The DRT people wish Meghan luck.

Theo contacts each victim with a little script; Stay out of the way of monsters, we know where you are, help is on the way. If you think 'at' me I should be able to tell, as if you were talking, but I can't read minds. Are you hurt or in distress of any kind? What's your name, is there anyone we should be contacting about you?

One of the victims says that they're really thirsty- The DRT people have him repeat advice to just stay still, and ask Meghan to prioritize him.

And then he tells them he won't reach out again unless something is wrong, to preserve backlash, and settles in for the wait as Meghan traverses more and more of the corn maze.

She will go for the guy that needs a waterbottle. She'll dodge the mice as best she can but they're fast enough that sometimes she has to rely on her power. She's still well within her tolerance though.

It only takes a couple of dead-ends to find the guy. He's alright to walk out after drinking a whole lot of water - a little slow, but that's all. And they know the exact route out this time, guided by trail marks and map software, so it's faster.

"The monsters can't notice me and if you stay close I can make sure they can't notice you either, so it's safe."

She'll make conversation with the guy if he's willing. (Otherwise she has her radio). 

He's willing to chat about his car troubles and whatever else comes up. It beats worrying about giant mice. (No giant mice trouble them on a direct path back.)

(Outside, Theo is getting a little... Antsy. Hurry up and wait. Hurry up and wait.)

Next victim is... That way. It's another extended session of wandering and backtracking in the maize maze. But she's fine. Grumpy about missing a concert.

After that one is out safe, Theo asks Meghan, "This is slower than I expected it to be. Are a lot of dungeons like this? How are you doing on backlash?"

"The average dungeon is pretty boring actually. For us anyway. I'm doing all right. The monsters are too fast to avoid entirely but they also don't hang around long so I just pick up a little bit."

"Alright. Well, three more."

The next dungeon victim isn't there when Meghan gets there. After a few moments of sickening panic and dread - he reaches out and scans again - oh, he's moving. Even though he was asked to stay still. When questioned he says a mouse rushed him out of the way, and sounds pretty stressed out. (He was probably wandering, but you can't victim blame, that's awkward as hell.)

Theo talks to him and gets a description of what turns he's made and guides Meghan to him. And then Meghan can walk him out. (The victim is kind of ignoring her, though, anxiety turning to silence.)

Being ignored SUCKS. But this is not the first time it's come up. She can be professional about it. 

She's pretty testy by the time she gets back though.

"...Do you want to take a short break for a bit of guiding? Like, five minutes? Just to cool down and reset a bit."

"We have a tent with privacy screens set up outside if you want," the nearest DRT guy says, which absolutely MORTIFIES Theo, even if logically that's probably standard practice for dungeons which have espers at them.

Deep breaths

"Probably a good idea." She'll lead him out "You can just jump out of the portal and you'll sort of float down." She demonstrates a slow-motion midair flip.

He's not actually nervous about this part! It's neat, and not a social situation! He claps slightly, then follows Meghan down.

...They can go into the tent. And. He will. Remove? His hoodie? Because Guiding Is A Job???

She will remove her shirt, revealing the tank top underneath and lead him to sit on the edge of the cot and sort of lean on his shoulder. She relaxes almost immediately

"Yeah, just need a few minute of this to settle down a bit. That last guy did not want to interact like at all. Which I know is like, not personal, it's pretty normal in stressful situations, but it always feels personal anyway, when I'm backlashed. Sorry if I took it out on you."

Leaning is necessary but not sufficient! It is Guiding Time and there should be more skin contact! He - hmm. If he puts his left arm across her back and lets it hang down over her left arm a bit, his right arm can rest against her right arm. That this means he is sort of turned towards her from very close is pleasant but irrelevant.

Guiding feels nice.

"I knew exactly what was going on and felt bad about not being able to fix it immediately, and also really did not want to bother the guy, dungeons suck. Backlash sure is a way, huh?"

This is excellent.

Guess what would be more excellent do NOT push your luck.

"Mmm nice. Yeah, it's such a way. It helps to have precommitments to yourself. Makes it easier to do the thing when you don't want to. Thus, checklists."

"The precommitment thing seems like a really good idea..."

And he has one to NOT do things that are more than general cuddling. Even though those things could totally happen.

"...I've told my agent to make it so I can't cancel things unless I'm not suffering acute backlash... Um, I'm wearing shorts under these pants if you want slightly faster guiding? We're not getting down to zero in five minutes either way though..."

"Well if you're offering. I've got shorts too."

"If you're fine with it I'm fine with it. It is, um, yeah. Guiding is nice. A reward for coping with the backlash, I guess..."

They don't have to entirely un-lean to accomplish this either. And then maybe their legs can entwine?

That can definitely happen.

'it's some kind of compensation yeah. Not really worth it on it's own, but we also get to be kind of heroes."

even if some people don't bother to be grateful about it -that can stay an inside thought.

Guiding is nice!!

"You can totally go too far in that direction too, though. Too self-important. Everyone's got their own live to live, and heroes probably feel normal enough, inside... I'm not sure that makes sense, I'm at least slightly just making conversation so you don't feel ignored."

"yeah, that might have been slightly the backlash talking. Not completely, I wouldn't have started doing this in the first place if I didn't want to help people, but it's easy to -obsess over - that specific thing.  And thanks, that's a big help. I could cope pretty well at this level, while being guided if you needed a break from talking but it's nicer not to have to."

"It also helps me! Right now my job is talking to you. Having that be very clear and specific and actionable is a relief. I might be less talky later but for now... Yeah. Um. More topics..."

""It's good that we can make it work out like that, at least at this level. But we should probably head back in soon anyway."  Sigh.

"We can do a lot more guiding once everyone's safe. I'm, um, looking forward to it."

It that a blush? ~It's a mystery, because he is not acknowledging it~

"Me too. Also, couches are much more comfortable to snuggle on than these cots. Which are optimized for portability."

(If she notices the blush she's not acknowledging it either). 

Clothes go back on, then. The DRT people very professionally say nothing and don't even give Significant Glances.

Theo does a carefully efficient wide scan again and confirms that it's just the two victims left.