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Tweak says, "It's just a jump to the left!"

Syd(ney) Barrett (_donttouch) wrote,
@ 2017-05-17 21:08:00

And, as they had discussed, the next day was back to work. She had gone to Cary first, the intention to find Kerry, but with a pleasant sidetrack of talking with the scientist. He did, in fact, have some poking and testing that he wanted to do --something about more theories that the journal brought up -- so Syd forced herself to stay still for the prodding. It worked, for the most part, particularly after Cary saw her trying and eased the tension with a little talk. Simple stuff, how he thought she could continue harnessing her ability and an unknown echo of
what Hank had said about part of it being psychological. The conversation also turned toward the light saber, with questions about whether she felt any after effects and if she'd like to continue working with that. Knowing all too well the stability that came with knowing the person you cared about could take care of herself, Cary saw nothing wrong in giving both Sydney and David that peace of mind. Just in case. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worse.

Syd, naturally, was pleased to continue being his guinea pig in that respect.

Afterward, it was Ptonomy she found next, which was actually perfect because she needed to bribe him into a favor soon. And what could she possibly offer the memory man? Pancakes. He loved them but couldn't cook them. Baking was apparently more his bag. So favor was exchanged for favor, and she couldn't quite help herself in innocently asking about yesterday afternoon, which had him looking at her suspiciously before she flitted away.

It all led her to Kerry, who had been heading over to Cary and her punching bag. But sparring was so much more fun. So that was exactly what they did, an hour and a half of moving and trying to best one another, moves and tips given from the younger girl as Sydney tried to get one over her. Still didn't work; the student still had much to learn from the master. They were about to switch when Kerry brought up a good point; had she tried with someone else? Other than David, because Kerry liked not having an explosion to worry about, thanks. Syd snorted, giving a shrug, but then she got to thinking about it. Maybe she should change it up. "I should find Rudy or Ptonomy and ask."

"Yeah, you should." Kerry thought that could possibly be interesting, grinning. "You get a hold on telekinesis and could toss things at me." Rudy wouldn't.

With that thought in mind, Syd wandered over to David's bedroom, figuring he wasn't there yet but would pop his head in relatively soon. She debated telling him about the newest plan, or letting him suss it out. Mostly because she was curious whether people were the same to him when they were switched. Humming, she plopped on the bed and sat cross-legged, going over various ideas in her head as she waited.

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xgene
2017-05-19 02:16 am UTC (link)

"I'm surprised they didn't, considering how freaked out you must've been." And considering the not-so-subtle color coding Clockworks did with patients and their clothing. Syd wore white stripes, which meant she wasn't a threat (to herself or others), David wore yellow (moderate threat, fancy), and Lenny had worn red, for reasons that made him wonder who Lenny was before... well, before Lenny. Still, the moderate threat level plus an immense amount of oh my fucking God usually meant either drugs or restraint somehow -- or both. Sometimes both. Usually just the drugs though.

Details indeed. Details. "I've been in one and uh, destroyed it by accident." With no real recollection of how it happened, he just knew it'd been ripped and torn in places -- assuming he'd had an episode and blacked out slashing at it somehow. Poor bouncy castle. "Pillows are a small price to pay for your own form of practice," David said with a small smile, figuring Melanie would truly be okay with whatever happened. They had to practice if they were ever going to get any kind of control. Control being the name of the game, the ever-elusive game.

Syd's thoughts, having actively read her mind the least (projected thoughts didn't count) out of anyone, from a basic level of awareness of them sounded like a hum. A hum of her voice, tone changing based on mood. That was as far as he'd gotten, having no interest in invading her privacy in any way, shape, or form. Projected thoughts were one thing, his sometimes noise that kept him feeling okay, but anything else? Off limits. Girlfriend or not, her thoughts were her own. "Yeah, a little like thumbprints. Thumbprints I can somehow understand." Like reading palms, seeing what each crease meant and somehow knowing what it all meant.

"I can think of one person, sadly they know about telekinesis." Otherwise he would love to haunt the shit out of Xavier. Maybe even Emma too. Both of them could use a good amount of intelligent vengeance. Speaking of the English, he laughed at the faked accent and nodded approvingly. "No better way to pretend you did get that Hogwarts letter at eleven."

Once in Melanie's office, he quickly dispersed with the confused looks. "Don't worry, we're not here to crash the party we weren't invited to." Cary merely blinked and motioned to the group to say, "We were just going to discuss something about Division 3, which, by the way, why was I asked to be a part of this discussion?"

Oliver dismissed it with a wave. "I wanted you here for moral support. These kinds of subjects are so dreary and you always lighten up the room, Cary." A comment that had the older man smiling a little as Kerry appeared offering a vote of agreement before settling herself on one of the couches. David, for his part, would be glad to not be a part of that discussion. "We'll let you carry on with all that on your own. I'm just tagging along with Syd." This was her request and her big thing, asking Rudy, who was conveniently standing by the door, leaning against the wall -- looking remarkably relaxed. Mr. Under Control himself.

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_donttouch
2017-05-19 03:12 am UTC (link)

"They opted for an injection instead." Sometimes both, mostly just drugs. The fact that the bouncy house was all destroyed didn't faze her, accepted with a nod and moved along from with the same ease and idleness that their conversations often drifted from topic to topic with, and the smile returned. "New ones can be part of her gift."

"Thumb print reader. There's a sideshow act. Get your fortunes read in the swirl of your thumb. No two fortunes the same guaranteed." She moved her hand, reading an imaginary marqee before snickering at the idea of pulling a Matilda on certain people.

Once in and with explanations going around, though she did look interested in what was going on with the Division, she turned to Rudy. Awkward being in front of people but they were all going to know sometime anyway. "Not now, obviously, but I'd like to try switching with you."

Melanie and Kerry both looked interested in this, though obviously for different reasons. Kerry was grinning and ready to take Sydney on in different ways while Melanie took note of the younger blonde's actual interest in her ability.

"You know. If you want." Syd said quickly, feeling even more awkward with people paying attention.

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xgene
2017-05-19 03:29 am UTC (link)

"Yeah," David acknowledged with a nod. "That was my usual treatment, even if I wasn't flipping out. But like the bouncy castle, stuff would just sometimes wind up destroyed around me and standard was fill him with drugs!" If he never had to feel the side effects of lorazepam ever again, it would be too soon. The drowsiness, the numbness, half-asleep in the worst kind of way, the kind that made you feel like you were falling when you actually drifted off -- and then want to puke because it was awful. But yes, new pillows for Melanie for her gift! Better thoughts. "Good thinking. We should just riddle her with gifts. For past screw ups, future screw ups, and beyond."

That was for the future though, as was his act of playing fortune teller one day in a freak show. And maybe haunting someone. They'd both gotten some practice haunting Summerland last night, no harm in trying that again sometime -- and giving Melanie more gifts to make up for that to. Eternal children with powers.

Rudy, for his part, took the request in stride, considering for a moment. In particular considering the meeting that was to come. It wasn't anything of extreme importance, more a status update really, hence why technically Syd, David, and Cary weren't required. Cary's presence had been explained, and with Syd's now as well (David being the tag along)...

"We can do it now," he said evenly. "Better if all of us are being productive somehow, rather than wasting time." Not that he was against down time, but if someone wanted to do something, who was he to hinder that? When David had shown interest in telekinesis, he'd been happy to be productive with their sessions. The other man's inexperience with it had been enlightening, reminding him of a good many decades in the past, back when he was just beginning to fumble around with his ability. Though he'd never quite been able to turn objects from one material to another or completely vaporize things. Or people.

He did look around though, checking the immediate are for breakables, knowing all about what had happened when David and Syd switched. It was what flagged their attention to the two's presence to begin with. "Anyone with unsure footing, get somewhere you can stabilize yourself," he said as he pushed away from the wall, David giving the fabric between them one last tug before offering to take it for now. And then, you know, getting somewhere where he could steady himself -- just in time for Rudy to say to Syd with a very small smile, "Just in case."

At that he offered his hand, Cary settling beside Kerry, Ptonomy making sure Melanie would be minded, and Oliver looking quite interested.

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_donttouch
2017-05-19 04:07 am UTC (link)

She didn't know so much about productive, but smiled in appreciation when he agreed. Better now than never, she supposed? Turning to do the same, look for breakables and move them aside, she smiled wryly at the comment of people standing against walls and the like.

A tug given in return, she smiled at David and then turned back to Rudy. "It's not like I exploded anything last time." Said in amusement. But she did glance over everyone else, assuring that they were all secure, before steeling herself and extending her hand into Rudy's.

It was always difficult to explain how it felt to switch. With non-mutants, it didn't really feel like anything, nothing more than a brief tingling like a limb falling asleep. The weirdness came in the disorientation, the fact that you were in different heights or shapes and had to get used to it.

With David, there were the fireworks, with the Eye a vibration like a large truck rumbling as they were on the street. She had expected similar with Rudy, merely the shock to the system.

It was a tremor, but way bigger than the truck trucking by. It was on the Richter scale, which was weird. She wasn't expecting that in the least.

"Well. That happened." Wait. What? That was not the voice she was expecting. Taller now, but not as tall as she had been expecting. "Rudy?"

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xgene
2017-05-19 04:34 am UTC (link)

Richter Scale. Physical and in the mind. David felt this inexplicable urge to close his eyes from the vibration, knowing his balance wasn't the best in the world. And then, after the rumbling seemed to stop, no breaking sounds following the shuddering, eyes opened again. To see Rudy right in front of him. Wait.

Wait.

He recognized this feeling. This height, this center of gravity, the sensation of hair on the shoulders. Immediately withdrawing the hand from Rudy's, the much, much taller man immediately gasping and looking around in both shock and horror -- more emotion than David had ever seen from the man, David immediately turned to where the voice, his own voice spoke. A turn to the right to look to the wall, where he'd been, there he was. Where she was. Syd. Syd but not Syd.

"Oh my God." That was really the only thing that could be said, eyes going wide with absolutely no cool. This time there was no dizziness, no fireworks. A quick scan of the room, almost on instinct, told David exactly what he needed to know. Syd was in his body, Melanie was in Rudy's, Rudy was in Oliver's body, Ptonomy in Melanie, and Oliver in Ptonomy. A look to the couch and... the Loudermilks swapped and were looking at each other in the first instant with the least amount of shock -- more amusement.

Okay. Okay. David's eyes returned to Syd-as-him as Melanie-as-Rudy began to lose her cool while everyone else was remarkably managing to remain somewhat okay, the shock keeping the powers from blowing up. Then it hit him, he still had his powers. Nothing had blown up.

Why? What just happened? Why did Syd's power just go all superpowered on all of them?

"No one freak out," he spoke in Sydney's voice, trying to sound as calm as humanely possible while looking anything but. "Unless we want things, and maybe people, to start breaking..." And then Melanie-as-Rudy passed out. "Oh shit." David immediately got to the floor, reaching out to check that she-as-a-he was still breathing. Oliver-as-Ptonomy seemed to catch on as well, swiftly moving over to check and make sure his wife was okay, likely delving into the mind as he did so.

Eyes back on Syd-as-himself, one word, one name, was all that was needed to explain: "Melanie." Melanie, the sole human in the group, suddenly having powers and dealing suddenly being with in a very superpowered person. David could sympathize after practically conking out after switching with Syd the first time.

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_donttouch
2017-05-19 05:06 am UTC (link)

What had David asked earlier? Oh, yeah. Why couldn't things ever be easy? It was a really good question right about now. What was easier this time was the time it took to acclimate, familiar now with the higher center of gravity and wild hair that her hand -- his hand -- was already ruffling up. Okay. Okay. Focus, Sydney. Let's not try for an earthquake and fireworks on the same go.

She would have said something about it, and something about the fact that it was Oliver who calmly raised his hand in a wave when she called out his name, but Rudy-not-Rudy was fainting. "What?" Saucer eyes were even bigger, given the features, and she looked again between everyone.

Kerry-Cary was amused. "Musical Chairs for everyone." The one who didn't look amused, who looked rather unsure and a bit annoyed by it was the Melanie-shaped person.

"How did this happen? And how do we change back?" Not!Melanie asked, frowning as they thought about it, and frowning more as they came to a realisation. "I can't get to my memories." Ptonomy took on an incredulous manner, making the normally calm Melanie's face a funny sight of annoyance.

Syd would have found that part funny, but he had a point. "I don't.." Feel like she was going to blow something up. Which was good! But she wasn't that fucking good. It was why she wanted to practice! Turning back to her own body, she lifted eyebrows in silent question.

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xgene
2017-05-19 05:25 am UTC (link)

"Not helping Ptonomy," David looked to Ptonomy-as-Melanie for a moment before looking up to Syd with a shrug. "I kept my powers somehow, I don't know why." Despite speaking with her voice, a voice in his own mind spoke up, enlightening to that whole situation.

Like hell I was going to let this place go boom.
What a goddamned saint.
It was good thinking.
Oh don't start kissing ass now, for God's sake...

Eyes rolled, the previous consensus now lost and everyone making their opinions and need for separate conversation known, he tried shaking his head clear of it, pushing back up to stand as Oliver-as-Ptonomy tended to Melanie. Bringing a hand up to rest gently on Syd-as-himself's arm, he asked, "Okay? Just keep breathing. We'll figure this out." Inside he was freaking out, but now was not the time to show that -- shame Syd's hand, powered by his stupid brain, was a little shaky with all the nerves.

Looking around, David checked in on everyone individually. "Rudy, you okay? Try to turn the volume down if it's obnoxious." Rudy-as-Oliver nodded, moving to sit, eyes closing to do just that, cool as ever. "Ptonomy, you're just gonna have to suck it up and deal with being a normal person until we figure this out." Ptonomy-as-Melanie looked extremely annoyed, but otherwise didn't comment further. And then, looking at the Loudermilks, David couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Of course you two would switch with each other. I bet it'd feel awful otherwise." Cary-as-Kerry nodded in agreement, moving to push up glasses that didn't exist, moving to do it for Kerry-as-Cary, who laughed.

Eyes back on the ground, David fidgeted, wringing Syd's hands together. "How is she?" Oliver-as-Ptonomy looked up then, New Zealand accent weirdly blending with Ptonomy's voice to say, "I can't speak with her properly, not with this style of telepathy, but she was understandably panicked before she passed out. She'll be all right. Just needs a bit of time for the system shock to ease up."

System shock. Hell of a way of putting it. David moved to wring his hands through his hair, only to stop when a great deal more hair was in the way, immediately stopping the mussing up that usually happened in such holy shit situations. "Okay." Eyes back on Syd, David took in a deep breath and fidgeted again. "Couple hours? We can do this for a couple hours. No problem, right?"

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_donttouch
2017-05-19 02:10 pm UTC (link)

"Oh," it was a simple reply, even if not for a simple circumstance. "It is quiet in here." So, technically, she was as normal as Ptonomy-Melanie right now. She could handle that.

Since she still was looking at David -- herself -- she caught the eye roll and head shake. So that was what she looked like when she did it. Huh. However, in spite of similar mannerisms, the reasons behind them were different.

"Disturbance in the Force?" Deeper voice was quiet, her hand as his coming up to touch his hand in hers. Syd was less freaked out. She knew the body, and apparently didn't have to worry about turning the world inside out or anything, so panic was low.

Worry though, that was high. And okay, a small amount of panic was there because she was really trying to figure out what the hell happened. She looked over everyone, eyebrows furrowing. "Maybe it's a bad idea." To try and get a grip on her ability.

She looked back, deer in headlights, and then nodded. "Normally." But this wasn't normal.

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xgene
2017-05-19 05:09 pm UTC (link)

Rudy, unable to help it even with the volume turned down, was shaking his head.

"You don't just give up because something goes wrong." Said Mr. Cool in Mr. Hip's body.

---

David had a feeling he'd be freaking out even more right now if he didn't have any of his abilities. Though it would have made for a good test as to whether the tag-alongs in his head were due to his powers and would go away without them. The ol' telepathy and. Oh well. The cause of his grief made sure that they, and all powers combined, stuck with. In the end, explosions aside, it was better that way. No one deserved to be stuck with uncontrollable telepathy, especially not Syd. Poor Rudy.

"And they were all being so well-behaved until now." A soft response from an equally softer voice. Still, the touch did make David smile, despite everything, enthusiasm easily overwhelming the annoyance and mild panic as to what the hell just happened. It was really weird though, actually stopping and acknowledging what happened, seeing himself, Syd-as-himself... as Keanu Reeves would say: whoa.

About to say something similar to the effect of what Rudy said, David looked back that way and pointed at the Cool Dude wearing the Hip Cat meatsuit right now. "Exactly." And, back to Syd, squeezing the hand that he distinctly didn't let go. "If it was a strike against me every time I had a blunder? I'd be out." Way out. Out ten times over kind of out. "Besides, we learned something!"

Optimism! People liked optimism, right? "You can have an area of effect."

Cary-as-Kerry spoke up then, finally returning from the odd bubble between himself and Kerry. "Consciousness transference on a physical and mental scale. Gives more credence to the idea that there's more to the mind of this than just the body." David's nose scrunched a little. It was weird hearing words like that come from Kerry's mouth. Credence? Consciousness transference? Jeez.

"Normal or not," continued because David really didn't want to think too much about the oddities of it, "it's happened and we all just need to keep breathing and wait it out. If the last bit of normal doesn't happen?" A switch back after a couple hours. "We'll figure it out." A beat as eyes returned to Syd again. "And we will. There's tons of smart people in the room, I can help too," not on the 'smart people' level, "and we'll figure it out."

Oliver-as-Ptonomy nodded, expression pensive, something that didn't look entirely out of sorts on the other man's face, thankfully. "Keep your eyes on the clocks. Let's wait it out, meet up again in two hours in Cary's lab. We have three variants of telepath in the room, two who know what they're doing as they are—" David's eyes grew wide when Oliver deigned him worthy enough in that statement. "—which means our odds are good. It's a learning experience and that's what we're all here for." A beat. "Which is exactly what Melanie would say, were she not in Lala Land. I happen to agree with her, thank you, Melanie."

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_donttouch
2017-05-19 08:44 pm UTC (link)

You don’t go switching other people’s bodies all willy nilly either. Syd stared blankly for a moment, which might have been a bit more intimidating coming from a not-petite version of her, but Rudy looked unfazed. And like he was going to say something about that too. “No way.” Sydney-David pointed a finger at the Oliver-type, not at all upset – she knew he couldn’t help it any more than she could help it when she was David – but still! None of that, thanks.

He lifted his hands in surrender, amused. “I promise I’m not trying. I suppose singing might come in handy.” Whether he meant that he would be singing in his head or Sydney should sing so that he only heard the lyrics, he didn’t elaborate. Ptonomy groaned, the put-out expression dangerously close to the Disappointed Look she and David had been taking about earlier; there he was without any type of protection at all! Rudy reached out, patting the other man’s – woman’s – knee. “There, there, dear.” Dry humor between the two men, since they were in the married couple’s bodies.

Syd squeezed his-her hand back, taken aback by the feeling. It was similar, but still rather different, which was funny. Backwards, but in a good way. She didn’t let go, only moved them so they were tangling between the both of them, and snorted a little. An area of effect was the last thing she was expecting. A lopsided smile appeared, tilting half of their mouth, and she was about to say as much when attention shifted to Kerry’s voice, Cary’s words.

“Is it strange that I’m not used to my own ability on other people?” Because Science Speak out of the visually younger Loudermilk was just odd. Her free hand went to move to the ends of her hair, but there was no hair on her shoulder. So back up it went, ruffling through once more. David and Oliver were right; the best, and really only, thing they could do was wait it out. She felt bad for Melanie, though. The nicest Christmas present ever.

Laughing quietly, because there wasn’t much else she could, Syd sighed and nodded. “Okay.” Looking over everyone, she shifted a little. “Things are going to be a little fishbowl the first ten minutes or so. And objects will be closer or further than they appear.” Cary and Kerry probably wouldn’t have too much of a problem, but the others were going to be a bit like fawns learning how to walk while doing simple things. Which actually would probably be a bit amusing.

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xgene
2017-05-19 11:33 pm UTC (link)

Huh. So that's what he looked like when he wasn't amused. David blinked, only able to stare for a moment, completely amazed. This was something else. It was one thing being back in Syd's body again, having already done this before for a couple hours, but seeing himself? Hearing himself speak, but saying words that weren't his own... well, he'd kind of been there before. Hearing himself, being a passenger in his own body while stuff happened. But seeing? That was still new. Seeing and looking up to. Being 5'2 and looking up at his 6' self was a hell of a thing.

And then Rudy was going and making Ptonomy uncomfortable and it was kind of amazing. There was another moment of gratitude, of altering that little fact in time and space. Rudy deserved better than what had happened to him and David was glad that only he and Kerry really remembered what the world was like without him. Rudy might know he would have died otherwise, but he never experienced it, never had to cross over into whatever came next. No, instead he got to be here, in Oliver's body, making Ptonomy-as-Melanie make the most entertaining of expressions.

Taking a moment to simply look at their hands together, David let himself have another moment to compose. Okay. This was okay. Time to put up and shut up -- he'd given a vote of confidence that this would be sorted, time to act on it. They were all smart, capable people, but for now all they could do was weather the storm and see what happened. Eventually Melanie would wake up and would hopefully be okay.

"If you swapped a gender, don't overthink how you walk. It's gonna be different." That was David's helpful advice before a big grin came despite himself. "Kaybye!" At that he didn't wait any longer. This was awkward and stressful enough and making distance would probably be the better choice for Syd, so, keeping their hands together, he went right for the door, opened it, and stepped right back out the way they came, tugging Syd-as-himself along for the ride. Time for some air, he explained, swiftly making way at least get to the main windows of the complex, a big enough area for the 'air' but without the winter's cold that had struck outside.

A quick look told him that snow was on the way. Gross.

Once it was just the two of them, he stopped and turned to face... himself. Syd. "You okay?" He asked, trying to keep all the cool in the world to focus on Syd. This was a big deal. A big, kind of scary deal. So he wanted to know if she was all right -- in all aspects. Dealing, not dealing, two seconds away from flipping, processing, all the above and more.

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