I12DT - Progress Goes Boom

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 1:45 pm

Even through Natalya's heavily insulated door, the sounds of explosions and machine gun fire could be heard. Given that the door itself and the wall were still intact, it was probably not a serious attack, but she was definitely juicing her sound system right now.

((Open))

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:29 pm

There was knocking at the first door. If it was a bit sharp, it was only because it was competing with explosions.

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:33 pm

After a moment, an explosion cut off abruptly in mid-boom. Another moment and then a muffled "who is it?" from the other side of the door.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:35 pm

"Is this a private apocalypse, or can anyone come along?"

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:42 pm

Natalya opened the door, rubbing her eyes. "All apocalypses are equal opportunity," she said, stepping out of the way so that Sam could come in.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:49 pm

"I'm sorry I've been scarce," she said as she walked in.

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:52 pm

"Crap happens," Natalya said with a shrug. "We have very good spit and bailing wire around here. Things have held together." She shut the door behind Sam, "Can I get you something to drink?" She made her way towards the kitchenette.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:53 pm

"No need. How've you been? I saw someone's idea of a joke on your office door."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 2:57 pm

Natalya hesitated as she rummaged through the fridge and Sam could sense her shields drop into place. "Well, Wisdom's crew has offered to shelter Will, though I still need to discuss that with Will. I have the coordinates on a Black Air base that's spinning back up, so that assault's in the planning stages. I've signed more papers than I can shake a stick at, but Mars' guardianship is moving forward slowly. I've been running background checks and ASHLIE's been monitoring network traffic for me. Day in the life, you know."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 3:03 pm

"But something else is bothering you."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:06 pm

"What isn't bothering me these days?" She pulled out a water and began drinking it.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:55 pm

"So I'll take that as a 'no, I don't want to talk about it.'"

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:04 pm

"What are you going on about?" Her face registered genuine confusion.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:11 pm

"You closed up as soon as I came in the room, even though you know I'd never abuse your trust."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:19 pm

"It wouldn't be the only thing to go wrong recently," she sighed. "For starters, there's..." She went back to drinking her water.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:41 pm

"Nailah's put everything back in me that ought to be there, but if you're uncomfortable talking I can respect that."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:42 pm

"Hrm?" She brought the water bottle back down. "What were we talking about?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:44 pm

"You didn't specify."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:48 pm

Natalya shrugged, "Must not have been important." She walked back into the living room and sat down. "So everything's going okay with you now?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:50 pm

"Am I supposed to be insulted or concerned here, Natalya?"

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:56 pm

"About?" She frowned and looked confused again. This time Sam could actually sense the confusion past Natalya's shields.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:13 pm

"You started to say something and just trailed off, and now I don't think you're snubbing me."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:22 pm

"If I was snubbing you, you'd know I was snubbing you," Natalya agreed, still somewhat confused.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:33 pm

"So that leaves the possibility that you don't know you're doing it, which is concerning to me."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:41 pm

"I could see... how that might be a concern... yes..." She took another sip of her water.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:43 pm

"So the question is more how willing you are to have me take a look at that."

"Or I suppose some sort of trigger will engage and we could have an epic fight that no doubt Mister Strong would try to film and put on the internet."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 7:59 pm

"I... I... um... don't know..." That was a tone Sam hadn't heard from her in a long time. Fear.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:03 pm

"And here I thought that would calm you down a bit. There's no rush in answering, Natalya."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:07 pm

"If I'm not answering to myself, you should probably have a look... Just... be careful."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:10 pm

"You're going to want to make yourself comfortable, then."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:17 pm

She set her drink aside and leaned back in her chair, "Only way I'd be more comfortable is kicked back on my bed." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:25 pm

Samantha sat down across from her and did likewise. Natalya could feel the presence of the flock drawing close as Samantha made contact.

by **Natalya Romanov** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:28 pm

Natalya's mind was attempting to block her out, though there didn't seem to be any conscious effort to do so on Natalya's part. The shields shifted and moved, forming what were, to someone of Sam's skill, obviously ingrained rabbit trails. Whatever was doing this, it was at least able to call on Natalya's mental training to do whatever it was doing.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:31 pm

"I'm not trying to cause you any discomfort here, but someone rather wants to direct me somewhere."

She purposefully avoided those, probing at the shields with the feelings of trust that the two of them had shared in the past.

"I'm not inclined to be led."

by **Natalya Romanov** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 12:34 pm

Natalya's fingers clenched, but the shields gave, Sam apparently tripping some sort of safety. They opened up to her, leaving her looking at Natalya's surface thoughts, which were a jumbled mess of stress and juggling a lot of balls in the air. There was nothing immediately obvious on the surface causing this.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:10 pm

"You poor dear. I'm sorry for doing this."

Samantha looked to see if she could find the train of thought that had derailed a short bit earlier. If it wasn't evident, she intended to move deeper.

by **Natalya Romanov** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 1:56 pm

It took a minute of sorting, but she found the memory of the ice dragon attacking her. That seemed to be the thought attached to the derailed thought train.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 3:03 pm

Focusing on that, she followed it down deeper into the memory associated with it.

by **Natalya Romanov** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:48 pm

The memory replayed for Sam, but as she watched it, she became aware of a sort of iridescent smoke beginning to haze into the mind area. A somewhat cultured voice inhaled deeply and then asked an imperious question, "Who... are... you?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 4:50 pm

"An invited guest, and you?"

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