rekindleme | A Story and a Song...

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A Story and a Song...

Who: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (

smallspot ) and anyone who wants to run into a cute little kid.
Where: An open grassy area near Building One.
When: 8-19, in the afternoon
Format: Starting in prose, but please use whatever you want to reply!
Summary: There are a lot of fun ways to spend a warm afternoon, though, for a bitty knight the best way to spend it is...training! Oh, and sometimes stopping to sing songs to his 'family.'
Warnings: Cuteness?

For once Diarmuid is using his cloak as something other than a blanket. Right now, he is carefully spreading it out on the grass so that he can set his new toys on it. With him are three small stuffed animals he got at the end of the festival--two adult swans and a baby one.

"Here is the father swan," Diarmuid carefully sets the first of the adult swans onto the cloak--the one he has picked to represent his foster father, Aengus. He then sets the other adult swan next to the first, this one representing his foster mother, Caer, "And here is the mother swan! And here is the baby swan who isn't lost anymore!" The boy sets the baby swan in front of the two adults and then jumps up and claps his hands happily.

"Now the whole family is together again! Watch me, Father! Watch me, Mother! I'll show you what everyone has been teaching me while I've been away!" The boy bows to the toys and then picks his practice sword up off the ground. He takes a few steps away before starting to practice the new sword moves he's been taught by Suzaku and some of the others who have offered to train him.

He knows that the toys aren't really his family, of course, but over the last few days he's been more homesick than usual and talking to them like they are helps for some reason. Once he's practiced for a while, Diarmuid will sit down by the toys for a rest and to sing some happy songs to his 'family.' After a few songs, he will jump up and start practicing again. Diarmuid isn't really paying attention to anything going on around him, but he will be happy to talk to anyone who approaches him and be even happier should anyone decide they want to train along with him.

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Zack!

[Diarmuid looks up happily when he hears Zack's voice. He waves at the man before giggling and picking up one of the adult swans.]

Did I tell you my Father and Mother Caer can turn into swans? So this is the Aengus swan. That is my father! And this is the Caer swan. That's one of my mothers!

[He sets down the toy he's holding and points to the other adult swan before picking up the baby one and giving it a hug. He then holds it out toward Zack.]

My father calls me 'Little Bird." When I found the toys, this one was hiding under the counter. I'm hiding from father and mother right now so this is me!

[A sad expression fills his eyes and he reaches out to lightly touch the top of of the adult swans' heads.]

I miss Father and Mother. I hope I can stop hiding soon...

[ Ouch. Zack's cheerfully prepared smile falters, but doesn't quite fall until that last bit.

Maybe if he hadn't been forced in the last few months of his life to literally hide from his own parents (both for their sake and his own), the effect of this cute little coping mechanism would've been lessened. As it is, though, he has to admit to a certain level of empathy. There's a world of difference for a kid, but that knowledge doesn't make him regret not being able to properly go home any less, in his somewhat more advanced age.

That's all entirely too heavy for a picnic with swans, though, so he summons up another smile as he falls into a crouch beside the little gathering on the grass - if one a bit less careless. ]

I hope you can, too. It's tough not knowing when you can go home, and it might be a long time you have to be strong for. But it won't be forever.

[Diarmuid nods, his eyes wide. He noticed Zack's smile falter, but he's too young to understand why. He is happy when the man smiles again, though. He doesn't want any of his friends to be sad.]

I know! I need to be strong. Knights are strong!

[He hugs the toy in his arms tight before setting it back down with the others.]

I have been sad the last few days. Maybe it's because some of my friends went home. It made me think of going home too.

Right!

[ Not that he knows a damn thing about what knights are supposed to be, but who cares? That definitely sounds right, so Zack grins, pumping a triumphant fist in the air.

Diarmuid's admission sobers him up again, just as quickly, but this time he manages at least to keep the smile intact. ]

Your friends must be pretty grateful to be home, themselves, though - did you think about that? Even if you might not see them again soon, they're probably just as happy to be with their families as you'd be.

[Diarmuid giggles at the fist pump and then slightly awkwardly mimics it because he's never seen anything like that before and it looks fun.]

Yes! I am sure they are happy to be with their families again. I'm happy for them. I just want everyone to be happy...but a small part of me is sad too.

[His expression grows slightly more serious.]

Is it bad of me to be a little sad, Zack? I know it's selfish, but... It's okay as long as I am most happy they are home with their families, right? I'm not being bad, am I?

[ With every bit as much sincerity, Zack reaches for his shoulder, a hopefully comforting gesture, and shakes his head solemnly. ]

No way. It's okay to miss the people you care about, just as much as you want. It doesn't make you bad to want them back, either.

Being happy for them... Wanting them to be safe, that's the honorable thing to do. But being sad when they're gone is natural, too.

[Diarmuid nods, happiness driving away the solemn look that had been in his eyes.]

Yay! I am honorable! Honor is very important to knights. That means I'm doing good. Father will be proud!

[He claps his hands and then his eyes fall on his practice sword which is sitting nearby. The boy picks it up and then holds it out to Zack.]

Do you want to practice with me, Zack? People are teaching me all kinds of skills. I can't wait to show Father all of them!

I'm sure he will be.

[ Obviously. Who wouldn't be proud to have a kid like Diarmuid?

He doesn't expect the practice sword, though, and there's a flicker of surprise as he leans back on his heels to look it over. Not a toy - but a real, balanced dummy of a weapon. Well- Maybe it would be nice to have some easy, no pressure practice. He honestly can't remember the last time he had a chance.

So, after a thoughtful pause, Zack nods, straightening back up again with a shrug. ]

All right; let's practice. Your training won't be truly complete without a few patented SOLDIER moves thrown in, anyhow.

Thank you!

[Diarmuid jumps up excitedly and gives Zack a big hug. The hug doesn't last long, though because the boy is eager to start practicing. He runs a short distance away from where his toys are and then happily motions Zack over, though, after he does, a curious look crosses his face.]

What is a SOLDIER? Is that what knights are called where you're from?

[ Surprise hugs still throw him off-balance a bit, but he's not the least bit displeased. Grinning genuinely again, Zack follows his lead, safely away from the stuffed audience. ]

I guess you could say that.

[ It's not too far off-base, although fairy tales have given him the general impression that there's a lot more to do with being a knight, specifically. ]

We don't have any castles to defend, but I've fought plenty of dragons. And maybe defended the honor of a few princesses, too.

[Diarmuid's eyes grow wide in awe. In fact, he almost drops his sword because he's so impressed.]

Have you really fought dragons? And saved princesses? That is the kind of thing I will do when I'm a knight! I will keep the Fae things away and make sure that no one who my Lord protects is hurt!

Will you tell me about the dragons you fought sometime? That way if I ever have to fight any, I will know what to do!

[The boy actually would like to hear the story now, but he also wants to see what kind of moves Zack will teach him. It's hard to pick since he wants to do both so badly, but in the end he decides that the stories can wait. After all, he won't be able to make his own stories if he only listens to the stories of others and doesn't do anything else.]

[ That's easily the most flattering response Zack's bragging has gotten - well, probably ever. He laughs, nodding as he props his hands up on his hips, definitely striking a pose. ]

Well... Some pretty cute girls, anyway. But the part about the dragons is the truth; I wouldn't lie about that.

[ Mostly because fighting dragons is generally extremely difficult and unpleasant and takes. for. ever. He's more proud of still being alive after all those Bahamuts than of any particularly smooth tactic he might've employed to keep himself that way. ]

And I'd be happy to tell you about those battles, anytime. Even if you're still a little young to go fighting any real dragons. How about when we break, okay?

[ Because he assumes a kid will get tired a lot faster than he will, and running at the mouth doesn't require much energy, either. ]

[Diarmuid doesn't really hear the first part of what Zack is saying because he's too busy trying to copy the pose Zack just struck. After all, if the man is killing dragons and saving people then he is someone Diarmuid wants to be like because that means he will be a good knight when he grows up. The stance might seem kind of weird, but Diarmuid trusts Zack and his skills.

The boy is distracted from is mimicry, however, by the second part of what Zack says.]

That would be a good way to spend break! I can sing you a song after you tell me the story if you want. That way it will be a fair trade! But for now...

[He brings his little practice sword up into a ready position.]

...it is time to learn! What will you teach me first?

[ All right! Zack snaps into business mode, standing at attention - but the first thing he does is hold out a hand, shaking his head. ]

Your first lesson's not to get ahead of yourself. Before training, you should always take your time and warm up!

[ Which means it's time to be boring and stretch, because nobody likes to drop out of formation with a terrible cramp. And Zack throws in a few enthusiastic squats, for good measure, talking still as he bounces up and down. ]

There's no... Excuse... For being... Unprepared... For practice!

Warm ups? What are those?

[Diarmuid gives Zack a confused look. Especially when he starts doing the squats. The confusion is soon replaced by a fit of giggles, though. The boy tries to hold them back by covering his mouth with his hands because it's not nice to laugh at someone, but the man looks so funny.]

What does moving funny have to do with fighting? How does it help you fight dragons? Does it make the dragons laugh?

[ HOW RUDE. Zack slows to a stop, standing up straight again and crossing his arms over his chest resolutely. (And trying not to laugh, too, because that's totally going to ruin his stern drill instructor air - which doesn't actually exist anywhere outside his own mind, but that's also beside the point.) ]

Hey, who's the ranking officer, here? [ Okay technically not him, either, but. Old habits. ] You'd better believe it when I say warming up is important, no matter how funny you think it looks. If you don't give your muscles a little forewarning, you could strain something really badly, even in practice.

[ And that last part, at least, he does mean sincerely. Launching into another stretch, he moves slowly and demonstratively, this time. ]

Come on, go like this! You'll start to feel the difference right away. [ Don't make him turn this into a proper lecture!! ]

Ah! Yes, Lord!

[Diarmuid stands up straighter and bows to Zack, though he's still giggling slightly as he does.]

You know best! I will listen.

[He watches as Zack starts the next stretch and then tries it after a moment. However, the motion is very unusual for him and he loses his balance, eventually falling over onto his butt. The boy is obviously not hurt, though, because his giggles pick up again.]

I don't have much to stretch. I'm too short!

[ If he were any older, Zack might've taken points off for giggling. But it's probably still okay, at his age.

Besides, Zack can't really bring himself to be bothered by the sound. And he's laughing a little bit, too, when Diarmuid topples over like that.

Dropping out of his own perfectly dignified (but probably ridiculous) pose to lean over and offer him a hand back up, Zack shakes his head again. ]

Don't go at it so hard, okay? You don't have to throw yourself into a stretch. Just go easy, whatever feels natural.

[Diarmuid nods, though he doesn't take Zack's hand right away. Instead, he takes a minute to try and get the rest of his giggles out of his system. Once he does reach up to take the man's hand, he has a more serious look on his face.]

Okay! I will stop playing around now.

[As Zack helps him up, he jumps happily.]

What is the most important stretch to know? Show me that one. I will learn to do it...naturally!

The most important stretch, huh? Well...

[ So he's just going to have to make this up, then, isn't he? WELP.

After a moment's thought, Zack makes his way through as close to a comfortable all-over stretch as he can cobble together, attempting smoothly to make any awkwardness as he works it out look like just another part of the teaching moment, here. This isn't exactly a regulation form, but it ought to do in a pinch. ]

How about that? Think you can do it?

[Diarmuid watches Zack closely, all business now that he has the giggling out of his system.]

That is the most important stretch? It looks like it! What is it called?

[He thinks over the move and then frowns slightly.]

Will you do it again for me please? I want to make sure I get it right! It's not good to practice something incorrectly. I am sure it's not good to stretch incorrectly either! Isn't that right, Zack?

[ He has to think up a name, now, too!? WHERE DOES THE DECEPTION END

Okay, how about: ] It's the, uh, First Class stretch.

[ And he will jump right back into his starting pose. ]

And you're absolutely, one hundred percent right about that! Do it with me, this time, okay?

Okay! Please do it slow so I don't miss anything.

[Diarmuid shuffles around until he is in the same starting position Zack is. He then flashes a wide, excited grin at the man.]

I'm ready! First Class stretch time, go!

Slow and steady! Got it.

[ There's simply no denying that face. The second time around, Zack manages to make his nonsense look almost as practiced as he's pretending it is - which hopefully lends a little to the ease of copying him. ]

[It does and Diarmuid is pretty successful in copying the moves only pausing here and there when his balance gets unsteady. In marked contrast to before, he is very focused, not giggling when he has problems but working them out instead.

It's a pretty impressive amount of focus for one so young.]

And move like that and it's done! How was that Zack? Did I get it all?

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