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om_mainBetsy is exploring in her astral form, and Felix encounters her fluttering down the hall. They adventure about the mansion together, and discuss aspects of their shared abilities.
Though it was late, Felix hadn't made his way to bed yet. Sometimes, he dreamed so much during the day that it was difficult to dream at night, so he found reasons not to go to bed. At least he wasn't afraid of his dreams, not right now.
Tonight, Felix had stayed up late watching a movie on cable, and then wandered to the library and then to the kitchen, and now was trailing down the hall with a new book under one arm and a slice of cold pizza in the other hand (fingers protected from pizza-grease by several layers of napkin -- Felix wouldn't risk smudging a library book). He was almost down to the crust when he caught sight of a remarkable thing: a little glowing light floating down the hallway. Felix stopped, and screwed up his eyes, blinking, trying to decide if that was real, or a ghost, or just something his mind thought it saw.
"Hello?" Felix asked softly.
The purple light paused in its path down the hall and after a moment's pause it turned and floated its way back towards Felix. As it grew closer it became apparent that the shape was like a butterfly, blurred around the edges as the light of it flickered around the shape.
Hello, Felix. It was Betsy's voice, chiming softly in his mind.
"Oh!" If he hadn't been so accustomed to working with the Professor, Felix might have been quite disturbed indeed by the mental voice, but he had come to understand that it was natural and normal, for people whose minds worked as theirs did. Still, he looked around quickly, up and down the hall and behind him, but did not see Betsy at all. So then, this little butterfly must be... ?
Felix stepped closer, peering in fascination at the wee purple glow. "Is this you when you're not in your head?"
The light bobbed. Yes. I'm otherwise still in my room. Most of the other students don't notice me.
Oops. That meant, if anyone else walking by, they would just see Felix standing in the hallway talking to himself. Lucky for him, not many were awake. He decided to answer silently instead. You can go anywhere, when you're astral? Not just dreams? Wow.
The nice thing about telepathy was that he could finish his pizza and still have a conversation.
Yes, I find it easier to navigate outside of dreams. I can't control dreams, as you do, and they shift without an anchor. I prefer to wander somewhere more solid.
Felix took a step back, so Betsy could keep wandering if she wanted to. He could go along with her, make sure her invisible form stayed safe. You're so pretty! You're pretty normally, but I like the butterfly. Did you choose that shape?
Not really, she admitted. The professor says that with practice I should be able to change my shape, but this is what comes naturally. With more effort I could look like me... well, the usual me, but I'd have to project the shape into other people's minds. I'm just traveling now, and that's hardly any effort. She flitted down the hallway in a direction that seemed most interesting, moving slowly so Felix could follow.
Readily, Felix followed, curious to see what an astral form would find interesting. I can only be me, but dreams aren't a real space. You're actually in the real world. How do you do it?
Her light looped around him before continuing forward. I let my mind leave my body, that's really all. It's the difference between listening and actively searching with my mind.
Felix giggled around the crust of his pizza, and trailed along in the wake of the purple butterfly. It's easier for me to go looking for dreams, than it is to just wander into one. I just don't know how to get out of the dream space. Do you know what you're looking for?
Anything new, Betsy admitted. Looking for people at this time of night is never a wise idea. You don't know what you'll walk by on.
The following footsteps hesitated, and Felix made a face. Fastidiously wiping his hands on his napkin, he wrapped his arms around his book, holding it like a shield. The reaction in his mind was a sharp and visceral negative. That was the last thing he wanted to see. Yeah, no thanks. And if they can't see you, they'd never know.
It's easy to avoid people when you can hear them ahead. You, of course, are quiet, and I forgot that you would be able to see me. I don't mind bumping into you so late at night. What would you like to see, Felix? Upstairs, downstairs, outside? The stars or the empty rooms?
Felix didn't have to think. Empty rooms. I found one on my own, but there are a lot more, I'm sure. Besides, if we stay inside, I can't wander off onto the moor guided only by my own crazy.
True. It would look a bit like you were mislead into the night. This way, then. The path less traveled.
I bet they'd be more traveled if people figured out they could come down here to ... get intimate, Felix noted, his mental voice quite dry. The frequency with which his classmates seemed to get physically involved wasn't something Felix could ignore any more, and he was starting to feel distinctly uncomfortable about it.
Creative ways to get around having a roommate. Be glad you are not an empath.
Felix wrinkled his nose. I don't think I have to worry about that with Philip. The stray thought of ... maybe that's why they put him with me... wandered through the back of his mind.
It's always about respecting boundaries. Philip is one of the most respectful boys I know.
Softly, in his mind, Felix agreed, He's great. I got lucky.
Talking to Betsy without a physical form, using only his thoughts, made talking seem so much easier. Felix had pretty good mental shields, but there was a bubbling wealth of more words lingering right behind those shields, and he had to be pretty careful not to let them out. Exploring the house with someone who could do the kinds of things he could do, who only he could see, was much too delightful to spoil with Felix's issues.
Betsy swirled around him again before leading up a hallway. She didn't mind what frothed over the edges of Felix's thoughts. It was a shadowy path, but she wasn't afraid. There was too much comfort in speaking so easily with someone that didn't mind a disembodied telepath. Do you know what my favourite thing is about traveling like this?
Felix could think of about a hundred things that might be her favorite! You're purple? And a butterfly? That glows? Is there something else? He laughed quietly, out loud, fairly sure no one was nearby to hear him.
Betsy chuckled softly in his mind as well. I like that as long as there's someone else anywhere nearby, I can wander as much as I want and never get lost. I can always find my way back if people are around.
People are like... your lamp-posts? Felix asked thoughtfully. He had recently seen the movie with the wardrobe.
Yes, that's a very good way of putting it.
Felix considered a few of the things the Professor had been trying to teach him about the way his powers worked. Can you see the world even though you're astral? Do you see me, or my... you know... spirit, I guess?
I can see the world as a tangible place, but people do appear a bit differently. I can see you physically, and see your signature as well. I think that's the big difference between simply leaving my body and looking around, and leaving the physical plane for the astral plane. I don't fully understand how your powers work, but I think that's one of the big differences. If I go into someone's dream, I'm just following their mind, so I have no control over the dream plane itself. I'm seeing what they see and conversing at most. I may be out of my body right now, but I'm still pretty tethered to the tangible world.
Despite the differences, Felix still found Betsy's abilities to be entirely amazing, and he soaked up her explanations like a weird-eyed little sponge. I don't know how to get out of the dream-plane and into the rest of the astral plane. Or, maybe, I don't consciously know how. I think my sub-conscious knows. I sleepwalk sometimes. I think it's trying.
Smiling a little to himself, he added, I wonder what I would look like if I could. Did you choose your astral form?
Not really. I guess this was what came naturally. The shape of my unjaded youth? she jested.
You had one? Felix teased back, smiling at the purple light, no matter how much sad truth there was to his question. What's that like?
Good question, she noted with a wry chuckle. I think everything was less frightening before I had my powers. I didn't know anything. I thought that I knew, but I really didn't. I don't think I could give them up, though. I wouldn't know what to do with myself anymore.
Privately -- well, privately between himself and the psychic butterfly -- Felix hoped he someday became that comfortable with his ability to 'see things that aren't there' as he put it to others. Yes. I'd rather know about the scary things than live every day with no idea what's looking over my shoulder.
You can protect yourself from what you know. I'd rather see things coming. Not that it always helped. Or not that there was always enough warning. With equivalent of a hushed sigh Betsy flitted forward and led Felix ahead.
Though it was late, Felix hadn't made his way to bed yet. Sometimes, he dreamed so much during the day that it was difficult to dream at night, so he found reasons not to go to bed. At least he wasn't afraid of his dreams, not right now.
Tonight, Felix had stayed up late watching a movie on cable, and then wandered to the library and then to the kitchen, and now was trailing down the hall with a new book under one arm and a slice of cold pizza in the other hand (fingers protected from pizza-grease by several layers of napkin -- Felix wouldn't risk smudging a library book). He was almost down to the crust when he caught sight of a remarkable thing: a little glowing light floating down the hallway. Felix stopped, and screwed up his eyes, blinking, trying to decide if that was real, or a ghost, or just something his mind thought it saw.
"Hello?" Felix asked softly.
The purple light paused in its path down the hall and after a moment's pause it turned and floated its way back towards Felix. As it grew closer it became apparent that the shape was like a butterfly, blurred around the edges as the light of it flickered around the shape.
Hello, Felix. It was Betsy's voice, chiming softly in his mind.
"Oh!" If he hadn't been so accustomed to working with the Professor, Felix might have been quite disturbed indeed by the mental voice, but he had come to understand that it was natural and normal, for people whose minds worked as theirs did. Still, he looked around quickly, up and down the hall and behind him, but did not see Betsy at all. So then, this little butterfly must be... ?
Felix stepped closer, peering in fascination at the wee purple glow. "Is this you when you're not in your head?"
The light bobbed. Yes. I'm otherwise still in my room. Most of the other students don't notice me.
Oops. That meant, if anyone else walking by, they would just see Felix standing in the hallway talking to himself. Lucky for him, not many were awake. He decided to answer silently instead. You can go anywhere, when you're astral? Not just dreams? Wow.
The nice thing about telepathy was that he could finish his pizza and still have a conversation.
Yes, I find it easier to navigate outside of dreams. I can't control dreams, as you do, and they shift without an anchor. I prefer to wander somewhere more solid.
Felix took a step back, so Betsy could keep wandering if she wanted to. He could go along with her, make sure her invisible form stayed safe. You're so pretty! You're pretty normally, but I like the butterfly. Did you choose that shape?
Not really, she admitted. The professor says that with practice I should be able to change my shape, but this is what comes naturally. With more effort I could look like me... well, the usual me, but I'd have to project the shape into other people's minds. I'm just traveling now, and that's hardly any effort. She flitted down the hallway in a direction that seemed most interesting, moving slowly so Felix could follow.
Readily, Felix followed, curious to see what an astral form would find interesting. I can only be me, but dreams aren't a real space. You're actually in the real world. How do you do it?
Her light looped around him before continuing forward. I let my mind leave my body, that's really all. It's the difference between listening and actively searching with my mind.
Felix giggled around the crust of his pizza, and trailed along in the wake of the purple butterfly. It's easier for me to go looking for dreams, than it is to just wander into one. I just don't know how to get out of the dream space. Do you know what you're looking for?
Anything new, Betsy admitted. Looking for people at this time of night is never a wise idea. You don't know what you'll walk by on.
The following footsteps hesitated, and Felix made a face. Fastidiously wiping his hands on his napkin, he wrapped his arms around his book, holding it like a shield. The reaction in his mind was a sharp and visceral negative. That was the last thing he wanted to see. Yeah, no thanks. And if they can't see you, they'd never know.
It's easy to avoid people when you can hear them ahead. You, of course, are quiet, and I forgot that you would be able to see me. I don't mind bumping into you so late at night. What would you like to see, Felix? Upstairs, downstairs, outside? The stars or the empty rooms?
Felix didn't have to think. Empty rooms. I found one on my own, but there are a lot more, I'm sure. Besides, if we stay inside, I can't wander off onto the moor guided only by my own crazy.
True. It would look a bit like you were mislead into the night. This way, then. The path less traveled.
I bet they'd be more traveled if people figured out they could come down here to ... get intimate, Felix noted, his mental voice quite dry. The frequency with which his classmates seemed to get physically involved wasn't something Felix could ignore any more, and he was starting to feel distinctly uncomfortable about it.
Creative ways to get around having a roommate. Be glad you are not an empath.
Felix wrinkled his nose. I don't think I have to worry about that with Philip. The stray thought of ... maybe that's why they put him with me... wandered through the back of his mind.
It's always about respecting boundaries. Philip is one of the most respectful boys I know.
Softly, in his mind, Felix agreed, He's great. I got lucky.
Talking to Betsy without a physical form, using only his thoughts, made talking seem so much easier. Felix had pretty good mental shields, but there was a bubbling wealth of more words lingering right behind those shields, and he had to be pretty careful not to let them out. Exploring the house with someone who could do the kinds of things he could do, who only he could see, was much too delightful to spoil with Felix's issues.
Betsy swirled around him again before leading up a hallway. She didn't mind what frothed over the edges of Felix's thoughts. It was a shadowy path, but she wasn't afraid. There was too much comfort in speaking so easily with someone that didn't mind a disembodied telepath. Do you know what my favourite thing is about traveling like this?
Felix could think of about a hundred things that might be her favorite! You're purple? And a butterfly? That glows? Is there something else? He laughed quietly, out loud, fairly sure no one was nearby to hear him.
Betsy chuckled softly in his mind as well. I like that as long as there's someone else anywhere nearby, I can wander as much as I want and never get lost. I can always find my way back if people are around.
People are like... your lamp-posts? Felix asked thoughtfully. He had recently seen the movie with the wardrobe.
Yes, that's a very good way of putting it.
Felix considered a few of the things the Professor had been trying to teach him about the way his powers worked. Can you see the world even though you're astral? Do you see me, or my... you know... spirit, I guess?
I can see the world as a tangible place, but people do appear a bit differently. I can see you physically, and see your signature as well. I think that's the big difference between simply leaving my body and looking around, and leaving the physical plane for the astral plane. I don't fully understand how your powers work, but I think that's one of the big differences. If I go into someone's dream, I'm just following their mind, so I have no control over the dream plane itself. I'm seeing what they see and conversing at most. I may be out of my body right now, but I'm still pretty tethered to the tangible world.
Despite the differences, Felix still found Betsy's abilities to be entirely amazing, and he soaked up her explanations like a weird-eyed little sponge. I don't know how to get out of the dream-plane and into the rest of the astral plane. Or, maybe, I don't consciously know how. I think my sub-conscious knows. I sleepwalk sometimes. I think it's trying.
Smiling a little to himself, he added, I wonder what I would look like if I could. Did you choose your astral form?
Not really. I guess this was what came naturally. The shape of my unjaded youth? she jested.
You had one? Felix teased back, smiling at the purple light, no matter how much sad truth there was to his question. What's that like?
Good question, she noted with a wry chuckle. I think everything was less frightening before I had my powers. I didn't know anything. I thought that I knew, but I really didn't. I don't think I could give them up, though. I wouldn't know what to do with myself anymore.
Privately -- well, privately between himself and the psychic butterfly -- Felix hoped he someday became that comfortable with his ability to 'see things that aren't there' as he put it to others. Yes. I'd rather know about the scary things than live every day with no idea what's looking over my shoulder.
You can protect yourself from what you know. I'd rather see things coming. Not that it always helped. Or not that there was always enough warning. With equivalent of a hushed sigh Betsy flitted forward and led Felix ahead.
