Nod.

It's fun, I think, in a way that nothing else quite is.

It really is. It's the most satisfying kind of work. None of it is disconnected at all from what really matters.

He at least remembers having felt that way.

Mm, we have a few jobs like that - chief, healers, cooks, sometimes hunters or gathering specialists depending on what's going on - my parent was a healer and taught me all the medicinal herbs and I specialized in gathering those, and that was definitely the more important thing a few times - but Speaking is something else again, I think. It's so direct, where the rest are more removed.

She certainly hasn't forgotten what it was like. It was like this.

Thank you.

...hm?

The Enemy took most of my memories and tampered with a lot of the rest. So it's nice getting memories of what that thing was like for you. I can't trust the emotion but it's useful to have a referent for it.

That's horrifying.

If there's anything like that you'd like me to share, let me know; I don't hold much as private.

Thanks. I guess I might ask as I notice things it'd be useful to have an untrustworthy shared version for.

Sigh. Yeah, it's not much, but it's what I can do. I can offer nice things as I notice them, if you'd like?

Sure. Thanks.

She grins, and sends him the happy-to-be-of-help that goes along with it.

Getting some light in here might help my brothers relax but it also might make it more obvious that I'm in bad shape.

Nod. I can show you what it looks like with and without - I can put a portal overhead showing the sky, that probably makes the most sense - but I don't know them or your culture well enough to guess even a little about which they'd be less bothered by.

The hair will bother them most but it'll probably take more than a week for me to grow it back even if I focus all my energy on that and even if I were healthy.

...cultural thing, I guess. We can see how we're doing after a week and wait if we're doing okay?

Yes, although if you're real then they'll also benefit from your magic and should learn about it sooner rather than later.

I think I need to try eating more.

Sure. She goes to start some soup. Was the last batch okay?

I was able to eat it and there aren't any obvious missing nutrients, yes.

...can you taste things?

I can tell if there are drugs in them, usually.

Burn that damned place to the ground.

Well. My cooking isn't great or anything but if you'd like me to show you how it tastes to me I can do that.

Seems less important to remember, honestly, though you may if you like.

And I don't want to overwhelm you with too many new things at once. I'll wait.

Thanks. 

Nothing bad is going to happen if you ask for things you want. And here is a memory of fresh-picked strawberries, complete with taste.