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[spaceshipit]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: July Planet!
When: The month of July!

[This is another planet mingle since the first one has nearly hit captcha! Feel free to continue threads or start brand new ones!]

July Planet Information

First Mingle Post

Comments

[stefanged]

[awed,] Incredible.

And here I thought you'd remain invisible for the rest of my life.

[nerdeology]

You're lucky in that sense- some people really do never see seraphim. So? Do I live up to any expectations?

[He sort of doubts that. Sorey has a tendency to hype him up too much through rose-coloured glasses, and people expect seraphim to be some kind of incredible, ethereal beings. They've got power, sure, and are revered as gods, but at the end of the day they can only be themselves.]

[stefanged]

[He gives Mikleo a real once-over now, folding his arms as if he's in deep thought...]

I'd say so. Not that I had many to begin with, but Sorey's descriptions were pretty accurate.

[nerdeology]

I'm glad to hear that, at least. Sorey has a tendency to exaggerate through his bias- he's always been that way.

[Mikleo's trying to train him out of that, but the guy just. Really loves seraphim.]

Everyone else still sees you conversing with empty air, though, so all resonance really does is make you look a little mad to the populace.

[stefanged]

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

But you know, if it gets that bad, I can usually get them to forget about it.

[Not that he's tried compulsion in a while; most of the Fleet's immune to such Jedi mind tricks.]

[nerdeology]

...I'm sorry, what?

[did he just]

[stefanged]

Ah, right.

[He DID, and the shame on his face is as clear as day.]

I don't usually broadcast this because it's weird [and kinda unethical], but vampires can look at a person and ask them to forget they've seen something. We called it "compulsion."

[nerdeology]

[....well that's

kind of terrifying]

"Compulsion"... I'd much rather you didn't, in that case.

[Manipulating memories is a step away from manipulating hearts, in his view, and that's a dangerous path. The discomfort he feels at even the suggestion is obvious on his expression.]

[stefanged]

Of course.

[He shouldn't have mentioned it. Stefan's clearly kicking himself for it - but also wondering more about his formal morality, if he used it without a second thought.

Compulsion was necessary to survive there. The Fleet's another matter altogether.

Awkwardly, he pulls out a couple of acorns,] So uh... could I have a scoop?

[nerdeology]

[Yeah, he probably shouldn't. Mikleo eyes him for a moment longer, then shrugs his shoulders and reaches over to nudge the cups closer to Stefan, his expression returning to a mask of calm that he's grown to rely on in tense situations. It's not as if he suddenly dislikes Stefan or anything, but there's an edge of distrust that wasn't there before.]

By all means. Since no one can see me I've just let people serve themselves, so help yourself, but don't make yourself sick.

[stefanged]

[A few months ago, he might've retreated into a shell and some more self-loathing of who he is and what he might do. As it is now? He knows what he's capable of, and more importantly, that those abilities don't (and will never) translate into who he is. Actions speak louder than words, etc.

So it's with that same firmness that he grabs some pistachio ice cream. After that first bite, he says,] You don't have to give me that look, you know.

How long have you known me, and how many times have I done the thing before?

[Short answer: once, and that was to save Kirito from would-be creeps, but ssh. Details.]

[nerdeology]

That's a misleading question. If you can manipulate memories, how would I even know?

[He was prepared to let it go for the moment, but you really want to keep talking about this, buddy?]

[stefanged]

[There's a flash of something - betrayal, maybe? - but Stefan started it, so he's gotta finish it.]

Because I'd never do that to you. [He finishes a scoop and gives more acorns for yet another. Accidental food coma, here he comes.] Even if you end up hating me over this, it's because you chose to feel that.

[nerdeology]

[Mikleo's brow lifts a little at that, though he doesn't comment. What sort of response did he expect, exactly?]

A strict moral code, then? Friends and allies are off-limits, but the general populace is not?

[stefanged]

Mm, usually they're off-limits too.

It's more... self-protection. Let's say we were back in Mystic Falls. If I was talking to you long enough, someone would've called the police on me, and I would've been sent to the hospital by now. [a small sigh] Compulsion lets me avoid that.

[nerdeology]

[???]

Why would you be sent to a hospital for talking to yourself? Is that signs of a sickness where you're from?

[What the heck are those humans thinking, exactly?]

[stefanged]

It can be. [He pauses. Mikleo probably doesn't need a scientific rundown of schizophrenia.] By itself, it doesn't mean much.

But if it goes on long enough? Even I'd be concerned. People don't usually hold full-length conversations with the wind.

[nerdeology]

I see...

[Well, he does and he doesn't. It sounds like a complicated world, certainly.]

Still, if you need a quick escape from the public eye, I'm not sure I can approve of that particular method. I have an arte that can temporarily make you invisible as well, if it's necessary.

[stefanged]

I'm starting to think you have an arte for everything.

[Stefan's relief is as clear as day. Invisibility... Now there's a power that would've been infinitely more useful.]

Thank you. I'd appreciate that, should that ever be a problem.

[nerdeology]

[Pfft. He wishes.]

Only if it's water-related. If manipulated properly, water can be used for mirrors, illusions- handy when you need to conceal yourself.

[stefanged]

I could see that. [Already, he's thinking of how much more useful that could've been...]

Or... well, I guess I couldn't, if invisibility's the name of the game.

[nerdeology]

[Ha ha, very funny.]

It would be convenient if there was an effective way to make ourselves more visible, in the long run, but this has gotten us out of trouble a few times.

[stefanged]

Hm. If you can make yourself invisible, you'd think that the reverse would apply...

[He's gonna mull on that for a while. Stefan's been wondering if resonance is epigenetic (ie, if it's based on environmental factors AND genetics), but it's hard to tell when he doesn't even know the scientific progress in Mikleo's world.]

If you and Sorey could lend me a DNA sample, I might be able to look into it.

[nerdeology]

...DNA?

[What are these random letters thrown together, you strange modern man.]

[stefanged]

DNA's the genetic "code" in our body that tells us how we're made. [He gestures towards his hair, loosely playing with some strands.] Think of it like... like your body's instruction manual.

It tells your body how tall you're gonna be, what color your hair is, or even how often your fingernails grow back. Every being's got it, from humans to seraphim to probably even those elves and ponies.