[IC] [Mask or Menace] Contact Post

[dendarii]

"This is Miles. Leave a message and I'll respond to you at my earliest convenience."

The line has gone silent; any messages sent to this name only return an error.

Comments

[dendarii]

[ He leans in gently at that. ]

... Are you glad to get a chance to see me like this? Grown up?

[keep_nothing]

Absolutely. Happy beyond my wildest dreams.

[dendarii]

[ Some secret part of himself sparks brightly at that, a sore spot soothed. ]

Really? Even with - well, everything?

[ He gestures down to himself. ]

[keep_nothing]

Miles, we were afraid we'd have to carry you in a bucket for the rest of your life. The fact that you can walk without damaging your hips or femurs or anything was far beyond our expectations.

And not just physically. There was some doubt about the re-calcification treatments impeding your brain development. Your father is ecstatic that you're playing and holding ground in your war games with him.

[dendarii]

[ He's heard something similar from Aral before, but it still warms him straight to the heart every time. He'd been so busy seeing his limitations he doesn't see his progress sometimes...

A faint shiver goes through him at the mention of brain development, though. ]

Thank god for that. I'd have been nothing at all without my mind.

[keep_nothing]

No, [ she says firmly. ] You would have been our son.

[dendarii]

Even in a bucket? Even with stunted brain development?

[keep_nothing]

Even then.

[dendarii]

Then what do I have to complain about, eh?

[ He smiles faintly at that. ]

[keep_nothing]

Oh, I'm sure you'll complain about plenty of things. This just won't be one of them.

[ She leans down to place a kiss on his hair. ]

[dendarii]

I'm perfectly alright with that.

[keep_nothing]

Good.

[ Another kiss for her son. ]

[dendarii]

[ He takes it gladly, scrunching up his face into a pleased expression. Although ... a thought has occurred to him. ]

If I had an opportunity to fix all this, though - [ He says, gesturing to himself. ] - would you want me to take it?

[keep_nothing]

[ The question catches her off-guard, blinking stupidly for a moment. ]

What do you mean?

[dendarii]

[ The link is kind of taut too; it's obviously not a question just posed out of curiosity. ]

We have healers here. What if someone could completely undo the damage? Make me tall and healthy?

[keep_nothing]

[ Now she frowns at the question. ]

But ... it wouldn't so much be a healing at this point, would it? More like completely undoing who you are.

[dendarii]

[ He waves off that objection. ]

Mother, please. You just got done saying I'd still be your son even if were an idiot in a bucket.

[keep_nothing]

You would still obviously be our son; that's not what I meant.

Being like this, [ she mimics his gesture to himself, ] has made you who you are. It's driven every choice and calculation you made, every word you've said. To change that foundation might shake you to the core in ways you haven't realized yet.

[dendarii]

[ Miles frowns a bit. ]

... You don't like the idea. I thought surely you'd be relieved, at least ...

[keep_nothing]

Oh, I'd be thrilled to see your body fully grown and straight. But I'm talking about something deeper than your bones.

[dendarii]

Which is what, exactly?

[keep_nothing]

Yourself. Your soul.

[dendarii]

If my soul survived being in this body, it will be perfectly fine in a healthy one.

[keep_nothing]

[ She sighs, not wanting to argue further on it. ]

What's the catch then?

[dendarii]

... It only lasts for three days. Then I go back to this.