[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

[Video]

[secondborn]

[He nods, his smile a little sad.]

It can be. I wish it weren't.

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

The older you get, the harder it is. A child always wonders.

[secondborn]

Sometimes it isn't even age. Experience makes it difficult, as well.

[Speaking from... well... experience.]

But maybe a little practice every day will keep it fresh.

[comeonthensexy]

I think so.

It's always worth finding a child and letting them teach you again.

[ It's what he does. Sort of. Only the people he brings with him are usually adults, but still young and still much younger adults than he is. ]

[secondborn]

[A smile slowly creeps on his face as he thinks about it.]

That's an excellent idea.

[comeonthensexy]

[ HAND ON CHEST. ]

Tried and true, by yours truly.

[secondborn]

All the more reason to give it a try.

[comeonthensexy]

Your faith in me is flattering.

[secondborn]

[He shrugs, smiling.]

I like knowing a theory has been tried. It's not necessary, but it's helpful.

Besides, you haven't yet given me a reason not to have faith in you.

[comeonthensexy]

Give it time.

[ He seems to be joking, but he's also not ... entirely. It's not all that unusual that people lose faith in him.

Although it's also surprisingly much so, if you ask him. ]

[secondborn]

[Alastair's eyebrows raise.]

We'll see.

[Alastair's capacity for faith in people is astonishingly high, given his life experiences.]

[comeonthensexy]

That we will.

Now go play with some kids.

[secondborn]

[He grins and makes a little half-salute. He picked that up from Desmond.]

Yes sir. Right away, sir.

[comeonthensexy]

[ He laughs, and returns the salute. ]

Atta, boy.