sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[ A nod, and he setas himself on the seat opposite her, reaching for the cups to pour both her and himself a drink; it's been ages, really, since he's had one. ]

You were up quite early. I couldn't help but be impressed.

Aha... I actually prefer to sleep in, but I've been feeling so energetic the past few days, oddly enough.

[She's cut up thin slices of lemon and taken out a small jar of sugar with spoons in the meanwhile. She likes sweet drinks it appears, as she mixes a teaspoon or two of sugar into her cup. Thao glances at the bent blade that remains sitting on the table next to her.]

My Mystic Eyes used to be volatile. I couldn't concentrate at bending anything at all or I would cause accidents because I was constantly doing damage to the spaces and things around me.

Edited 2014-12-03 06:25 (UTC)

Any skill worth learning starts with stumbling. Even I had difficulty with my lances, at first.

[ If one could ever imagine a time when Diarmuid of the Shining Face was clumsy, at any point.

But this is meant to be reassuring, to some extent, and he smiles over the brim of his cup as he sips. ]

Edited 2014-12-03 08:09 (UTC)

[Really now? Ai Thao didn't think of it that way. Heroes would have to start somewhere along the rough bottom line after all.]

Well, that's not to say I haven't improved since then! I held my ground to some extent last night after all. It's just this sword in particular that's giving me trouble.

[Thao frowns at said blade; it makes for a mildly amusing sight since it makes it looks like she harbors actual malice towards the object.]

This was one of Sensei's priceless blades that I damaged on accident... He forgave me though. More than I deserved. Since then I've been trying to undo it, but.... [SIGH.] Some things can't be undone, can they?

[ The blade is fairly mangled; if it were his own, Diarmuid would have given up on using it a long time ago. But he appreciates a devotion to a prized weapon, and reaches for it with a quick glance at Ai Thao to make sure that it's alright to pick it up. ]

He would be happy to know that you've given the blade the time and attention that you have.

[ A little smile, the expression slightly more casual than before. ]

No doubt the thing feels the same. I know I would.

[Ai Thao doesn't object when he picks it up; she just tilts her head slightly at his response.]

If it feels that way, it should give a little by now. [A joke? Maybe. She feels like she's just been talking about herself and since they're just relaxing, why not ask her Servant questions!]

Er, Diarmuid? Is it alright if I asked you about what your country was like back then? My country of origin is Vietnam, so a place like Ireland is completely different to someone like me.

[She was able to recognize the Irish name due to some time spent in England and going through different texts at the back then, some which inevitably had Irish origins. Otherwise, her knowledge of other places was still limited.]

Edited 2014-12-03 10:08 (UTC)

My country.

[ He repeats that term with a mild sort of nostalgia, setting the blade carefully back down on the table as he thinks about how best to answer this question. His memories are a mixture of warm and painful, but his homeland— aside from his heartaches, all he harbors for it is fondness. ]

It was... [ an exhale, almost like a laugh. ] It rained, often. But on warm summer days, the grass would be inviting beyond comparison. I can't say that you would have found it exciting, but it was beautiful, nevertheless.

[She's listening intently. The way he sounds when he talks about the place makes her wonder if perhaps she's touched upon a sensitive subject. Heck, wouldn't a lot of things be sensitive to a Spirit whose physical life had ended whether out of victorious or tragic heroism? And there was still the fact that Thao isn't completely familiar with Diarmuid's story...]

I think I'd at least like to visit there someday! There's a lot of places I'd like to see with my own eyes.

[The mention of rain and warm summers makes her chuckle a little.]

Vietnam is like an endless summer. But it's the kind that smothers and almost suffocates if you're not used to it. It's tropical, you see.

[Ai Thao looks nostalgic as she looks at the surface of her tea.]

So that means it rains a lot, especially in the summer. But there, when it rains long and hard enough, you end up hearing hundreds if not thousands of frogs that appear to sing! It's quite something!

Edited (sorry grammar stuff) 2014-12-03 18:33 (UTC)

Vietnam. I can't say that I'm too knowledgeable of lands outside of Ireland.

[ A beat. ]

In all honesty, I'm not sure as to where we are, right now.

[ He knows they're in Japan, he knows that it's an island country in Asia... but aside from that, his geographical knowledge is, simply put, lacking. The Grail's given him approximate information, but nothing beyond what he needs to know in the here and now— he has no idea how far away he is from his homeland, but it does give him a bit of solace, that he's on another island.

A smile, though, for her efforts. ]

Though I am familiar with frogs. They kept some of us up for ages, when they were particularly persistent.

[~~Thank you, she will take all the smiles~~.]

Well, we're rather far away from Ireland, that's for sure. I think I could show you!

[Setting down her cup, Ai Thao goes back to her room where her still unpacked luggage is kept. In her backpack, is laptop (kind of a clunky piece of metal, but it's something) and she turns it on. She already has an image of several maps saved on there, since she likes to look at the places she travels to. One of them, is the basic world map, showing all the continents and she takes the laptop out and sets it on the table, facing Diarmuid.]

There, see? Here's the island of Japan. We're a little further down south... [She points to said country. It looks so much smaller in an image. Then her finger moves across the screen to the left showing the European continent]

... And there's Ireland!

[ He marvels about it in earnest, as he leans in and surveys everything on the screen. Being from 2nd century Ireland, all of these developments are new and interesting— the fact that his country of origin is so small is humbling, and he reaches out to trace one finger along the outline of the island all the way on the other side of the world. ]

I see. The world is far bigger than I could have imagined.

[ All the miles he ran, all the forests and valleys he traversed with Grainne, hardly a spot on the surface of the earth. It puts things in perspective. ]

There are many things I've yet to learn, it looks like.

I think you'll have plenty of time to pick up on other things! Feel free to ask me anything if you're curious about a current topic.

[It's only the second day after all. Her finger moves back to the East, pointing at a smaller strip of a country along the coast.]

And that's Vietnam. Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I've been back there.

[ Gold eyes follow the trajectory of her finger, spanning oceans; it's remarkable, even with all the information he's accumulated thanks to his summoning. ]

So you travel often.

[ "And it's that easy to do it", is implied. ]

I go where my teacher goes, essentially. I rarely travel alone, except for this one time of course.

[The laptop is kept open although, pushed to the side slightly as she goes to sit down.]

Though, I can't really say that I'm alone right now, can I?

[ And he says, with a slight edge of humor to his humility: ] Perhaps I've ruined your teacher's intentions of giving you some time to yourself.

[ Ai Thao might be surprised at how different Diarmuid can get in battle, but for now, his humor is reserved for small, polite bursts. ]

[She is the tiniest bit surprised. So far, he's been a dutiful and attentive Heroic Spirit who was very serious about his role as her Servant. And yet, here they are, just having the most simple yet pleasant of conversations after a harrowing night.

But... It was nice. What more could be said except that maybe Ai Thao feels a somewhat selfish for enjoying herself so much?]

"Ruin," is it? If that's the case, it's not an entirely bad situation we've found ourselves in.

[Sure, they're gonna have to fight for their lives and she's on the lower end of the magical fighting spectrum, but hey! They're getting along!]

[ "Not entirely bad". There's a bit of hesitation here, as if he's wondering if he should correct her— this is a war, all things considered— but he thinks it best if he refrain from commenting, because, well. It's his duty to make sure that things won't "go badly".

So, instead: ] I promise you that I'll return you to your teacher safely.

[ Again, there's a little playfulness there, as he gets up and moves to wash his cup and saucer. His talents are outdoor cooking and taking care of people...

Who would have thought that Diarmuid Ua Duibhne would ever be standing in a young girl's kitchen, doing her dishes? ]

[This is strange. Not because he's taking care of his own dishes, but because Ai Thao feels like it's something she should be doing. While not her teacher's main apprentice, he was still responsible for her; pretty much her guardian. And thus, she did her part, helping and cleaning up around whatever living space they happened to occupy.

Then again, it's just the second day and all that. There's still time to get accustomed to this new dynamic.]

I think I should get a few errands done today. Like send a message to Sensei, probably buy some necessities that aren't in the house...

[Stop by a bookstore... ~~Maybe... Just to check something...~~]

... Set up a Bounded Field around this house in particular. Diarmuid, since it's daytime, I should be fine if I go to town on my own. You could take it easy in the meanwhile!

Edited 2014-12-05 01:39 (UTC)

[ He would have objections, but the Master-Servant bond is in full effect, meaning that any sign of danger would immediately be picked up on. If things get really hairy, he'll trust her to use one of her Command Spells, but either way, he'll stay alert.

A nod, as he deftly dries his utensils and arranges them neatly back into their respective shelves. ]

Understood. As always, rely on your Servant if necessary— don't hesitate to call for me should the need arise.

[ ~shining charm face~ ]

[DIAL IT DOOOOOWWWWWNNNNNNN. She smiles, but has to glance to the side because she's feeling strongly charmed (it has to be that and nothing else)!]

I'll... be fine.

[SHAKES HER HEAD and stands up! She's trying so hard...]

I need to get to know this city more anyways! And... Oh... I should call Lien...

[ A little hum of a laugh, and Diarmuid steps away from the sink. ]

I won't intrude when unnecessary. If you want to spend time with your sister, by all means.

[She sits down again, to lean her elbows on the table. Thao doesn't seem to look forward to seeing her sibling.]

It's not that exactly. I mean, I'm glad to see her when I'm able, but...

[The hand that has the Command Spells is held up to her face to be examined.]

My sister doesn't like how I chose to work my way up to being an accomplished magus. And if she finds out I'm part of this War, she'll be upset.

[Her life is at risk now after all. And the elder sister would be angered that this magical, but potentially devastating event had caught wind of her.]

[ Again, he senses her trepidation with the subject of her sister, and it's understandable. As much as he's always been caught in the middle of strife, he can appreciate that that's hardly the norm for some. ]

Are you intending to keep this from her?

[ He'd understand if Ai tries to hide her ties to this War, of course, which means he'll have to be extra discreet. ]

I don't know. She's a very sharp person.

[Sighing and standing up again to head to her room.]

I'll start getting ready to take my leave. I'll leave the house to you, Diarmuid.

[ Well. It's not his place to argue what's best for her family situation, so he refrains from speaking out of turn on the issue. ]

Understood, Master.

[ And with that, he dematerializes to save up prana for Ai's sake; it hardly feels like a war, living like this, but it may be the eye before the storm. ]

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