"I understand the Rikti raided Talos Island yesterday." Valerie paused momentarily. They were about halfway through their session and things had been going well, though uneventfully so. She considered her approach. "And that your family's neighborhood suffered significant damage in the bombings. We haven't really talked about the invasion yet. Is your family okay?"
"Dad's in Idaho, motivating spuds or something. Mom's been going with him when he travels lately. They're both fine." Timothy shrugged, affecting a lack of concern.
"And your home?"
"Also fine. Mom usually calls Barj when there's a bombing, to have him go check on everything. He'd let me know if anything weren't alright."
It wasn't lost on Valerie that they were calling their adoptive son instead of their biological one. It was yet another indication of the strained relationship Timothy had with his parents. "How are you coping with it? It's a lot to deal with."
He grimaced. "I'm fine."
She got the sense that this was a topic he didn't want to topic about, which suggested that he probably should. Valerie glanced down at her sketch, hoping for some inspiration on where to lead them, but nothing stood out amidst the doodles splayed across the page. She decided instead to pull from what she'd read in his files. "You helped out during the main invasion. Do you want to talk about that?"
Timothy stared at her for several long moments before looking at the ground and replying flatly. "No."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Timothy continued to stare at the floor, his expression blank.
"I understand you helped teleport the injured into triage." Valerie softened her voice as she spoke. She knew she was pushing him, yet she didn't want to be too forceful.
After another brief pause, Timothy responded. "The injured. And the dead. So?"
"How did that make you feel?"
"How the hell do you think it made me feel?" Timothy had lifted his head so he could glare at her. His voice was raised and emphatic, which surprised Valerie. Timothy normally maintained very strong control over himself. "They were fucking dead. Or worse."
"I understand some of the injuries were pretty bad."
"Pretty bad? What the fuck do you know." Timothy's voice was venomous. "You go take a look at some woman whose body is splattered into four pieces, or some kid who still has a fucking Rikti blade in his head, and you can tell me how 'pretty bad' they were."
"Or the blue-haired boy who took a Rikti plasma blast." Valerie kept her tone soft, surprised but not reacting to Timothy's abrasiveness.
Timothy started to say something, then snapped his mouth shut. He continued to glare at Valerie for several long moments, then finally looked away. Valerie watched as he calmed himself and regathered his composure. When he finally spoke again, much of the heat had left his voice. "Tristaan. So what? It's not like I really knew him."
"Bearing witness to a gruesome, untimely death is traumatic. It's even more traumatic when it's someone you knew, no matter how fleetingly. Or when you have to bear witness to so many of them you start to lose track of it all."
Timothy sat silently for a while, still obviously displeased with the topic of conversation. "That wasn't a question, you know."
"Is that why you stopped heroing?"
He rolled his eyes dismissively. "I never liked heroing to begin with."
"Not to begin with, no." Valerie paused a moment, for effect. "But after a while, didn't you come to like it?"
Timothy scowled. "Let me guess. Today's drawing is a boy with a tail and a cape, rescuing the city from certain destruction. Is that it?"
She glanced at her pad, not knowing whether she wanted to be faintly amused or mildly offended. "No, no boy with a tail and cape I'm afraid. Even Statesman and the Freedom Phalanx couldn't save everyone, Timothy."
"They managed something better than cleanup duty."
"Which takes more courage, trying to prevent the inevitable or facing the inevitable when it happens?" She watched him thoughtfully.
"That's a stupid question." He rolled his eyes, then glanced at the clock. "My time's up. I'm out of here."
He stood up and was walking out the door as Valerie tried to say goodbye.
Shades of the Past
Moderator: Student Council
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Timothy Bastian
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Timothy Bastian
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Re: Shades of the Past
Draught of Dreamless Sleep. Runestone of Garment Alternation. Incantation for Cleansing of Water. Enchantment of Fireproofing.
Timothy paged slowly through his great-great-grandfather's journal, glancing over each magical spell one by one. He marveled at the listings, some of which described feats and powers that defied imagination. Then again, the journal itself defied imagination. Over the past several years, he had learned that it was more a library than a book. At first glance it was the mundane diary of Teodors Grunberg, deceased now for nearly a century. But by Timothy's will, the journal would change. It had initially changed itself for him, providing him with a narrative introduction to his latent magical abilities. From there, though, he'd learned how to bring forth two additional texts: a series of treatises Teodors had written on the theory and mechanics of magic, and a book of spells Teodors had collected throughout the course of his life. He suspected that the journal might hold even more secrets within itself, but if it did, it hadn't revealed them to him yet.
For now, though, he was focused on the spellbook. His eyes stopped on an odd sounding spell.
He turned another page, and there it was.
It'd be a pain in the ass, but not impossible. He took note of the ingredients then closed the journal, putting it away carefully behind his desk. He had some "shopping" to do.
Timothy paged slowly through his great-great-grandfather's journal, glancing over each magical spell one by one. He marveled at the listings, some of which described feats and powers that defied imagination. Then again, the journal itself defied imagination. Over the past several years, he had learned that it was more a library than a book. At first glance it was the mundane diary of Teodors Grunberg, deceased now for nearly a century. But by Timothy's will, the journal would change. It had initially changed itself for him, providing him with a narrative introduction to his latent magical abilities. From there, though, he'd learned how to bring forth two additional texts: a series of treatises Teodors had written on the theory and mechanics of magic, and a book of spells Teodors had collected throughout the course of his life. He suspected that the journal might hold even more secrets within itself, but if it did, it hadn't revealed them to him yet.
For now, though, he was focused on the spellbook. His eyes stopped on an odd sounding spell.
- Avian Summoning Charm
With appropriate focus and the following incantation, the mage will summon forth birds from all quarters. To draw a specific type of bird, such as vultures or ravens, use one of said bird's feathers as a point of focus. A mage with sufficient force of will may also be able to exert influence over the birds' behavior.
He turned another page, and there it was.
- Potion of Appearance Alteration
Once imbibed, this potion will prepare the drinker's body to be reshaped in accordance with the mage's will. Though potent, the potion alone will not affect any change. It must be accompanied by the appropriate incantation, given further below. The mage must be careful to visualize exactly how he wants to look and sound while reciting the incantation.
It'd be a pain in the ass, but not impossible. He took note of the ingredients then closed the journal, putting it away carefully behind his desk. He had some "shopping" to do.
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Timothy Bastian
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Re: Shades of the Past
"Barjnal! Wake up!"
Barji sat up in bed, blinking away his sleep. Timothy did not sound happy. "What is it, Timothy?"
"I have a fucking tail!" Timothy was standing in front of their dorm room mirror, with the back of his pants dropped slightly. A slender brown tail descended from his posterior, ending with a triangular flared tip.
"Oh my god you have a TAIL!" Barji literally flew out of his bed in enthusiasm. "That's so awesome!"
"No, Barj. It's not." Timothy glared. "Why in the hell do I have a fucking tail?"
"Oh! Well." Barji shuffled his feet a bit. "It's probably from our bond. I used to have a tail. I bet you drew some of my magic through the bond when you forged it, and it changed you a bit. Stuff like that sometimes happens with demonic magic. But isn't it cute?'
"No! It's not. Just, get rid of it before someone else sees it. Thank god we don't have any roommates yet."
"Um." Barji fidgeted. "That won't really work, though."
"What do you mean it won't work?" Timothy growled. "If it's your magic, then just un-magic it!"
"Well, I might be able to do it temporarily. But I'm pretty sure it'd just grow back. That's how demonic magic works."
"Gah! Well, figure something out, because I am not going out in public with a fucking tail."
"But people will love it!" Barji was almost bouncing. "It's so cute!"
"They will not love it because they aren't going to see it!" Timothy's tail was flicking in agitation.
Barji sighed. He really did think Timothy's tail was pretty awesome, but he could tell that it was shaping up to be a very long morning.
Barji sat up in bed, blinking away his sleep. Timothy did not sound happy. "What is it, Timothy?"
"I have a fucking tail!" Timothy was standing in front of their dorm room mirror, with the back of his pants dropped slightly. A slender brown tail descended from his posterior, ending with a triangular flared tip.
"Oh my god you have a TAIL!" Barji literally flew out of his bed in enthusiasm. "That's so awesome!"
"No, Barj. It's not." Timothy glared. "Why in the hell do I have a fucking tail?"
"Oh! Well." Barji shuffled his feet a bit. "It's probably from our bond. I used to have a tail. I bet you drew some of my magic through the bond when you forged it, and it changed you a bit. Stuff like that sometimes happens with demonic magic. But isn't it cute?'
"No! It's not. Just, get rid of it before someone else sees it. Thank god we don't have any roommates yet."
"Um." Barji fidgeted. "That won't really work, though."
"What do you mean it won't work?" Timothy growled. "If it's your magic, then just un-magic it!"
"Well, I might be able to do it temporarily. But I'm pretty sure it'd just grow back. That's how demonic magic works."
"Gah! Well, figure something out, because I am not going out in public with a fucking tail."
"But people will love it!" Barji was almost bouncing. "It's so cute!"
"They will not love it because they aren't going to see it!" Timothy's tail was flicking in agitation.
Barji sighed. He really did think Timothy's tail was pretty awesome, but he could tell that it was shaping up to be a very long morning.
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Timothy Bastian
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Re: Shades of the Past
"So what're you throwing at me today?" Timothy settled in his seat. Despite his words, he seemed to be in a fairly good mood at the moment.
"Well, I was thinking we might take a look at one of my drawings." Valerie smiled at him. "I know it's been a while since we have, but this one really stood out to me."
He hesitated, then shrugged. "Sure, why not."
Valerie took a face-down sheet of paper from the table beside her, then showed him the scene it depicted on the other side. Timothy stood in the middle of the page, balanced precariously with one foot on either side of a chasm that was opening up in the ground beneath him. Standing safely on opposite sides stood two more figures. To the left stood Barjnal, looking very worried and trying to reach out to grab Timothy's hand. To the right stood a pretty young woman who also was reaching out to grab Timothy's hand, but who had a long-suffering look upon her face. Timothy didn't seem to know which hand to take.
Timothy looked at the picture for a few moments. Valerie was a bit startled to realize he was starting to blush. "Does it mean anything to you, Timothy?"
"Ye--I mean, no! No, of course not, why would it?" Timothy stammered a little, blushing more. "It's just a stupid drawing."
"I drew this during one of our sessions several weeks ago." She looked at it thoughtfully. "It's safe to talk about it here, Timothy. Our discussions are confidential. The only other person who has access to your files in normal circumstances is David Conrads. What does it mean for you?"
He looked away from the drawing, then closed his eyes. She'd never seen him so uncomfortable. She wouldn't push much harder today if he didn't start to open up, but it would be a topic she'd have to return to eventually.
"It's Barjnal and Picayune." He opened his eyes, but didn't look back to the drawing.
"And that's you in the middle, right?"
"Yeah. I-- I guess so." He shifted uneasily in his chair.
"So we know who the three figures are, but what do you suppose they're all doing?"
After a few moments' pause, Timothy frowned. "Barjnal told you, didn't he?" He looked at her, his voice sounding more hurt than anything. "He promised he wouldn't, but he did. He had to have."
"This drawing is a reflection of your subconscious, not his, Timothy." Confidentiality prevented her from directly answering Timothy's question, but Barjnal hadn't told her anything that would have led to such a drawing. Barjnal had actually been very reticent to talk about Timothy much at all in their sessions together. "What has you so upset?"
"I-- I don't want to talk about it."
Valerie looked at him, concern apparent on her face. "Are you sure?"
"It's not important anyway." Timothy looked at the floor. "It's a non-issue."
"Why's that?"
He grimaced, then turned to look at the wall to her left, still avoiding eye contact. "It's not like anyone's interested in me anyway."
"Interested? What do you mean?" Valerie had a pretty good idea of what he meant, but having him say it would be better.
"You know... interested." He emphasized the word, as though repeating it would make it somehow clear. After a few moments, he blurted out of nowhere, "I like girls, though."
"Most boys do." She glanced at the sheet, then back to him. "Is that what this symbolizes? Trying to decide between liking boys and girls?"
"No!" He flinched and blushed, looking at her in shock. "No! I only like girls. I always have."
"Then what does it symbolize?"
He stared at the sheet, then finally responded quietly. "Girls and Barji."
"So you're normally interested in girls, but you're also interested in Barjnal?"
"No--" He started, then cut himself off, looking defeated. "Yes."
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
He started talking almost immediately. His words raced out of his mouth, as though he was trying to get it out and done with as fast as possible. "Barj and I have this connection. It's magical, we're bonded and can talk telepathically and can even go into each other's minds. It's none of your business why so don't even ask, but it's there, alright? I've always liked girls. But when Barji and I started using the bond, I... somehow, I started liking him. But only him! No other guys. So I'm not gay." He added the last bit rather emphatically.
"Sexuality isn't always one way or another. Some guys almost always like girls, but with a rare exception for specific guys." She smiled in an encouraging way, but wondered in the back of her mind what to do with the fact that Barjnal and Timothy were adoptive brothers. She'd worry about that part later. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"But it's not like that!" His voice was insistent. "I didn't even feel that way about him until we opened up the bond and then it happened. Bam! It's not fair!"
"So you don't want to feel that way about him, then?"
"No!" He put his head down, grasping it with his hands in frustration. "I don't know."
"You didn't want to feel that way, but now that you do, you don't know what to do with it?"
He nodded, quietly.
"Well, how do you--" She started to talk, but Timothy interrupted her.
"Can I go please?" He raised his head. He was still avoiding eye contact and looked fairly shaken. "I don't want to talk about it anymore today."
She glanced at the clock. They were scarcely halfway through the session. "If you need to, of course you may. If you want to talk about it again before our next session, let me know and I'll work you into my schedule. Okay?"
"Yeah, okay, see you next week." He got up and hurried out the door, rubbing at his eyes as he went.
Valerie felt for him. She didn't really understand what exactly was going on with the bond he mentioned. But whether he was a straight boy who'd fallen for another boy or a gay boy coming to terms with his sexuality, either way, it was bound to be confusing for him. They'd have a lot to work through, she suspected.
She smiled, though. He hadn't said he didn't want to talk about it anymore. He'd said he didn't want to talk about it anymore today.
"Well, I was thinking we might take a look at one of my drawings." Valerie smiled at him. "I know it's been a while since we have, but this one really stood out to me."
He hesitated, then shrugged. "Sure, why not."
Valerie took a face-down sheet of paper from the table beside her, then showed him the scene it depicted on the other side. Timothy stood in the middle of the page, balanced precariously with one foot on either side of a chasm that was opening up in the ground beneath him. Standing safely on opposite sides stood two more figures. To the left stood Barjnal, looking very worried and trying to reach out to grab Timothy's hand. To the right stood a pretty young woman who also was reaching out to grab Timothy's hand, but who had a long-suffering look upon her face. Timothy didn't seem to know which hand to take.
Timothy looked at the picture for a few moments. Valerie was a bit startled to realize he was starting to blush. "Does it mean anything to you, Timothy?"
"Ye--I mean, no! No, of course not, why would it?" Timothy stammered a little, blushing more. "It's just a stupid drawing."
"I drew this during one of our sessions several weeks ago." She looked at it thoughtfully. "It's safe to talk about it here, Timothy. Our discussions are confidential. The only other person who has access to your files in normal circumstances is David Conrads. What does it mean for you?"
He looked away from the drawing, then closed his eyes. She'd never seen him so uncomfortable. She wouldn't push much harder today if he didn't start to open up, but it would be a topic she'd have to return to eventually.
"It's Barjnal and Picayune." He opened his eyes, but didn't look back to the drawing.
"And that's you in the middle, right?"
"Yeah. I-- I guess so." He shifted uneasily in his chair.
"So we know who the three figures are, but what do you suppose they're all doing?"
After a few moments' pause, Timothy frowned. "Barjnal told you, didn't he?" He looked at her, his voice sounding more hurt than anything. "He promised he wouldn't, but he did. He had to have."
"This drawing is a reflection of your subconscious, not his, Timothy." Confidentiality prevented her from directly answering Timothy's question, but Barjnal hadn't told her anything that would have led to such a drawing. Barjnal had actually been very reticent to talk about Timothy much at all in their sessions together. "What has you so upset?"
"I-- I don't want to talk about it."
Valerie looked at him, concern apparent on her face. "Are you sure?"
"It's not important anyway." Timothy looked at the floor. "It's a non-issue."
"Why's that?"
He grimaced, then turned to look at the wall to her left, still avoiding eye contact. "It's not like anyone's interested in me anyway."
"Interested? What do you mean?" Valerie had a pretty good idea of what he meant, but having him say it would be better.
"You know... interested." He emphasized the word, as though repeating it would make it somehow clear. After a few moments, he blurted out of nowhere, "I like girls, though."
"Most boys do." She glanced at the sheet, then back to him. "Is that what this symbolizes? Trying to decide between liking boys and girls?"
"No!" He flinched and blushed, looking at her in shock. "No! I only like girls. I always have."
"Then what does it symbolize?"
He stared at the sheet, then finally responded quietly. "Girls and Barji."
"So you're normally interested in girls, but you're also interested in Barjnal?"
"No--" He started, then cut himself off, looking defeated. "Yes."
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
He started talking almost immediately. His words raced out of his mouth, as though he was trying to get it out and done with as fast as possible. "Barj and I have this connection. It's magical, we're bonded and can talk telepathically and can even go into each other's minds. It's none of your business why so don't even ask, but it's there, alright? I've always liked girls. But when Barji and I started using the bond, I... somehow, I started liking him. But only him! No other guys. So I'm not gay." He added the last bit rather emphatically.
"Sexuality isn't always one way or another. Some guys almost always like girls, but with a rare exception for specific guys." She smiled in an encouraging way, but wondered in the back of her mind what to do with the fact that Barjnal and Timothy were adoptive brothers. She'd worry about that part later. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"But it's not like that!" His voice was insistent. "I didn't even feel that way about him until we opened up the bond and then it happened. Bam! It's not fair!"
"So you don't want to feel that way about him, then?"
"No!" He put his head down, grasping it with his hands in frustration. "I don't know."
"You didn't want to feel that way, but now that you do, you don't know what to do with it?"
He nodded, quietly.
"Well, how do you--" She started to talk, but Timothy interrupted her.
"Can I go please?" He raised his head. He was still avoiding eye contact and looked fairly shaken. "I don't want to talk about it anymore today."
She glanced at the clock. They were scarcely halfway through the session. "If you need to, of course you may. If you want to talk about it again before our next session, let me know and I'll work you into my schedule. Okay?"
"Yeah, okay, see you next week." He got up and hurried out the door, rubbing at his eyes as he went.
Valerie felt for him. She didn't really understand what exactly was going on with the bond he mentioned. But whether he was a straight boy who'd fallen for another boy or a gay boy coming to terms with his sexuality, either way, it was bound to be confusing for him. They'd have a lot to work through, she suspected.
She smiled, though. He hadn't said he didn't want to talk about it anymore. He'd said he didn't want to talk about it anymore today.
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Timothy Bastian
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Re: Shades of the Past
Snowflakes were drifting quietly through the air. Timothy watched a few of them. They descended gently, landing softly on the roof around him. He figured it wouldn't take long for everything to be dusted in white, a few hours maybe. Less if stopped flurrying and actually started snowing.
"Hey Timothy." Barjnal floated down from the sky, settling lightly on the rooftop next to him. "I got your text message. Um. What's going on?"
Timothy turned to look at him, then smiled amiably. "Have a seat and relax. I'm not going to manipulate you today. The sun will be setting soon, don't want to miss that do you?" He gestured out at the water, beyond the sandy beach below.
"You didn't ask me to come here to look at sunsets." Barjnal's skepticism was obvious, but he took a seat on the roof's edge near Timothy. "What do you want?"
"To talk."
"You never want to just talk, Timothy Bastian."
Timothy smiled a bit, looking out over the water. "You're right. You usually are. You sometimes know me better than I know myself."
"Only sometimes?" Barjnal smiled a bit, warily.
"Maybe most of the time." He turned to face Barj again. "That's part of what I wanted to talk about, actually."
"It is?"
"Sure. Well, more generally, about the bond."
"Oh." Barjnal looked away, back at the descending sun. "What about it?"
"I've been thinking about it. About us. We're stuck together, rather permanently."
"Yeah." Barj bit his lip. "I know."
"Well, I thought about it, and I realized that eventually, we're going to have to get over this stuff and start working together again, start being friends again. And I realized that you really do care about me, and I realized that I really do care about you. And more, I realized that you already knew all this stuff all along, so what was the point in lying to you about it? It's not getting us anywhere."
Barjnal narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Timothy Bastian, the only time you're this honest with someone is when you want something."
Timothy cleared his throat, then spoke quietly. "I want to apologize."
"You what?" Barjnal sounded shocked. "What for?"
"I'm sorry for the past year. Sorry for not trusting you, for hurting you, for putting you through hell." He cleared his throat again. "It was wrong for me to do that."
"Okay..." Barjnal didn't seem to know what to really say, and he was still clearly apprehensive.
"I want to be friends again. Not this friendly distanced stuff we've been doing. Actual friends again." He paused, hesitantly, before continuing. "I'd like a friend. I need a friend."
Barjnal's eye kept going wider and wider as Timothy spoke. "Just a friend? Or are you--"
"Just a friend." Timothy cut him off. "I don't know about anything else yet. It... It all confuses me. I like girls, but I like you. I think Valerie's trying to help me sort through it, and... and I'm trying to let her help me. With that and other things. I'm tired of this all, Barji."
Barj nodded slowly. "You have to be nice to people, Timothy."
"I wouldn't be me if I were nice, and you know it." Timothy grinned faintly. "But I'll take a lot of the edge off."
"You're impossible." Barji rolled his eyes.
"So what do you say?" Timothy looked at him earnestly. "Give it another try?"
Barjnal looked out over the water for a long while. The sun was sliding down through the war walls, escaping beneath the distant horizon. He finally smiled, then scooted closer to Timothy. "We'll give it another try."
Timothy wrapped an arm around Barji as he leaned against him. "I'd like that."
The snowflakes were falling faster. He couldn't decide if this was still actually a flurry or if it had become a light snowstorm, but either way it was nice to watch. He felt more at peace than he had all year.
"Hey Timothy." Barjnal floated down from the sky, settling lightly on the rooftop next to him. "I got your text message. Um. What's going on?"
Timothy turned to look at him, then smiled amiably. "Have a seat and relax. I'm not going to manipulate you today. The sun will be setting soon, don't want to miss that do you?" He gestured out at the water, beyond the sandy beach below.
"You didn't ask me to come here to look at sunsets." Barjnal's skepticism was obvious, but he took a seat on the roof's edge near Timothy. "What do you want?"
"To talk."
"You never want to just talk, Timothy Bastian."
Timothy smiled a bit, looking out over the water. "You're right. You usually are. You sometimes know me better than I know myself."
"Only sometimes?" Barjnal smiled a bit, warily.
"Maybe most of the time." He turned to face Barj again. "That's part of what I wanted to talk about, actually."
"It is?"
"Sure. Well, more generally, about the bond."
"Oh." Barjnal looked away, back at the descending sun. "What about it?"
"I've been thinking about it. About us. We're stuck together, rather permanently."
"Yeah." Barj bit his lip. "I know."
"Well, I thought about it, and I realized that eventually, we're going to have to get over this stuff and start working together again, start being friends again. And I realized that you really do care about me, and I realized that I really do care about you. And more, I realized that you already knew all this stuff all along, so what was the point in lying to you about it? It's not getting us anywhere."
Barjnal narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Timothy Bastian, the only time you're this honest with someone is when you want something."
Timothy cleared his throat, then spoke quietly. "I want to apologize."
"You what?" Barjnal sounded shocked. "What for?"
"I'm sorry for the past year. Sorry for not trusting you, for hurting you, for putting you through hell." He cleared his throat again. "It was wrong for me to do that."
"Okay..." Barjnal didn't seem to know what to really say, and he was still clearly apprehensive.
"I want to be friends again. Not this friendly distanced stuff we've been doing. Actual friends again." He paused, hesitantly, before continuing. "I'd like a friend. I need a friend."
Barjnal's eye kept going wider and wider as Timothy spoke. "Just a friend? Or are you--"
"Just a friend." Timothy cut him off. "I don't know about anything else yet. It... It all confuses me. I like girls, but I like you. I think Valerie's trying to help me sort through it, and... and I'm trying to let her help me. With that and other things. I'm tired of this all, Barji."
Barj nodded slowly. "You have to be nice to people, Timothy."
"I wouldn't be me if I were nice, and you know it." Timothy grinned faintly. "But I'll take a lot of the edge off."
"You're impossible." Barji rolled his eyes.
"So what do you say?" Timothy looked at him earnestly. "Give it another try?"
Barjnal looked out over the water for a long while. The sun was sliding down through the war walls, escaping beneath the distant horizon. He finally smiled, then scooted closer to Timothy. "We'll give it another try."
Timothy wrapped an arm around Barji as he leaned against him. "I'd like that."
The snowflakes were falling faster. He couldn't decide if this was still actually a flurry or if it had become a light snowstorm, but either way it was nice to watch. He felt more at peace than he had all year.