mental link, day...36? sure.

[headinjuries]

[ Technically, it came up a few days ago, but Sam's been letting something bounce around in his head to see if the possibility gets less troublesome after he sleeps on it. And sleeps on it a couple more times.

or he's just saying it late so the newbies can hear it too, w/e

It's not getting any less freaky. So, out of left field: ]

( So if aliens can hack our emotions, do we...actually know they can't mess with everything else? Memories? Are we actually who we think we are?

What if there is no spoon? )

Comments

[cur]

( True. I'd argue that they still have much to learn. )

[ As for normal — he has no idea. He has a vague concept of it, working a normal job and having a family and having friends, which is all very Hallmark but also very worthwhile. ]

( And normal is whatever life they've chosen for themselves. Forgetting allows them to keep it. )

[greentech]

( It also means they can't make a choice. You're taking that away from them - the ability to learn for themselves. )

[ Pidge "sounds" like she disapproves. She's never really been in a normal family (her father and brother both went to space), but the pursuit of knowledge and the expansion of human endeavor is almost a family tradition. ]

( How are people supposed to learn if you never let them? )

[cur]

[ All good points, and all met with empathy and an edge of curiosity. ]

( That's what you'd prefer? To have a difficult choice instead of none, even if it meant your life would never be the same. )

[greentech]

[ There's a lot of determination coming off of Pidge, along with a bit of empathy and a thirst for learning. ]

( I sort of made that choice. I mean, it wasn't the same situation, but I could've just accepted what I was told and believed my father and brother were dead. But I didn't. And now I'm part of something - I was part of something way bigger and fighting an evil galactic empire. )

[cur]

( Then you're very brave. )

[ Which could be patronizing, were it not so obviously backed by respect. ]

( Not many would do the same, but perhaps you're right; it's still their choice to make. ) [ There's a clear hesitation. It's absolutely prying, but she mentioned it, so: ] ( Did you find them? )

[greentech]

[ There's a moment of hesitation on Pidge's end as well. Then she replies and there's defiance and anger leaking through. ]

( I found out that they're alive. I'm still going to find them. )

[cur]

[ They're all stranded here. That's his first thought, followed by the ways in which that might make her search impossible — but it's difficult to stay pessimistic in the face of her determination. ]

( Alive is certainly a good start. Where were you looking for them last?)

[ Going to assume space based on 'evil galactic empire', but. ]

[greentech]

( Somewhere in the Galra Empire. But I knew they were out there. )

[ Yeah, big area, but she still knew they were alive. There was still hope. She still had a direction to start going on.

Now she's all the way in another universe, as far as she knows. ]

[cur]

( They still are, presumably. The only thing that's changed is that you've been brought here. )

[ He could probably be more reassuring, but he doesn't need the connection to tell him she's well-versed in reality. Blind optimism won't help. ]

( Was your technology similar to the technology you've encountered here? )

[greentech]

( Yeah. Great. A million more miles away, with even less chance of actually finding out where they are or if they're OK. They're probably being worked to death or used as cannon fodder or something horrible and all I can do is try and fight this stupid war for a group of parasites-! )

[ DEEP BREATH PIDGE. The change of subject is probably a good thing. There's a break in her mental rambling while she tries to focus, even if some of her consternation bleeds through. ]

( Sort of? It's... more advanced in some ways and creepily familiar in others. )

[cur]

[ The intensity is charming, honestly, so there's no trace offense or judgment on his end. If he's glad for her following the change in subject, it's mostly for her sake. ]

( Perhaps we're closer to your world than mine, then. Technology's typically Muggle territory, but I know enough to know we're leagues behind this. )

[greentech]

( I have a question: why do you call them muggles? )

[cur]

[ WELL......... ]

( If you're asking after the etymology — it's a bit outdated, admittedly. But it's to distinguish their lack of knowledge regarding the magical world. )

[ Don't make him say it means 'stupid', because it basically means stupid. He's already lost enough points with you kids. ]

[greentech]

( It's not really their fault they don't know, though. You guys actively try to shut them out. )

[cur]

( To a point. Even Muggles who are aware of the magical world remain removed from it; they will never know magic. )

[greentech]

( Why would they need to be removed of it? )

[cur]

( Because they'll never be able to practice it. Knowledge isn't enough, unfortunately. Magic is genetic. )

[greentech]

( Just because someone isn't born able to do something or doesn't want to, doesn't mean they can't study it. It's not like aviation engineers are all pilots. )

[cur]

( That's true, I suppose. I'm sure a few of the Muggles that know of magic's existence have made the effort. )

[ And, after a slight pause: ]

( It's not a novel idea, taking down the walls between our worlds. But it might be better achieved when our politics are— )

[ Less violent? Voldemorty?? ]

( More stable. )

[greentech]

( So I guess things are very unstable right now? What do wizards even fight over? )