01

[beforetights]

Who: Cu Chulainn, Diarmuid, and everyone else.
Where: All around the city
When: After 9/20
Summary: Cu Chulainn is a fussy little boy because he doesn't feel good
Warnings: Sickness, whining children

1. Various places; open

[Cu Chulainn felt sick. It wasn't anything new either. Ever since he had come to the city, his unsupervised diets of sweets, junk food, and meat constantly gave him stomachaches. However, this was the worst stomachache yet. Every step he takes, he feels like he wants to puke.]

[He would lie down, but Diarmuid isn't in his room and he dislikes staying home sick by himself. Especially since there seems to be something exciting going on in the city. Therefore, he was trudging around, looking for his friend.]

[Maybe you can find him lying down on a bench, pouting. Or maybe you can find him sitting on the beach, throwing a shell up and down in the air. Maybe you can find him at network monitor, poking at the touch screen. Or, perhaps, he has his nose pressed against the glass window of a random shop, seemingly staring at something inside. No matter where he is or what he does, he seems to lack his usual energy.]

2. Outside District 4, locked to Diarmuid

[Cu Chulainn was already irritated from feeling sick. It's worse because he can't find his friend. And it's much, much worse when he realizes he can't enter the new district that everyone is having fun in. Not without feeling faint and almost passing out. So he's standing right outside the district. Glaring daggers at those people bustling around within. Especially one little boy passing between the various structures.]

[He had finally found his friend, and now he's not very happy that only one of them gets to be in the new district.]

Comments

[smallspot]

Oh no! And we were so close to home too!

[Diarmuid looks at the bag sadly as Grey wiggles out of his arms to go munch on some food too.]

Do you want to run to the apartment and get something to cover the hole with? I can watch the puppies!

[beforetights]

Let me try carrying it again!

[He picks up the bag again, keeping the hole at the top. However, he doesn't get many steps in before he wobbles and falls.]

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid lets out a startled cry and makes his way to his friend's side as quickly as he can with two puppies in tow.]

Are you okay? Please don't be hurt!

[beforetights]

[He groans, sits up, and rubs his stomach.]

My stomach hurts...

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid's expression saddens and he pulls back on White's leash slightly when the excited puppy moves toward Cu Chulainn.]

No one should carry it anymore! Maybe we can drag it with the hole up? Or maybe there is an adult inside Building One who will help us from here?

[beforetights]

I don't want an adult. So let's just try dragging it up. It can't all spill. It's such a big bag.

[He scoops up White, then grabs a corner of the bag.]

[smallspot]

I don't want to waste any... Oh!

[An idea dawns on him.]

Once we get it up, I will just come back and get what spilled. Here turn it like this just a little. It will spill less!

[Diarmuid adjusts his hold on Grey and the bag, then smiles at Cu Chulainn.]

Lets go!

[beforetights]

[He trudges along with Diarmuid. His stomach still hurts, but he's no longer as nauseous. Soon, they reach the bottom of the staircase.]

...Okay, what do we do now?

[smallspot]

Oh...

[Diarmuid's face falls. He thought they were doing well, but he had forgotten about the stairs. For a moment, he almost looks like he's going to cry because he's starting to get tired.]

I...don't know.

[beforetights]

[He whimpers and sits on the first step.]

Me neither. I'm tire! I don't wanna go up the stairs and I don't wanna carry dog food!

[His lip wibbles. He's also getting ready to cry.]

[smallspot]

[Seeing his brother about to cry seems to snap Diarmuid out of his own sadness. He walks over to Cu Chulainn and gives him a hug.]

Don't cry. Lets take the puppies upstairs and then I will put you to bed so you can rest. I will come back and get the dog food once you are settled in with the puppies.

[He's not sure how he will do it, but Diarmuid is more willing to ask an adult for help than his brother seems to be.]

[beforetights]

Okay...

[He whimpers and hugs Diarmuid back.]

Wake me up when you get the dog food. I think I'll feel better than.

[smallspot]

I will! Okay, lets get you into bed!

[Diarmuid climbs up a couple of the steps and motions for his brother to follow him.]

[beforetights]

[And Cu Chulainn follows close behind him, nudging at White to follow him up the stairs.]

[smallspot]

[Fortunately, either the puppies seem to notice that their boys are tired or they are tired too because they don't cause any problems on the way back to the room. Diarmuid seems relieved when he gets there and gets the door open.]

Here we go. Home again!

[beforetights]

Mm...

[Cu Chulainn grunts and slinks through the door. He makes a beeline to the bedroom and hops onto the bed.]

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid follows more slowly, though the puppies waste no time following Cu Chulainn to the bed and hopping up with him. By the time Diarmuid makes it to the bed, his brother has a puppy on either side of him.]

I think they know you don't feel good. Good puppies!

[He pats both Grey and White on the head and then moves to pull the blankets up around his brother.]

I will be back soon!

[beforetights]

[He pulls the blankets up around himself.]

Are you going to get the dog food?

[smallspot]

Yes. I will be as quiet as I can when I come back so that I don't bother you.

[Diarmuid yawns, covering his mouth as he does.]

Then we can both nap for a little while.

[beforetights]

No. Stay.

[He pouts and looks over at Diarmuid.]

You might get hurt trying to lift it.

[smallspot]

[Diarmuid shakes his head, patting his brother on the head gently.]

I'm not going to carry it. There are always adults in the media center. I am going to ask one of them to carry it. One of our friends might even be there! They will definitely help.

[beforetights]

Alright. That sounds fine.

[He closes his eyes and gives a quick wave goodbye at Diarmuid.]

Thread end?

[smallspot]

I won't be long!

[Diarmuid gives his brother another pat on the head and then slips out of the apartment to find an adult to help him get the food upstairs.]

end

[beforetights]

[Meanwhile, Cu Chulainn settles into the bed and, before long, falls asleep.]