TLV: IC Contact

[sixfeetofdirt]

Careful; I bite.

Comments

[handleyourshit]

Then I'll look for him.

With a trowel, maybe. Because while I know you can handle yourself, I think it's important that people know someone isn't alone.

[sixfeetofdirt]

A trowel is almost worse, if you're implying you'd go to the effort of burying him with something so small.

[handleyourshit]

Well, I left my backhoe in my other pants.

[sixfeetofdirt]

[A chuckle.] You know I don't know what that is.

[handleyourshit]

Big piece of construction equipment. For digging very large holes, very quickly.

Pretty simple to drive, turns out.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Hm.

How are you, Rosita?

[He's not unaware that this time of year is complicated for her.]

[handleyourshit]

Cold.

[Literally never going to shut up about it.]

But I'm okay. On my feet.

Chewing on some of the stuff I've talked about with you and a few others.

[sixfeetofdirt]

What kind of stuff?

...if this a conversation better had in person, you can come to me or vice versa.

[handleyourshit]

I was actually going to ask if you'd teach me to sew, anyway.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Ah! Well, I don't know what my talents are as a teacher, but I can try.

[handleyourshit]

I mean, I can hit the broad side of a barn with a bow now. Can't be too bad.

When's a good time to come over and what should I bring?

[sixfeetofdirt]

I don't know that I can take any credit for that.

Perhaps bring something damaged you'd like to repair? We can start with scraps, but it's useful to have something you'd like to work up to.

[handleyourshit]

That I can do.

I'll be by in a bit then.

[sixfeetofdirt]

I'll see you shortly, darling.

[handleyourshit]

[And she does turn up shortly thereafter, bundled in layers, pack on her back, and -]

I brought some kitchen scraps for Aylin. [- she says when the door is opened, and she's holding out a parchment paper wrapped packet that will turn out to be beef trimmings from lunch.]

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh - that's thoughtful of you, thank you. Do come in."

Aylin can smell what's going on the moment Astarion opens the parchment, and goes threading around his feet until he's placed the treats into her dish.

"Spoiled creature," he murmurs, scratching lightly behind her ears.

There's a new addition to his room: a full length mirror near his closet, with an elegant wooden frame.

[handleyourshit]

She clocks it immediately, of course, because there is no world in which she's capable of entering a room without scoping it out; she takes the time he's feeding the cat to drop her pack and a few layers, and she's looking at the mirror by the time he comes back, albeit from across the room.

"I see you didn't come up empty handed from Christmas," she comments. She has an addition of her own, the gleam of a gold chain around her neck, but the pendant is between her shirt and her skin. "Anything good?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh, a few things. Two people had the same idea, actually-"

He holds up his right hand, showing her a silver ring there.

"This lets me taste food and drink, just as I could in the island's dawnlight."

[handleyourshit]

She blinks at the ring, taking a moment to catch up and a moment longer to wonder about who, but it's not important.

She'll just have to find another gift herself - because three people, actually - but that doesn't diminish the fact that:

"Oh, that's wonderful. Is there a limit on it? Side effects?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"No, nothing. It's...honestly, I haven't even used it much. If overeating will make me sick, I'd rather not find out," he admits, with a weak laugh. "And then there's this."

He turns to the mirror, which currently seems like any other - which is to say, unable to show his reflection. He touches a hand to the frame and seems to take a moment to focus, or reach for something inside himself.

"Imago."

The silver shimmers, then shows him his reflection, life-size and complete in a way his little device could never accomplish.

[handleyourshit]

"We'll have to test it," she decides. "I bet you'll like spicy food."

She has no idea actually, but she wants to get ahead of someone discouraging him from that. But then he's messing with the mirror and she trails over to see, though she gives him space just in case and, behind him, she's smiling.

"You like it?" she asks, stepping up beside him, just to hear and see him say it.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Yes," he says. "I've spent far too long looking for wrinkles, but - yes. It's a rather fine gift. Even if Aylin does keep trying to fight herself."

[handleyourshit]

"Just like the rest of us."

She can't imagine what it's like not to be able to look over and see herself; can't imagine how it might feel to have it back.

But she does know the overall value of a good full length mirror.

"We'll have to put this through its paces, too," she says, bumping his shoulder eith hers. "Find you something extra special to show off in."

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion smiles slyly at her reflection.

"Are you saying you're tired of my regular wardrobe, my sweet?"

[handleyourshit]

"I would never," she assures him.

"But you wouldn't deprive all of us - yourself included - of a bit of novelty, would you?"