The room settles into a soft hush, the last crackle of Theo’s power gone. Alphonse asks his question, and the atmosphere tightens instead of breaking, both Mercers turning to look at each other first.
Rowan Mercer
Yeah. He’s my older brother.
Theo Mercer
And he’s my problem-solver.
Rowan huffs a quiet laugh, but it lands warm. Theo rubs the back of his neck, a little embarrassed, a little relieved, like the answer is older than the room itself.
Adrian Vale
Mercer family resemblance is mostly in the stubbornness.
That pulls a snort from Rowan and a tired smile from Theo. Adrian stays in the doorway, leaning easy against the frame, clearly content to let the moment breathe.
Theo Mercer
We’ve been roommates, lab partners, and occasional disasters for years. It’s complicated, but... yeah. Family.
The answer hangs there, simple and careful at once. The room feels less like a stopover now, more like a place where stories are already underway.
✓ Quest Accepted
Ensure Theo is safe
“I approach Theo. "You feeling better? I can check again for any residual issues if you want."”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled -1)
Alphonse crosses the small space to Theo’s side, the room’s tension already down to a faint afterimage. Theo straightens a little as he approaches, attention fixed on him.
Alphonse Valentino
You feeling better? I can check again for any residual issues if you want.
Theo Mercer
Yeah. Better. A lot better, actually.
Theo lifts his hand, then hesitates and lets it fall again, careful not to make a big show of the damaged palm. Rowan watches that tiny restraint, then looks back to Alphonse.
Rowan Mercer
He does that when he is trying not to make it everybody’s problem.
Theo Mercer
And you do that when you pretend you are not worried.
Rowan’s mouth twitches. Adrian, still in the doorway, tilts his head with the look of someone quietly filing the moment away.
Theo Mercer
If you want to check, I am not saying no. Just... gently.
Quest Complete
Ensure Theo is safe
“I slowly get in his space. "Contact makes it easier." I slowly hold my hands near his temples. "Can I?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -2)
Alphonse eases closer instead of crowding in, giving Theo just enough room to refuse. The desk lamp throws their shadows together across the floor.
Alphonse Valentino
Contact makes it easier. Can I?
Theo does not flinch away. He nods once, then tips his head forward into range, jaw tight with trust.
Alphonse lifts both hands near Theo’s temples, careful and deliberate. The air between them hums with that familiar mental pressure, and Theo’s breath catches at the edge of it.
Theo Mercer
Yeah. Do it.
The link settles. Theo’s surface thoughts press through first, not words, but a rush of worry wrapped around pain and practice, the kind of pain he has learned to hide.
Theo Mercer
My hand is still there. Still mine. Just... don’t make me look at it too hard.
Rowan’s expression changes at that, the teasing draining out of him. He glances from Theo’s palm to Alphonse, then speaks with the bluntness of someone tired of pretending this is ordinary.
Rowan Mercer
He gets like this after every flare-up. Pretends it is fine until he is alone.
“Something about Theo's thoughts. The way his mind works. It intrigues me. "I think something about your electrokinesis affects your brain chemistry. It's... interesting?" I then realize I'm flirting in the weirdest way and abruptly pull back. "Anyway! You seem fine!"”
SUCCESS (Great Reasoning, rolled -3)
Alphonse Valentino
His thoughts are loud with caution, but the pain is quieter now. The same hand that sparked is guarding itself.
Alphonse Valentino
I think something about your electrokinesis affects your brain chemistry. It is... interesting?
The words land exactly as awkwardly as they sound. Theo blinks, Rowan freezes, and the room goes one beat too still.
Alphonse catches himself and pulls back, the connection loosening just enough to stop the mental pressure from thickening. The lapse costs him his focus, and a faint nosebleed warms his upper lip.
Theo Mercer
You mean that in a science way, right?
Rowan Mercer
He does. Probably. That is his version of comfort.
Theo lets out a short laugh despite himself, then looks down at his marked palm and flexes the fingers slowly, testing the ache like he is measuring a bruise against old habits.
Theo Mercer
It is not just power. When it builds, my head feels crowded. Like static in my teeth. Rowan hates when I say that.
Rowan Mercer
I hate that you wait until it is bad before saying anything.
✓ Quest Accepted
Deepen trust with Theo Mercer
“"Your thoughts just flow nicely from a telepath's perspective. If you ever get that crowded feeling though, feel free to message me and I can probably help you find a technique to get through it. Probably just need to offload some energy."”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled +1)
Alphonse Valentino
Your thoughts flow nicely from a telepath's perspective. If the crowded feeling hits again, message me. I can probably help you work through it, maybe by offloading some energy.
Theo Mercer
Theo's mouth twitches, then his shoulders ease a little. Yeah. That. If you can help with the static part, I would take it.
Rowan Mercer
Rowan glances from Theo's palm to Alphonse, the edge in him thinning. He learns better when someone explains the weird part without making it sound broken.
Theo Mercer
Theo lifts his marked hand, studying it like it belongs to somebody else. It is embarrassing how long I tried to just push through it.
Rowan Mercer
Rowan exhales through his nose, half grimace, half relief. He does that because he thinks I will worry less if he does not say anything.
Theo Mercer
Theo looks up at Rowan, then back to Alphonse. I know he is trying to help. He just does it like a brick to the face.
Adrian Vale
From the doorway, Adrian's tone stays light, but his attention sharpens. Family systems, wonderfully subtle. You are all doing great.
Quest Complete
Deepen trust with Theo Mercer