[Video] To Cherish the Time...

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[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?

Comments

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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!"

[someonetowatchoveryou]

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....

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

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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?"

c:

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"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....

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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.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

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....

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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."

[someonetowatchoveryou]

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.

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"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!"

wheeee, so late.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"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."

Bah! No such thing... :-D

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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.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

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."

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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!"

[someonetowatchoveryou]

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."

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Diarmuid returns the squeeze on his hand with a small one of his own. He then looks up at September with curious eyes, "Do you know where I can buy candles at? Sometimes my brother and I get short on money since we bought the puppies, but I am sure we can afford a few candles. Candles don't cost much, do they? Father has them all over back home."

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"They are not very expensive," September assures him quietly. Inasmuch as his inflectionless tone can be thought to be reassuring. It's only a few moments more before they reach the storefronts. Candles are sold in rather a lot of these places and he considers them carefully. Scented wouldn't really work, or those tiny tealights. They don't need tapers or giant pillars or shaped candles or the kind that melt down to reveal wee sculptures or Saeng Seong Souvenirs.

Eventually he stops at a display that holds all of these as well as the kind of plain little votives he'd been looking for.

"Shall we go in, here?"

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Diarmuid doesn't answer September's question at first. He is too busy looking at all the different kinds of candles. Where he is from, they are usually just basic things. Maybe a few have carvings in them if they are for special use, but most aren't. His hand slips free of September's and he walks up to the store window, pressing up against it.

"So many... Look at all the colors!" He gazes at them for a moment longer, before finally seeming to register that September has said something to him. He looks back at his friend, a look of wide eyed wonder on his face, "Can we?"

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"Yes," September answers, his head tilting. He looks at the candles again before heading to the door and pulling it open and waiting for Diarmuid to walk in before stepping inside after him.

Inside the store, candles line shelves everywhere in a big, warm, gently lit room. September pauses at a box of white candles shaped like tulips before continuing to where the plain votives were stocked, calmly picking up five boxes of them.

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Diarmuid follows September into the store, large eyes growing even more so as he does. He wants to pick everything up and touch it, but manages to stop himself after reaching out for one of those boxes of tulip-shaped candles and almost knocking over another one. Once he has made sure that nothing is going to fall over, he looks over at September and notices the boxes in his hands.

"Are those what we are looking for?" He fumbles around and pulls his card out of the pouch he always carries with him when he leaves the house, "Here!"

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"Yes," he answers simply. When he looks down at Diarmuid, his next reaction surprises him. He shakes his head once and shifts the boxes into one arm.

"I do not have as many expenses as you do," he points out--and it is true, he scarcely buys anything except food and books. He reaches into his pocket and retrieves his wallet. "It would be more sensible if I pay for them."

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"Are you sure?" Diarmuid looks down at his card, "I don't want to take your money, Lord September..." He falls quiet for a moment before looking up at September with a confident look in his eyes, "Thank you! I promise I will find a way to pay you back!"

The logic of September's suggestion is apparently lost on this one, but at least he is not being too stubborn today.

[someonetowatchoveryou]

"Yes. I am certain," September answers softly. He can't bring himself to tell Diarmuid that he doesn't need the boy to repay him for anything, as it seems to mean so much to him.

Instead, September quietly purchases the candles, and turns to leave the store, the candles in a shopping bag in one hand, the other reaching out to take Diarmuid's again.

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While September doesn't need any repayment, Diarmuid has always been taught to help those who help him. It would seem wrong for him not to do at least something little in return for what September has done. It is just how he was raised.

Diarmuid eagerly takes September's hand again when the man reaches for it, "What else do you think I will need, Lord September? Maybe I should make a list of everything. I don't want to forget anything!"

[someonetowatchoveryou]

September remains quiet for a few minutes as they walk hand in hand. Hm. What else do they need? He's heard enough to know what people would prefer not to stand outside in freezing rain unless it was absolutely necessary. This can be done indoors. But where?

He looks down at Diarmuid. "I believe we need a location."

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"Besides the river?" Diarmuid looks confused for a moment before what September means dawns on him. "Oh! Indoors in case the weather is bad, right? I wonder what a good place would be..."

He walks quietly for several moments, thinking, before another idea comes to mind, "What about the temple? It is big and it's a holy place! It would be good for connecting with those we have lost, wouldn't it?"