sentinel-of-timepieces

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

Sir Hokma, are you familiar with bonded pairs?

In nature, some animals will form a bond with one other, resulting in a bonded pair. If the couple is split apart for a lasting period of time-- like if one of the partners dies, or one of them is adopted into someone's home without the other-- surviving partners become anxious and depressed, and some end up giving up on life altogether, refusing to eat or drink and starving themselves to death.

...

...Ah. I think I understand the point you're trying to make.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

I thought you were gonna answer that yellow was your favourite colour, due to Ayin's eyes. His favourite is green and your eyes are a factor in that, after all.

I... ah. I do have a fondness for yellow, too, for the same reasons.

In either case, it's still... difficult for me to separate if the color is a favorite because of the color itself, or because of the color's personal associations. It's a bit silly, but somehow I feel like it's... disingenuous to say a color is my favorite if I have no strong feelings towards the color itself, but rather, the attachment is to the personal associations.

...I'm quite certain someone will come and laugh at me now for overthinking something so simple.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

Well... there were the filters, at least for a bit, weren't there? Though, I don't know how closely the filter image resembled what I look like now. But... I do understand what you mean.

[He shakes his head once, an attempt to shoo away the memories of those shared harrowing experiences.]

I know many of us here want to see you again, too. I wonder just how we would go about it? Perhaps having a chat with Roland may help give us a step in the right direction.

[He holds a small tablet that a giggling Assistant Librarian had given him. On the screen appears to be a live video feed of a black rabbit, sniffing curiously at the device.]

Aw... very cute. I'm not sure why Gidon gave me this, but... it's a very cute rabbit. Hello, little one. Ah-- though you probably can't hear me, can you?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

May we know your favourite colour, Sir Hokma?

That's... hmm.

That's a rather difficult question, because color is one of those many things that I don't have a strong preference for. While much of my floor is shades of white and grey, it isn't necessarily because it's a preferred color. Much like the color itself, I'm quite neutral.

I have to think about that one.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

Sir, I heard they're saying you'll need to share Buna- I mean, the Manager with Chesed!!

Is that-- Bunayin? Is that his name now? That's quite cute, I must admit.

And of course! That's certainly not a problem, provided that's what Ay-- Bunayin wants, too.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

workaholic

noun

/ˈwʌrkəhɑlɪk/ or /ˈwʌkəhɒlɪk/

A workaholic is someone who can't stop working. Workaholics are obsessed with working to an unhealthy degree.

Work can wait, especially something like organising books. People and relationships? Not so much.

Look, we know why you bury yourself in work, but do you really think this is what he would want? And it doesn't matter what you think because we know what he wants! He wants you to be happy, even if it isn't together. And trust me, sooner or later we will get him back, but in the meanwhile you ought to take care of yourself.

I... hah.

I know. All of this, I know. And I think... I think that now-- knowing for a fact that he still exists, being able to talk to him and see him, despite being apart-- I can finally begin taking care of myself.

I think that now... I can start to be happy again. For the first time since all of this began, I can sleep, reassured that he will still exist when I wake from those dreams.

Now... there is someone to take care of, rather than a hollow shell.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

What'll you do if you manage to get him back but he's just... stuck like that now :o?

Stuck as a rabbit, you mean?

Well... Personally, I wouldn't mind. Even as a rabbit, Ayin can still communicate, and even if he couldn't...

I would be happy, no matter what form Ayin would take. What matters most is that... it's him.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

[He touches the image of rabbit Ayin on the screen longingly.]

I missed you too, Ayin. More than anything... and I'm so grateful to have the chance to see you again, and it's not another dream...

[He quickly wipes a tear away from his eye.]

Well. Now that you're not formless, we have to figure out how to get you out of there, don't we?

[He holds a small tablet that a giggling Assistant Librarian had given him. On the screen appears to be a live video feed of a black rabbit, sniffing curiously at the device.]

Aw... very cute. I'm not sure why Gidon gave me this, but... it's a very cute rabbit. Hello, little one. Ah-- though you probably can't hear me, can you?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

Outskirts News:

Hokma Becomes #1 Grandpa in The Library By Doing Absolutely Nothing

I... suppose so, hm?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

We gotta get you a "#1 Dad in The Library" mug

Ah-- that's quite flattering, but-- I'm not sure that I'd deserve it, to be honest.

Besides, aren't I a bit... mmm... old for that?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

You made Angela together with Ayin, right? Couldn't you help modifier her in way to would give her more human properties? Like a normal perception of time, for instance?

Ah... yes, we did make her together. However, our contributions were split. It was my task to physically construct her body, while Ayin was the one who wrote her programming and constructed her AI-- including, regrettably, her slowed perception of time.

If I were more skilled in that regard-- and if Angela wished it, of course-- I wouldn't hesitate to help her in that way. Despite everything that's happened... I don't want her to suffer any more than she already has.

That said, I also wouldn't go around making drastic changes to her body and brain without her consent. It is her body, and she deserves that agency after being denied it for so long.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

I know you like clocks but do you prefer analogue or digital ones? If you have a preference, may we know why?

Analog.

Simply because... there is no clockwork to hear inside digital clocks.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

I-- I certainly hope this isn't a dream either, but you're right that I don't think either of us would dream of you as a rabbit... But you're right, none of that matters. In one form or another, it's so good to see you again, Ayin...

[He's already quite misty-eyed.]

Somehow, I don't think you've existed as a rabbit in the Light for this long, so... What was your form like before? Or did you not have one before?

[He holds a small tablet that a giggling Assistant Librarian had given him. On the screen appears to be a live video feed of a black rabbit, sniffing curiously at the device.]

Aw... very cute. I'm not sure why Gidon gave me this, but... it's a very cute rabbit. Hello, little one. Ah-- though you probably can't hear me, can you?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

[He blinks. He is absolutely stunned.]

Ayin?!

[That is definitely Ayin's voice coming out of that rabbit's mouth.]

Ayin, how-- When-- You-- How--?! It-- really is you, it must be, unless this is a very vivid dream, somehow--

[He holds a small tablet that a giggling Assistant Librarian had given him. On the screen appears to be a live video feed of a black rabbit, sniffing curiously at the device.]

Aw... very cute. I'm not sure why Gidon gave me this, but... it's a very cute rabbit. Hello, little one. Ah-- though you probably can't hear me, can you?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

[He holds a small tablet that a giggling Assistant Librarian had given him. On the screen appears to be a live video feed of a black rabbit, sniffing curiously at the device.]

Aw... very cute. I'm not sure why Gidon gave me this, but... it's a very cute rabbit. Hello, little one. Ah-- though you probably can't hear me, can you?

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

Since text seems to go through... have you considered video calls?

That... I hadn't really considered that.

It seems sound enough, and I could likely get things to work well on my end, at least. But... the question remains of just what Ayin's form is like inside the Light. If he's formless, then there would be nothing to see, after all. Not to mention, it's unknown how text seems to be getting through.

Even Ayin himself doesn't seem to be aware of what his form is like. There being any sort of medium of communication to begin with... is a miracle in and of itself.

[sentinel-of-timepieces]

What are your feelings about being made into a plushie?

That's-- hmm.

I suppose there are worse things to be made into. It's... a bit flattering, I'm not exactly the most approachable Patron Librarian, but... I certainly can't control what the Assistants do in their spare time.