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[X] It's fine, your mother can deal with this. You want to spend time on other things.
You have faith in your mother's ability to protect you. You won't worry her by getting involved. Still, there's one thing you want to do before you lose your nerve. You're still upset that you lied to your mother about how you subdued your attacker. You shouldn't have secrets that big from the most important person in your life.
You find her in her study, poring over a large volume of text. You step across the threshold, filled with trepidation. "Mom..?"
She looks up as you call her, taking off her reading glasses and looking questioningly at you. You shuffle your feet nervously, gathering your courage. You blurt it out all at once, wishing to get it over with. "I wanted to tell you what really happened."
You stretch one of your arms forward, placing your opposite hand on your forearm. You channel your decay gently over that spot, and a nasty cut forms under where your hand is hovering. You cry out involuntarily in pain, and your mother moves to rise from her chair, but you raise a hand to forestall her. "Let me.. finish.." She listens to you tentatively, but she still looks worried.
You place your hand over the newly created wound and reverse it, breathing a sigh of relief when the pain goes away. The blood oozes back into the wound and it knits shut neatly, leaving not a trace behind. Your mother's expression turns astonished.
You look away nervously. That was enough explanation, right? She can put the pieces together.. right? You don't want to have to say anymore. You glance back at your mother, and find that she's looking gently at you. She gestures for you take a seat in her lap. You walk over and fit comfortably next to your mother's warmth, looking up at her earnest face.
"You didn't have to hide it, you know?" she says, smiling down at you.
You can't help but feel doubt. Isn't it obvious, with you two so close together? You look nothing alike. How can she be so sure that you're her daughter? How can she still love you? Your thoughts must have shown on your face, because she draws you closer, putting an arm around you and stroking your hair as she murmurs in your ear. "Your father told me, before he passed.. that it was fine. That you were alright. That you were still our Charlotte. Don't ever worry about it. I'll always love you, and I'll always be there for you."
A few tears trail down your face. "Shh.." she soothes you silently, brushing your tears away and rubbing your back rhythmically. After a time, your sniffles subside and she asks, "Why don't you show me everything you can do?"
You nod and hop out of her lap. You demonstrate your nerve control, decaying the affected spot without showing a hint of pain, and heal it back over quickly. You don't really like that power, even if it is useful. It's just too weird. You wish you had more animals to show her- she's properly thrilled by the pigeon you can create and parade around the room. You decide to up the ante, and create three more pigeons, having them fly around performing a miniature air show. When they finish, they land on your shoulder and on top of your head, and you look at your mother expectantly.
"Wow.." she breaths a sigh of amazement, smiling beatifically down at you. "They're pretty.." She reaches a hand out to one of the pigeons, but it expires- it was actually kind of tiring trying to do that much at once. You didn't know these powers had a limit. She looks wistfully at the dust falling through the air. "Thank you for showing me this, Charlotte." She gives you a hug, and shoos you out of her office, still having work to do.
A thrill runs through your chest. For the first time, you feel proud of your unique abilities. If they can make your mother smile like that, how could they ever be a bad thing? You leave her study with a wide smile.
You feel lighter, as if a burden you were previously unaware of has been lifted. You share the joy with your kittens. They're not quite so tiny anymore, but they're still very small. They spend most of their time in your room; you don't like letting them out all that often. You're afraid they'd get lost, or stepped on, or eaten, or.. something. You like having them where you can find them. It's not as if your room is small, so you don't think they're cramped.
A maid drops off food for the cats, and you grab the bowl and head back inside your room, placing it in the designated spot. You watch as the kitties fight for pole position. Saber is the victor, but Lily sneaks in a few bites as well. You intervene after it becomes clear Saber isn't going anywhere. "..Why are you such a glutton, Saber?" You gently admonish her, picking her up and moving her away from the food bowl so the other kitties can have a turn. She mews pathetically in your hands, looking at you plaintively. You look away in remorse. Wait, why do you even feel bad?! Stupid manipulative kitty.
You decide to play a game with your kittens once they've finished eating. "Catch the birdy, Saber.." You conjure up a wire pigeon for her to chase. You keep the pigeon low to the ground, zipping upward whenever a paw comes flying at it. Saber is having difficulties pinning it down. "Huhu.." you giggle at the kitten's unsuccessful attempts. "Hwah-?!"
Taking advantage of your distraction, your pigeon is blindsided by Alter. Where did she come from..? "No fair, no fair!" You glare at Alter, who is looking puzzled after your construct dissolved into dust. You create another pigeon, and Saber and Alter form a reluctant tag team. The game goes on for a bit, with Nero and Lily forming the cheering audience (in your head, anyway). You have fun with your kitties.
It's a new day, and you need new priorities. You have a great deal of free time, as your mother is busier and can't have as many lessons with you. What do you work on in the coming months?
[ ] Expand the Wire Menagerie.
- [ ] What do you design? (optional write-in)
[ ] Practice your body arts.
[ ] Research a particular topic at the library.
- [ ] What? (optional write-in)
[ ] Something else. (Write-in.)
Also, an additional event:
[ ] You never did thank that maid. Find her and introduce her to your adorable kittens.
[ ] Where are they keeping that squire that tried to kidnap you? Check the dungeons, pay him a visit.
[ ] Watch your Uncle hold court, chat with Sheffield afterward.
[ ] Check out the practice yard, observe the magical spars.
What is this?! Another update without an intervening week?! MADNESS.