Issue 1 Downtime

Miranda reclined in the sauna, adjusting her goggles slightly to make them more comfortable as the rest of her basked in the steam. She let her mind wander, her thoughts walking a series of scattered pathways that made no individual or collective sense, but that void was somehow comforting to her. Those walking by the sauna might pick up strange mental images of meadows, metal corridors, and the clash of swords. Those with some telepathic talent would pick up the source in the sauna.

((Open))

Haley stumbled into the sauna, the images more than a bit disorienting to her as she was coming back from her workout. She collapsed onto a bench. "You okay, Miranda?"

"Doing really well. How are you, Haley?" Miranda didn't bother to move, just looking at Haley with her clairvoyance.

Haley thought back to the past few days, especially her conversation with Roland, and decided to lie.

"Oh. You know...Same shit different day."

She was bad at lying and looked like she hadn't slept well in days.

"Mmm hmmm." Miranda said with the universal 'don't believe you' tone.

"...fuck." she sighed.

"How....ah....you like the Egyptian stuff, right? Like...it's kinda your religion, no?"

"Partially, yes. Why? You thinking of converting?"

"....I...well...is reincarnation real, do you think?"

"I think it's certainly possible. There certainly is evidence to indicate that some part of a person can continue to live on after they die."

Haley was quiet for a while before she decided to try and change the subject.

"What are all of meadows and weird corridors you're going through?" she asked. "It's pretty....vivid."

"Just my head. I didn't know I was projecting. Sorry." The images began to die as Miranda reigned them in.

"It's okay. I just kinda pick up on that stuff, and it's harder to tune out when I'm tired."

"You do look like you could use some sleep. No offense."

"None taken. Think I've slept about 4 hours in the past few days. Total."

"That's not good. Is it worrying about reincarnation?"

"Not exactly...just...bad dreams I guess."

"About what? If it's okay to ask."

Haley chewed her lip in thought. "I...well...just kind of having dreams about the times I've gotten stuck in the Astral and met some of the creepier...things there. I've literally like never had a good experience there." she explained, her lie getting easier as she spoke.

"The Astral can be a frightening place," Miranda said sympathetically. "It can be really beautiful though. You just have to look for it."

"...maybe I should go on purpose sometime...every time I've gone it's been...not my choice."

"You do have a lot more control of where you end up when you go of your own accord."

"Maybe you could help me sometime?" she asked hopefully.

"We could go right now if you want. It's easier when you're relaxed."

"Really? ...that...yeah can we?" she said sitting up anxiously. "What...what do we need to do?"

"Well, lean back for starters, make sure you're comfortable and not going to fall over," Miranda said. "Then just take some deep breaths and relax." Then reach out for me with your mind.

Haley did as instructed, leaning back and closing her eyes, trying to just relax. She exhaled deeply, reached out to Miranda with her mind.

Okay...I think I'm ready...

Okay, try to follow me. Miranda replicated something she'd felt when working with Sam and Haley would feel a tug, almost as if someone was pulling on her hand, pulling her up and into the Astral. Miranda's avatar was waiting on her, feather-trimmed cloak pull tight about her frame and the hood pulled low over her face. The part of the Astral she was waiting in was quiet and serene with a full moon hanging in the 'sky'.

Haley looked around in awe. "It...it's beautiful here..."

Haley looked taller--much taller--on the Astral, and was decked out in attire one would probably best describe as "sexy cowgirl steampunk cosplay" though she had a somewhat out of place bangle of almost Egyptian design on her wrist.

Miranda nodded, "You just have to know where to look." She seemed absolutely comfortable here. "Much like the real world, it isn't completely safe, but it can be much easier to protect yourself here." She turned her face up to the moon, the 'light' highlighting the scarred area of her avatar's eyes.

"Do you come here a lot?" She asked noticing the comfort and confidence of her classmate.

"Yeah. I'm better at this than I am at the standard telepathy stuff. But like most stuff related to telepathy, your own attitude and thoughts can play a big role in what goes on around you."

"Keep telling myself I'm awesome enough and I might start to believe it?" She smirked

"Sort of. Too much and it can become a weakness that someone else can exploit." She walked a little bit away, "Like any place, there are bad places you don't want to go, but you can usually feel those out if you keep your senses open."

Haley nodded. "I know way too well what the bad places feel like."

There was a rustling presence at the edge of the 'clearing' they were in. Miranda's attention was immediately drawn to it. She pushed the sides of her cloak back behind her shoulders, revealing that her avatar was wearing leather-looking armor and wearing a sword on one hip. "We're safe in this clearing, but occasionally places like this can attract scavengers."

Haley looked down at her avatar and noticed pistols at her sides. She drew them both and aimed at the rustle.

The rustling resolved itself into a small rabbit that bounded across the clearing... or more the idea of a rabbit.

Haley sighed in relief, dropping her arms to her sides.

"...it's just a rabbit right?"

Miranda tilted her head as she watched it bound across the clearing. "It appears to be. Probably attracted by us."

"Good," she sighed. "I swear if something bad happens here I'll just have to swear off coming here."