mental link: Find my iPhone

[vocalis]

CHARACTERS: All
WHERE: Bearings
WHEN: DAY: 37 - morning
SUMMARY: Putting the brain network to it's truest use
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary

[ So far, every time someone has used the mental network on a mass scale it's been for a good reason. Using it at all is prying in the most intrusive way, isn't it? It should be reserved for only the most pressing matters. Information sharing, help seeking, quiet discussion to further the mission.

So it should be for an equally important reason that Aoba reaches out now, his voice oddly pleasant as ever to listen to but nervous in it's delivery. ]

I'm really sorry to reach out to you this way all of a sudden, but... uh...



Has anybody seen my datapad?



[ Well... so much for keeping the mass mental link purely professional. And this less than professional message is going out on the morning after a long night, no less. Maybe he should've checked how many hosts were still sleeping. Too late now though, he's in the middle of it. ]

It's got a sticker on the back of it that looks like-



Sorry, it's just... I've been looking for it for like a week now and using Angel's in the meantime. But she's got some locks on it and her coding is really good and-

Uh, anyway yeah, if you see it just let me know. Sorry again.

[ He leaves the connection as swiftly as he burst in, as if bowing out and away, embarrassed. He must've really lost the thing if this is how he's going about recovering it. ]

Comments

[vocalis]

[ That thought sets Aoba's mind immediately on edge, his thoughts quickly growing tense. ]

What?! Someone from the outside? You think so?

[ If that's the case, he's in trouble for losing it. All the things they've been given for the mission are property of the Station, Cathaway will be so disappointed. Prince will make him fill out paperwork... ]

Maybe I can buy one on this world to replace it...

[ With the Station's money... no, that won't work either. ]

Or I'll just... keep looking. Or see if anyone else finds it. Thanks for keeping an eye out.

[greentech]

Well, I'm not saying it's for certain, but it's not outside the realm of possibility. It's not like we own the building or anything.

[ Gosh, please don't panic Aoba. ]

If you actually left it in the common room, I'm sure it'll turn up. Don't worry about it so much!

[ She's trying to be encouraging. ]

[vocalis]

Alright... I'll try not to.

[ He still sounds concerned, though his rising anxiety dials back to a low humming frequency in the back of his thoughts. He leaves it there, Pidge's reassurance having helped. ]

Thanks again. I'll let you know if I find it.

[vocalis]

[vocalis]

[ He did not expect to be reaching out again this soon, but... here he is, gently tapping at the edge the Pidge's consciousness with the aforementioned update he promised. ]

I found it.

[ He did not expect he'd be sounding so bitter about this, either. ]

[greentech]

[ Huh. That was fast. Pidge's curiosity taps right back at Aoba. ]

Hey, that's great! Where was it?

[vocalis]

Someone had it.

[ His sour answer is followed by a significant pause, though it's not entirely silent. There's a distinct frequency of his thinking, a humming set to a steady rhythm as he tries to beat out the details he wants to share. He's trying to get a name. It's just... difficult when he can't find one. ]

His name is... tch. He's not telling me and I can't find it.

[ That doesn't stop him from trying one more time. ]

He's... In the Gloom?

[greentech]

One of ours? Why?

[ She's already mentally divided it into "the Nest" and "everyone else". Makes sense to, even if she's not sure how she feels about this place or being part of some wonky hivemind. There's a beat as she tries to figure out what Aoba means. ]

In the gloom...? What, is he depressed?

[vocalis]

Yeah, I think he's just a few doors down the hall from me too.

[ He's quick to go along with Pidge's thinking of them as a collective, mostly because he's already accepted it for himself. There's the Nest, and there's everyone else.

Doesn't mean he can't be mad at one of their own. ]

I don't know. He's making up a story about of how I threw my datapad at him, and even made up a memory of it. At least I think he did. I don't remember any of it.

[ It would be 2spooky if it wasn't made up. ]

[greentech]

That's weird. Why would he make up something like that?

[ It is a mystery. ]

[vocalis]

I'm not sure. Maybe he doesn't want to be caught for stealing it? Ugh, I don't know.

[ Whatever it is, Aoba's mind is remaining firmly rooted in the belief that it's not him that's being weird, it's this guy. ]

[greentech]

Sounds stupid. Just ignore him, as long as you have your stuff back.

[vocalis]

I'm getting it back, but... I'm gunna talk to him. Something about this is still weird.

[greentech]

Huh. Let me know what's going on. I kinda want to know.

[vocalis]

Alright, just... after I talk to him.

[ He's getting better at it, but he still gets a far-off look he can't help when he's trying to have multiple conversations in his head and in person. ]

[greentech]

Sure. Like I said, let me know what's up!