003; video

[beathach]

Who: Charles and Hank + You Losers
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Blameless
When: Right Now

[two old nerds appear on screen, unboxing a large colouring create with "Congratulations On Your One Year Anniversary!" written on the side in big, bold letters. Inside appears to be plushies of DNA, antibodies, and other related paraphernalia.

Of course, while doing this they're sharing the popular "rumors" about them out loud, for their own amusement. Or bemusement, either or]

Let’s see . . . 'Aliens stole Charles' hair.' I can’t say that’s wrong.

In a manner of speaking, sure.

What else . . . 'Hank is a beast in bed'. Hank, you sly devil.

—No comment.

Hmm. 'Hank and Charles are the perfect couple'. I think our students got a hold of this one.

Huh. I just read one lamenting our divorce.

Hold on, what’s this?

[ Charles pulls out a business card ]

Well now . . . I guess I’ll be keeping this.

[Hank's response is to burst into laughter. What a helper]

Comments

[axiomed]

That's quite a bit.

But my range is the entire planet when my powers are magnified.

[musicalhost]

Oh jeez-

That's a lot. [She can't even imagine. And she's not sure she wants to try.]

That can't be easy at all.

[axiomed]

It's not, but I seem to manage.

[musicalhost]

You're obviously very skilled. I don't think I know anyone who would be able to do something like that.

Does being here make that any easier? [Wait, wasn't he the curious one?]

[axiomed]

Easier? I suppose it is at times.

[ Easier isn't quite the word he'd use but it's complicated. ]

[musicalhost]

Except now.

[She's trying to make this lighter.]

[axiomed]

It's really not that bad. Just unusual. Give me some time and I'll adapt.

[musicalhost]

The farthest I'll probably be going is the Caprine and to visit Beverly so you definitely have that.

You were curious though?

[axiomed]

Oh, my telepathy is limited to the ship.

[ Which he doesn't mind, but it feels odd. ]

Mostly I wanted to know why your mind was like that.

[musicalhost]

That's good at least.

And I'm a joined Trill. There have been eight other Dax hosts before me, so all of their memories are a part of me an Dax.

[axiomed]

And you can recall of them clearly?

[musicalhost]

Pretty clearly. Their memories work kind of the same way anyone elses memories do. Some thing fade and some don't.

[axiomed]

And they're fully conscious as well?

[musicalhost]

No, it's just their memories. Though I suppose they kind of could be, if I ever performed a zhian'tara but I don't have enough friends to embody them. Then they'd more or less be conscious, for a little while.

[axiomed]

It feels like they're there. I've never known memories to feel so . . . active.

[musicalhost]

Their entire lives are there, kind of. They were all Dax and Dax was them. And a part of being a host is so that, in some way, we'll all live beyond our deaths.

[axiomed]

. . . Is it comforting? Being able to live in that way.

[musicalhost]

Sometimes. I have all of their successes and failures to draw on, their courage, but I can also remember dying. A few times. [And murder.] Nothing is ever wholly good, after all.

[axiomed]

. . . No. The memory of death can be a stark one.

[ He's certainly felt it by the multitude. ]

[musicalhost]

It takes a little while to get past but good friends help.

[Oh wait-]

That took a dark turn. I'm sorry.

[axiomed]

It's fine. Dark turns don't particularly bother me and I appreciate your kindness in answering my queries.

[musicalhost]

Sharing information, learning opportunities, that's part of why I joined Starfleet. So any time you're curious, I can try to answer what I can.

[axiomed]

Thank you.

If you're curious about mutants, please feel free to ask.

[musicalhost]

I admit, I am a little curious. The only telepaths I really have experience with are the vulcans.

[axiomed]

Vulcans?