[Video]

[secondborn]

[Alastair is sitting on a roof, looking out at the city. He has a couple of blades next to him. It looks like he might have been in the process of sharpening them when he took a break.]

The change of seasons here is pretty dramatic, isn't it? One moment we still have green, the next...

[He nods out to the suddenly awe-inspiring fall colors of the trees.]

Did it happen like this before? I'm ashamed to say I didn't notice if it did, I was... [He wets his lips and ducks his head a moment,] ...preoccupied. [Preoccupied with being corrupted. Oops.

He lifts his head and smiles.]

Regardless, it's lovely, even if it's a bit sudden. Back home... [A distant sort of look comes over his face as he remembers.] Back home it was always very slow. There was never any one day you could say "now is the end of summer," because when things were Balanced, or at least close to it, it was a slow transition from one season to the next. Maybe our seasons were longer, it's hard to tell.

[He sighs deeply and is quiet for a long moment, then smiles again.]

There's beauty in the world, everywhere. Sometimes it's hard to find it, but every now and then you have to stop and look around and remind yourself why you're fighting.

[His grin turns sheepish and he shakes his head.]

It may seem silly, and believe me, I sound a little ridiculous to myself sometimes, but do me a favor and take a moment out of your day to just appreciate the beauty around you, and remember the beauty of home.

Comments

[everysecond]

[Okay so she stays there but she's totally up on her toes to try and look and see if she can spy what he's getting.]

[secondborn]

[He comes back with his hands behind his back.]

Close your eyes and hold out your hands.

[everysecond]

[She eyes him suspiciously before closing her eyes and holding out her hands as instructed.]

If this sucks, I'm punching you.

[secondborn]

[He laughs.]

And I'll deserve it.

[But he places something in her hands. It's a chocolate bar, a nice one.]

All right, you can open your eyes.

[everysecond]

[Her eyes open and she looks down at her hands.]

Oh man! It's chocolate!

[It's amazing how fast there's a bite it in her mouth and she's groaning with joy.]

Mmmmmm...that's the stuff.

[secondborn]

[The grin lights up his face and he laughs again.]

I'm glad I picked the right one.

[everysecond]

You are safe from me punching you. Congrats.

[Mmmmmm. Chocolate.]

[secondborn]

[He jokingly lets out a sigh of relief.]

Good, I was worried.

[everysecond]

You should be. I can totally bring down guys your size.

[She's not joking there okay.]

[secondborn]

I believe it.

[And he really does. He's seen a skilled fighter bring down a man twice her size with a few simple movements, and he's learned and performed similar moves.]

I have to get going, but this was fun. Good job!

[everysecond]

I'll call you the next time you should try to come find me. Gotta go now.

[Shoving the rest of the bar in her mouth to hold it there, she runs out. Always on the go, this one.]

[secondborn]

[He smiles and shakes his head.

He likes Riley a lot. She's a good kid, and that was a good distraction. But he has to get back to work now.]