regency au } { of lost and returned memories

[deathlessness]

Freya: [While Hope can manage some memory magic on her own, she thinks this task might be more delicate than her skill, so she also pulls her aunt Freya into the conversation. After making tea for everyone, she places the tea cups in front of their guests, before settling next to her niece] So explain the memories that you're looking for.

Parrish: It's hard to do that when you don't remember them. [a small attempt at humor to help keep his nerves from spiraling.] The Dread Doctors took me when I was around fifteen years old or so. They did a lot of experiments on me, but I don't remember anything of my life since before I came out of Malivore as a phoenix. I never thought I needed to know, but after Jonathan was rescued, I've come to believe he wasn't chosen at random, but because we share a similar bloodtype. I'm hoping that some memory from my youth might hold a keep to knowing if that's true, and who I was before being transformed.

Freya: So you're looking for something you mind is hiding from you. [this would be delicate work indeed] Have you had any glimpses? Flashbacks?

Parrish: Rarely, but some have started to come through since we went to Savoy.

Freya: Then that's a start. But I should warn you - trauma can be difficult to navigate. You might also uncover some things you would rather remain forgotten.

Parrish: I remember how I was tortured after I changed. I'm not ignorant that there will be the same from before.

Freya: [nods] Just making sure. Sometimes people go searching for happy memories they lost, but don't realize that nothing good is ever easy to gain.

Parrish: My happy memories start when I met the Hales. I just need to know who I come from.

Freya: [nods] Alright. Then we have a place to start from. The spell will feel a bit like a lucid dream. Your memories will be portioned into doors in a hallway, and we will use that to... regulate how much we see at once. If you want to come back at any time, you'll let me know and I'll end the spell.

Parrish: [nods, then looks at Laura] It's going to be okay.

Laura: I know it will. [smiles as she squeezes his hand]

Freya: Would you like to proceed now, or do you need time to prepare?

Parrish: Now, please. I'm as prepared as I'm going to be.

Freya: [nods as she gets up and gestures for him to follow her] Then come with me. [and she will lead the way up to her work room so they can get started]

Parrish: [and he'll follow, taking deep breath slowly]

Laura: [will also follow, just for moral support]

Freya: [will set up the spell and once the candles are lit, she will gesture for him to lie down in the center] You will be unconscious so I would get comfortable.

Parrish: Do I get a pillow? [he heads to the center and lays down]

Freya: [glances to Hope and she nods before leaving the room] Hope is going to get one. Just relax.

Parrish: [nods and he works on his breathing to keep himself calm]

Freya: [Hope returns with the pillow, and Freya places it under Parrish's head before moving to sit over him. And then glancing over to Laura] Would you like your wife to go with you, or would you prefer I be your guide? [she gives him a choice, because maybe he would prefer to shoulder this with her together, or if he would rather share in his own time]

Parrish: [and he looks up at Laura] I think I need to do this for myself. I'll tell you what I discover.

Laura: [nods] I'll be here when you wake up.

Parrish: I love you. [and he lays back down]

Laura: I love you too.

Freya: [and with that she and Hope will begin the spell, Hope acting as an anchor while Freya goes into the memory spell with him. When they both open their eyes, they're standing in a long hallway, just as Freya said they would. Each door is marked with a symbol, as to give a hint of what's behind it - ideally symbols that Parrish would recognize]