Rikky and Jesse... stargazing

*The file had grown considerably in the past few days… Rikky was doing well, they said as they pat his shoulder or back, or gave the occasional head pat as well. As if he were a pet, he frowns, thinking back on it. But it was true… since mindraping Sai, he’d accrued quiet an amount of information, and could now slip quite easily into the role of Aerik, if need be. Filename: Eclipse, he’d discovered. Black soulfire that could drain a body, a terribly powerful psionic… and /mute/. But he could project the memory of his voice, using a link to the RUNner, Gild. This, Sai had known. So Rikky had a solid base of personality, of past events, of the love he and Sai once shared and the horrible words Aerik had spoken at their last meeting, the pain and abandonment Sai had felt at awakening from his coma to find Aerik not only gone, but in another room with the scent of another man… his new boyfriend. The scent was given to the GUARD psionics, though no name or appearance was attached to it, just the information. So much information… Sai had known Aerik for quite awhile, not quite two years, but not far from it, and they’d shared much. Rikky pauses in his recording, using a new psionic-imprinting device the GUARD techies had come up with, a kind of mental interface that made voice recording or pencil pushing obsolete for telepaths. How convenient. Rikky removes the small sensor from his temple and shuts the machine down, moving gracefully for the long mirror Warpole had given him, and he reflects silently, eyes grazing over his own face, lost in thought for some long moments. Visions and memories, stolen, dance across his mind’s eye, and very suddenly, he focuses on his hair. That glorious ebony mane that shimmered like an obsidian waterfall. How he hated it. Hated it because it made it look so very much like -him-, and he was learning he didn’t /like/ him very much. Not that Rikky was much better, really, all things considering… GUARD teachings were not the most gentle, but he was /not/ Aerik, and the more he uncovered about the telepath, the more he found to dislike. A sudden, wild glint of mischief, a sweet, toothy grin, and Rikky plays with his own pigmentation, altering haircolor… a cascade of lavender sweeps down his back, making him look more Fae than demonic in its fairness. He chuckles slightly and shifts it back after parading before the looking glass for a few vain moments. Lavender… short… thoughts scatter to Jesse, her mind, her perceptions of his twin, and Rikky quiets. Jesse. What did she see that no one else did? What did she know that made her love the creature known as Eclipse? Now it was becoming personal, where it shouldn’t be, and we wanted to know… for himself, not his file-collecting. A soft sigh and Rikky retrieves his jewelry, adorns his lovely head with it, -just so-… He wants to see her again. Now. Talk to her. One thing he could say for Aerik, he’d had very good taste. At least there was one redeeming quality. Let the GUARD figure out why Aerik was lost in their files, tho they already had a very good idea… and Rikky hopes that somehow she catches his vibe, somehow feels his desire, and he teleports out, appearing where he was before, by the willow tree, praying she’ll be there…. Somehow, she’ll be there*

*~ As if a vibe, or a small connection between the two, she was preparing to leave at that same moment. Collecting what she could, adjusting a few last specifics in a program. It had taken her a few days to devise, a causal pace, using works she had created long before. Updating them. Even though to her standards, which in the electronics and software area were hard to compare to, she was /satisfied/ with the project. Mildly wishing to impress who it was for, and hoping it would serve it's purpose well. She closed her small computer, and tucked it in a protective nylon padded bag. Placing a few more accessories in along with it. Her fingers smoothed over the clasps as she lifted the small pack to her shoulder. If anything she could leave the gift at the tavern desk. He would get it eventually. Though his mental words assured her that she would never be a bother, she still was polite enough not to intrude. Knowing very well he needed his space as she needed hers. She pushed the button on the key-chain and teleported to the tavern. Blinking at her bearings before walking, towards the tavern itself. Cautious too, taking in sights and sounds, before pressing on further. Dressed causally, too casually for her tastes. A pair of jeans, though comfortable looked misplaced on her thin frame. A light tank-top shirt, one Yvette was convinced looked good on her. Glancing down to the garments and smoothing those too with a careful hand. Her face had the causal flatness that it fell to naturally as she looked around the area. Each step depressing a bit of the ground. Pausing as she stared at the tavern, for the most drawn out stare. Her features almost solidifying in cold, an ice that filmed over them. Feeling the people and their minds swirling in their own thoughts. Their own petty differences and similarities. Sighing then taking a step towards it again, though her feet seeming to drag though mud. Unsure, uneasy. She felt something too was wrong with Aerik, something misplaced or construed. And as if it could simply be labeled, or filed away the reasons she, the outcasts outcast loved the man no one even remotely thought /kindly/ of. That would be a whole other tale. She stood teetering n her thoughts to enter or not. Perhaps the gift was a bad idea, stars and such. But still perhaps as a token of appreciation, or an acknowledgment of him.. something that she again could not place or classify. Backing away as a patron neared her reeking of alcohol and bile, she inhaled deeply after he left. Perhaps she would return.. another time. Her fingers clutching at the strap gently as she turned, as if to leave, or perhaps just to debate the thought she was having a bit more. Never so /unsure/ of anything as she was with him. Never~*

*The tavern has many minds, swirling, coalescing, screaming, pounding… to any telepath even half Aerik’s caliber, or even half of Jesse’s, it would be deafening, even shields not keeping all of it out, not with all the mixed minds, the odd bloods, the magickal creatures, and so on. It wasn’t like blocking out naturals… it was more difficult, and some things couldn’t be shielded, just muted… an agitating background noise that itched at the base of the skull. Annoying. Rikky sighs when he sees no one near the willow, no traces of her signature around to indicate she’d been there recently, her scent days old, what was left of it clinging to the bark and grass she’d brushed against. A shift in winds, and a pattern that cuts through the mind-noise of the tavern… Rikky turns, eyes brightening. There she was… the delicate aroma that was all her own, gentle, unobtrusive, carried on the currents towards him… her thoughts, shielded as they were, still sparkled like a beacon, her own unique signature. He turns fully and smiles, watching her balk as a drunken patron stumbles too close, as she shows distaste at the roar of the establishment. The youth slips fully into what he’s learned of Aerik.. and this is the only time he doesn’t mind it, with her… and his entire presence alters, straight, tall, confidant… /Eclipse/* MS* () Jesse… () *a soft call to her, a gentle smile on his lips, golddark orbs shining in the night*

*~She paused mid stride, her eyes fluttering in a surprised blink. Turning, seeing, smiling. Though what she offered was a small smile, it let her features practically melt for him. Blinking though as she noted something.. different. A small fringe of a thought brushed over his mind before falling back to itself. His shields... were /different/ not only that.. too similar to her own. She rose a careful brow as her smile faded , he had after all taught her.. most of the shielding she knew, so she let it pass uneasily. Sliding her pack off of her shoulder, slowly, as not to damage the delicate contents. While speaking lightly in mind-speak though nothing more of a casual chatter. The thoughts of his shields on the edges of her mind. Soon pushed out of her thoughts, and again filed away. MS ~~ Aerik, ~~ The single word was breathed in a sigh of relief and a twinge of caution.~~ I was on my way to see you.. ~~ Her shields fell to a low minimum. Still feeling trust, feeling /safe/. Knowing if anything, if anyone was foolish enough to try to attack her mind. having enough faith in him to in a way protect her, as she would for him, if there was a way she could. ~~ I was going to inquire if you wished to go to the hills, to look at the stars, but as always, I do not want to intrude. ~~ MS Pausing again more slowly as she approached, tilting her head, ever so slightly, before pausing a few feet in front of him. Closing that distance more calmly, as if in a way they were merely friends. A ruse that had worked before, if even she was deluding herself more than anything. Not as if she truly believed it was so, but taking comfort in the act. Then her hands took the pack handing it to him. Offering it to him. Never actually having gotten a /gift/ for Aerik before. Not sure if he appreciated them, or even if it was something he would like. They had talked about the stars, she felt that it was a high area of interest.. thus the gamma scope that was less effective than anything upon earth, much smaller and compact, and the computer, which she had long ago erased any personal files from and transferred to the newest of models. This was an older slightly larger than the one she carried with her usually. But still higher powered, and more complex than anything she had seen on recent and black markets. Her eyes flicked upwards towards him. Brown red marbles staring at him contentedly. ~*

*He senses her unease, makes note of it, but isn’t sure of the WHY… he was carefully in his Aerik role, everything gleaned from Sai put into place with excruciating attention to detail. He’s wholly unaware its his shields, Sai being mindblind to such things. He was still working on them tho… he’d learned a great deal from his study of her shields, and was well on his way to rearranging them, making them his own. Just that he hasn’t gotten there quite -yet-. Her sending is met with a warm brush of his mind, an agreement… just the transfer of pleasure at the idea of watching the stars with her on the hill she’d mentioned before. His head tips to the side, and he reaches for the pack, the gift, she extends so gingerly. His eyes are lowered as he regards, then accepts it, brushing her fingers with his own as he does so, lids flickering upward to watch her expression, and he grins slightly* MS* () You are never a bother Jesse… I enjoy your company immensely. *a pause as he looks the pack over, smiling a bit broader, nodding in appreciation when he opens it and gazes on the contents* Thank you, soulmate. I would very much like to go and view the stars with you tonight. You did a lovely job on this equipment () *he straightens again, fully, focus solely on her now, slightly intense, noting her shields have dropped, and understanding the trust that heralds such an action. Inwardly, he sighs… Why was he doing this to her? To himself? Parading as the one she loved. The only one who seems to love the man he was masquerading as… looked like. He didn’t even /like/ his twin, not really… but with her, it seemed… so much less strained. His eyes flick to the hill, and he nods in that direction* MS () Do we walk?()

*~ Watching, and waiting to see how her gift would be received. Near like a small child that was excited about a golden star affixed to a spelling test, or other equivalent thing. She watched with a careful eye, watching perhaps for just the slightest twinge of disgust, or maybe something else. A hesitation.. anything. She kept this too hid deep in her mind, though her shielding was low. Streaming the thought away, nearly cutting off all sources to it. Nearly hid the thought something was amiss. Then it too passed, as he pulled off the facade, unbeknownst to her, perfectly. Finally dismissing whatever it was nagging at her, as something entirely else. Glancing towards the hills, saying near absently MS ~~ It is an outdated version but more than adequate for viewing the stars, ~~ Her eyes flickering upwards towards them as well. Perhaps fascinated more so that he was there. That it was another common interest they could share. ~~ And we do not have to walk if you do not wish to.. ~~ She said lightly, again her gaze filtering down and settling over him like jaded moonlight. Withdrawing her key-chain and wandering towards him. It would have been an hours walk at the least. Her hand slid over his arm in the lightest way, falling just above his wrist and hand. She pressed a few buttons, there were only a few. IN a sequence that input their destination, and they vanished. Re appearing only a few inches off her initial calculations. Seeming a bit disappointed in that, but letting it go. There, the others thoughts drained, and there was a silence. there was just them. ~*

*He actually wouldn’t have minded the walk… it would have been a pleasant one, and she would have been there, to talk to, learn from… but this was fine as well, more time to watch the interest they shared. He gently holds the package, this gift from her for viewing the pinpoints of light in the nighttime sky as she slips her arm aver his, a graceful gesture that was all very proper, really. The transport to the hilltop is quick, smooth… and she lets go right afterwards, silent and lovely, pale like the moon and every bit as lovely. Rikky blinks slowly at her in the quiet that is left after they reach their destination, a long moment that draws out like a dark thread, linking the two for the time, as well as any mental touch could. Then he smiles, that smile she should know so well, a tilt of the head, a glimmer of gold in his eyes* MS* () I would like you to do the first honors, soulmate…() *he extends the pack out just enough to indicate he’d like her to use it first, for his own reasons, but not far enough for her to simply take it… she’ll have to move a bit closer, first, and his smile holds, his eyes fixed on hers*

*~ Her hand slid off of his, as the night drew a bit further. Smiling as well. Not exactly expecting how to work the machine in the first place, if anything she would give him a few lessons. She hesitated for a moment, missing his eyes fixed on her but not his smile. Having no reservations of moving closer towards him and doing so, reaching for the pack carefully. Holding an utmost respect for the electronics and such especially seeing as how these were hers. Her smile lasted as finally she drew close enough to grasp the pack, letting her eyes wander to his, then rip away to the star sprinkled sky. ~~ Of course I will set it up, even though it is /your/ gift.. I know it would be near useless to argue with you.. Tell me though, is there a particular star.. you wish to view first? ~~ Her send light and calm. At ease, and filled with twinges of emotions. Her fingers clasped over the pack as she stared intently at the inky night. Perhaps he was partial to a constellation, after all he did live here ~*

*…Not knowing how it worked was -not- the reason he asked her to use it first. Not at all. Her shields were so low, that if he wished, he could have gleaned the information and applied it to himself, but no… no, he wanted to see her expression when /she/ looked up into the stars, see her delight, if any would surface. There were other reasons too… he was searching for certain things, responses. He wanted to know why /she/ loved /him/… why, when no one else would. Of course, he hasn’t met Nicky yet, only knows the scent and the relation, and that Aerik had hurt poor Sai with his callous turning to another when Sai was defenseless in his coma. Or at least, that’s what Rikky sees it as, having taken the memories from Sai, and therefore, the emotional attachments. Tho the needs his twin had spoken of… those were /most/ fascinating* MS() Of course it would be useless to argue.. *a tone of affectionate amusement in his Send* And as we discussed earlier, neither of us knows the star names nor constellations here. Earth, yes, I am well-versed on them, but… I have not yet had the opportunity to learn of the ones that shine above us now() *he scans the night sky carefully, eyes narrowed, then smiles, pointing upwards* () There… that cluster. It looks to be a young galaxy. I would like to look there…() *he can feel the twinges of emotion, and glances back at her, gold flecks dancing*

* She withdrew the equipment once more form the pack, slowly setting up the required settings and such to see the 'young galaxy' As he put it, she was assured was a nebula and that the reason of the slight discoloration. But not mentioning that fact as she worked in near silence.. then adjusting the fields and wavelengths to receive just that. Kneeling as her precious machine was placed on the ground, with nothing more than the pack to protect it. But not minding as much. Then saying quietly.. ~~ It will only take a moment.. ~~as she depressed invisible keys, making calculations and mathematical figures, yes the whole system was based on non linear mathematics, and the waiting, as the new scope section she had thrown together, scanned the sky above, revealing something she should have guessed, or half expected. How arrogant to even think.. from earth you could see.. all that the universe had to offer. ~~There is your 'young galaxy'.. She said lightly as finally a picture surfaced. Seeing perhaps what no other living being had before.. a new type of star cluster, a different type all together. Sitting then fully, looking upwards one knee arched, her arm falling lightly upon it as she stared tot he heavens then back to the screen. As small as the screen was, and as perceptive as the equipment was built to be, it still was fuzzy, a tad distorted. A bit disappointed in of everything that the smile still lasting, pulling upwards on the corners of her lips, and warming her whole face. Her thoughts did indeed seem to glow, as she then looked towards him, and motioned for him to sit as well. *

*Rikky nods almost absently, his eyes floating back upwards into the black dome above, fixed on that cluster… his vision shifts, slides… already supremely acute, incredibly so, he couples it with something else he learned he could do. Not even the GUARD psi’s knew about it… infra-red sparks in his orbs, flickers of blood-like light pulsing in the black of his pupils, like tunnels to suck in and categorize heat. While normally it wouldn’t work, at least not the conventional infra-visions, the stars so far away, there’s something about a demonic blending with such things. And he can /see/ them, see the pinpricks so far away, see the gases that swirl, particles colliding.. if he strains hard enough, he can count rings… see storms…. And this he opens to Jesse, connects their minds, lets her see what he is seeing… like being there, floating among them, these new kinds of stars. He doesn’t sit yet, entranced, wanting to share, but needing to have his vision -on- the object* MS* () *soft murmur* Jesse… look at this… is it not beautiful?() *waves of color and spectrum, true sight, radiation and shifts, tightening, so that its not merely a spectrum sight, but like a massive telescope… intense… clear and picture-perfect*

*~ Tapping on a few more keys with her nearest hand, Not really paying attention to where her fingers were falling. Simply knowing. She focused a bit more, trying then to clarify the image. Blinking then her lids fluttering over her eyes as she indulged in his thoughts, Hearing his words too, as if nothing else in the world existed but these two elements. Her hand parted from her machine a dull replica of what his eyes had to offer. Blinking eyes as it seemed indeed as if they were floating. Much the same experience that she felt when he had first showed her the mind Scape, and the thought Scapes. Where she still spent more time that she should have. A haven in a way. Calling back her voice just as semi sweet, light like the air that separated them from the clouds and stars above. ~~ Yes.. indeed it is perhaps.. one of the most breath taking... ~~ Words failed to describe it any better than he had. ~~ Yes it is Beautiful.. ~~ Blinking her mental eyes as she absorbed, nearly wishing to stop and simply observe, though wanting to learn more, see more. her mind was just as that. Absorbing all it could. Storing each small piece of the experience to become more scared than the last. It was Aerik's way to share such things with her she then assumed. As he did her shields, and everything else he had taught her along the way. Comfortable in this unaware facade he was displaying, simply allowing her thoughts of everything smooth and drizzle to his mind. ~*

*Without removing his gaze on the cluster, his hand reaches down, stretches for her, never looking away, but clearly indicating he wants her standing next to him.. contacting… and refusing even to blink, lest he sever this glorious sight for which words fail. There were no words to describe the view they saw now, the immensity of the scope of it. He feels her desire to see more, learn more, its one he shares. His mind opens further, his vision tightening, narrowing… *MS() We are looking into the eyes of heaven, Jesse… and staring them down… we could reach out now, and touch the face of God…() *a soft murmur, the sight zooming in, offering her more. He would never try to look on a living thing this way, never, for what he knows he would see. Like skimming over the suns, the asteroids, the eyes of their minds almost touching the surfaces. Something splits… and suddenly, not only do they see with normal eyes, clearer than any camera of satellite, but the spectrums come into play, offering staggering amounts of knowledge for those who could read them… and Ei is one who could. Rikky’s own gift to her, this sharing. They are dancing among the clouds, the vapors, the ice crystals and rings… perhaps the only to ever have done this, this way. Its a strain, taking Rik much to hold this, but he does it gracefully enough… for her pleasure*

*~ Long ago she had memorized the periodic table and the elements, and what those elements when heated looked liked though a prism effect. The truth of the matter was it was how one identified pieces of material of the universe. She blinked as a spectrum flashed and stretched out. Having not stretched this aspect of her mind for the longest of times. Searching for patterns and missing pieces, things that would somehow make the entirety of it whole. She stood understanding the unspoken language as described as pure telepathy, sliding her thin fingers in his simply gazing upwards. Now not only absorbing what the stars looked like, but their elements what they were composed of the heat and different hues they gave off. Hear his words as if they were super imposed over heaven itself. Blinking only when she felt that if she forced her eyes open a moment longer they would crumble. Feeding back to him everything her computer efficient mind was absorbing, in such a manner that would also give away the way she placed thoughts in her mind. Allowing their link to grow, not pressing towards his mind in the least, Her lids parted again just marveling in everything he was showing her. Feeling as if they were ascending to the stars, to be trapped there for eternity, or perhaps that was how stars came about. Wrapping her fingers around his more tightly, not so a feather grasp anymore. Instead a firm smooth healthy grip, allowing her fingers slid into his. ~~ Aerik, if there were such things as Gods.. I would be fated to believe you... ~~ Simply then letting her words fall to awe, as her lips parted, and eyes widened. Taking the experience to heart. Knowing there probably would not be one like it again in her entire lifetime. ~*

*His grip tightens with hers, fingers entwined like reeds of a basket.. he raises her hand, firmly in his own, and rests it against his chest. He isn’t paying much attention tho, his grin so wide as to almost seem to break his face, a childish, pure delight there, marveling in the sight, in what she sends back to him, the workings of it all, the elements, the minerals and composings. Impossible, were Rikky to try later, to describe this feeling, this moment, to be among the stars, to be /among/ them… to all but touch physically. Entranced is he, taken by this time, so wonderful, so free and liberating, like wings and flight, but higher, so much higher… he shows her all she wants to know, all she wants to see. If her interest is caught, he pauses there, lets her explore though his eyes… light and fracture, blazing heat and bitter cold… flash and freeze. He pulls her closer. The intimacy of the moment, the sharing of minds, information, sight, amazement, delight… its thick, palpable, binding in ways no natural, non-psionic would understand. Floating in the void, the space that is all but dead… enough to bring tears to his eyes, though he doesn’t allow it, for fear it would obscure the scene* MS* () I have wanted to do this… for so long, and never have. Something like this… it needs to be shared, or it cannot be proved to have been real. So fantastic, like a dream… but you can vouch for it, for me… remember this always, soulmate…() *a soft rambling, lost in the sight… lost in the stain.. and its starting to show. But he doesn’t want to look away…*

*~ She marveled and wondered at the universe’s strange curiosities mental fingers almost pressing though and gathering up the multitude of light and shine that shimmered towards them. Bathing them with an unearthly, a near a haunting grace to it all. Though as if through water or a far off mirage, the fingers do fall short, instead they fall in his hand, and clasp to his chest. Blinking at this, the simplistic entirety of it, a near symphony the colors and sights were singing. A soothing echo of a thought, what whirled by on a tail of a comet. She heard his words draw less coherent, and then halted, ripping her eye sight for the sky, and heavens, instead in a fluid motion watching him. Her face still retaining the same awestruck manner, as she stared at him, smiling. Seeming so open and content. Contented so to share a passing moment as this with /her/ saying softly then * I do not think I could forget that experience even if it were a mere passing dream soulmate. * Feeling his strain, feeling his mind tire so heavily though the simple act of seeing. Glancing upwards, though the stars did to seem as bright as they had, a contented smile drew over her lips as she looked back towards him.. a hand wandering upwards to pull his far reaching gaze from they sky. Assuming, with his power, where it was. She would never be able to accomplish such a feat. But glad still too he had shared it with her. ~~ You are wearing yourself thin.. ~~ Her voice was compassionate and smooth, allowing her worries to emit though her mental voice while her physical one remained at a dull calm. Looking back catching herself watching towards the sky before shaking the experience where it belonged in the past, to be gazed upon as if some precious jewel ~*