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

[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...

[oathshackledbird]

I am too. I was a little thrown when my brother told me he had asked Zo for him as a gift to me, but I am very glad he is here now.

[Diarmuid gives Mac an Chuill one last pat before standing.]

How are you feeling now, Taiki? Better?

[notagiraffe]

[Taiki nodded and stood up on shaky legs.] Yes... I feel better... thank you very much [He still looks exhausted and feverish but the comparison to before Diarmuid washed the blood off him is great] Please... let me know if there is anything I can do for you... in return...

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid gently puts a hand on Taiki's head.]

Just focus on feeling better so you are ready for whatever comes next, all right? You are a good healer and I have a feeling your skills will be needed.

[Plus there will be plenty of blood, Diarmuid is afraid. Taiki will need to get his stamina back so he isn't immediately laid low by it.]

[notagiraffe]

[He smiles and nods, he is glad to be of any help at all and so will focus on getting better so he can heal more people] I will... Thank you again...