[dated 10/3] // don't stop me now

[fionnuisce]

Characters: Waver and open
Setting: dorm floors, floor 3, closed prompt on floor 4
Format: Either
Summary: Birthday? What birthday? Waver doesn't know what you're talking about.
Warnings: None yet.

[dormitory floors]

[Birthdays weren't of any particular importance to Waver Velvet. He noted his age like any other normal person, but thought little of it. October third was just a day, same as the second or the fourth. There was no point in calling attention to it or informing people who would in turn make the entire thing some elaborate production.]

[Even though the date was of no consequence to him, the magus had to wonder if the timing of the new item appearing in his trunk was more than mere coincidence. It was simple in appearance, just a metal case small enough to just barely fit in one's hand. The more he looked at it, the more Waver noticed it seemed just faintly charred in places. Whatever it was and whatever the reason it looked damaged in that way, Waver wasn't too pleased about it. He slipped the case into his coat pocket, walking out of his dormitory room and going to walk the halls aimlessly with a clear scowl on his face. Maybe if he wandered the Tower for long enough, he'd forget what kind of miserable day this was shaping up to be.]

[floor 3]

[When someone like Waver was in a particularly unpleasant mood, the coping mechanism was usually the same; head to the library with a cup of tea and occupy oneself with a collection of books. A small amount of various fiction was piled neatly on the table Waver had claimed today; seeming to be mostly leaning towards classical fiction. What he focused on specifically seemed to be a copy of the Iliad; Waver remembered his alternate self mentioning some odd fondness for it. There had been an odd sense of something like nostalgia when that particular text caught his eye, and so he'd decided 'why the hell not'.]

[While he seemed in less miserable spirits than he was upon leaving his room earlier, it was anyone's guess whether he'd stay that way if interrupted. Try your luck?]

[floor 4; closed to oathshackledbird]

[It had occurred to Waver several hundred times already that he probably should have been working. There was a lot to do back in the laboratory, but at the same time he doubted anyone, himself included, would be in a condition to do much at all after the recent unpleasantness. One day of being a useless mess likely wouldn't cause catastrophe.]

[Eventually he found his way to a relatively isolated corner of the lounge floor, taking a small notebook and pen from his pocket. It was far too long since he'd had any time to update the mess of theories he'd had about the Tower, and most of it was vastly outdated. If he wasn't going to work on anything else, that at least seemed like a reasonable way to waste time.]

Comments

[fionnuisce]

They're fantastic. Really, I couldn't be happier with them. Except...I'm not all that proficient with armed combat, so you might have to teach me on that front.

[Placing thtm back in the box, he glanced over with a slight frown--as though the question hadn't actually occurred to Waver himself until now.]

Why...? I don't know. I don't really own much of particular sentimental value, so some kind of fluke? Magecraft texts could be hard to replicate? I don't know, it's anyone's guess.

[oathshackledbird]

I kind of figured I would be teaching you. I'm looking forward to it actually. I'm sure you know a few things from teaching yourself, but there is always more to learn. We're going to put those ambidextrous hands of yours to work doing something other than hitting me.

[He's going to make you a duel-wielder yet, Waver.]

I suppose 'why' is something we really can't know. Though...do you have an interest in music or did you ever have it? Or was that something your parents enjoyed and you never got into?

[fionnuisce]

I see what you're up to this time. So your clever and nefarious plan was to teach me something? I've no choice but to benefit from your expert lessons, in that case.

[Shrugging it off, Waver laughed to himself and spoke with little more than casual indifference. The subject matter didn't seem to bother him, for whatever reason.]

I wouldn't call it an interest so much as a passing appreciation. My father played a few different instruments, my mother met him at a concert. I think it was largely some twisted coincidence that they were both second-generation magi. I never really held much interest in learning instruments as I did with magecraft, but I did enjoy listening.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs.]

Can you blame me for wanting someone else who duel-wields to practice with?

[He's met a couple of other duel-wielders, but right now his bias is showing.]

Did either of your parents sing? Or did they just play?

[The questions are a little tentative. While Waver seems okay so far, the last thing Diarmuid wants to do is overstep his bounds and accidentally upset him.]

[fionnuisce]

Not as far as I know, they didn't. To my recollection he specialized in guitar with a couple of others on the side, and I don't believe she did either.

[Waver still didn't seem entirely bothered by the conversation. There was some distance to his voice, but nothing that suggested he was avoiding the subject.]

[oathshackledbird]

I...would like to learn to play an instrument someday. I sing but it's not the same as feeling the instrument sing under your hands.

[Diarmuid's fingers lightly caress the top of the case.]

So much has happened and I keep getting distracted from doing it. There are so very many instruments to choose from here. I can never decide which one I would like to try first.

[He laughs a little sadly.]

That was the excuse I used during the experiment in January when we all thought we had been here forever. I don't remember a lot of things from it anymore, but some things I will never forget. I kept putting it off because I couldn't decide and then I stopped being able to feel the music in the instruments all together.

[For a moment, Diarmuid falls silent, remembering that time and then he shakes himself free of the memories.]

Sorry... I didn't mean to drift off like that. It's your birthday. We shouldn't be focusing on the past and on sad things we cannot change. We should be looking forward.

[fionnuisce]

It's alright. Sorry, but that's one thing I seriously doubt I can teach you.

[Waver laughed, though the sound came a little hesitant and shaky.]

I told you, I don't want any production made of all this. Birthday or not, I'm content with just another normal day, for whatever 'normal' means in this place. Don't act like it's anything special.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid laughs lightly, shaking his head at the same time.]

It's okay. There are other things we need to focus on besides music right now anyway. Perhaps once the worlds are fixed, I will find the time and then you will have to yell at me for making so much racket.

[He reaches out to take one of Waver's hands noticing the unease in his laughter.]

Maybe you are okay with not celebrating but I'm not. You're important to me and so this day is important. If you won't celebrate with me because you were born today, will you at least celebrate that this day is one more we have survived in this place together?

I brought wine and cookies. It's no feast, but...

[fionnuisce]

You're just going to insist, I know. [Shaking his head, Waver gave up on the argument.] I should be grateful you kept it to something small. Particularly considering you could have easily told your brother, in which case we'd have all manner of loud and obnoxious madness here.

All things considered, a small celebration of sorts with just us is acceptable.

[oathshackledbird]

To be honest, and perhaps a little selfish, I would rather celebrate just the two of us. I never wanted a large party for my birthday, but you know my brother.

[Diarmuid motions for Waver to sit down again and moves the wine bottle and plate of cookies to sit on a table nearby.]

If you want to thank me for anything, thank me for not singing you Happy Birthday...yet.

[fionnuisce]

I think I'll elect to skip that particular custom, thank you.

[oathshackledbird]

You just don't want to hear my horrid singing. I understand...

[Diarmuid gives Waver a mock hurt look and then pushes the plate of cookies at him.]

Are there any birthday customs you do want to celebrate?

[fionnuisce]

I don't particularly like any of them, I'm afraid.

[he will however eat a cookie. good job, waver.]

[oathshackledbird]

I suppose that just means we need to find or make some you do like.

[Diarmuid takes a moment to pour Waver a glass of wine and then hands it to him.]

Sounds like fun to be honest. I like learning things about you.

[fionnuisce]

What? [He couldn't really help but react with surprise to that, taking the glass a little hesitantly.]

[oathshackledbird]

What do you mean, 'what?'

[Diarmuid gives Waver a questioning look as he pours himself a glass.]

Does it really seem so odd that I would like learning about you?

[fionnuisce]

Well...no, but I'm not all that interesting.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid takes a sip of his wine and then shakes his head.]

Does that mean you will call me a liar if I say I think you're fascinating?

[fionnuisce]

Liar, no. Possessing terrible judgment, yes.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid rolls his eyes.]

Humor this possessor of terrible judgment then? Tell me something about you I don't know already.

[fionnuisce]

[Sighing heavily as though it was some great inconvenience, Waver shrugged and took a drink from the glass he held.]

Most of what could be called remotely worth knowing about me, you likely know already.

[oathshackledbird]

I didn't ask for something interesting, Waver. I just asked for something. How about you tell me the first thing that comes into your mind no matter how interesting or not you think it is? Let me decide what I think of it on my own.

[fionnuisce]

...I used to be mistaken for a girl when I was younger.

And if you ever tell anyone that I swear to god you'll regret it.

[oathshackledbird]

Really?

[Diarmuid seems surprised at this.]

I was never mistake for a girl, but some of the men in the house got upset when Caer showed me how to sew and embroider. I asked her how, though. She made such pretty things. I wanted to make pretty things too.

[fionnuisce]

W...well, you know what I looked like as a teenager. It was even worse than that when I was a little kid.

[embarrassed? naaaaah not at all]