sweethymns | ғaтe/alт.dιѕтorтιon

[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. ]

[Her day truly begins after freshening up, cleaning up her bedroom, and then setting up a small magus workshop of sorts at her table (just getting out materials, textbooks, and manuscripts.) With the materials she does have, she goes about creating a Bounded Field around the house. Ai Thao has a pleasant sense of accomplishment when she's finished adding the extra, but necessary protection.

After that and saying goodbye to her new Servant, she locks up the house and heads out to town. She wasn't able to get a good look of it during the day since she was sleeping through most of yesterday. Ai Thao is able to go past the foreigner's district and go through the Riverside Park, admiring the bridge and the cleanliness. Then she goes to Shinto. There's an off feeling about the area, but that's probably because the buildings looked so sterile compared to the Western and Eastern style residential neighborhood. She remembers that Lien lives in one of the apartment buildings, but with her hand clasped around her Spells, she moves on by. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe.

Her Japanese, while not perfect, was serviceable as she asked helpful locals about other places that she could visit in Fuyuki. With the advice and knowledge given to her she went to Mount Miyama with a certain destination in mind: the local bookshop.

The bookshop's primary function was to sell novels, some magazines, and textbooks, though it had a surprisingly sizable collection of books that weren't specifically Japanese topics. Western cookbooks, stories from authors outside of the country, and... Ah. Famous European legends, myths, and folklore. Ai Thao picks it up eagerly, delighted to find some familiar and enchanting tales (The Little Mermaid, The Red Shoes, Bluebeard...) and then found the second half that dealt with actual figures of history that were shrouded by mystery, legend, and heroism. She wanted to know more about Diarmuid, but that felt like it was a question she couldn't approach especially when she technically had authority on her side. And maybe looking into it this way was no less deceitful than trying to steadily know his life story from himself.

The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne.

Only in the 21st century would a Vietnamese magus be able to find an Irish legend in a bookstore on the small island of Japan. She starts reading the first paragraph, not quite sure why she felt such anticipation...

☚☛

It didn't take long for her to finish the story and go extra notes really; perhaps 20 minutes or less until one of the clerks politely asked if Ai Thao was going to make a purchase. She does, carrying the book in a bag. The tale she just finished left a strange taste in her mouth and she doesn't want to go back home so soon. The rest of the day felt as if she was drifting, lost in thought. She ate some lunch at a diner, explored Miyama Town some more, passed through Shinto, and bought some extra, if minimal groceries. She went back to the Riverside Park, to set down her things and to look at those pages again. The sun began to set and that was when she knew she had to get home. The book is hidden away in her bag again.

☚☛

Ai Thao makes it back on time, unlocking the front door and then heading to the kitchen. The groceries are placed on the table, but she immediately brings the book of tales into her room and hides it in her carry on as if it was a secret that needed to be crushed and smothered. She hadn't even announced her arrival yet, but it didn't appear as if she wanted to. Strange.

Instead, Ai Thao makes her way to the top of the house, sitting on the flat area of the roof, arms around her knees and staring at the setting sun.

Honestly... What am I doing??]

[ Diarmuid's day passes without much in the way of circumstance. Being tasked to stay and watch over the estate, he doesn't do much in the way of wandering, but takes it upon himself to sit on the roof of the house and take in the townspeople passing by— children with their hands in their parents', friends sharing gossip, couples figuring out their sense of distance.

There's a restlessness, of course, given his role and his one wish, but he's content for the majority of the hours that pass in a slow, calm wave. He didn't live all of his waking life mired in strife, and for that, he's still grateful; if Ai Thao ever asked him to talk about himself, he would say that he wasn't unhappy.

As the sun starts to set, he considers moving back inside to wait for his Master when he senses her entering the Field and moving up towards where he's standing. There's something off— she looks melancholy— but if it's anything to do with her sister, he's not sure if it's his place to offer consolation.

A beat, in consideration of his Master's privacy, before he materializes. ]

—Welcome back, Master.

[ It'd be rude not to say anything, he figures. She can always tell him to leave, after all. ]

Eh? AHH!!!

[She jumps, genuinely shocked that he was sitting next to her. Ai Thao had been so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn't even bother sensing his presence and-... God, she looks embarrassed.]

I-I-I-I'm sorry, you frightened me! I wasn't being aware a-a-and...!!!

[ His response is a soft ah, as if he hadn't anticipated her being so surprised, and then a bow of his head. ]

No, I apologize. I wasn't called upon.

I should apologize, I mean, I didn't even say that I was back and-- [... DEEP BREATH. AND then she exhales, calming herself down and bowing her head slightly. Why? BECAUSE it seems right.]

You can remain as you are. I appreciate the company. [She turns herself around to face the steadily disappearing sunset.]

And the sky is lovely right now. We should enjoy it.

[ APOLOGY PARTY... but her words are enough to keep him materialized and standing by her side, watching the sunset cast long shadows over the towering buildings and smaller residences within view.

It's not Ireland, but he's fond, nevertheless. ]

No matter the age, the sun looks the same as it ever was.

Mm. [A rather quiet response.] And the sky will always look endless won't it?

[What a bind she was in; or maybe she was over thinking it as it was a flaw of Ai Thao's that cropped up when in emotional conflict. And in this case it was extra frustrating because she's trying to untangle and clarify just what she had an issue with to begin with after learning the life and demise of the man standing next to her. Was it unfair, the way he died, not being healed by the leader he sorrowfully betrayed? That was something that definitely bothered her. Was it the fact that the lady Gráinne placed a geis out of desire for him and that he followed her in turn? In fact, why did people do things like that, throwing away everything for the slimmest chance of happiness especially for something flighty and uncertain like love?

The price of giving one's heart shouldn't have been punishment. Or maybe she just didn't understand that kind of love.

Ai Thao is unnervingly quiet as the evening stars and the form of the moon appear in the sky. But as the evening breeze passes through, she begins to murmur a song.]

♫ Fly me to the moon,
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars... ♪

[The rest of the song is finished with a low, but melodious hum, and she looks lost in her thoughts.]

Edited 2014-12-06 01:37 (UTC)

[ His initial surprise at the quiet singing makes way for a sense of distant calm, something that lingers as he remains attentive to the lyrics:

"Fill my heart with song
and let me sing forever more
You are all I long for..."

The slight ache in his heart is gentle— far from resentment.

When the song trails off, he closes his eyes for a moment, and wonders who Ai Thao is singing this for— if for anyone at all, of course— and he hopes that fate will deal her a kind hand, that her life will grant her happiness with someone to hold her hand through it. ]

A beautiful song. [ He says, simply, when he feels it's appropriate. ] Did you write it?

[She stop singing. And then she chuckles softly and shakes her head.]

It's an old song. Well, old by several decades anyways. [She feels herself relaxing a bit and places her hands by her sides.]

When we were younger, my sister would listen to a lot of music, any that she could get her hands on. Some of her choices weren't exactly my taste, but others would sort of stick in my head. Reciting them was therapeutic even if they were just a bunch of silly love songs.

Edited 2014-12-06 02:04 (UTC)

[ "Silly love songs". There's a light exhale at that, as if he's either mildly relieved or faintly amused; the emotions are too close to call. ]

Your singing seemed more than a mere recital. I worry for the young man who'll hear it in earnest.

[ He's teasing, of course, but it might seem out of the blue, all things considered. ]

[Normally, she'd react a bit more shyly insisting that she wouldn't be the type for anyone. This time, there's some perspective on her side though and she just tilts her head.]

"Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs..."

[It's just one sung line, but it does a better job encapsulating her thoughts than the flood that was occupying her mind a few minutes ago.]

... Mm. I think I'd have to be in a better place for that to happen. But it's a nice dream.

[ Love is a sticky subject for him, and his reaction to her first sung line is to laugh, again; maybe it is a bit ridiculous, but that's not for him to judge or assign blame. ]

I daresay you have plenty of time.

[ Another small curl of his lips, and he appends: ]

Ah, but your teacher may not appreciate me giving you input on the matter without his approval. I'll refrain.

[To be honest, it probably hasn't occurred to her teacher that it is a thing that could happen ~~it would be horrifying for him!!~~ but instead of answering with that, Ai Thao turns her head to look up at him with an inscrutable expression in her eyes.

Studying? Getting charmed? Something she wanted to say???

For once, there is a rare moment where this Master can't be read at all.]

[ Huh. He notices her gaze, and he...holds it for a few seconds, before breaking the silence. ~~Please let her not be charmed for the love of god~~ ]

...Master?

[Suddenly, her brows furrow together, giving her an almost angry look and she stands up, fists bunched together by her side and she inhales deeply...]

ABSOLUTELY NOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!

[Silence. There's relief at the sensation of clarity that settles in her mind that isn't being confused and cajoled by the love spot. And Ai Thao is able to settle on a few conclusions:

1) No, she isn't in love.
2) If she is, it won't be because of his face.
3) However, she is grateful to meet someone like him. And maybe it was that sort of connection that made her hurt when she learned about his story; she's sensitive after all. And it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
4) Eh, who knows. It'll work itself out in the future and that's for the best for now.

Anyways, she sighs, and then laughs, collapsing on her bottom, waving a hand in front of her face to allow herself to breathe in between.]

Ahahaha!!!! Sorry, sorry, sorry!! I had to do that and it's painful to admit, but... Hahaha!!

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

[ Uh. ]

[ Al...right, that was unexpected. Diarmuid balks a bit at the sudden yelling, and he takes a moment to look around to make sure that no one else heard that— thankfully (mercifully), the Bounded Field is in place and functioning perfectly.

"Absolutely not"? Was that in reference to him giving advice...? Well, to be fair, if Ai Thao knows anything about his past, he probably would be the last one she'd want to hear advice from. Is that it...?

He's bewildered for a good few seconds, blinking back his own bemusement, before he catches her laugh and eases into his own, half-stunned smile.

Strange. ]

I thought I'd offended.

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