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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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?

No thanks. It's a little on the small side, for me.

[ Talk about an understatement. But Zack has not lost hope, yet. He plants his hands on his hips, looking around the open, grassy patch as if trying to get his bearings back. ]

Consider our first lesson on hold until I can get a decent dummy to practice with, too. Then we can start regular training, if you want.

[Diarmuid giggles and nods.]

Father made it special because the other swords were too big for me. Suzaku uses a stick when he trains me, but not everyone's fighting style would work like that. I will wait! Just let me know when you want to start training, Zack, and I will be ready!

Have you looked around District Three? They have all kinds of shops there. I am sure there must be a weapons shop!

I haven't, but thanks for the tip.

[ Or, well, he hasn't looked around for any weapons. But what would any city be, without a weapons shop? ]

I'll let you know as soon as I find something suitable, okay? Then it's going to be non-stop hard work, so you'd better be prepared!

Yes, that is okay!

[Diarmuid bows politely to Zack. When he stands up, his excitement is clear in his eyes.]

Don't worry. I'm not afraid of hard work! I will practice and practice and practice as long as I need to.

Just remember not to wear yourself out, either.

[ Because that's a whole other lecture.

Zack thumps a fist against his chest in salute, then leans over to mess up his hair again with a companionable pat on the head (just for the hell of it). This time, though, he's careful in case of any lurking butterflies. ]

A good attitude and lots of energy go a long way, but you won't get anywhere without taking care of your most important asset.

[Diarmuid leans into the hair tousling and giggles. As if Zack's thinking of it calls it into being, the butterfly appears, not from Diarmuid's hair, but from where it's been resting in amongst the boy's little toy family. The butterfly flutters around Zack a few times before coming to settle on the boy's shoulder.

Can it be trying to say it will make sure the boy takes care of himself? Who knows...]

Don't worry, Zack. I will be careful! I can't practice if I get hurt!

[And there are always those things called naps that tend to happen with small children whether they want them or not.]

[ He spares the butterfly an amused glance, watching it flutter past again in that wobbly way all those big-winged little things have. It makes him think of Aerith, and the flowers - and whether or not any butterflies ever made it that far into Midgar.

Most likely not. Maybe he should have brought some back with him, still in their chrysalides.

It's a nice thought - but not really on point. ]

That's right. You and Dia there keep up the good work.

[ And take lots of naps. You don't have to be a small child to do that. Zack's snoring is still somewhat notorious among the troops. ]

We will!

[Diarmuid reaches up and pats his butterfly softly, very careful not to damage its wings. The butterfly seems less worried than the child is.

If butterflies can seem more of less worried about anything...]

Are you going to stay and watch me practice, Zack? If you need to go, it's okay. I will probably stop and get something to eat soon.

Nah, that's all right. I'll hang around.

[ It's not like the weapons shops are going anywhere - and he wasn't, really, either. His life could use another dose of unmitigated positivity, from time to time. ]

Should I go sit with the birds?

[Diarmuid nods, rocking back and forth on his feet happily. As he does, the butterfly takes off from his shoulder to return to its spot by the toys. It actually settles on one of the adult swans--the one that Diarmuid had picked to represent his father.]

You can, or you can stand or sit by the tree. I am just happy you are staying for a little while longer!

[The boy suddenly runs over and motions for Zack to bend down so he can hug him again before going back to his practicing.]

[ Oh boy, more hugs? If he wasn't feeling better, before, he definitely is now. After only an instant of confusion at the gesture, Zack recognizes the request for what it is and bows down with a laugh.

One of these days, Diarmuid's going to be in serious danger of getting swept up and spun around, or talked into playing airplane, or any number of dorky things Zack can remember particularly enjoying when he was about that size. But, in the interest of not getting him dizzy before he starts practice, he'll get away safely with just a very enthusiastic hug, today. He's better at these when he's not totally disorientated. ]

[Zack will find Diarmuid a very willing participant in that kind of playing whenever the man decides to give into that urge. While he loves practicing, playing is also something he enjoys as much as any boy his age would.

He will especially enjoy playing airplane since he loves anything that gets him up high.

For now, though, he takes full advantage of Zack's hug before finally stepping away a safe way to practice.]

Thank you, Zack! Now watch me and make sure you tell me if there is anything I need to do differently!

[Diarmuid then starts practicing his spin kick again. He will also work on some basic sword skills he has learned, but before he gets too tired, he wants to practice the harder move a bit more.]

You got it.

[ Retiring to take his seat with the swans and their butterfly supervisor, for the moment, Zack settles down to observe. It's actually kind of a pleasantly familiar exercise (even if he's never been accompanied by a bug and a handful of cute stuffed animals, before); he oversaw plenty of training exercises, at the height of his relatively short-lived military career.

Of course, it's much easier to critique one little kid than it is a whole platoon.

Every now and then, he offers up a "Straighten out that arm" or "Widen your stance when you do that," though he's careful not to nitpick. There's definitely a time and a place to be a drill instructor, and here and now he definitely isn't feeling it. ]

[Getting corrected so much might upset older students, but Diarmuid doesn't seem bothered by it at all. In fact, each time Zack corrects him, the boy smiles, nods, and then begins again using whatever suggestion he has been given. Diarmuid is very happy to have the help. However, he is still young and very soon his energy starts running out. He's been at this for several hours after all. He makes a few more sword swings and then stops, letting his sword drop to his side.]

I think that is it for today. Did I seem like I was getting better?

[ It's hard for Zack to imagine anybody not jumping at the chance to teach such an agreeable student, even without a great aptitude for it, himself. He's quick and (better even) he doesn't seem to mind being told which way's up, in the least.

And he knows when to call it quits, which isn't something Zack can - or could ever - boast. He nods, waving Diarmuid over to the little gathering on the grass. ]

Definitely! If you keep practicing like that, you'll be even better than I was, at your age.

Thank you, Zack!

[Diarmuid happily joins Zack sitting over by the toys. As he talks, he picks up the adult swan his butterfly is sitting on and gives it a hug. The butterfly flutters up out of the way and lands on Zack's shoulder for a moment as if it is watching the boy with him.]

I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but someday! I want to make my father be proud of me since he has taken such good care of me. But now I am hungry!

[He giggles and looks up from the swan he's holding.]

Have you eaten lately? Do you want to eat with me?

[ Zack's perfectly happy to be a butterfly roost (he's certainly carried heavier things), making an effort to keep still so as not to disturb Dia. Which is not as easy as it seems, for him, though he can manage to keep from moving one shoulder for a moment (probably).

It only shifts a little when he shrugs his other one, nodding and affecting what he imagines to be a very thoughtful look. ]

I could eat, I guess.

[ Like, always. SOLDIER metabolism is not a thing to be trifled with, either. ]

You guess?

[Diarmuid giggles.]

If you aren't hungry it's okay! I'm not going to make you eat. I'm not a mean father or a scary monster or anything.

[He raises his hands and growls lightly at Zack. After a moment, though, he lets his hands drop.]

I'm not a very scary monster. I guess that is just something I can't do well.

Hey, I was trying to be polite.

[ Or modest or - whatever. Just because he could eat an entire chocobo pretty much any time doesn't mean he has to act like it.

Unfortunately, Diarmuid is so unconcerned with decorum as to think it's perfectly acceptable to act like a monster, too. Hopefully Zack's highly amused laughter will make his disapproval of these shenanigans abundantly clear.

Only, like, the total opposite of that, or something. ]

And with a little more practice, you'd probably make an okay monster. I think I'll prefer the knight, though. So, what's for lunch, anyway?

[Diarmuid giggles when Zack laughs. It always makes him feel good when he can make others smile or laugh.]

I would rather be a knight too! People aren't afraid of knights like they are monsters. I don't want people to be afraid of me.

I don't have a lot in my room, but there is some candy and sandwiches. Will that be okay? We could go buy something if that isn't enough. I'm small so I usually don't eat a lot.

[ Already shaking his head, Zack rises to his feet. ]

Candy and sandwiches? That doesn't sound like much of a meal after a workout like that.

[ And maybe the idea of the kid not having much around the place he's staying by himself bothers him a little, too. Relying on strangers as long as there are so many nice ones around is all well and good, but it isn't really long-term plan. Some grocery shopping might be in order, here. ]

C'mon. We'll go get you some real food. My treat.

It's not...

[Diarmuid looks down feeling slightly embarrassed that those things are all he has to offer since he knows it's not a lot.]

But it is all I can make. The stove is scary and the mic-ro-wave is too! And I am too small to make a fire. Father would be mad if he knew I was making a fire on my own even to cook!

[He looks up and gives Zack a hopeful look.]

Do you know how to cook, Zack? So we can have a real meal? I would like that!

Sure. I'm no five star chef, but I know my way around a stove.

[ And a campfire somewhat better, but this isn't really the right setting for camping. He's cooked at least as much for himself, over the years, as he's avoided cooking for himself, though - even with a great deal of mako-induced resilience, eating healthy is a principle he's had ground into him for years. (Not that he always heeds that sage advice, but he makes an effort.)

He gestures to the swans, smiling back at that hopeful expression. ]

You wanna gather up the family before we go?

Yes, please! I don't want to leave them behind!

[Diarmuid kneels down and carefully wraps up his toys in the cloak they have been sitting on. As he does, his butterfly flutters up off them and disappears into the boy's hair. Once he's done, Diarmuid gathers the bundle and his practice sword into his arms. He then giggles and looks up at Zack.]

It might be a good idea if we stop at my room so I can drop them off. My arms are kind of full! I won't be able to help you carry anything like this!

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