animus_network | [004 ★ text]

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[004 ★ text]

You know what, I am so sick of this. Completely sick of this!! And look at me, repeating myself and using multiple exclamation points (two!) like a rebel. Because I am a rebel!

I'm tired of all these embarrassing personal incidents. When they aren't embarrassing, they're deeply horrifying and disturbing. I just want regular old test taking anxiety again! I want worrying about whether Anya is going to ask Giles if he has a new orgasm friend yet in public! And all that demon stuff, even that was familiar.

But here it's like, oh, here's that troll kid I'm friends with and he got his arm torn off. Here's me turning myself into a troll and going creepy stalker over Aradia. (Which by the way, oh Goddess am I sorry for and eternally mortified about.) Or here's me picking up the bloody scraps of the clothes of the double of someone I'm friends with!

And don't tell me I'm using too many of's there, I told you I'm a rebel today! I just want my test taking anxiety back, darn it. I'd even take worrying over when I'm going back to college, and that was a lot of worrying.

... Okay, whining done. End whining. In other news, who's still having wacky collar-induced sickness and power-tampering shenanigans? Cause frankly I'm finding this really worrying and I want to get to the bottom of this.

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I feel like a useless clam, all shut up in my room talking to people about my problems, so there you go.

And I certainly wouldn't complain if you were serious about wanting to try something like that. You're probably the one person who can actually help out with this issue in this tower anyway.

I don't know if I'm the only person... [Somewhat embarrassed to have her power called out to her, as always.] But I'll give it a shot! I wouldn't want you to feel like a useless clam forever, after all.

I'll be right down?

[She chuckled, hearing that embarrassment loud and clear. But she was going to be merciful and not call Willow out on it.] I'll see you soon then.

[She troops on down a little while later and knocks politely at the door, her messenger bag slung over her shoulder. These days she pretty much only uses it to tote spell supplies around instead of class books, which is probably some kind of statement on her life that she doesn't want to think about.]

[There's a sound from the other end of the door, like the squeak of someone getting off a bed, followed by footsteps getting closer to the door. And then, they stop, and there's a very angry sounding mumble.]

The door's open, actually, if you just want to come in. It's probably easier that way. [In the meanwhile, Stein's halfway between her bed and the door, more of her soul stitches tying her feet to the floor. She's just going to make herself busy by dealing with this little problem first.]

[Soul stitches tying her feet to the floor, what?? Willow comes in when prompted, automatically shutting the door behind her, and then stops short.]

Um. Stein...? What is that? [A wary look around the floor.]

More shenanigans. My soul is acting a bit... Wonky at the moment. Could you hand me a scalpel? [She points over at her trunk.] There should be plenty in there; just dig one out. And don't cut yourself.

Don't worry, not a fan of cutting myself.

[Willow dutifully does as requested, kneeling on the ground to creak open the trunk. She's careful and meticulous as she locates the scalpel, not the least bit squeamish, and before long has it in hand to pass over to Stein, blunt end first.] Here you go. What are those, exactly?

[With an air of carelessness that only comes from from years of practice, she grabs the scalpel between her forefinger and thumb delicately and bends over to cut her feet free. The second the blade cuts through the strands, they simply vanish into nothingness.]

"Those" would be strands of my soul. Incredibly useful in battle for a variety of applications, incredibly annoying when I can't control them. [She pockets the scalpel instead of putting it back in the trunk. Just in case she needs it again.] Don't worry, it's not that the floor is attacking me.

Oh! I was wondering. [She lets the lid to the trunk close with a thump, and is suddenly all over curiosity instead of wariness.]

This thing is really hitting you pretty hard, huh? Those are cool, though. Nifty when they aren't sewing you to the floor.

"The bigger they are the harder they fall" as the saying goes. [She smirks. Usually, her abilities don't give her nearly this amount of grief, but considering how many and how strong they are, she's not too shocked that this is hitting her as hard as it is.]

But thank you, I think they're pretty nifty as well. If I had my weapon with me I'd be able to do even more with it too. When she and I are resonating, we can stitch someone to themselves, using cells and tissue and the like. [Why yes, that is some serious smugness coming through her voice.]

That's... somewhat creepy, but okay, creepy is appropriate here. [Yes, that does mean she still thinks Stein is creepy. She also likes her, but creepy.]

So how do you want to do this? Like soundproofing the room or like putting ear plugs in?

Earplugs, I guess. So I can drown out my roommates' souls as well when they come back. Unless soundproofing would be easier for you? I don't want to have to put you out too much if I don't have to.

I've never done either of them before, so one isn't putting me out more than the other. I don't even know if it'll work, really-- don't get your hopes up.

[She settles cross-legged right there on the carpet, and pats the spot across from her.] Sit. We need to get our meditation on either way.

[She slips her boots and her glasses off, sitting cross-legged across from Willow on the spot she patted.]

But if it doesn't work, you're not allowed to blame me for my poor meditation skill. Deal?

I would never, [she says with a slight smile, shifting her weight and getting comfortable.] Obviously any failure could never be traced back to you.

I need your hands, by the way. [Willow slips right into business, and holds out hers in the space between them.]

[She hesitates for a moment before hovering her hands near Willow's. Even so, she doesn't want to be the first one to make contact though, just in case her soul decides to attack this poor girl like it did with the Signless.]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were setting us up to resonate.

[Pausing, Willow pulls her mind out of preparing-to-do-finnicky-new-magic mode and refocuses on her. She draws her hands back a little.]

What do you mean, resonating? I'm not too familiar with all this soul stuff that you do.

Imagine your soul is you for a moment. You go out and meet another person you like, sometimes you're going to learn that other person is a boar and an idiot and decide you're not compatible. Other times, you're going to decide you like that other person and invite them over to your place, which usually means that unless they say something that makes them out to be an ass or you say something that offends their sensibilities, you're going to be able to resonate, or rather, in the case of this metaphor, you're going to have sex. [You asked, Willow :|]

It's a very similar situation, only with souls instead of bodies: It requires compatibility, consent, and usually two souls. Though in my soul's case, compatibility is a non-issue, and it's quite capable of resonating with itself. [Other than the slightly proud smile on her face as she talks about her soul's sluttiness and masturbatory prowess, Stein remains completely straight-faced. This is why she always loves explaining this to adults; she doesn't have to avoid the comparison like she does with kids.]

The reason this made me think of that is when we're young and still learning how to control our soul wavelengths, often what we do is meditate together, usually while holding hands or something like that. It keeps those who aren't used to it fairly calm for the most part, and makes it easier for them to make their souls connect.

[Willow listens intently, trying to deny any awkward at the sex metaphor. She might be an adult, but she's a relatively childish one in some respects. Still, this is interesting, and she likes learning these things.]

This probably isn't too dissimilar, I don't think? But it won't be nearly that intense. I mean... going on that level is serious stuff. I'm more just taking your soul out to coffee, if we're going with that metaphor.

If you need me to stop once we start, just let me know. This will be fairly delicate, but that also means I'll be easy to interrupt if you need to.

[Stein smirks, though really she's pleased that Willow is willing to be so accommodating to someone who's never done this whole magic thing before. Though she's done similar, so Stein's not too worried.]

My soul's been around the block a few times; taking it out on a little coffee date won't kill it, Willow.

You're presuming I know where we're going for coffee. I don't. I'm pretty much making this up as I go along, so no getting complacent!

[It's a serious concern, though it's hard to take Willow seriously when she's pouting a bit.] Are you ready? [And she offers her hands up again.]

[Stein, gently, to keep her soul from reaching out and attacking, reaches out and takes Willow's hands in hers with a smile.] Ready as I'll ever be.

I guess that means I have to be ready, too.

[A slight, wry smile. Willow's always ready to make fun of herself. But she's focusing now, and her first mental touch is light, as delicate as she'd said it would be. Mental magic is something she's used maliciously in the past, and it makes her tentative and careful about using it now.]

[It felt a lot like resonating, so Stein was evidently right on the money with that, but she didn't want to break Willow's concentration either by mentioning that. She clears her mind, gently trying to sync up her wavelength with Willow's. She might not know magic, but she knew that having the same soul wavelength wouldn't hurt.]

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