towerofanimus

Entry tags:

01

Characters: AU Sola-ui and you
Setting: Her room, the cafeteria, and other floors of the Tower
Format: I'll match anything you do
Summary: Sola-ui wakes up to the weirdest "kidnapping" of her life.
Warnings: None for now

1. Room 1-01

[As she wakes, up Sola-ui realizes that she doesn't know when or why she fell asleep. The last thing she remembered, she was joking around with Diarmuid on the kitchen floor. She had clearly been awake, but...]

[Right now, she's clearly lying on something softer. As she slowly sits up, she realizes that she is in an unfamiliar room, wearing clothes that she has never worn before. She cautiously steps out of bed, hugging her arms to her body and shivering a little because of the thin, skintight suit.]

[Her first guess is that she has been kidnapped. It worries her to know that someone has enough skill to kidnap the wife of a magus right out from his own house. Likely the kidnappers had also erased her memories of the kidnapping for whatever reason.]

[She starts walking around the room, trying to discover some sort of evidence that would indicate the identity of the offenders or their skills. Though, given the amount of planning and power it required to kidnap her, she doesn't believe they would be stupid enough to leave any sort of evidence behind.]

[The room certainly looks cozier than the usual basement or holding cell. Four beds, each with a trunk at the end. There's even personal items strewn around. These beds wouldn't look out of place in an actual bedroom. Her investigation is at first confined the items left in the open. Next comes the trunks, starting with the one next to "her" bed.]

[She almost gets a heart attack when she opens the trunk to find one of her own mouse familiars leaping at her. Looking down into her trunk, she can also see her clothes and a dagger she had seen from around the house. This discovery only makes everything more confusing. Why would someone go to such lengths to kidnap her and bring her things along, but leave her weapons and familiars? What were they trying to do?]

[At least she has her clothes back. Since there seem to nobody in the room at the moment, she quickly removes the bodysuit to slip on her real clothes. Following that, she sits down on a bed, waiting for someone to come give her an explanation. Even if they were her enemies, they owed her, as a lord's wife, that little bit of courtesy.]

2. Cafeteria

[Sola-ui is sitting at a table, staring at her oatmeal. Hunger and curiosity drove her to finally leave her room. However, she is reconsidering her decision if she has to eat this slop.

[After a long while, she finally lifts up the spoon, takes a sip, and smacks her lips. It is followed by a frown.]

This might be the worst oatmeal I have ever tasted. Not even the slightest hint of flavor! Cold and clammy as well. My husband could cook better than this.

[And when she compares something to her husband's level, she is certainly showing her disdain.]

3. Any floor (morning)

[After a horrible breakfast nowhere near what her "aristocratic" tasted buds were used to ingesting, Sola-ui is walking through the floors of her new residence. It's a strange place, but walking down these hallways gives her a strange sense of excitement. It's very different from the tedium she had settled into after marrying Kayneth, after all.]

4. Any floor (evening)

[Of course, since she is caught up in the excitement of finally being in a new place, she loses track of the time. Morning slips into evening, and monsters start emerging. Seeing as how she has no fighting skills, she is easily cornered by the slobbering beasts. All she can do is retreat, hoping desperately that they would leave or someone would save her.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Because that is exactly what he did. He used a command spell and ordered me to kill myself in the middle of a dual with another servant. Why should I expect anything different from any of you magi? I am nothing more than a tool to be used to gain your desires, after all.

[His anger and pain are still too raw to let him realize he shouldn't be being so blunt with her about this. She will probably be hurt, shocked if nothing else, but he can't help it.

Diarmuid puts his hand out, summoning his spear into it. With a dead look on his face--helped not at all by the blood streaking down his cheeks--he holds it out to her.]

Do you wish to do the same? Put this spear through my heart just as he did? It is only fitting after all. She trusted me to help her escape, and I failed her because I was too afraid of the past repeating itself. I focused too much on trying to serve one whom I could never please, and allowed the one who really needed me to stuffer for it.

[How much of this is true and how much of it is Diarmuid twisting events because of how much he feels he failed, is anyone's guess. It is obvious, though, that if she takes the weapon from him at this point and does try to drive it through his body, he will do nothing to stop her.]

[She frowns, and then reaches up to grab the spear by the blade.]

Put this thing away.

[Her hand wraps tightly around the blade.]

I don't like the idea of you handling a weapon if you feel like this.

[She sounds...annoyed? Or is it motherly?]

You're upset. And you've got every right to be. You've suffered a great deal. But this isn't the place to throw these kinds of tantrums. Can we find somewhere safer? Or at least more comfortable.

[By all rights, she should be panicking as well. Or recoiling in grief and shock. She had no idea exactly how horribly her husband could behave when pushed to it. The fact that Diarmuid was a version of her child makes it worse.]

[But it's the role of a mother to stand strong for her children. She can't give in to her emotions just yet. Not until Diarmuid stops being upset.]

Tantrums, right. It's not like it's anything important.

[The words are low and muttered under his breath. He does unsummon his spear, though. Of course, it is more so she won't cut herself than for his own safety. Once the spear is gone, instead of speaking, he moves faster than the eye can see to gather her into his arms. Before she can complain, he's off dashing up the stairs and to her room.

It takes only a short time to make it there and once they have arrived, he sets her down in front of the door, nodding stiffly and then turning to walk away. He doesn't really want to talk anymore because he doesn't trust himself to not make her pain worse just because he's hurting so much himself.

It's better this way. He can apologize later, once he has himself under control again.]

[She makes an undignified squawk when she is picked up. But before she can struggle too hard, he had finished taking her to her room.]

[When she calms down properly, she notices him walking away.]

W-where are you going?

[She starts walking after him. She can't just let him run off while he's so upset.]

Wait. Stay.

[Diarmuid stops walking at her call, but doesn't turn to face her. He does, however tilt his head slightly in her direction as he speaks.]

Why? Have you not finished hurti--

[He pauses, shaking his head.]

I used to not know rage, but thanks to your husband I know it now. I know it, but don't know how to control it. It may be best if we wait to speak more later. I do not wish to hurt you anymore than I already have.

I can accept that.

[She quickens her steps, trying to step in front of him to block his way.]

If you want to rage, then you can rage. Inside my room.

[In a place where she can protect and comfort him.]

What of your roommates? Somehow I don't think they will much appreciate you bringing an angry...

[He wipes his hands over the blood tear tracks on his face. They are dried now from his earlier running so they don't smear, but they are still very much there.]

...blood-stained stranger into the room.

You're my son. At least, you're a version of him. You're no stranger.

And if they protest, I'll show them why I'm the wife of Lord El Melloi.

[Mama power go!]

[Though his rage and pain are both still burning strongly in him, Diarmuid can't help but smile slightly at her determination.]

All right. I accept. Come, lets go to your room.

[Wow...that's not something he ever thought he would be saying to her.]

[She nods, and then walks back to her room, holding the door open for him.]

[Diarmuid returns the nod before entering the room. Once inside, he walks to the center of it and stands there feeling out of place and not knowing really what to do.

Correction, he knows what he should do. He should start talking, but he doesn't really want to. So he will stand there quietly, arms crossed over his chest until she says something herself.]

[She walks over to her bed, sits down, and then gestures him to come over and sit.]

[Diarmuid does take a few steps closer to the bed, but shakes his head, refusing to sit.]

I'm sorry. I need to stand right now. Please understand.

I understand.

[In response to Diarmuid not sitting, she stands.]

Now...talk about your pain. And tell me everything that you suffered from Kayneth and I.

[Diarmuid sighs, shaking his head and turning to take a few steps back toward the center of the room.]

What good will it do? It wasn't you and him. It was them. You don't have to make their sins up to me. I don't want you to blame yourself for what they did. If anything, just focus on seeing to it that your son has a better life than I did. That would be a better use of your energy.

He's not here right now. You are. I can't just leave you to suffer in silence.

[He didn't deserve that. Even if he believed in some questionable things, he didn't deserve to torment himself like this.]

He might be gone. You might never see him again. Have you thought about that?

[Diarmuid says those hurtful words and he's not even sure why. Maybe it's still that bitter anger rolling inside of him. Maybe he is just becoming that terrible of a person. Still, almost immediately he feels terrible for saying them and turns to her, apologetic.]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. See! This is why I need to go. There are terrible things alive in me now...and I can't control them! I don't want to hurt you or anyone else!

[There is a sudden agony in his voice.]

I just need to disappear... I don't want to...but I need to before I hurt anyone else...

[Her hands at her sides clench into fists.]

Perhaps I might not...but would that not be more reason for me to stay with you? You are the only echo of my son left in this place!

...A mother will never be so hurt by her child that she will leave him alone. You need to talk to someone instead of wallowing in your own grief right now.

[Diarmuid shuts his eyes, taking a deep breath. After a moment, he laughs. It's a sad little sound.]

You're right. How many times have I wished for my father to be here to comfort me? And yet as much as I want that comfort, would I actually take it or just push it away like I am trying to do now?

[He pauses to open his eyes. They are filled with uncertainly...and need,]

Do...do you think it would be okay to ask for a hug?

[Her posture relaxes, and the next second, she throws her arms around him.]

Of course. You don't even need to ask.

[Even though he is the one who asked for the hug, for a moment, Diarmuid tenses almost as if he didn't think she would actually do it. The tension only lasts a moment, though, before draining out of him. He can't quite bring himself to put his arms around her, but he does drop his head against her shoulder and, whether intended or not, starts crying.]

I'm so lost. I don't know what to do. I can't be a knight anymore. I know so much--feel too much--but what else can I be? I've always been a knight! Yet, it seems like every time I try to help, I just make things worse!

[She tightens her grip on him and pats his back, cooing out a a few "shoosh" sounds.]

If you want to be a knight, then be a knight. Do what you think is the right thing. Even if it doesn't work out, you did what you thought was for the best. That's all anyone can ask out of you.

Maybe you just...have to ask yourself what sort of knight you want to be?

[He shakes his head against her shoulder, too ashamed to look up.]

I can't be a knight anymore. I just can't. Knights don't get angry like I do. They don't hate like I do. They help everyone. I...don't.

[Diarmuid pauses, trying to calm himself before continuing.]

There are so many people I can't help here in the tower. And most of all, no matter how I try, I don't know how to help myself. I'm so tired of being like this.

[The words suddenly start flowing from his mouth.]

I thought I was doing better. I thought I was starting to adjust, but...I think I am just pressing the emotions down not dealing with them. And there they just fester and grow darker and angrier until I finally lash out.

[His voice suddenly gets very soft, and he tries to pull away from her, but the pull is very weak like he really doesn't want to get away even though he's trying.]

Just like I did to you.

[She pulls him close again, sensing that he doesn't want to leave.]

Just because you're a knight doesn't mean you can't hate. And just because you're a knight doesn't mean you can't be hurt. Even if your body is made of prana, your heart is so...human.

[She is silent for a moment.]

My apologies...for using that word.

[She might never agree with his opinion on duty, but she had been the one who had gone too far with her insults.]

You said it yourself, didn't you? Duty isn't the only thing. Is your role of a knight a duty? Or something you really want?

Yes? No? I don't know.

[He stops trying to step away. Honestly, he's almost sorry he refused her offer to sit now. More than that, Diarmuid finds himself suddenly wanting to curl into a ball and hide.

That need to hide again. It almost makes him physically ill to know he's so weak. The servant swallows hard to try and push the feeling away, but it doesn't work very well and he starts shaking for a completely different reason than he was before.]

Once being a knight was my duty. It was all I knew and I was fine with that, but then things changed...

[But had they changed sooner than he had originally thought? Diarmuid pauses as that thought skitters across his mind. Usually, when he thought of these things, he always pinned his drift away from being only a knight as starting when he was betrayed by Kayneth.

But...it had started sooner than that, hadn't it?

Like when he became a father...]

Have I been wrong all this time?

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