[ The fact that he abandons what he was doing to move closer is unexpected, but it seems that speaking to her is as good a distraction as any. She continues to move away from the exit door, wanting to separate herself from that overwhelming noise, and so she meets him in the middle. It's definitely not as bad out here as it was in there, but her ears do still feel like they're ringing.
So it wasn't just her. Fern expected as much, but it's good to have some sort of confirmation, to know that she wasn't simply imagining things. She heaves out a breath and nods, taking the somewhat childish chance to kick at a metal can and send it clattering down the uneven concrete of the alley. ]
Neither do I. [ Who would, she wants to ask, but plenty of the people inside seem to have no issue with it. ] But I would imagine someone like you would find it even more bothersome than most. [ Given that he's psionic, as he put it. She can still barely believe that, but she also knows that it might mean something different where he's from. Or at least be a little less rare. ]
Do you have any idea what could have been causing it?
[ Maybe he has some way of sensing it, given the little she knows of what he can do.
She moves to the opposite wall and leans herself against it, shutting her eyes for a moment. She's still working on pushing down her frustration over how the attempt to apprehend Laszlo turned out. Of all the places that vampire had to come, it was here. ]
[Still entirely rare, being a psionic hailing from his version of Earth. But not so rare as to be non-existent, just one of a handful, once. And now? One of less than that.
But that’s neither here nor there.
The metal can skitters down into the road, echoing as Henry gazes back towards the back exit of the building which he had come from. Right above it, a neon light buzzes, and he considers making it pop and crackle and break, but reigns that impulse in for now.]
If I had to guess? It would have to be another psychic. A powerful one. My own mind has its defenses, especially against mental manipulation like that — it’s no easy feat to override it.
[Maybe he should seek out the one in charge of the establishment, confront them about it. Learn more about them. He can keep that idea in his back pocket for now.
He turns his blue-eyed gaze towards her, assessing.]
In other words, probably not someone you’d want to confront without giving some thought to what you’d say or do first.
[Smiles, tilting his head.]
…Why were you in there? No offense, but you don’t really strike me as the “clubbing” type.
[ That seems like a decent theory, based on the little that they know. Once again, Fern can't understand how everyone inside the warehouse is apparently fine with having their mood altered against their will, but then again, people also imbibe things like alcohol willingly.
So, someone powerful enough to be able to push past the man's notable mental defenses. Fern doesn't like the sound of that; she sends a wary glance back in the direction of the building. ]
Is that your plan, then? To confront whoever it is once you've thought through your approach?
[ It's not as if Fern hasn't done similar in the past. To say nothing of Strahd, there was also the abbot. She knows firsthand that it's important to be fully prepared when confronting anyone with that level of power, and it would be no different here.
At his question, though, she scoffs and shakes her head. She doesn't even know what "clubbing" is, but setting that inside... ]
I tracked someone here. [ And there's no reason to keep it a secret, so she adds: ] A vampire who I suspected was up to no good.
Hm. Maybe. I hate not knowing what I'm dealing with.
[Moreover, maybe there is a part of him that hates not being the most powerful psionic in the room, because that means he relinquishes control; and Henry Creel does love his control when it comes to applying his powers to others. Not necessarily the other way around.
That last part, though... That totally derails him a bit.]
A vampire? [Now, given the nature of this world, this shouldn't surprise him. What's really curious is why Fern felt the need to track them at all.] Is there a bounty on them, or something?
Edited (you are NOT seeing me edit this ages later just bc i saw my grammar mistake helppppp) 2025-10-02 21:13 (UTC)
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no subject
So it wasn't just her. Fern expected as much, but it's good to have some sort of confirmation, to know that she wasn't simply imagining things. She heaves out a breath and nods, taking the somewhat childish chance to kick at a metal can and send it clattering down the uneven concrete of the alley. ]
Neither do I. [ Who would, she wants to ask, but plenty of the people inside seem to have no issue with it. ] But I would imagine someone like you would find it even more bothersome than most. [ Given that he's psionic, as he put it. She can still barely believe that, but she also knows that it might mean something different where he's from. Or at least be a little less rare. ]
Do you have any idea what could have been causing it?
[ Maybe he has some way of sensing it, given the little she knows of what he can do.
She moves to the opposite wall and leans herself against it, shutting her eyes for a moment. She's still working on pushing down her frustration over how the attempt to apprehend Laszlo turned out. Of all the places that vampire had to come, it was here. ]
no subject
But that’s neither here nor there.
The metal can skitters down into the road, echoing as Henry gazes back towards the back exit of the building which he had come from. Right above it, a neon light buzzes, and he considers making it pop and crackle and break, but reigns that impulse in for now.]
If I had to guess? It would have to be another psychic. A powerful one. My own mind has its defenses, especially against mental manipulation like that — it’s no easy feat to override it.
[Maybe he should seek out the one in charge of the establishment, confront them about it. Learn more about them. He can keep that idea in his back pocket for now.
He turns his blue-eyed gaze towards her, assessing.]
In other words, probably not someone you’d want to confront without giving some thought to what you’d say or do first.
[Smiles, tilting his head.]
…Why were you in there? No offense, but you don’t really strike me as the “clubbing” type.
no subject
So, someone powerful enough to be able to push past the man's notable mental defenses. Fern doesn't like the sound of that; she sends a wary glance back in the direction of the building. ]
Is that your plan, then? To confront whoever it is once you've thought through your approach?
[ It's not as if Fern hasn't done similar in the past. To say nothing of Strahd, there was also the abbot. She knows firsthand that it's important to be fully prepared when confronting anyone with that level of power, and it would be no different here.
At his question, though, she scoffs and shakes her head. She doesn't even know what "clubbing" is, but setting that inside... ]
I tracked someone here. [ And there's no reason to keep it a secret, so she adds: ] A vampire who I suspected was up to no good.
no subject
[Moreover, maybe there is a part of him that hates not being the most powerful psionic in the room, because that means he relinquishes control; and Henry Creel does love his control when it comes to applying his powers to others. Not necessarily the other way around.
That last part, though... That totally derails him a bit.]
A vampire? [Now, given the nature of this world, this shouldn't surprise him. What's really curious is why Fern felt the need to track them at all.] Is there a bounty on them, or something?