[Ah. And so the focus returns to his hands. Stephen is once again aware of them, of the way Thancred holds them, their faint tremor born of irreversible nerve damage, only ever steadied when he focuses his magic through them.

His lips twist wryly. No, this isn't a secret. But it is a little (or not so little) slice of his past that he doesn't bring up often, simply because it feels like a lifetime ago.

Still, it was only a matter of time before this question arose, and he finds he doesn't mind telling it to Thancred. Not a shred of hesitation as they take that turn around the dance floor.]

Ah, that. I was reckless. Thought I was invincible, drove a... [Does Thancred know what an automobile is by now? Has anyone mentioned it to him? He wonders.] ...transport too quickly in the rain, without paying much attention the road. My vehicle went flying off the ledge, and crashed front-end first on the way down. The whole thing practically folded up -- it crushed nearly every bone in every finger, and the nerve damage was... bad.

Not exactly a fortuitous fate for anyone, but more so for a surgeon who relied so much on his hands for his work.