touchscreens | [Video] To Cherish the Time...

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[Video] To Cherish the Time...

[This face usually isn't found on the Network for two reasons. One is because he is only barely knows how to use the Network. Not only is he young, but from far in the past. If a person wants to talk to another where he is from, they just go and talk to them. They don't use a strange machine to do it.

And two, those strange machines really require one to know how to read to use them fully, and that is something Diarmuid is still learning how to do. Devin took the time to show him how to use the video feed shortly after he arrived, though, and so it is a video he is currently making after a bit of fiddling around with the buttons.

Diarmuid is obviously distressed. He's trying to seem strong, but his eyes are red and his cheeks damp. It's clear he's been crying and might be close to doing it again. The boy opens his mouth to speak, but as he does, a whine sounds. He turns away from the camera and reaches down to pat his puppy, Grey, on top of the head.]

Don't worry. It will be okay. I won't go away and leave you.

[For a few moments, Diarmuid seems to have forgotten he is recording a video and just spends time comforting Grey. Of course, maybe he's taking the time to comfort himself as well considering how shaky his voice is. However, he does finally turn back to the camera.]

I-I know knights are suppose to be strong b-but...

[He reaches up to wipe a tear away from eyes.]

Can we do something? Something to celebrate everyone who has left here? I just lost another friend and I-I...

[Tears start slipping down his face more freely. For a moment, it seems like Diarmuid is going to end the message, but then he continues. Even though he's crying and his voice is shaking, there is determination in his eyes.]

I want to celebrate the time we had here instead of being sad they are gone! Will anyone help me? Please?

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Yes. Though I think it may work better if I tell you in person. Where are you?

Thank you, Lord September.

[The boy gives him a bow.]

I am at the terminal near Building 3. Would it help if I went to wait by the door into the Building to wait for you?

There is no need. The terminal is easy to find. I will be there shortly.

[With that, he cuts the connexion because, well, he hasn't quite learnt that one says 'goodbye' before hanging up.]

[There isn't long to ponder this abruptness, however. When he said he'd be there shortly, he meant it. Ordinarily he would not be so cavalier with his ability to move instantaneously in time and space, but it already went haywire on him and landed him in random places with witnesses. There was no point in secrecy, now.]

[So, about three seconds later, he just appears about five feet away, space parting easily and quietly around him and then sealing back up behind him just as quietly. As though walking out of a cloud of smoke or a fog, really.]

[As September appears, Diarmuid is just getting up from the terminal meaning to move to the front of it so he is easier to find. Grey yips happily when he sees September, drawing Diarmuid's attention to the man.]

Wow!

[Diarmuid makes his way over to September.]

That was fast! You must be feeling lots better!

[That is good. Just because he is sad about having lost other friends, doesn't mean Diarmuid isn't still thinking about his friends who are still here.]

Thank you for coming.

I am, yes.

[There's a short pause as he considers what came to mind. Then he carefully gets down onto his knees and reaches out, putting his arms around the small boy.]

I suspected you might need this.

[It's the first time he has ever hugged anyone, and yet... it was logical to do so. Contact would help Diarmuid to feel less distraught.]

[Immediately, Diarmuid buries his head against September's shoulder, wrapping his small arms around his friend. His brave facade falls and he sniffles as tears wet his eyes again. He remains like that for several moments before finally pulling himself back together. However, he doesn't move away from September right away.]

Thank you, Lord September. I...know it might be silly, but I am scared. It seems like I just get to know a person and then they go away. Am I going to be left all alone someday? I don't want to be alone...

He stays where he is, as well, gently holding Diarmuid. For a few beats, he has no idea what to say to that.

"I do not know. I have seen... that loss is part of human life. People... meet and lose other people, over and over. It is very rare, though, that someone is left completely alone," he answers softly.

"Mmm..." It's a soft sound of acknowledgment since Diarmuid's not sure exactly what to say to that. It's a good thing people aren't usually left completely alone, but losing people makes them sad. He wishes there was a way to prevent that.

"Trying to fight it would be useless then, wouldn't it?" He frowns and pulls away from September slightly, "I don't want people to be sad and loss makes them sad, but if it is always going to be there..."

He is way out of his depth with this. Everything he is drawing on right now is from observation, not experience. Several moments pass as he remains still, racking his memory for something he may have heard or seen or read that would help Diarmuid in any way.

A thought comes to him, slowly. "The only way to prevent sadness is to remove emotion," he murmurs contemplatively. "My people did that. It... did not turn out well... in the end...."

Diarmuid tilts his head curiously at September's answer, "But you have emotions. You are nice and you like spicy food and are caring because you came to help me. If your people don't have emotions anymore, does that mean yours are growing back? That would be good!"

Oh, Diarmuid... He might not have all that quite right...

Diarmuid has it more right than he thinks.

"I..." September sits back on his heels, thinking. The more he thinks on it, the more he realises Diarmuid might be correct. The past several years suddenly clicks into perspective: everything from developing a taste in food to the extent of September's own interference in events comes back to him and he comes to a painful conclusion.

He had changed.

"I..." he repeated, one hand going to his chest. His gaze tracks away and he stares into the middle distance. "I am not the same as I was when my mission started."

His gaze returns to Diarmuid. "I suspect... you may be right.... I am... different to the rest of my people...."

Diarmuid reaches out and lightly touches the hand September has pressed against his chest, "Does it scare you? The thought of being different from the rest of your people? It's not bad being different. I don't think so, anyway. I think it makes you special and the world needs more special things! Just think of all the things you could do by being a link between your people and others!"

Looking down at the small hand touching his own, September has to pause. His eyes are prickling and he has no idea why.

"It is... overwhelming. My people do not..." here, he trails off as the words actually sink in, now. A link between emotion and intellect suggested by a young boy... a young boy... a link.

It hits him in a huge rush of concepts and his eyes widen.

"You must excuse me," he says almost shakily, and reaches into his pocket, producing the same pen and small notebook that people have seen him using ever since he came here. Flipping to a fresh page, he starts to scribble down glyphs in a manner that might almost be considered feverish if one looks at it sideways....

Diarmuid watches September write with wide, curious eyes. A hundred questions enter his mind, but he can tell September is doing something very important. The last thing he wants to do is distract the man from his work. It would be bad if Diarmuid bothered him and caused him to forget something.

As the man continues to write, Diarmuid creeps around to September's side so he can better see what the man is writing. Obviously, he can't read any of it, but it's still interesting to watch. After a very long time, he finally whispers, "I said something good?"

"Hmm?" He looks up from said writing, and continues to do so even though his eyes are on Diarmuid. "Yes. There is something I must do when I return home and what you said has given me a plan."

He squiggles down another couple symbols and then closes the book again, slipping it and the pen back into his pocket.

He... probably shouldn't have mentioned going home....

Fortune is with September in two ways. For one, Diarmuid knows deep down that everyone will eventually have to go home. They all have things to do, including himself. Because of that, even though he is sad at the idea of September going away, he doesn't start crying again. It is going to happen to them all someday--they will leave and not come back--but who knows when that will be? As he has been told by many and is trying very hard to believe, it is better to focus on the time they have than what they won't have.

And second, sadness has never stayed with Diarmuid long. It might not pass as quickly as it did before he lost that thing that was so important to him--that thing he can't remember--but it still passes quickly. Besides, his curiosity has been awakened and it is much more fun to be curious than sad.

"Yay! I got to help you! I am so happy!"

Oh, and that too. It's really hard for him to be sad when he knows he just helped someone.

The corners of September's mouth twitch again, and his gaze grows warm. Is this what it feels like to be proud of someone? This kind of warm swelling in the chest?

Hesitantly, his hands come up again, his arms curling around Diarmuid a second time.

"Yes. You did help me. Thank you."

Maybe he'll get used to this odd, warm feeling....

If Diarmuid knew of September's question, he would answer yes, but since he doesn't all he can do is respond to his friend's hug with a big hug of his own.

"You're very welcome! It makes me so happy to help others. Especially when those others are my friends. And now you can help so many others when you go back home whenever that happens," Diarmuid leans back so he can look at September. As he does, a very adult look suddenly enters his eyes, "It's a cycle, you know! Help one person and they help another and another and another. Suddenly, the world is a much better place! Worlds where people don't help each other, they are worlds that are dying."

September's head tilts as Diarmuid says this. It's a very wise idea for one so young. "You are right."

He looks past the boy, and then back to him. "We should go. I can... help you... with your memories of your friends who are gone."

He takes a deep breath and then stands. This is something that is... important for the boy's future.

Edited (argh dreamwidth) 2013-11-27 07:41 (UTC)

"Oh, yes!" Diarmuid looks a little embarrassed that he forgot the reason for this conversation even temporarily, "We need to get started on that! Not just for me, but for everyone else too. And what about you?" He looks up at September with wide eyes as they start back toward his apartment, "I know you haven't been here long, but have you lost any friends? Is sadness an emotion you have gotten back? If so, we will need to include you too!"

"I have not been here long enough to form attachments to those whom I have met who are now gone."

The thought comes to him that that doesn't mean he can't miss those he apparently left behind in his own world. He does, occasionally, find that he wishes Walter were here. And he finds that he is concerned for the welfare of his son...

His son... And suddenly it clicks. He had formed this odd attachment to Diarmuid because he reminded him of his son.

He stops walking, staring into the middle distance for a moment. He reaches one hand out to Diarmuid, as though intending to hold his.

"I have an idea, if you would come with me."

Diarmuid takes September's hand whether or not it is the man's intention with the gesture, since it saddens Diarmuid to know that even though September has only been here a short time, he still has lost people. It doesn't matter if they weren't that close to him, they are still losses. However, the sadness passes quickly and excited golden eyes blink up at him, "What is your idea? Of course, I will come with you. Let's go!"

So very trusting, this one. It's lucky no one has used that against him yet.

It isn't the eyes that remind him of his son, or the shock of thick hair, or the voice. No his son has dark eyes and is as hairless as he is, and doesn't speak. It's Diarmuid's mind that is so familiar, his kindness and cleverness and his great capacity for emotion. And, yes, his trusting nature. They may be the simpler thoughts of a human, but they are very similar in content.

He starts walking toward town, slowly, so that Diarmuid can keep up with him, still holding the boy's hand. Even this seems familiar and somehow right.

"I have read that it is traditional to light a candle and say a few words for those who are gone, to let others know that those who are gone are not forgotten."

Diarmuid nods as he follows along with September. He doesn't have any trouble keeping up. After all, he is a year older now than he was when he first arrived and his legs are much longer. Besides, this feels right to him too. Something about September makes him feel very comfortable around him. Maybe it's because the man is a mix of knowledge and innocence just like he is even if it is a different kind of knowledge and innocence.

"Lots of people have mentioned something like that. I really want to do it! I also want to include wishes for people who have gone away. They are probably happy back home, but it doesn't hurt to send them good wishes anyway! I know I would want people to do that for me if I went away. Especially if it made them feel better about me being gone!"

In some ways, September is, indeed, very childlike. Despite his emotionlessness, there is the same sense of curiosity and wonder to him.

That warm feeling is back, and September's fingers curl a little tighter around Diarmuid's for a moment. "That is also a good idea. I am certain we will be able to acquire enough candles."

[Video] To Cherish the Time...

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[Action] Aww... So sweet, September...

[Action] he's growing feelings. Awh.

[Action] That's a good thing! :-D

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Aww...September. You are so cute...

c:

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wheeee, so late.

Bah! No such thing... :-D

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Just...hugs September. Also, I think this is just about done?

Yup, I think this is scene. c: