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

[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. ]

[circumspector]

[ It's then she really sets herself back a little to look at who she's talking to. Parker. Her mind feels barbed - some unconscious defence quite probably, and in return, she lessens her own. Less her own cacophony with a breath to centre herself to her feet flat on the floor. It's pointedly polite, and despite all that brashness, she fixes a smile on her face - so incredibly pleasant. ]

I'll try not to. I don't mean to if I do it's how I'm used to communicating unfortunately so I slip up from time to time.

[unfavoured]

[ All this pleasantness-- Parker doesn't like it. It feels all poise and no substance, like most people she has encountered thus far. Some kind of mindless, involuntary need to harbour the new ones (including herself), and for her it's all... Fake. It feels like the impulse that doesn't belong to her, feels like they are acting on it. It is not her own. It is not theirs (even when it is, but Parker doesn't trust them, any of them, seldom does, and this situation has only made her wary of everyone she feels that pulse, disgusting, not hers). ]

You're going to have to do more than try.

[circumspector]

[ She doesn't falter in it, rather it comes up in defense, deflective, move that sharp tip away from herself. A half step back, busying herself where she'd been getting herself water. ]

What is your alternative for being on mission then? I could help you set up something on the datapads if you prefer?

[unfavoured]

[ If there as an emotion for "???", that would be the expression being worn by Parker. Mostly judgemental of it, as well; missions? Please. Like she would care to do any communication or even play well with others in this. ]

My alternative, [ She starts, still frowning as if offended. ] Is doing my own job.

[circumspector]

[ This is why we can't have nice things Parker.

But whatever, she fixes herself cheerful, smiling, a pleasant hum to her mind that is as much defensive as anything else. ]

We are supposed to work together. It's dangerous if we're alone.

[unfavoured]

That's my problem.

[ Not hers. Not theirs. They are supposed to do a lot of things but Parker is about to do nothing of what they are excepted to. She is here for nothing else but her own prerogative. She has no intention of helping either side until she has more information. Who made them bosses of right and wrong? Certainly not her. ]

Besides, I feel it's much more dangerous to be surrounded by a bunch of people that believe everything they're told.

[circumspector]

[ She settles herself open then. A hand rest her weight on the bench, eyes fixed and bright. Milk and honey, the smile stays on her face and she drips with the sweetness of tone. ]

It must be nice to take people at face value. I'd like to be that... unburdened.

[unfavoured]

I could say the same to you.

[ Parker gives her a look. Clearly, the one who's taking everyone at face value isn't her, it's the rest of them that blindly believe the words that come out of the people commanding the ship, with absolutely no other contradicting information to weigh in which is the most probable one.

But she isn't going to engage in a conversation with-- well, anyone, if she gets her way. She would rather keep her distance and ignore everyone's presence. ]

You can keep eating up whatever bullshit they spew at you. Again, not my problem. [ Because it's clearly a problem.

And she starts moving, pushing past her uncaringly. ]

[circumspector]

[ She could roll her eyes, right now, but she doesn't, more fixed on being pleasant. Something biting an acrid on her tongue about hypocrisy. But she swallows. ]

We're all each other's problem now. [ Cheerfully put, for something she knows must be awful, but it's kind intention at least. She remembers too well what happened the last time one of them was this determined.

She wouldn't let it happen again. Whatever this woman decided. ]