"Oh wow," he said in response to the biological arm. He hadn't paid close attention, what with the shock of seeing his best friend again. It was a relief to know Jack had managed to regain the arm. He'd remembered the sight of the Fae crumpled in the study, Conrad's own body still regaining its functions after the strong dose of drugs he'd been fed at The Library treatise signing. Escaping the villa with a newly armless Jack had been quite the mess, and stopping the bleeding had been quite the difficult time too. He'd had to escape back to The Library that night after giving the Fae much-needed first aid: if he'd stayed, he definitely would have been accused of grievous assault.
His chest tightened at the painful memory. He'd been hurt many times, but no wound had ever left such an indelible mark on his soul as had the one on his friend's body. He shook his head, trying to clear the memory away as Jack took out a picture of a cute young merboy. He'd remembered an alternate where mermaids had existed, but they had been hideous beings. It still confused him how people had taken all kinds of supernatural beings and made them seem harmless, but having lived on Manta Carlos for a few months he definitely knew they were capable of coexistence. It was a mystery he was still trying to figure out, and perhaps one that he would end up devoting his entire life to.
"I'm glad. You finally got that family life you always dreamed of." He broke into a soft smile, but a hint of sadness and jealousy betrayed him as they leaked into his expression. It was the life he'd never have.
He fell silent.
His chest tightened at the painful memory. He'd been hurt many times, but no wound had ever left such an indelible mark on his soul as had the one on his friend's body. He shook his head, trying to clear the memory away as Jack took out a picture of a cute young merboy. He'd remembered an alternate where mermaids had existed, but they had been hideous beings. It still confused him how people had taken all kinds of supernatural beings and made them seem harmless, but having lived on Manta Carlos for a few months he definitely knew they were capable of coexistence. It was a mystery he was still trying to figure out, and perhaps one that he would end up devoting his entire life to.
"I'm glad. You finally got that family life you always dreamed of." He broke into a soft smile, but a hint of sadness and jealousy betrayed him as they leaked into his expression. It was the life he'd never have.
He fell silent.