Howl Your Appellations

Memories and Metal

BOEN OPEOR

When we reached the Train, it was already before midnight. I don't know how much the dimensions distort time, but now I understand why some of the members come home so late at times. They had either been to the market, or were at some place that had pocket dimensions involved. I'm honestly too tired to think about it right now, but, I'm happy to have some of my questions answered.

Throughout the ride, I failed to appreciate Mei's soft skin and fur, it's a lot different from his strong, muscular build. Once Reese carried me down from his back, I felt the cold, harsh ground topped with wet grass. It feels wrong on many levels, but this is what normal's supposed to be. Too late do we mourn for the things we didn't even know we loved.

Reese then carries me again to bring me to Mei's workshop, as if I was a slab of premium meat. Even in her sulking, depressed state, she still finds ways to be nice. Nikki carries all our groceries to the kitchen, where she'll store our meat and fish in the mysterious freezer. I've still yet to see the inside of that freezer and I'm too scared to get locked out, so I never bothered. It's a direct contrast with Mei's workshop. It's such an open spot that even the skies can able seen from the windows; there's nothing more free that the wide sky itself, be it night or day.

"Um, Reese, you can just place me down on one of the tall chairs near the counter. I'll be okay after I've sat down.'' I told Reese with the glazed eyes. I think she's somewhere thinking far away. "Reese?" I repeated her name.

Her consciousness jolts back as if a new soul has entered her body.

"Oh, s**t! I thought you were the groceries! Yeah, of course!" I was a bit offended by her remark, just when I praised her for being nice. This girl, she's a different one.

"I hope you had a fun day today, Boen. You made me recall a really pleasant memory." She pecks my forehead and leaves. She must have recalled memories of looking at planes with Nike, I'm happy I could help.

"Oof!" Mei moves a couple of materials he uses for making his prosthetics. He's very good at his craft, and this is coming from a tried-and-tested observation. And he doesn't leave the aesthetic out either, my heart-shaped kneecap made it easier for me to cope. Of course, it'll never be the same for me, there's no feeling beyond my calf, and I think I've grown a bit bigger for it. Oh man, this is embarrassing but this is probably the best time to tell Mei.

"Um, Mei..." Mei stops what he was doing and looks at me a bit worriedly. "Yeah? Oh you can put your thing on the counter, don't worry!" he was referring to my little trinket. I didn't want to let it out of the wrapping just yet. I, for some reason, don't want other people to see my little sculpture.

I place my 'thing' on the counter just as Mei instructed, but it's not what I wanted to ask from him. I prepare myself to say the words, "There's one other thing, Mei, um.." I trail off. Mei finishes up his work and proceeds to come closer to the counter.

"What's wrong, Boen?" he asks so softly and genuinely that I might cry. It feels really nice to be cared for. "I...I think I GOT FAT AND MY LEG DOESN'T FIT ANYMORE!!!" I scream unintentionally, as if all my pent up emotions came out like water from the flood gates.

Mei's half agape mouth turned into a smile, and then a chuckle to a hardy laugh. His smile is so big that it could rip his face apart, smiling so seriously. I'm not even offended at this point, I just want him to say he'll adjust the size of my metal leg, if he can.

"Sorry for laughing like that Boen. I wish you told me sooner, it must've been hard for you to walk with your unmatched legs now! It just always makes me laugh when people don't tell me this as soon as they notice. I'm more than happy to make you a new leg Boen. Now that you're awake, you can tell me what designs you want for the new one! Don't hold back, I'm a very talented fellow." Mei taps his chest hard twice for empahsis.

"D-dude, for real? Oh my god." tears start flowing down my round eyes, "Waahh, let me just take this off this has been bothering me for a while now." I take my metal leg off and I felt a sudden wave of freedom from its removal. A small puff of fog managed to hitchhike from the Inner Market and into the Train through my leg.

"Yes! don't hesitate next time. You're really lucky you get to have free consultations!" Mei laughs again, I seem to have put him in a very good mood, jolly even. He places his hands on his hips and stretches for a bit.

"One of our members had a prosthetic too. Can you guess who it is?" He asks. He clearly said 'was' with indicates that that someone is no longer here, assuming that the Weres can't grow limbs at will.

I place my hair around my head and whisper, "It's Nike, wasn't it?'' I honestly answered. Although, if it's someone else, I would be pleasantly surprised.

Mei smiles and nods, "Yeah, it was our Big Guy. I just became a member of the pack a few years ago, you see. Before the sisters, I was the newest member. And now I guess we have you too. Time really does fly by. " He sits down on the chair behind the counter. I can see more details of his face now. There are tiny white hair scattered around his chin.

"Nike lost his foot a few years ago. It was hard on the pack because he just wouldn't stay still, he still had to beat up the Were that chewed it off but as soon as Imus left his side, he behaved. And that's when I worked with him on his new foot. He wanted a regular foot but with the soles painted with blue flames." Mei pauses to play with his thumbs for a bit, "He was even better than before, after he tried it on. He was like a new Were! And I was so proud and happy to help my Alpha become even greater."

"Wow. Does this mean that even the metal can transform with the body? That's amazing!" I reply.

"Yes, exactly. It's a phenomenon called "Carryover effect''. It's when objects like clothes, accessories, and prosthetics become part of the body fully. And, uh, by this I mean, the Were accepts the article as part of their identity. You can sometimes see Reese wearing her poncho in her wolf form, yeah? That's how it works." Mei explains.

"Whoa, that's beautiful. I can imagine Nike's coolness factor skyrocketed when he got his metal foot! A giant wolf with a metal foot with a flaming design, genius!" I exclaim.

“Hahahaha! Our Alpha was the coolest…” he gives out a sigh, “Lissana’s plenty cool too. I love them both dearly.” he exhales.

I nod in agreement, although I never want Lissana to lose any part of her body. It’s not something to be desired, even if we do get stellar modifications, it’ll never be as good as it was before. But I could be wrong.

“Now, enough about them. Let’s see what our Boen Opeor wants for her new prosthetic!” Mei grins.

I clean my hair up and give him a clean grin as well. I already really love my metal leg but there’s two things I want him to add to them.

“I want my leg to have a secret compartment! And I’ve always been meaning to get a tattoo! This’ll be a perfect opportunity for me to try it out!” I tell Mei and he seems excited.

“You know, you won’t even feel the tattoo, right? It’ll be on your metal leg after all.” Mei reminds me as if I was not aware of the fact. I am very aware of the fact that I won’t be able to feel the pain of getting a tattoo, what I was talking about when I say I’ve been meaning to get a tattoo is, I can finally make sure that I’ve got no commitment issues.

“Yes, it’ll be fine. I just really want this for my metal leg!” I explain.

Mei takes my preferences and asks me, “So, what design do you have in mind?”

I don’t really have a clear image of the design yet but I know what I want it to be,

“I want a rainbow disk as my first tattoo.”