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

[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?]

I have heard of people who have bonded to servants here even though they are from much different worlds and their magic is very different from what a servant might call 'normal' for a magi, so I think the kind of magic is less important than just the fact that there is magic at all. That, and the will of the parties involved is also important. Personally, I don't see why you wouldn't qualify. However, if that is what you want to do, I would suggest trying it as soon as you and he can. We have no idea what is going to happen from here on out and you might not have time later. Besides, the command spells you would get as his partner may come in handy to save either you or him during these final battles.

[Diarmuid listens to her pronounce the word, so he has it right the next time he says it, but her definition still leaves him puzzled.]

But, Waver isn't a jerk.

[At least, not to him.]

He is very thoughtful and kind. Sometimes he can be a little...prickly...but all of us have our moments.

Really? Kind of wish I'd known that sooner- he probably could have used the extra power a couple of times.

[A pause and she considers the fight against him and Ryoji and the others and winces, amending-]

Or, you know, someone to yell him down from other things.

[She blinks at his insistence about Waver, and then rolls her eyes as emphatically as possible.]

...man, you have got it so bad.

[She laughs, amused, and shakes her head.]

Waver's not a bad guy, but seriously- he's nicest to you. To everybody else... not so much. Like yeah, he's not awful but face it- your husband's kind of a jerk sometimes.

If it helps any, he might not have accepted before now. I know he has been torn for a while about what he would do and taking another partner. After losing Ayaka twice here...

[Diarmuid shakes his head.]

It's not all good, though. Feeling your partner die and knowing you can do nothing about it? There is nothing good about that.

[And how often has he done that to Waver?]

Got it 'so bad?'

[You're confusing him Asagi.]

Is...he really that much nicer to me?

[He's just going to blush and not comment on her calling Waver his husband. Why does he get the impression Waver would be sputtering right now if he was around to hear them talking?]

I'd imagine it's not. But thankfully, I'm actually not as prone to dying as most people. All things considered, I think that's pretty impressive.

[Especially given that she's the type who goes looking for fights most of the time...]

It. You know. The love bug. A serious and debilitating case of the dokis.

[And because she's not going to be completely terrible-]

Basically, you love him a lot.

[And then she smirks, wide and sharp and yeah, if Waver was around, he'd definitely be sputtering.]

Oh dude, yeah. Professor's got it bad too. It's kinda cute, really.

[Okay, that's it. Diarmuid is going to give up any pretense of trying to talk about serious things and just put his head in his hands.]

You don't have to make it sound like we have some kind of contagious disease! It's love. Just call it love!

[Why do people have to make things so difficult?]

And I am probably going to regret asking this, but 'dokis?' What does that even mean?

[There is a few seconds of silence and then, very softly, Diarmuid whispers.]

We aren't cute...

Hey, it may very well be, you don't know that for sure!

[But she laughs, leaning her chin on her hand and shaking her head in amusement at him.

Come on, Diarmuid. Did you really expect Asagi to be anything but difficult?]

It's an onomatopoeia for a heartbeat back home. Technically it's doki-doki but for the sake of teasing people about relationships, just the one will do.

[And she leans forward as if about to share a secret, but-]

You guys are kind of adorable, deal.

We aren't adorable!

[It is only after the words are out that Diarmuid realizes that maybe he should lower the level of his voice.]

Kids are adorable. Pets are adorable. Two grown men aren't adorable.

Besides, you just insisted he was a jerk. I don't think anyone is going to call a jerk adorable...

[He's pouting. Yep, he's pouting.]

And I don't see why you would use the sound of a heartbeat like that.

[Now Diarmuid's just being difficult...]

[Laughing.

Yeah she is laughing so. Very. Hard.

When he lowers his voice Asagi takes a moment to catch her breath, shaking her head in amusement.]

Hey, just cause he's a jerk doesn't mean he doesn't have his moments. Especially when it comes to you.

[She raises a hand to prod at his cheek when he pouts, chuckling again.]

It's a weird cultural thing I guess. Didn't you guys have weird sayings and stuff back in Ireland? Either way, it doesn't really matter- I was mostly teasing.

Mostly.

And just think, you'll get to deal with this all the time when we go home.

If you tease him like this maybe there is a reason he is so prickly to you instead of nice like he is to me...

[No, Diarmuid. It's just because he loves you. Accept it. Move on. Be a man and stop pouting!]

His sense of humor is...lacking sometimes.

[Understatement.]

Still, I suppose this isn't so bad if it is what I have to deal with to make sure you guys come back with us. Families tease each other, after all. Maybe after a while, we might even be able to help Waver be less...prickly for more people than just me...

Are you kidding me? I'd be worried he'd get the metal maid to take my head off if I teased him to much. You're a much better [target] sport.

[Dia you're cute. Just... just accept it man it's okay.]

Eh, I dunno- he gets some pretty good sarcasm going when inspiration strikes.

[She smiles a little but shrugs awkwardly, tugging idly at the bottom of her shirt.]

I'll take your word for it. My 'family' didn't exactly do 'warm and fuzzy togetherness' so.

Geez, thanks. I am so lucky to have this honor.

[When did he go from knight to adorable tease magnet and can he file a request to go back?]

We will just have to change your family experience. Besides, if you are going to be giving so much teasing, it is only fair you take it back in return.

[Maybe if Diarmuid is lucky, he can cause inspiration to strike Waver a little more often so that Asagi as someone to keep her in check...]

You really are. Used to be I only teased people before I beat them within an inch of their life.

[She is, unsurprisingly, completely serious about that, even if her tone is light and amused.]

But if we're doing the whole family bit, does that mean I have to call you niisan now or what? Cause I gotta say, I've never really had any brothers so you might get called neesan once or twice by accident.

[Actually, she's never used either because she never cared much for any of her Sisters, but Diarmuid doesn't have to know that.]

Honestly though, if you think you can find something to tease me about, I say go for it. Might be fun.

[That comment gains a raised eyebrow of a completely different kind.]

You aren't making plans to beat me up that I should know about, are you?

[Diarmuid laughs.]

You can call me whatever you want, I suppose. Just...not cute. Not where others can hear it anyway.

So, since I have permission to tease you and you are calling me brother, does this mean I can call you sister? Or do you prefer sister-in-law?

[Okay, so teasing is obviously a go...]

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