interplanar studies | Glowfic Constellation

We could try asking Lórien, Rúmil says uncertainly.

subtly_artistic

...am I correct in guessing that would only work if it were a real emergency and not just if Miriel really really wanted to ask me again?

Yes, I don't think we could bother Lórien if there wasn't anything wrong at all.

subtly_artistic

Okay, so the test will work pretty well. It might be a good idea to keep an eye on her.

And Bella smiles apologetically at Miriel and heads for the tree.

Miriel gets out of bed.

I want my memories back. You don't have permission to do this to me.

subtly_artistic

The standard is informed consent, says Bella, and right now, you are not informed.

Leaf, meet tree.

And she's in the courtyard and Fëanor pounces on her, or at least on her knee. I knew it. You got the fruit that tastes like chocolate in Lórien and you're trying to heal my mother.

subtly_artistic

"...Um."

I'm not stupid.

subtly_artistic

"I - didn't say you were -"

The fruits here don't do whatever you think would be nicest and most peaceful, only fruits in the domains of the Valar. You have a book about fixing people who have things wrong that no one can see. You're not living in your house plot. Why didn't you tell me?

subtly_artistic

I'm not a real therapist and even if I were it doesn't always work.

I don't think you're going to fix her, I'm not going to get my hopes up. But that's why you're here. You could have told me. You could have told me when you took the book.

subtly_artistic

"I am kind of terrified of your father because I have not been here quite long enough to get used to the idea that he couldn't casually execute me if I annoyed him."

"Oh.

I wouldn't let him."

subtly_artistic

"Several people have told me that they wouldn't let him, which is very reassuring, but I'm still not up to the point where I can complain about his parenting decisions right to his face. That is going to take a while."

"He's a good father. I'm just really, really difficult. Mother couldn't handle me at all. If Father notices how I am he'll probably get sick too."

subtly_artistic

"Fëanáro, I made a very serious promise not to tell anyone anything that I learn about a patient while treating them. Since you figured out that I'm treating your mother, that means that if you say things like that to me I may start to think that you're trying to get me to break that promise, or trying to get around it by watching my face or something. I have already told you that it's not your fault, which I know just from when her problem started; and that's all I can tell you and you should not try to find out anything else I know."

"I'm not good at not finding things out. Even if I shouldn't."

subtly_artistic

"That doesn't surprise me. But the promise I made is really important. Like - you know how much you need to be alone sometimes, it's even more important than that that people get to be alone in their own heads. I have powers that let me go look inside people's heads. I have to be very careful about only using them with permission, and once I've looked, I have to be a space of privacy for what I saw. So please don't try to make me make a mistake."

"I wasn't."

subtly_artistic

"I didn't think you were. But I think you're very clever and have learned to be very sneaky so that's what I'm going to think if you keep saying things you know I'll want to contradict about your mother's condition."

"I don't want you to think that."

subtly_artistic

"And I just told you how to make sure I don't, so this should be pretty straightforward."