[center][h1]Diante Nickelson[/h1]
[i][u]2016[/u][/i][/center]

Diante was currently doing the last bit of inventory of the fiction section of the Thornwood library, an annoyed furrowing of his brow  having slowly formed after he recounted how many of the books that should be here were missing, and for how long. [i]God, this is ridiculous. How hard is it for people to turn in a book? You don't even have to walk into the building, just put it in the slot and be done with it.[/i] Diante let out a long sigh as he began massaging the bridge of his nose, turning around to head back to the front desk where his colleague, Michael, was currently playing some mobile game on his phone. Given previous experience, it was probably Angry birds, as the young 20 year old seemed to have an almost disturbing fixation on it as of late.

"Michael, I'm done with inventory and heading out, can you hold down the fort while I'm gone."

Diante was met with only silence as Michael drew his finger across the screen, his brow furrowed intensely as his eyes tried to figure the perfect angle to slaughter the green pig menence with as little casualties as possible. However, before he could accomplish the task,he'd find the phone being yanked out of his hand, but not before he saw his shot go wild with his small feathered blue friend flying straight up into the sky.

"Hey, what the fuck, Dian?!?! I almost had it!"

"Yes, and you can start over with no drawbacks, so I can't say I'm too sorry." Diante said bluntly, not truly in the mood to hear Michael's whining today after doing a rather depressing stint of inventory. "And please don't spend your entire day with your eye's on this think, it'll burn them out. Now, did you hear me the first time, or do I have to repeat myself?" Diante unconsciously crossed his arms and slipped into tone that he used when he had to say these exact words to Sara(or was it Michonne today?), something which brought a sigh and an eye roll from the young man as he responded in an annoyed tone.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll make sure that the people who steal the books have the courtesy to check them out first, now can I have my phone back?"

Diante returned the man's phone without another as he made his way back, chuckling a bit at the man's dry humor due to the truth behind the words, even if it was somewhat exaggerated. He'd make his way to the car, bringing up his own device in preparation to call up the babysitter he'd called for Sara today, only to have it beep as he received a text.

[quote=Samantha]Before you call me again for your hourly check up, I'm giving you an update that Sara's doing fine, just upstairs reading the last time I checked on her. Will be awaiting for your next call within the hour.[/quote]

The tone of the message brought a bit of a frown to Diante's face as he pocketed his device. Samantha was an old friend he'd met during his short stint in college and one of the very few people he'd trust to watch Sara for him when he had to got unexpectedly called out to work or meet with someone for something. She was also one who was quick to let you know when something was annoying her, which apparently his constant check-ins seemed to have done.

"Sorry for wanting to make sure everything was going well." He'd mutter to himself as he'd get into his car, starting up on his way towards the cemetery today, the somberness of today's date sinking into him as he let out a soft sigh.

[hr]

Diante would walk down the neatly trimmed and well-kept lawns of the deceased, his eyes spotting the small group standing around one of the more recent ones, and another sigh would escape his lips as he made his way up to the others. He was dressed in a thick-looking brown woolen overcoat, the front open to show a rather plain red and white plaid shirt, his lower half dressed in regular boot-cut jeans and some black shoes to finish out the ensemble. His hair was drawn back into a ponytail that reached down to just a bit past his shoulders, giving him a rather mature appearance.

As he walked up, he nod to everyone else, but he'd keep his silence, not wanting to disturb the moment. he'd not been as well acquainted with Paul or Eli, and while he found the elder brother's death to be dramatic and had done all he fleet he could do to give Eli any support he could manage, he'd thought it best to let those closer to him do the talking. He was hear to show his support to a friend, and maybe listen to a little about what they had to say, if that was needed. He stopped his walk next to Ali, giving her a short wave of hello, though in this somber atmosphere, he couldn't manage even manage the ghost of a smile that she was currently wearing.

As Diante looked down at the grave of Paul, he felt within him a cold emptiness tugging at his heart, his mind flashing back to his mother's own death. His breath caught in his throat a bite as his hands clenched into fists, but as quickly as the thoughts had come over him, he'd shut them down, burying the emotions deep into his subconscious. This was a time to allow Eli to mourn, no reason to ruin the moment by bringing up his own issues. Still, he couldn't help but the single tear that he felt inch it's way down his face, though he was quick to wipe it away, hoping that none of the others had noticed.