MHA #6, The Wee Hours of Tuesday Morning

[firstofitskind]

Liam slept. And as he slept, he dreamt. For Liam to have dreams based on memories was nothing new, but usually when that was the case, they were far more troubling. Dreams of being locked up and cast adrift until he sank to the bottom of an alien ocean. Dreams of being trapped in the magma center of a volcano as lava began to burst forth...

These were- well. They were not happy dreams, exactly, but they lacked violence. They were more... melancholy, if anything.

Sitting in the shuttle with Beckett, discussing family, and wishing that somehow, he could make her see the truth.

"If you could talk to your mother now, what would you tell her?"

"I love you."

"Even after she left you?"

"I know it doesn't make any sense, but there's a bond between us. It cuts across everything else."

The cave floor, holding her body as the last of her life slipped away, and finally, finally able to show her the truth...

"We didn't have our time together here on Earth, but if you ever lose your way, my son, look to the heavens, and I'll be shining a star for you."



Liam's eyes snapped open as the dream faded away and consciousness returned. He didn't know what the dream meant, if anything, but the feeling that lingered behind was strangely peaceful. Which seemed odd, considering he'd just been dreaming of his dead mother. He didn't know what that meant either.

He slipped out of the bed, doing his best not to disturb the other occupant. Thankfully, Verity was used to his sleep habits, so even if he did wake her, he doubted she'd be overly concerned.

Rummaging around in the kitchen until he found what he needed- a candle and a lighter, he headed to the living room. He sat, cross-legged, and then placed the candle on the floor and lit it before he spoke:

"Saqruvi, grant me weak eyes, for things that are of no account, and strong eyes, for all thy truth."

He didn't know if it would actually help him figure out what was going on, but it felt right.

[ooc: establishy, but could be open for the girlfriend!]

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[firstofitskind]

Liam considered the mouse’s words. “I guess I am,” he said thoughtfully. He hadn't thought of it in quite those terms when he'd started, but it certainly fit.

[arboreal_priestess]

The mouse scurried over to him, whiskers working overtime as it took in the scent of the candle. "What kind of Rite?" it asked. "Would you Teach Me of your Mysterious Ways?"

[firstofitskind]

"My mother had a gift," he said, smiling down at the mouse. "Her people called it the Sight," because the Aeslin were not the only creatures out there who could imbue words with capital letters. "It's a gift that she passed down to me, and it means that occasionally... I know about things before they happen, or that there's a particular action or step I am supposed to take. Sometimes, the meaning is clear, and sometimes..." he shook his head. "Well. I don't know if the dream I just had was only a dream, or if it was the Sight, trying to tell me something. So I'm seeking clarity."

[arboreal_priestess]

"Would you Speak to me of this Dream?" the mice asked, tail swishing in excitement.

"Careful," murmured a sleepy-eyed Verity from the doorway of the living room. "It'll probably end up some kind of celebration on your liturgical calendar."

[firstofitskind]

"We probably passed that point when I admitted to Performing a Rite," Liam replied softly. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

"I dreamt of her, actually," Liam told the mouse. "Of the few times we had the chance to speak. Once, before she knew who I was; she asked me about my family, what I would tell my mother if I ever had the chance to meet her. And once, after she learned I was her son, moments before she died; 'look to the heavens', she said, 'and I'll be shining a star for you.'"

Were he not currently trying to puzzle out the dream's meaning, he might not have gone in to such detail about something so personal. But the mouse was so earnest in his curiosity, and Verity was the person he trusted most in this world or any other.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity shook her head. "Nah, I was having weird dreams of my own," she said, coming over to curl up on the couch next to Liam.

The mouse listened, almost enraptured. "For you are the God of Distant Stars," it said, arms wrapped around itself in joy. "It is only fitting that she be there, with you, always."

[firstofitskind]

"Anything in particular?" Liam asked, sliding an arm around her shoulders and tugging her closer.

"Yeah," and he still wasn't quite used to hearing himself referred to as such, but he was getting there. "I guess it is, isn't it?"

[arboreal_priestess]

"Finding Piyusha again," Verity said, resting her head on his shoulder. "And getting jumped by Sleestacks."

Which wasn't politic of her to call them, but it was late, okay?

"Just residual guilt, I guess since I don't think I remembered to app her, like an idiot"

[firstofitskind]

"Could be," Liam agreed. "But don't you think it's strange that both of us had dreams about someone who had died?" Not that strange, considering the kind of life both of them led, but it seemed like in Fandom, a true coincidence was a very rare thing.

[arboreal_priestess]

"I mean, it's not the first time I've dreamed of Piyusha since this summer," Verity said wryly. She tilted her head. "Do you think you're influencing my dreams somehow? Or something else?"

[firstofitskind]

"I don't think so," Liam said, frowning slightly. "The only time I've done something like that," because of course he had, he was from a syndicated sci-fi show, "I had to reach a state of near-death myself first." He shook his head. "The more I think about it, the more I get this feeling, like I'm waiting for something." Or someone.

[arboreal_priestess]

And with Verity, he only got to little-death, not near death.

"You don't think maybe it's someone trying to contact you, do you?" Verity asked.

Trying to tap into Liam's unconscious mind as a way to send a message? Verity had heard of weirder.

[firstofitskind]

"It could be," Liam mused. Something about that suggestion did ring true. "But... I don't know why they'd use my memories of my mother to do so."

[arboreal_priestess]

"They could be limited to your memories and trying to make some kind of weird, patchwork memory thing?" Verity suggested. "Or trying to get you to trust them by creating a link between them and her? Or..."

Okay, those were the only suggestions she could come up with in the middle of the night. Give her some coffee and she could rattle off a few way more paranoid options.

[firstofitskind]

"Both entirely reasonable suggestions," Liam had to admit with a sigh.

[arboreal_priestess]

"Sorry," Verity said, ducking her head. "I always go to the worst-case scenarios."

It was a matter of training.

[firstofitskind]

"You?" Liam said dryly. "Truly, I am shocked by this brand new and surprising information that I have just learned about you."

"Maybe it is coincidence," he mused. "Like you said, this wasn't the first time you've dreamt about Piyusha." He pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of Verity's head; that one still stung for him, too.

[arboreal_priestess]

Verity laughed and poked him in the side. "Brat," she said, stealing a kiss as she let her head fall back onto his chest. "But no," she said, sobering up. "Not the first time. I failed her, Liam. I promised and I failed her. I almost feel like I owe it to her to dream about her."

[firstofitskind]

“The only people to blame for her death were the ones from the snake cult,” Liam said firmly. “Remember that.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"She trusted me to keep her safe," Verity said quietly. "She put her faith in the Price name and I let her down. That's at least a little bit on me."

[firstofitskind]

“And she was on their radar before we even knew her name,” Liam pointed out. “The best way to honor her death is to keep doing what you’ve been doing- protecting those who need it, and punishing those who prey on people like her.”

[arboreal_priestess]

"Zero tolerance for snake cults," Verity murmured, putting his hand in her hair.

Look, she could use some petting right now.

"Tell me about your mom?

[firstofitskind]

Liam could take a hint, and began carding his fingers through her hair as he gathered his thoughts.

"She was... strong," he said, finally. "Would give everything for a cause she believed in. It's why she became a Companion Agent, she thought- she thought the Taelons could make our world a better place." She'd been wrong, in the end, but then... so had everyone else.

[arboreal_priestess]

"It must have been hard for her when she discovered they weren't who they thought," she said softly. "To believe that strongly and then to find out you're wrong? That can break people."

[firstofitskind]

Liam nodded. "The Motivational Imperative in her CVI began to break down, and she could think for herself again. Until," he broke off.

Until she'd gone climbing to try and make sense of everything, and the damage done by the failing CVI had caused her to fall.

"Well. It was too late." He managed finally.