mental link | day: 006

[shri]

[ Her options are at this point, are brood up how much she wants to kill Damon and Elena, or get on with work. She didn't do so well at brooding, though her mind is still so new, so sharp and edged and not kept inside of herself. But in this case, a fire trying to find new kindling to keep itself going. Her own impatience and frustration are evident. But when isn't she anyway - ]

( I was informed when I arrived that we need to be ... ascertaining particular pieces of information.

Have we begun such? If not, should we not begin planning to reconnoitre? )

[ She has already plans, but even so, if it's already been done - well, she's happy to be told if it means she doesn't have to go chasing her own tail. ]

( And does anyone know how to use these - light books - that has the time to show me? It keeps flashing at me and I cannot make it stop. I think it wants something. )

[ The data pad, she means the data pad, she's grouchy at it for not! giving her! the things! she wants! Being a grandma in space is a trial. ]

Comments

[shiro2hero]

(If we have, no one's spread the information around.)

[THANKS TEAM, goes unsaid. But -- there's also a problem here he might actually be able to help with. Instead of just, "I don't know".]

(Light books? You mean the datapads?) [Asked as gently as possible. Lavellan hadn't known anything about tech either.] (I could show you, if you like.)

[shri]

( Best we start collecting it as much as we can. )

[ There's the feeling of unsureness on the second part of it and - oh right, that's what they were called. ]

( If you would be so kind as to lend your instruction to me once more, then I would greatly appreciate it. )

[wrackful]

( You can try planning. See how far you get. )

[If he sounds like he doesn't think the group can as a whole get anything going, it's because he doesn't.]

( Which part's flashing? )

[shri]

( Would it be better if I simply went and did it instead? )

[ Give apology rather than asking for an allowance. Oh, just give her permission to be that forthright. She'd be happier. ]

( The side. At the top. )

[deployed]

( There's a group of Rabadoceans I've met in the gardens to play their ball game. They like me because I lose. )

[ He's gotta work with what he's got. ]

( If I don't suddenly start winning, we'll stay on friendly terms. I'll be able to meet more people from their party. )

[shri]

( A good skill. Glad to know Lords are the same selfish prigs no matter where I find myself. )

[ Lakshmi, you're a Queen - yeah okay never mind. But still, she doesn't see that as terrible. ]

( I'd say work with their underestimation. Presumptive people are stupid, make more mistakes because they assume they can. )

[adamance]

( I believe a number of us are preparing for the eventual pilgrimage. We're also curious about the nature of the Nectar, especially as they believe it's worth their while to utilize the dead as if they are tools. )

[But the number of newcomers combined with the newness of the mission hasn't led to a large amount of information. At least, not yet.]

[shri]

( If I were a different woman, I would find sense in that too.

What does your preparation entail thus far? )

[blooded]

❰ If we're reconnoitering, I'm in. Weaseling into the good graces of people who shouldn't like me is something of a specialty.

it's both true and said just to make lakshmi bristle. the fact is, he's quite good at getting himself places he shouldn't be — the council back in mystic falls was evidence enough of that — and if this mission takes any amount of subterfuge, that's where he'd be best utilized. bodyguarding sam and elena will be easy, but this sounds fun. ❱

[shri]

[ And bristle she does, her body shuddering in utter recoil from him until she forces the steel back down her spine. Gets herself ready and forces the rest of the way to speak to him. ]

( I am glad to know you have some use. )

[unsea]

[ there she is, again - he echoes how she feels, briefly and distantly. ]

( If you meant to plan any movements, contain it to a small group.

We are too numerous, and many of us are too recalcitrant to be of much help. )

[ u know who u are ]

[shri]

[ To her fire, his darkness feels so odd, against her mind. But that never stopped her burning, so she hurtles straight forward the way she always did. ]

( Stubborn or selfishness is what I should be watching for? )

[ Give her the gossip, Darkling. ]

[calhar]

[ you don't know anything about anyone punk ]

( That had better be a fancy word for "cautious". )

[miscreant]

( In a manner of speaking. Though, I believe if we require something more in-depth than casual gossip, we will need to pursue some manner of alliance or camaraderie with the locals. )

[The 'we' is used fast and loose here.]

[shri]

( Do you have a thought to how it might be accomplished? )

[aluminumandash]

[ Rust's mental voice carries as if through frigid air. A feeling of stillness, of putting one foot in front of the other.

Yet he shares her restlessness. ]

( Now or never.

Might want to ask someone who knows their stuff if there's any fancy surveillance equipment we can use. ) [ He's figured out the datapad, but that's only served to drive home his ignorance. ]

[shri]

( .... Fancy surveillance? I usually just post street boys. )

[ Yeah okay, 1800s, calm down there. ]

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( They believe I'm nobility so far. It's only been a few days, not enough to learn more than a little gossip, but if we keep getting in close to them there's bound to be more. Some of us are trying to get in with the elite, some with the servants and guards, some with aides and other locals. )

[shri]

( How goes that so far? )

[servitor]

( As far as I can tell it's been everything quiet, but I've been mostly looking out for the crew. )

[Because someone needs to make sure these dumbasses don't go blowing their cover and get themselves stuck.]

( I can start needling some of the other guard types. They've taking a liking to me because we get to be annoyed at our bosses and captains. )

[shri]

[ There's a feeling of tapping her chin. It's a good exploit point - after all, did she not raise rebellions twice over? The latter that demanded an Empire to topple for its abuses? ]

( If you are amiable to it, perhaps we could construct a fiction to further that sympathy? )

[ryohji]

( 'Identification and interference', is what they'd said, right? )

[ oh, he'd been listening back at the station, though his seemliness - the loitering, the smoking, the reticence - would've done much to suggest otherwise. he comes through thoughtful. ]

( Without someone to receive and consolidate our observations, it all goes to waste. Speaking into the void like this and our thoughts can get lost. It's getting easier to ignore those, especially when they come from people we don't like.

Are you offering? )

[shri]

( I am not without my enemies. ) [ She's been here a week, and yet - ] ( But, should no other take up that burden, then yes, it is something I have experience with. )

[ But to that - she cuts her mind apart neatly to let her intentions be shown - Queen she could be, but neither is she a fool, she won't have anyone accuse her of taking power for herself. ]

[somnifacient]

(I've been floating around as nobility with my "bodyguard". If you have an idea that extends past "keep an ear out for anything suspicious", then just let us know. I want to make this mission a success.

And are you talking about the data pads? I can show you, if you want. It takes some fiddling with.)

[shri]

( Who is your bodyguard? )

[ Hovering with it a little. ]

( Yes - that. )

[wille]

[ This is precisely what she expects from you, Lakshmi. No matter that any form of cohesive planning is a doomed goal to pursue. ]

( I've been sidling up to the Meradan. Low-hanging fruit and all.

Have you talked to Pidge? Tiny girl, short red hair. She might have something to tell you about technomancy. )

[shri]

[ She'll put together a plan, with whoever wants to do it, even if it means yanking out her own teeth in the process. ]

( I've received assistance already, but I will follow up with her should another problem come about. ) [ Which it will, no doubt. ]

( How goes your efforts so far? )

[isorropia]

( Look at that. A bird learning to fly. )

[Lyr, that's not helpful commentary.

--But it almost feels more gentle than the abrasive selection of mental words might otherwise suggest. Tastes like dust in the rain. Like something sweet and tired.]

[shri]

( Perhaps I will sing, next. )

[ And just the same, she teases back. Happy to take the rolls with it. ]

[earthborn]

( I can tell you, the other 'noble' bodyguards have tight lips, with strangers. I don't know enough about their physiology to get anybody drunk, but it wouldn't be the worst idea anybody ever had. )

[If she sounds halfhearted, it's because she is. Shepard's done the hoenypot thing before, but it's never been her favorite.]

( Did you mean.. the datapad? )

[shri]

( Perhaps it is time we try? Is there some type of challenge that - oh, soldiers are prone to be ridiculously competitive over and can be coaxed into companionship over? )

[ And then - ]

( Yes. That. )

[ Datapad sounds ridiculous, no matter how often people say it. ]