thisavrou | audio; forward-dated to May 9th

Entry tags:

audio; forward-dated to May 9th

Ever since we had that shared nightmare, I've been dreaming at night. I don't dream, this doesn't just happen.

[ There's a slight pause, and a hesitation, before she continues. ]

Okay, and this might sound weird, but I think I've been hearing people's thoughts. I know—that sounds impossible, right? But I have reasons for thinking I have. I need to know if there's anyone who has that kind of ability who can answer some questions for me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You remember what I can do, yes?

[They lived together briefly on the ship before Wanda moved out with River, after all.]

What do you want to know?

Kind of.

[ It's been quite a while now, after all. ]

I need to know if it's possible to bring this under control. It's super unpredictable and random right now. Sometimes...the things I hear are very insistent and loud, in a manner of speaking. But it's very intermittent.

Sometimes if the feelings are strong it can be hard to block them out, but you can learn to stay in your own head.

I can talk you through what I do?

Please do. I want to know how.

[ The words are uncharacteristic of her; they almost sound pleading. The fact of the matter is that she doesn't like what's happening to her one bit. ]

Close your eyes. Try to focus on my voice, on your breathing. Anything that is physically with you.

[Even Wanda still has to go back to the basics when she starts getting overwhelmed or lost in other people's thoughts.]

You need to know the parts of yourself that are you and what is coming from someone else. I try to see a sphere of my power expanding and pushing everything else out of my mind.

[She pauses for a moment, waiting and watching.] Does that make sense?

[ She does as Wanda instructs, and when she responds her voice is a bit calmer. ]

Yes. It's a little confusing when it happens, even though I can usually tell it's coming from outside of me. I don't like it. But this helps.

I know it can be hard, but it will get easier. Like learning anything else.

Do you know how this happened?

Not a damn clue. I woke up and it was just happening to me, without me knowing how it started.

Something strange is happening here, too. I am not sure what, but...after everything that has happened here maybe it should not be surprising.

Can you only hear thoughts? Or has anything else changed?

I have started dreaming now, too, but that was days ago. I don't think they're connected. Or maybe they are. I don't know.

They could be. Sometimes I have trouble with other people's nightmares, but I don't know if everyone with these powers does.

[Weird stuff's been going on for a few days, but the super speed stuff didn't start for her until today.]

I can help, if they bother you. Make them nicer.

I'd like to see what's going on with them before I go trying to alter them, but thanks.

Dreaming is a good thing. What are you dreaming about?

I usually just remember things when I'm dreaming. Specific recalling of memories. This was more like a completely made up storyline. Something new.

Yeah? What am I thinking right now?

[He's not really taking this seriously. Also: he's thinking that he really wants lunch.]

It's not something I can do on purpose. Also, I think I have to be next to you, in person, for it to work.

I'm actually slightly more interested in learning how to make it not happen.

[Nate raises an eyebrow. All right, she's apparently not joking.]
How do you know? What makes you so sure these are other people's thoughts?

[ She shrugs, although he can't see it. ]

How do you know when someone else is talking to you, that it's not you saying it? It's just...outside of me, and different. I can't...describe it better than that. It's like...a different frequency.

[ She knows this is inadequate, and doesn't sound very conclusive. She can't do anything about that. She just knows what she's experienced, and that it's something new. ]

Well, it could be...uh....never mind.

[It's probably bad form to suggest to a friend that she could be hallucinating.]

That's weird. Nothing like that ever happened to you before, right?

Never.

[ True to her words, though, considering the distance between them, she doesn't pick up on his skepticism. ]

I don't like it, Nathan. I don't want to use it incorrectly.

That's your first concern? You're a better person than me. I'd be more worried about going crazy from not being able to turn it off. Or about hearing what people think of me.

That's part of what I mean. Look, I mean, I'm in a relationship. I think it's kind of important to have the ability to have your own headspace when you're close to someone like that.

[Yikes. He never thought about that.]

I completely agree with you. Uh, good luck?

[ She lets out a small laugh at that. ]

Thanks. I do mean that, too.

What do you mean you don't dream?

I mean I don't dream things that are made up, usually. Just memories, recollections. These are storylines though. Like a movie.

Oh, that's strange! Do you think they'll go away if you get decontaminated?

I honestly have no idea. I kind of hope so.

I'd imagine it'd be a strange thing to have happen if you've never experienced it before. But the other thing you said -- the mind reading. Has anyone given you any information about it being related? Because I had the nightmare, but no reading people's thoughts.

Not so far, no. I did get a response about the mind-reading ability, though, so I'm hoping what I've been told about that will be helpful.

That must be really weird too! Can you only do it in person?

So far—that's the only time I've seen it work, anyway.

[ She lets out an acerbic chuckle. ]

I don't particularly want anything more than that.

Yeah, no offense, but I don't either! Not that I'm thinking anything bad.

[ She giggles. ]

It's just I like my thoughts being my own, you know? Anyway, you're taking this whole thing pretty well. I'm not sure how I would feel. I'd probably go stuff my head under my pillow.

Well, I...sort of think I'm going to avoid my boyfriend until I work out what's going on, to be honest. So I don't know. I think my coping with it is kind of a good front I'm putting on, more than anything.

Ohhhh, yeah, that's probably a good idea. And, um, at least it's a good front? Sorry, I wish I had some advice or knew what you were going through. Then maybe I could help.

Thanks anyway, it's thoughtful of you.

Well, you reached out for advice and here I come in just asking about how you dream. It was a little rude of me, so I wish there was more I could do. Oh, I'm Mei, by the way. Forgot to introduce myself too!

[ She chuckles, just a little. ]

It's okay. It's easy to get on this network and talk like you know everyone. I'm Tex.

It is, isn't it? I don't know why that is, but it's been good to meet so many friendly people.

Hi, Tex. If I hear anything about others mind reading, I'll be sure to let you know!

Hardly anything seems impossible anymore.

I knew someone who could, but he's not been around for a while.

I should know by now not to think anything is, shouldn't I?

[ She sighs. ]

I have a few people I could have contacted about it. I just didn't want to be presumptuous out of hand. But someone I know did answer this, so that's helpful. I think.

The parasite I encountered was manufactured. Genetically engineered in it's strongest form to give people abilities that were "superhuman". It's a reach, but considering this isn't a normal parasite but possibly one generated on the asteroid...

You should try decontamination, just to be sure.

I know. The decontamination process is a bitch though, isn't it? From what they've said about it, anyway.

It's better than having something changing you in ways you never asked for, or can predict.

At least the decontamination you have a choice in.

Yes. And I definitely don't want this.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

audio; forward-dated to May 9th

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

private;

( text )

( text )

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

audio;

{ audio }

{ audio }

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject