mental link; after the riding events

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Sam's mental presence is accompanied by the sweep of feathers and the rush of wind as he focuses in on his connection to the Nest, occassionally dotted with a faint hint of static or the glint of stars. ]

( There's more than a few of us going at this mission in our own way, so I figure it can't hurt to check in. I don't got a lot this early in the game, but if anyone wants what I've found out about our hosts or the other envoys or what I've been doing to get it, I'll pass it on. This ain't a trade kind of thing - I'll tell you whether or not you wanna let me know what you've been up to. But if you don't mind sharing, hell, I'll take it. )

[ They're a paranoid bunch here, Sam knows that. He'd rather get what little he's been able to find out to people who might be able to do something with it than insist on getting something back. ]

( If you'd rather do it in person, just tell me when or where. I'm pretty sure I heard something about Adra making us all dinner later, so that might not be a bad time either. )

[ On an OOC note, if you only want info sharing and would rather handwave the interaction or just want to know what Sam would share, hit me up on the first comment to this post! ]

Comments

[ryohji]

( Are you sure that's the best idea? Wouldn't want to make things worse for ourselves, getting too drunk to make out a good tip from bad. )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( What, can't hold your liquor? ) [ He's teasing, though, light and playful. ] ( It doesn't have to be alcoholic. )

[ryohji]

( It's not that. I drink to keep myself under control. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but we wouldn't be able to read any of the labels, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

But I'll throw prevention to the wind if it meant avoiding what they call 'non-alcoholic' here. Though I should warn you, I haven't exactly endeared myself to the dinner host. )

[ he is what his people back home would call a fussy contact with many demands and headaches that follow him like black cloud. ]

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Drinking to keep himself under control doesn't sound all that great, honestly, but it ain't like that's the worst coping mechanism Sam's seen here. ]

( Nah, I got you covered; I asked around. And I figured out that drink they were serving during the riding competitions well enough, so we should be pretty safe there. ) [ There's a hint of amusement across the link. ] ( Half the people here haven't endeared themselves to the other half, man, you'll fit right in. )

[ryohji]

[ if sam wants to see coping mechanisms that'll give him a run for his dollar, all he has to do is look a little further. ]

( And which half do you belong? )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( Depends on who you ask. ) [ They may not be physically together, but Sam's grin is wide enough that it's probably clear even across a mental link. ] ( I'm pretty hard to piss off, though, so you don't gotta worry about endearing yourself to me.

[ryohji]

( I see. Those are the worst kinds of people, but you say it as if it's a good thing. )

[ it takes one to know one. sam's humor he takes in stride; like a ray of white light he acknowledges it but refuses to stare too long for fear of blindness. ]

( You're the man from the morning investigation team, aren't you? The one with the bodyguard. )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ It does take one to know one, and Sam's not offended. He's heard the same kind of thing from people he hasn't endeared himself to - which means sorry, Kaji, but he's about to get another flash of Sam's humor as laughter spills out over the connection. ]

( Did you really just tell me I'm the worst kind of person? )

[ There's still a little bit of amusement, even as he switches his focus to the actual question. ]

( Yeah, that was me. Trying to keep a cover, for all the good it might've done. )

[ryohji]

( You heard me right. But, you're in good company. )

[ an overstatement for the history books, really. ]

( I know all about that. You pulled off quite the impassioned performance. And, well, I don't believe we've introduced ourselves - unless you'd like to be referred to as Worst Person. )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( I'll drink to that. )

[ The Nest is basically full of varying kinds of the Worst People, though, so Sam doesn't take offense. He gives the mental equivalent of a soft, vaguely amused huff.

Impassioned is one word for it, he guesses. ]

( I'm no spy, but I did my best. I'm Sam. )

[ryohji]

( You did better than most of them. Sam. Call me Kaji - I'll be the one to show up one hour late, the one to disappoint you.

Until then. It's a date, you and I. )