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.

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

All right, then I won't say anything else.

[Just having him acknowledge it is better than nothing. Diarmuid's not going to push.]

Do you mind me asking what Hierophant Green could do?

IT HELPS IF I CAN TYPE

[lapidarius]

He was a long-range Stand--that is, he could still function at a distance from wherever I was. Most of the others' couldn't move very far from their users. Hierophant was very useful for scouting, and when we fought directly it was with projectiles.

You have other things on your mind. It's fine! :-D

[oathshackledbird]

Nice!

[Diarmuid seems genuinely impressed. A...Stand--yes, that is what Kakyoin had called it--like that would have been extremely useful. If Diarmuid had one of his own, he would have liked it very much if it was like Hierophant Green.

Of course, just his luck, it would end up being something more akin to his curse than one that would actually be useful to him.]

I am going to guess then, that the ability of the Stand that vampire had was the time stop ability?

[lapidarius]

...yes. His was a closer-range Stand called 'The World', and as I later learned it could stop time for up to five seconds.

[oathshackledbird]

Five seconds. Just like me...

[Diarmuid drops his head into his hands, rubbing at his temples. Of course somewhere deep inside he had realized the length of time had to be the same. Why else would Kakyoin be so focused on it when they argued before? However, finally having that confirmed makes the realization concrete in a way it wasn't before.]

But you did find a way to stop him. After...

[Yeah, he's still not going to direction mention Kakyoin's best friend getting killed. He might have been brave enough to finally bring up the power itself, but that is as far as he is ready to go right now.]

[lapidarius]

Two of my friends died that night, one killed by that vampire directly. Most of the time it was one of his underlings out for our blood, but this was different. Jotaro must have been a challenge for him.

[He tugged on the hat again, hiding his eyes.]

...Kujo Jotaro. I don't know what happened exactly--the only other person that was there hasn't told me the details. What I know is that Jotaro fought him and figured out what The World was capable of...and then he died. I was told that he could stop time, and then...it was basically just me having to figure out how to beat that on my own.

[oathshackledbird]

Kujo Jotaro.

[Diarmuid repeats the name with reverence. It is a strong name. One that makes him want to meet the owner and for more reasons than just the fact that Kakyoin had once, accidentally, called him by the young man's name.]

He must have cared about you a lot to put himself at such risk. I wish he was here to help you now.

[Something tells Diarmuid that the steady strength that would allow someone to stare down almost certain death for a friend would do a lot to help balance Kakyoin out here.]

Will you tell me more about him?

[lapidarius]

...He'd had a Stand his whole life. 'Star Platinum' was its name. And they were unbelievably powerful--fast, too. We met because he'd gotten into some trouble with that same vampire and you could say I helped get him out of it.

[Yep, right on fidgeting with that hat.]

He was a lot stronger than I was, both with his Stand and just in general.

[oathshackledbird]

Strength comes in many forms. I have a feeling his strength was just a different kind than yours. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.

[Diarmuid nods toward the hat, finally giving into curiosity enough to try and confirm what he has suspected.]

Was that his?

[lapidarius]

...I'm just holding on to it.

[...]

It was important to him. Someone had to make sure nothing happened to it.

[oathshackledbird]

Kakyoin...

[There is a sad, though proud look in his eyes. How he feels when he hears such words from the redhead is not something he really can explain. It is bittersweet, but more.]

You are an amazing person. No matter what happens to you in the future, I hope you will remember that.

[lapidarius]

Don't. [It lacked any anger or bitterness; Kakyoin just sounded tired.]

I'm sick of hearing how exceptional or amazing or whatever people think I am. I don't want any of that. I just want to be Kakyoin Noriaki, not some heir to my family's legacy or vampire slayer or whatever the hell else I am.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid blinks in surprise at Kakyoin's reaction, but after only a short moment, he finds himself nodding in understanding.]

It does get tiring when people expect so much from you all the time. Many people wish to be heroes, but they have no idea how precious just being normal is. If that is how you want to be seen, I will do my best to treat you that way.

[lapidarius]

...thanks. I'll try not to...you know. Be such a complete bastard about that. It's just...

[Kakyoin shook his head, sighing.]

It's not a fun thing to be on the wrong end of.

[oathshackledbird]

I know. That is why I have never blamed you for reacting how you have. I just wish I could find a way to put you more at ease. I don't want to hurt anyone with this power, but my words are just words. Logic is just logic and when it comes to emotion? Nothing is that easy.

[lapidarius]

Just do us both a favor--stick to lances and don't start using knives. The last thing I need is more of those flying past my head.

[oathshackledbird]

Deal. The smallest I have ever used are swords, and neither Moralltach nor Beagalltach could ever be confused for knives.

[Besides, the one who made them would probably track Diarmuid down and kill him for being so careless with such exquisite weapons if he did throw them.]

[lapidarius]

Okay. I guess that's fair enough, then.

[oathshackledbird]

Good.

[A smile crosses Diarmuid's face and then he gestures toward the food with his head.]

Enough serious stuff for today. Why don't we eat this food you spent so much time on? You haven't even touched yours yet.

[lapidarius]

Oh--right. I guess I haven't.

[He tilted the visor back slightly, opening the second matching bento box.]

Did...it come out okay?

[oathshackledbird]

It did!

[Diarmuid holds up a bite of the fish.]

I especially like this. I have always had a weakness for fish and this is prepared in a way I haven't had it before. I'm not sure if I have actually had this kind of fish before either, but it might just seem that way because of how it's been prepared.

[lapidarius]

...Really? [He brightened up at that, just slightly, and took a bite himself.] I'm glad to hear that.

[oathshackledbird]

The food I am used to is not very complex. We didn't have a lot of the stuff there is now to prepare things with.

[He pauses to take another bite.]

The flavor of this is a lot deeper than what I am used to. Maybe the preparation is simple, but it sure doesn't taste that way.

[lapidarius]

Th...that's nice of you to say. I should try to put together something I'm a little more experienced with next time.

[oathshackledbird]

I certainly wouldn't mind trying something else.

[Diarmuid laughs.]

I'm such a willing guinea pig. Just...warn me if you ever try anything with boar.