Kim's holding it in his palm and, after a moment, a memory comes like ripples over water. A matronly face of a middle-aged woman smiling thinly at the perspective of the memory-holder. She seems nervous or unsure as she slips the ring onto the pointer finger of the person. They look down at it and see the design on the round face of the ring...then look back up to the woman who now looks close to tears.

'It's yours, love, always has been, but now you're out and about on your own...you might as well have it. Though, under- under your clothes might be best. Need to keep your heritage secret, even if you've...other ways for going undetected now.'

She reaches up to adjust the person's collar as he turns to look in the mirror. It's Chris' face...but different. Softer. Younger, certainly, but not as young as the features of a boy this age should be. The memory comes with sensation: the collar being turned down on his tunic, the tightness of binding around his chest, the looseness of his shirt overall to hide his build under his vest and his curly hair brushing the back of his neck. It was growing out again, the uneven ends of an inexpertly done cut now almost vanished.

It came with flashes of emotion as well, though if it was thin from it not being his memory or from Chris himself clamping down on his own emotions, it was hard to tell. Pride, yes. Resignation...moreso. Fear, elation, he looked right...but what he now was expected to be... what he was expected to do...it roiled painfully in him until he shut it all down.

Kayt didn't need more fear. More pain. Cutting his hair and binding his chest had hurt her enough...he could do this, at least. He could fulfill what they expected of him. He could be a Sonom...at last.

Chris in the present stands unaware of it all, simply anxiously looks to his dear friend and brushes his fingers past Kim's cheek. "I'd hope you'd keep it safe. Keep it as a sign of my affection for you, this piece of me you might allow."