>>30850278
>>>Have a friendly conversation with her, avoid anything serious.

HAHA, SOCIAL LINKS.

>>30850278
PROPER FRIENDLINESS ACTIVATE

After setting up the dinner table with spaghetti and some water, you head back to your room, knocking on the door lightly before letting yourself in. Sylvia is still lying there. "Hey," you say, softly, "dinner's ready. You want to come eat something?"

Sylvia sits up and nods. "Thank you very much," she says, before following you out of the room at sitting down at the table. You try to manage a friendly conversation, but it's hard. She doesn't seem particularly interested in talking, and to be frank you don't have much to talk about with her.

"You read any good books or anything?"

"No."

"Do you do anything for fun...?" You try, desperate to find some topic to discuss.

"I heal people. It's very fulfilling."

>Well, that's more of a response than anything else. Maybe that would be a good topic for discussion?
>You could bring up something from your own life, like... [Write-in]
>That seems like it might be too personal. Or she might be intentionally stonewalling you. Either way, letting it go would be fine.
>Write-in.

>>30850459
"Just physical, or mental wounds too?"

>>30850459

>Well, that's more of a response than anything else. Maybe that would be a good topic for discussion?

Maybe ask what it's like for her to use her powers.

>>30850550
Just physical. With her powers, at least.

>>30850558
>>Just physical. With her powers, at least.
For all we know she likes to play armchair psychologist. Do you want to define her only by her power?

>>30850571
lol that's why I said just with her powers guy

>>30850558
>Just physical. With her powers, at least.
It's been previously mentioned that it sometimes works on mental things.

>There's a good period of silence. "First of all, I have to warn you that our healer is good with sicknesses of the body, not of the soul. She has had some successes, but your situation sounds like it would not be one she's well-suited to. The more physical the problem, the more likely it is that she can deal with it. Even if she can heal it, it might be impossible put all the pieces back together where they once were."
>
>"Oh..." you say, your voice falling.
>
>"Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that your mother is beyond help, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. If you're still interested, we might be able to arrange something, but someone would take your mother to the site, and she'd have to be restrained until she returned home. We'd hate for her to hurt herself or someone else, after all."

>>30850459
> So...all you do is heal people? What about when there aren't anyone around to heal for a little while?

>>30850459
>So... do you like Doctor Who?

>>30850459
>So... that weather, huh?

You decide to try to test the waters there. Her reaction seemed more sincere on that than elsewhere, and it's as good a topic as any.

"What's it like to use your powers?"

She pauses, considering your question. "It's like a whole other sense. It sort of feels like the people I touch's body is an extension of my own, except even more aware? I'm aware of my own body a lot more, too. And there's a sort of blueprint of how the body is 'supposed' to look, separate from all the damage and loss."

You just nod, trying to encourage her to speak further, but that seems to be all she has to say. "What does it feel like to heal them?"

She shrugs. "It doesn't really feel like anything. I just concentrate on what I want to happen and it happens."

"Does it work on physical trauma only, or does it do mental trauma too?"

"It depends. Sometimes a sickness of the soul is actually a sickness of the body, other times it isn't. Generally it doesn't, unless there's an obvious physical cause, like a hormonal imbalance, or a tumor pressing up against the brain, or a chemical addiction, or something to that effect."

>Keep going on this topic.
>Change topics. [Write-in]
>Nod and eat the rest of the meal in silence.
>Write-in.

>>30850847
Does it look like she enjoys talking about this? If so, sure, keep talking on it. Otherwise, ask if she has anything she wants to do or see while she's out in the free world.

>>30850847
>Change topics. [Write-in]
Ask how she joined up with the church.

>>30850847
>stop me if you don't want to talk about this, but did you do much before that?

>>30850847
Reach out and touch her hand, casually.

>>30850989
uuuuh id rather not do this
it's weird

"How did you join up with the Church?"

"I needed a place to stay. They provided me with one."

You can detect something behind that, but you're not sure quite what. "If you don't want to talk about this, you don't have to, but what did you do before you were a healer?"

"I lived," she says. "It was just a time that I spent unknowingly waiting for this, I think."

>Press more about her pre-Church/pre-Healer life.
>Leave it there, move on to something else.
>Did she join up with the Church before she became a Healer?
>Write-in.

>>30851142
>What does yours say when it talks to you?

>>30851142
>Don't you find it a problem, tying your identity and self so closely to your gift? I find it helps me stay sane and happy to have a variety of things to do and people to talk to.

>>30851142
>Did she join up with the Church before she became a Healer?

also >>30851204

"Did you join up with the Church before you became a Healer?"

"No. It was immediately afterwards. Carrying an aspect of the Goddess pushed me towards it, I think. They provided me food and shelter. At the time, I was confused, hurt, alone, and they showed me nothing but kindness. I have no doubt that it was the Goddess's will."

"Don't you think it's a little problematic to tie your identity so deeply into your gift? I mean, what about friends, or other interests, or things like that?"

"I have a true and genuine purpose. That's something very few people have. Friends are nice, but I wouldn't trade this for them."

>Write-in.

>>30851522
> Well, I'm not saying you should trade ALL of it...I mean, there aren't any moments of the day, or week, where you could use a break? Might even help you perform better and enjoy it more when you heal.

>>30851522
Alright....
I just find that my friends are a good anchor. They keep me tied to reality amidst all this craziness.

>>30851522
>You know that over the next few months we are going to have to kill a lot of people. How do you feel about that?

"I'm not saying that you have to trade one for the other, but friends are nice to have. Connections, you know? Tie you to the rest of the world, give you a break from work."

There's a long silence. "Maybe."

You let the words percolate for a while, just eating in silence with Sylvia. After a while, though, you change the topic. "Over the next few months, we're going to have to kill a lot of people. How do you feel about that?"

"Nothing much. I guess it hasn't really settled in yet. Or maybe I just don't care. I can heal more than I hurt, right?" She asks, turning to you.

>Write-in.

>>30851840
> "Yeah. You can. And a lot of these people would hurt others if we didn't kill them. Probably almost all. But it can still be hard."

>>30851840
>Yeah. Besides, at the point we get to the ones we have to kill, I'm not sure you could call them people anymore.

"Yeah. You can."

"It's fine then," she says, before you can even continue.

You awkwardly pause for a second, but continue anyway. "A lot of these people would hurt others if we didn't kill them, too."

She nods mutely, spooning more spaghetti into her mouth as she stares languidly at you.

>Keep discussing the Incubator stuff. [What, in particular?]
>Press more about her pre-Church/pre-Healer life.
>Leave it there, move on to something else.
>Write-in.

>>30852141
>Press more about her pre-Church/pre-Healer life.

>>30852141
>Press more about her pre-Church/pre-Healer life.
We'll see how she feels when the actual fighting comes around.

>>30852141
>...why so staring?

>>30852141
>Press more about her pre-Church/pre-Healer life.
Try and learn about when she became a healer, and if it was before or after she found the church.

"What was your life like before you became a Healer?"

She pauses, twisting her head as though searching for the words. "Low-quality," she settles on. "I was blind and homeless."

"Ah," you say, at a bit of a loss for words for a moment. "That must have been unpleasant," you float.

She shrugs. "You can get used to anything."

>Were you aware of the Church before you became a Healer?
>Awkward. Change the subject. [Write-in]
>Awkward. Change the subject, discuss nothing of importance. [Timeskip]
>Write-in.

>>30852445

>Were you aware of the Church before you became a Healer?

>>30852445
>Were you aware of the Church before you became a Healer?
Might run some sort of homeless shelter or the like.

You try to segue to something mildly less awkward. "Were you aware of the Church before you became a Healer?"

"Not as far I can really recall. I had probably heard of it and forgotten it a couple times, but nothing important. There wasn't any real connection before I started carrying an aspect of the Goddess. Only afterwards, when a Sister offered me aid and comfort."

>Write-in.

Sorry for the long wait on the short update, I went to pick up soda.

>>30852767
> Well, that's nice of them - or her at least. How long has it been since you, uh, gained the aspect as you call it?

"Well, that was nice of them - or her, at least."

"George helped provide the lodgings," Sylvia interrupts.

"Okay," you say with a nod. "How long has it been since you, uh... started carrying an aspect of the Goddess, as you put it?"

It was about a month between then and when I started living in that facility," she says, counting on her fingers, "and then seventy-eight days in it, so... somewhere between a hundred and a hundred fifteen days."

>That's about all your questions. Switch to lighter topics for the remainder of the meal. [Timeskip]
>Reciprocate her disclosures. Tell her something about yourself. [Write-in]
>Ask her something else. [Write-in]
>Write-in

>>30853266
>Reciprocate her disclosures. Tell her something about yourself. [Write-in]
Tell her how we awakened. No need to say that the thugs were sent by our girlfriends older brother though.

>>30853266
>Reciprocate her disclosures. Tell her something about yourself. [Write-in]
Sure, try not to complain about mom though, just mention she's a bit ill in the head. Talk about brother dearest and Tracy - maybe not Ned, or at least not detailed, his ties to the church might be problematic still.

>>30853329
>>30853298
maybe even both, she talked a lot about herself

"I guess I should probably tell you some about myself. You already 'met' my mom. She's been a bit... off, I guess would be the word, since Dad died."

Sylvia nods in response, remaining silent otherwise, so you continue.

"Uh, my big brother is getting into law enforcement. I've been going out with Tracy, my girlfriend," you say, watching her expression for anything. Ned says the Church is completely fine with homosexuality, but a lot of Christians say the same thing about the Bible despite it obviously not being true. She doesn't change her expression in the least, so you continue on. "For about a month now? It's, she's cute and I like her, and she likes me, so that's great."

Sylvia keeps eating, listening to you babble, and you try to shift tracks again.

"I, uh, awakened, I guess you might call it, when I got attacked and beat up by a bunch of thugs."

Sylvia finally speaks up at this point. "Why did they attack you?"

>"I'm dating their boss's little sister."
>"They were just homophobes, I guess."
>"I don't know."
>Write-in.

>>30853615
> "Ah, it's a bit personal...but I guess so's the other stuff we've talked about, so fuck it. I'm dating their boss's little sister."

>>30853799
Seconded

sorry for the late votes, bit busy today

"It's a bit personal," you start, "but I guess the other stuff we've talked about is too. I'm dating their boss's little sister."

"Tracy?" She asks, attempting to confirm.

"Yeah, her name's Tracy."

"Sounds like a lot of unnecessary drama, to me."

>Shrug. "It kind of is, but I like her."
>"It's a lot less taking to deal with now that I don't really have to worry about Jim or his guys beating the shit out of me. What with the nigh-on invulnerability"
>"I'm going to go meet up with Jim and touch base tomorrow. Hopefully there'll be less drama in the future because of that."
>Write-in.

>>30854077
>"It's a lot less taxing to deal with now that I don't really have to worry about Jim or his guys beating the shit out of me. What with the nigh-on invulnerability. Plus, she's worth it, so far at least."

>>30854077
>it used to be, but now I know I can pull his spine out through his ass if he ever really crosses the line

>>30854077
>"I'm going to go meet up with Jim and touch base tomorrow. Hopefully there'll be less drama in the future because of that."

"It's a lot less taxing to deal with now that I don't really have to worry about Jim - that's Tracy's older brother - or his guys beating the shit out of me. What with the nigh-on invulnerability and all."

Sylvia just nods. "I also find that I feel a lot more secure with my powers. Of course, a lot else has changed."

"Plus," you say, with a small smile, "she's worth it."

Sylvia just rolls her eyes in response.

"I'm going to go meet up with Jim and touch base tomorrow. Hopefully there'll be less drama in the future because of that."

"What will I be doing?"

>Write-in.

>>30854343
> "What do you WANT to be doing? I gotta admit I'm not too comfortable leaving any incubator alone here with my mother, maybe George will want a visit? Worst case I could bring you along or contact some of my allies, but I'm open to ideas.

>>30854343
Uuuuh, I don't know. Is there anything you want to do? I could drop you off at a movie theater or something while I'm out.

>>30854343
>"Well you probably don't want to come along. Um, now that we're on the topic of occupying your time, do you go to school? The church set you up with some sort of education, right?"

"What do you want to be doing?"

"Healing people would be nice."

"Well, I could contact George, see how that will work out in the future. I assume he doesn't want to just have you stay with me at all times, so he probably has some sort of plan for dealing with this. Actually, now that we're on the subject, do you go to school?"

"Not in a long time."

"The Church set you up with some kind of education, though, right?"

"They were trying, then the Destroyer was made manifest through me, and, well, they didn't try any longer."

>Write-in.

>>30854639
> "Yeah, that...I can imagine that would suck. Do you think George would be okay with you coming around, or?"

>>30854639
I could maybe drop you off at a hospital or something while I talk, or bring you back to George for a bit, whichever you prefer.

"Okay, I see, yeah, that would suck. Do you think George would be okay with you coming around, or...?"

"You should probably ask him," Sylvia responds, finishing off the last of her spaghetti. "I'm going to go sleep."

"Right, okay then," you say, awkwardly, as she walks off.

>Call George, see about sending her in for him to watch during the school hours.
>Mentally prepare for dealing with Jim.
>Go to sleep.
>Write-in.

>>30854994
>Call George, see about sending her in for him to watch during the school hours.

Just say you're busy and that she would prefer to spend her spare time healing people. Also ask if you can put her in school, and if the church could pay for her education.

>>30854994
>>Call George, see about sending her in for him to watch during the school hours.

Should be fine since work hours are pretty close to school hours, so our alias is safe.
Are we dropping her off with him for the Jim talk too, or just at a hospital?

>>30855092
>Are we dropping her off with him for the Jim talk too, or just at a hospital?
Pretty sure you can't just go wandering into everybody's rooms at a hospital without being, like, a doctor.

>>30854994
>Call George, see about sending her in for him to watch during the school hours.
If he'd been more considerate, maybe we could have worked this out before picking her up instead of having to save her with nothing prepared..

>>30855132
>implying it's not because I forgot

>>30855132
Well, he also doesn't know we're in school, we told him we were 22 and married.

>>30855168
or that lol

You call up George.

"Mrs. Smith?"

"Yes. I want to send Sylvia back to you, for you to deal with, tomorrow. I have some personal issues and work I need to deal with. You can schedule some healings or whatever for her time there."

"I'll send someone over in the morning," George says. "Is that all?"

>Yes.
>Write-in.

>>30855433
Now that she's with me, manifestations shouldn't be a concern any longer. I'd like to put her in school.

>>30855433
Thinking about it, we don't really have any good moves here. With someone after her on top of the standard fear of manifestation, can we REALLY justify leaving her without incubator surveillance for even a second a day? Now, a one-time thing is fine, but we have no way of reconciling her wish of continuing to heal stuff, and our need to continue to go to school and have a personal life. We can't toss her around to Richard or Daniel every time we have a date or whatever, and they're both busy during the day like we are anyway.

Any ideas?

>>30855544
We don't really want to leave her with either of them anyway. Richard is majorly antisocial and terrible with people, and Daniel is just Daniel.

I wanted to do this >>30855485
Keeps her busy while we're busy, plus we can probably suggest our school to George. She'll technically have 2 Incubators watching over her there, us and Richard.

>>30855591
Yeah, this solves the day problem, but it still leaves us the problem of her healing. She's not gonna accept being unable to heal people regularly I don't think, but we can't send her off along, ESPECIALLY not on a regular schedule which that other incubator could sniff out. And obviously we're often busy ourselves in the afternoon and evenings.

>>30855591
>along
*alone, sorry.

>>30855666
Fuck, I mislinked, was meant to go to >>30855637. Guess I better go sleep already, with how late it is.

>>30855637
She might need to accept being unable to heal people regularly. Hopefully it'll just be until George can find who leaked the info that she was being dropped off, and then we can start letting her go back to the church regularly to heal people. Otherwise we can get her back to them on an erratic schedule, but that's about it. We'll have to tell her that this way she still gets to heal people, but if she's captured she'll be forced to only heal the people who kidnapped her.

>>30855544
Daniel is 19. I don't know if I said that, but it's true.

>>30855803
So not busy.
I'm still pretty sure Sylvia would hate spending any amount of time near him though. We can maybe have him as an absolute last resort.

>>30855803
Well, I imagine he still has stuff to do during the day, right? And either way, her healing time is what's hard to plan around.

>>30855841
I wouldn't imagine, any free time she has she can spend it healing. The tough part is that we need to keep it secret until we find the Ballista.

Maybe we can have George send patients who need healing to a location, and then show up there ourselves with Sylvia. We'd have to arrange the time and place with him beforehand, and probably keep a few escape routes open if we were attacked.

"Is it possible to get her put in school?"

"...not really, I'm afraid. She was never officially adopted, and after the situation earlier... she exists in a sort of legal limbo. Getting her out of it would require putting her in front of a lot of people asking a lot of uncomfortable questions that there are no easy answers to."

"I see," you say, lips a thin line. "No, that will be all for the moment. Look through your people for a traitor, though - I imagine someone was told that she was being moved, and that information was leaked to her attacker."

"Duly noted," he says, and you hang up.

>Sleep.
>Write-in.

>>30856058
>Sleep

guhhhh school isn't an option
this gon be tricky
maybe we can talk to richard and see if he can clear up that legal limbo, or if he can come up with some way for her to heal people. She'll just have to spend a day idle. We'll explain tomorrow that she's in danger and it's a delicate situation.

>>30856058
>Sleep
Sleep on things!
Uh, where is Sylvia sleeping?

>>30856179
Your bedroom.

>>30856179
your bed, we offered it to her as a guest
we're roughin it on the couch.

>>30856225
Fuck.
Ah well, not everything can go as planned. Or anything.

>>30856264
?
I thought this was what we planned. Sleeping on the couch isn't that bad lol.

>>30856310
>Sleeping on the couch isn't that bad.
If you have a good couch maybe - once or twice.
We need to find her a bed somewhere.

>>30856392
We could buy an air mattress, they aren't that expensive. Maybe the church could subsidize it.

You pull a spare blanket out of the hallway closet, go flop down on the couch, and pull the blanket over yourself with a yawn. Your dreams feature your stupid Cambion doing stupid Cambion things like calling you weak because you're not slaughtering all your enemies in hand-to-hand combat, while you steadfastly ignore it.

>THREAD END.

Sorry to call it here, but I can't imagine that there's a good stopping point at any time in the next hour or two worth of updates.

>>30856505
Alright, thanks for running!

>>30856505
Alright, thanks for the thread! Enjoyed it as always! See you next Saturday!