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[thetrueeve]

[Eve pops into view a little too close to the video and then backs up.]

Hi, oh this is the first time I'm using one of these, I hope this is okay. I'm Eve, I'm really new!

[She's nervous, she's never nervous. So she stops being nervous and fluffs out her hair, smiling warmly.]

So I wonder how many people here didn't have special abilities before they came here? And, um, how did you learn how to use them? I feel like I should learn, but I don't think I want to be a superhero or anything, just know enough of how to keep from accidentally using them. Where should I go?

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[Crane warmly smiles back - not kind, but polite. He studies her for a second, till his eyes flicker down. Everything about him seems a little awkward. One mismatched sweater with a dark suit. A pair of glasses that cut him from a sharper cloth than the clothes he's wearing. He even sounds it, all stiff and embarrassed.]

People won't be able to recommend anything good without knowing a little more about your situation. If you read minds, what's the use in recommending a chemist? It might be helpful if you elaborate.

[thetrueeve]

[Eve on the other hand looks impeccably put together, whether she tries to or not. The thick curly hair even appears attractively tousled when it's unbrushed. She is wearing a nice off the shoulder dress and tilts her head curiously at him.]

That's a good point! Ummm. [She thinks, twirling some of her hair around a finger.] So I have this enhanced charisma, I guess? Which I didn't realize what that meant until I thought I was getting along great with someone but then they were just agreeing with me about everything and it was confusing. And that I inspire love? That's nice though, love is a great thing.

[She isn't thinking about how inspiring love in the wrong people would be bad. Just that love is great, everyone wants love, right?]

There was one other, something about encouraging people to do good things? Or bad things. I really don't know. I'm not even sure when or if I'm doing it.

[reborningreen]

Hello, Eve.

[ Oliver gives her a gentle smile before nodding and diving into her question. ]

I didn't have powers before this.

And I learned by practicing, carefully, and trying to figure out, like with a muscle, how the power works, what causes it to activate, and to work on controlling that, in particular.

[restingstitchface]

[That makes him laugh, his face a measure of amusement, a conspiratorial "oh you" brightening his lips. He doesn't rate love much, and knows his curiosity is more about uncovering what makes her tick.]

That sounds painful.

[He murmurs thoughtfully. Hm!]

Still. I suppose the question is: does it matter that other people see you doing it? [He offers gently.] Accomplished orators generally want an audience, after all.

[thetrueeve]

[Eve waves at Oliver cheerfully.]

I don't know what made it work. I guess I was really enthusiastic about what I was saying? And then when they got excited, I got even more excited.

[So it was a subconscious want, that other people be as enthusiastic as she was. But Eve has such a high energy personality, she doesn't know how often that will happen (all the time, possibly).]

[thetrueeve]

Oh no, once I figure out how to use them, I don't think I'll use them at all. I just don't want to on accident.

[Supernatural influence seems like it could get in spotty territory.]

I'm not really an orator, I'm just a person. One of the originals, actually!

[reborningreen]

Alright, so maybe we can practice and you can try this again? Picking something you are enthusiastic about and trying to see if it will work?

[ He nods. It seems a likely experiment. ]

[justaddh2o]

( Rikki offers a sympathetic look. She might have had her abilities when she got here, but she hasn't always had them. She sounds cheerful, her Aussie accent a little drawly. )

Hello, there. I'm Rikki. I had my mermaid stuff when I got here, but I've only had it for a few years, so I had to learn, too. It took a while of just trying, I suppose? It's a bit hard to explain. Once you figure out how to do it at all, whatever your thing is, then you just have to practice, yeah? Practice makes perfect.

[restingstitchface]

All my patients say that. I try not to be sceptical.

[His tone is encouraging, gentle. Everyone likes to believe they're original; that they're special. Mostly they're just disappointing.]

[thetrueeve]

Ooo. [She leans forward, dark eyes widening.] Your patients? Are you a doctor?

[thetrueeve]

Maybe! I think it comes and goes. I feel really bad about it.

[She frowns.]

I'm really lucky he's not likely to fire me over it. Probably.

[thetrueeve]

[Eve smiles.] I love your accent!

[She has no accent to speak of due to a variety of reasons, including being so old at this point she knows every language and accent herself. She still admires it on others. How pretty!]

Nice to meet you Rikki, you're a mermaid? That's so interesting! Have you always been one or is like being a vampire or werewolf when someone changes you? [She hopes that isn't offensive. She's new to this part!]

[justaddh2o]

( Her cheeks colour a little and Rikki wrinkles her nose, smiling. )

Oh, thanks.

I haven't always been one. It's only been the past few years. The full moon and the moon pool back home did it, actually. So...not a someone so much as a something. What have you got?

[restingstitchface]

At the moment, I'm not sure.

[A beat.]

I'm joking. Actually, I'm a psychiatrist.

[thetrueeve]

[Eve laughs.] You know, I've met hundreds of psychiatrists, and on the whole they do have really good senses of humor. [She brushes her hair out of her face.] I think it's part intelligence and part they've heard so many stories both good and bad, mostly bad, that you just have to have a sense of humor about it.

[thetrueeve]

[She's leaned forward, her chin on her hands propped up on her knees, listening closely like she's ready to hear an epic story.]

That must have been an intense change! Are you glad it happened? [Eve has a tendency to just ask what's in her head, and with such open interest that she doesn't ask if she should be poking at someone.] I guess I can talk people into feeling or doing things?

[reborningreen]

That's why I think testing it with a willing person is better. So you can get control.

[ He nods. ]

If he does, I am sure the community here can help you get a new one.

[justaddh2o]

Tell me about it. One day, human, next day, minding my own business, get splashed by a sprinkler and bam! Grew a tail and faceplanted right into the grass. It was a really weird day.

( Her eyebrows lift a little. That...sounds like a dangerous gift to have... )

Oh yeah? Feeling, even? Really? That's really impressive.

( And mildly terrifying, but mostly impressive. )

[thetrueeve]

Oh my gooodness, that's so intense! I'm glad you seem okay now. Are you okay? [Just because someone looks okay doesn't mean they are okay.]

Yeah? I guess. I'm worried. [She rubs a hand through her hair.] I like talking a lot, so now I'm self-conscious.

[thetrueeve]

I'll try that. [She sighs, putting her chin into her hand, a little glum.] In theory I guess people would want super powers, but not when you didn't ask for them.

[justaddh2o]

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm brilliant. I love it.

( She follows the comment with a sincere smile because it's true. She does love it. Being a mermaid is the best. )

Why are you worried?

[thetrueeve]

[Eve smiles quickly, relieved.] I'm so glad to hear that! [They may have just met, but she cares about people quickly.]

I just don't want to do anything with these powers that would upset someone. I recently did something thoughtless that hurt my friends, and ... [Understatement, she sighs.] they're being pretty kind about it, but I don't want to make the same mistake, this time with powers behind it.

[justaddh2o]

( Rikki's brow creases as she listens. A part of her wants to ask, but the larger part isn't quite as nosy as, perhaps, some of her friends back home might be. )

I'm sure you'll learn to control it with some practice, yeah? It didn't take me long to figure out mine when I got them.

[thetrueeve]

I hope so. I think I have some vague idea of what's happening. There was this vibe I felt when I used it, there was weight to the words that wasn't there before.

[restingstitchface]

[He nods and adjusts his glasses; he doesn't seem to disagree.]

My guess we'd all turn insane, if we didn't.