A Year Passes by...

[smallspot]

Who: Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (smallspot ) and anyone else who wants to talk to him!
Where: His room (2-17, Building One), the library (1st floor, Building Two) and a grassy area outside near Building One.
When:  First prompt is on 9-10, the last two are on 9-11.
Format: Starting in prose, but please use whatever you want to reply!
Summary: Diarmuid wakes up back in the city after being sent home for a year.  Thankfully, he doesn't have to wait too long before his friends find him again.  After spending a day readjusting to being in the city, he heads out to the library to try and teach himself how to read and write. Then, he is going to stop by his favorite grassy spot near Building One to practice...only those aren't wooden practice swords he's using now, are they?
Warnings: Cuteness, one little boy acting far too old for his age, angst?

Room 2-17, Building One (9-10):

Diarmuid might be a year older when he returns to Saeng Seong, but he still hasn't outgrown the habit of curling up in a nest of blankets when he sleeps.  That is why he doesn't notice anything is different from any other morning right away.  The sense of loss that he has become use to over the last year is still there.  His drive to become a better knight is still there.  His butterfly...

The boy sits upright with a small gasp of surprise and delight when his butterfly lands on his nose.  For the last year, he has thought his precious pet was lost.  He had begged his father to do something to bring him back, but all Aengus had been able to do was sadly say that once lost, some things can never be found again.

But here he is.  Little Dia is here.  The boy carefully gathers the butterfly into his hands and holds it close to him before looking around.  On the corner of his bed, his swan family watches him sleep.  On the table are the open candy bags from the last time his friend had visited.  He's back.  Back in Saeng Seong.  He had spent a year at home.  How much time had passed here?  Were any of his friends still around?

Was Cu Chulainn?  Lord Wing?  Suzaku?  Lord Auron?

Diarmuid should go find them, but instead of jumping to his feet to run and do that, he just sits on his bed for a while holding his butterfly close.  Since his feeling of loss had started around the time he had lost his butterfly, part of him had thought that to be the cause, but he has his butterfly back now...

...and the feeling of loss is still there.


Library, 1st floor, Building Two (9-11):

It takes a little while for Diarmuid to readjust to being in a place so different from his home, but seeing his friends again helps.  Now, a taller and more solemn looking Diarmuid can be found in the library wearing his dark green yukata that has little birds in lighter green embroidered on it.  He is so happy it still fits even though he has grown in the past year!  Unfortunately, most of the other clothes he has don't.  He will have to thank the lady at the shop where he got it when he goes back next for telling him it was okay to get it a little big so he could grow into it.

Laying in front of him there is a notebook along with a book meant to help people learn to read and write.  It's open to a page with numbers on it, and Diarmuid is very carefully writing numbers in the notebook next to him.  Of course, the writing messy and unsteady since he isn't used to holding a pencil.  He knows some ogham, which is a written language that uses mostly straight lines for letters, so many of the lines for his numbers are disconnected or slanted in strange ways.  This is especially obvious with numbers that have curves in them.  He just doesn't seem to know how they should go together even with the example right in front of him.

His frustration in clear in the frown on his face.  After messing up yet again, he sighs and drops his head down on his arms.  At this rate, it's going to take forever for him to get anywhere!


Outside Building One (9-11):

Diarmuid has changed since his time at the library and is now wearing a new set of clothes that obviously must have come with him when he came back to the city since they actually fit.  There is nothing special about the clothes, though.  In fact, they are very plain and obviously made for training in.  The shirt is a simple tunic in dark green.  The pants are simple as well and also dark green.  However, if the boy liking green is something that hasn't changed, there is very definitely something different about the picture he paints while he is practicing.  Before he was only practicing with a child's wooden sword.  Now he's certainly not practicing with a wood sword.  While still child-sized, Diarmuid's weapons are made of metal and are very real.  Not to mention, he's using them two at a time.

It's clear whatever he did during the year he was gone, his fighting skill has vastly improved.  Children his age usually aren't allowed to practice with a live blade, let alone two of them.  From the way he pauses every so often to repeat a move, it's obvious that he's being very picky about them.  If those who saw him practicing before thought him very serious about things, one wonders what they might think now.

Comments

[beforetights]

[His mouth drops open and he stares up at Diarmuid, half unable to believe what the other boy is saying.]

Really? I can have this?

[smallspot]

Yes! Who else would I trust it to other than my best friend?

[Diarmuid pushes the sword at Cu Chulainn again.]

Take it! It's yours now! It helped me down my path to becoming a great knight. Now it will help you too!

[beforetights]

[He snatches the sword out of Diarmuid's hand and hugs it.]

Yay! Thank you thank you thank you! You're the bestest friend ever!

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid smiles widely, delighted by how happy his friend is.]

Father would want you to have it if I am not using it. I am sure he would be honored to have the great Cu Chulainn using something he made even if you are just a little hero right now. Soon you will be a big one!

[beforetights]

You'll be a big hero too someday! Maybe even before I am!

[He runs a hand over the sword's blade.]

If I ever go back and get something from home, I'll give you a present too!

[smallspot]

Thank you! You don't have to do that. After all, the best gift you could give me, you already have. You're my friend!

[Diarmuid rocks back and forth happily on his feet, pausing after a moment when he realizes that it's something he's not done for quite a long time. It's such a silly action.]

Not everyone can say their hero is also their friend!

[beforetights]

That's true...but not every hero can say they have a friend as good as you!

[He puts the sword aside to give Diarmuid another big hug.]

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid happily returns the hug.]

I am just glad you didn't leave while I was gone. I wouldn't want to be here if you weren't! What did you do while I was gone? Will you tell me? Did anything strange happen? Did Deadlock find Lord Wing?

[beforetights]

I'm glad you came back. I wouldn't wanna get stuck here knowing you where gone.

[He gives Diarmuid a little squeeze.]

But that couldn't happen. I made a wish that we'd stay together.

[He nods in response to many of the questions.]

I met a lot more people! So many of them were from the future! Like this one person who kept on wanting to eat leaves! And I got to learn what ice cream was!

[He quickly shakes his head at the final question.]

I don't know. He didn't say.

[smallspot]

You did! I bet that is why I got to come back. Thank you!

[Diarmuid returns his friend's hug again and then gives him a curious look.]

From the future? Like from farther in the future than this place is?

[He pauses then, eyes getting big.]

Someone said that I needed to try ice cream because it was good. Did you get to try some? How was it? How was it?

[However, his excitement seems to fade a little when there is no news about Wing.]

I will ask him when I see him next. I hope he did find Lord Wing. We still need to have our picnic sometime!

[Though, it might be a little harder to find time now. Diarmuid needs to make sure he keeps practicing a lot and he really should sit down and learn to read and write. Everyone keeps saying it's important to learn.]

[beforetights]

So far in the future that nobody knows about Emain Macha!

[He giggles.]

Yes! It's delicious! I want to eat it every day! Chocolate and ice cream! I wish I wouldn't get stomachaches from eating too much, though.

What if we called them on the network? Do you think they'll answer?

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid's eyes get wide.]

How can they forget Emain Macha? I can't imagine being from that far in the future! How weird!

[What Diarmuid obviously doesn't think is weird, though, is the ice cream. He seems both excited that it is so good, but also sad that he hasn't gotten to try any yet.]

I want to try some then! Do you think we can have some at the picnic? If you like it as well as you like chocolate, then it must be really good.

Lord Wing and Deadlock both use the Network, don't they? We could try!

[beforetights]

We'll need to keep it somewhere cold but yes, we should take it on the picnic! And you can even take the flavor that you like.

[He nods.]

They'll see us. I know it.

[smallspot]

Ice cream is cold? I didn't know that. But it is still good? Even if it's cold?

[Diarmuid gives his friend an excited, though also curious, look.]

Are there a lot of flavors? Like there are so many different flavors of candy?

[A more serious look crosses his face.]

I haven't used the magic boxes to actually send a message yet. Do you really think it would work?

[beforetights]

Yes, it's very nice and sweet and creamy. Though it's so cold sometimes it makes your mouth hurt. There's even more flavors than candy. Like some taste like fruits or even cake.

[He frowns slightly.]

I think so. It works for everyone else.

[smallspot]

Sweet and creamy? Is it like milk? Do you think there is a kind that tastes like honey?

[His eyes are almost twinkling in excitement.]

Now I really can't wait to try some!

But first we have to find Lord Wing. When do you want to send the message?

[beforetights]

I hope so. Or maybe we can pour honey on it. Because you can put chocolate sauce on it.

[He makes a circle shape with his fingers.]

It's all in a chunk, but it melts in your mouth like snow. Only it's softer than snow.

When we're done showing everyone how tall you've grown! Because we need to go out and show everyone that you're bigger now!

[smallspot]

Mmm...it sounds so good! I don't know if I want to wait until the picnic to try some! I want some now.

[Diarmuid pouts slightly since he knows he can't have any now. However, his expression brightens at his friend's suggestion.]

Do you think they will be surprised when they see me? I hope I didn't worry anyone.

Hey! Maybe we will even find Lord Wing! Wouldn't that be nice?

[beforetights]

We can get some now! I know the place.

[He runs over to get his credit card.]

Why would they be worried over the fact that you're bigger? It means you're stronger!

Mm-hm. Then we wouldn't even need the network!

[smallspot]

Yay!

[Diarmuid watches excitedly as his friend gets his card.]

It can be a treat for my birthday since I had one when I was away. It's a good idea, right?

[At the next question, the boy shrugs.]

I know I am stronger, but maybe they will worry other stuff changed? Or something bad happened to me?

[Because they would be right on that...]

[beforetights]

Yep! I still need to get you a present for that.

[He looks Diarmuid over.]

Let me see...you don't really look like anything bad happened to you...

[He cups his hands around Diarmuid's face.]

You just look a little sad. Like you miss something.

[smallspot]

You're getting me ice cream! Doesn't that count?

[Diarmuid giggles as his friend cups his face. When Cu Chulainn mentions missing something, though, Diarmuid's giggles fade.]

I...am missing something. I thought maybe it was my butterfly, but I have him back now. I don't know what I'm missing, but something is missing. I don't like it. It's a bad feeling!

[beforetights]

[He wraps his arms around Diarmuid in a comforting hug.]

I don't know. Maybe you were missing me? Or now that you're here, you're missing your other friend.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid hugs his friend tightly, hoping maybe that will make the feeling go away, but then he shakes his head.]

No, the feeling is still there. And I told you, I don't have another friend. Just you. Oh...

[His expression suddenly falls.]

I never got to tell Father about you! I didn't remember anything about this place while I was home. That isn't fair! Something made me forget you...

[beforetights]

[He gets a worried look on his face.]

...I don't want you to forget me! And I don't want to forget you! Is that really what would happen if I go home?

[He tightens his hug around Diarmuid.]

You're right. It's not fair. I don't want that to happen ever...

[He sniffles, trying hard to hold back from crying.]