prismatica | Video; un: Spock

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Video; un: Spock

[ The picture shown to the audience is not a half-naked half-Vulcan. Rather, it's of the very luxurious bath house, carefully showing a view with no other people and just the lovely scenery.

Clearly, this is being taken from inside one of the pools surrounded by bamboo walls with little waterfalls and probably-fake rocks and it's just generally nice. Even the steam coming up from the bath is clearly inviting. Well, according to the guy taking the video, anyway.

Oh, and there's a voice. ]

Either there is a nefarious plot afoot that has left me unwilling to be without this establishment for any reasonable amount of time or this particular bathhouse is gratifying in a way that none have been in all my experiences across my galaxy. This may be considered out of character for me- [ Haha, meta. ] -but I implore any who are interested to please visit the Four Penguins. It is quite a relaxing and soothing experience.

[ A pause... ]

However, if this is a type of ploy devised either by the moons' whims, the proprietors of the Four Penguins, or an unconsidered or unknown entity - the likelihood of which I deem is uncomfortably high - then I believe now is an appropriate time to ask for assistance.

Regardless, I would not be adverse to company. Spock, out.

[ Hope you got all that. Mr. Social isn't one to repeat himself. ]

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[He's normal, then. She inclines her head.]

I'd classify this particular catch as 'unusual,' but not necessarily harmful. Quite the opposite It can be difficult for those newly arrived to adjust to the Prismatican society at large, but as moonlacing is vital to our survival on this planet, a proclivity to share a bath with someone can provide you with enough chroma to sustain your vitals for quite some time.

It may prove to be embarrassing once you've regained your senses, but few Moonblessed are inclined to pass judgment for such things.

Enjoy it.

[ He kinda hates that she has a point. ]

Your reasoning is sound. However, I am greatly uncomfortable with the idea that I am currently without my senses. Perhaps this is something that is too late to change but also difficult to simply enjoy.

The chance to gain Chroma while I am more willing to the subject is probably an opportunity I should take advantage of, though. [ Ugh. ] Conversation with you is not unpleasant. Would you be amendable to also being without your senses for the time being?

[ Look at this smooth talker over here! ]

[Winter inclines her head, because she's been where he's at before, several times. Knowing it's necessary and helpful makes the adjustment easier, but it'll never be absolutely accepted; she'd fear for her sanity if that was the case.]

[Surprise flashes across her formerly-neutral face, momentarily breaking her firm grip on her emotions. How bold. But the waters are to blame, and she has to admit, he's not unpleasant either. Winter glances away, considering for a few moments.]

If moonlacing remains largely nonsexual, I would not be opposed.

[Necessary and helpful only go so far. She'd still prefer to get to know her potential partners before hopping into their beds. She touches her fingertips to her chest.]

Winter Schnee.

Spock. [ He nods. ]

I am not currently looking for meetings of a sexual nature. Any moonlacing that may occur would be entirely platonic.

[ Still trying to figure out the whole 'I have a girlfriend in another universe' dealio. ]

[She nods once, and the stiff set of her shoulders eases just slightly.]

I'm pleased that we're of a similar mindset. In that case, I'll depart presently. I estimate that I should arrive in twenty minutes, if that is acceptable.

I do not foresee myself leaving these baths within the next twenty minutes.

[ Which would normally suck but now he's got a friend so not terrible. ]

I will be here.

[It takes Winter five minutes to purchase a swimsuit (with most options being bikinis, the sensible one-piece selection was woefully limited so it was easy to choose one), ten minutes to travel to the bathhouse, two minutes to check in, and three minutes to change.]

[Twenty minutes, almost on the dot.]

[She's pleased to discover that this is a spa, not just a bathing facility, which means she can sign up for a massage after this is over. She's been carrying tension since...well, since forever, let's be honest, but especially so since April.]

[With her crown of white hair pinned up in her signature style, Winter is easy enough to pick out of a small crowd as she pads across the slip-resistant tile, then descends step by step into the warm water. She sighs. Then she smiles as her eyes light up, and the manic glee begins to seize hold of her as well. Spying her bowlcut-sporting acquaintance, she surges forward, pushing through the water in eager haste to meet him.]

Greetings. I thank you for your patience.

Thanks are unnecessary. It was no trouble.

[ Quite the peculiar reaction. Spock observed her coming into the room and descending into the pool before similar affects seemed to overtake her, as well. Fascinating. ]

Besides, I thank you for accompanying me.

[She smiles readily, her head canted faintly to the side in bemused curiosity.]

Oh? The benefit is a mutual one. Whatever gratitude you might have is duplicated and returned.

[Her hand moves through the water as she takes an uncommon fascination in watching the ripples trailing in the wake of her fingers. The motions are slow for now, but slowly growing more lively as she delights in the sound of the sloshing and splashing.]

[There's a lurking danger that this may devolve into a water fight.]

How long ago did you arrive on this planet?

[ Spock keenly watches as she experiments the water, getting involved himself. He never took this much interest in water, not since he was a child. But now he finds himself also making ripples, observing how different motions or impacts change the state of the water in fascinating ways. ]

16 days and 8 hours ago. To most, simply a newcomer. What of yourself?

Over a year.

[Her eyes move back and forth, curiously following the motions of his hands.]

And despite my lengthy stay, hardly an expert on matters of intimacy. I'll provide assistance nonetheless, if you have questions.

[Winter cups her hand, the water pooled in her palm as she lifts it to dribble droplets over his lower arm. Why her attention is so fixated on the water, she doesn't know. But she feels it's safe to assume that it's just one more of those planetary peculiarities, one that she previously ruled as 'harmless, so she's not alarmed.]

I would not call myself an expert on intimacy either but I am familiar with the finer details.

[ Sorta. Sexually, sure, he's got that part. Sharing close pieces of yourself? For a Vulcan, that's both way more and way less than what a human is used to.

Anyway, he doesn't really think about the definition, merely just watches the water wash over his arm like he's never seen such a thing before. ]

That said, my kind are telepathic through touch. This means, without putting forth effort or having the ability to stop it, I can feel others emotions and sometimes the thoughts at the forefront of their mind. Touch is not something that my people encourage very much because of this, so I find myself-... [ He looks away from his arm to think. ] I believe a colleague of mine would describe it as being put between a rock and a hard place.

What I mean to say is that your knowledge may yet be valuable to me.

[That should make her leery, shouldn't it? It doesn't, though. Having emotions, feeling them, isn't why she finds herself struggling so often. It's actually expressing those emotions that gives her so much difficulty. To have a friend who would understand her feelings with a mere touch, without her having to say a word or risk losing her temper or saying the wrong thing, would be ideal.]

...So long as you're willing to keep such knowledge confidential.

[Understanding now that he may not be ready to practice touching for the sake of chroma, she continues to dip her hand into the pool to let it drip down his arm, running in thin rivulets back into the water.]

I'm privy to classified information in my line of work. However, considering that such information is immediately negated once one returns to their world of origin, the consequences are considerably reduced.

[Whatever he learns isn't getting back to Salem, or even her superior officer at this point.]

Just the same, I would appreciate your confidence.

Of course. [ It's an instant reply. ] Most species have an innate will to protect their privacy. I would not breech this without permission, excluding extreme scenarios such as preventing death.

However, I understand that trust is earned and that I am a mere stranger to many on this planet. Since we do not know how long any of us will remain here, the negation of information upon leaving by the usual means may not appease most.

I suppose we might consider it an abbreviated form of introductory small talk. I might find it preferable at that.

[No dancing around shallow questions probing one another to discover one another's levels of comfort.]

Are such emotional readings one-sided, or will I experience a similar influx of information?

[ Oh? He's not used to people, even Vulcans, preferring to share knowledge telepathically as opposed to conversation. Well, anyone except bond mates and the like. Again, fascinating. ]

They are often one-sided. If I were to intentionally create a mind meld with you, only then would you be able to see what I think and feel what I feel. This will also allow me to see deeper into your own thoughts and memories.

[Memories too? She's a little less eager to share those. For one thing, her childhood was a miserable experience peppered only with a few bright spots she shared with her siblings. For another, she's had sex several times since coming here, and that's deeply personal.]

[She nods slowly, to show she understands, but not vigorously enough to indicate agreement.]

I assume I'd have no control over what you see. Would you not be uncomfortable with that kind of burden yourself, even if you shared nothing of yourself in return?

On the contrary, while I have the ability to see what I wish, I would not do so without express permission. You would have the capabilities to show me what you wish and what you do not wish for me to see with merely a thought. Only emotional transference tends to be accidentally shared between two linked minds.

But in answer to your question, yes, I likely would be uncomfortable in the situation you describe. My people often only mind meld with those they trust completely and unconditionally, disregarding again some extreme scenarios.

[ Aka, don't worry, he totally gets it. ]

Understood. There's no need to rush things beyond your comfort level.

[It's a possibility, but later. She'd rather build trust naturally, rather than ripping her heart wide open and allowing him to sift through the contents at his own discretion.]

Explain to me how this emotional connection would transpire. Would it occur only if you touched me with your hand? Would it occur if I touched you instead, such as placing a hand upon your shoulder? If we were to sit back to back?

Transmission largely has to do with proximity. I can feel strong emotions from those around me if something occurs, for instance. By touching through clothing, I would feel something much closer but not nearly as... intimate, for lack of a better word, as skin to skin contact would be.

I am sure you can understand how this makes Chroma gathering more complicated for someone such as myself. Though there are no ill side-effects for neither party aside from the breech of privacy, I was taught from a young age that common touch is... impolite. Perhaps rude or taboo according to some parties. However, I have been around humans for much of my life and have no qualms against touch, per se. Only hesitance.

[Winter nods, slowly. She thinks she understands the situation.]

Sometimes it is easier to allow someone to touch you, than it is to initiate that kind of contact.

[Which is why she counts her lucky stars to have a sister like Weiss, who can quiet Winter's emotional turmoil with a mere hug.]

Your respect is appreciated, and I wish to return it in kind. You may speak your preferences and boundaries freely without risk of offense.

[She lifts her hand out of the water, dripping, holding it up with her palm presented, fingers slightly spread.]

Have you attempted to moonlace prior to this? The sensation can be unexpectedly pleasant, as the chroma generation amplifies the experience to a certain degree.

[ He's distracted by the water, finally, and turns to her with a tilt of his head. ]

Now that you mention it, I do find physical contact much easier when someone else initiates it. I have never observed this about myself before. [ Fascinating.

But anyway. ] Any moonlacing that has already occurred was done so mostly by accident. Other than some small encounters in crowds, I was hugged by a friend from home once we reunited and there was another incident from a fellow who was quite taken with my ears. [ It was awkward, even by his standards. ] These times were... not unpleasant if slightly overwhelming.

But in this case, I find that I have little preference. You may touch me if you wish or I may touch you. If you wish to mind meld, I do not have any qualms about that either... I do suspect the effects of the water are influencing the latter, however.

You may be right.

[It's difficult to gauge how she would normally react to the offer of having her memories opened up to a man she doesn't know, but she's fairly sure she would have shut him down immediately under no uncertain terms. Instead, she's merely hesitant.]

[Allowing her emotions to be felt at all by someone else isn't something she would ordinarily permit, but here she is, hand up, waiting for him to do the same. Maybe, on some subconscious level, she simply needs someone to perceive her emotions without her having to lay it all out herself.]

[Her lashes dip as she looks at her fingers, then Spock's face. Someone thought pointed ears were exotic...? Perhaps they did tricks. (Or perhaps she's too accustomed to the peculiarities of the Faunus to regard one's ear shape as an oddity.)]

Hold up your hand, if you please. I'll adjust to match your boundaries and level of pressure.

[As for a mind meld, she says nothing further on the subject for now. Maybe she'll go for it later, maybe not. She wants to see how he deals with this milder aspect first.]

[ For Vulcans, the hands are... kinda sensitive. After all, that's one of the ways they kiss. There are very few people who he's already done this with.

And yet, he's not hesitant. He does as directed, pulling his arm out of the water and turning to face her, palm forward and still. He goes a step forward, bold, and lightly touches the edges of his hand to hers. ]

I will tell you if I am uncomfortable. [ His voice is a little softer because, gosh, this is already pleasant. ] You may do as you wish.

[If she knew more of Vulcan customs, she might have suggested something else. For her, however, this is merely pleasant and comfortable. She smiles, moving her fingers further apart, a silent invitation to thread their hands together.]

[Her surface emotions aren't anything that would cause her undue embarrassment. There's contentment, overshadowed by the carefully restrained excitement caused by the waters of the mystic pool. There's even a brief, softening glow of attraction when his voice turns gentle. Were he to turn his senses deeper, he might pick up the underlying threads of loneliness, even insecurity and unease, though without the thoughts and memories to provide context the source is likely difficult to suss out.]

Oh? Anything at all?

[There's a twinkle in her eye, and riding over the waves of her emotions is a strong pulse of playful mischief.]

Video; un: Spock

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