Busking at the Fountain

[ginger_firebird]

Visitors to the fountain might see a somewhat unusual sight this day. Mantis is having a glorious sit next to the mist coming off of the water and has a leash wrapped around his wrist. On the other end of the leash is a catwing in a harness. It’s a happy little calico flapping his wings and batting at the water as Mantis watches. There’s a basket with long straps sitting by Mantis’ feet and from it he pulls out a bottle of water to drink from. The weather has been simply too hot for his liking, but Yaga needs his exercise.

Mantis sighs and wipes at the sweat pooling at the back of his neck. He’s dressed in the lightest cotton tank he could find and the most breathable linen pants, and still he’s overheating marvelously. The swimming heat does give him an idea, though, and he looks around him briefly before nodding. There were people in the Nexus who knew when their minds were being read. Surface thoughts that were easy enough to get through, but he’s also met those who have a profound level of influence and control.

So why not see where they are? One psychic to another. Mantis begins to hum quietly to himself, but sensitive ears and minds might be able to hear his hymn. It’s a mournful little melody born out of the remnants of childhood memories and he’s used it to amplify his powers for years. It was always meant to sink deep into a part of the brain that was easier to read, easier to control, but he’s not looking to make a puppet or even mess around all that much.

A question echoes and repeats along the notes of the music as it cycles back and forth along the vicinity around the fountain and perhaps even further: “Can you hear me? Do you know where I am? How alone are we in a place like this?”

Comments

[unapprovedtrash]

BD beeps joyfully but instead of hopping off Cal's back he instead projects a holographic image of a very weird bird in front of the catwing. Normally this creature is enormous but the projection is a little smaller then the feline.

"I know Ben... I don't know his whole story but, he's been through a lot," and there was only so much of his history he was willing to sift through when he read his lightsaber. Too much and you get invasive, "The Force is a power... it's, ugh well herd to explain. One of my teachers back at the temple would been able to do better..."

He frowns, no helping that.

"It's like a energy, it's in everything and around it but it also has a will of it's own in a way. Some people can sense it, feel the way it flows, and some of those people, like Ben and myself can manipulate it."

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis is interested in the strange looking bird, but less so than Yaga. The catwing backs up from the image only to crouch low in a pouncing position. With a little wiggle and a jump, he falls through the hologram, wings flapping in a futile effort to remain airborne.

Mantis laughs at the display of feline hunting and picks Yaga up. "Fooled by mere technology. That's an interesting looking bird."

"Ben has tired explaining the Force before. He's handling himself well, given the menace he was before he died." He makes a thoughtful noise at the new description. "Living conduits for a pervading force. My own powers come from within. It sounds like you almost borrow the powers you have rather than the powers actually belonging to you."

[unapprovedtrash]

"The Shyyyo from Kashyyyk. The locals see them as protectors of the forest," he smiles, though there's something a little sad, "There's only one left. I had the great honor of meeting her and riding on her back through the forest."

Despite everything else that was going on then... That moment soaring above the trees had been nothing short of magical. He felt a connection with that bird. They were both survivors.

"To answer your question though... yes and no," he laughs awkwardly, "I'd guess that for as long as people have been able to use the Force there has been debate over its true nature by people who have spent a lot longer thinking about then I have. I'd say it's a mystery but it more like a thousand times a thousand loosely connected mysteries all tangled up in an impossible mess. When I use the Force though? It doesn't feel like borrowing anything. It's an extension of myself."

[ginger_firebird]

"The last? That's always depressing to hear, even if you just found out about the species. I hope she lives an exceptionally long life if she's really the last."

"That's the kind of thing he says too. It's borrowed, but it also sounds like you're made of a part of that Force, which is why your kind don't feel like you're borrowing it. Mine are thought to be a genetic fluke that is passed from parent to child."