having to watch Lisa Lisa, Oscar, his children, any number of other people he has loved over his life go through such a thing.

He hates how vivid his imagination paints those images.

How would if feel to have your everything taken away like that? Rage. Hate. Red. Black. It would drive most people to madness. He's tasted that kind of madness before and feels it cloud in around his senses for a brief moment before he shoves it away.

Is Tim what Diarmuid would have become if he had never pulled himself out of the madness Kayneth's betrayal plunged him into?]

I-

[Diarmuid pauses, trying to find the right way to phrase his question.]

Is that boyfriend one of you or is he...?

[Yeah, he can't bring himself to finish that.]

[charilandry_npc]

[Chari winces before the crashing tidal wave of Diarmuid's suddenly tumultuous emotions. She closes her eyes, grips the cup and sways back minutely, pulling in a sharp breath.]

Yes.

[Said gently, this time she goes on.]

And yes. Both of those things.