"It's nice to talk about her sometimes. She's a telepath, like John, but
not from a distance. Limited to when she's touching you, and it's stronger
with emotions than words. Between her and John, they're ruining me for
non-telepathic relationships." She's clearly joking, she loves her other
partners, but emotional telepathy is the best thing.
"I think that's part of how I got comfortable with John so quickly. I was
used to having Iris in my head whenever she was in arm's reach."
He nodded, and winced a little. A touch telepath...he felt the unease roll through him, and he could hear the whisper of Scratch in his ear. A whisper of a memory.
He shivered, closing his eyes briefly.
"That sounds like quite the experience." He managed, but couldn't go further then that. Because he couldn't follow it up with 'I couldn't imagine what it was like' when he knew the worst of how it could be.
He tried to swallow. Didn't manage. But offered Maggie a soft smile.
"Before the Barge-" He started, and stopped. Took in a deep breath, and continued. "Before the Barge, before Arthur and John, I encountered a being known only as Mr Scratch. What I did not know at the time was it could go into other people, not just the person it possessed at the time."
He stared at nothing. "I don't let anyone into my head if I can help it."
Maggie raises a hand to stroke his hair as she tells him, "My world has no
magic I've ever seen. We fucked ourselves up with pure science. I had no
context or trauma around it before the Barge. So for me, nothing in
my life has ever felt safer than Iris or John wrapping me up as thoroughly
in feelings as they do when they hold me."
He startled a little. While he did relax, it was clear: Oscar wasn't used to personal, affectionate touch.
But he sighed quietly, and nodded slowly. Careful not to dislodge her fingers from his hair.
"I completely understand Maggie. You don't have to explain yourself, or why it is so wonderful it is for you. I am glad you're happy and feel loved with them being with you, body and soul." His mouth was crooked. "I'm sure that Arthur and John are intermingled and within each others minds, in and out all the time."
"This okay?" she asks softly, hand stilling on his head for a moment. She
didn't mean to startle him.
"Arthur most of all, I assume, but John's in various people's minds to some
degree. Anyway, Iris is bright and brilliant, joy and adventure and a
sprawling sense of possibility. She sees interesting challenges where most
people see obstacles. She has a sharp streak, she'll bite without
hesitating if you threaten or hurt people she cares about, but she's
terrible at holding grudges for long. Unlike me. That is one of my
flaws. Although I consider it an asset in certain scenarios."
"It's okay. Just...new." He told her, voice also soft. His eyes closed, and he relaxed, trying to simply enjoy it without sinking into the couch.
But he listened quietly to hear who Iris was, and more importantly, what she was to his sister.
"I can also hold grudges." He admitted. "Not always, but I can. So...we at least have that in common. But she sounds like quite the person. Almost...larger then life."
It made him think, wistfully, of Arthur in a way. But...louder.
Then she isn't going to stop, her hand still moving through his hair. She will get up to help make cinnamon rolls as promised. But this is worth appreciating first.
Maggie laughs. Oscar isn't wrong, but... "She's a tiny woman with an enormous personality. Which honestly feels weirdly fitting for a woman who flies around the universe in a ship that's bigger inside than out. I tower over her. I can easily tuck her under my chin when I hug her." Five-foot-nothing to Maggie's five-seven.
He was melting slowly from the affection. He might end up falling asleep from it even Cinnamon rolls could wait. This was important.
But hearing that, he chuckled. "It reminds me of one of my parishioners. Marie. No nonsense personality. Small as a bird, biggest heart you'll ever find. But a spitfire."
His smile widened. "What did you two like to do together? Did you go on dates?"
"Sounds about right." None of that sounds like a terrible summary of Iris.
"Sort of? We've always been on the Barge, so dates were in ports, or
adventures the Enclosure, or dinner in one of our cabins. If we were
sleeping, it had to be at hers, because Iris can't sleep the whole night
and doesn't like to stay still. She'd want to get up and tinker at her
workbench while I kept sleeping." Maggie fingers the gold stylized leaping
hare pendant she never takes off; Iris made it for her a few years ago.
Really, the more he heard of her, the more he thought he'd like Iris. She seemed like she was an unforgettable person. He'd have to ask John or Arthur if they were friends with her.
"So she was a craftswoman as well then? What did she like to make?" He felt like he was asking a lot of questions but...at least they were getting softer. Sleepier as the touch continued.
"She and one of her former inmates made me a bone book stand that can turn
pages for me, so I can read when I'm a wolf. Which seems silly, but
sometimes it's nice to be wolf-shaped without putting down my book. And
this was her work." Maggie holds out the leaping hare pendant for Oscar to
see.
Maggie leans into him a little harder, resting her head on his shoulder
again. "The mechanical part, the actual page turning, was Iris's work. But
her inmate at the time could manipulate any parts of the body. Does it help
that I know exactly where the bones came from? He was taking leftover bones
from the kitchens so he could turn them into useful things; it's only what
was discarded after feeding the ship."
Far from the biggest favor John Gaius did her. "...And now an Admiral
request has taken its place, but while he was here, he was also the one who
did the work to contain my virus by making sure my skin can't be cut while
I'm on the Barge."
Mostly he hoped they weren't, well. Human bones. The idea disturbed him, as much as the idea that something like that may very well exist in his world, human bones and all.
"For an inmate he sounds like he was...very powerful. I wouldn't have thought such ability could exist. Did he make other things for you, with Iris?"
"Mmhmm." Animal bones only, ethically sourced. She promises.
"Iris didn't limit his powers, and he helped out around the ship more than
most wardens do. I don't have anything else he made. I do have an
undamaged liver? I got shot during a trip home, and he fixed it after."
He nods. Good, he liked that. Human bones seemed too readily used in his world.
"An undamaged liver...it seems he was quite powerful and skilled." And it made him think he needed to do more. He needed to think of projects, things the Barge could use- that people could use.
"That's wonderful. I came in with my ah, arm adjustment a few days before my arrival."
"Mmm. And if you're planning on going back to the same place, you can't
let anyone regrow it here," she assumes softly. "Or make too
futuristic-looking a prosthetic."
She doesn't show any sign of moving to do it now, but she'll offer, "Any
time you need an extra hand for baking, I'm happy to lend one."
He nodded slowly. At least...finally, it felt like, someone understood why he couldn't have his arm regrown, even if it would have made things easier. And too, it was confusion with every breach where he had two hands.
"I know John would love nothing more then to restore my hand. Or Ulla, or any of the other healers on board. But...people knew I was near death. I was in the hospital. There are records. It will be difficult to explain my recovery as it is."
He sighed, and smiled at her. "So I will always appreciate the help, Maggie."
"I do think there are people out there who could manage a subtle enough
prosthetic to be useful without being too noticeable or anachronistic; I
could always have Will and Malcolm ask Iris next time they see her. But
it's your body, and entirely your choice."
Her voice is warm as she promises, "We'll make those cinnamon rolls before
I leave today."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: post-breach
"It's nice to talk about her sometimes. She's a telepath, like John, but not from a distance. Limited to when she's touching you, and it's stronger with emotions than words. Between her and John, they're ruining me for non-telepathic relationships." She's clearly joking, she loves her other partners, but emotional telepathy is the best thing.
"I think that's part of how I got comfortable with John so quickly. I was used to having Iris in my head whenever she was in arm's reach."
Re: post-breach
He shivered, closing his eyes briefly.
"That sounds like quite the experience." He managed, but couldn't go further then that. Because he couldn't follow it up with 'I couldn't imagine what it was like' when he knew the worst of how it could be.
Re: post-breach
"I stepped on a nerve," she notes, leaning into him a little harder. She doesn't have to know what it was to know it hurt. "You alright, Oz?"
Re: post-breach
"Before the Barge-" He started, and stopped. Took in a deep breath, and continued. "Before the Barge, before Arthur and John, I encountered a being known only as Mr Scratch. What I did not know at the time was it could go into other people, not just the person it possessed at the time."
He stared at nothing. "I don't let anyone into my head if I can help it."
Re: post-breach
Maggie raises a hand to stroke his hair as she tells him, "My world has no magic I've ever seen. We fucked ourselves up with pure science. I had no context or trauma around it before the Barge. So for me, nothing in my life has ever felt safer than Iris or John wrapping me up as thoroughly in feelings as they do when they hold me."
Re: post-breach
But he sighed quietly, and nodded slowly. Careful not to dislodge her fingers from his hair.
"I completely understand Maggie. You don't have to explain yourself, or why it is so wonderful it is for you. I am glad you're happy and feel loved with them being with you, body and soul." His mouth was crooked. "I'm sure that Arthur and John are intermingled and within each others minds, in and out all the time."
Re: post-breach
"This okay?" she asks softly, hand stilling on his head for a moment. She didn't mean to startle him.
"Arthur most of all, I assume, but John's in various people's minds to some degree. Anyway, Iris is bright and brilliant, joy and adventure and a sprawling sense of possibility. She sees interesting challenges where most people see obstacles. She has a sharp streak, she'll bite without hesitating if you threaten or hurt people she cares about, but she's terrible at holding grudges for long. Unlike me. That is one of my flaws. Although I consider it an asset in certain scenarios."
Re: post-breach
But he listened quietly to hear who Iris was, and more importantly, what she was to his sister.
"I can also hold grudges." He admitted. "Not always, but I can. So...we at least have that in common. But she sounds like quite the person. Almost...larger then life."
It made him think, wistfully, of Arthur in a way. But...louder.
Re: post-breach
Then she isn't going to stop, her hand still moving through his hair. She will get up to help make cinnamon rolls as promised. But this is worth appreciating first.
Maggie laughs. Oscar isn't wrong, but... "She's a tiny woman with an enormous personality. Which honestly feels weirdly fitting for a woman who flies around the universe in a ship that's bigger inside than out. I tower over her. I can easily tuck her under my chin when I hug her." Five-foot-nothing to Maggie's five-seven.
Re: post-breach
Cinnamon rolls could wait. This was important.
But hearing that, he chuckled. "It reminds me of one of my parishioners. Marie. No nonsense personality. Small as a bird, biggest heart you'll ever find. But a spitfire."
His smile widened. "What did you two like to do together? Did you go on dates?"
Re: post-breach
"Sounds about right." None of that sounds like a terrible summary of Iris.
"Sort of? We've always been on the Barge, so dates were in ports, or adventures the Enclosure, or dinner in one of our cabins. If we were sleeping, it had to be at hers, because Iris can't sleep the whole night and doesn't like to stay still. She'd want to get up and tinker at her workbench while I kept sleeping." Maggie fingers the gold stylized leaping hare pendant she never takes off; Iris made it for her a few years ago.
Re: post-breach
"So she was a craftswoman as well then? What did she like to make?" He felt like he was asking a lot of questions but...at least they were getting softer. Sleepier as the touch continued.
Re: post-breach
"She and one of her former inmates made me a bone book stand that can turn pages for me, so I can read when I'm a wolf. Which seems silly, but sometimes it's nice to be wolf-shaped without putting down my book. And this was her work." Maggie holds out the leaping hare pendant for Oscar to see.
Re: post-breach
He cleared his throat, and peered to the necklace.
"That's lovely." He told her. "The book stand must be wonderful for you to use. Just um...bones throw me off a bit."
Re: post-breach
Maggie leans into him a little harder, resting her head on his shoulder again. "The mechanical part, the actual page turning, was Iris's work. But her inmate at the time could manipulate any parts of the body. Does it help that I know exactly where the bones came from? He was taking leftover bones from the kitchens so he could turn them into useful things; it's only what was discarded after feeding the ship."
Far from the biggest favor John Gaius did her. "...And now an Admiral request has taken its place, but while he was here, he was also the one who did the work to contain my virus by making sure my skin can't be cut while I'm on the Barge."
Re: post-breach
Mostly he hoped they weren't, well. Human bones. The idea disturbed him, as much as the idea that something like that may very well exist in his world, human bones and all.
"For an inmate he sounds like he was...very powerful. I wouldn't have thought such ability could exist. Did he make other things for you, with Iris?"
Re: post-breach
"Mmhmm." Animal bones only, ethically sourced. She promises.
"Iris didn't limit his powers, and he helped out around the ship more than most wardens do. I don't have anything else he made. I do have an undamaged liver? I got shot during a trip home, and he fixed it after."
Re: post-breach
"An undamaged liver...it seems he was quite powerful and skilled." And it made him think he needed to do more. He needed to think of projects, things the Barge could use- that people could use.
"That's wonderful. I came in with my ah, arm adjustment a few days before my arrival."
Re: post-breach
"Mmm. And if you're planning on going back to the same place, you can't let anyone regrow it here," she assumes softly. "Or make too futuristic-looking a prosthetic."
She doesn't show any sign of moving to do it now, but she'll offer, "Any time you need an extra hand for baking, I'm happy to lend one."
Re: post-breach
"I know John would love nothing more then to restore my hand. Or Ulla, or any of the other healers on board. But...people knew I was near death. I was in the hospital. There are records. It will be difficult to explain my recovery as it is."
He sighed, and smiled at her. "So I will always appreciate the help, Maggie."
Re: post-breach
"I do think there are people out there who could manage a subtle enough prosthetic to be useful without being too noticeable or anachronistic; I could always have Will and Malcolm ask Iris next time they see her. But it's your body, and entirely your choice."
Her voice is warm as she promises, "We'll make those cinnamon rolls before I leave today."
Re: post-breach
It sounded as if he would have to leave to get it done. And he didn't want to for himself. Not just now.
"Let's get started now. Otherwise, we may miss prime resting time."
For them and the dough.