Slightly backdated to midway through Emperor's golf space

[amadine]

[Most announcements of newly-discovered skills these days seem to come with some sort of show. This one doesn't - there's nothing all that intersting about someone failing entirely to do something, after all.]

It seems it's possible to suppress another Traveler's connection to Liminal Space such that they lose the ability to generate portals or manipulate Liminal matter for a time. Not easy, but possible.

Given the current population [you know, the amazing teleporting baby], I thought this development might interest a few of you.

Comments

[neverfeltthatway]

I haven't actually tried it on anyone, but I think the same is possible for the telepathic network.

[amadine]

Now there's a disquieting thought.

[neverfeltthatway]

Quite.

...Would you be willing to test it at some point? It would be good to know for sure, and to figure out the specifics.

[amadine]

I think you might be better off with a test subject who has more than a rudimentary level of skill with the network.

[neverfeltthatway]

I think it would be advantageous to test it on people at all levels of skill with the network.

[amadine]

And there are only so many you think might be willing to let you poke around in their heads, hmm?

[There's a moment's silence in which she weighs the options.]

I'll do it in the spirit of learning more about our wardens' tools.

ack pretend this was all video

[neverfeltthatway]

...I haven't exactly been actively searching. But I won't deny that that may be a concern too, if I were.

[He nods, silently thanking her.]

Where and when would you like to try it? [They should be together when they do it, since if he's successful she won't have another way of contacting him.]

[amadine]

I have no pressing business now. Come to my rooms - that way, if anything goes wrong, we're at least in a secure space.

[Video] -> [Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

All right. I'm on my way.

***

[A couple minutes later, there's a quiet knock on her door.]

[amadine]

[The door opens onto the familiar glassy chamber. The view outside the window is similar to the one he might have seen on a previous visit, though it looks more like a painting with the colours starting to bleed together than an actual place. The small table is set with wine, and a sort of spice cake with bits of candied orange mixed in. Sabetha waves him towards it.]

Come in. Make yourself comfortable.

[neverfeltthatway]

Thank you.

[He moves in the table she indicates - but though he tries a small bit of the candied orange curiously, he remains standing and leaves the wine untouched.]

[amadine]

You're looming.

[It's lightly said. She shuts the door, and crosses the chamber to claim one of the seats.]

At least sit, if you won't drink. If I'm submitting myself to magical experimentation, I'd prefer to at least pretend it's among friends.

[neverfeltthatway]

[He blinks, then flushes lightly, sitting across from her.]

Sorry - whenever I try something like this, I tend toward a more military mindset. [Which would obviously explain the stiffness.] ...I do think of you as a friend.

[amadine]

[Her eyebrows lift slightly at that, though she makes no comment.]

What is it you need me to do?

[neverfeltthatway]

For right now, nothing. In a moment, I'll try to cut you off from the network - and then I'll need you to try to reach out through the network. If you can't, I'll see if I can sense your presence through it. Assuming I succeed at all, that will tell us if I've simply cut off your ability to communicate with the network, or severed your connection with it entirely.

...Are you ready? [He assumes she is. But it seems like the kind of thing you need to ask, even if you've already talked about it.]

[amadine]

An important distinction.

[She draws a wholly unnecessary breath to brace herself for the psychic intrusion - necessary in order to collect the information they want, but still disquieting - and nods.]

I'm ready.

[fridgeninja]

What would happen if someone was cut off at the beginning or end of a Jaunt?

[amadine]

I doubt our gracious hosts are inclined to let us go that easily, if you're getting any ideas in that direction. But if you want to see what comes of it...

[fridgeninja]

That seems like it could be unfortunate, so probably not.

[amadine]

Then you'll have to wait to find out until it becomes a necessity.

[Private]// Psychic Protection II

[neverfeltthatway]

...I might be willing to try.

[amadine]

Do you have any facility with portals or manipulation of Liminal Space? I've never seen you make use of them...

[Which doesn't mean much, considering how rarely they interact, but still, it's something that might skew any tests.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[An unconscious frown crosses his face - that's something of a sore spot - but he shakes his head readily enough.] None. I've never managed even so much as a portal.

[amadine]

That might make ascertaining the results a little more difficult - we'd be able to see if it delayed your arrival, but not if it somehow damaged your ability to interact with Liminal Space under your own power for a significant portion of the Jaunt.

[neverfeltthatway]

A fair point. Let me know if you don't get another volunteer, though.

[amadine]

I will.

[neverfeltthatway]

...Or if you'd like to test it with someone cut off from the telepathic network as well as their liminal powers and senses.

[amadine]

...Now there's a thought. We should see what severing someone from both at once does, even if all that comes of it is that we know not to do it in the future if there isn't a dire need.

[neverfeltthatway]

That's part of why I volunteered, to be honest. I know I can cut myself off pretty easily. And if it turns out to be dangerous... [He'd rather put himself at risk than anyone else.]

[amadine]

Your friends will skin me alive.

[So very dry. Sorry, Armin, your crew doesn't really have a reputation for sane and measured responses.]

[Private]// Psychic Protection II

[neverfeltthatway]

...I can set a message to play for them on the network in case I don't show up for the jaunt, making clear it was my choice. I'm confident I could talk them down from anything stupid - and you wouldn't have to tell them.

[He doesn't, however, even try to assure her that his friends would behave in a sane and reasonable manner if he turned up missing. He's not that good of an actor.]

[amadine]

I have no intention of telling them anything. I'm not, however, entirely convinced they don't have some bizarre extra sense that alerts them to any threats.

[That probably isn't serious.

Probably.]

[neverfeltthatway]

...They seem to have created something on an impression. [He seems torn somewhere between surprise, amusement, and exasperation. Which is honestly right about par for the course, when it comes to his friends from home]

[amadine]

You could say that, yes. Though to be fair, few Travelers are known for their reserved and accommodating personalities.

[neverfeltthatway]

[That brings a wryly amused expression to his face.] As a group, we aren't particularly known for how calm and collected we are, no.

[amadine]

I suppose too much calm would be counterproductive. True, it would make us more likely to resign ourselves to our fates, but it would also make us less likely to act.

[dino_zarf]

That could be... pretty useful.

[To make the baby stay put]

[amadine]

I thought you or your wife might find some use for such a trick.

[dino_zarf]

Can think of a use or two. Locking down portals is one thing, but that sounds... versatile.

[amadine]

It's broader, certainly, but it's absolute. I don't think you could just suppress one aspect, and leave the rest operational.

[dino_zarf]

Might be the only safe thing for her, sometimes.

[amadine]

Sometimes, certainly. And you can withdraw the block, if circumstances change.

[Thankfully. Things might have gotten awkward, if she hadn't been able to rescind the restriction on Minako's powers.]