towerofanimus | There is no way THAT fit in your trunk...

Characters: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (

oathshackledbird ) and you!
Setting: Room 4-16 (Closed prompt for Cu Chulainn,

puppy_lancer ) on the 25th, and anywhere in the Tower for the rest of the week.
Format:: Starting in prose, pick whatever you want after!
Summary: Cu Chulainn asked Zo for a gift for Diarmuid and was granted it. Now, he gets to give an old friend to his brother and maybe it will help mend the gap that has been between them ever since the fight with Sephiorth. Afterward, Diarmuid spends the week focusing on teaching Mac an Chuill the floors and dangers of the Tower.
Warnings: None at the moment, will update if needed!
Note: While Diarmuid will be focusing on training and getting the hound accustomed to being in the Tower, there will be plenty of time to sparring, monster hunting, and talking for anyone who runs into him.

Room 4-16, Nov 25th (Closed to Cu Chulainn):

Diarmuid frowns as he makes his way back to his room after a visit to the carnival. His brother had asked him to come and while they were slowly starting to act a little more normal around each other, Diarmuid is still uneasy. The loud noises coming from the room as he approaches don't help him feel any better about this meeting.

He pauses at the door to the room, before finally opening it only to see his brother fighting with a very large...dog?

His eyes grow wide as the dog, sensing his owner, wiggles away from Cu Chulainn and runs full speed at him. Before Diarmuid even has time to think about it, a sharp command in Ancient Gaelic bursts from his mouth. The dog comes to a stop so quickly he skids, dropping to sit near Diarmuid's feet. This causes Diarmuid to smile and he bends down to pat the dog on the head, muttering several soft words of praise before standing again and looking toward his brother.

"Brother? What is Mac an Chuill doing here?"

All over the Tower, Nov 25th to Nov 30th (Open):

Irish Wolfhounds have hunted and worked alongside their humans for a very long time. Mac an Chuill is an ancestor of those dogs, his line having done those things alongside Diarmuid's family for a very long time. In fact, the hound's sire had been one of the things Diarmuid reclaimed when he and Grainne were finally able to stop running and settle down. He had raised Mac an Chuill from a puppy and trained the dog as well.

However brave and loyal the hound is, though, the things he is facing in the Tower are much different than the things he faced in the woods of Ireland. While Diarmuid never held it against the hound for fleeing when the boar charged him--after all a curse was in play then--fleeing from a monster here in the Tower would likely get one or both of them killed.

That is why Diarmuid will be spending most of this week with the hound at his side, familiarizing him to the Tower and its many dangers. It will not be unusual to see him training the dog by fighting monsters, or showing him around the different floors. Always, the hound will be near him even though he is unleashed. Irish Wolfhounds are known for their loyalty and intelligence. Mac an Chuill is no exception and that is very clear in his eyes and manner. He is taking this just as seriously as Diarmuid is.

At the beginning of the week, Diarmuid will be around all floors, but after the 29th, he suddenly starts avoiding floors where powers are nullified. He will also seem more tense and uneasy than usual. Perhaps a spar or two will help work out that nervous energy? Or maybe a conversation will help get his mind off everything that has been going on?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Rick is only slightly deterred! He grasps at ideas like a drowning man grasps for a submerged rope.]

--B-But--w-what if they c-come back, o-on their o-o-own? I-I m-m-mean--i-if they d-did--we w-w-wouldn't have to w-worry a-about the T-Tower anymore, r-right? We c-could just...l-leave!

Rick, they aren't coming back.

[Now, Diarmuid really regrets saying anything at all.]

This place and the people in it mean nothing to them, and if that thing that followed them here is any indication, they have their own problems to deal with. We are, as we always have been, on our owns.

[And that's finally enough to make Rick's spirits fall. He stammers for some moments, awkwardly attempting to reclaim his prior enthusiasm but failing, before his shoulders slump and he crumples in on himself, head hung to cover his heavy heart.]

...Y-You're r-r-right...I-I-I'm s-sorry, th--that...that w-was s-s-silly of me, w-wasn't it?

Having hope is never silly, Rick.

[Diarmuid reaches out to gently ruffle the blond man's hair, his voice suddenly much softer.]

But with our resources and our time limited, I can't let you run for a hope that is not attainable. Keep your hope, but focus it on the things that could actually be possible. Do not waste it on those things that are not.

[It's impossible to restore Rick's confidence to those levels seen moments earlier, but Diarmuid is helping as he usually does. He chuckles and bats at the hand in his hair.]

...I-I w-w-wish I c-could t-tell what w-would w-work, I g-guess...

Sadly, there is no way to tell without asking for the details or at least as many as you can get.

[Diarmuid playfully grabs at Rick's hand when it bats at him, hoping he will continue to lighten the mood.]

All you can do is reserve your hope until you have those details and then once you have them, hope like crazy.

[Rick is very quickly starting to forget about his discomfort, distracted as he is with swatting at Diarmuid's hands. Oh god, he's giggling like a child. He's not even embarrassed--too terrified of being tickled to worry about something as trivial as pride.]

[Diarmuid laughs softly at Rick's reaction. This is much better. He definitely would rather see Rick laughing than sad. Though he has no intention of actually tickling the other man, he does tease for a few more moments before finally letting his hand fall away.]

You were meant to smile, Rick. Don't let anyone take that away from you, okay?

[And now he's embarrassed, as expected. Rick flushes deep red, fading into sheepish chuckles and much shuffling of his feet.]

...I, uh...I-I'll t-try my b-b-best. Th--Thanks.

I know you will.

[Diarmuid smiles, but before he can say more there is a soft whine. He turns to see Mac an Chuill edging toward them slightly, head hung. There is a sad look in the dog's large eyes.]

I think he wants to apologize, Rick. Would you be willing to let him?

[Mac an Chuill has been so well-behaved during their conversation that Rick nearly forgot he was there--so of course he's instantly forgiven. Not that he was going to hold a grudge against the dog anyways, his reaction was understandable. The fact that Rusty will hold a grudge is also something Rick was expecting to happen, but the cat has a fine hiding spot in the back of his mind and needn't be bothered.]

[Rick smiles gently and holds out a hand, inviting the massive wolfhound to sniff and accept him as he allows.]

...I-I'm s-sorry, Mac. I d-d-didn't mean to g-give you the w-wrong im--i-impression.

[Mac an Chuill sniffs Rick's hand for a moment and then excitedly starts to lick it. Diarmuid lifts a hand to cover his mouth to stifle a laugh.]

He's not tasting you, I swear. It seems he really likes you. I'm glad you are so willing to forgive him. He's got your smell now. Unless your smell completely changes when you do, he should know you whatever shape you take.

Do you know if your smell changes completely?

[Rick giggles, slowly bringing his hands around to scratch the wolfhound behind the ears.]

Ah...a-a-a b-bit, y-yeah. I m-mean... [He has to give that a good think.] ...I can t-tell them a-apart, but...the, uh...th--the b-base is s-s-still the s-same. I th--think. Um--

[The blonde man abruptly holds up a hand and steps back. We can test this! There's a brief pause as he closes his eyes, searches for a willing subject--]

[--almost immediately finds one in the form of a small (or at least small compared to Mac an Chuill) collie, who is more than happy to get to know this other dog and soon takes the human's place, tail thumping on the ground in pleased anticipation.]

[Mac an Chuill seems confused at the change at first. He tilts his head, looking from the newly transformed Rick to Diarmuid and then back again. Finally, he sniffs a few times before giving a happy yip and trying to lick the other dog's face.

Successful test! And for that, Diarmuid is relieved.]

That is good to know. Please, Mac an Chuill, don't eat your new friend...

[He reaches forward and pulls the dog back before he manages to soak poor Rick completely by licking him so much.]

When will you learn not everyone wants a tongue bath from you?

[Toby the dog does not seem fazed at all by licking! As a matter of fact he is brimming with excitement, giving his own happy bark and crouching playfully forward. He hasn't found another dog in the Tower yet who has wanted to play with him!]

[When Diarmuid realizes that Toby doesn't seem bothered or overwhelmed by Mac an Chuill's presence, he lets the dog go and steps away to see what happens. Mac an Chuill really hasn't had a chance to play with other dogs since his and his fellows are primarily working dogs, so Diarmuid really has no idea how this will go.

Once Mac an Chuill notices he has been let go, he moves back up to Toby again, crouching down and wagging his tail. It's almost like he's telling the other dog, 'come here.']

There is no way THAT fit in your trunk...

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