The Darkness Between Heartbeats

[oathshackledbird]

Characters: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (oathshackledbird ) and anyone! (Closed prompt for Tear Grants, melodyoftheabyss , and Jade Curtiss, sarcasmancer .)
Setting: Room 4-16 on the 16th (Closed to Diarmuid), Infirmary/Collar Fluid Change on the 18th (Open), Infirmary on the 20th (Late & Open), Gym Floor on the 22nd-25th (Open with a closed section for Tear and Jade) and Various during the week he is powerless (the 18th through the 25th).
Format: Starting in prose but pick your poison from there!
Summary: After waking up from dying during the Nyx Revenge Log, Diarmuid takes a few things from his room and disappears along with Mac an Chuill, so that he can finally face that darkness inside of him and find those lines he will not cross as Saber has advised him to do. For the first few days, he will have his powers and be fine, but after the 18th all bets are off when he takes the new collar fluid and loses all of his powers. Wouldn't you know it? Orcs are a lot faster when one is just a human without powers... Once he has gotten himself back together near the end of the week, he can be found in the gym for all those folks who might want to get a spar in with him while they have a better chance to beat him...
Warnings: Angst, references to death, dark negative emotions/angst, mind control, injury, blood, stitching up wounds, mentions of evisceration, and fighting monsters. Others are possible depending on where conversations go. Will update if needed!

Room 4-16, January 16th (Closed to Diarmuid):

The Darkness. It's still there, and Diarmuid doesn't mean just because he can't open his eyes frozen by sleep paralysis as he is. What he means is the darkness inside of him. The darkness that has always been there and that he has been hiding from for...has it really been over a year now? Yes, it has. On January 4th to be specific, though Diarmuid really hadn't been thinking about it then. He had been too distracted by other things like keeping an eye on Waver while his powers returned and thinking about all the things that had happened during the incident with Jason...

It's hard to keep being distracted after Ganondorf's magic pulled that darkness out of the corner Diarmuid had shoved it into and allowed it to possess him heart and soul. Diarmuid could blame himself for letting it happen, for not having dealt with it sometime during that year, but what good would that do? It would just give that darkness power over him again.

It's time he stops doing that. Time he looks into that part of him he's been denying and stop letting it frighten him to the point that his fear is causing to happen the very things he wishes so much to avoid. It's time to find those lines, to mark them, and make sure that he never strays near them again.

It's rather ironic that Ganondorf's attempt to punish him is going to make him stronger instead. Diarmuid is positive of that. He will accept nothing less. Still, it will not be any easy process and he's not exactly sure how things are going to go. It will to take a while and he is probably not going to be the nicest person to be around at times. That is why, as soon as he can move, Diarmuid gathers a few things from his trunk, beckons for Mac an Chuill to follow, and leaves his room.

He has no plans on returning until he has to, and hopefully by then, he will be able to be the strong shoulder that all his friends and family are going to need after this.

Infirmary, January 18th (Open):

Diarmuid leaves Mac an Chuill outside the Infirmary doors when he goes in for his collar fluid change. It's very early in the day, but he has arrived early on purpose. After being missing for two days, it's likely people are looking for him, and he needs to make sure he gets this taken care of quickly, so that he can hopefully avoid running into anyone who might want to talk to him. To be honest, this is probably not the best time for him to be switching over to the new collar fluid, but at the same time he doesn't want to keep putting it off.

At least he was smart enough to switch over to his dress clothes before having it done. Considering his armor is summoned and part of his powers, once they fail things could get embarrassing fast. As it is, as soon as the power loss hits him, Diarmuid can't help but stumble. It's just as disorienting as any other time, but with the added bonus of somehow being much worse. Maybe it's because of his own state of mind, maybe it's because he knows that he can't just leave the floor and have his powers return, or maybe it's because somehow it just seems much more complete this time. No matter the reason, instead of leaving immediately, he takes a seat back in an empty corner of the Infirmary to settle himself for a few moments.

A soft whine and a lick across his hand cause Diarmuid to look tiredly up at Mac an Chuill, before reaching out to pat the loyal hound on top of the head, "Just give me a moment, okay? Then we can go. There's much to do."


Infirmary, January 20th-Late (Open):

His breath comes in shaky pants between clenched teeth as he stitches up the sword wound that starts around his sternum and crosses his collarbone ending near the top of his shoulder blade. Diarmuid has stitched up many wounds in much worse conditions and with far fewer supplies before, but he's been pushing for two days without food or sleep and his now human body is not happy with him.

Not to mention, he lost no small amount of blood getting down here. Considering how blurred his vision has become off and on, it's probably a good thing that he had Mac an Chuill to help get him down to the Infirmary in the first place. Of course, had the hound not finished off the orc that had wounded him, Diarmuid might not have had to worry about making it to the Infirmary. He would have been worrying about having to start this whole no powers week all over again instead.

Diarmuid frowns has he finishes stitching the wound and reaches for his dress shirt. Right, strike that. It's ruined until he can drag himself to floor 51 to maybe repair it. It's probably a good thing he remembered to bring his father's cloak along. It's rather cold to be going without a shirt, even for just a short time. Hesitant to get blood on the fine garment, he takes a long time to clean as much of it off himself as he can...

...and nearly blacks out in the process.

From the doorway where Diarmuid left him to stand guard, Mac an Chuill whines. The animal is clearly worried about him. He knows the smell of blood and so much of it smelling of his owner is not good. Diarmuid makes a soft sound to comfort the hound as he somehow finds enough strength to finish cleaning himself off. Once done, he wraps his father's cloak around his shoulders, pulling it close around his body and settles into a chair, ironically enough the one he had sat in a few days prior after he had gotten his collar fluid changed. Much like then, he plans on just taking a short breather and then moving on again.

The fact that a few seconds after he sits down, he passes out from exhaustion and blood loss says differently.

Gym, January 22nd-25th (Open):

Now that a few days have passed, Diarmuid has grown more used to being powerless for a long period of time, his mind is more settled, and his wound doesn't burn every time he takes a breath. He's eaten, he's rested--albeit brokenly--and is in much better shape than he was just a few nights ago when he passed out in the Infirmary. Not quite ready to return to all of those he calls family and friend, he instead makes the gym his home, carefully working out and practicing with Gae Buidhe and a monster spear that is about the same weight and size as Gae Dearg. He misses being able to summon the spear, but without his powers the weapon is out of his reach. However, his feelings of loss are tempered when he realizes the next time he summons it, he will be summoning the real thing not a glamoured copy.

That alone is enough to bring a smile to his face despite how tired he is, despite the face he is powerless, and despite the fact that he still needs to work out several things in his mind. Those things will all come. They are coming, in fact. Bit by bit. Swing by swing.

Thinking through things while practicing is as natural as breathing, after all.

Gym, (Closed to Tear and Jade):

Diarmuid's dress shirt had not been able to be saved no matter how hard he tried and so he'd made himself a sleeveless long tunic of a similar color as his uniform on floor 51 to replace it, and that's what he's wearing over his black slacks while he practices and waits for Jade and Tear to arrive. Mac an Chuill sleeps nearby and with his senses reduced because his powers are gone, Diarmuid knows that the hound, sleeping or not, will likely be the first to notice when Jade and Tear arrive. That is why Diarmuid has positioned himself so that he can practice while keeping an eye on the dog.

Despite all that has happened this week, he is excited to get to meet Tear again. She might not be the same as the one he had known, but from what Jade has told him, she is every bit the talented and kind soul the other version had been. He looks forward to actually getting to work with her this time.

Various Floors, January 16th-25th (Open):

From the time he wakes up and leaves his room through the whole week he is powerless, Diarmuid is going to be on the move. It won't be until he starts hanging out in the gym toward the end of week that he begins spending a great amount of time any one place, which means that he can be found just about anywhere if none of the above listed prompts seem interesting. Keep in mind that since people know to look for him on floor 100 because he goes there a lot to think, he will be avoiding that floor. Once he has lost his powers, he will also be avoiding most of the more dangerous floors in the Tower since, while he has a lot of his mind, the last thing he wants to do is get himself killed.  This latest death was death number seven--not that he will tell anyone who doesn't realize it themselves--and he has now firsthand started feeling the odd effects that come from having died so many times.

Finally, considering his poor shirt got ruined--stupid orc--and he is going to be making himself a new one, feel free to use floor 51 as a prompt after the 20th if you would like!

Comments

Floor 51 Pick a day I don't mind.

[attheclocktower]

[While he's working on his shirt, he might notice a hand placing a new one right next to him on the table, assuming he had not heard her approach. It's one of the new ones Xion just finished herself, given her trying to rebuild supplies before February. Ruana tended to not really care about keeping the power running during her months, Xion's noticed.]

Here. At least until you can finish yours.

[Just in case he was like her, not wanting to be an inconvenience to others while she could take care of herself]

21st sound good?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid is indeed just like her. It's easy to be that way since he is used to being a servant and not having to worry about certain things like eating, sleeping, or having warm clothes. Of course, that doesn't explain why he isn't paying closer attention to what is going on around him because he knows his senses aren't what they should be right now.

That is just because he's very tired and perhaps relying too much on Mac an Chuill, who is currently fast asleep a short distance away and doesn't stir when Xion approaches because he knows she's no danger to his master.

Diarmuid only notices her when the shirt settles beside him, and he makes a soft startled sound when he does, jerking in surprise. Immediately afterward, he winces, hand dropping what he has been working on and grabbing at the angry wound that crosses his chest and goes up onto his shoulder. The wound is obviously new and very painful despite some minor healing he has gotten since he got it.]

X-Xion...I'm sorry. I didn't notice you there. Thank you...

Infirmary 20th

[midgarhorizon]

Oddly enough, when Reno started his search for the lancer, he didn't expect to find him so soon, and in the infirmary. A cursory examination of Diarmuid's wounds, trying not wake him, made Reno grimace. It isn't much, and his control of the magic is shaky at best, but he leveled a cure spell at the stitches along the shoulder.

Once that was done, Reno sat on a chair across from his friend, arms folded over his carefully repaired Turk uniform, and waited for him to wake up.

[oathshackledbird]

Mac an Chuill follows Reno into the Infirmary, glad to see that someone is going to help his master. He's good at reading most people and he can tell, even if Reno seems...upset?...that he doesn't mean any harm. He sits near Diarmuid and watches as the red head starts his work.

Diarmuid himself doesn't stir at first. He is deeply unconscious, forced there by a damaged body that had to rest now. Eventually, though, the healing energy, weak as it might be, starts making itself known to his mind. Perhaps it's its unsteady nature that calls to him more than anything. Indeed, since he can't tell much about the magic other than it is magic, it feels familiar in its unsteadiness.

"Waver..." The name is muttered softly and Diarmuid's hand twitches as he tries and fails to find the strength to reach out. Once the healing ends, he falls still again for several moments.

Sorry, Reno. He might need a little encouragement to pull himself back up to consciousness fully...

infirmary, 1/20

[fionnuisce]

[Waver hadn't been able to sleep since the fight with Nyx--finally he'd decided to give up and see if there was something in the infirmary that could help. Unfortunately, the sight he was met with immediately ensured he wouldn't be sleeping at all for the rest of the night.]

[Without a word he quickly crossed the room and knelt down in front of Diarmuid, holding out both hands and trying to direct his prana towards healing; his mental state had been chaotic for days, so the difficulty in concentration caused the light around his hands to flicker more erratically than usual.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Mac an Chuill barks excitedly when Waver enters the Infirmary, dashing over to where his master is sitting unconscious and looking at Waver with hopeful eyes. He knows the man will help even if things were still...weird from before.

Diarmuid doesn't stir at the bark. It takes several moment so of Waver's unsteady healing before that very healing breaks through to Diarmuid's exhausted mind. His eyes flutter several times before he finally manages to focus enough to keep them open slightly. When he realizes Waver is there, he tries and fails to smile.]

Orcs...are faster now. Who knew...

[Did Waver remember Diarmuid had planned to switch out his collar fluid this week? Not that Diarmuid had bothered to remind him during that short and tense encounter they had earlier in the week. The magus...no, they both...had too many other things on their minds at the time.]

infirmary on the 20th

[slightlyoblivious]

[It's the sound of Mac an Chuill at the infirmary doors that gets Yukiko's attention as she passes by. She might not know the dog, but any animal that's whining like that is doing it for a reason. She bends down, letting him sniff her hands.]

What's wrong?

[She glances inside, seeing Diarmuid passed out. This time, Yukiko doesn't ask. She knows the answer would be 'I'm fine, don't worry about it', but worrying is all she's been doing since she woke up. Seeing a friend like that? There's only one thing she can do. It might be a glamoured spell, but her Diarahan hits home.]

Diarmuid-san? It's Yukiko. Are you okay?

[oathshackledbird]

[Mac an Chuill doesn't even need to sniff her hands to know she's a friend. He follows her glance toward his master and barks, rushing inside to get her to follow. He doesn't know what her spell is exactly, but when it causes his master to stir slightly, he barks again.]

Mac an Chuill...

[Diarmuid's words are hardly a whisper as he struggles to pull himself far enough into consciousness to see what the dog is barking at. It takes a few seconds for Yukiko's words to reach him, but once they do, they help significantly in his attempts to wake up.]

Yukiko...I'm...

[He wants to say fine, but it's obviously not true and he's not going to lie to her. Not when she is probably hurting just as much as he is after what happened.]

...not doing so well tonight...

The Meadow

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Prana in the air, but not his own. Nor his Master's.
Weak, but it has a familiar feeling. His vision is red, but his eyes see, his teeth are sharp, but his tongue tastes.

It is harder, these hours, these days, to go about with his mouth closed. His teeth are large, pointed-- sharp. It's better to leave it open. His mouth. He tastes the air. The air of the Meadow is sweet, and what there is of Lancelot knows that he does not belong here, a looming black shadow under the sun. But his Master has said don't kill any of the Servants, Lan-- Berserker, there's no War here and there is the seal burning on his Master's hand and so he has not and will not. He only lingers. Wavering between Madness and Sanity.

The false knight lingering beneath the false sun. The noise he makes is meant to be a laugh but comes out as a groan.

He sometimes moves more swiftly than he can recall but he has not moved-- it is the source of the scent that is closer. It is Diarmuid ua Duibhne. Stinking of old blood and stale Prana. Lancer.
Perhaps Lancer will know he is at Truce, perhaps not. Perhaps Lancer will see Death in his face and then, oh then-- but no. Lancelot is still himself. Even if his mouth when he speaks sounds strangely full. Even if he stoops and his hair hangs lank over his Face. He is still somewhat himself. For the time being.

His voice is rough like a crypt door half-off its hinges. Yet he tries to school it.]

Lancer.
Diarmuid-- Diarmuid ua Duibhne.

I am torn between really liking that icon...and being creeped out by it. So fitting!

[oathshackledbird]

[The rough voice startles Diarmuid. Familiar, but not, but so in a way that reaches back into long unvisited memories of war and battle. He begins to speak, but before he can, at his side Mac an Chuill tenses into attack position, growl rising in his throat.

The hound recognizes the danger that is Berserker. Diarmuid trusts what is Lancelot to hold that danger in check.

A sharp command in Ancient Gaelic leaves Diarmuid's mouth and the dog relaxes, sniffs in Lancelot's direction and then stills, laying down near Diarmuid's feet. Once he is sure the dog has calmed itself, he turns to Lancelot, sadness at the man's disheveled state flickering in his eyes a moment before being pushed away.]

You too have taken the new fluid, haven't you?

gym and pick a day, I guess

[puppy_lancer]

[After that latest debacle with the crystals and somehow winding up dead again, Lancer is not in the best mood. While his riastrad makes it so he can't remember most of the battle, the shame from being captured asleep is enough to irritate him.]

[He would run off and seek revenge, but his powers aren't enough. And he had promised Diarmuid he would not die anymore.]

[That's why, at the first opportunity, Lancer had gotten his collar fluid changed. Sure, it would mean a week spent powerless, but after that, he could go challenge Ganondorf and show him what a hero's powers could really do. And of course, keeping his real powers would be an incentive to not die easily.]

[It was a good plan in his head, at least.]

[However, it's been too long since he's been human. Too long since he had to feel hunger and fatigue from just moving around. Of course, it's also been too long since he's healed so slowly.]

[As much as he tried to stay out of danger, the last few days had still been filled with close calls.]

[Today, when he makes it up the stairs into the gym, he's breathing hard, sweating, has dark eye circles, and his right hand is wrapped and splinted. In addition to the bandages, there are less dramatic band-aids slapped on his face, his legs, and even his chest, as he shows when he pulls off his jacket and shirt. After working up a sweat getting up here, he doesn't exactly feel cold.]

[Maybe he shouldn't have tried to run a race with his horse...]

[His eyes light up as he realizes he has a familiar companion on this floor.]

Oy, Bro! There you are! Haven't seen you the last few days.

[Throwing his shirt aside so it lands right on a rack full of weights, he uses his good had to slick back his stray hairs with his own sweat.]

Where's Gae Dearg?

[Despite being a little short of breath, he straightens up and grins at his brother.]

How about around the 24th to give Cu time to get himself so busted up? Seriously, Cu... X.x

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid pauses in his practice, looking to his brother and then paling slightly in shock at what he sees.]

Brother, what happened to...

[And then he stops as he seems to realize what is probably going on. Exhausted in a way he usually isn't. Hurting from wounds that usually wouldn't have happened let alone been still bothering him if he were normal. Diarmuid knows those things too well as he has been fighting them himself all week. In fact, the top of his own wound is clearly visible thanks to the loose collar of the long green sleeveless tunic that has replaced the dress shirt he usually wears with his slacks.]

You changed out your collar fluid this week too?

Infirmary, 20th

[miseris_socios]

Ken patrols at night. It's been a fact of his life here almost as long as he can remember, and aside from a few interruptions he's kept it up as much as he can. The noise from the infirmary makes him pause, and he carefully descends the stairs to look in on the level.

What he sees makes his blood run cold. He leaps off the stairs to land on the level, and rushes over to him. He quickly pulls his Evoker from his holster and presses it to his head, pulling the trigger and summoning Dike for a healing spell.

"Diarmuid? Diarmuid, please wake up..."

[oathshackledbird]

Mac an Chuill barks excitedly as he follows Ken into the Infirmary and to his master's side. He has been waiting nervously for someone to come and help and finally someone has. The giant Irish Wolfhound settles next to Diarmuid's too still form and whines sadly.

At first, Ken's words don't make their way into Diarmuid's mind. His body is just too injured and exhausted to react to anything. However, as the healing spell starts to do its work, he stirs slightly, a soft moan slipping from his mouth. This causes Mac an Chuill to bark again. Without opening his eyes, Diarmuid reaches out toward the hound.

"Mac an Chuill...what..."

He doesn't seem quiet awake enough to realize someone else is in the room...

Gym - Closed to Jade, Tear and Diarmuid

[melodyoftheabyss]

Tear approached the scene, not certain of who to look for since she had not met Diarmuid in person. She had only sent brief letters to him in regards to his assistance. She's been under the weather for some time now, considering she had taken the fluid to obtain her real abilities a few weeks ago. Now having that thought, she would like to see how it felt with having her own abilities returned to her.

The suffering, though was not without assistance. Jade had constantly watched her during the time she was weak. She knew it was a matter of time when she would return the favour to him. For now though, the maiden spotted someone she assumed was Diarmuid, and she approached.

[sarcasmancer]

Fortunately for Tear, Jade arrives close on her heels. He'd intended on arriving first, since he knows Diarmuid and Tear does not and introductions are always smoother with someone to facilitate them, but an unforeseen inconvenience had delayed him.

That is to say, death.

Jade must say, though, if anything were capable of killing the Necromancer, it would have to be Death itself, wouldn't it? It's not something he's pleased about, but he's not especially upset, either. What's past is past, now--and Diarmuid might be able to answer a few questions. If there are any lingering side effects from that event, though, he certainly won't hold back.

For right now, though, he looks as pleasant and unconcerned as ever, approaching with hands in his pockets. "Ah, Tear, I see you beat me here," he calls to her back. He glances over at Diarmuid and his faithful hound, further within. "My apologies for being late."

In a variety of senses.

Gym - 23rd?

[bashfulshifter]

[He can't keep sitting around. He's done that for more than a week now, and as much as running into those he knows--those he's hurt--pains him, the thought of that nebulous punishment he'll receive upon not doing his job is enough to spur him to action. But what Rick didn't realize was how much better he would feel after falling back into his routine; the monotony is pleasant, clears his mind and gives his tired muscles something to do.]

[Going to the gym is one such routine that Rick has settled into. Unfortunately, this is also where some of his companions like to mingle to blow off steam, and as his mind is still rather foggy Rick doesn't consider this until it's too late.]

[Rick spots Diarmuid from the track--blushes deep red--then looks away and hopes he hasn't been spotted. Maybe he can still escape...]

23rd is good for me!

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid actually doesn't notice Rick right away because he is caught up in his practice routine. With his wound, he has to be careful how he moves so that he doesn't reopen it. He could be doing simpler routines, but they bore him so quickly.

However, there is someone who does notice him and is very excited to see the blond man again: Mac an Chuill.

The dog barks excitedly and barrels his way toward Rick. He still remembers Rick's dog 'friend.' Maybe he will play?]

18th

[frilliance]

[While Edgeworth's collar check-up was not today, he wanted to go to the infirmary to take a few bandages.

However, he immediately forgot about that when he saw Diarmuid collapsed on that chair and looking incredibly exhausted.] Good god, are you all right?!

[No he doesn't care about you. SHUT UP.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid winces when he hears Edgeworth's voice. It's nothing to do with the man himself, just...Diarmuid had really been hoping to be in and out of here before anyone he knew saw him.

So much for that.]

I just switched my collar fluid out. I'll be fine...in a few moments. My body is adjusting to my powers being gone.

[Which basically means he went from magical creature to normal human in an instant. Just a little disorienting...]

Gym (could be any of those days)

[neverbeamemory]

[Perhaps all the other days that Diarmuid has been on this floor have conveniently coincided with exactly when Sephiroth isn't there. Lucky.

Until today.

He's done with this 'transition' period already. Sephiroth hadn't much opportunity, before having taken the new collar fluid for himself at the start of the month, to witness the effects after the powerless week. How bad could it be, finally 'coming around' from the suppressant that has held his potential back?

Quite possibly his worst nightmare. After all, at least being completely powerless Sephiroth knows this feeling and how to (mostly) deal with it. Not knowing is worse. Whether you will need to eat today or not, whether you can throw a monster across a room or not, whether you will regenerate an injury or not - all of these things have resulted in him keeping his silvered-head down and avoiding the mass populace where he can help it. Even his presence during the Nyx revelation was limited, and pointedly avoiding a direct confrontation with the band of heroes that had assembled to try and 'save' Ryoji and his four friends.

He couldn't have afforded to get caught up in it, and so had left Nyx to it at the earliest opportunity. Grinding that magi's face into the floor would simply have to wait.

Sephiroth is running laps around the track as Diarmuid arrives to the Gymnasium floor. Clad in his plain grey cotton tracksuit, with the jacket on this time - an additional layer to keep warm, where he wouldn't usually. He has no shoes for training though, and is therefore jogging barefoot. Long silver hair is tied back in a makeshift tail and sways to and fro with his motions.

He doesn't seem to have even noticed you Diarmuid, which may be an indication that his powers are duller for the moment.]

If you don't mind, the 25th?

[oathshackledbird]

[A testament to his own dulled senses, it's not Diarmuid who notices Sephiroth, but Mac an Chuill who does. Every muscle in the hound's body goes ridged and he growls low and angry in his throat. He has never reacted to anyone like this before. He only reacts like this to monsters, so, for a moment that is what Diarmuid looks for. When he sees that familiar silver-tressed head, he understands the dog's reaction.

A monster indeed.

But there is something...off about the 'monster.' He is not dressed right and those bare feet are quite the curiosity. Diarmuid goes bare foot when he can because he enjoys the feel of the ground beneath his feet. Somehow, he doesn't think this is the same for Sephiroth.

Could it be that Sephiroth is also in the process of regaining his real powers? The thought is frightening to Diarmuid considering what he knows of the man and in light of what just happened. In fact, part of him wants to turn around and walk out of the gym. The other part knows now that he has come this far, he cannot start running again.

Not this time.

Diarmuid orders Mac an Chuill to back down and then moves so that Sephiroth will not be able to miss seeing him on his next pass by. Then, he waits.]

18th/19th ish forest?

[swordofzero]

Suzaku still hadn't slept, he was starting to feel the affects but was determined to ignore it as long as possible. His mind would not settle, and though he wanted to be alone being in his room on his own, Shinji still had not returned, was not something he wished to do.

He hadn't seen Waver since sitting with him, and he had no idea what to say or how to help. He had all but avoided Diarmuid, though he knew he shouldn't. Because Diarmuid never avoided him, and never judged him for what he did.

Not that Suzaku was judging or blaming, he just... didn't know what to think. It was the second time in so many months he had had to watch Diarmuid die, had to be helpless. And this time he had helped kill him.

So when he saw him in the forest he stood still, blinking at him. Lost for words, wanting to run but not able to.

18th not long after Diarmuid's collar fluid change, if that is good?

[oathshackledbird]

Often in the past Diarmuid has brought Mac an Chuill down here to hunt. Because the animals cancel out people's powers, it adds an extra challenge to the hunt that both he and the hound appreciate. However, hunting is the furthest thing from Diarmuid's mind right now. He has come here, not to hunt, but to see if being on a floor that has things that negate powers will help him feel less...odd about not having his powers. He hadn't expected things to feel so different now. Yet, they do and he wants to know why.

Mac an Chuill seems to know things are different too and that is why the hound is standing in front of Diarmuid, large body pressed against his master's to keep him from going more than just a few steps away from the stairs. He whines, trying to get Diarmuid to leave the floor, but Diarmuid ignores him, gazing out over the forest instead.

When the dog notices Suzaku, he knows right away that this person is a friend and looks around Diarmuid, setting hopeful brown eyes on the other man. Maybe he will convince his master to leave this dangerous place before something happens?

18th and the infirmary?

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji, of course, had made a point not to get the special collar fluid. He didn't want his real powers back. He knew they would do more harm than good here. Thus, he doesn't recognize the side effects of getting the fluid, and seeing Diarmuid sitting in the corner concerns him almost as much as it concerns Diarmuid's dog.

...He's afraid to approach, though. Diarmuid's been avoiding everyone since the incident, and Ryoji hasn't even seen him until today. There's probably a reason why Ryoji's father hasn't spoken to him... and though he knows Diarmuid has always been kind and understanding regarding Ryoji's background... the fear is still there. Maybe this was the tipping point; this is what had changed Diarmuid's mind.

But he can't know until he asks, so he stands strong, even if his voice shakes calling out to him.]

Father?

o7

[oathshackledbird]

So--

[Diarmuid looks up, starting to greet Ryoji. Even though he has been avoiding everyone, part of him has wanted to run into the boy just so he can make sure he understands this has nothing to do with him and what happened. Unfortunately, instead of being able to even finish greeting him, Diarmuid is hit by a wave of dizziness as his senses shift back to being enhanced for a moment only to shift to just being normal a heartbeat later. He winces, drawing in a breath and shutting his eyes to try and steady himself.

Beside him, Mac an Chuill looks from his master to Ryoji and whines sadly.]

Gym, any particular day!

[gradosfinest]

[When Amelia finds herself with more to think about than she can handle she often spends a great deal of time on the Gym floor, training herself to a state of near exhaustion while wrestling with her own thoughts. And in light of recent battles, there's plenty to think about.

Fate doesn't plan on leaving her alone with her thoughts though it seems, the heavily armored young knight barely setting foot on the floor before she notices him. It's impossible not to spot him practicing, and for a moment part of her is tempted to turn around and leave. Leave him to his thoughts, wait until she's sorted out more of her own...

But if there's one thing Amelia doesn't do, it's run away.

With that thought she sets out towards him, well aware the weight of her armor and the noise it's making is going to give her away before she reaches him. Garm is affixed firmly to her back and her sword is sheathed, making no effort to prepare herself for a potential battle. She's taking a bit of a risk perhaps, when they met the last time it wasn't under the best circumstances... but she's reasoned the man she fought and the one in front of her were not one and the same. A man so noble wouldn't attack her of his own accord, that much she feels is true.]

I was starting to wonder where you'd gone.

Lets go 24th, if that is okay!

[oathshackledbird]

[Amelia is right. Diarmuid doesn't even need Mac an Chuill to let him know she is coming thanks to the armor. He pauses in his practice and waits for her to approach, taking the time to give her armor a closer look. It's the first time he has seen it with clear eyes...

It's quite impressive even with the new scar it has across the chest plate.]

I am glad I didn't damage it more than I did. It would have been a shame.

[He's not sure what else to say. Of all those involved in fighting him specifically, he knows Amelia the least. Is she angry? Does she blame him? Diarmuid doesn't think she will from what he knows of her, but this situation...there is nothing normal about this situation.]

Gym. My usual million apologies come here

[culbutiri]

Nesir had also found herself at the Gym, practicing archery, or her daggers. She had also picked up a short sword from a monster that she was attempting to teach herself. So she at least had another option, with weapons from monsters being the only ones that were real, she had to broaden what she could use.

She pauses to watch Diarmuid, she might dislike the guy, though much of her hatred has faded now, he has learned his lesson she hopes, she could still be impressed with how he fought.

Are you okay with the 24th, so this happens before his talk with Sephiroth?

[oathshackledbird]

She might be impressed, but to Diarmuid as he moves through his routine, he just feels slow. Slow. Weak. Granted, he's grown more used to it as his week powerless has passed, but that doesn't mean he has to like it. As much as he has practiced powerless before, right now he really just wants his powers back...

...and for this wound to finally be healed, but it's going to be a long time before that happens most likely considering how serious it is.

He sighs and pauses in his actions, looking up and noticing Nesir for the first time. Funny, while Mac an Chuill is watching the girl, he's not actively showing aggression.

"Do you wish to say something?" He asks finally. There is no harshness or anger to the question. It is just what it is, a question.

Gym → 23rd

[wrigurun]

[It was strange for her to wander down here but there was clearly something frustrating her. Wriggle stomps down the stairs and would have missed the gym entirely if she hadn't caught Diarmuid out of the corner of her eye.

Instead she steps in and climbs up some nearby equipment to watch him for a while]

Hey, what're you doing?

o7

[oathshackledbird]

[Caught up in his practicing, Diarmuid doesn't notice Wiggle right away. Mac an Chuill does and wanders over to sit by her, big eyes practically begging her to pet him. However, when she speaks, Diarmuid pauses and looks over at her, smiling guilty as something pops into his mind the moment he sets eyes on her.]

Lady Nightbug, how are you doing?

[He had forgotten. She was going to get her fluid changed as well, and he had offered to help her if she wanted it. Then everything with Nyx happened and he forgot...]

I am sorry... Are you still without your powers or have they started to return to you already?

Infirmary on the 20th

[no_longer_a_king]

Arturia cursed her luck as she headed down to the infirmary, angry at having been sent to her world for the last week only to be dragged back again.

Well, not angry. She certainly did like here better than being on her dead world. It was the things it did to her head that made her angry even if she couldn't quite figure out who to direct those feelings toward. Every day gone had been a day less she could aid those here and at least attempt to find a way to extend their time here.

But first, she wanted to go down to the infirmary to check the schedule for her next collar transfusion and simply be around life again. It is here she sees first the hound and then Diarmuid passed out in a chair, the whole room reeking with the all too familiar stench of blood.

"Diarmuid!" she calls, running up to him and lightly slapping his cheek to rouse him, "Diarmuid, what happened to you?"

[oathshackledbird]

It takes several long moments for Diarmuid to rouse himself because his body is so exhausted and badly injured. It's her voice and not the slapping that finally manages to drag him fully back to consciousness.

"Saber?" Okay, so maybe he's not completely awake yet from how unfocused his eyes are. He blinks several times before it seems to finally dawn on him what is going on. Once it does, he smiles sheepishly, "It seems I passed out. Orcs...are faster when you are powerless." He shifts slightly causing the cloak he has wrapped around him to fall back to reveal the freshly stitched sword wound that starts near his sternum and runs along his collarbone before disappearing up over his shoulder.

"I must have lost more blood than I thought on the way down here," he mutters. Though, to be honest, the fact he hasn't eaten or slept for two days since he got his collar fluid switched out and lost his powers might have something to do with it too.

Gym, 22nd

[warriorscribe]

Enoch comes to this floor when Diarmuid requests it in the note, though when he sees the other training, he doesn't intervene. Spears are out of his expertise and out of his range, so he couldn't offer to join in, but he will sit and watch, waiting for him to take a break to get his attention.

[oathshackledbird]

While Diarmuid is focused on finishing his routine for the moment and doesn't seen Enoch, the man's presence isn't completely missed. Mac an Chuill remembers meeting him and trots over, big eyes nearly begging Enoch to pet him. He woofs softly several times in encouragement and also to get his master's attention.

Diarmuid finishes the move he is on and the looks up, finally taking note of Enoch. For a moment, an oddly conflicted look crosses Diarmuid's face before it settles into something more neutral as he approaches the man and dog, "Enoch."

20th January

[clumsyjesus]

D-Diarmuid! [And she immediately runs over to him and bends down.] H-hello, it's me, Colette! Can you hear me?

[oathshackledbird]

[Mac an Chuill barks excitedly and jumps near Diarmuid when he Colette starts trying to rouse his master. Between her voice and the racket the dog is making, Diarmuid does eventually stir, though it takes a while because of how very exhausted his body is.]

C-Colette?

[He's obviously confused and having a hard time waking up. Give him a moment.]