Our Mage ST used to really be into flavor posts – or fiction relating to your character between sessions – and so there have been a few about Math. This one was originally posted to the list on 27 Jan 2006.
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Math admired the craftsmanship of the lighter. The normal flame guard had a large-ish circle cut out of it on both sides, and that allowed the flame down and into the pipe when he inhaled. He had had no idea that Zippo made lighters specifically for pipes – or maybe McNally had modified this one. Either way, it was nifty. The edges of the cutout glowed a ruddy red when he lit the pipe, and that felt like home.

The tobacco was mixed with some kind of sage. It smelled earthy and solid. Math was just fine with the scent soaking into his clothes, not to mention the walls of the den. Knowing McNally, he’d probably packed a crapload of the sage into air-tight containers when he was living out west. Math would just have to find it. He smiled slightly around the pipe. He was getting pretty good at finding hidden things around the house, much to Susie’s glee and frustration.

Finding the first few of the books that she had hidden took hours. When he had found the first one, she had clapped, jumped up and down, and given him huge hugs. Suddenly the world had been small, this success was enormous, and accomplishment was possible again. Math had found himself centered and reassured by the love of this little girl. For once, he let himself simply be a Dad, and Susie be a daughter. Just as all good things, this was not meant to last. Each book became progressively easier for Math to find. By the sixth book, it was getting obvious that he had found a pattern. After he’d found the last of the books, he’d stumbled upon a knife that she’d hidden in case anyone else broke in the house. Needless to say, Susie wasn’t happy with this discovery.

It wasn’t easy for Math to stay angry at and firm with Susie when he knew the dangers that she’d faced. Massive waves of guilt assaulted him, and it took most of his will to deny her the simplest of things. With Joy’s help, he managed it. She was amazing at discipline, and really quite crappy at having any fun. At least she was able to relax, now that she had help of her own.

Math puffed on the pipe, filling the den with the scent of tobacco and wild sage. He slowly cracked open an old, and quite large, book entitled The Accurate and Scientific Theorems behind H.G. Wells’ ‘Time Machine’. It was one of McNally’s books that Susie had hidden, and sounded like a fun project.