Application: Pandora's Box

[otherwise_proven]

☆ Player Info
Player} JenniO (armistice_day)
Age} More than old enough to know better.
Contact} PLurk @ xix degrees
Other Characters} N/A

☆ Character Info
Character Name} Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin (ua Duibhne)
Series} Fate/Zero AU
Canon Point} Shortly before Diarmuid is kidnapped by the Mage's Association (see below: AU History).
Age} Mid 20s
History} Nasuverse Canon, Mythical Canon
AU History}
(In this section, I will be directly referencing the AU Canon set out in tenured's application.)

Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin is a reincarnation of the mythical figure of Diarmuid ua Duibhne himself.
As in this AU, Kayneth Archibald did not participate in the the events of the Fourth Grail War, and so did not summon the Heroic Spirit of Diarmuid ua Duibhne to be his Servant-- so Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin/ua Duibhne has never been a Servant, he carries no Curse or Geis, and never suffered the trials and betrayals of the Fourth Grail War as set out in Fate/Zero canon.
Though patterns and persons from his unconscious past may reveal themselves in his life, those patterns belong to his essential self, they represent core archetypes and ideals-- the persons are drawn to him, and he to them, through the spiritual energy of Prana, which seeks and attracts itself.
Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin is, in every respect, a free man and a distinct individual.

Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin had an ordinary sort of Irish childhood.
Born and raised In Donnegal, he grew up well-loved in a solidly lower middle class, Catholic household-- surrounded by his brothers and sisters and various extended family, including his uncle Áengus, with whom he was especially close. A bright middle child of serious disposition, Diarmuid developed the habit (probably under the influence of his favorite uncle, who was brilliant at it) of telling himself stories for his own amusement-- eventually, he began writing them down, and thus a lifetime habit of journal keeping was begun. That sort of thing often leads to poetry, as proved true in Diarmuid's case. By the time he was ready for secondary school, Diarmuid's dream was to be a serious poet, a real writer, and to live the life he felt such a dream demanded. Preferably somewhere suited to such a Romantic pursuit. Somewhere like Paris.

An ordinary sort of childhood is no guarantee of an ordinary outlook, or an ordinary life, however. Something of a free spirit, good at sport as well as poetry, and good-looking as well, Diarmuid, was well liked by nearly everyone he knew. He dated girls his own age casually, but not callously, and tried his best to put the confusing thoughts he'd had about some of his male friends to the back of his mind. But drama comes into even then simplest life, and it came to Diarmuid in the form of a couple, friends of his-- Fionn and Grainne. Fionn, who was a year or two older, he knew from Youth Boxing-- and Grainne he knew because she was Fionn's girlfriend. Involvement with a couple is tricky in the best of circumstances, and those circumstances are rarely found among three teenagers. Between Diarmuid's feelings for Fionn, Grainne's feelings for Diarmuid, and Fionn's feelings primarily about himself, what began awkwardly ended badly for all concerned.
Though his family hardly took it easily, they weren't all that shocked when Diarmuid announced his intention to leave home (with just his savings from his after school job and prizes he'd won), to go to live in Paris (though he hardly spoke any French) and to live there as a poet (well, his poems were grand, anyway). Diarmuid was done with school, and, at least temporarily, done with Home.

The unknowingly reincarnated son of Donn arrived in Paris only to fall in love with the city at first sight-- and the city seemed to return his affection. He gravitated towards and settled in the Latin Quarter, located in the 6th arrondissement, and through sheer good fortune (helped along by his abundance of natural charm and remarkable good looks ) got himself a job as a waiter at a small bistro. Securing a living situation was another matter, but an opportunity presented itself in the form of a fellow ex-pat and boxer by the name of Séafra Connolly (out of Dublin by way of Ulster, Cu Chulainn himself reincarnated). Though they got off to a bit of a rocky start, the two quickly became the best of friends, and Diarmuid spent no small amount of time on the other man's couch-- and then, for a while, as his official flatmate.
Once on his feet, Diarmuid set about making a life. Between waiting tables and achieving some small success as a poet, he was able to support himself (and to get his own flat), and the city itself offered him new people and places, a space in which to grow.

So, Diarmuid grew. As a writer, and as an individual. Coming to terms with his bisexuality was a bit easier than he thought it would be, but Paris was worlds away from Donnegal, which no doubt played a large part in this self-acceptance. Well-liked, he dated a few men and not a few women, but never felt the urge to truly take any of his relationships to a more serious plane. Not that he was as carefree as his friend Séafra, but something in him seemed to be waiting, searching for someone to whom he could give everything and for whom he could be everything.

As Fate would have it, this person turned out to be one of the least popular, most difficult patrons at his place of work-- well, for his fellow waiters, anyhow. Of a natural inclination to be eager to please, and also being an excellent waiter with an unforced charm, Diarmuid found it easy to manage the man where all others had failed. Kayneth Archibald (artiste and professor) quickly became one of Diarmuid's regulars. Always sat in his section by request, the man ordered nearly the same thing every day-- and Diarmuid saw him nearly every day. What began as a regular, transactional relationship progressed into a curious friendship colored with a mutual, unspoken attraction. Unspoken particularly by Kayneth (who, as it turns out, thought Diarmuid straight and uninterested), but obvious to Diarmuid, who knew very well by now when someone fancied him. It took a while to manage, but in the end, Diarmuid got just what he'd wanted when Kayneth finally confessed. In his inimitable fashion, of course.
He's been many things to Kayneth, an acquaintance, an object of lust, a friend, a lover-- but he has never been the man's servant nor beholden to him in any way. Both protective of and possessive of the man, he considers himself Kayneth's equal, his partner. Different strengths combining to make a working whole.
Even though the bit about Kayenth being a Wizard Magus took a bit of adjusting to.

Happily settled, and having been living with Kayneth for a few years now, Diarmuid is content. He has his work and his friends, and he has Kayneth.
It's hard for Diarmuid to imagine anything changing that.

Personality}
Diarmuid's defining traits and motivations hark back to those that defined him in his past life. Some can conflict with each other-- for instance, Diarmuid's urge toward self-expression can come up hard against his desire to please those he cares for. While some are relatively complimentary-- his romantic ideals and are served well by his work ethic and eagerness to prove himself against challenges he encounters. Choosing to leave his family and home behind in order to follow his heart was a difficult thing for Diarmuid, but he was determined to have a real try at the life he truly wanted.
Of course, determination and will can also turn to stubbornness. He's mellowed a bit with age, but Diarmuid can be quite headstrong-- sometimes against his own best interests. Not one to take advice that he feels might let him off the hook, and unable sometimes to see past plans he's made to a better way, he can make things harder on himself than they need to be. He needs occasional reminding that seeking and accepting help are not bad things.

Being a young man living in the 1990s, and not an ancient warrior-knight of semi-divine provenance, Diarmuid lacks the binding commitments to chivalry and fealty that his past-self bore in life. He is a man of his word, and values kindness, open-heartedness, and loyalty in others as well as himself, but doesn't live by any code save his own conscience-- which seems to serve him well.
As well-liked as the hero for whom he is named, Diarmuid is a steadfast friend with a clever wit and a streak of easy humor. Confident in his abilities without being arrogant, he values the respect of those he respects, and since (unlike his past-life counterpart) he is not beholden to anyone but himself, feels no need to prove himself to or against anyone-- save himself.
At his most unlikable, Diarmuid can be fatalistic and judgmental-- his standards for those he is close to are high, and as he fears failing others, he fears being failed by others as much. Once one finds oneself in Diarmuid's black books, it's difficult indeed to have one's name struck out.

Unlike his past-self, Diarmuid isn't doomed by harsh codes of obedience or controlled by curses and the desires of others-- though he can be somewhat blind to their motivations at times. This blindness led to the early disaster that was his ill-fated love triangle with Fionn and Grainne. But where in his past life he was constrained by law, custom, and magics that led to his eventual doom, in his own life, Diarmuid recognized his error in judgement and made a clean break with his past mistakes. He lacks the burden of betrayed loyalty carried by both mythical Diarmuid and his Grail War projection. Diarmuid learns from his mistakes and eventually moves on, he isn't made to suffer and die for clinging to them, never able to learn to see past his own choices.
The choices of others are another matter. At times, secure in his own judgement of a situation, Diarmuid can put his faith in unworthy people or ideas-- or be blinded by a lack of understanding of a choice another person has made. Coupled with his stubbornness, this trait can lead to issues in relationships. Diarmuid does learn from his mistakes and move past them, but its often a more painful process than it has to be-- it's hard for Diarmuid to admit to a misjudgment, and to cut his losses.

A serious young man overall, Diarmuid shares other aspects of his temperament with his past self, as well. He's of an athletic bent, and enjoys the art and science of close combat-- in this case expressed as boxing. The art of perfecting spear work is a meditative pursuit, and present-day Diarmuid finds boxing much the same-- though of course he also enjoys the rush and physical challenges that come around in the ring. Willing to push himself to his personal limits, Diarmuid puts nearly as much of his heart into his boxing as he does his poetry.
Arguably the most important thing in Diarmuid's life (barring Kayneth), Diarmuid's poetry receives the bulk of his time and energy outside his relationship. Waiting tables, modeling for life-drawing classes, socializing with friends, giving Kayneth a real run for his money at chess-- all this he can do in his sleep. More or less.
Poetry can be a harsh mistress, and so Diarmuid prefers to keep her happy. Though he does at times let other connections slip a bit in her favor.
A refuge from a busy household when he was a child, writing on his own is what Diarmuid likes best. When he occasionally becomes absent or self-absorbed, more lost in his private world than others close to him would like him to be, they usually let him know. Considering those closest to him, the reminders aren't usually all that gentle. One of the downsides of being a dreamer.

Diarmuid, as ever, is a remarkably handsome young man with, as the legend has it, quirky, longish hair combed backward in a rough fashion-- but unlike his past-self, he has no beauty mark with which to charm women. Not that he needs one.
A definite Romantic who loves beauty and enjoys a flirtation (though he really only flirts heavily with those in whom his interest is serious), Diarmuid attracts admirers of all sorts, from all walks of life-- but at heart, he wants what his past-self wanted, and what he himself had as a child. Domestic happiness-- the peace and beauty of a mutual and accepting love. Odd as it might seem to his friends (and it does seem odd), Diarmuid has found what he wants in Kayneth. A mutual admiration (one that might tend a bit toward mutual obsession, but isn't destructive), a domestic happiness, a deep understanding.
Even if Kayneth can be a bit "much" sometimes. No one is perfect. Thank goodness.

Not even Diarmuid, who believes he often knows best and has a temper that takes slights poorly-- which isn't always the best thing, considering the company he keeps.
His ability to hold a grudge when he's really put out is legendary among those who know him well. Fortunately, it's a rare enough occurrence.
His judgement isn't perfect, and when he knows he's been an arse or just been wrong, he'll say so sincerely and with all apologies-- it just a matter of when he'll come around.

Diarmuid ua Duibhne, First Warrior of the Fianna, when given a wish, envisioned a small house overlooking the ocean. A simple, tranquil place, a pure ideal. In the end, he lost what peace he had in life to the conditions and loyalties and choices of others.
Diarmuid Ó Ruadháin is a free man. There are no gods any longer, nor any kings, nor curses (that he knows of), and so he is free to give his loyalty, his trust, his love, where he may. He is free to choose and to be chosen, unfettered and alive.

Abilities}
Diarmuid is an exceedingly normal young man in every respect. Though he boxes on an amateur level as a hobby and so is very fit, he has no special skills or powers. If Kayneth Archibald, in his capacity as a Magus, is able at some point to unlock Diarmuid's latent/past life memories, he may be capable of supersoldier-esque levels of strength, endurance, and stamina, but he will acquire no magical powers, as Diarmuid ua Duibhne had none himself. Neither will Diarmuid be cursed, as he is not a Servant but a reincarnation of a mythical figure whose own curse died with his physical death-- he has lived his own, entirely human life.

Baggage} Diarmuid will arrive with the clothes on his back, his current writing journal (a thick, hard-covered blank book, spiral bound), and a pen he's particularly fond of.
Notes} N/A
Sample} MuseBox Thread, Test Drive, Test Drive