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

b get in the car it's nerd time

[beathach]

[he isn't surprised in the least to find Charles doing exactly what they'd done in the last stop, especially considering it'd been his idea the first time around. Maybe it's stupidly sappy or some other appropriate word, but it makes Hank happy, to see his friend indulging in things they really never got around to doing. And of course, this planet was practically made for him.

But there is the matter of the slugs. He's seen them himself already, and he had seen that they could be purchased as pets, but he hadn't expected this.

Of course he's going to tease]

Did it crawl up there, or did you put up there on purpose?

Re: b get in the car it's nerd time

[axiomed]

[ He looks up briefly, a faint frown on his face. ]

Of course I didn't put it on my head, Hank.

[beathach]

[he reaches out to pet it very carefully with a finger]

I had to ask.

[axiomed]

[ It squeaks. Charles tilts his head slightly. ]

I can understand them, a little.

[beathach]

[oh no it's cute. But he pauses and blinks down at Charles]

You can?

[axiomed]

They're empathic. They sense emotions and react accordingly.

[beathach]

Huh. [he resumes his careful petting, not at all put off that yet something else here is empatic in some way. It didn't bother him]

So I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're enjoying yourself down here. [he could say a lot of things, but that's the most important]

[axiomed]

[ He ducks his head with a soft smile. ]

I've never felt anything like this before. There's no fear or worry just . . . trust. Everything is open and -- it's normal.

[beathach]

[he's usually quiet with his thoughts, but he doesn't bother to hide just how happy he is for Charles. Especially after their last talk. This stop was perfect for him]

I'm glad.

[axiomed]

[ His smile curves. A lot of his old tension and fear seems to have left him in this place. It's freeing. ]

So am I.

[beathach]

[it's about damn time. But he's not going to be sappy about it (this time)]

I like it here, too. Even if it gets a little overwhelming.

[or a lot, with certain people]

[axiomed]

The sharing, right? I imagine it can be a little intense.

[ though he finds it amusing, watching grown men and women from the Fleet awkwardly avoid any kind of physical contact. ]

[beathach]

It can be, mm. Especially when you try to avoid intense emotions normally.

[Hank has found a work around for it, in that he's managed to keep it to brief touches. But he has an excuse for avoiding it, too]

[axiomed]

The best thing to do is relax and direct the flow of your thoughts. Otherwise, if you think of the worst, the worst is bound to come out.

[ He scratches the blue slug idly. ] In my experience, anyway.

[beathach]

[he huffs a noise, sounding amused]

I feel like you've given me this lesson before, professor. [and he probably he has, more or less, years ago] But I know. I'm - well, I haven't turned blue in the middle of the market yet. So I've mostly got a handle on it.

[axiomed]

[ He blinks, looking at Hank. ]

Is it that intense?

[beathach]

[shit]

It caught me off guard at first - but not . . . with most people?

[axiomed]

[ hmm. ]

Were you sharing with Raven, by chance?

[beathach]

[s h i t]

Do I have to answer that?

[axiomed]

No, you don't.

[ He shrugs. ] I only guessed.

[beathach]

[oh look this slug is a great distraction]

Because I'm not obvious or anything. [a pause] It didn't happen on purpose.

[axiomed]

I didn't think so.

[ Because there's sharing and there's sharing. Charles knows which one Raven would settle for. ] Do you want to talk about it?

[beathach]

It's nothing bad. [he should probably make that clear] There's not - much to really talk about? I mean, just holding her hand is . . . uh, something.

[axiomed]

[ His lips twitch. ]

I can imagine.

[beathach]

. . . [squint]

What?