He glances at Netlink. Netlink just kind of blinks at him.

"Well, just let us know if you need anything. And by the way, the event is wrapping up in about half an hour, just so you know."

He retreats at this point.

"Er... Did I miss something?"

"...I dunno. Something about his attitude rubbed me the wrong way? Sorry."

"...It's fine. Um. We should probably... Make plans or something though."

"Yeah. I'd be happy to talk more and guide more, it's nice to find a fellow nerd! Uh- I usually guide with more skin contact though."

"Platonically. Right?"

"Yep, completely 100% platonic lying on top of me to help with the backlash symptoms and guide us both faster. I mentioned earlier, Traceless wants to know if I find compatible people? Do you mind if I mention you to him?"

Platonically. Right. The world makes sense and feels safe again. It's just utility, convenience, efficiency.

"I don't mind. I guess we'll want to meet somewhere and check?"

"Yeah, probably. I'll text him."

Hey Haru, guess what I found at a meetup event in Boston?

Cricket's long lost twin

Snrk.

A cute boy who is mildly compatible with me and willing to be introduced to you. No information on queerness yet. Want me to give him your number?

He'll just... Wait, then? Anxiously.

Please! Is he Bostonian or from farther afield? Am I allowed to know his backlash?

He said 'social anxiety' and is going by a codename. Netlink. Idk where from we mostly talked abt bridges. 1 sec. 

"So his number is-" and reads it off.

"Okay. I guess I'll text him?"

Hello, this is Netlink. My apologies if I have the wrong number.

You have reached Traceless! Your backlash sounds like a possible best-case for matching mine in principle, I get lonely.

Does your thing directly impede guiding or do you not know yet? It seems like it might.

I am trying not to spread it around too much and also using a codename because layers of separation help. I did manage to literally not notice it was backlash until it was over because I did remote work and had plenty of groceries in my apartment. I don't know how I'll feel about it when under heavy backlash.

("So," Wendy says, "I should give you my number too. Any chances to use my power more often are something I'll gladly take, you know?"

"Oh, sure." He'll exchange numbers with her, too, he guesses. "Uh... I get the impression that I will be pointed at dungeons and asked to find all the people inside and then shuffled away before anything can try to hurt me."

"Yeah, sounds about right," she nods.)

Holy shit, you didn't notice? That's really impressive.

I'm based in Toronto, but I can come to you if you prefer. The meetup is Boston, I hear, are you?

I definitely noticed something was wrong but backlash/awakening is much less common than a psychotic break and I considered myself too mature to erroneously think I was special. Also my brain was telling me I was definitely not special. So I was just planning on how to literally never leave my apartment again and order everything online etc.

Well right NOW I'm in Boston. The agency people will probably be perfectly fine to comp airfare to Toronto if it gets me sensing dungeons faster. (I can sense people's locations and also video call them with my brain).

What agency are you with, do they operate in Canada? I'm with Maple and would need to switch agents to relocate to the States altogether though they can handle deployments for one-offs in the region even across the lake

It's called Vanguard Group. I'm not particularly attached to them. If it's harder to actually work with compatible people from the US, moving to Canada is probably fine.

Cool. I think it's worth the flight to try. I don't have a guest room yet (still househunting in the esper-money price bracket) but if there's anything that'd make it an easier visit lmk.

I'm not sure.

I'd prefer a hotel room to a guest room. Also ubers or similar.

Want me to get you a hotel or is your agent on that?

Actually I don't think I like my current one now that I think about it at zero backlash (I did some testing). Can you have your agent do that part?