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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 18, 2014 19:53:01 GMT -8
Bern had turned away temporarily, focusing on finishing his coffee, so Wess had probably started feeling like he was being ignored to some extent. And in favor of coffee, at that! Bern clearly liked coffee, like a lot of other people in the nation did. It wasn't an uncommon interest at all. In fact, most people of the area liked coffee, so Wess couldn't consider it strange at all, despite not liking it himself. It was a thing that one either liked a lot, or didn't like at all, and apparently Bern must have liked it a lot to have a coffee pot right there in his own dorm room!
And maybe he'd seen an opportunity to take advantage of the other's lack of attention. Maybe he just didn't feel like he was getting enough attention from him, or that he would rather Bern give him his attention over the coffee. When he suddenly gripped the other around the waist, particularly while he was drinking his coffee, Bern definitely did jump a bit, causing some of the coffee to slosh out of the cup and onto the floor. The other's continuing to pull him closer caused him to spill a bit more, and he frantically tried to place the mug down... Not in fear of losing even more coffee, but moreso that he didn't want to make more of a mess than he already had. "Hey, you're making me spill it..." he warned, but he didn't exactly argue otherwise... As soon as the cup was down on a table, he wasn't bothered by the other holding him closer at all, in fact, just as always, he relaxed and seemed to appreciate the other's affection, even tilting his head back gently as the other kissed his hair. "Wess..." he whispered, a wistful sound in his voice. "You're risible..." And yet, despite that, he always seemed to be okay with what the other was doing. Risible, maybe. But also endearing. He folded his own arms at his waist, as though to embrace Wess in return, even though he couldn't.
"Just a few minutes. We don't want to be late... Elias doesn't like that at all..." Well, that was the only warning he could muster, even as he settled back into the warmth of the other. Their height difference really did make him the more subordinate, at least in manner, didn't it? Oh well, he didn't care. Enjoying whatever the other was going to provide him with for a few more minutes, he just relaxed with his eyes half closed, allowing himself that few minutes to have some comfort.
Though, in the end, it was still short lived. After some time, he had to pull away from Wess. "Come on, we need to head over." Now free of the other, he took the time to take a few gulps of coffee out of the mug, as though to spite Wess, before grabbing his jacket and preparing to head out. He locked the door behind them, and they would begin the walk to the secret place. It didn't take too terribly long to get there, but long enough that they could get something enjoyable out of the walk. Thankfully, today was a little warmer than it had been lately, but not so warm as for them not to need a coat. The wind was still, and it was pleasant, somehow. Today would be important... and, Bern figured, a huge change in Wess's life. He hoped it wouldn't have to be permanent, even though he knew how important it was for Wess to be a part of this, now that it had all happened this way.
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 18, 2014 23:50:58 GMT -8
Wess smiled at Bern's small protest, which seemed to be the only protest he had. He didn't really care about the coffee on the floor... they could worry about it later. He pulled Bern closer to him when he set the mug down, and moved his head again to kiss at the place where his jaw met his neck, then behind his ear, then moved his ponytail and the flyaways around it over Bern's shoulder. His fingers trailed through the soft hair caught in it, relishing the feeling of the other's hair... he really did like it, and he wanted to pull it out of the ponytail now, but they really did only have a couple of minutes. Instead, he returned his hand to slip around Bern's waist, and he leaned forward to kiss the back of his neck. First right at the nap, then moving down, and closer to his shoulderblades and the collar of his shirt.
"Perhaps I am risible," he mumbled, "But not I do not complain so much." There was a smile clear in his tone, and he moved away from the other's neck to kiss his head again, rest there briefly, and then go back to his neck and then that place at his jaw. He only had some minutes left, and he was going to make the best use possible of them.
Wess was reluctant again to let the other go, when they finally had to leave, but he did. And then he stooped to pick up his scarf and wind that around his neck again, and taking Bern's hand insistently before they left. Maybe he couldn't exactly shower Bern in affection while they walked to that place again, but he would take what he could get. And it was rather nice outside... it felt refreshing, and Wess found he stepped with a certain happy spring, now... things were about to change even more than they already had, and the changes that had already been made would almost certainly not change, and he found that he was perfectly happy with all of it. There was still just that touch of nervousness, but that was to be expected, wasn't it? Only someone without any of their senses wouldn't be nervous at all.
It was rather strange, entering this place of secrets with Bern at his side this time, actually leading him there, but then, all of this was strange. Every part of it was new, and that definitely stripped some of the novelty of that. The doors didn't need to shut to perfectly quietly, and he didn't have to worry about keeping the right distance between himself and Bern so that he didn't lose him, but wasn't found. He had the comfort of the other right there, even his hand in Wess's... and he could marvel as much as he wanted at those dim shapes, too. It was nicer this time, much nicer.
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 19, 2014 9:38:59 GMT -8
ref: a36f11
Bern didn't care too much about it either, but he really would have preferred not to spill it. Still, he kind of knew that Wess had been up to no good when he made him spill it in the first place, so he had expected for some reason that… something like this was going to happen. Because of that, he hadn't allowed himself to get too bothered by it… but really! Wess was making him spill his coffee on purpose? What did he think; that the coffee was getting more attention than him? Heck, he wouldn't put that one past Wess…
However, once he'd set the mug down (maybe that was a bad idea after all), if anything, Wess made the assault worse. Bern was just really sensitive to touch, especially in some of the places Wess had chosen to touch and kiss him, so there was a little tremble in his body the whole while, especially when the other got to kissing the back of his neck. Goddamnit, he'd found out how sensitive he was there, and he wasn't ever going to leave it alone now, was he?! Bern's shivers picked up when he started actually kissing the back of his neck, and he couldn't hold back a quiet sound, though whether it was a sound of protest or pleasure or both was a little hard to tell.
"No, I guess you just give me reasons to complain instead," Bern replied, having calmed down a bit once the other stopped making him squirm. It was a little unfortunate that he was so sensitive… at least for him. However Wess probably got a kick out of that; he didn't seem like the type of person who would be sensitive to anything at all, but he was, he really was. And it might have been embarrassing to him, but Wess was probably having a load of fun torturing him. And just when he'd thought Wess was done, he went right back for his neck again and the shivers and squirming continued…
When it was finally time for the two of them to go, Bern was throughly shivering from all the things Wess had been doing. He certainly hoped he'd get used to this, at least a little… Otherwise the awkwardness was really going to be a problem. Though finally he had a chance to calm down his shivering as the other stopped to put his scarf on, and he was happy to hold his hand as they walked all the way there again. It was kind of a surreal experience for him, too… knowing that he was willingly leading someone there. This hadn't happened before. In all honesty, traveling in groups was discouraged, because it caught more attention. But in this case, they were both going there together, and he didn't think there would be any problem with it. Either way, Elias would talk to them if he was concerned about it.
When they finally arrived and were walking down the hallway, Wess would notice that Bern pulled his hand back. Perhaps the other didn't feel like holding his hand right now? No, wait, surely he was doing this because they were in a place where they needed to be serious. A place where making his relationship with Wess pretty clear might not be a good idea… and if that was the case, it made sense. Bern wasn't doing it to upset him, he was doing it because it wasn't really the appropriate time or place. And for all Wess could know, his superiors didn't like for their subordinates to be in relationships, or perhaps the homosexual nature of it was a problem… It could have been any number of things, but Wess would probably understand why, at least for one of those possible reasons.
When they arrived in the main room, Elias seemed to be waiting for them. There were more lights on today, and Wess would be able to see the machines better than he had before. He would probably notice how absolutely fearsome they looked when he got a better look at them, now… They definitely didn't seem to be machines that operated on their own, now that he got a good look. Maybe soon, he'd get to see how they worked, too..
Elias unfolded his arms and looked to both of them. "Welcome, Wess. If you would, please remain here for a few minutes. Bern, come with me; we need to talk." Bern glanced up toward Wess, then wordlessly followed after Elias as he walked away. They headed toward one of the doors in the back, probably one where he or someone else might have had an office. If Wess followed in that direction, after the two of them left, he'd be able to hear the conversation through the door, though it might not be wise to do so. Either way, his curiosity about this situation was probably strong enough.
After Elias closed the door, he turned to Bern. "I had a chance to go over the surveillance video from yesterday, after I returned." Bern's face went pale at hearing that. He had hoped the other wouldn't consider it necessary to review it because he'd already figured out what was going on. Though he kept his mouth shut, afraid of what might happen if he opened it and said the wrong thing.
"I can't say that I was aware of what the entirety of the situation was until then, despite your explanation. But I understand a lot better now…" Bern still remained silent, afraid to say anything at this point. "…What's that look for? Is it because you're afraid? Is it that I saw you at a weak point? …Bern, stop looking at me like that." Elias gave an audible sigh. "I'm not trying to trivialize the meaning behind what happened or make fun of you. I'm not entirely pleased with your reaction, but that doesn't mean I'm upset with you or that I'll do anything rash. I know you well. And I know that if you had reason to distrust him, you'd have killed him with minimal hesitation. Honestly, I'm surprised by how much trust you have in him. But I understand, I really do. I hope he'll end up being useful to us, for your sake."
Bern nodded, feeling genuinely relieved. Here he'd thought that Elias was having second thoughts because he was displeased at his lack of strength in a crucial moment. At that point, with matters resolved and no more to say, Elias would guide him out to go fetch Wess and get started with his testing.
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 19, 2014 18:52:20 GMT -8
Wess had definitely been experimenting with that insensitivity he'd noticed at the back of Bern's neck, and it was amusing, though he did give him some breaks to let him recover a bit, and just hold Bern instead. He couldn't quite tell if Bern liked or disliked it, but he certainly wasn't doing anything to stop Wess, and he didn't seem to be protesting. At least, not that Wess was really sure... and he had to wonder how sensitive Bern was, at this point. Obviously the back of his neck was incredibly sensitive, but he'd also shivered when Wess had touched the tattoo on his back... was that because of the tattoo itself, or did his sensitivity extend all the way down there? He'd have to explore that a little later, if he got the chance... He was curious.
The machines were... intimidating, but they were also incredibly interesting. Would he really be working with these things? It would be fascinating to see them run, and even more to help make them run. But they must also hold an incredible amount of power, especially when combined... He wondered how much, what their capabilities extended to, and how much of a threat there could possibly be to call for so much power. And at a school! Who would target a school?! It wasn't like there were any kind of secrets here, it was open to almost anyone who was either smart enough to get in, or could pay enough that their intelligence didn't matter. The only secrets here he knew of was this one, and he had to wonder if this was what was drawing so much attention from hostile forces... but then, he supposed that the main educator of the nation's most valuable people could be an important target to some kind of enemy force. Still, though, it was a bit astounding how much force rested here. How much military force did Klohtia even have?!
Or maybe there were other things here, too... things Wess didn't know about, just like this. That was disconcerting. How many secrets could one place hold, and why would they keep them at a University? Weren't they sort of endangering everyone here? Or perhaps it was a means of educating those participating in whatever those secrets were at the same time, or having a larger pool of people to choose from. A bunch of educated or half-educated students with no plans for the future, no real knowledge yet of how to apply the skills they were gaining, the talents they had... if the other thought hadn't been disconcerting, that one was.
Wess wasn't all that happy about Bern letting his hand go again, but he didn't try to take it back. He just figured that the other wasn't comfortable with letting his commander know their relationship, especially not before Wess went in to be tested by him... it might lend him a bias somehow, alter his treatment of Wess, or it might do the same for Bern. It might even devalue his stated opinion of Wess, and endanger them both. Actually, once he'd mulled it over long enough, Wess was sort of glad the other had thought of that. The urge to take his hand again, though, remained.
After Elias had closed the door, Wess automatically stepped forward a few steps to listen... then stopped, before he actually got to the door. He didn't want to fuck this up again, didn't want to give Bern a reason not to trust him, or Elias, for that matter. He was probably on some damn thin ice, with both of them. Bern because if he showed the other that he still couldn't refrain from sneaking about and eavesdropping, even after all that had happened, he probably wouldn't have much of a reason to trust Wess anymore, and Elias because... well, the Commander knew nothing about him except that Bern trusted him. If he proved untrustworthy, was there really a reason for the man to keep him alive? Or Bern? What if it broke his trust in Bern as well?
But he did wonder, as he moved back to where he'd been standing, and he certainly worried as well. Surely, Elias wasn't hurting Bern? He didn't hear any sounds of pain, or sounds of conflict, and he didn't hear any other doors opening or closing... Of course that could just be the thickness of the first door, but if it was, Wess wasn't going to do anyone any good by trying to hear through it. And then the thought occurred to him that Elias probably had all of the events taped somewhere from the day before, and it was likely he'd seen them, too... if he had noticed Bern's dilemma through security cameras, it was very, very possibly those cameras had recorded everything, and... shit, oh shit, what if he really was hurting Bern? What if something bad was happening to him? Oh, god, and he'd just let him go... OF course it could be something else, just test preparations, but what if it wasn't? What if...
And then Elias came walking out again, a very healthy-looking and relieved Bern with him, and Wess gave a relieved sigh of his own. He placed the glasses he's been furiously cleaning back onto his nose, straightened out his expression, and followed the Commander to... well, wherever he intended to lead Wess. He was still curious about what might have happened, but surely, he'd be able to ask Bern about it later. For now he would focus on this, focus on passing the test and ensuring some degree of safety for the both of them.
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 19, 2014 20:15:55 GMT -8
Now that Bern had emerged from the room where he'd been talking to Elias, he did feel worlds better. For a moment, he'd thought he really fucked up. But he couldn't have done anything else at that moment. There was no way he would have been able to kill Wess. And Elias had known that too. It would have been unreasonable for him to expect that. Wess had probably been wholly sure that Bern would kill him too. He'd gotten to learn how he was all business... how he could toss aside feelings at a whim in favor of what had to be done. But he'd also done the very opposite... He'd collapsed to his knees sobbing in front of him. So, Wess probably realized, that was what Elias had wanted to talk to him about. About that moment of weakness he had experienced. Granted, thanks to talking to Bern quite a bit since then, he'd probably learned a lot of things, including that Bern and Elias went back a long way. It had sounded anyway like Elias had rescued him from the orphanage. And while his intentions in doing so may not have been the most proper, he had gained himself a rather loyal subordinate, who at that time had nothing to live for otherwise. Now, there was Wess... But that would probably still be a little complicated.
When they exited, Bern was sure that Wess could tell how much better he felt. His face had been a little stony when he'd walked in, as he hadn't known what to expect. And the fact that Elias had called him in first thing, was just standing there waiting for them to come... needless to say, it had struck fear into his heart again. But he had been prepared for this; he'd had it in the back of his mind, and it had gone so much better than anticipated. Elias understood everything. And he hadn't freaked out about him just kissing Wess in the middle of everything, either... That had probably been odd for the other to watch. Just seeing him break down, and kissing another guy... Still, however, he didn't feel entirely comfortable being affectionate with Wess here. Even though Elias knew about it, the whole concept just made him kind of unsettled.
When they exited the room, Elias came first, striding out with Bern behind him, walking slower with his head down, but much, much relieved in comparison to before. Elias walked past Wess, patting him on the shoulder. "Come on, we're going to get started, assuming you're ready." He kept walking; Bern following behind, and Wess probably next to him. They walked between some of those huge machines, to a door that was hidden because of their size. When Elias opened the door, they'd see that this was a huge room too; not nearly as huge as the one they'd been in, but this one was interesting too. It was huge, but completely white, with tiles on the ceiling, walls, and floors. The lights looked like they were protected by glass. Bulletproof glass? Whatever it was, it was probably difficult to destroy. So, this must have been a room where one could practice using their abilities in general, right? Someplace where it was safe. Wess had already seen what a lack of control over them could do. At the other end of the room were a few black tiles. What were those?
Elias turned to Wess. "Since you already know more than the average person getting involved, we're going to be doing your testing a different way. Normally we would just be testing for the potential, not directly involving you in the linked role, but given the situation... it's not like we have anything to hide from you." He then glanced to Bern. "Can you hold a spark?" Bern obliged, closing his eyes and planting his feet firmly on the ground. The air around him crackled and visible energy formed. This was the first time Wess had seen him form visible energy! He'd felt the charge in the air before; he'd seen the effects of it... But he'd never actually expected he'd see Bern's whole body lighting up with sparks! But in a matter of a second he'd focused the energy in between his palms, where he was holding it, in what seemed a cycle, not allowing it to pass into the air or back the way it came, or into his other palm... just right there in the space between his hands. What he was doing looked to require a massive amount of concentration!
Elias gestured to Bern then. "Bern is a Liberator. He has the ability to draw up a minimal amount of energy, but his true potential is in the ability to hold and manipulate it with the rune inscribed on his back. He's dangerous on his own, but he doesn't have the potential to be very destructive by himself." He paused. "But with an Integrator, he can be extremely powerful. I can serve as an Integrator for him. So, I will demonstrate for you how much of a difference this makes." He paused, concentrating in his own way. Unlike Bern, Elias didn't seem to be discharging energy. He was a totally different kind of person in this process... And this was the role that Wess was being tested for. So, he'd never be dangerous quite like Bern, would he? Bern had kind of explained that... how he had some kind of unbalanced influence over power. He had been chosen from a group of people who had greater than normal disruptive force with the energy of the earth, and despite that normally being a detriment to the balance of the world, he was using it in a way that was advantageous. Not to mention, having the ability to absorb and discharge energy could actually have the potential of balancing despite the disruption. When Elias started pulling the energy, Bern had absorbed what he'd been controlling. In fact, he was absorbing most of what had been crackling around him in a near dangerous way before... at which point Wess had probably realized that he was glad Bern had moved away from him... and it didn't seem like there was anything really... going on right now. After a few seconds of this, however, Elias gave his order. "Discharge." And as though he'd been poised for the command, Bern reacted, his palm snapping out toward the back wall. And with that simple motion came a great outpouring of energy in the form of a bright flash, with the intensity of a laser, almost with the same amount of directive, but it was less concentrated. No less, the impact hit squarely in the center of one of the black squares at the other end of the room... probably at least 50 meters away, maybe more! The accuracy and power were both utterly stunning, and as soon as the attack connected, the power crackled and spread over the walls, filling the back wall and parts of the floor and ceiling as it dispersed. Imagining Bern holding that amount of energy inside him in the first place had to be terrifying. Couldn't it kill him if he lost track of it for one moment?! No, surely he knew what he was doing. He did this like it was second nature. Perhaps there were some failsafes built into that rune or something... Regardless, what he was witnessing was amazing!
Elias relaxed his concentration then, as did Bern, recovering from the demonstration. "This is the kind of power we work with. When Bern channels it with one of the machines outside, the destructive force is amplified even further. We haven't been able to have much practice with this because of the massive destructive capabilities they have the potential to have, though we can safely say that the output can be at least ten times greater, possibly greater still with the machines properly calibrated to the user."
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 20, 2014 9:25:16 GMT -8
Wess hung back to walk with Bern, though his focus was mostly on Elias at that point. He was fairly certain Bern didn't want to display any kind of affection here, but he did brush gently the other's fingers a few times as they walked, staying close by his side. He desperately wanted to ask Bern about what had happened, if Elias was aware of what had happened the day before or if he'd just been talking to Bern about the tests Wess would go through, or... perhaps something else, but he refrained. He could wait, he didn't exactly want to mess up whatever good things were happening now.
Wess took a brief moment to glance around at the room, when they entered it, then returned his gaze to Elias. It was huge... not as big as the one outside of it, the one he'd been in before, but it was enormous. And why tile? What were those black ones for? He'd probably find out soon enough, but that didn't make him wonder less. These things all looked pretty sturdy, and those lights were protected, weren't they? Why did he need to bring Wess in here? Obviously the idea of a paper test hadn't exactly fit into Wess's idea of today before, but he'd at least expected something more... tame. More safe. And something like that didn't seem very likely to happen in this room.
When Elias spoke, Wess frowned. Not testing him for potential... but that was all he had! He didn't have a run tattooed in his back like Bern did, he hadn't spent any time training or preparing, he... how was he supposed to just do the part Elias wanted him to do?!
His attention shifted immediately away from those thoughts, then, as Bern began to... was he flickering? That was the only way Wess could really think to describe it, as a sort of flickering around him, and... wow, alright, he hadn't expected anything like that. His eyes widened at the other as he watched, and his lips fell from a frown into a looser line as he watched Bern, his Bern, the one he'd thought he had started to really know, focus all of that energy into a cycle between his palms. He'd never seen anything like it before, never imagined that it could happen, even. And how hadn't he noticed it, that Bern could do this? It couldn't be very safe, either...
And how was he supposed to do that? He couldn't really even tell what Elias was doing, just assume that it was what Bern had described to him before. Drawing power up, and transferring it to the other. How, though? And how much was there? And pure energy, just energy, that they had the ability to manipulate like that, it was... incredible. It was impossible.
Wess had moved a couple of steps away when Bern started crackling with energy, started flickering, but he stumbled back quite a few more when the flash of energy shot from Bern, a fucking outpouring of energy, of... it was insane, and Wess wouldn't have been able to even consider the thought of something like that even being possible, had he not been standing there, watching it actually happen. And even then it really did seem crazy, seem impossible, like... like maybe it was a trick, a show, even though that didn't honestly make any sense, and... was he really going to be involved in something like this? Were they going to make him do that?!
And he couldn't help but think about Bern himself in the seconds after, wonder how dangerous all of this was, if there was any way he was protected from some kind of slip-up... maybe it was in the rune, or maybe it was in the room, or in Elias himself, or... or somewhere, there had to be something to prevent him from hurting himself! It was disconcerting, too, to think about what he looked like, how much he seemed to be nothing more than an instrument, a... a tool, in this. His humanity, everything that made him Bern, seemed to disappear while he worked, and it was simply unsettling.
Wess managed to recover some from the shock, rearranging his expression and his posture, though he couldn't keep a note of surprise and disbelief out of his eyes. He nodded in response to Elias, then, and took his glasses off to clean them with shaky hands while he responded.
"So what you expect me to do is transfer this energy from the Earth to Bern, or... another Liberator, I suppose." He paused, placing his glasses on his nose again and stuffing his handkerchief in his pocket, using the action to take brief moment to prepare his next words. "I understand that much; however, I do not quite understand what you mean when you say you intend to involve me in this process immediately. Unless I am mistaken and the 'linked role' is something entirely different. If I am not, though, I rather doubt my ability to accomplish such a task without any variety of training or preparation. I am a notist. The closest I have come to this sort of energy and power were the few classes I took in runing my first year at Leckleston's, which barely scratched the surface of what is happening here."
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 20, 2014 13:15:20 GMT -8
Right now, affection wasn't a good idea. If he talked to Bern about it, the other would probably end up explaining his entire reasoning behind why affection was off limits here... or at least why he seemed to kind of reject it. Even with Elias knowing, Bern still took all of this very seriously, and in the time he was here, he was like a different person. Wess was surely starting to see this, as he watched the other get involved with all the things he was doing here. Things that were probably overwhelming, unexpected, and even scary. It looked, at least, like the Integrator didn't have to deal with all that shit... it was just Bern who would have to be affected by that energy. Did that mean that he was ever in danger, though? It was a possibility eithe rway; he could be in danger, or not at all.
Now that they had finished, Elias looked to Wess with a bit of a wry smile. "Does this intimidate you? You'll get used to it. There is not much danger to you, assuming you don't stand right in front of him when he release the energy..." He nodded, folding his arms. "You are correct that you are expected to draw up energy and transfer it to the Liberator; this is exactly how it works. However, you needn't worry. I'm not expecting you to do anything right away. What I meant by you being involved is that you simply know more about the process than anyone we screened for positions before. You already got involved by coming here, so we can show you firsthand exactly what we are testing you for. I think this will help you understand what you must do, so your test will probably be more comprehensive in this way... because you can know the exact theory of how it works, without beating around the bush and hiding the aspects of it that we do not necessarily want the public to know about." While Elias was talking, Bern silently seated himself, cross-legged. It seemed he'd anticipated that he wouldn't be needed for a while. "I understand that you are a Notist. I looked into it, after you departed yesterday. And you've been doing very well in your studies. I am not particularly that familiar with Noting, myself, and you are right to assume that this operation is based off a science that is largely relevant to Runing. Most people here are Runers, or are studying Runing, however, this is not to say that a Notist cannot do it. The ability to be an Integrator is, unfortunately, innate, and there is no way to tell whether someone has the ability until they try to use it. Bern seems to think you may have the gift, but if not... I'm certain we can find something for you to do."
Meanwhile, Wess probably still found himself thinking about Bern. How this impacted him, how it made him feel. He had been like a doll the whole time that he'd seen him work... emotionless... and a tool to this operation, right? He kind of literally was a tool, not unlike the machines out there in the other room. He was the one who coordinated the energy, yes, he had a very important role. The Integrator was useless without the Liberator, and the Liberator was near useless without the Integrator. He was literally a tool of war, now that Wess saw it! And while this might unsettle him, Bern hadn't seemed unhappy with it. He seemed perfectly willing to do it, perfectly okay with it. And actually, when it came down to it, the utter silence and complacency that he was showing while he did all this was deep focus and concentration. Wess would soon get to see just how much focus he had to put into things to keep from fucking them up. But he was a master of it, thanks to having had a lot of time to get used to it, and not really having much of a real life to keep him from it. Liberators had to have a ton of control, otherwise they could reveal themselves as someone who was unsafe, who would almost inevitably get themselves killed. After all this, the fact that he'd shattered a glass with a mere lack of emotional control at that bar that one time... Wess had to realize that the other's lapse in judgment must have been severe for this to happen.
Elias seemed like he was ready to begin, though he had a few more questions to ask the other. "Okay, before we start anything, I'd like to know about just what you know of runing, and what your aptitude was in any kind of manipulation, if you did any exercises at all." The more Wess knew about runing in the first place, the easier it would be to explain to him just how to start searching for that energy.
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 20, 2014 18:11:14 GMT -8
Wess relaxed some when Elias explained that he wouldn't be expected to try any of this. He was a bit embarrassed that he hadn't picked up on his meaning of the word, but he mostly blamed it on the Commander for using it in an unconventional way. The suggestion that it intimidated him didn't ease those feelings, either... yes, he was intimidated, but he was also perfectly capable of controlling that emotion and stuffing it away while he faced this. In fact, most of the emotion had leaked from his features now, and he was standing a little more tall than he had before.
He glanced briefly towards Bern when he noticed him sitting, and frowned for a moment before he looked back to Elias. He was acting so quiet, so completely complacent, as if Elias was suddenly the center of everything instead of... well, instead of himself. Maybe it was just concentration, but Wess didn't see that. He just saw Bern, who was so often so much more confident and the center of things, attention getting, and keeping, and... so many things that just weren't this. It was strange, and a stark contrast to what he was used to from him. And Wess couldn't help but wonder why.
He returned his attention to Elias as he started talking about the abilities of an Integrator being innate, tucking away thoughts of Bern for a bit later. Right now, he needed to focus on this information.... and it seemed Elias was eager to have him here, which was comforting. Even if it was only a desire to add something to the organization itself, it was good to know that the Commander was on his side, to some extent. That would make things easier.
But this idea of an innate ability, a talent... he hadn't ever thought of something like that being possible, either, not in relation to runing... or anything else, really. Sure, some where better at things because they had the mind or the passion for it, but this was a bit... out there. Not that he should really be surprised. Everything else was, too. But did he have it? Did he have some kind of dormant ability hiding in him, where he hadn't ever been able to know of or discover it? That, too, was an unsettling notion... well, he supposed he would be figuring that out soon enough.
And then his thoughts drifted back to Bern for a moment... back to the energy he'd felt those few times, the energy that was pretty much exactly like what he'd just felt. when he'd broken the glass, was that just a slip in his control? What had he been thinking about that had made it slip? He found himself wanting to know, to find out... and what would happen if there was a bigger slip? It had to be connected to his emotions, so why hadn't anything happened the day before? Bern had been such a mess... surely, he could easily have slipped then. Or was that just the tight hold he had?
Wess blinked a couple of times, forcing himself back to the present.
"My knowledge of runing is very basic." He told Elias, "I took only a few beginning courses. My interests were mostly in theory, so those were the classes I took. I have a fairly good understanding of how runing works fundamentally, and I do know some of the more simple runes. Most, actually... I got a bit ahead of my classes and taught myself more than the teacher was planning on revealing, though it was shortly after this that my interests shifted to noting, so my knowledge is only barely above that of an average beginning second-year student in the subject. I did not practice much with runes, but when I did, I found the manipulation of runes to achieve a desired goal was fairly easy, at least, at the level I was doing it at, and compared to those around me." He said the last part with a barely-noticeable tone of degradation, as if he didn't think they were much to compare himself to, but had taken this into consideration as well. "I am not certain what more you really need to know, as runing was more of a problem-solving exercise than anything else, as far as I was concerned."
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 20, 2014 21:27:31 GMT -8
Elias nodded as he listened to the other discuss his knowledge of runing. This was insightful to him. Yes, so it seemed that he grasped the theory very well. Among Notists who he tested, the ones who grasped the theory did tend to perform better and faster than the ones who didn't. And if his aptitude had been good with the testing of simple runes, even better. This was just what he was hoping to hear. "Good, good. It sounds like you are right where I would have hoped you to be. In that case, it will probably not be too difficult to inform you of just what you need to do."
Meanwhile, Bern just sat, waiting, though he didn't seem entirely inattentive. He was just waiting for his next command. While this new Bern was probably somewhat scary to Wess, it wasn't for a bad reason. Being a part of the military, or anything related to it, included discipline, and Bern was definitely responding to that. Not to mention, he probably had an insane amount of respect for Elias, the work he did, and the purpose behind it. Bern was acting very unlike himself, but that was because he truly was a subordinate here. He recognized his place and would do exactly as Elias told him. He might have not been acting the same, not as confident as he might have been in other situations, not as haughty. But if he was like that, it might have only impeded progress. It was probably a very good thing that he took all of this quite seriously, as it did seem to have the potential to be very dangerous. And the amount of focus it must have taken when he was actually doing things had to be immense. Perhaps Wess's wanting him to be the same was ill-founded... perhaps it was selfish. To Bern, being subordinate and at his commander's beck and call was of utmost importance. Though if it was something that disconcerted Wess that much, perhaps he should talk to Bern about it.
Elias took a step towards Wess, then another one. Before he realized it, perhaps, the other had a hand on his shoulder. "I'll show you what it feels like." As an Integrator, he could kind of transfer the energy toward Wess, like he had with Bern. However, he didn't have to touch Bern because the other had the potential to absorb the energy by himself. Wess didn't have that, so he had to make some kind of contact with him. "I'll draw up some energy and transfer it to you, so you can get a feel for what you're searching for." In the next few moments, Wess would feel it... a certain tingling warmth, something different than what he felt with Bern. It wasn't that destructive, unbalanced feeling energy that made his hair stand on end. It was comforting, more like the energy he'd expect out of the world, the kind of energy that sustained it. Perhaps... when the Liberator got hold of it, it transformed somehow... Either way, it was useful knowing what to feel for. After he was certain that Wess would have gotten an idea of the feel of the energy, Elias moved away. "So, that is what you will be searching for. For the next few minutes, I want you to close your eyes, and feel the world around you. When you did Runing, you had something physical to concentrate on. In this situation, you don't have anything to concentrate on, any kind of tool to manipulate, so you have to find it yourself. Right now, just try to feel the energy. This is something that most anyone can do." If he could find it, then he could start on his way to making this work. It was the first step, and from what Elias had said, it seemed that it was by far the easiest. If he could just sense the energy there at all...
After he was told to do this, Elias gave him some time. Then, after a while, he'd interrupt him. "Did you find the energy? I don't doubt you were able to do that much. Now, tell me... How did that energy feel to you? Could you tell just where it was? Or was it more nebulous? Yes, this energy is all around us, but I have more faith in this working out if you are able to sense the energy's location more precisely. Did you simply feel its presence, or did you feel its location?"
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 21, 2014 8:13:06 GMT -8
Wess hadn't really thought of the need for discipline in Bern here. He himself was acting quiet and respectful, trying to show Elias that he wasn't going to be a problem here, but with Bern it felt different, to him. Despite whatever valid reason there was for him toning down his humanity here, Wess couldn't help but see the use of him like a tool, and the easy way he was cast aside, and the fact that he was acting so entirely unlike the Bern Wess was used to. And he couldn't help but see Elias revolving at the center of his world instead, at least for the moment, and... well, the assumptions he was beginning to make weren't good ones. It didn't help that he'd continuously associated Bern's secrets with negative things, with him being in danger and getting himself hurt, with a distinct sinister feeling he couldn't shake. It may have been unfounded, and it probably was, but that didn't make him add everything up to something very, very negative any less.
But he was still getting through this, and he didn't intend to stop doing that. And... well, perhaps Elias was swaying his initial judgments already.
Wess stiffened when he felt the Commander's hand on his shoulder, suddenly, and clawed his way out of his thoughts quickly to listen to what he had to say. He relaxed some when Elias explained that it was only so he would be able to feel the energy first hand, but he remained tense. More tense than he'd been before. People didn't touch him, often... really, Bern and his mother were the only ones. So it was strange, and the suddenness of it shocked him.
And then there was that tingling warmth, a comforting feeling he couldn't place, and he had to force himself to remain calm and focus on it. He knew his own self well, his thoughts and emotions and what they meant, and having this sudden invading energy, this feeling that was forcing it's way in, was unnerving at first. After a moment he relaxed, though, and let his eyes shut so that he could focus his attention on it. It felt strange, much different from the energy Bern had accidentally released, but maybe that was just a product of his negative emotions at the time? Bern had mentioned Liberators altering energy, perhaps that was what had happened, and this was what it felt like in some kind of truer form...
Elias pulled away before he had a very strong hold of what it felt like, but the memory of it was still there, and it wasn't hard to comply when the Commander spoke next. He nodded, and shut his eyes, searching for that feeling with whatever seemed to have felt it in the first place. It was strange, and new, and certainly something he'd never done before, but he did try... And when he did start to feel it, just a little, it took him a moment to recognize that and try to hone in on it. He didn't entirely trust that he wasn't just imagining it, that it wasn't just there because he wanted it to be, but there was no way to really gauge that. He'd have to trust himself.
He managed to focus on that feeling, and pull it in a little stronger, and then he set his mind to memorizing what it felt like, picking out the notable details and trying to keep hold of them. He could sort of tell after a while, though, that it was something that he really wasn't imagining. It felt more like it was from outside of him... was that what Elias wanted, or did he want Wess to figure out the direction? He tried focusing on a specific direction, but he couldn't really tell... it sort of felt like it was in front of him, he thought, but he wasn't wholly certain.
He opened his eyes when Elias interrupted him, that feeling slipping away almost immediately. He almost snapped at him, told him that he'd messed him up in the middle of getting somewhere, but he quickly composed himself and nodded again.
It took him a moment to put his experience into words, but then he spoke, "I did find it, and after a moment, I was able to sense, vaguely, the direction it came from. Nothing more than that. No direct source, but rather something more akin to being able to tell the difference between your own thoughts, and someone else speaking, with a very vague idea that they may be in front of you." He shook his head, letting his eyes shut again, and brushed a hand through the hair at his forehead. He felt sort of jittery, now... that had been it, right? The test? He couldn't tell if he had passed or failed, he wasn't entirely sure what Elias wanted from him, what it was supposed to feel like... That was what he thought he'd felt, though. And he was partially confident in that, and mostly terrified that he'd messed this all up in some way. This situation was delicate, wasn't it? If he failed, something bad might happen to himself, or Bern, or both. He had to make himself useful here. "Given more time, I... think I may have been capable of pinning down a more specific source. But as of now, a very vague feeling is all I may offer."
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 21, 2014 11:23:06 GMT -8
Now it seemed that Wess had made some progress. Though Elias had shocked him out of it, that was the intent. He was not at a point yet where he could keep the focus among distraction. Elias had only wanted to give him a certain amount of time to find the energy. He had been able to find it, and within the time that Elias seemed to think was sufficient. If he hadn't been able to find it in that time, would he have had any promise? It might take him some time to realize why the other had done things the way he had, but he would realize. So far, it seemed that Wess was able to do something. Probably something more than most people were able to do. Elias had made it sound like most people could sense the energy. Some people could tell where it was. And... wait, there had to be more to this, right? He'd made it sound like Integrators were pretty rare. So had Bern.
And now, Elias was listening to him and nodding, his arms still crossed in front of him. He seemed to be considering what Wess was saying. But had he passed the test? Was there more? There had to be so many questions. There was just so much going on right now... Bern was still sitting there, as though waiting patiently for an order, and he'd barely moved since he'd seated himself.
Though after a few moments, Elias spoke again. "...Very well, then. Spend the next half hour here. Now that you know what direction to move in, work on it. Find the energy, feel it... and when you think you're ready for more, Bern can tell you where to go next. I'll return shortly. If you need me, Bern will be able to find me." And with that, he stepped out. Why was he leaving, though? Perhaps he could sense that Wess was unsettled; that his thoughts were all over the place. Maybe he knew that giving him some privacy would be more comfortable for him. It would just be him and Bern, someone he was more familiar with. And besides, having time to practice this would be good. He might be able to make some progress.
The door slammed shut, and the two of them were alone. Perhaps now, Wess would feel more comfortable... He could even move to be close to Bern again. The other wasn't making any efforts to move toward him right now, rather, he looked kind of sleepy, like he was dozing off a bit. Maybe he hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before. Had he been up all night worrying about Wess? Had what he'd done a moment ago really drained him? Either way it was, he looked like he was nodding off a little right then... perhaps he had really needed that coffee that Wess had kept him from drinking aftr all... Anyway, if he was allowing himself to rest, it was probably only because he felt safe enough to do so, being here with Elias and Wess... well, just Wess now. At this point, it looked like Wess was going to have to keep trying with this, to follow the other's orders.
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 21, 2014 16:41:41 GMT -8
Wess wasn't really sure what to think of Elias's response. He was nodding, but... did that mean he had expected this? That didn't tell Wess if it was good or bad, Elias didn't seem to have an opinion of his own on how well he thought Wess would do. Or maybe it meant he was still thinking about it, but if that was the case, then... why didn't he already know what results meant what? Or perhaps he wasn't certain if Wess was telling the truth. That was pretty fair, though it was kind of annoying. But not as much as being so damn unsure about this. What was he supposed to think, supposed to prepare himself for?!
He was honestly surprised by how easily the Commander granted him some extra time to try this. Wess hadn't really meant he wanted time now! Just that he could have done better if he'd had more time, but.. well, perhaps that was just what he wanted to test. How well Wess could do, given the time to do it. Alright, that made sense. He could live with that. Still, though, it was rather abrupt.
When Elias left, Wess waited a moment, unsure what exactly to do, then moved over to sit beside Bern on the floor. He looked... tired. Very tired. Was that because of what he'd done with that energy earlier? But from the way it sounded, he usually did this a whole lot more... shouldn't he be used to it by now? But then, there was the time he'd had to sleep over at Wess's... maybe this was what he had been doing earlier that day, and it was just that draining. Or... maybe he just needed his coffee? Or perhaps he'd had trouble sleeping the night before... not because of Wess, surely?
"Are you alright?" He asked the other, his tone gentle, and fingers brushing again at Bern's, this time a little more insistently. He could tell Bern didn't really want to show affection here, but Elias was gone, leaving... probably a camera or two, actually. He couldn't really tell, honestly, and he didn't really care. Not when he was so worried about the other. If Bern tried to pull away, Wess would let him be, but otherwise, he was... well, he wanted to make sure the other was okay. He was acting so strangely, and he looked so tired... Wess knew he should be doing what Elias had told him to, but he had a half an hour. He could spare a couple of minutes out of thirty to make sure Bern was okay. That was really his top priority, anyways.
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 21, 2014 18:41:15 GMT -8
With Elias gone, the room probably seemed quiet somehow... too quiet. Anyway, the other could continue to contemplate just why he'd left or what all of this meant, or he could continue to work on things as they needed to be. It sounded like he still had a long way to go, and perhaps that was why he was getting time to work on it, to refine the technique he'd been taught about. So then, he'd be able to move on to the next step and perhaps he'd grasp it. Perhaps he'd do it right away, if he was even capable. Maybe this was how the whole process worked. If he could get this far, he needed time to start developing that technique, then he could try to move on... and they would know then, for sure, if it was a possibility or not. Though, did Wess want it to be? It didn't sound like Elias was going to kill him or anything. Perhaps, if he refused to be involved, he'd have to. But it wasn't like he would kill him if he couldn't do -this-, right? So Wess didn't have to worry about his life, at least. Maybe that was enough. Anyway, maybe he had more time now because that was what Elias had originally intended, anyway. For him to develop that skill. What he'd been given certainly would not hurt.
When Wess sat down next to Bern, the other responded to his movements, raising his head and opening his eyes a little. He did look tired, but something about his appearance also looked comforted. Perhaps it was the way the other had come straight to him. or the fact that he just... clearly cared about him. Didn't want him to be exhausted. Well, Bern knew it wasn't really Wess's fault; it was his own. He'd had so much trouble focusing on anything last night, and he'd figured he just needed rest, but then when he tried to rest, his mind was on everything imaginable. Wess, this, everything. He'd stayed awake a long time, just thinking, unable to relax enough to sleep. And it was only by the wee hours of the morning that he managed to pass out... and only a couple hours after that, he had to wake up again. He was fine... He just didn't operate well when he couldn't sleep.
"I'm just fine, Wess," Bern replied, looking down at their hands as he felt the other brushing his fingers over his. "...Don't worry about me. Go ahead and practice." But instead of pulling away, he moved around to the other side of him, seating himself there, behind his back. Then he leaned back against him, closing his eyes again. He wanted the other to go ahead and practice. And he'd take a short nap, but nothing that would allow him to lose his consciousness, really. He wanted to be there to help Wess when he felt like he had a good grasp on this. He knew the next step of the process, and he could tell him how to go about it.
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Post by ActuallyFace on Feb 21, 2014 21:18:34 GMT -8
Wess still looked worried, despite Bern's assurance that he was okay, but he couldn't do too much about it now. He had to trust that Bern would tell him if he had some kind of immediate problem, and while there seemed to be a problem or two anyways, they probably weren't immediate if Bern wasn't telling him now. And he needed to practice here... He made a mental note to ask Bern about it later, when they'd left this place, or at least had the actual time to talk about things like that. He needed to practice. He didn't want to jeopardize either of them here.
He leaned back again Bern when the other sat behind him, grateful for the comforting pressure he provided. It was a nice reminder of his presence, his proximity... and he was warm, too, though Wess couldn't feel much beneath his jacket. He shut his eyes as well and leaned his head to rest against the other's, and used one hand to make sure both of them were steady there while the other searched for Bern's. If he could reach it, he would take it in his.
"I hope so." He muttered in reply to Bern, but he didn't wholly expect him to be listening anymore. Bern was probably drifting somewhere close to sleep, now, being so tired... And his calm, more stable presence was comforting to Wess, and put him somewhat at ease.
He let his mind start to wander, then, in search of that warm energy he'd felt before. It had seemed in front of him before, so now it was... probably behind him, right? He tried directing his attention that way, and while it was difficult, and it took him more time than it had the last time, since he'd had a recent memory for reference then, he did find it. Since he'd been focusing on a specific direction this time, it was far easier to tell that this was the right direction, and it was a little easier to convince himself that this was really... there. That he wasn't imagining it. He tried to push himself a little more, to focus in on where that energy specifically was, but it was difficult, and he started to grow frustrated. He even lost it entirely a couple of times, in his frustration, but he was able to calm himself quickly and find it again. It was just so vague... so completely strange, like it really wasn't there, but it had to be... after a long time, though, he was able to find a more exact location, and sort of focus in on that... he could even sort of tell the distance, if he concentrated hard enough...
He wanted to continue from there, but he made himself stop, and take a break. How long had it even been? It felt like hours, but he doubted it had gone over the thirty minute mark, as Elias hadn't come in to stop him... and he was getting sort of tired, too. But it didn't feel like he was going to get much further with this. The fingers of his right hand, which had been tapping against the floor in a little beat he hadn't really noticed, stilled as he pulled himself out of his thoughts.
"Bern?" He asked quietly, not wanting to wake him if he'd fallen asleep against Wess's back. "I believe I have reached my limit, here."
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Post by empyreanVisionary on Feb 21, 2014 22:23:52 GMT -8
If Bern wasn't being honest right now, it would be kind of ridiculous, right? Having both him and Elias there, surely he would have let them know if something was wrong. So hopefully, he wasn't actually putting himself at risk... that didn't seem quite like Bern despite his tendencies to withhold information about how he really felt, at least in this situation. He had literally not reason to withhold anything, even embarrassment. It would be ridiculous. So, the other rested and relaxed against him, instead of just sitting there nodding off. It was probably the better thing for both of them. Though, he never quite fell asleep. He just sat there, using the time to refine his own connection with the energy. He was practicing all the time, when he had his attention free. Wess would probably find himself doing it too, after he had a better grasp on things. The good news was that it would get easier and easier. Before long it would be nearly effortless. Wess had it a lot easier than Bern in that respect. He just had to feel for the energy, and later, manipulate it. Bern had to do a wide variety of things, and the whole mess of them tended to require some deep concentration, hence how much he'd gotten into the whole thing earlier. He had to rein in that energy that was pushed toward him. He had to hold it, manipulate its location. Then he had to push it. It was all different than Wess's job, but Wess's job here was so important, too.
When the other got to a point that he felt he could move on, and he stirred Bern's attention, the other moved back from him, turning around to look. He hadn't fallen asleep at all; he'd just been waiting. So, when the other insisted that he'd finally gotten to his limit, Bern stood up, and walked over, several feet away from him. He didn't get too far. Only about 6 feet or so, and he sat back down. At first the other would probably be a bit confused as to why he'd moved away. But if Wess got up to follow him, Bern would hold his hand out, to indicate to him to stop instead of following him. Then, he'd sit there, looking back at the other. "If you feel like you know where it is, and you're sure of it, you need to try to push it toward me. Just... in the same way you sense it, use your will... This is the part that requires you to have the talent. If you can move the energy, if you can push it toward me, then you are doing what you need to do to be an Integrator." He just smiled slightly, waiting for the other. He would spend this time focusing, reaching out on his own to sense the energy, while Wess worked at it. It might not necessarily happen at first; it would take him some time to get the right push even if he could push. But Bern would wait patiently, sensing for the energy. He knew that if Wess could do this, he'd have an Integrator again. One that wasn't Elias. It wasn't that he didn't like having Elias, but he would have loved to have Wess instead... To have him involved, to know he could have someone he could trust. Someone he wanted to be close to... And it would drive him to be more protective, too.
And soon, after all this was over, they could have some time together, again. Bern was really looking forward to going back and having a cup of coffee. He found himself daydreaming a bit while he sat and waited. Briefly, he realized that soon, Elias would be coming back. Then his mind was back on coffee again. And finally, when he really let it wander, he was thinking about Wess. About something he wanted to do for him... that is, if he found the time. And a little extra money. He'd been thinking about it for a while now. He thought he knew the sorts of interests the other held, and he thought he would appreciate what he had come up with... Now he just had to bring it to him...
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