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[hearuthinking]

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[hearuthinking]

Good thing. With no sun, those fuckers would thrive right now. Maybe your next project can be workin' on some kinda UV lamp, just in case. I got one but the thing can't hold its light worth shit.

[mehanizovati]

That... is not a bad idea. It might be good for health too, if this continues. Vitamin d deficiency is bound to be a problem if the sun decides to stay hidden.

[hearuthinking]

I'll bring the UV lamp I have to your lab, if it'll help. I gotta stop by there at some point so we can start that beast research.

[mehanizovati]

Oh, that would be very useful- also true. We were going to try and help you figure out better control of your mind reading too, yes?

[hearuthinking]

Right. Though the good news is I don't hear thoughts all the time. I don't hear yours right now.

[mehanizovati]

I wonder what triggers it... Palebloods especially seem to have a hard time with such skills. I suppose that's the nature of mental abilities, they are somewhat invasive and harder to ignore.

[hearuthinking]

Got no fuckin' clue. I heard some thoughts when I was down with someone in the catacombs, so maybe it works better when they're tired or stressed? And I know it work when I'm trying to hear thoughts.

But I'm pretty good at tellin' when people got shit on their minds even without powers.

[mehanizovati]

Hm, I wouldn't be surprised if lowered mental barriers made it easier. Perhaps even higher corruption?

Ah, good at reading people then? [he can see that, he thinks, which is a skill viktor doesn't have in spades and admires.] It does seem like our new blood heightens pre-existing skills.

[hearuthinking]

That's where our beasthood research comes in.

[He shrugs, smiling a bit] I would say somethin' like "I can hear you thinkin' " as a way to get people to talk. And now I literally hear thoughts. I bet if we hang out long enough, I'll be able to tell when you're thinkin' without my powers.

[mehanizovati]

[that makes viktor chuckle despite himself] Ha, this place has a little bit of a sense of humor then. And you think so? Hm, I've been told I can be pretty stand offish, you may have your work cut out for you.

[admittedly he's been trying not to be, and given his increasing trust in jason he doesn't mind offering a wry sort of look over that probably says yes, he could see jason figuring him out.]

[hearuthinking]

Hard to imagine you as stand-offish.

[Then again, they did get to know each other in a literal nightmare. Jason knows better than most how being in tense, terrifying situations helps break the ice between people]

[mehanizovati]

[the nightmare scenario was absolutely a big icebreaker- viktor doesn't trust easily but he can safely say now jason is one of the few people he could trust here.]

Ah well, back home it was a bit of a necessity. [a pause as he considers if he wants to elaborate more, settling for,] The place I moved to and worked in did not care for people from where I was born. You learn to be careful, I suppose.

[hearuthinking]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I admit I was just as guilt of not seein' the individual. I'd like to think I'm a little better now. It's one reason why I wear a different hat now.

[He still has his old hat, but these days he just wears a plain cap or a Hunter's hat of some kind, if he's on the job]

[mehanizovati]

I would say you are, just being able to admit it. I've found many people would rather cling to their bad behavior than apologize for it. [a smile then a shrug.] Even my research partner- my closest friend, really- he was open minded and kind but still it is hard to unlearn what the city taught him to think.

[hearuthinking]

Bein' in a life-or-death situation puts things in perspective. That's how it was for me, anyway.

[More things than just seeing past an enemy soldier's uniform]

[mehanizovati]

Ah, that does tend to open eyes. Was it the vampire business then?

[hearuthinking]

Yeah. Down there, I had to work with an enemy soldier. We didn't trust each other at first-- hell, the first time we met, we were pointin' guns. But the more we worked and fought together the more comfortable we got, and...

[He pauses, turning away for a moment]

I've only known him a few hours but I'd trust him with my life.

[mehanizovati]

[that story has viktor's lips quirking, a little nod of understanding. hey, as it turns out very stressful situations had a way of getting you close, fast.]

He sounds like an interesting man. What is his name?

[hearuthinking]

Salim.

[He has tried not to think too much about Salim. Why did he bring the guy up? There are emotions there he doesn't want to unpack, so down they shove]

Guess my point is, I'd like to think I'm better now than I was when I fell into that temple.

[mehanizovati]

Salim. [viktor repeats, a bit of a habit when he's committing a name to memory. maybe the many will wash up on shore one day, odd coincidences come from the ocean.]

Well, I can hardly judge considering I have only known you now, but you have been a good man here by my estimate. I believe that is enough, no?

[hearuthinking]

Right. [He smiles a little]

Let's go check out one more portal and call it a day.

[mehanizovati]

Knowing our luck it will be the one that finally spews monsters at us. [he sounds amused despite this, knock on wood. still up ahead he can vaguely see the light of some, nodding towards it.]

Some people have seen their own worlds and even people from them. I'm not sure how I would feel about that, in truth.

[hearuthinking]

We'd kick those monsters' asses and they know it.

[His smile fades a bit at those words] Yeah. We've seen versions of our worlds, but I don't know how I'd feel about a portal where I could see my friends again. It'd be nice knowin' they're all okay, but then they'd just disappear again. I think I'd rather not see 'em at all then get the rug pulled out under me like that.

[mehanizovati]

I don't know, I think that rolling goat might be able to take us. [a joke, though who knew. the goat was hilarious and maybe slightly unsettling when you thought too long about how its body must work to do that.]

... I think I agree. That and some have seen people from their futures. I do not know if I want to learn anything about that, even if it no longer applies to us.

[hearuthinking]

[He snorted at that. Damn, but he does love Viktor's sense of humor]

I kinda liked it. Though in my case, I got good news. Two from my world were here and told me that we got outta that temple and blew up the vampires. Put my mind at ease, made feel a little better about bein' here.