@anonymous

[stabilis]

Kind of forward for a first date, I know, but do any of you have access to tech that can give a guy a clean brain scan? Looking for foreign organics, not the chip.

And has anyone tested the limits of the empathy bond? If not, consider this recruitment for some extreme handholding. Also forward, but I promise I'll buy you a drink as soon as I get my allowance.

Comments

[retravel]

A few.

[ #helpful ]

What was the last mental link you experienced?

[ eyes emoji @ every thread on this post basically ]

[stabilis]

Well that's informative.

[ #nothelpful!!

also what's the correct answer, here. ]

I haven't, technically. I've done some serious tourism with a few things that could jack into people's heads back home, but the connections were never fully online. I'm just trying to knock out some possibilities.

[retravel]

What do you mean by fully online?

[ VR theory is back on the table, now that thor's popping in and out of existence or w/e ]

[stabilis]

[ weLL........ ]

I've used tech that was supposed to sync two brains up across crazy distances, but when I tried it the other user was offline. I've never seen tech that shares emotions, but I don't doubt that it's out there. It'd require serious hardware, though.

[ Hardware they clearly don't have in their chests. ]

And there's an organism back home that functions as a bridge for shared thought/memory. The first time I tried that I either wasn't compatible or the link was closed, and the second time I didn't have a strong enough connection to cross the bridge.

Why?

[ It isn't a suspicious question, necessarily. It's just an interesting thing to focus on. ]

[retravel]

[ intriguing ]

Not the same.
But related.
I've experienced VR tech that was as real as anything in life, down to the vibrancy of memory and consequences of fatalities. You could upload the entirely of yourself and not even realsie you were inside it — required serious hardware, though.

[ fitz purposefully mimicks johnny's terminology. a beat. ]

I'm headed to the safehouse.
Grabbing beers on the way.

[ he seems like a guy worth talking to; that's decided. ]

[stabilis]

Well, that sounds extremely cool. And extremely sketchy.

[ Immersive VR is old news, but that's still pushing it - if it's out there, it's definitely illegal. After a slight pause, ]

Could you bring a few extras?

[ please fund his research dates with like 987243 other people, new pal. More seriously: ]

The name's John Jaqobis, btw.

[retravel]

Definitely that.

[ either? both. ]

Fitz.
I'll see what I can do, John.
Meet you in the kitchen.

[ and he'll arrive shortly thereafter as promised, rucksack filled with a case or two of beers: His donation to science and the revolution. Fresh from work, Fitz certainly has the look of a nerd, with his short-sleeve button-up and slacks. More noticeable are the injuries, a bandage wrapped tightly around his right hand, while others wind around his neck. Minor bruising on the arms, plus a nastier hit on the jaw.

Rough week, amiright? ]

[stabilis]

[ You are super right, because after taking a second to look Fitz over: ]

Rough week at the office?

[ Mutilated nerd is definitely a unique point of fashion. Not that he's had a great week, either, but all he's really got to show for it is the buzzcut. Johnny reaches out to help him with one of the cases, and this is where he'd normally go for a handshake, but a) empathy and b) Fitz's obviously injured hand. ]

Thanks for the funding.

[ He should maybe question why everyone here wants payment in beer, but like. Same, so. ]

[retravel]

[ MIND MELD

Fitz lifts his shoulders, an awkward shrug. ]

Coworker went off her trolley. [ said as he lifts the other case with his good hand and deposits in on the counter, enjoying the light thud. ] You missed an outbreak of some sort of — [ twisting his bandaged hand. ] Rage toxin, I suppose.

[ The statement is true but, y'know, not actually the reason that he looks so shite. ]

But I'm always happy to support a science experiment. [ a beat. ] Does that me one of the first volunteers?

[ if Johnny was waiting on "funding" ]

[stabilis]

That makes you my favorite volunteer.

[ Bringing the booze vs. demanding it, easy competition. ]

And my first. Bet gentle.

[ Johnny retrieves a pair of beers as he talks, but he doesn't rush to crack them open. This is a legitimate scientific experiment, thank you. They should at least drink slowly (and contaminate the results slowly, but whatever).

He's heard a bit about the rage thing, and how they solved it. The question's hedged without certainty, though — still nailing down the details. ]

Prolonged contact cured it, right?

[retravel]

[ Definitely pleased to be the first on the ground, evident in the slight uptick at the corners of his mouth as he grabs a beer. ]

Prolonged contact for five minutes, [ tipping his hand this way and that in a gesture of approximation. ] give or take a few seconds. [ Fitz timed it throughout the day, in every instance where he could flick on his implant. ] An empathetic experience of peace, followed by aching sadness. And paired with our charming, blue chest glow, naturally.

[ Fitz fishes his multi-tool out of the rucksack. Pretty retro, for guy like Johnny, but it pops the recyclable cap off his drink all the same. ]

[stabilis]

Huh. [ Interesting. Also— ] Awkward.

[ The five minutes part, mostly. The rest of it doesn't sound particularly not awkward, either. ] About the glow, has anyone tried to make pasties? You know. For stealth purposes.

[ Because a bright blue glow in the middle of your chest doesn't sound very stealthy. He has no idea it's already made the news, but if they were out touching strangers (yikes), it follows that they were getting their glow on in public. He holds out a hand for the tool, which is absolutely retro, but recognizable. Some things are timeless. ]

[retravel]

[ A brief hesitation before Fitz hands off the tool, tracking it from afar. He only just got it back, after all, his one relic from another time. ]

Not that I’m aware. [ always the caveat when there are so many cagey operatives among them, wont to go off on their own and never report back. ]

Dressing appropriately does the trick, most days, but it’s growing hotter and a few people — [ he wedges two fingers under his collar, tugging it away from the bandages. ] — they caught media attention during the outbreak. Blurry footage. Still glowy. [ to use the scientific term. ] Additional coverage could be a good shout.

[stabilis]

[ The hesitation's noted, and Johnny gives the tool some subtle curiosity as he pops the cap off his drink and passes it back. There's nothing special about it. An etched '17', which isn't much; just sentimental, maybe. Or Fitz hates sharing, but he did bring the beer. ]

Well, shame on them. [ Kidding. He's gathering that Fitz is one of those few people, and it isn't like it's their fault their chests are housing mysterious nightlights. ] Maybe I'll add pasties to the list.

[ He gives the currently quiet kitchen a once-over, wondering if there's any real point in moving the hand-holding elsewhere. There isn't a lot of privacy in the warehouse. Storage rooms and less busy corners, maybe, but that's not much. ] So have you done much with the empathy connection otherwise?

[retravel]

[ Tool pocketed and drink in hand, things are already on the up and up. He takes a swig of his beer and, uh, it's decent, he supposes. Standard future offerings from the nearest grocery.

A thoughtful frown, then, as he considers his prior experiences and how much to share of them. ]

Katelin and I have done a few trials. [ a vague gesture, rolling. ] Nothing exhaustive, just trying to get a feel for it.

[ and how it can be manipulated, fooled, utilised like any other tool. ]

You sure you want to go hands-on with a stranger?

[stabilis]

Katelin the biologist?

[ Speaking of biologists, Zeph would be having a field day if she were here. A field day insulting his very poorly controlled experiments, mostly, but still. Johnny takes a short drink, and the beer is... fine. Probably closer to what he's used to than what Fitz is used to. Tastes very slightly less like grass.

He grins at the last question, sliding out a chair and taking a seat. ]

You kidding me? It's one of my favorite hobbies. [ Vague?? Yes. Weirdly true in more than one sense?? Kind of. ] But really? Better way to get uncontaminated results. No chance of me guessing where your weird feelings are coming from unless the empathy link's offering hints.

[retravel]

That's the one. [ his mouth twitches, privately amused by their cover (and fond, too). ] We're old friends.

[ Fitz joins him at the table, positioning himself nearby to stay within reach. Wo-wow, though, Johnny's gonna send his brows into his hairline permanently if he goes on like this. It's like the guy says things Fitz would blurt on accident... but kind of on purpose?

He extends his uninjured hand, palm flat and open upward, elbow propped on the table. Might as well be ergonomic about it, huh. ]

Bit like emotional fortune telling, isn't it. [ some internal debate shows in the crease of his features, considering how best to test this. ] Could have a quick go, first. See how you find it.

[ EMPATHY QUICKIE YES/NO ]

[stabilis]

[ UMM Y/Y but also, the concern for his emotional well-being is nice. It comes across as a protective streak, even if the delivery's very practical. Not that Johnny needs protecting. Not from feelings, anyway.

The "old friends" comment is interesting, too. He doesn't feel jealous over his team not being here, exactly; but he does miss them, and there's a trace of that fond echo when he reaches across to take Fitz' offered hand, elbow similarly propped up on the table. It looks like they've forgotten how arm wrestling works.

Otherwise, his emotions are pretty well matched to the facade: open, easy. Calm, though there's no sense of strict control there. He trusts himself too much to bother holding anything back, and the lack of conflict feels undeniably steady. ] Pretty sure you just described all human interaction.

[ Like... dialed up to the nth degree, obviously, but same concept. Read the room, don't be an asshole. ]

[retravel]

[ The affection he feels for Bobbi bleeds through the bond, feeding off of Johnny's own fond echo. A warm cover, smoothing out the rest of his emotions, at least temporarily. His hand flexes before he settles into a more comfortable grip. ]

Do most of your human interactions go like this?

[ Some amusement there, bolstered by a curious interest in his partner. As that peters out, his calm comes to the fore, constructed and maintained with practiced effort. Two months in, and it's almost seamless. Might not be noticeable, if not for the real thing flowing from the opposite end of the bond. ]

[stabilis]

[ Mutual amusement, apparently. Johnny mugs slightly, giving a small shrug. ] Most people would rather get handsy without the feely, in my experience.

[ Emotional connections are harder than physical ones. For most people, anyway; he isn't about to pretend it's a hard rule, and he's always been more about the former than the latter. ] Hence the need for fortune telling. This? [ A light squeeze of their hands. ] Kind of takes the mystery out of it.

[ Or it would, if you sucked at reading people. He hasn't known Fitz long, but the careful thread of control seems to fit. Cagey, but not exactly unfriendly; kind of like asking one-sided questions and sharing just enough information to make it feel like a conversation.

Meaning no surprises, yet. ] So we already know about the emotional bleed. This isn't overly scientific, I know, but I was thinking we could just — push it. Focus on specific memories, see if any details slip through.

[retravel]

[ But is it funnier, with the both of them feeling amused, emotions pinging back and forth, building on each other? Something to consider in future. Regardless, this gives them a baseline to judge all further testing and interactions from now. They're as close to equilibrium as you can get, in this futuristic hellscape. Two types of calm. It all tracks.

At the squeeze, his attention flickers over Johnny's features. Bit friendly there, mate — though that's hard to avoid in this experiment. He ignores the rest of the jokes :') ]

Works for me. It'll tell us something one way or another, even with variable conditions. [ surely feelings apart from the present will slip through, like nostalgia, if the memory proves strong enough. ]

[ He tips his head back, challenging, and his tone turns dry. ] I'll see if I have a vision, then.

[ your idea, so you first!! mr cagey keeps it on brand ]

[stabilis]

[ Predictable. Johnny grins, then he closes his eyes and tries to focus. The amusement tapers off, slowly easing into something else — a quiet buzz of thoughtfulness and indecision. There are a lot of options, and he never said the memories had to be completely personal. Still, the more intense the better, and there's a passing coldness as he sifts through the things he's got locked down. Not a wall, still; just the kind of ruthless disconnect that goes hand-in-hand with compartmentalization.

It's a sharp contrast to the slow swell of emotions that follow: confusion, hope, excitement. Anger, though the confusion's enough to hobble it at the gate. It's looking at the warrant with his brother's face on it for the first time and realizing D'av wasn't dead. Important, at the time. With distance, it's completely safe territory.

He opens his eyes a beat later, expression focused, curious. ] Anything?

[ There's a slight itch on the palm of his right hand. Easy to ignore, though it's getting more annoying by the second. Fitz will feel it mirrored on his, lost in the baseline discomfort of his wound — but building, slowly, the kind of itch that slowly creeps up into a distracting burn. ]

[retravel]

[ With Fitz balanced (as balanced he gets, that is), Johnny leads him down a winding path. Slow to start, with intrusions only of passing interest, boxed up and set aside before Fitz can rifle through them. Johnny's cleverness had been obvious — but the control on display now surprises him. A faint spark at his end of the bond, snuffed by what Johnny soon musters. It's difficult to sit still and accept what comes, knowing that his want to analyse it must transfer, even without an active pursuit of the impulse.

Fitz keeps watch throughout, adjusting his grip as Johnny opens his eyes. ]

A lot. [ at once. ] Feel confused. [ Bit itchy, bit hot, bit off. His features scrunch. ] Sort of — hopeful. Anticipating. Or, ah, cross. Not sure.

[ A look down at their hands, still linked, and then at his palm flat on the table, where his wound smarts, pulling his focus. ]

[stabilis]

[ Johnny's not about to knock anyone for being curious. The need to pick things apart and understand reads clearly in the link, half because it's such a familiar one. Other things that are clear: the discomfort of holding back, the restraint. It's appreciated, if not strictly required. He tilts his head slightly, the impression of a shrug. Cross is a fair and vaguely amusing observation. ] Got it in one. You're not seeing any ugly mugs, though, right? Big jawline, bigger nostrils.

[ D'av, which would be shorthand for an actual glimpse of the memory. Johnny's focus is sharp, genuine interest keeping it on track. He isn't deliberately ignoring the distracting itch on his hand so much as instinctively blocking it out, but that only gets him so far. There's a quick, sharp tug at his skin, like a bite.

The quick inhale and wince is as annoyed as it is pained. He doesn't let go of Fitz's hand, his grip shifting as he lifts his free hand to inspect it, half expecting to find a bug, something — what he finds is a small sliver, shallow, half an inch long. So not a bug bite, probably. Also, he's 99% sure all of the bugs in here are already freeze-dried. ]

What— [ A fresh surge of confusion hits the link, mixed heavily with irritation. It's chased by a spike of something altogether stronger and more abrupt — discomfort, edging close to actual fear, an unhealthy and ill-advised dose of wonder and curiosity — as the small cut expands, skin splitting like it's under an invisible knife. One more second before something clicks into place and Johnny's abruptly releasing Fitz's hand, attention rapt on his own palm. The wound settles just as abruptly. ]