I would rather Fly than Fall...

[oathshackledbird]

Characters: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (oathshackledbird) and open to anyone who wants to run into him! (Closed prompt at the end for Waver Velvet, fionnuisce. Close prompt now added for Reno, midgarhorizon , and Shion, savedbyasong !)
Setting: Room 2-16, the hallways, Room 2-04, and anywhere on the Dorm Levels/Safe floors of the Tower.
Format: Starting in prose, pick your poison after that!
Summary: Log to cover several things including the 'Tower of Jenova' event, dating from the 14th to the 23rd. (A few backdated prompts will likely be added later and, depending on the Mod Event which lasts from the 23rd to the 27th, prompts for it may be added as well.) After denying for a few days anything is wrong, Diarmuid gives in and goes looking for Waver in hopes that the magus can help cure whatever is making him feel so sick. Cue camp out/sleepover in room 2-04 with possible feverish wanderings from time to time. My apologies in advance to the other occupants of 2-04...
Warnings: Diarmuid's cap for the event is LI2, which means he will be very sick and sporting a rash after a while. While he will have mood dips and periods of negativity throughout the event, he won't be having any of the other, more severe symptoms associated with the higher levels and won't be dying. The negative emotions that are mentioned in the prompts will be less prominent during the early part of the event and get stronger as the event goes on. Specific Warnings for negative emotions, mentions of death/death wishes, things related to the flu/respiratory infections/fever, and potential mild violence and mild mentions of blood. If Diarmuid runs into any of those with higher infection levels, their threads will be marked with that character's level of infection (LI) should the thread progress to anything besides them talking. Threads with characters that have higher infection levels should be assumed to have warnings similar to those in the open mingle including mentions of body modification, violence, blood, and injury.
Note: I would like to request that if your character knows or suspects that Sephiroth is behind the illness going around, that they not say anything about that to Diarmuid at this time. I am an evil mun and am making him wait until after the event at least to find out--if he even does then. But he was just so sure Sephiroth was up to something... Thanks guys!

The Gym, 3-7 in the morning (Closed to Reno and Shion):

This meeting is long overdue. Even though the last time Diarmuid talked to Shion the boy seemed to have made great steps in better controlling his emotions and berserk outbreaks, the meeting is still necessary. So many times people discover things about themselves in this place only to lose that new information because of something happening. Diarmuid wants to make sure the new discoveries Shion has made aren't lost like that. Not when they have done so much to help the boy stabilize himself.

While he waits, Diarmuid pulls out his swords and starts doing a few simple practice strikes with them. It won't be long until Reno and Shion arrive, but it's hard for him to sit still in the gym. Especially considering he's in a pretty good mood. The ring on his finger catches his eye for a moment and his smile widens.

Okay, a really good mood...

Room 2-16, 3-14 in the morning:

As hard as he is trying to deny it, when Diarmuid wakes up feeling like he is on fire and being smothered at the same time, he can't keep doing it any longer. Somehow, someway, he is sick and not just slightly sick. Very sick. The first few days he had ignored it figuring it to be a product of his working himself too hard, the room switches, or even a bit of a recurrence of the exhaustion that had plagued him after helping to recharge the Tower...

Then Grainne had arrived and everything had just gotten worse. Literally. It's almost as if his emotional uncertainty has somehow been feeding whatever is wrong with him. He doesn't blame her at all, but it is very clear he his condition is going downhill. Today is only proof positive of that.

His thoughts drift to cursing Jason because this reminds him too much of the sickness he had heard went around the December before he arrived. Of course, it can't be Jason this time because he is dead, but might someone else have set it off instead? If the response Waver had gotten to his request is any indication, Zo is in charge this month as normal. He would never do something like this. Is Ruana still playing games behind the scenes?

The thought makes him shiver...or that just might be chills from the fever. Diarmuid tries to pull himself from the bed, but ends up collapsing instead, breaking into a fit of shivers hard enough that his vision swims and he realizes he can't just stay here. He needs to find a healer. He needs to find Waver...

To be honest, he is kind of surprised Waver hasn't found him already, but he has kept distant on the bond lately not wanting to drain his partner more than necessary. That and with Grainne arriving, Diarmuid would be lying if he didn't say he is afraid of what he might find there...or not find there as the case may be.

He tries to rise again and finally manages to get to his feet. After swaying for a moment, he stumbles to the door and into the hallway. Here's hoping Waver is actually in his room and not at the Laboratory for once. Diarmuid's not so sure he will make it that far...

Dorm hallways, 2nd Floor, 3-14 in the morning:

Everything is spinning and it's starting to make Diarmuid sick to his stomach. He's never felt this bad before, not even when he was alive. Sickness, just had avoided him. Maybe he had been lucky or maybe his father had been watching out for him. In ether event, he's not used to feeling like this. His arms wrap around his waist and he takes a deep breath trying to force himself to walk in a straight line.

It's not going so well. Hopefully, he won't run into anyone too hard...

Room 2-04, anytime on 3-14 to 3-23:

If he had more energy or will Diarmuid would probably be tossing and turning, but as it is he is just laying in Waver's bed feeling guilty. They keep trying to heal him and while it seems like it works for a while, he always gets worse again. He supposes he should be glad he's not hallucinating. That had been part of Jason's virus, hadn't it? Or...maybe he is and he just doesn't realize it. Is his brain trying to tell him just how much of a burden he is on everyone? Is that why the healing only ever holds for a while?

Dorm hallways/Safe Tower floors anytime on 3-14 to 3-23:

He slips away sometimes when they aren't watching close enough or think he's asleep. Diarmuid can't help it. As tired as he is, his mind just tells him to run and get away from them so that he's not bothering them anymore. It doesn't help that the urge grows stronger as time passes. How long until they stop leaving him alone? How long until he runs out of chances to free them from the burden he's creating?

Funny, though, he can't ever bring himself to go onto any of the really dangerous floors. That would take care of things pretty quickly, wouldn't it? So, why can't he?

Room 2-04, 3-23 Kill Switch Activation (Closed to Waver):

Perhaps the hallucinations have finally found him after all, because at the moment it feels like something is strangling him...but not strangling him in the normal manner. Instead, its like someone has wrapped their hands around his very core, pulling and crushing it. Trying to rip it away from him. The feeling grows stronger, causing a small frightened sound to slip from his lips. He's not sure what he should do. Should he pull away from Waver to make sure this doesn't affect him too? Should he reach out for him and use the strength his knows his partner will provide to help fight whatever this is?

Should he let go and just stop being a burden?

Diarmuid's exhausted mind is still pondering all this when a the pull suddenly becomes a sharp, searing yank. This time he cannot help but cry out both in pain and fear. As he does, his heart and brain finally slam into agreement. No more dancing around a decision he made long ago. No more waiting for him to consciously realize what he has already unconsciously figured out. He opens the bond and reaches out for Waver just as hard and as desperately as he can...

Help me! Please... I don't want to leave you!

Comments

2-04

[fionnuisce]

[Waver had kept mostly to the laboratory since speaking to Grainne; the whole matter was awkward and would have distressed him if he'd spared time to consider the larger implications. Not much had been getting done recently...he felt off somehow, in a way Waver couldn't quite place. Had he not forcibly distracted himself, the magus might have determined something unusual along the lines of their contract.]

[As it stood, that contract was what shocked him out of meandering thoughts of formulas and magic circles. The feeling was so sudden and clear that for a split second, Waver was afraid someone had actually stabbed him. A hand pressed over his heart confirmed that wasn't the case, and before he could consider matters the lecturer sprinted out in a flurry of paperwork and mercury.]

[Thoroughly out of breath and clutching at his heart for a much different reason when he reached the dormitory floors, Waver leaned heavily on the door frame to stop from collapsing.]

Dia--...wh...?

[Speaking might have taken a minute or two longer.]

[oathshackledbird]

[There is no response to Waver's question as Diarmuid is fighting with every ounce of his strength just to stay conscious. He's only made it this long because he is afraid that if he gives into the darkness creeping up on him, he will never wake up again. Or at least, he will not wake up here.

His eyelids flicker open and closed as he tries to keep himself from falling into unconsciousness, but he's failing. It's like all the energy inside of him has been sucked away all in that one quick pull. Is this what people feel when they are sent away form the Tower?

No! Please no!

The words are weak across the bond as he unconsciously opens it as much as he can to try and draw some energy from Waver so he can stabilize himself and push away that darkness.

I can't leave. I can't leave. I can't...]

[fionnuisce]

[Waver crossed the remaining distance between them and knelt down beside Diarmuid, struggling to catch his breath as he did.]

Hey-...it's f-fine. Come on, can you hear me?

[He couldn't begin to imagine what was wrong--an attack, maybe? No, that wasn't likely. But if not the obvious answer, then what?]

Try to focus. What's happened?

3-16, dorm hallways

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne has been fretting for a few days now, wondering if or when Diarmuid would be coming to talk to her after she returned his property, and eventually it's just too much. Either he has given up, which doesn't seem like him at all, or something has kept him from responding.

Either way, the suspense is too much, so she goes to seek him out, dressed in her summer dress and coat. She isn't feeling well herself, since being told to give that note yesterday when she was ordered to report... and she hasn't been able to summon her Noble Phantasms or her robes at all since.

Coming down the stairs, she spots him, which is enough to startle her for a moment until she sees he's having trouble. Oh no...

Grainne hurries over, looking worried, reaching out to touch him but not quite daring.]

Diarmuid? Are you--... are you ill? You shouldn't be out of bed!

3-16, dorm hallways

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid doesn't answer her right away. Instead, he just stares as if his exhausted mind can't decide if she is really there or not. Finally, he reaches out with a shaky hand to touch her face. Yes, she's there and he's not hallucinating. He tries to smile, but in the end doesn't have the strength to keep it on his face.]

I...have been better. Is...this what it feels like to have the flu? No wonder the children were always so cranky...

Re: 3-16, dorm hallways

[athousandcurses]

Cranky! You're almost delirious!

[Grainne is instantly annoyed he's even up and about, and more than a little worried because Servants don't get sick, much less have the flu.

Still, she keeps her voice low out of practice from nursing so many sick foreheads.]

Where's your room? I'm taking you back to bed. And I'll sit on you if I have to. Anything you need I will get, but you're not going to be wandering these halls with monsters about.

[She moves to his side, taking his hand and ready to support him if needed. She'd forgotten how tall he was, after so many years...]

hallways, 3-14

[puppy_lancer]

[Cu Chulainn rushes over when he spots his brother swaying like a drunk man.]

Brother? Are you alright? What happened?

[He reaches to try and support Diarmuid.]

hallways, 3-14

[oathshackledbird]

[For a moment, Diarmuid tries to draw away from his brother. What is whatever is wrong with him is contagious? The last thing he wants is for Cu Chulainn to get sick as well. However, fighting his brother is the last thing he has the strength to do. That is why his 'fight' ends very quickly with him all but collapsing into his brother's offered support.]

I...think I'm sick. I'm not sure how... I would blame Jason, but...

[puppy_lancer]

...I'm not sure either, but you're not the only one.

[He had seen Ken with that nasty rash a few days back.]

Come on, let's get you into bed.

room 2-04, 33-20 (open to threadjacking from other people who wanna be in the room too)

[puppy_lancer]

[Ever since Diarmuid had taken ill, Cu Chulainn has been spending hours sitting by his brother's bedside, hoping that he could heal his brother with his runes. Unfortunately, so far, they fail to have any lasting effect. In addition, popping in and out of Waver's room means he's not spending much time in his own, much less actually sleeping there.]

[Today, he's sitting by Diarmuid's bed again, having brought his brother some porridge from downstairs and a random book from the library in case Diarmuid got bored. As he sets the book down on the bed covers, he lets out a loud yawn.]

hii I am so late I am sorry

[undroppedeaves]

[Sam has been in and out of his room as well, getting more worried about Diarmuid. He might have only met the man at his birthday party but he had been courteous and kind and Sam hated the idea of anyone being this sick.

Especially because no one could tell what was causing it, except there were a few people with similar illness'.

Cu was someone Sam hadn't known at all but he was used to the blue haired mans presence in their room by now. He has some fruit juice in one hand, to try and make Diarmuid drink, and pancakes in the other, which he handed to Cu] You should eat too, and get some rest, you can use my bed if you don't want to leave him.

2-04

[doasisay]

[ Lelouch didn't really know Dia that well...but seeing as Waver and Suzaku were both his friends, he had decided to check in on the other.

he knocked on the door, waited a moment...and when he didn't hear anything, he opened the door. he figured that Diarmuid had been sleeping since he was injured, so he kept quiet. he had made some soup for the other and had it on a tray as he entered ]

It's just Lelouch, sorry if I've woken you up.

[oathshackledbird]

[For a moment, the only response that Lelouch gets is some tired blinking. Diarmuid feels bad that he is invading their room--especially since Waver hasn't been around--but he keeps hoping the magus will show up. Besides...the bed smells like him and it's comforting.

After a few moments, Diarmuid manages a small smile and a wave for the man, indicating he should come and sit by the bed.]

Thank you. I am very grateful that you are letting me stay here...

[Not only letting him stay there, but also taking care of him. That soup smells really good...]

3/15 - floor 60, if that's okay!

[bashfulshifter]

[Diarmuid was right--cooking really has done wonders for Rick's state of mind. Although honestly, his improved mood is relative to Diarmuid's deteriorating one; in reality, he's feeling that pit of worry beginning to build up in the pit of his stomach again. People seem to be on-edge lately, ill in many cases, and Rick isn't sure why. Well, apart from the usual.]

[In any case, he's taken to making soup again. It's not a cure by any stretch, but it should help sooth the body and the mind for anyone passing that happens to smell it from the stairs.]

[Speaking of which, Rick thinks he hears someone now. Their steps are uneven, stumbling...must be someone else who's sick. He hopes. Rick turns to the entrance and cautiously addresses the hidden passerby: ]

...H-Hello? Are...a-are you a-a-alright?

3/15 - floor 60 (Totally okay!)

[oathshackledbird]

I'm...not hiding it very well, am I?

[Usually, a question like this would be delivered in a joking tone, but that requires energy that Diarmuid doesn't really have. As a result, it just comes out flat instead.]

Don't let me interrupt your cooking, Rick. It smells good and I would hate for it to burn...

March 19th, Dorm Hallways

[miseris_socios]

[Ken isn't doing well at all. He's changed, and he can't help but think that it's his fault - but it's everyone else's fault, too. He lumbers around, half dragging himself, before falling against the wall again to wait for another seizure to pass. It's near the end of one of these that he can hear someone else in the hallway - but he can't say anything, not yet. It's probably someone who hates him, anyway. He'll have to kill them when he can move again.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid isn't really paying as much attention to the area around him as he should be. He's just slipped out of room 2-04 and is trying to put as much distance between him and it as he can. He's tired of burdening everyone and just...needs to get away.

Of course, it's hard to miss someone who is slumped against the wall. Especially when it's Ken who has been on Diarmuid's mind ever since his brother told him that the boy was also sick. He stumbles over to where Ken is and does his best to kneel nearby, face lined with worry when he sees just how badly...changed Ken is.]

What can I do? How can I help?

3/15, Hallways

[sarcasmancer]

He'd first caught a glimpse of him while passing through the hallways--Diarmuid stumbling and shuffling past as if undead, in search of what would bring him sustenance. Jade had thought it might actually be a monster at first, which was why he had had spear in hand, a spear Diarmuid himself had given him no less, when he'd seen him.

That it looked like Diarmuid didn't necessarily mean anything, but all the same, Jade dismissed the weapon and approached him without trying to mask his presence, so as not to alarm the weakened man. He'd heard through the grapevine that the Heroic Spirit had been ill, but this looked worse than he'd heard.

"Diarmuid," he calls before attempting to touch a hand to the lancer's shoulder. "Is there somewhere you needed to go?"

Because Jade thinks well enough of him that he figures he probably wouldn't be out of bed while this obviously sick without good reason--even if that good reason turns out to be 'he's utterly delirious.'

Aw...yes. Zombie references. My log is now complete. :-D

[oathshackledbird]

"Away..." the word is muttered very softly, almost as if Diarmuid doesn't realize he has even said it aloud. For a moment, he actually seems like he will keep walking, before he stops and focuses exhausted eyes on Jade.

It takes another few moments for him to actually to see the man, though.

"Jade...sorry. I'm...just trying to give them a break. They are worrying about me so much...spending time on cures that aren't working... They need to rest. If I go away then they will do that, right?"

It seems that being 'utterly delirious' just might be the reason he is up and about after all...

19th ish, once Suzu is on LI4

[swordofzero]

Suzaku's skin is more rash than anything, he has sores that leak black puss and the feeling of just giving in is getting stronger every day. But not just giving in, saving someone, dying for them. The urge to be punished, to die for what he has done but to do so whilst saving another. It has always been something Suzaku has thought about, but now it is an urge, the wish to sacrifice himself.

The problem is finding someone who will let him. Urging people into dangerous situations, it has become a task, one that he works on.

He see's Diarmuid and part of him notices that he looks ill too. He stumbles towards him, already planning. Diarmuid would listen to him, Diarmuid was his friend, Suzaku was sure he was someone who he could die for. "Brother?"

o7 Warnings for all the bad/sad LI4 things...

[oathshackledbird]

It takes Diarmuid a moment to track down where the voice is coming from. He's been wandering for a while and is starting to really feel just how weak and tired he is. In fact, when he first sees Suzaku, he swears he must be hallucinating because of how bad his brother looks. Shortly, though, concern overrides his fatigue.

"Suzaku...don't tell me you are sick too..." He reaches for his brother, but then draws his hand back for fear the touch will hurt him. This is so much more than a rash...

"You should be resting, not up and around!"

Gym

[savedbyasong]

Shion is pretty nervous about this meeting, though he has done everything that Diarmuid asked him, all the excersizes and trying to stop himself from losing control. He remembered succeeding, and it was enough to keep going even though he was still very shaken from seeing the labyrinth again, it was hidden. He could focus, and get on with things.

And there was a lot to get on with. Reno had told him in no uncertain terms that he was to attend this meeting, but Shion didn't fight him, he wanted to. He wanted to control this and so he smiled nervously at Diarmuid as he and Reno entered the gymnasium, the papers he had been writing down his notes about what he felt in his arms.

[midgarhorizon]

Reno himself was a little distracted looking, but he kept an eye on Shion and his papers, just in case he needed to intervene to avoid a spill. He was wearing his suit pants and a well repaired shirt this time around, not expecting to do anything physical this time around.

"You sure you got everything, kiddo?"

2-04, 3/19

[irreverence]

Hey.

[Asagi's presence is heralded only by the sudden and unceremonious opening of the door and then her presence sprawled at the foot of his bed, propped up on her elbows.]

Lancer said you were sick.

[She offers a slow, idle once-over.]

Understatement. Thought you guys couldn't get sick?

[oathshackledbird]

[For a moment, Diarmuid just blinks at Asagi. A magical Asagi who just appeared on his bed out of nowhere....

Okay, he's just a little feverish. Cut him a break...]

We...aren't suppose to. Being sick is no fun. Can I be done now?

[He's totally not whining. Totally. Except he is. Totally...]