Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[dendarii]

[ Miles can hear the implied affection in that. He warms over the link, a little shy with joy. ]

I'm doing better, right? That was way better.

[bothari]

Start sooner next time.

[There was more than a scrape of approval hiding in that static, however. Bothari's hands were not delicate in the most generous of appraisals. Every one of his knuckles were larger than Miles' head like this. He lifted one of those great hands and gave the bird the barest of nudges on his chest - not enough to unbalance.]

[dendarii]

[ Approval is still approval. Just like that gesture is clearly affectionate, as blunted as it may be by Bothari's usual manner. Miles is much more obvious in returning the gesture. In addition to glowing happily over the link, he rubs his small, feathered head against Bothari's finger. ]

Yeah, okay. I'll get it right this time for sure. Right now.

[bothari]

[Bothari doesn't argue. Nothing else wears Miles out quite so quickly as this. There were dangers. He'd run over ever one. Wished he could have some bloody witchborn transformation himself to lay cover in whatever antics he KNEW Miles was getting up to.

Instead, he just lifts his arm abruptly, sending the bird up into the air.

It's better if he doesn't know. Probably.]

[dendarii]

[ Probably. The twists and turns Miles up to when he's out in the field ... He lets out a screech of joy and takes off one last time, hurtling back into the trees. The usual stream of exhilaration and joy filter down through the link, like light through the same autumn leaves he's flying through now.

It takes him too long to come back. He's distracted by something. His attention goes razor sharp as he zeroes in on whatever it is and ignores Bothari's side of the link for a moment. ]

[bothari]

[He doesn't count to ten. Ten is usually too long. It may be already. He's already moving the first moment he senses that ... cliff top, is the only word he has for it. That vertigo of falling.

That little shit.

Urgency presses over the link, static turning to lightning. Miles.]

[dendarii]

[ The precipice is smaller at this age, but no less distinctive. It's Bothari's first hint that Miles is about to do something extremely stupid. ]

Give me a minute. I'm hungry.

[ And there's a snack dangling out here. A scrap of meat left out tantalizingly, hiding the trap meant for a different breed of bird ... ]

[bothari]

[He doesn't know about the trap. He can't see it, can't sense it. But there's a fiery reflex of DON'T EAT THAT... that comes from how violently allergic Miles is to most of the wildlife and some of the introduced species...

Don't touch that. It came across as strong of a bellow as Bothari ever could out loud.]

[dendarii]

[ Miles flinches at the telepathic yell. And flutters directly into the heart of the trap, which closes around him neatly. Fortunately for his delicate bones, it's a net and not something more injurious. But he's still flapping around in it madly, entangling himself further with each wingbeat. (There's no telltale spike of pain to indicate a broken bone. Yet.)

He doesn't respond using words, but the ensuing mess of panic and fear is likely answer enough. Neither his human brain nor his bird brain is enjoying the net much. ]