mental link - :018

[circumspector]

[ There's a crackle of static, of a radio station getting tuned in and a deep breath. Not a loud one, this one, just tentative brush at whatever is closest. ]

( ... Aoba? Petre? )

[ Well, someone's awake. Tired sounding, but awake and she tries to clear her mind to focus enough to reach out broaden to whoever might be nearby. More direct, a little more present. Nervous always, when she feels disconnected from others. ]

( ... Hello? Anyone nearby? )

[ and for anyone looking for her, she's around the Bearings as she catches up on what she's missed out on, getting herself cleaned up from her extended nap time, and plugging herself back into the nest of machines in the common area. ]

Comments

[adamance]

[It seems as if they are destined to suffer losses. Even with her new connection to the Flame, Lexa lacks any of the knowledge that might help her ask about these deep sleeps that the other Hosts enter. All she knows is that it is both unusual and it is wrong. How it's wrong is unclear to her: Nirad spoke of it as if it was just a thing that happened. Then again, Nirad spoke of a lot of things as if they were merely things that happened.

Still, the sound of Angel awakening stirs up Lexa's awareness. The static is not surprising, nor is the sense of where she heads.

The last they spoke, Angel had been suffering guilt and loss yet again. It was before Bellamy arrived, before Lexa learned of her death (or another Lexa's death—to her, it remains the same). It was before she spoke to Carata and learned that her hope to return home was nothing more than a naive claim. She doesn't know that she's accepted this truth yet. She hasn't told Bellamy, or anyone else. It's occurred to her in the company of others, but she hasn't mentioned it.

If she doesn't speak it, does that make it not true? And given the Nest, do they need to speak anything at all?

Her mind is clouded and restrained when she enters the common area, walls up to keep most others from peering in. Lexa has been careful not to dwell on these thoughts except in the privacy of her room. With walls up, the others can't see the discomfort on her face. They can't be curious about where her mind has wandered. And above all else, she can give herself the illusion that no one else can sense that her mind has changed regarding the proceedings in this world. Or in all worlds, including her own.

Her arms hang loosely at her side, and a smile appears, because she's at least able to call Angel a friend now.

(It's what Clarke would challenge her for not claiming her to be, so Lexa knows better. She has to kick certain habits in this new life of hers.]

I knew you would return to us, [she says, a hint of pride in her voice.]

[circumspector]

[ Angel straightens up, shoulders rolling up and she's tired - when isn't she tired? - but there's a determination there, always. It's not a grand thing. It's paced, measured every day. ]

Of course. I couldn't leave you trying to work out technology all by yourself.

[ It's teasing, as close as she comes, but here - she is here, and that makes everything alright. ]

[adamance]

I'll have to show you what I've learned. [It isn't much, but she's beginning to piece together everything better. Bellamy's arrival helped spurred on some of the knowledge she has, especially in contrast to what she knew before. Contextualizing this world with her own has helped, even if she is still facing some difficulty on a narrower level.]

Petre worried that you might not return. [The sense is that she did what she could to help, but doesn't speak it.

Still, it's better that she knows.]

[circumspector]

I'll look forward to it.

[ At the word of Petre though, her eyes turned down and there's something soft there - that maybe there shouldn't be given who and what Petre is. He's a demon. But for better or worse, he was part of her now. With so few of them left to... ]

Yeah, he gave me a big hug, when I came back. I hope he wasn't too much trouble.

[ -- okay he probably was, but here's for hoping he stayed a little bit in line. ]

[inflori]

[ he isn't far when she calls for his name. He'd told (promised) Lexa he wouldn't leave Angel's side, that he would protect and trust that his friend would wake up soon because she was too strong not to. And there it is - her voice is proof of that, so Petre scrambles from wherever he'd been hiding out to meet her, heart beating fast, eyes light and focused.

He pauses, barely a couple of steps away from her. Then, with a shaky exhale, he darts and throws his arms around for a tight embrace, face pressed against her. ]

You're back, you came back.

[circumspector]

[ There isn't a flicker of hesitation when he tumbles into her. Her arms wrap around him and she presses her face back. There is a relief to his presence - because the one thing worse maybe than not waking up - would be waking up alone without any of them. ]

I told you I would, remember?

[ She presses her face into his hair, smiling quietly to herself.

It's nice to be missed. ]

[inflori]

Yeah, you did.

[ Words muffled a little comically without meaning to, Petre gives her one last squeeze before stepping back. He wants to see her in full, wants to look at her eyes to really make sure she's awake, aware. Present. ]

Lexa told me you'd feel guilty, though. So I'm supposed to tell you not to.

[unfavoured]

[ Doesn't anyone know how to use their mouths anymore?

Parker winces as she walks by Angel, slapping a hand to her ear like she had just suffered a massive headache. She frowns at her, not very kindly either, and almost sneers as she speaks. ]

What the hell's wrong with you? Don't you have eyes?

[circumspector]

[ It's not her nature to really respond to aggression like other people do. Left-over habits from Jack to be deflective and removed from others like that. ]

Sorry. We can get pretty... spread out sometimes, it's easier to reach out that way. [ Simple explanation as apology, shrugging. Nothing meant by it really. ] You must be new? Hi, I'm Angel.

[ there's a pleasant smile, comfortable as much as she can be. ]

[unfavoured]

[ The fact that she uses that excuse, the fact that for her, it's "easier to reach out", makes Parker feel like she is eating a sour thing. Lip slightly curled, nose scrunched. Keeps her carefully measured distance from her, defensive posture without really giving her guard up; shoulders tense but nothing else would tip it off.

There is no smile. There isn't even any change in her expression. ]

Parker. [ No hi, no pleasantries. Last name basis, helps the distance. ] Don't do that again.

[ The only voice in her head will be her own. ]

[erbier]

[ On the roof, clearly in the garden, Ilde is stroking flower petals the way one might stroke another's hair. She accepts Angel's awakening into the situation, voice a soft murmur, more a fragrance than a sound. ]

( Hello, Angel. )

[circumspector]

[ It couldn't be more welcome. She extends herself out to her, all easy unfold. There's a comfort to Ilde, a easy push and pull between them. ]

( Ilde. It's good to hear you. )

[erbier]

[ Ilde's embrace is sheltering, blocking things out with her presence, wanting to be the one focused on now. She has only just begun to realize she does this, demanding and jealous with those she favors most. In that way, she does not tell Angel that there was worry, that she was missed. ]

( How do you feel? )

[ Has she realized that yet another broodmate is gone? ]

[deployed]

[ Bellamy doesn't recognize everyone, not yet, mostly because he spends the majority of his time trying to avoid and ignore the connection between himself and the Nest. But Angel catches him off-guard, pulls his attention from the dogeared book he'd been immersed in. ]

( Yes? ) [ Bellamy's thoughts come into focus colored over with fantasy, lingering thoughts of King Arthur fading as Bellamy's attention shifts. ] ( Who are you? )

[ There is, as ever, a lingering sense of embarrassment. Bellamy doesn't like doing this. He doesn't like how quickly his thoughts glom on to others and how difficult it is for him to reel them back. He's still new, but that doesn't deflect Bellamy's shame. ]

[circumspector]

( Oh - )

[ She doesn't seem too bothered by the trickle of his thoughts. Rather she broadens herself a little, suits herself against the shape of them. Adaptive by her nature, turns herself so it feels no more than a brush against his shoulder. Polite, respectful, curious maybe what he's reading to see it half in his thoughts but -

Better not to pry. Better to just be warm, accepting, without judgement or comment to what he might have been thinking otherwise. ]

( Angel, I'm Angel. You must be new? )

[deployed]

[ Her mind feels...different. "Beautiful" is the word that comes to mind, unbidden, as Bellamy takes in the scarce flickers of her thoughts against his own. ]

( I am. ) [ New enough not to be able to control himself appropriately, a source of endless humiliation. ] ( Do you know Rhys? )

[ The uptick of intonation is hopeful; Rhys had said Angel had helped him. Maybe she'd help Bellamy too. It's a little much to saddle someone with, particularly someone who had just arrived, but Bellamy can't help the way he immediately gravitates towards the idea of someone being able to teach him to use the link without spilling so much of his thoughts into them on accident. ]

[decommission]

[ He returns to the Bearings later, missing the mental announcement to find her sitting near the gadgets and gizmos in the common area - first to his immediate surprise, then to his relief. Too many people have been going under and not coming back up lately. ]

Welcome back. [ Approaching, he's got his hands in his pockets and a faint, lopsided smile on his face. His head cocks to one side, peering at the set-up. ] Already back to work?

[circumspector]

[ It's one thing to hear his thoughts and another when - she hears his voice beside her and she looks up. Because some part of her had been hoping he'd be the one that would get back to her first. Not mad that he hadn't, just that she's glad to see him.

So when she sees him, she's up immediately - better at the interaction, better at finding it less shocking when people are so suddenly there and sometimes she resents it but - not with him. Never with him.

Wraps her arms around him, pressing in close in a hug. ]

Steve.

[decommission]

[ Oh - he doesn't expect the way she comes at him. He's still figuring all of this out. He still sees the Nest as individuals, he doesn't think of them as a whole. He doesn't call them family, even if he knows that's what this easy acceptance must be part of. His arms wrap around her shoulders a half second later, face lightly flushed. ]

Hey. [ He's got about an inch on her, means he doesn't have to push up on his toes - for some reason he's extra aware of that difference. ] How're you feeling?

[dbag]

[ He doesn't seek Angel out for a long time — mostly because if he were her, he wouldn't want to see himself either, not if there was a chance there were little bits of Jack data still floating around inside his head — and by the time he actually feels the urge to, she's already gone. He doesn't respond mentally, more hesitant than ever to connect with anyone now, opting instead to wait until he sees her in the flesh.

He's mildly pissed at her for being the spark that ignited the confrontation with Lexa, even if it isn't actually her fault at all. Still, he makes an attempt not to be a petulant asshole about it, and when he passes her in the Bearings, he offers, ] Hey. Welcome back, I guess?

[circumspector]

[ It's something she appreciates really - it was a lot to take in, what he'd said. Coming to terms with her father's death was - well it was something else. Then that he'd had him in his head. As much as she wish her fate on anyone, let alone like that, it still made her nervous. ( the colder part, the part that made excuses like for the hive, to protect them all, wanted to reach out with her abilities and rattle around inside his skull to figure out just how much might be left over - but that would cause more problems than it was worth, and she was working on being something more than just a thing Jack made )

Knows that... eventually, she will. They all live and work too close and - well it wasn't his fault. No more than it was hers. With that mutuality, when she sees him, she's pleasant, open. Getting herself a glass of water ( the datapad that sits next to the sink, seeming to have a reminder up on the front of the screen, peeping at her to have second glass of water for the day! ) that keeps her hands busy but she nods her head in greeting. ]

Hey. Good to be back, really.

[dbag]

—Sleep well?

[ It's not really a question that's meant to be answered; it's sort of the only thing he can think of to say. There isn't a "For Your Fellow Hivemind Host That Is Finally Awake Again" section in the cards aisle. It's also relevant to something he's interested in, though: ]

Like, are you... rested? 'Cause I've got a question about something. But it can wait if you're about to pass out or something.

[ Feels a bit like an asshole move, immediately asking her to do something for him, but. There it is. ]

[frakkincylons]

[ he finds her about as soon as she comes into the commons room, sam still sitting on the couch in front of their command center, now looking a good bit sorrowful, with the seat next to him empty.

at least, until angel comes shuffling in, and sam feels her mind before he sees her, rocketing up to take long steps over to her, and wrap her up into a tight bear hug. ]

Frak me, thank gods you're okay. [ he'd been terrified she'd go the way Jessica has, slipping farther and farther away. he'd grown so attached to her in the last few weeks, and sam could sing he's so happy to have her back. ] Are you okay? Head feeling alright?

[circumspector]

[ there's something like a squeak when she's picked up in the hug. Little as she is, feels herself go up on tip toe, feet barely on the floor for it, a second in surprise before she's wrapping around him in return. A beaming smile on her face, feels safe - warm with the eh connection that is just happy to be back. ]

Head is as crowded as ever and no more tired than normal so - so far so good. [ lays her cheek against his shoulder. Eyes closed with a soft hum. ] Promise.

[frakkincylons]

[ the joy and affection bubbling up from the symbiote link has sam grinning wide and laughing into the side of her hair, tugging her up as he straightens his back and giving her a little swing around, because he's that kind of nerd. ]

What, you thought taking a long nap was gonna get rid of us? [ he jokes, eventually setting her back down and pulling back a bit. ] Hungry? There's some take out left in the fridge if you want it.