towerofanimus | [open] // it’s your blood that’s red like roses

Entry tags:

[open] // it’s your blood that’s red like roses

Characters: Waver and open
Setting: November 23rd
Location: floors 27, 15, and the dorm floors
Format: starting in brackets, I'll try to match.
Summary: Waver's having problems.
Warnings: Probably none?

[floor twenty-seven]

[Working usually took his mind off of things. Today seemed to be the exception; Waver stared blankly at his notes as though he wasn't really seeing them, pen hovering just over his paper. it seemed as though he was having trouble getting a train of thought properly started...or he was on a much less science-oriented one altogether.]

[floor fifteen]

[If the usual work on the collar fluid wouldn't hold his attention, maybe something more practical would. In the course of his day Waver found his way to the workshop floor; someone did need him to craft new swords. Film materials or not, he had every intention to do as much. So one could find him drawing up vague outlines for paired shortswords and collecting a pile of materials for them.]

[dorm floors]

[Maybe it just wasn't worth trying to do anything today. Not with the miserable mood that kept rearing its ugly, murderous, and nauseating head. Waver decided that perhaps just trying to actually accomplish things was best left for tomorrow. If he slept on the whole mess of Sephiroth and all that had happened for another night, maybe it would be less of an overbearing weight to handle.]

[Maybe.]

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Hm...I guess you're right, aren't you? We're both just screwed up enough to tolerate as much from someone else.

[Waver laughed a little shakily, arms moving securely around Diarmuid's waist.]

...I'm still angry about that, you know. Pulling a stupid stunt like that just like he did, you're lucky I didn't throw a book at your head the minute I saw you.

I know... I'm sorry.

[Diarmuid's voice is very soft, though at the same time, very serious.]

Do...you want to throw a book at me? Or hit me? Will it make you feel better?

I'm not really going to hit you, idiot.

I know. I know, but I don't want you holding it inside either.

[Diarmuid sits back away from Waver and gives him a steady look.]

If it will help you get the anger out, do it. Perhaps it will make me think twice about being so stupid in the future.

Are you having trouble listening? I said I'm not going to.

[Frowning, he raised a hand to poke Diarmuid in the forehead.]

I'm letting you off with a warning just this once, since now I'm in a bit of a better mood. But you pull this again and I might not be so nice, is that clear?

Hey, I thought you weren't going to hit me.

[Diarmuid grins and reaches up to rub at the spot, wincing in mock pain, before growing more serious.]

I will try. You know I don't like hurting you. It's even worse when I do it accidentally while I'm trying to protect you.

Please, I barely touched you.

[Waver rolled his eyes in a show of halfhearted annoyance.]

I'll get over it.

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

That's not the point. I don't want you to have to get over it. Not if I can help it. And this has nothing to do with me thinking you weak or that you can't take care of yourself. I just hate seeing you in pain. That is all there is to it. Enough other things cause us pain here that I would rather not have us hurting each other too.

I know, Diarmuid. It's not as though you did it just to screw with my head. So don't worry so much about upsetting me. And I am grateful that you protected me, but...don't do it like that again if you can help it. Got it?

I promise.

[Diarmuid leans forward to rest his head against Waver's shoulder, arms going back around the magus' waist.]

Anything else you want to make me promise while we are at it?

Yeah. Don't be such an idiot. [Although Waver didn't sound all that annoyed about it anymore.]

[Diarmuid laughs softly, turning his head so that he can look up at his friend.]

I mean besides that...

Try not talking so much.

[With a halfhearted smirk, Waver leaned in a little closer for a hesitant and awkward kiss.]

[Well, that is a much nicer way to tell someone to shut up than Diarmuid is used to. Not that he is complaining. In fact, the way he returns the kiss shows, he's enjoying it quite a bit.

The excited wagging of his tail is probably a dead give away too. The silly thing.]

[Waver backed off after a moment or two, with a weak laugh and faltering smile.]

I hate to ruin the moment, but...maybe I should figure out how to show you the way that fight ended. It would be only fair, right? That is to say, if I've seen you at your worst, perhaps the best way to keep this even is to make sure you've seen my worst as well. That way you can decide if it's really worth putting up with me.

Waver, I'm not going to change my mind.

[Diarmuid voice is gentle, soft, and most importantly, confident.]

Though, if you insist, I will not argue. How would we do it, though? We tried once to exchange specific memories through our bond and it failed badly. I don't know how else it could be done.

Unfortunately, that's the only way I can think of off the top of my head. We could try it anyway if you're willing to risk it, or just drop the matter entirely.

I am. If it will help put you at ease, I am willing to try anything.

[On top of that, Diarmuid has to admit, he is curious about what happened after he died. He has heard bits and pieces, but hasn't been brave enough to ask anyone for a detailed accounting of what happened.]

Fine...come here and hold still. At least I know how to do it when we're awake now, even if it might not exactly hit the mark.

[Waver sighed and leaned his head against Diarmuid's, closing his eyes and concentrating. Using so much prana in one shot was troublesome to recover from, but activating his Magic Circuits for something small shouldn't have been difficult. After the last miserable failed attempt at doing this, there was a reasonable idea of what not to do formed in his mind. He focused his energy, concentrated on the empathic link between them, and-]

['Shatter.']

[His concentration had been absolute, driven more by 'singleminded murderous rage' than actual thought. Which was something new for him. Irritation and annoyance were commonplace, but anger? Waver didn't get flat-out angry, it impaired logical judgment. And in this case, it made nearly expending all his prana seem like a brilliant idea. After the fact, he'd hardly been proud of snapping badly enough to use what had been meant as an absolute last resort.]

[The memory ended once Waver had completed his assault and nearly dropped from exhaustion...which he nearly proceeded to do in the current moment as well, leaning heavily on Diarmuid with a hand pressed to his head.]

Fucking hell...must be more tired than I realized.

[Diarmuid's arms tighten around Waver, pulling him close when he collapses against him. Though he can hear the words Waver is speaking, he's not really registering them because his mind is caught up in replaying the memory he has just been shown. The crackle of the energy in the air, the roar of the water, the rush of the magic...

This is the first time he has seen Waver go full out before, because, understandably his friend tends to hold back when it comes to using his magic. He has to considering where they are and the limits his number of magic circuits place on him. If he doesn't, he could very well end up dead.

Diarmuid knows Waver expects him to be upset and perhaps disgusted by the display, by how he has let himself be lost to his anger. However, those are the feelings farthest from Diarmuid's mind at the moment. Indeed, when he speaks, there is awe in his voice.]

Beautiful. So beautiful...

...the hell are you talking about? [Exhausted and genuinely confused, Waver looked at Diarmuid like he might have lost his mind.]

[Diarmuid looks down at Waver with surprise in his eyes. It's obvious that he doesn't understand why Waver is confused.]

I've never seen you go all out like that before. It was...amazing to see you at work. How the air around you came to life. How the water bent to your will...

There's nothing impressive about nearly killing myself. And it wasn't all that special, anyway.

It most certainly was special!

[Diarmuid frowns at Waver's objections.]

I can't do that! To be able to make an element come to your call... It's the power of the gods...

Wh...n-now you're just being dramatic. It's nothing so awe-inspiring as that. My circuits and ability is aligned with water, so water is something I'm able to get a reaction out of. Simple magecraft-based science, nothing more.

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