⚔ 020; [action]

[croibhristeoir]

[Diarmuid's been a bit scarce since the Lovers shadow was defeated. The whole mess gave him something of a shock, all things considered, and so he kept mostly to himself for a little while. But he grew tired of that quickly, and now that things had calmed down the former Servant tried to get back to what passed for normal.]

[Just before he left his hotel room that afternoon, a hardcover book resting on the table caught his eye--how long had he owned it for? Nearly as long as he'd been in Prospero, surely. In fact he recalled buying it not very long after awakening his Persona. Diarmuid wanted to revisit things, to again hear the legends that had been so commonly told when he was younger. He had admired the strength and loyalty of that knight, as well as the courage to meet his end with laughter and acceptance.]

[But in this era, the legend of the Hound of Ulster was not the only one to have come from their homeland. Diarmuid had left his own story behind, written with every small action he'd taken in life. Maybe it was finally time to see what sort of record was left behind.]

['You are not guilty of the geis which has been laid upon you', said Oisin, 'and I tell you to follow Grainne, and keep yourself well against the wiles of Fionn.'

'And what counsel do you give me, Diorruing?'

'I tell you to follow Grainne, though your death will come of it and I grieve for it.']

[It was not a happy tale. Diarmuid had certainly known that even as he lived through it. From the very first night he and all around him had known the story's end was already written. But what more could he have done? From the moment she laid eyes on him, there was no other path he could follow and still preserve his pride as a knight.]

['It was no long time after that when Fionn and the fianna of Erin came up, and the agonies of death and of instant dissolution were then coming upon Diarmuid.

'It likes me well to see thee in that plight, O Diarmuid,' said Fionn; 'and I grieve that all the women of Erin are not now gazing upon thee: for thy excellent beauty is turned to ugliness, and thy choice form to deformity.']

[...Even if it ended badly. No, it didn't matter how it ended. Death had come with no regrets great enough worth mentioning, and oh, how he ever missed the days when he could forgive so easily.]

[Sitting alone on a park bench, Diarmuid closed the book he held and slowly reached up to take his glasses off. A moment or two passed in silence, his expression unreadable and perhaps even a little cold. Then...he just smiled to himself, slowly. There was no way to change his past, and also nothing he would have done differently. He couldn't live up to his full expectations, but Diarmuid had confidence that he'd done his best. So...it was alright. He could try one last time for a life without a tragic ending.]

Comments

[truthsnomiracle]

Given his presence and the possibility of others misjudging you, I disagree. Only through the truth can matters improve.

[croibhristeoir]

I am not concerned with Kayneth's presence in this place. If I survived dealing with Fionn a second time here, I can tolerate him.

As for my reputation, I hardly care for what others think of me. I allow my actions to speak for themselves and they will believe simply what they will.

[truthsnomiracle]

Then it seems that I've learned more about you today than I expected to. I hadn't expected someone as social to feel the same way.

[croibhristeoir]

Social? I am not sure I follow--while I do not go out of my way to befriend everyone I meet, I suppose I can not say the opposite either.

[truthsnomiracle]

I typically prefer solitude.

[Edgeworth then frowns in mild confusion.]

[croibhristeoir]

I see--hm? Is there something wrong?

[truthsnomiracle]

I merely find something puzzling.

[croibhristeoir]

And what is that?

[truthsnomiracle]

Why am I not averse to the idea of spending unnecessary time with you?

1/2

[croibhristeoir]

[Beat.]

[croibhristeoir]

[And then he's just...going to quietly laugh at you for a second, Edgeworth.]

Because we're friends, I would expect.

[truthsnomiracle]

Huh. Normally people simply declare themselves such without my consent -- sometimes for the better, sometimes not.

[croibhristeoir]

[He kept right on smiling at that.]

Do you not think that we are?

[truthsnomiracle]

[Slowly, an awkward near-smile comes to Edgeworth's lips.]

I... suppose so.

[croibhristeoir]

[Diarmuid gave a bright and cheerful smile in response, laughing quietly.]

I'm glad to hear that.

[truthsnomiracle]

[Edgeworth is silent, and it isn't long before that silence grows awkward.]

(As much as I may be inclined to continue to make my point, it seems somehow inappropriate to continue to make the attempt now...)

[croibhristeoir]

...hm? Is there some sort of problem?

[truthsnomiracle]

Er... it, um, merely seems awkward to continue to present my assessment of your legend under the circumstances.

[croibhristeoir]

I find nothing awkward about it.

[Said the person who wouldn't know an awkward social situation for a normal one if it beat him over the head.]

Please, continue if you wish to.

[truthsnomiracle]

[This is probably some of why it works.]

Ah. Well, then... as you've mentioned, legends have a tendency to distort with time. It's entirely possible that outside of any context, one might mistakenly consider Grainne's... spell over you to be one of these distortions, intended to make you appear more sympathetic than you actually were -- hence the mistaken preconception that you weren't to be trusted.

[croibhristeoir]

...oh. Yes, I suppose that would make logical sense.

[truthsnomiracle]

Even when one cares little for the opinions of others, it never hurts to be informed.

[croibhristeoir]

You are probably right, yes. Though I wonder how differently things would have ended if Kayneth had but trusted the word of his own knight.

[truthsnomiracle]

Though we might wonder for ages, it's too late to change the past. All we can do is face our future armed with the truth.

[croibhristeoir]

Yes, I know. I can not change anything that I have done, but...that is alright. Because I am incredibly thankful it has led me here.