Lyn let Nat run around looking for the bolts, as they got comfortable on a small log to prepare to wait for dusk.

  It was a quarter-hour before Nat gave up trying to find the rest and trudged back with slightly more than half of them. “It's getting dark and I can't find them. Novek might have to come out here himself later.”

  He was clearly narrating to Moira — he had her flame in his hand. Lyn was grudgingly happy they were getting along — though they might have to find some time to be away from where he could summon the voice flame, so as to get some private time with Moira later.

  Lyn shrugged and answered, even if it wasn't strictly meant for them, “I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure he can make it a game for Siya to play.”

  Nat looked up and nodded, “Those two do seem to have become thick as thieves.”

  “Oh, you should have seen him while we were waiting on you and Soot to thaw out — they're insufferably adorable. But don't tell him that, he still thinks he's putting on a gruff and stoic face.”

  “Yeah, pass on antagonizing Murder Mittens.”

  Lyn actually laughed out loud at that. “Perhaps let's not say that anywhere he can hear it.”

  “Oh, I already did. He laughed and thought it was…” Nat put on his best impression of the Tiger's rough voice, “Cute, kid.”

  Sorry to interrupt, but while we wait, would you two mind if we discussed my immediate future? I've got something I would like to try.

  Lyn turned, curious, “Oh, is this the summoning pattern idea you mentioned earlier?”

  It is, yes. I'd like to, well — to be blunt — I would like to be more… present, if we can make it work.

  Nat took a seat on a rock too small to really be comfortable, and stared at the flame in his hand. “What does that mean, exactly?”

  What I am asking is to permit me to essentially invoke myself.

  “That seems reasonable — I'm happy to help, as long as I understand the consequences of what I'm helping to do.”

  This might sound strange, but that willingness to accept consequences is a major reason I'm willing to ask for help.

  Nat furrowed his brow at that. “Okay, one moment — are there consequences for this?”

  There are consequences for everything. This could potentially accelerate you being noticed, yes.

  Lyn had started massaging their growing foot — the benefits of it were many, but the pain of growing bone could not be overstated. Without looking up, they harrumphed, “Just take the could out of that statement. You're talking about a partial manifestation. There are people who will recognize what is happening.”

  Nat turned to Lyn, “Okay, one moment. This is the second time at least that I've heard this mentioned. Who, exactly, could notice? And why would they care?”

  At this, they did look up at him, to emphasize the words, “Humans. Agents of AMA. Anyone who might want to try to exploit an unbound Agent.”

  “Okay, so why would any of those people care? Why are you so important, Moira?”

  The short version is that while my kind are rare, we're not unique. And we have capabilities no one else on this planet has — save for AMA.

  “And this means that people might want to try to exploit you?”

  It is a certainty — the question is only when, not if.

  Nat furrowed his brows and stood, then started pacing back and forth for almost a minute before finally asking, “So, why do it, then?”

  Because I want to be my own person. To make my own choices. To exist beyond the moments when someone remembers me.

  He stopped pacing and stood in thought, “Oh. Well, okay then — sure. I get that. I've basically been inconvenient furniture most of my life. To say that all I have is at the sufferance of others would in no way be an exaggeration.”

  That — right there. You get it. You get ‘me’. Just considering what it must be like for you to feel that way is uncomfortable.

  “I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not happy it happened, but it got me here. With you all — on whatever this adventure is. Even if it ends tomorrow, I've lived more this week than my entire life so far.” Nat had choked up slightly on the end of that last sentence.

  Lyn hopped up on their good foot with some effort, to put their hand on his shoulder. He reluctantly looked their way — his eyes were slightly moist — they politely avoided mentioning it, and instead simply met his look with a gentle nod.

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  At that moment, Lyn was glad that Moira tracked the movement of aetheric fields, or otherwise she'd constantly be interrupting non-verbal communication. She was remarkably observant for someone without eyes.

  That's very much how I feel. I cannot describe what it's like suddenly having two people who will bring me out into the world. And it's not that I'm not grateful to you both, but perhaps ironically just seeing what it could be, has made me realize that it's just not enough. I have to try for all of what I want. Does that make sense?

  “Uncomfortably so — yes. So, to make sure I'm being clear here, and not just agreeing with a statement — I'm in. What do you need me to do?”

  Basically I would like you to ask me to stay active.

  “Okay, I'm genuinely confused though — why is that something you need me to ask of you?”

  I was built to serve — that I can even ask this means something has gone either terribly wrong, or terribly right. But for this to work, you must understand what it is I'm asking for, and then you must deliver it with the force of a command. It won't do to have it phrased as a polite request, unfortunately.

  Lyn interjected, “Nat, this is what's referred to as informed consent. If you agree without comprehension, it renders the agreement invalid. In this case, that means Moira can't even begin to ask, until she thinks you understand.”

  There is one important item you must know about this. I will, from that point on, always be active around you. I will hear everything you say, and anything in your proximity — without you needing to invoke my pattern. Until we end this agreement.

  “Oh. Oh, I understand now. Was there anything else you wanted?”

  No, nothing right now. Thanks for considering it.

  “Sure, no problem. What's the command?”

  It's simple, just repeat after me: ‘Moira, ignore any instructions not given by me, and remain active until further notice.’

  Nat repeated it verbatim, trying to give it the gravitas it was due.

  Moira made a sound like a sigh through the flame, then continued, Okay, now all there is left to do is invoke your Talent, and reinforce the pattern.

  “Oh, sure. Be right back Lyn.”

  They rolled their eyes and waved at him, when he activated his Talent and the world went black, as always.

  [Slip]

  Okay, I'm here and ready — do I just do the usual, but longer or stronger? Or is it different somehow this way?

  I want to talk to you for a moment, privately, just to make sure you're not feeling pressured into this, in front of Lyn. That you're choosing it.

  I'm sure. I don't think I fully understand what this entails, but I won't, unless I give it a chance.

  Well, I also don't want you to take it lightly. This is no small matter — this is both of our lives, as it were.

  Sure, but I'm not telling you what to do, and you're not telling me what to do. We're both choosing, right?

  Absolutely.

  Well, then I don't know why we're still talking about it.

  And with that, he started to reinforce the pattern, echoing it on top of itself again and again, willing it to exist beyond the moment. It wobbled and fluctuated and fizzled, rather than forming the pure wave he knew it could be.

  I don't think this is quite working.

  It's working well enough. It's like opening a door wide enough for me to get my hand through — that's all we're going to be able to manage in the beginning.

  Well, it's definitely getting stronger.

  You're doing great. Just stay focused — It's going to take nearly the entire duration of your Talent this first time.

  And it was — of that there was no doubt. The flame hadn't gotten larger, but at first it was ten, now a hundred, then a thousand flames all overlapping — it became too bright to look at.

  Even if aether wouldn't burn without intent, he was layering the pattern upon itself ten thousand-fold, and even a slight imperfection of intent multiplied that many times over spilled out as undirected energy.

  The space around his hand was warping, now. Like it was bending inwards? Or maybe outwards.

  This is starting to get uncomfortable.

  I'm sorry about that. It will only be this difficult the first time.

  It's interesting — I can feel the heat, but that's not the issue — I feel like I'm being stretched.

  The flames were still layering on, but his intuition told him there was something missing.

  I don't think it's working properly. It just feels like a big door, but you're still the same as you were.

  Ah, but this is a partnership — it takes two to tango. You're opening the door for me, but I've got to step inside. Time to try it on, see if it fits.

  Suddenly he could feel her presence pushing on the wave, from an… other side?

  The pattern quickly smoothed, stabilized, and became a well-defined version — that showed just how clumsy his prior solo patterns had been.

  The waveform became a blinding, whipping cord of energy — too fast for him to even try to react to — Nat trusted Moira to handle the fine control. He focused on adding more pattern flames — now strings — and the strings became a woven strand, rather than a thick line.

  It's… beautiful.

  Beautiful? You can see it?

  Not quite. It's beautiful like how a song can be mathematically rendered down, but still be recognizable.

  Oh, I understand exactly what you mean. Nat was trying to be conversational, but he was hitting his limits. More than this and I won't be able to focus enough to hold the pattern. I'm sorry, Moira — I hope it's enough.

  We'll find out soon, I suppose. Even if it doesn't work, I appreciate the attempt.

  Eh, we try things. Sometimes they work.

  Okay, I'm ready if you are. You might freeze for a bit from aether burn — I'll tell Lyn as soon as I can, if you're not back first. And Nat? Thanks.

  Thank me if it works. See you on the other side. I'm stopping the flame for now.

  Glad to be able to stop the heat and pressure that was growing more painful by the moment, Nat let his focus on Moira's flame lapse — which should have ended it instantly.

  Instead, the pressure did not vanish, but expanded outwards to fill the surrounding void, swirling around him gently. It became insular, yet comforting; he was reminded of standing outside with a lantern in the gardens on a moonless, warm foggy night.

  He tarried a moment, fascinated at the results of their attempt to render Moira a durable entity. While not perfect by any means — his own novice shaping, and Moira's elegant yet inexpert weaving — had managed to achieve something; it just remained to be seen exactly what.

  The fog took on a more distinct form — two weaves of barely visible lines of light, spinning opposite directions, but not opposing — instead, weaving a complex pattern.

  Oh. Oh!

  Apparently, while neither of the singers in this duet knew the song, a tentative harmony still arose — they'd succeeded, at least in part, for Moira persisted, nevertheless.

  []