We call it Entrancement. It's kind of like hypnotism, but really all it does is make someone like me very, very much. It won't make them do anything directly, but they'll be suggestable, they'll want to do what I want them to do to a point. They can interpret things however they want, and I never really know how long it'll last.
I’ll only show you the pleasant ones. Most people aren’t fond of regurgitating lockpicks and bombs.
I think you’ve mentioned that in the past, though not with the label on it. I was just curious. It’s not a power I’d want in many people’s hands. Though I'd say that about just any power and skill.
Be honest with me. Have you swallowed bombs? And if so, how much of the full story do I get to have?
The one I'll show you is called Awe. It's similar, but it doesn't last. Soon as I stop doing it, it stops working. There's others that are a little more... Probably a lot more concerning for you, but I don't know them. Trusting the Kindred that can is always a unique challenge.
I may have swallowed and regurgitated root bombs and my lockpicks over the course of a few hours to have in case needed on a job. It was the only way to smuggle them in. Wylan made the bombs so I was fairly confident they would withstand it. If you really want to hear the full story I can share it. It’s long though, so I understand if not.
I’ll be in awe of you? I already am at times, you know. You’re pretty talented.
Trusting anyone is a unique challenge, but I understand your point where compulsion is concerned.
...honestly I've heard of people swallowing weirder stuff, though probably not quite as dangerous unless you count drugs. And I'm willing to hear the whole long story if you're willing to tell it.
I'm glad I got you in awe of me without it. I always preferred getting attention without it, though if it's only at times I worry I'm losing my touch.
Yeah, it can be fraught sometimes. Some can go as far as changing your memory, and when you realize that's on the table it's no wonder we all tend to be a little paranoid.
Only if you want. Like I said, it could get long and it’s probably not as entertaining in context.
I would hope you’d worry more if I thought of nothing but you, Birdie. Pretty sure that’s obsession. [He’s teasing a little.] Plus, you really don’t want me thinking of you when I’m contemplating the downfall of others. When I do think of you though, it’s good thoughts.
Trust me when I say that I'll be entertained by this no matter how long and weird and gross it can get.
I don't mind a little obsession, so long as when I come up in the downfall of others I'm one of the ones helping and not getting knocked off a pedestal. Good thoughts, though, are my favorite. I've got plenty of those about you, too.
A couple times. It's possible there's more than what I know about, but that one is harder to notice.
We were hired to break someone out of the Ice Court in Fjerda. Best way in was to ambush a prison cart and sneak onboard as prisoners. Which meant being stripped down once we were inside, so I swallowed packets of Wylan’s root bombs along with a pouch of chloropellets and an extra set of lockpicks. … I suppose it wasn’t actually that long of a story. Anyway, I had to vomit them up and swallow them back down a few times. Better to have them on hand if needed than not. [He hadn’t even been certain they would need all the times, but Kaz prefers to plan for any contingency he can.]
I have no desire to knock you off a pedestal, not that I put you on one myself. Which also isn’t personal. I don’t put anything or anyone on one. There are good thoughts, though.
Not that long, no, but still just as impressive that you got all that down at once, let alone multiple times. I suppose that means they were useful still in the end when you had to get back out. I'd be mad if I had to do all that and never even blow anything up.
Good thoughts I can work with better than pedestals, anyway.
No. I learned about it because they told me up front, and they had their reasons for it.
You do have your very solid grasp on preparation. You really are very impressive with it.
That is a big bonus. I also like that you've got them for me. It's nice to know.
If you learn one thing about Kindred is that we sometimes do... Terrible things, to survive. Both from other humans and each other. I've certainly done some things that'd deserve revenging, too.
That doesn't sound any different than humans, to be honest. Myself included. The fact though that some people have reason to want revenge against me doesn't stop me from wanting it against others, though.
No, but I bet you'd qualify for an honorary scoutship.
It really isn't, beyond the methods we have to accomplish our misdeeds. And I think it's a little more practical than not wanting it, though. If Kindred were constantly revenging on each other, we'd be a mess. No way to defend ourselves as a whole. That's why Anarch free states end up in so much trouble so much of the time.
I think as a child I’d have just stolen all the badges and sold them to children who actually invested in them but couldn’t hack it.
That is indeed a distinction. I don’t really care about humanity as a whole, and I don’t have to in order to protect what I do call mine. There are a lot more humans that Kindred around though it seems.
Honestly that's a pretty good tactic. I think they sell something, too. Cookies or popcorn or something. You could've made bank running a black market for either.
There are. Someone told me once it's something like one of us for every hundred thousand humans, depending on the area.
That sounds much more feasible than being left in charge of tiny people. Plus, scamming for homework sounds more useful than actual homework.
I mean, I've tasted my own blood and haven't been impressed, so I don't think I'll get the urge anytime soon. Good to know though, I do hate having questions lingering. It's like an itch in the brain.
I've heard the same, and I'm good not confirming it myself anytime soon if ever. And I do think people could benefit from more alternative schooling. Especially the pipeline you told me you had.
Indeed, you were better than an online search. Nobody really wants to type 'how does blood taste different' into their search engines. Though Google has certainly seen worse.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 12:31 am (UTC)We call it Entrancement. It's kind of like hypnotism, but really all it does is make someone like me very, very much. It won't make them do anything directly, but they'll be suggestable, they'll want to do what I want them to do to a point. They can interpret things however they want, and I never really know how long it'll last.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 10:54 am (UTC)I think you’ve mentioned that in the past, though not with the label on it. I was just curious. It’s not a power I’d want in many people’s hands. Though I'd say that about just any power and skill.
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Date: 2023-10-05 04:28 pm (UTC)The one I'll show you is called Awe. It's similar, but it doesn't last. Soon as I stop doing it, it stops working. There's others that are a little more... Probably a lot more concerning for you, but I don't know them. Trusting the Kindred that can is always a unique challenge.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-05 09:34 pm (UTC)I’ll be in awe of you? I already am at times, you know. You’re pretty talented.
Trusting anyone is a unique challenge, but I understand your point where compulsion is concerned.
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Date: 2023-10-06 12:11 am (UTC)I'm glad I got you in awe of me without it. I always preferred getting attention without it, though if it's only at times I worry I'm losing my touch.
Yeah, it can be fraught sometimes. Some can go as far as changing your memory, and when you realize that's on the table it's no wonder we all tend to be a little paranoid.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-06 11:27 am (UTC)I would hope you’d worry more if I thought of nothing but you, Birdie. Pretty sure that’s obsession. [He’s teasing a little.] Plus, you really don’t want me thinking of you when I’m contemplating the downfall of others. When I do think of you though, it’s good thoughts.
Have you ever had your memories altered?
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Date: 2023-10-06 01:27 pm (UTC)I don't mind a little obsession, so long as when I come up in the downfall of others I'm one of the ones helping and not getting knocked off a pedestal. Good thoughts, though, are my favorite. I've got plenty of those about you, too.
A couple times. It's possible there's more than what I know about, but that one is harder to notice.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-07 01:25 pm (UTC)I have no desire to knock you off a pedestal, not that I put you on one myself. Which also isn’t personal. I don’t put anything or anyone on one. There are good thoughts, though.
I hope you got revenge on who caused it.
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Date: 2023-10-07 08:16 pm (UTC)Good thoughts I can work with better than pedestals, anyway.
No. I learned about it because they told me up front, and they had their reasons for it.
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Date: 2023-10-07 08:26 pm (UTC)They tend to have a wider base than a narrow lens, it allows for less precarious teetering.
I respect the reasons are yours, even if I can't fathom making the same choice.
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Date: 2023-10-07 08:49 pm (UTC)That is a big bonus. I also like that you've got them for me. It's nice to know.
If you learn one thing about Kindred is that we sometimes do... Terrible things, to survive. Both from other humans and each other. I've certainly done some things that'd deserve revenging, too.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-07 09:08 pm (UTC)Likewise, it's good to know.
That doesn't sound any different than humans, to be honest. Myself included. The fact though that some people have reason to want revenge against me doesn't stop me from wanting it against others, though.
no subject
Date: 2023-10-07 09:25 pm (UTC)It really isn't, beyond the methods we have to accomplish our misdeeds. And I think it's a little more practical than not wanting it, though. If Kindred were constantly revenging on each other, we'd be a mess. No way to defend ourselves as a whole. That's why Anarch free states end up in so much trouble so much of the time.
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Date: 2023-10-07 09:58 pm (UTC)That is indeed a distinction. I don’t really care about humanity as a whole, and I don’t have to in order to protect what I do call mine. There are a lot more humans that Kindred around though it seems.
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Date: 2023-10-07 10:03 pm (UTC)There are. Someone told me once it's something like one of us for every hundred thousand humans, depending on the area.
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Date: 2023-10-08 01:21 pm (UTC)There are far too many people in general. I think this every time I walk downtown.
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Date: 2023-10-08 04:05 pm (UTC)Having so many does make for a good varied audience of marks when I go busking, though. Or a meal, such as it is. So there's upsides.
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Date: 2023-10-08 07:53 pm (UTC)I haven't really thought on it, but I'm not surprised people taste differently.
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Date: 2023-10-08 08:20 pm (UTC)It would be kind of a weird thing for you to be thinking about, to be honest.
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Date: 2023-10-08 09:58 pm (UTC)And while I do have many weird thoughts, human slushie flavors is not one of them.
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Date: 2023-10-08 10:32 pm (UTC)Good, I think I'd worry. And just in case you do get to wondering, the taste is blood. All the tastes are blood.
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Date: 2023-10-08 11:04 pm (UTC)I mean, I've tasted my own blood and haven't been impressed, so I don't think I'll get the urge anytime soon. Good to know though, I do hate having questions lingering. It's like an itch in the brain.
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Date: 2023-10-08 11:15 pm (UTC)Well, I'm glad I could help you metaphorically scratch that one.
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Date: 2023-10-08 11:42 pm (UTC)Indeed, you were better than an online search. Nobody really wants to type 'how does blood taste different' into their search engines. Though Google has certainly seen worse.
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Date: 2023-10-09 12:28 am (UTC)I think they put you on lists for that kind of thing, and I'm sure you're already on plenty.
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