mental link

[justttkidding]

DISTANCE hammer at it long enough and fissures run through	TACTILE maybe what you want isn't so far after all
LOYALTY you're making this harder than it has to be	CONTRACTOR pay up

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[justttkidding]

( Now now Miss Annie, you know how I feel about smoking. If I could acquire better alcohol, I could be swayed into it. )

[ But only a little. A shot. Enough to take off an edge. ]

( Not a fan of their culture? Or just them in general? )

[sistershoggoth]

( I hate that I can't just be myself. )

[ She is not built for long term covert missions. ]

[justttkidding]

( It can be rather exhausting, playing pretend. Do you have an alternate persona to utilise? I find that easier than simply holding everything in. )

[ HOLDING WHAT IN NOVEMBER YOU'RE A GLACIER. This is his ideal type of mission. A long con, lots of details, playing up a personality that isn't his. It's his training and his interest all in one.

Obviously, it isn't for everyone. And he knows this, has seen field missions fail because of people who didn't make the cut to MI6. All things come to an end eventually though, and something will have to give. Hopefully it was the other side and not theirs. ]

[sistershoggoth]

( If I had an alternate personality, do you think I'd be this person ever? )

[ She wouldn't be. If she could get far enough outside of her and act any other way, she would. As it is, the closest she gets is the pin-prick focus of an actual goal. If she had a target to assassinate, this would all be fine. But everything is so nebulous she has nothing to really ground her. ]

( I don't know. I could... Maybe stash me somewhere, and borrow someone else. Isn't that how this hivemind shit is supposed to go? )

[justttkidding]

( Wasn't sure if it was something you'd already attempted to utilise. I've a few tricks on how to do it, if you're interested in learning. )

[ Not that he's using any of them right now. The mission as it is calls for him to be himself. Whatever that means. Maybe as they went along, he'd slip into the figurative skin of someone else. Call up any number of personas he's created over the years. ]

( You'll only want to borrow parts. Taking a full mantle on can cause more frustration than it does to alleviate it. )

[sistershoggoth]

( Like you can teach me anything. )

[ Which isn't actually a no, it's just Annie being a mouthy bitch like she can't help herself. ]

( Besides, I'd have to borrow their parts without breaking them, which I sure as shit can't be trusted with. )

[justttkidding]

( Well, I didn't say I can teach you just anything. Maybe just some things. )

[ And to Annie's bitchiness, he keeps on going. Like a mental and verbal parry, because he's not bothered. ]

( I'm not saying to borrow their minds. Their mannerisms, though. Verbal tics, reactions. Are you any good at theatre? )

[sistershoggoth]

( I can put on a performance, how about that. )

[ Most of her public facing persona was performative. An unending saga of what a fine-not-fine person she was, so self-awarely in balance with her dysfunction. Watch her spin. ]

[justttkidding]

( That's a good start as any. )

[ He doesn't say: aren't we all putting one on? Because she's aware of that, she has to be. Annie is self-effacing enough to know this. Most of the time, the performances aren't ill will. Just a different mask to suit the moment or the person.

Here it's no different, aside from playing a larger group of people. ]

[sistershoggoth]

( Then yeah, sure, teach me, master bullshit man. )

[ Is that flattering? Who knows, maybe at least planning curriculum will distract her from the hangover. ]