maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

I agree. The romantic entanglements are worse.

[ She rolls her eyes a bit at that. ]

You're rather biased on the subject, I think.

I'm allowed. It's important ...

It is important, and the important subjects are always both simple and complicated.

Then what should we do, Mother? What's the right way to handle this?

... I certainly don't believe avoidance is the answer. It never is.

... I wish it were, then.

[ She embraces him again with one arm, leaning in the press a kiss to his hair. ]

Think of it as another test then.

[ He snorts a bit at that, but leans against her gratefully. His body is small against hers. Enervated by a lack of his usual confidence. ]

The sort that's also a gift?

[ She increases the pressure of her arm, tightening her grip on him gently. ]

Aren't they all?

That's what you always said. For every immobilizer I had to wear or PT I had to go through ...

... Did it help?

Not really. I wasn't feeling very gifted at the time.

[ She's uncertain what she can say in the face of that. In the silence, her arm tightens again, and she just rests her cheek on the top of his hair. ]

[ Ah ... maybe that wasn't the right thing to say. He flinches a bit, guilty. ]

But I managed it anyway. The fact that I'm standing here is a testament to what you and Da did for me.

You don't need to reassure me, love. I can see the evidence plain as day in my arms right now.

[ She places another tender kiss to his hair. ]

... But that could be how this test goes as well. The gift might not be apparent until much later.

I suppose that's true.

... Maybe later. After she's settled.

Don't put it off too long. There are too many secrets in our little extended family as it is.

[ It's soft as she speaks, but that great weight of guilt underneath the surface of Cordelia's mind rises that little bit closer to the surface along the link. ]

[ Miles can't help but notice that. He turns towards his mother, expression questioning. ]

You're not hiding anything from me, are you?

Even if I was, do you think I would tell you?

[ But she relents, her voice lowering. ] But no, nothing really about or against you. Not really.

I think you might, yes. And then refuse to tell me.

... Which is how I read this reaction, just so you know.

[ She snorts faintly. ]

I'm from the time around your birth. Now think of all the political happenings, and then try to tell me I couldn't have secrets from around then.

I. Er. I think you'd have secrets from everyone.

[ She just raises her eyebrows at him, her point proven. ]

It's not as though they're here. I could keep a secret.