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[mykidisthebest]

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[mykidisthebest]

[fffrowns]

Amnesia? Do you know why? I mean--if you hit your head, or if it was something magical that caused it.

[terraria]

( he just shakes his head. )

I don't remember, frustratingly enough. Perhaps if I had been seen by a doctor or healer when I was young, I would have known the cause.

As it is... the most likely culprit is some sort of trauma I had as a child, because none of my memories have returned with any sort of prompting. I have an inkling as to what it may have been, but I can't be sure.

[mykidisthebest]

[opens his mouth

closes his mouth

thinks for a moment and opens his mouth again]

...I guess, the most useful secret that I can tell you right now is that I have a skill that can potentially help people restore lost memories.

[terraria]

...

( reaches over... pinches his cheek and lightly pulls. )

Are you playing a prank on me, Lethe of Lily?

[mykidisthebest]

I'm not! These are secrets, remember? The intention behind the skill isn't to get memories back, it's just something that can possibly be done with it as long as the memories are still inside of you. My skill allows me to create a mental and sensory link between people. If you open that link wide enough, I can go inside of a person's mind. But, you know, it's obviously pretty invasive. And it eats up a lot of my mana. So it's not exactly something I try to do often.

[terraria]

( he draws back with a blink. )

It sounds like my soul magic... I don't think it's invasive. Well, considering you give permission and receive consent...

( ... but he looks away. )

You could just have told me a secret of your own choosing instead of one that would be helpful. I appreciate that you told me, but... you don't have to be helpful.

[mykidisthebest]

The skill needs consent to work, otherwise I just get a backlash. And besides, can't it be a secret of my own choosing and helpful? I was still thinking of one anyways. So you could say you saved me the trouble.

[terraria]

You choose what you choose.

( perci peers up at lethe with a serious, yet tender look in his eye. )

I won't begrudge your choice, I just want to make sure you know that you don't need to be of service.

[mykidisthebest]

[squirms a little under his gaze; perci's not wrong to call him on that]

...I know. But it's still nice to help where you can. If everyone helps a little, the world's a better place to live in, you know?

[terraria]

Yes... but that burden falls to all of us. Not simply you. Allow yourself to be taken care of so others can take care of you in turn.

[mykidisthebest]

I'm not gonna argue with that if I need to be taken care of. Right now I think the only thing I need help with is burning my hand.

[holds a hand out for the light]

[terraria]

( frowns!!

but he does pass the lamp over, pulling off the top part to expose the flame. )

[mykidisthebest]

...Thank you.

[the way he says "thank you" makes it sound like it's for more than just passing over the lamp.

but then with zero hesitation he puts his hand over the flame and keeps it there right up until it starts to burn and then yanks it back]

--Ack, that's really hot!

[terraria]

( firmly but tenderly grasps his wrist, turning the hand over. crying on command is very useful, but also lethe probably hasn't had to see his eyes get all glassy before he fake cries so. might take it as actual crying. )

[mykidisthebest]

[he does think it's actual crying; even though perci told him that he could cry on command, it's one thing to know that and quite another to see it in action. he gets a deer-in-headlights kind of look while his hand is being healed]

You don't have to...It doesn't hurt that much.

[terraria]

( he does sound a little sniffly. )

It's still a burn. Let me do this.

[mykidisthebest]

[the back of his neck heats up again. why is this healing method the most emotionally embarrassing and upsetting]

...If it's private you don't have to tell me. But how did you get burned in the past?

cw: tor... ture... burning...

[terraria]

( to his credit, perci is quiet. maybe he won't say anything. maybe it's too private, and he swipes his thumb across the last of lethe's burn to make sure it's fully healed. )

It was my former Master's favorite way to make me obey. He was a very gifted fire mage and healer, one of the strongest I've ever met... he would burn me until I was nearly dead and then heal me completely, and repeat the process until I would agree to be obedient.

1/2

[mykidisthebest]

[HEY WHAT THE HELL THAT'S HORRIFYING????]

2/2

[mykidisthebest]

[takes a small, shallow breath. there are a lot of follow-up questions one could have about that whole situation. most of them feel too private to ask, given that revelation. so he settles on a slightly safe one.]

Is he dead?

[terraria]

( ... blink. )

Why does that tend to be everyone's first question...?

[mykidisthebest]

Any other question feels bad to ask. And obviously no one wants him to be able to hurt you again. If he's dead he can't hurt anyone.

[terraria]

I would point out that the Weed did die and came back, but I think that's a moot point now...

He is dead, yes.

[mykidisthebest]

On other worlds, death is a little more permanent than it is here.

[...leans over and, mindful of the lamp, gives him a quick hug]

Sorry I asked something too personal. And thanks for telling me.

[terraria]

( ...........

briefly clings back, but he does let go. )

If it was too personal, I wouldn't have shared it. It's alright...

( but once he pulls back, perci has to suck in a deep breath, exhale, and nervously glance to the lamp. this flame is the hurdle between him and his staff.

he's hesitant as he hovers his hand near, and then on the flame, shutting his eyes tight and turning his head away. )