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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[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?

Pretty good! [ Especially for a first try, but he doesn't want to qualify it like that.

Crossing his arms, Zack takes a step back. There are clearly some balance issues, here (though not anything worse than he'd expect of such a little kid), and figuring out how he's misdistributing his weight might help. ] Why don't you try it one more time, on your own?

Okay!

[Diarmuid takes a moment to set himself and then moves through the stretch again. Surprisingly enough, this time he shows no signs of whatever problems made him wobble before. Apparently, he's a fast learner ~~or naturally gifted with balance~~.

Once he finishes, he throws his hands up in the air and cheers.]

One First Class stretch all done! How was that?

Uh, perfect.

[ And if he sounds impressed, it's because he is. Maybe he shouldn't have second-guessed that focus.

Falling back out of his serious stance, Zack gestures toward the practice sword again. ]

You wanna show me what you've learned with that, now?

Yay!

[Diarmuid cheers again and then runs over to pick up his sword. Once he has, he settles into a ready stance before giving Zack an excited look.]

This move is one Suzaku taught me a little while ago. I still can't do it perfectly, but I'm getting better!

[The boy pauses a moment to make sure Zack is watching and then does the spin kick, sword slash combo that he has been practicing so hard. He wobbles a bit at the end because of the spin, but even so seems happy when he looks back at Zack again.]

See! Isn't it a neat move? Do you know anything like that?

Me? Sure I do.

[ Though he usually employs a little less kicking, but that's not a mark against the move. All in all, it's a better start than he was expecting. ]

But if you want to learn any of my moves, you'll have to start with the basics. A good foundation is a SOLDIER's real strength.

Yes! Basics are important!

[The boy doesn't seem bothered at all at the idea of a slow start to make sure he has a solid foundation to work with.]

I had to break that move into parts to learn it right. The sword slash and the spin!

[Diarmuid takes a moment to show the different parts to Zack.]

See? Basics! I told my friend, Cu Chulainn, that too. I don't think he believed me. If you can't do basics, more complex moves won't work right!

Oh yeah? Your friend sounds like he could use a lecture. Or two.

[ Or ten thousand, because that's about how many it took to hammer home the importance of starting small, to Zack. A much younger Zack, who wouldn't have wasted much time trying to master every complicated attack he could memorize, all at once. ]

I guess I don't have to ask if you know all your sword forms, though, huh?

Edited 2013-08-28 08:00 (UTC)

[Diarmuid shakes his head, eyes wide.]

I don't know many at all! Father had just started teaching me when I was brought here. That is why I am trying so hard to learn. I don't want to be behind when I go back!

[He gives Zack a hopeful look.]

Will you teach them to me? I bet father will be happy if I get back and know them all!

Well, you could have fooled me.

[ In any case, he looks like an exceptionally fast learner, so the thought of doing some real teaching doesn't deter Zack as much as it might have, otherwise. His lack of patience doesn't lend to his skill as an instructor, unfortunately. ]

All right. I'll teach you all the basics, to start! Though I guess it'd be better if I had a practice blade, of my own... Hey, where'd you get yours?

I always make sure to pay close attention! I need to learn quickly if I want to teach my friend.

[Diarmuid looks down at his sword before holding it out toward Zack.]

I don't know where you can get them here. Father made this for me and the let me bring it along. Do you want to use it?

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