Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

[dancingmd]

Not since the masquerade, no. Things got... a little crazy there for a while.

[experiencepoints]

Crazy, huh? In the good or bad way?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly blinks. Oh. Nightingale must not know about what happened on the Iskaulit.]

Bad. Very bad.

[experiencepoints]

[She's heard that something happened, but no details past an augment glitch.]

... Oh. Are you okay? Do you need help?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly shakes her head.]

No, I'm all right.

[Liar. But to be fair, there's nothing much to be done about it.]

It's just that one of my friends was severely hurt. She's getting better, but it's difficult nonetheless.

[experiencepoints]

[Yeah, she can tell Beverly is not okay. But she is also unable to actually call her on that. So, what can she do?

Attempt to help. Be useful.]

... If you bring her down to the planet, I might be able to help...

[dancingmd]

Thank you for the offer but I'm afraid... a lot of her organs and skeleton is made of machines and computers and I'm not sure there is much you would be able to do with your magic in that case.

[experiencepoints]

That shouldn't affect it. If they're part of her, the healing magic should work with that.

[dancingmd]

Maybe then... I can't bring her down here. She had a severe spinal injury and has to remain in traction, so you'd have to come to her ship with me.

[experiencepoints]

Oh... All right.

But, I don't have enough MP to heal something big. I suggested down here, because if we brought her down here, I might be able to siphon some of the mana from this place to have enough MP for a full healing, I think...

[dancingmd]

Hmmm... Tell you what. I'm going to have to perform an operation either way, to get some of the tech out of her. Once I've done that, I think we'll be able to move her and then you'll be able to work better and help her heal from the surgery faster.

[experiencepoints]

That should work.

[She seems so happy to be helpful.]

... In the meantime, though...

[She's back to looking at the water like it's going to bite her.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly can't help but smile back, glad for her help. The shorter Wrath's recovery time, the better.

Seeing Nightingale's hesitance, she holds out a hand.]

Come on in. I promise, the water is warm and not very deep.

[experiencepoints]

[She takes the hand hesitantly, and there is a sudden feeling of anxiety and fear.]

Don't... Don't laugh or let go, okay? This is hard.

[dancingmd]

[Beverly, on the other hand, is all calm and confidence and motherly warmth - and most importantly, understanding. The briefest flash of an image jumps the connection between them, of Beverly staring in fear up at a cliff she has to climb.]

I won't. Take as much time as you need, I'm here.

[experiencepoints]

[Anxiety, fear, an obstacle that must be surmounted... All of these feelings call out a certain memory, playing through Beverly's has like it's her own.

Nightingale doesn't seem to notice, holding tight as she finally slips into the water.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly keeps her promise and doesn't let go, but she does blink in surprise at the memory flooding her mind. What brought that to Nightingale's mind? But she smiles fondly at her. It's a cute memory, however it came up, and besides, Nightingale's made it into the water. A big step.]

Doing all right?

[experiencepoints]

[There's good reason for that, actually. Beverly may get another, short flash of a memory- Nightingale, trapped in a glass tube, pounding on the glass and begging Spark for help as the cold water reaches up to her chest-

And the memory is shoved aside again- A sense of desperation, do not think of that. Instead, a second memory plays through (or if you would prefer not to read another, repeat the first one) as she tries not to think about the water. Think of Yura, not the water.]

... If I'm being honest, no, I'm kind of freaking out a little. ... Does something here feel weird to you?

[Also: She appears to be genuinely unaware of the memory sharing or connection happening. She's not sure what made her think of Beverly and a cliff? ??? Why would she think of that, that's weird.]

[dancingmd]

[Oh dear. Beverly assumed that Nightingale knew by now... But no matter, she'll clear things up, while trying to radiate as much calm as she can for Nightingale, not letting go of her hand just yet, not until the girl is ready.]

You mean the empathic connection? I'm sorry, I ought to have warned you. As long as we're touching we can feel what the other person is feeling, thanks to some quirk of this planet.

[experiencepoints]

Empat-

[There's a bolt of panic, and then she jerks her hand away.

Then she realizes what she did and where she is and grabs it back with a sense of defeat.]

For fuck's sake, I thought I was done with this. I guess that's what felt so familiar here. Let me guess, you're seeing my memories too?

[dancingmd]

[Beverly squeezes Nightingale's hand in a gentle effort to reassure her that she's safe, both emotionally and physically.]

I did. I promise, it was not intentional.

[experiencepoints]

It never is. I'm used to that by now.

[She sighs.]

At least it's not being shown for anyone around to see this time. Or for kids to see my shards with Yura, that sucked.

What did you see?

[dancingmd]

[It's strange, but Beverly doesn't mind so much the mental sharing on this planet. There's no force involved like the calibrations or like on Kesprytt. She can choose who she touches, who touches her, and she likes the intimacy it offers. If only... a brief memory again, this one sharper and newer - and there's a pang of loss that accompanies it - of Daneel, telling her how he can always find her in a crowd, how her mind stands out stronger to him.

She lets the memory come, but she doesn't let it linger. Nightingale is who she's focused on now.]

Don't worry, it was nothing bad... in fact it was kind of cute. Your first date with Yura, I believe.

[experiencepoints]

That was... the guy you were at the masquerade with...?

-- Wait, shit, date?! The-

[oh god she's turning red.]

[dancingmd]

[Beverly laughs softly.]

Nightingale, relax. It's nothing to be embarrassed about.