Endgame: Gathered on This Beach of the Tumid River

[animusmods]

Characters: open
Setting: all around the Tower from the 25th of May to the 1st of June
Format: any
Summary: A general mingle for all characters throughout the Tower.
Warnings: Standard Animus warnings; please note anything specific in the subject headers of your threads

[The Tower is stagnant, the only signs of activity confined to the second block. There isn't much time left; it might be a good idea to rest and do whatever strikes your fancy before the timer hits zero.]

Comments

[notagiraffe]

[By the time the dizziness has abated Diarmuid is at his side with the cloth. Taiki's skin was burning to the touch, like he had a high fever.] Sorry... [Taiki felt bad that his attempt to help and led to inconveniencing Diarmuid like this.

He sees the dog and smiles reaching out to stroke it.] Hello...

I... I slept for ages but I wanted to help...

[oathshackledbird]

It's all right. Don't feel bad for that. I just don't want you to hurt yourself helping me.

[Diarmuid frowns, feeling how warm the boy's skin is.]

You are burning up. Is this all from being around so much blood? Is there something I can do to help ease it?

[Of course, aside from washing off the blood that is on Taiki as fast as he can without hurting the boy. Meanwhile, Mac an Chuill tries licking Taiki's hands almost as if he is trying to help too.]

[notagiraffe]

[He nodded] It's just the blood... [He still manages a smile as the dog licks his hands, leaning against him happily. Taiki has always been more comfortable around animals than humans.

Washing is helping] Is... is it safe to leave this floor?

[oathshackledbird]

[Mac an Chuill is happy to curl tighter around the boy. There might not be much he can do to help, but he is sure going to try and comfort Taiki as much as he can.]

It is safe as long as you don't linger in the middle sections of the Tower. Something is going on there and the units are on high alert.

[Diarmuid pauses a moment to rinse out his cloth before starting on another spot.]

Why do you ask? Do you need something?

[Like some clothes?]

[notagiraffe]

[He scratches the dogs ears and his head begins to feel clearer as the blood is washed off him] I... sorry... I should go and get my spare clothes... I changed forms when we ran...

[He's not cold but he's old enough to understand modesty and why he should probably have clothes on in public]

[oathshackledbird]

Ah...that explains the blanket.

[Diarmuid nods in understanding as he finishes off cleaning the last of the blood he can see from Taiki's skin.]

Why don't you tell me what number your room is and where I can find your extra clothes at? You can stay here and rest with Mac an Chuill while I get them. It won't take me long.

[notagiraffe]

Are you... um... I don't want to trouble you... [He blinks at him] You don't have to...

[oathshackledbird]

I know I don't have to. I want to.

[What is it with people and not understanding that?]

I am mostly recovered now thanks to your healing spell, while you still have a lot of recovery to do. I don't mind.

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki nodded] That's... that's really kind of you... Um my room is 2-08 and my clothes are in my trunk... um my bed's the one... it has a map on the wall above it and a painting of me and Lord Gyousou on the table next to it...

[oathshackledbird]

It is the least I can do. After all...

[Diarmuid gestures to his arm.]

...you healed me. I think I should be able to find you clothes easy enough with that description. Is there anything else you would like me to bring back?

[notagiraffe]

Thank you... [He shook his head and then paused] Could you... I have a cloak as well... it might not look like mine because it's big [Big enough to fit Diarmuid probably] Could you bring that too... sorry... [It wasn't cold but he wanted something to remind him of Lord Gyousou and the cloak had been his comfort for a long time, ever since he got it as a reward back when he was new to the tower.]

[oathshackledbird]

Don't be sorry. I will be glad to gather it for you.

[Diarmuid understands wanting to have comforting things around in times like this. Had he not worn his father's cloak for a while after it was given to him for just such a reason?

He gathers what he has been using to clean Taiki up into his hands and then stands, signaling for Mac an Chuill to stay at the same time.]

I will be back in just a few minutes. Please rest until then.

[notagiraffe]

Thank you... [He smiles and leans into Mac an Chuill, stroking him gently, he was a nice dog, Taiki liked him. He wondered what his name was, he would have to ask Diarmuid when he came back.]

[oathshackledbird]

You are welcome.

[And just like that, Diarmuid is gone. As he said, it only takes him a matter of minutes--thanks to his speed--to get down to the room and gather the things that Taiki has requested. Once he is back, he hands the pile of clothing and cloak to the boy.]

There you go. Please let me know if I missed anything...

[notagiraffe]

[That was fast! Taiki blinked at him as he returned, surprised.] You're as fast as a Kirin... [He smiled and quickly pulled on his clothes, they hung awkwardly on him though they had fit him at one point.] Thank you!

[oathshackledbird]

I am glad to have been able to help.

[Diarmuid crouches down near Taiki and Mac an Chuill, so he can pat the dog on the head.]

Speed is the special trait of my class and I am fast even amongst them. It comes in handy sometimes. Hopefully, my boy here didn't cause you any trouble while I was gone.

[notagiraffe]

Going fast is fun... and really useful... [He shook his head] He didn't... he's very well behaved... what's his name?

[oathshackledbird]

It is both of those things. You are not going to find me arguing that.

[Diarmuid gives the dog another pat.]

His name is Mac an Chuill. He's trained for hunting animals, but he has been helpful here with hunting other things.

[notagiraffe]

Hello Mac an Chuill... [He went back to stroking the dog] He's also really nice to cuddle and good at cheering people up... [Very important characteristics]

[oathshackledbird]

Spoiled is what he is...

[The grin on Diarmuid's face says that he doesn't really mind this.]

He's suppose to be a hunting dog, not a pet. He never quite figured that out, though, did you?

[Mac an Chuill woofs as if to say he knows that very well.]

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki doesn't say it but he is glad that Mac an Chuill is more a pet than a hunting dog, hunting is bad. But Taiki doesn't want to make Diarmuid angry with him so holds his tongue.

He has been doing that a lot recently and he worries it makes him a bad Kirin.] When I'm better... I'm sure Gohran would like to meet him, he might have to turn into a bigger dog though or Mac an Chuill might squish him...

[oathshackledbird]

[Does it help any to know that hunting was not done for sport, but so that they had food to eat?

Diarmuid can't help but grin at the comment.]

Don't worry. Despite his size, Mac an Chuill is very careful about other, smaller creatures. He might get excited, but he doesn't want to hurt anyone.

[Unless that someone is a threat to his master or someone he has been told to protect. Then all bets are off.]

[notagiraffe]

[A little but not really, eating meat makes Kirin ill so for Taiki finding food to eat was looking for fruit] That's good... I bet he's a good friend...

[oathshackledbird]

He is. Brave and loyal. He ran only once, but I cannot blame him for that. Who would not run in the face of a monstrous beast of Fate?

[Well, Diarmuid had not, but the beast was his Fate. What good would running have done?]

He has never run here no matter what terrible beast we run into. That is the important thing.

[notagiraffe]

He sounds brave [And monstrous beasts of fate sound terrifying, Taiki looks at Diarmuid with wide eyes. He had ran a lot in the tower, but he always made sure his friends were running with him.] I'm glad... that he's here with you...