mental link (backdated to Day 019)

[whowhatnow]

[Well, THAT was a lovely few days laying in a coma. How did it even happen?? He went out like a light, and now it's been, like, what, several days? And they're in the middle of the mission now?]

[Wow, time sure flies when...you're, uh. Unconscious. Something like that.]

(Hey, all, sorry for my completely terrible timing, but it looks my brain decided to take a break without informing me and I've missed...well, quite a lot! I'm not going to ask anyone to give me a summary of what the hell's going on so far, though, it's much more fun to find out things for myself. How is everyone? I'm sure you all missed my winning smile and charming attitude.)

[There's a long pause.]

(Also, shame on everybody, there was AMPLE opportunity for you to draw something funny on my face and nobody did it. Really? Not a single one of you wanted to write BIG LOSER on my forehead for everyone to see?  I'm appalled.)

Comments

[adamance]

( Did you think I'd allow someone to do that to you? )

[No broodmate of hers is a loser, except for Rhys, but that can't be helped.]

[dbag]

( Hey, where are you? )

[ THAT'S ALL HE'S GONNA SAY because it's easier to talk in person. ]

[whowhatnow]

(So it was YOU who was responsible for my terrible lack of face drawings! Come on, Lexa, it's like you don't even know me!}

[But his mental tone is teasing - honestly, he feels weirdly touched she looked over him in his state.]

(Anyways, how's it going? Same old brood, same old mission?)

[whowhatnow]

(I'm buying off this BOUT IT OUT merch from this dude super cheap? Like, he doesn't want it? Weird. It's pretty cool!)

[A pause.]

(Oh, wait, yeah, I'm at...uh. Some place? I need to get a map. I think it's like...right near The Bearings? I can head there if you want.)

[narcissithstic]

[Of all the people that have been lost lately, that Nathaniel should be the one to come surging back from the brink of death is a bitter, insulting joke to Ren's mind. Some crude part of him feels like laughing— the rest wants to hunt Nathaniel down and shake him by his throat right back into the coma he'd abandoned.]

If you'd like, I can remedy that oversight right now.

[Probably without a marker, though. Fair warning.]

[adamance]

( I'll paint your face like those of my warriors the next time we go into battle. )

[There is a flicker of an image passed between them of different warriors of all different ages with different eye makeup, markings, and so forth. Some of them look permanent, but most are not.

Of course, they also have to go into battle sometime. She could use an old fashioned battle.]

( Our brood is not well. Ahsoka's been missing. She was irritable the last time I spoke to her. Rhys has been frustrating. ) [And she threatened his life, but hey, she leaves that out.] ( The mission isn't going well, either. We've done very little to curb the oncoming changes here. )

[And Lexa isn't satisfied with failure.]

( But I'll let you figure out exactly what that means, since you're so keen to. )

[whowhatnow]

[Hey, hey, hey, it's a sight for sore ears! Eyes! Something like that! Time to troll like he has never trolled before.]

(Aw, really? Mr. Ren, you are FAR too kind!)

[The sarcasm is practically dripping from his thoughts.]

(You didn't miss me, did you? Do be honest, you totally did.)

[narcissithstic]

I miss the woman that lies unconscious while you clutter up mental space.

[Someone's in a mood - as usual.]

But now that you're back, you can at least make yourself useful.

[whowhatnow]

[Oh, goodness, that is...that's...that's SO UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME. He feels even more touched now.)]

(You'd better keep that promise, I so want you to do that to me. That looks like...incredibly cool! I can't even put to words how cool that all looks. Nathaniel Horn: Warrior. I like the sound of that!)

[LEXA, DON'T LET HIM DOWN.]

(Yikes, not that great, huh? Yeah, I'll see for myself, but yeesh, I hoped I would be waking up to like, everything going pretty well. Maybe I woke up in time to fix everything, then!)

[whowhatnow]

(Huh? Wait, who's unconscious? Somebody else conked out like I did?)

[THIS IS NEWS]

(Yeah, don't worry, buddy, I'm here to do things! I mean, we are on a mission. What have you been doing, growling at everyone like usual?)

[narcissithstic]

[Bro he's not telling you her name, you're unworthy.]

Amusing. [Flat and deadpan, clearly as sarcastic as they both feel in the moment.] —What do you know of our mission?

[circumspector]

[ It's no more than a happy little giggle, happy to hear him, a day after she woke up too. ]

( Nate, it's good to hear you up. It's definitely duller without you. )

[dbag]

( Uh? )

[ Welp. He's not sure if Nate doesn't know about the shitstorm surrounding Bout It Out, or if he genuinely doesn't care. Buy all the merch you want, buddy... You do you... ]

( Yeah, okay, I'll be there. )

[whowhatnow]

(Oh? What's that sound? I could swear I hear the ethereal voice of an angel.)

[Okay, he had to make the joke. But man, he's happy to hear from her, he really is.]

(Angel, goodness, long time no hear! I hope I didn't miss anything terribly exciting, did I?)

[whowhatnow]

[wow rude go and cry over your grandad some more!!]

(I know enough.) [hahahaha he doesn't know much at all] (I mean, I was awake at the beginning, so I did get all the memos, I just need to play catch-up.)

[circumspector]

( I think you've been sleeping too long if you are. )

[ But oh, she is giggling anyway. Damn it, Nate. ]

( Apparently. But I am playing catch up myself. I only woke up yesterday, actually. )

[whowhatnow]

(Nonsense! I know an Angel when I hear one!)

[Goodness, it's really good to hear her laugh.]

(Wait, you too? Was there some kind of coma disease floating about? You're doing okay though, are you?)

[circumspector]

[ It's sing-songey then, like a mental push against his shoulder to get him to stop even if she isn't sure she really wants him too. ]( Na-ate. )

[ pauses then, gathering herself into order, mostly. ]

( But I'm alright. No more tired than I normally am. ) [ always exhausted, but she's getting used to it. ] ( I might have just over worked myself, that's all. It seems to be a thing we all do, though. )

[narcissithstic]

Then you'll do so while on task. [Because in spite of the bluntness of Ren's mind, he knows a blatant tactical advantage when he sees one— namely the fact that avid supporters of Bout it Out are potential targets for violence or aggression. And fanatics— regardless of their world, wants or species— are often woefully incapable of utilizing discretion.]

I take it you've noticed the abundance of inexpensive 'Bout it Out' memorabilia scattered around the city.

[whowhatnow]

[It's both. It's definitely both.]

(See you there!)

[And sure enough, he gets back in time, carrying a bag and wearing a bright orange BOUT IT OUT t-shirt over his normal clothes.]

Hey, Rhys! [He says, with a cheerful wave and a gesture to his shirt.] I look pretty spiffy, don't I?

[headinjuries]

( Hey, since I wasn't around before you went under, I didn't actually know if you were a big loser or not. I wouldn't want to do any false advertising. )

[inflori]

[ YAY, his buddies are coming baaaack. Now if only Ilde would go away forever... ]

( That's not what I would draw on your forehead. )

[ there may be mental images of poorly drawn dicks and moustaches. Dicks with moustaches? ]

[adamance]

( You have my word. ) [Which sometimes doesn't mean jack shit, but it means something here. Anyway.] ( You'll have to take care of yourself before then. )

[Operation: Keep broodmates alive even if they're sometimes annoying continues.]

( If you can find Ahsoka and ensure her return, that would be ideal. I don't think she'd like to see my efforts. ) [She got the sense that there was some Reason for Ahsoka leaving, but she didn't pry, and doesn't know. The distance is too great.]

[whowhatnow]

(Hey hey hey! New meat! Who might you be? And come on, you don't need to be a big loser expert! Anyone is a big loser if you put your heart into it.)

[whowhatnow]

[This is why he likes you, Petre, you got the right idea!]

(Then why didn't you? I mean, come on, look at that beautiful artistic expression! The world needs to see stuff like this!)