If Myr could stare at his watch he would; the expression on his face--amusement, puzzlement--is priceless.]
Permanently or on a temporary basis? [he finally manages, because oh, he likes this kid already.] Because if it's the former I might have a hard time explaining it to your father--you're Viren's son, aren't you?
Uuuh.... [Soren.exe has stopped working, restart of the boy required]
I guess? I mean, about the bond, I guess either works. It doesn't matter. And also! Sorry again! Wow, yeah, whoof... Was he rude to you or something? [or worse??? Can it just not be worse than that, please]
don't worry myr is responsible he'll file the error report with soren's programmers
uh, speaking of which--]
Then we can try out a temporary Bond and see how that works out for the plants, hm? I've got some questions I'd like to ask you about healing, too, if you don't mind--my Witch isn't much good at it and I wasn't, either, back home.
[A small pause as Myr thinks about that question, before giving an amused little "hmf".]
If I'm being truthful he certainly has, at some point, but I don't know there was any malice in it. We're [complicated] friends.
[Now is probably not the moment to launch into philosophical arguments on surety, Myr is pretty......sure.
Though the temptation's there to be flip like that and it is so strong because let's be real: Anyone who'd Bond with Viren Dragonprince has to be a little bit of a dick.]
We were Bonded, briefly. I know what he felt about me then, and that's as sure as anyone can be in Talam.
[This is a sweet and good boy whomst Myr already loves.
You're doomed, Soren.]
He's done things he can't remember? [Concerned. And, also, maybe nudging the conversation away from whether a certain dumb Faun is objective enough to be careful around someone he cares that much about.]
No, it's... the Viren that's here? He's pretty different, like he's changed- or- not just the dragon stuff. You know? Uh... how do I explain this- [he grumbles at himself on the other end of the line before considering with a distant snap of fingers through the receiver]
He doesn't know everything that happens, back home. Like, he came here before some... stuff. [like dying!]
Soooo, he doesn't know everything he ends up doing. Later. For him. But I know, I already did that.. part? [just say "I'm from the future", Soren, it's much simpler than this rambling]
[That's a note of weird awe in Myr's voice. Magic that bent time was theoretically possible back home, but never proven; and here the mirrors have just...done that.]
Oh, Maker. But if you are and if he's--gotten worse than he is...
[The awe vanishes. Myr trails off into silence to think about the implications of that.]
...He has gotten worse, hasn't he. [Forlorn.] By the time you're from.
He's not worse, he's... gone. [in many ways, he's gone. Soren is more emotional than he lets on, or tries to show, but it's there. He can't help but miss his dad, the way he knew him before everything got so wrong. He clears his throat to cover any warble of distress, earnest]
I need to make sure he stays here. He seems happier. Maybe because he has people like you around him. You probably know better than me.
Though this isn't the first time Myr's had to confront the idea one of his loved ones was doomed upon returning through the mirrors. He'd already known as much about L.
Even so...
There's a rustle from his side of the call as he rubs at his face.]
Maker's breath, I'd thought-- [Well. Too early to draw real conclusions about this, though it is disheartening to hear any changes...didn't seem to follow back through the mirrors.]
I'm sorry, [he settles on for a continuation.] However it came about you lost him. And I'd agree he's happier here--though I did promise I'd do whatever I could to see him home.
[Huff.] Before I knew any of this, mind. Now--
[Now a note of distress creeps into his tone, undisguised.] I'd thought we could send someone better back, if he had to return.
That's not how it works. [said simple and sad, having seen someone come through and then back out the mirror... it didn't work that way. They said they didn't remember anything when home, it only returned to them when they returned to the city. So, Soren doesn't have much faith in change for the better going through with his father.
Not to mention their further fall out in the last little while, due to what Soren told him. There's probably no recovering their relationship... but, maybe, Soren can help his dad through the others who care about him? Worth a shot.]
He has to stay here. If you really care about him, you're going to need to break that promise.
S'pose it was naive to think it would, [is Myr's rueful reply, papered over pending heartbreak. It had been a nice thought, a nice tidy end to all their stories--not to be.
He'll be a while letting go of it.]
I don't know the breaking or the keeping of it's in my hands; we haven't found a way to send anyone back home yet--nor a way to keep anyone here, [breath,] if their mirrors call them back.
[How many heartbroken Mirrorbound did he know of who'd lost partners, Bonded, friends?]
Guess not, huh... [Soren sighs, mind wandering before snapping back to focus]
Whoaa, oof! Like, sorry for laying all that on you! I just got your name... that was kinda a lot, huh? Whoof... [let's just eeeease right out of that tense conversation!!!!]
But, uh, I'm glad people care about him? Here? That's good, that he's got that. Earned it. I hope. My dad was really... great. He just got caught up in everything and I don't know what happened to him. You seem really nice, though! [sweet boy rambling will continue unless Myr stops him, he's not sure what to say so he's just kinda going on]
[It was kind of a lot and Soren's evaluation wrings a noise that might be charitably called a laugh out of Myr.]
No, never apologize for the truth. It'd have come out sooner or later--and truly, I'm happier knowing what the stakes are.
[He pauses, himself, considering for a long moment. How far will you pursue a painful truth, Myrobalan?
...Perhaps this is one to be taken up with the man himself, though how much Viren knew about his own ending, well. (How much Viren would tell about his own ending if he'd learned about it second-hand... well, again.)
Let it go--for now.]
Because he does have very devoted friends here--people do care about him and we'd not like to lose him. [Even if it sounded like losing the Dragon to his own hurts and obsessions was...a real risk.
Mark that one down for a later worry.]
Still--let's leave that one be for now, since you'd wanted to talk Bonds and magic, right? [Cheerful subject change time! He's here with you, Soren.]
Have you had much experience working with plants? And how long have you been about healing, anyway? Did you do any back home?
[Oh, wait, probably not--given dark magic--but the question slips out anyway.]
[Soren is very relieved to escape that particular topic, Myr quickly strikes him as a good guy. Probably the kind of influence his dad needs, like Harrow used to be... which is ironic, since he's an elf. But maybe that's also for the best, makes his father rethink how he's thought of them.]
Bonds! Right. I've done a bit with plants! Mostly collecting them when out with the Wilders. I know which ones are good for medicine, even if I don't... really know how to mix those up myself. I'm good at the magic healing, though.
Can do all the basic stuff and I'm learning the, uh... more complicated spells. The ones you need blood for, which is creepy and all, but seems worth it. For you what you can do. [and the fact he can use his own blood? Instead of some innocent creature? That's better than the Dark Magic way, at least in his mind. He's chalk full of blood, he can spare some to help people. He'd always been willing to risk himself, being a knight. This wasn't much different... he could tell himself.]
That's a good start, [Myr says encouragingly.] Knowing what's safe to use and what's not is more'n half of what you need to know, when it comes to using plants for healing. Or making a fine garden for an alchemist to harvest from.
[Oh, but there's the blood magic part. Myr puffs out a breath involuntarily, resists the urge to say oh, don't, and considers his response.]
It is creepy, isn't it. It's not something proper for mages to do, back home, though I understand it's routine here. [Huff.] ...I doubt I'll ever get comfortable with it, to be truthful with you.
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faithlikeaseed) wrote2019-08-01 12:00 am
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If Myr could stare at his watch he would; the expression on his face--amusement, puzzlement--is priceless.]
Permanently or on a temporary basis? [he finally manages, because oh, he likes this kid already.] Because if it's the former I might have a hard time explaining it to your father--you're Viren's son, aren't you?
[The voice and name finally clicked.]
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I guess? I mean, about the bond, I guess either works. It doesn't matter. And also! Sorry again! Wow, yeah, whoof... Was he rude to you or something? [or worse??? Can it just not be worse than that, please]
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don't worry myr is responsible he'll file the error report with soren's programmers
uh, speaking of which--]
Then we can try out a temporary Bond and see how that works out for the plants, hm? I've got some questions I'd like to ask you about healing, too, if you don't mind--my Witch isn't much good at it and I wasn't, either, back home.
[A small pause as Myr thinks about that question, before giving an amused little "hmf".]
If I'm being truthful he certainly has, at some point, but I don't know there was any malice in it. We're [
complicated] friends.no subject
[what's that saying about apples and trees tho]
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He saved my life. And we first met while I was still obviously an elf.
[How's that for the power of friendship!!]
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My dad... made friends with an elf.
[mmmm, doesn't quite add up, that math]
Are you sure, though?
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Though the temptation's there to be flip like that and it is so strong because let's be real: Anyone who'd Bond with Viren Dragonprince has to be a little bit of a dick.]
We were Bonded, briefly. I know what he felt about me then, and that's as sure as anyone can be in Talam.
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But, uh, right. Being bonded to us both would probably be weird. You're right. Got it.
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Temporary, for the sake of magical experimentation--that's no trouble.
[Then, more quietly,] I do know what he's done. Some of it.
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[also very fast to be protective, this boy. He really thinks it's his duty at this point.]
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You're doomed, Soren.]
He's done things he can't remember? [Concerned. And, also, maybe nudging the conversation away from whether a certain dumb Faun is objective enough to be careful around someone he cares that much about.]
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He doesn't know everything that happens, back home. Like, he came here before some... stuff. [like dying!]
Soooo, he doesn't know everything he ends up doing. Later. For him. But I know, I already did that.. part? [just say "I'm from the future", Soren, it's much simpler than this rambling]
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[That's a note of weird awe in Myr's voice. Magic that bent time was theoretically possible back home, but never proven; and here the mirrors have just...done that.]
Oh, Maker. But if you are and if he's--gotten worse than he is...
[The awe vanishes. Myr trails off into silence to think about the implications of that.]
...He has gotten worse, hasn't he. [Forlorn.] By the time you're from.
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I need to make sure he stays here. He seems happier. Maybe because he has people like you around him. You probably know better than me.
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Though this isn't the first time Myr's had to confront the idea one of his loved ones was doomed upon returning through the mirrors. He'd already known as much about L.
Even so...
There's a rustle from his side of the call as he rubs at his face.]
Maker's breath, I'd thought-- [Well. Too early to draw real conclusions about this, though it is disheartening to hear any changes...didn't seem to follow back through the mirrors.]
I'm sorry, [he settles on for a continuation.] However it came about you lost him. And I'd agree he's happier here--though I did promise I'd do whatever I could to see him home.
[Huff.] Before I knew any of this, mind. Now--
[Now a note of distress creeps into his tone, undisguised.] I'd thought we could send someone better back, if he had to return.
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Not to mention their further fall out in the last little while, due to what Soren told him. There's probably no recovering their relationship... but, maybe, Soren can help his dad through the others who care about him? Worth a shot.]
He has to stay here. If you really care about him, you're going to need to break that promise.
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He'll be a while letting go of it.]
I don't know the breaking or the keeping of it's in my hands; we haven't found a way to send anyone back home yet--nor a way to keep anyone here, [breath,] if their mirrors call them back.
[How many heartbroken Mirrorbound did he know of who'd lost partners, Bonded, friends?]
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Whoaa, oof! Like, sorry for laying all that on you! I just got your name... that was kinda a lot, huh? Whoof... [let's just eeeease right out of that tense conversation!!!!]
But, uh, I'm glad people care about him? Here? That's good, that he's got that. Earned it. I hope. My dad was really... great. He just got caught up in everything and I don't know what happened to him. You seem really nice, though! [sweet boy rambling will continue unless Myr stops him, he's not sure what to say so he's just kinda going on]
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No, never apologize for the truth. It'd have come out sooner or later--and truly, I'm happier knowing what the stakes are.
[He pauses, himself, considering for a long moment. How far will you pursue a painful truth, Myrobalan?
...Perhaps this is one to be taken up with the man himself, though how much Viren knew about his own ending, well. (How much Viren would tell about his own ending if he'd learned about it second-hand... well, again.)
Let it go--for now.]
Because he does have very devoted friends here--people do care about him and we'd not like to lose him. [Even if it sounded like losing the Dragon to his own hurts and obsessions was...a real risk.
Mark that one down for a later worry.]
Still--let's leave that one be for now, since you'd wanted to talk Bonds and magic, right? [Cheerful subject change time! He's here with you, Soren.]
Have you had much experience working with plants? And how long have you been about healing, anyway? Did you do any back home?
[Oh, wait, probably not--given dark magic--but the question slips out anyway.]
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Bonds! Right. I've done a bit with plants! Mostly collecting them when out with the Wilders. I know which ones are good for medicine, even if I don't... really know how to mix those up myself. I'm good at the magic healing, though.
Can do all the basic stuff and I'm learning the, uh... more complicated spells. The ones you need blood for, which is creepy and all, but seems worth it. For you what you can do. [and the fact he can use his own blood? Instead of some innocent creature? That's better than the Dark Magic way, at least in his mind. He's chalk full of blood, he can spare some to help people. He'd always been willing to risk himself, being a knight. This wasn't much different... he could tell himself.]
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[Oh, but there's the blood magic part. Myr puffs out a breath involuntarily, resists the urge to say oh, don't, and considers his response.]
It is creepy, isn't it. It's not something proper for mages to do, back home, though I understand it's routine here. [Huff.] ...I doubt I'll ever get comfortable with it, to be truthful with you.