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
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.