Three!

[tobeajedi]

Who: Vima Sunrider
Broadcast: Text!
Action: SS Heron
When: Morning (you know, relative morning).


Hey, so there's a lot of people in the Fleet from a lot of species and I'm wondering: how many have mental powers? Empathy, or telepathy, or suggestion... that kind of thing.

And if you don't, what do you think about it?

Comments

[Text]

[jamminshield]

I think that mental powers sound...

...really really cool!!! :D :D :D

I don't know if I have any yet. But one time, I entered someone else's dream!

[Text]

[tobeajedi]

They can sure be handy in a tight spot.

You did? That sounds like this for sure. How did it happen?

[Text]

[jamminshield]

I bet! It's definitely something to keep IN MIND, right? : )

I don't know how it happened, except that it was Gem stuff! I was just trying to sleep normally, and at first I thought I was just dreaming, but then I realize must be in the mind of two Gems who are fused together. It was kind of cool, but also really scary.

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[dancingmd]

I'm not telepathic or empathic myself, but one of my best friends at home is an empath, so I am quite used to it. Why specifically do you want to know?

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[tobeajedi]

Remember how I told you a little about what Jedi can do with the Force? We can sense things, and sometimes we can influence too.

I had to try it a little while ago and I'm not sure about what I did. Can your empath friend alter minds, too?

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[dancingmd]

No, she can only read, not alter, emotions, and sometimes thoughts. For her, it is another sense, like sight or hearing. But this... I have to admit I'm concerned about the ethical implications here. May I ask what exactly happened?

Text

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[There did seem to be a fair number of Fleet members who possessed abilities like Wanda's or abilities that were similar enough. In fact, it seemed more uncommon to meet someone who didn't have some kind of abilities, or at least didn't know someone else with such powers.]

Is there another question, or did you want to just know who we are?

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[tobeajedi]

There is!

How do you practice?

['cause it seems to Vima there are some... ethical questions involved.]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda cocks an eyebrow, a bit in surprise. It was likely she was chatting with someone who possessed the same abilities, or something akin to them.]

I have a friend here. He helps me train.

[A slight pause before she adds.]

On my own, I practice in our ship's cargo hold.

text;

[faithfulwisdom]

Among my people, we call such things sanwe-latya, or "thought-opening," and the exchanges "ósanwe," or "interchange of thought." It is not an uncommon gift to possess in some small degree- and I am capable of it. But others- my sister, for example- have powers that far surpass my own. It is a gift to be honored and respected.

text;

[tobeajedi]

Sanwe-latya sounds kind of like what I know, but full thought conversations... that would be a really big deal.

Who are your people?

[A race of Force-sensitives? or whatever his local equivalent is nope First Age elves just have major hax]

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[faithfulwisdom]

'Elves' is the term I have heard most commonly used by mortals, though we tend to use 'Eldar' when speaking among ourselves. I speak only for the elves of Arda, mind you. There are others here who may not have such talents.

[Thedosian elves are very different. Which is not a bad thing. Just... different.]

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[kill_switch]

Considering some of the other beings I've met here I can't say I would surprised if anyone had those capabilities. I don't personally have any experience with it. What I think would really depend on how they used it.

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[tobeajedi]

Yeah, this fleet has a whole lot of different species. And "magic." I used to think I was pretty experienced but this has been a real eye-opener.

What would you think if someone could know how you felt, even if you were hiding it from others?

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[kill_switch]

[Oh, that is definitely an unsettling thought, and Furiosa feels herself tense at the idea.]

I wouldn't like that at all.

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[unbearablynaive]

As with any power, they have the potential to be used for good or harm depending on the wielder. To force someone to act contrary to their nature can cause a disaster, or it can prevent one. Empathy may be used to hurt as well as to heal.

As long as responsibility is taken by the wielder, great good can come from them.

text;

[tobeajedi]

True. I've seen it used both ways... do you think it would be a danger if someone had the ability, and only wanted to use it for good, but didn't have a teacher with experience?

[SEE I HAVE THIS FRIEND.]

text;

[unbearablynaive]

It could be a danger depending on the level of control versus the level of the ability itself, and by the emotional state of the user. Most believe they are doing good with their actions, after all is said and done; few identify as a villain.

At home, there is a very good man I know - a scientist who was adversely affected by his own experiment. Because of the accident, every time he would become angry he would turn into a vicious giant impervious to all harm who desired only violence. There was never any precedent for this ability, but within philosophy he found that meditation and self-consciousness were key to controlling his temper, and he became able to use the anger to defend instead of to destroy. It is a daily struggle for him, but he does not give up hope.

[initforthemoney]

Can't say it's in my frankly impressive skillset, no. Although I've known one or two mind readers in my day. I ain't bothered by it, so longs as they mind their own business.

[tobeajedi]

So no looking at your thoughts without permission?

[initforthemoney]

I'd have thought that was a common curtesy.

[mucked]

Powers aren't always required. [ not in the way peggy believes the question is being asked, after all. ] But then again I suppose you're chasing an answer far deeper than garden variety hypnosis?

[ -- nothing she can do, of course. but she's witnessed it. ]

[tobeajedi]

If you know about garden variety hypnosis I'd like to learn about that too.

[pain_train]

i have the super cool mental power that i know what my partner maine is saying even though he doesn't talk and plus i can tell anyone what the cutest pair of shoes they could wear is

but people with way cooler powers are even cooler!!!!!

[tobeajedi]

So you've got a mental bond? That's really something!

And all I know about shoes is boots so your second power sounds useful too.