1;

[twofoldfury]

WHO: Diarmuid and Waver, then Diarmuid and YOU WITH THE FACE!!
WHERE: A Labyrinth, The Network, Around Town, particularly the outskirts
WHEN: 7/20, 7/21, Generally late July
WHAT: Arrival
WARNINGS: Stuff being on fire and warped reality, this will change.


i. lost in your own mind (locked to Waver)

[His star faded. He returned to the Throne of Heroes. No thought remained in the oblivion of non-existence.

And yet Diarmuid’s eyes shot open, seeing the sky filled with ash and tinged orange and red. The atmosphere unbearably warm while he jolted to a sitting position, necessitating him to get onto his feet as fire spread around him.

It was like a nightmare. And the more he sprinted through, lances in hand, the more the layout returned to his memory. Or rather, parts of the layout as it seemed warped beyond measure.

Fuyuki. Excalibur. Enuma Elish.

Do as you believe is right.

A star worth chasing.

The last thing he remembered hearing from his Master. Everything rushed back but he could not afford to hesitate here. The deeper into Fuyuki’s forest parts of it, assumedly in his haste, looked familiar in a different way. Familiar from his life as a human.

From Ireland. From his hunt all those years ago. Diarmuid blinked once before it returned to Fuyuki. A trick of the light? Something to shake him on purpose?

No… no it didn’t matter. It shook him to his very core. But he needed to move out of this fire.

He needed to find his Master.]

Master...! Can you hear me?!

ii. voice; un: goldenrose

[A dignified and smooth voice is on your feed today, Libra app! Only his voice, though that alone gave the veneer of a face that matched. Of someone very handsome.]


I’m told this Libra network is how most communications are handled easily. I’ve never encountered this technology before, I ask for patience while I fumble with it. Nevertheless, I thought I would take the time to introduce myself and lay my cards on the table.

I am Diarmuid ua Duibhne, first spear of the Fianna.

I’d like to know more about this city from the perspectives of you all. I’d be grateful if you could tell me something you find noteworthy, or perhaps something you find interesting. Anything you have to say is worthy of contribution and I shall bear it all in my mind. I have a second opportunity at life here and I want to make the most of it.

Thank you all kindly.

iii. the other option

[At some point between his texting endeavor and his labyrinth, Diarmuid is literally going to take all the time he needs to painstakingly make a mental map of what parts of the city he can. Even as night fell on occasion within some days of his arrival he can be found just about anywhere.

At just about any altitude as well, check your rooftops cryptids.

During any downpours, however, he will be found taking shelter in establishments or under awnings.

Also, he's wearing sunglasses.]

Comments

[lapislazily]

I've always enjoyed listening to stories, and your tale hails from a much simpler time here on Earth. I think you'll find most people are relatively clueless when it comes to the past, however.

[He needs to do a better job as a history teacher next school year.]

It's safe to assume that some of the fae live among us, but they keep to themselves like others of a supernatural nature: werewolves, vampires, and the like. They can all live relatively normal lives here if given a chance and prefer to be left alone.

The fae visited before my deployment here, so that makes it about four months ago.

[He touches his chin, thinking.] Hmm... information can be shared with one another almost instantly, which you've figured out. Medicine has advanced considerably in the past two thousand years, and travel across the sea takes hours instead of months.

[twofoldfury]

I understand completely as a man fond of stories myself. My name is more well known among those either from my home land or avid myth seekers. [Celtic myth lore hyperfixaters, where you at?]

Four months and their influence still lingers. [Again, there was apprehension in his tone but he can't really be blamed for it all things considered. Werewolves and vampires existing as well given the fact that he was 1. Alive and 2. Here were barely footnotes in his surprise at this point.] If all these supernatural beings seek is peace, that will be granted. I'm not the sort of man who would disrupt another person's life with conflict if I can avoid it.

[The Holy Grail War was bad enough in that sense, even if it was kept proverbially underground save for two notable exclusions.]

Aha, I thank you for explaining the furthest advancements but I should clarify. The last memories I have cut off in the early 1990's. Within the past over thirty years the world has evolved just as drastically and I'm in the adjustment period.

You know my name, but who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?

[lapislazily]

You are an honorable man, just as the legends spoke of. [He's certainly charmed. It's been a long time since he spoke to someone with manners.]

Ah, my apologies for assuming. Yes, there have been some changes since the late 20th century. You've already acquainted yourself with newer, more widespread cellphones. On a grander scale, there are cars that run fully on electrical power and they're relatively common. Vegetarian and vegan options have become more mainstream in Western cuisine.

Politically, there have not been any global conflicts quite on the scale of World War II, but that has not stopped smaller wars from breaking out; the States recently left the Middle East after 20 years. If you are someone who longs to see all of Ireland freed from the monarchy, I must disappoint you; Northern Ireland still belongs to the United Kingdom.

[Sorry for the tl;dr, Dia.]

My name is Zhongli. I'm a professor of history at the university, and also a member of the Black Order. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[twofoldfury]

I dare say I wouldn't be myself without my honor. [Imagine not having manners, couldn't be him.

As for the tl;dr, hey, he appreciates being kept in the loop of current events. The phone on its own would take him some time to get used to, but knowledge he could store and use to know what to expect.

AKA, Congrats Zhongli you've found another man whose ear you can talk off and he won't say shit unless on another assignment. Old Man Solidarity, kind of.]

There is quite a lot I need to adjust to. Thank you for your information, and it's good to meet you Professor Zhongli.

[Considering Waver works at the college, he'll surely see a lot of this man but something here gave him pause.]

The Black Order?

[lapislazily]

[A warm chuckle.] I could say much the same.

[He'll take this victory since a class full of college kids doesn't want to listen to him usually.]

If there is anything specific that comes up in your research that puzzles you, feel free to ask. Though you may have knowledge from the past century, I imagine that being almost two millennia out of your element must be disorienting.

[Oh, yes.]

The Black Order is an organization that handles threats to sacred locations. They have a partnership with Zodiac, the company behind this app and leader of most of the operations into the Spirit Realm. Because of that partnership, they're allowed to monitor the situation with the Spirit Vein and have access to Libra. Sometimes they work in tandem with the people of Kaisou to take care of trouble.

You'll find that most people in Kaisou are either visitors from another realm, like yourself, or people who awoke to the supernatural and began remembering their past lives only after being in Kaisou. The Black Order and POKEGO, by contrast, consist of people who have remembered their past lives for a while.

[twofoldfury]

We're of the same mind, then. I'll be sure to come to you if anything stumps me.

[He could get along with an honorable man. So long as that held to scrutiny. As the Black Order is explained to him, however, the expression behind the voice dropped. Zodiac's trustworthiness was already called into question by Waver, but this Order while their goal was surely that of preservation as Zhongli said, sounded suspicious.]

Are these sacred locations related to the Gates that appear here on a monthly basis? Or the Gates themselves? How are these threats handled by your organization?

[He wasn't being openly accusatory, just wanted to get a better idea to see if his instinctual unease was warranted or not.]

POKEGO is another organization within this world, I assume. I've been told a few things about people remembering their past lives here, but is it a common phenomenon?

[lapislazily]

Occasionally yes. So long as there is a source of power there will always be those who wish to use it for their own selfish purposes. The very phenomenon that brought you here is because someone formerly of POKEGO used the power of the gods to attempt the forbidden. Since then, the nature of 'reality' has been unstable.

I can't go into detail about the methods. I can only tell you that I do not agree with their judgment in every situation, nor will I make excuses for the things that the Order has done.

It's highly irregular to begin remembering one's past life. Before the Spirit Vein in Kaisou began to deteriorate, we numbered very few. The Black Order, and to a lesser extent POKEGO, have historically been the only people to turn to when something goes wrong in the supernatural realm. With Zodiac, however, it's added an element of freedom of choice... A choice that some of us did not have.

[twofoldfury]

As has been so since the dawn of man. I understand the necessity of such an organization, but I wanted to know in what detail I could to what extent you all go for your goal. I appreciate you telling me what you can.

[It hit him harder than he showed. Knowing that orders must be followed regardless of what moral standing one stood upon. He came dangerously close to being in such a situation and shuddered to imagine manifesting before a man like Kayneth Archibald.

And his life as a human, well.]

[lapislazily]

[He nods. They speak the same language, except maybe not literally because Zhongli only ever learned the Irish for 'hello' and 'goodbye' in passing.]

The solutions that come down from above sometimes trend toward the extreme. However, I can tell you that Jusis is a good man, and he does what he can to protect both Kaisou's people and his own.

Still, a modicum of caution would not go awry when interacting with the Order in general. I think it's fair to judge us individually by what we do rather than what we say.

[twofoldfury]

[More than Diarmuid knew of Chinese, but the language of shared ideal was universal.]

I suspected as much. Your Order's actions have no bearing upon you all as people, that much I know. You, of course, have shared nothing but the truth of their actions, ugly though they may be. You are honest and as honorable as you claim, Professor Zhongli.

Jusis. I'll keep his name in mind. If it means protecting the people here, I'd like to lend my aid where I can separate from your business.

[lapislazily]

[He isn't expecting to be called honorable and honest, considering most people tend to get their hackles up when they hear who he works for, so it's a pleasant surprise.]

... I am bound to them by a contract. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Just in case Diarmuid wasn't already feeling a bit sus of what was going on—]

The city is always in need of more aid. When one leak is plugged another will burst open. At times it may feel insurmountable, but I have seen the way people across all factions can work together and make real change.

I would fight alongside you in the future, should it come to that. It's been some time since I met a master of the spear as well.

[twofoldfury]

[We don't always choose our employers, and sometimes we need to choose them for personal reasons.]

... I understand. [Though to think too deeply on it made his stomach turn. For a mercy, because Zhongli said there was only so much he could speak of Diarmuid is not yet prying.

This just meant the possibility the Black Order and himself would be at odds was not 0%. He respected even the enemy so long as they weren't outright evil and Zhongli didn't have that vibe.]

With enough people cooperating, anything can be surmounted. The fact you all remain standing is proof enough of that.

[To say he didn't perk up at hearing that Zhongli was another spear user would be a lie. Curiosity piqued, good sir, more than you already have.]

Haha, you'll have both my spears on your side no matter what obstacles Kaisou will face in the next few weeks.

[lapislazily]

[He's so glad he doesn't have to explain. He's tired of retreading that old road, not that he'd offer his exact circumstances to a near-stranger, but so many people here underestimated the power of agreements. So many people failed to understand that one's word is valuable currency if it is spent well, even moreso when one used to be the God of Contracts.]

Indeed. I had my doubts at first, of course, but I soon saw the lengths they'd go for one another.

[Takes an old relic to know one, or something.]

That is a great comfort. Though I hope you'll forgive me if I'm more interested in watching you fight than immediately running to the front lines. I've always preferred using the spear above all other weapons—not only for its power, but its grace and flexibility to adapt to nearly any situation.

[Also if you stab a giant sea monster with like 10 of them and each one is the size of a mountain, it tends not to get back up again.]

[twofoldfury]

[Relic to relic conversation.]

You're certainly welcome to do so, however I am just as interested to see the way that you handle a spear. It's been a long time since I witnessed another spearman who understands its nuance in action. I'd be curious to see how we compare.

[SWORD ON A STICK, SWORD ON A STICK?]

[lapislazily]

[Zhongli curls his hand beneath his chin, considering.]

... I'm not one for unnecessary violence, but a friendly spar would not go amiss. Perhaps when things have settled, if you are amenable?

[It's been so long and all he's dueled against are his own students, which is hardly fair.]

I have no doubt I'll be easily bested by a great hero, but the mere opportunity would be enough to satisfy me.

Voice | UN: makeitaventi

[venti_late]

[Venti has been following this ever since they started talking about spears.]

Would you two lovely gentleman mind an audience if you're gonna spar in the future? It'll be quite the treat to see a couple of masters in their element.

[He knows exactly what he's doing and saying.]

[lapislazily]

[Venti, why must you make everything sound dirty????]

... If it's you, I suppose I wouldn't mind.

[twofoldfury]

[Because he's a bard, probably.]

If you have no issue with it, it's fine by me as well.

[venti_late]

[Diarmuid is exactly right. Get with the program, Zhongli!]

Excellent! And not to worry if you hurt each other on accident. I can heal you.

[This is said more like an afterthought. He gets a show, they get an emergency healer. Sounds like a win-win!]

un: silverrose

[fionnuisce]

now hold on a goddamn minute



i better be invited too, i'm sure as hell not missing this

[lapislazily]

[????????]

I was not aware you had an interest in the spear, Professor Velvet.

[Zhongli is gonna be the last person to find out they know each other, which tracks honestly.]

[fionnuisce]

[zipzoop they have MATCHING USERNAMES]

you could say i have a vested interest in two specifically.

[lapislazily]

[Bold of you to assume he reads those.]

Okay... [You're gonna have to be more specific than that.] I have the distinct feeling that I am missing some context. I don't mind having you among the audience, but I struggle to understand why you would care to watch us specifically.

[fionnuisce]

[he will never understand why you're like this]

Because Diarmuid is my knight. It's been a decade since I've had a chance to see those lances at work, and I'm looking forward to witnessing it again.

private

[drewthetower]

Waver please tell me you know how this sounds