text. anonymous.

[obediences]

Is there anything about yourself that you would change, if you could?

And do any of you have the ability or powers to change people's physical bodies? Like with magic, or something.

Not science.


[ Science has already let him down. Science led him here. Luther doesn't much savour the idea of another brilliant person with brilliant inventions trying to get beneath his ape-like skin, when he and his father already tried and failed.

There is something to be said for acceptance, and coming to terms with yourself and your new capabilities or lack thereof. Luther isn't there yet. And he has too many memories now, of an entire decade in the City without this albatross around his neck, this anchor around his ankle. Every time he thinks he might have readjusted to his malformed body again, this world delivers him another goddamned reminder of what he's lost: accidentally remaking his own form when dreams became real; his siblings winding up in others' bodies; waking up looking like his teenaged self, from a far simpler time. It rankles; makes it harder each time to feel comfortable again.

So. He asks the question, finally. ]


& ooc: I don't want to permanently 'fix' Luther, but if your character can do it, I would absolutely be open to a change backfiring or working temporarily! Feel free to plot ICly, or reach out OOCly to hash out some details!

Comments

[am_i_a_monster]

Yes, only through the music I play on my harpsichord.  I know that sounds strange.  A lot of the powers they give people are limited in weird ways.  I think they don't want us to be too powerful.

[obediences]

Huh.

So not-- singing? Not any other instrument? Did you play a harpsichord before you got here?

Sorry, now I'm just curious how it works.

[am_i_a_monster]

I do sing and play the piano too, but just for fun.  No healing powers without the harpsichord.  I was just learning to play the harpsichord on my world, but the power they gave me here lets me play it perfectly.

[obediences]

Weird. The specificity of it, I mean.

Are you able to use your abilities to heal yourself? For your... ears?

[ There's a hesitancy to the man's voice over the message, like he's afraid where to place his feet during this conversation, and what's safe to mention. ]

[am_i_a_monster]

Powers are weird. I also have a power that's limited to knives.

No.  I can't use my powers on myself.  And I've never tried to regrow a body part on anyone.

perma-private

[obediences]

[ Luther almost blurts it out, then: You sound like a combination of two of my siblings. He stops himself in time to rephrase it slightly, remembering that he's supposed to be anonymous. Can't exactly be blabbering Hargreeves details all over the network for all to see. ]

You sound like a mix of two people I knew, who used to be here. One had music powers and the other could hit anything with a knife.

It's a shame you can't use your healing on yourself. Although I don't think your powers would work on me either; it's not technically an injury.

Re: perma-private

[am_i_a_monster]

I used to know people like that.  Did the one good with knives have a number for a name? Did the one with music powers use her voice and give concerts?

Yeah, it sucks.  I'd help myself sleep if I could, maybe even before I tried for my ear. I can help with things like sleep and memories too.  If that's closer to what you need.

[obediences]

[ CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING LESS SUBTLE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE, LUTHER. He sighs, scrubbing at his face before typing back. ]

Yeah, that's the one. They're from the same family, right?

And sleep might help — I've got insomnia sometimes. But what do you mean, memories?

[am_i_a_monster]

No, the ones I knew weren't even from the same world. 

I can make memories less painful.  Make them stop coming back as flashbacks or other intrusions.  Or if they're good memories, I can help people to remember them better.

[obediences]

Ah, okay.

[ oh thank god, at least there's that. But he quickly pivots, tries to get away from the subject of his siblings, piqued by the other thing she's mentioned: ]

Make them stop coming back as often. But not erase them entirely, right?

[am_i_a_monster]

Right. I can manipulate them, send the memories to the back of the mind where you only access them when you want to and they won't hurt as much when you do.  It's like getting power over the memories. 

I think it would take someone more powerful than me to erase them completely.

[obediences]

I don't think I'd want that, anyway, to be honest. Our bad memories and our mistakes might be shitty, but they're also a part of us. They've made us who we are today. I don't know what I'd be without it.

[am_i_a_monster]

There are a few memories I could do without.  I remember who I was before the bad stuff and I miss that girl.  The bad stuff does make me aware of how dangerous people can be, so there's that.

[obediences]

I'm sorry. That doesn't sound pleasant.