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Chelsa has just finished the morning announcements. She loves doing the morning announcements; it's like piping hot coffee, the rise in the world's warmth. Most of it is for Aelise, of course, but Chelsa gets her own share, and of course she's not selfish, everyone loves their neighbors too. Everyone gets along so well.
She is on her way from the broadcasting studio where she does her announcements to the living quarters where she keeps her dearest friends. She makes sure to pay them plenty of attention. They watch the announcements - everyone does, unless they are doing some sort of emergency work right at that moment, and then they're caught up as soon as possible with the next installment - but they're kept closer and need more fine detail work to stay happy with her. It is terribly important that they be happy with her.
warmfeelings
guiltless
Sandre is curious. He glances at the wall between his and Corona's rooms, and focuses past it.
...And is confused.
There's Aelise and Corona and Harley; Harley is the one who's screaming. Aelise is using her Gift on him. Sandre can't see her Gift, not properly, but he can see its effects - the way people wither or bloom from the cellular level on up. Harley is withering.
Then he stops withering. Stops living.
Something unfamiliar happens - like fire without the heat, except not really like fire at all - and Harley's back, unwithered, good as new.
Sandre is even more confused.
...And is confused.
There's Aelise and Corona and Harley; Harley is the one who's screaming. Aelise is using her Gift on him. Sandre can't see her Gift, not properly, but he can see its effects - the way people wither or bloom from the cellular level on up. Harley is withering.
Then he stops withering. Stops living.
Something unfamiliar happens - like fire without the heat, except not really like fire at all - and Harley's back, unwithered, good as new.
Sandre is even more confused.
warmfeelings
Chelsa decides to let whatever just happened filter to her at some more convenient time. Aelise has good judgment about these things.
"I'm not really sure," Corona says wryly. "Um - that's Harley," with a gesture to the very Corona-like figure curled up in his bed. "He fell out of thin air a while ago. He's almost exactly like me, except his Gift is different."
"He's immortal. And not the same way as Luhan - Aelise was just in here draining him, she must've done it like thirty times, and he just bounces right back."
"...Not really," he says. "He's - well, he's like me. And Chelsa wants to keep him and he really doesn't want to be kept. But the draining was fine," he adds. "He liked that."
"If he's just infinitely renewable I guess Luhan's going to leave, isn't he," Tima remarks. "I still don't really get what you have against Chelsa. Either of you, I guess. You're full of contradictions."
"She's a fucking mind rapist," snarls Harley from the bed.
Corona looks conflicted, but he doesn't actually disagree.
Corona looks conflicted, but he doesn't actually disagree.
"Uh," says Tima. "If it bothers you when Chelsa kindles you, can I give you some advice? Pretend to be sociable when she's around. She doesn't like it when people aren't getting along."