mental link: D46

[erbier]

[ A gasp, a whisper of something where there had been a stark silence before, and then a pull. A grasp from the deep, leveraging its way from beneath the water only by pulling down another.

Precarious, but harmless as she awakens, her siren call weakening as she breaks the surface, at last. Awake. Everywhere and nowhere, unshielded. Reborn again upon the shores. ]

ooc; newbies should stop her anywhere for action, and anyone who wants to greet her face to face should juuust say so and I will tell you where she is at that moment. she's not really controlling what goes where so threadjack away.

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[decommission]

[ A flicker of surprise, then a rush of warmth flows along their link. Relief.

He knows he won't be the only one to flood her with welcome, and though he wants to come find her he waits, lets her have her time with those others first. To have the place in his head where she inhabits no longer sit so cold and silent is enough. ]

[erbier]

[ She doesn't let his relief go unacknowledged, catches on to it lightly, her attention and appreciation cupped around the burst of his affection. Her favorite seedling, growing so well into his place in the brood, the hive. She wants to see him sooner rather than later, and seeks him out. An obvious hunt, following the pattern of threads that makes their brood what it is. She is a part of that web again, thank whatever god is true. ]

Steve.

[ She wants to hug him but they are not all that physical, so she hesitates for a moment before opening her hands towards him in invitation. ]

[decommission]

[ She'll have found him in his room, slouched against the wall side of his bed as he uses the device on his ear to operate a new program, his hand held out - and he'll have already stopped when he feels her approach along their thread, hopping up onto his feet to greet her by the door.

The warmth that flowed through the connection spreads across his features. ]

Morning.

[ No, he's not that tactile, but for this he accepts the invitation, carefully wrapping his arms around her shoulders. ]

You sleep good?

[erbier]

[ Ah, she knows what they mean when they ask her this, but she hates it all. She had been so vulnerable in that state, so useless. Her lips part for a moment, and then she shakes her head. ]

No, it was not enjoyable.

[ She rubs at her collarbone, absent minded. She had not been entirely alone, but just she and her symbiote in the dark had not been the most comforting. Perhaps she should have found a way to comfort it. ]

I would prefer not to repeat it...

[decommission]

[ Maybe it's time to retire that question.

He doesn't linger in the embrace, pulling back as she answers. His expression turns somber, a crease forming at his brow. ]

I know. [ Better that none of them slip into that empty space again. If he has any fears that manage to bubble to the surface, it's of that place, the thought of their bodies suspended there and trapped for God knows how long. ]

You feel up to walking? [ Might be good to get outside. ]

[erbier]

[ The careful distance between herself and Steve is comfortable. Still brood, still close, but not all relationships need to be tumult and trial. His calm is her calm, something she could do better to recall from time to time. For now, however, there is no question of it and she nods peacefully. ]

Yes, let's.

[ She reaches up and carefully pulls her hair into a little pony tail over her shoulder, to protect it from tangling in the wind. ]

Was there much trouble in my absence?

[ This mission seems to have been nothing but trouble.]

[decommission]

[ The roof can get crowded, but the the street's always busy - he opts for the former as he starts leading them to the elevator. Her question gets a shake of his head. ]

Been quiet except for the parade earlier in the week. [ A faint warmth permeates across the connection. ] Did you see the braids?

[ They'd bought some for Ilde from a street vendor, left them in her room for when she woke up. ]

[erbier]

[ She had awoken in a small puddle of tributes, little trinkets and flowers. Knew them for what they were, but found the emotion they inspired in her almost indescribable. A tenderness too pure for this world entirely too sweet to dare speak of. ]

Of course.

[ It's in her pocket now, as are a few of the other small things. She had not been able to decide what to do with them, beyond carry their sweet tidings with her. They must be good luck, or she might be superstitious. ]

A parade seems to noisy for me.

[ She has never seen one, and would possibly rather not be involved. ]

[decommission]

It was pretty loud. [ He ducks his head, smiling a bit. ] But the performances were something to watch.

[ There are acrobats in his mind, brightly colored in electric paint as they toss each other into the air and the crowd cheers - another memory briefly shows a woman that must've been standing on some kind of scooter with stilts, she stands nearly seven feet tall, her long, bustling dress made entirely of flowers dusted to look like they've got bioluminescence.

He stops to open the elevator doors, cocking his head to one side. ] It was nice.

[ Most everyone enjoyed themselves, he thinks. Minus, well, Parker. ]

[erbier]

[ Ah, her delight at the touch of his memory is palpable. They have always done imagining well together, a place where they could be soft and intimate where they were restrained in the outer world. Yes, there is something delightful and bright in the images of the festival. Also something strange and alien. ]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

[ Ernest, although there is still a part of herself relieved to have missed it. Not just the noise and lights of the crowd but the tumult from the other hosts. ]

It seems to have been very... [ A tactful word. ] Exotic.

[decommission]

[ As he steps inside to hold open the doors, the stream of memories recedes, the connection dwindling back down to a comfortable hum. Connecting with Ilde has always been easiest, his guard unconsciously lowered in a way that doesn't translate to Ren, or even Sam Anders.

The way she trails off earns a wry look and a faint smile. So maybe he overestimated how much she would've liked to be there at the parade. Still, he's glad that she liked their gifts. ]

You catch up with anyone else?

[erbier]

Yes, Mara came and our youngest Sam made me breakfast.

[ She still sounds somewhat bewildered by the attention. It didn't come from any doubt that she had friends and companions now, but from a resounding lack of experience with any part of the social proceedings. ]

[decommission]

Sam's a good kid. [ Steve's kind of fond of him. His hand reaches out to press the button for the roof. ] You and Mara're friendly?

[ Mara sometimes joins him in the living area to watch the news. She's a bit of a kick. ]

[erbier]

I like both of them very much.

[ Although for very different reasons, so she supposes she should elaborate. ]

They each teach me very different perspectives and skills.