towerofanimus | Endgame: This is the Way the World Ends

[He smiles.]

Thank you. It's been an honor for me too. I'll do my best to come back, but even if I don't, you've still got my amulet.

[He pats Diarmuid on the back.]

Just like I've still got your torc. We both have pieces of each other.

[Diarmuid reaches up to put his hand over the amulet in question. It is something, but...]

You know I would much rather have you, right? Please. This time, don't die, brother.

[It is as close as he will come to asking for a promise, since he knows that there is no way his brother can promise it. Not this time.]

You too, brother. Please, stay safe.

[He pulls away slightly. Though he knows they don't have much time left, he's still reluctant to leave.]

[Diarmuid recognizes the hesitance and gives his brother's shoulder a squeeze.]

You don't have to go yet. Why not stick with me a while longer? I...want to ask you a question anyway.

[He nods.]

Go ahead. Ask away.

This...might sound a little morbid, but...

[Diarmuid frowns showing just how hard it is for him to ask this.]

If something happens to you, is there anything you want me to tell Asagi?

I...

[When he had first died, before he was a Heroic Spirit, he never thought to leave any last words. Now, trying to think of something other than "goodbye," he finds himself tongue tied.]

Tell her I love her. And that I want her to live and be happy.

[He laughs nervously.]

...I guess I'm not so good with last words after all. What about you? How'd yours go?

Those are perfectly good last words! Better than mine actually...

[Diarmuid shrugs.]

Mine were wasted on trying to tell a lord who would not listen the reasons why he should spare my life. I wanted to say more later, but by then it was too late and I could say no more.

[And they aren't getting into the raging words he spoke after he was betrayed in the war...]

That's all far in the past now.

[He reaches up to fluff his brother's hair.]

What do you want your last message to be this time? Even if I'm sure I won't have to deliver it to anyone.

[Diarmuid smiles, for once not trying to avoid the hair fluffing.]

That is simple enough. My last words, if needed, would be "I was happy. Thank you."

[Because even with all of the pain this place has brought him, he wouldn't give this time up for anything.]

[He doesn't say anything. He just goes back to hugging his brother tightly.]

[Diarmuid tightens his arms around his brother, laughing softly.]

Hey, aren't you suppose to be happy about me being happy? Come on now...

I am. I'm really happy that you've finally found a way to be happy.

[It was a great change from when he has first arrived. Diarmuid had been so sad back then.]

And I am really happy that whoever was in charge of rooming new arrivals that day put me in with you. Things...probably would have been a lot different if we hadn't met like we did.

[And different is the very last thing Diarmuid would have wanted.]

That was probably Riki. I guess that's the only thing we can thank him for.

[For all the tragedies he had gone through in the Tower, he didn't want things to be any different either.]

Well, that and moving Ryoji in with us. I would thank him for that too.

[There is also the certificate the Cu Chulainn once got declaring them brothers. Diarmuid thinks he remembers his brother saying that was from Riki, but Diarmuid doesn't mention it because it's not like they actually need a piece of paper to tell them they are family.

Still...if anyone bothers to ask Diarmuid what is in the small bag slung over his back--the one he has been carrying since before everything went nuts--they would find out that the certificate is in the trinket box inside the bag. All the small gifts and most of the letters he was ever given are in there including Yotsuba's drawings, the certificate, and a very special letter from Waver. Alongside the box is the puppet Romeo made him so long ago. It's all film now and it's not likely the things will survive a trip back to Waver's world with him, but Diarmuid is a sentimental fool at heart and...he wants to have those things with him for as long as possible. Especially, the things from those who are no longer in the Tower.]

Yeah, that too. And that cer...

[His mind drifts over to the matter of the certificate they had received and how it was now left in their room. And that brings his mind to other residents of their room.]

Bro, have you seen Mac an Chuill? Or Liath Macha?

[Since Diarmuid has the certificate so close at mind, he is able to guess what his brother is thinking and reaches out to pat the bag he is carrying.]

I have my copy of it in here. Not that we can really tell much about it with the glamour down, but...

[He shrugs and then points across the room to where Mac an Chuill and Liath Macha are standing back against a wall, actually behaving and staying out of the way of those trying to do things and make decisions.]

There they are. Are you going to take Liath Macha with you, or do you want me to keep an eye on her?

Hey, girl!

[Cu Chulainn finally lets go of his brother so he can go lead his horse over.]

I'm gonna be riding into battle with her. I'm sure she'll enjoy it.

I'm sure she will. Just be careful then. You are going to have to be watching out for the two of you...

[Diarmuid pauses and then starts adding to the list.]

And Asagi and Reno and Suzaku and Ken asked me to make sure people keep an eye on Jin and Chidori in case something happens to him. And there is Ryoji and Yukiko and Ken himself and...

Think you can handle all that and a horse?

[He's joking, mostly. Diarmuid has faith in his brother.]

[He gives his brother a confident grin.]

Of course I can. I'm a hero, remember? And I trust all of them to hold their own in a fight.

Of course, how could I forget?

[Diarmuid laughs, pressing a hand to his chest.]

My hero...who has lived up to his legend many times over in my eyes.

[He gives Diarmuid a thumbs up.]

And I won't disappoint you this time either.

[Diarmuid returns the gesture.]

Make sure you don't. I don't want the New Adventures of Cu Chulainn to have as quick an ending as the first set of adventures did.

Oh come on! I lived to be thirty! And it was a great life!

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(Let me know if this works or if you want it different!)

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