towerofanimus | Endgame: Gathered on This Beach of the Tumid River

That will never stop being weird to see.

[Asagi pipes up beside him, surprisingly quiet, eyes focused somewhat intensely on his arm, as if trying to will the flicker of anything other than humanity out of her mind. After a moment, she settles across from him and holds out her hands, making a 'come here' sort of motion.]

Here, let me finish that.

[It's the least she can do.]

Ah...thank you.

[Diarmuid almost refuses because he doesn't want to trouble her, but it doesn't take a genius to realize something is on her mind. As a result, he just moves forward and hands her the supplies he is using so that she can take over.]

I don't really think it is something we should get used to. It's weird even when you are talking about weird things.

[He won't say anything at the moment about her mood. Instead, he will give her a chance to bring up anything she would like herself.]

[Had he refused, she probably would have just sat down next to him anyway until she figured out how to say what she wanted to say.]

Probably not. Might be a sign we're okay with being here, and that's a bit too close to crazy for my liking.

[She doesn't say anything else for a few moments, instead taking the time to make sure she does the bandages up right, frowning slightly.]

I thought you guys healed pretty fast- how bad was this that it's still around?

[Oops...she might have just caught him.]

Some...were pretty deep. I've been kind of hiding how bad they are. I didn't want Waver wasting energy on healing them. Not after he tapped himself out so much.

[A sheepish look crosses his face.]

That and I have been restricting how much energy I pull from him. That's slowing down the healing some.

You know he's gonna be pissed when he finds out, right?

[Not 'if'- and she gives him the flattest look she can muster which, considering Asagi, is pretty flat.]

You should have said something to someone else though. There's a lot of healers here, I'm sure someone would've done something about it...

[She punches him lightly- in the chest and not the arm like she would have if he weren't injured, and frowns.]

You're one of the toughest ones we've got, moron. We're going to need you in good shape you know.

I'm only useful if I can get close enough to strike them...

[Diarmuid frowns in frustration remembering how limited he felt during the escape. Getting too close to those things meant death, but how could he fight without getting close to what he was trying to fight? He had been reduced to blocking attacks and pulling people to safety. It was an important role to be sure, but not the role he would have preferred to have...]

Besides, I have fought through much worse wounds.

[Still, he's not really looking forward to the lecture he knows he will eventually get from Waver when he finds out.]

Remind me to teach you to use a gun sometime then.

[She says it offhandedly as she finishes with the dressing and then drops her hands into her lap, fingers skimming the side of a cloneblade bracelet idly.]

And maybe you have, but that doesn't mean you should make yourself do it if there's someone who can heal you.

[Another light hit, this time with the side of her fist against his leg, and she gives him a sulky look.]

You're supposed to be the most reasonable one out of all of us.

With my luck, I would probably end up shooting myself in the foot.

[He's a Lancer. Watch it happen...]

Hey! You don't have to give me more reason to need to see a healer.

[Jokingly, he pulls back from the hit as if it hurt.]

Will it make you feel better if I promise to go talk to Ken or Yukiko before the day is out?

Never know until you try.

[No one's luck is that bad. She thinks.

Maybe.]

You're not allowed to say you've fought with worse injuries and then whine over a love tap like that.

[Again, another light hit.]

But yeah. It will, actually.

Do I need to get my brother to make him tell you to stop beating up on me?

[No, Asagi. He did not just stick his tongue out at you. ~~Except he totally did.~~]

Well then, consider it done. I will have one of them look at my arm and patch me up good as new.

[Diarmuid pauses a moment and then gives her a more serious look.]

You want to tell me what is weighing so heavily on your mind now that is taken care of?

Pfff. Like he could stop me.

[She totally did not stick hers out in return. ~~Except we all know she totally did.]~~

Good. I'm sure it'll help a lot with that whole magic thing in the long run.

[She blinks at him, as if she doesn't quite understand, and inclines her head.]

Dunno, really. Not used to worrying about anyone but myself, I guess?

[For starters, anyway.]

I can't say I know how it feels, because I would be lying, but it's probably a little unsettling, right?

[Diarmuid is guessing as best as he can, since he's never been the kind to just look out for himself. Because of that, it's hard to imagine what she is feeling.]

Hopefully, there is some good to balance it out, though. I mean, feeling like you have a family is a good thing, right?

Nauseating, actually.

[She sets her feet together, hands settling on her ankles, and she leans forward slightly, frowning at him a little.]

I mean, I could do without wanting to cover you jerks in bubble wrap or something but... yeah, it's not all bad.

[A shrug, and she looks off to the side somewhat awkwardly.]

Well... you guys are better family than what used to pass for mine so... yeah, I guess.

[Diarmuid can't help but laugh at the description of how it feels. Not quite what he was expecting.]

The bubble wrap wouldn't help. Knowing us, we would still find a way to hurt ourselves.

[He laughs again and then grows more serious, reaching out with the intent to rest on of his hands on hers.]

I appreciate that you care about us and are worried about us, Asagi. Thank you. It means a lot...even if I prefer not making you feel nauseous...

...honestly, now all I can imagine is you guys trying to get out of it and suffocating. Wow.

[A slight squint.]

Worrying about people sucks, how do you do it all the time, geez...

[She lets him settle his hand on hers, not quite sure what to make of the gesture.]

Yeah, I'd rather not be nauseous, but I figure it'll go away once I get used to it. I hope.

Geez, thanks...

[Despite the complaint, there is a silly grin on his face. Sadly, he can see it too.]

I...don't think you can ever really get used to the worry, but I think it starts meaning something else if that makes any sense whatsoever. See, for me, if I am worrying about someone it means they are important to me. It becomes less a fear and more of a drive. I will protect them. I will see them safe. I will keep going even when it seems like everything is falling apart around me because they need me to do that.

[He bows his head slightly in embarrassment.]

That probably sounds ridiculous to you, doesn't it?

You guys are the ones that are always bringing up the terrible luck- I'm just imaginative.

[Said so, so dryly. She watches him for a moment as he talks though, fingers curling up into her palm beneath his hand.]

Actually, not really...?

[She shrugs, and once again looks as if she's not entirely sure of what she's saying.]

I mean... that's pretty much how I feel whenever that dumb Puppy goes and gets himself into trouble.

[The words 'dumb puppy' Diarmuid may notice, are said with a surprising amount of affection.]

[Diarmuid smiles when he hears Asagi call his brother 'dumb Puppy.' He can tell from the tone of her voice she doesn't mean it in a bad way. In fact, it reminds him of when Waver calls him 'idiot' in the most loving way possible.]

It's a powerful motivator, but sometimes I do wonder how any of us are still alive...even with the fact death isn't permanent here...

[Thankfully, Diarmuid has Waver to keep him in check and Cu Chulainn has Asagi...]

Did...you two get a chance to talk any?

Sheer force of will, I'd bet. Somehow I get the feeling that keeping you guys dead isn't an easy thing.

[It could be, honestly, because she knows how stubborn they both are.]

...yeah. We talked.

[She offers a wan half-smile.]

I really hope the Professor has plenty of room for all of us.

You got him to agree?

[First, it seems like Diarmuid doesn't believe her. Actually, it's more like he is afraid to, but after a moment that fades and his face is filled with nothing but joy and relief.]

Thank you so much. I...

[He pauses a moment to calm himself and then looks up at her with a more serious expression.]

Don't tell him this, but I was afraid his promises were going to drag him back, and if he had decided to do that...I wouldn't have been able to stop him. I know how important those promises are to him. But...I really didn't want to lose my brother like that...

To be honest, I didn't want to lose you like that either because as much as he might have wanted you to go with us, without him...

[What reason did she have to go?]

Yeah. I mean, I'm still not entirely sure how, but...

[She shrugs, frowning slightly, obviously a little puzzled still as to the 'how' of it all, but not entirely concerned.]

Hey, I wouldn't have minded going with you but I mean... I'd feel like kind of a third wheel with the both of you... and with him and his master too, honestly.

[She shrugs.]

It was really the most logical choice I mean... there'd be no guarantee his master would keep him around once he did what she needed him to do, right?

[It's kind of obvious who she's really been concerned about in this whole decision-making process, even if she doesn't realize.]

Plus, I didn't think you and the professor liked having me around that much, I'll admit.

Zo has gained a lot of strength in the last year. I hope that between his new power and having the machine to control it, he will be able to send us each to the world we want to go to instead of just having to send us back to our original worlds.

[Diarmuid shrugs.]

Perhaps there are other ways, but that is the most obvious one that strikes me considering what we have control of at the moment.

[He pauses, a frown crossing his face.]

This...doesn't get back to him, okay? I think you are right to worry about his master not keeping him. Ayaka is a good person. I met two versions of her while I have been here, but in the end she is one person and it would be very hard for a magus--especially a young one--to support two servants at once. It is entirely possible that once he helped her regain her proper servant, he would...disappear. His original master is gone and, you know my brother. If it came down to it, I think he would allow her to go with her original servant before being selfish and trying to stay alive himself. Not when he feels like he failed his original master.

[An amused smile suddenly crosses his face.]

Didn't you know that the more Waver grumps at you, the more he likes you?

There's that word again. Hope.

[But she leaves it alone, shaking her head and heaving a sigh.]

I know he wants to think of the best outcomes in any situation, but yeah I... can't say I think him going back there would have ended well- much less if I were there too, because I sure as hell wouldn't let him be gotten rid of so easily.

And we also talked about that. The whole... magus thing. How is he gonna stick around when we go if he doesn't have anyone to contract with or whatever?

[She joins him in smiling- though hers is more a smirk- and scoffs-]

You know, I didn't think anyone that tsundere actually existed in real life.

Well, there are a couple of possibilities. One would be hard on Waver, but he is strong enough he could support two servants for a short time. He could take us both until we can find an alternate to take my brother. I think once we actually--jokingly but still--mentioned having the girl who is the head of the family Waver works for take him. My brother would make a good guard for her and you could always help.

[Lets not think about the bad influences they might be on her, though...]

Alternatively, and perhaps a little easier...do you have your real powers now, Asagi? I am pretty sure my brother has his and, while you are no magus, you are not human either. I wonder if it would be possible for you to from a contract with him.

What do you say? Do you want to be my brother's boss?

[He pauses and a puzzled look crosses his face.]

What is a sundairy?

Actually, I was considering that-- trying to do it myself, I mean. Technically the cloneblades are magical artifacts so...

[A shrug.]

Maybe they're close enough to what magic is in your world for it to work? I mean, I wouldn't exactly say I'd be his 'boss', but you know. If it means I get to keep him around...

[She'll do just about anything.]

...ah. Tsun-de-re.

[She enunciates carefully for him, mouth quirking in amusement.]

It's a personality type. It means someone who acts like a great big jerk on the outside but is actually a big gooey marshmallow on the inside.

[Those sure were words that came out of her mouth, weren't they?]

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