Ameliorate

Chapter 34: What's on your Mind?

Weslyn wasn't too sure about having people in her head, even if those people were friends.

Oh well. It would make for a good reference for her book.

"Okay, first rule of being linked," Toby began from where he stood in the center of the living room. "If someone says don't look at something, you don't fuckin' look at it."

"Natch," Elizabeth remarked.

"Two, if someone wants to disconnect, just tell me and I'll unlink you," Toby said. "I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable, so if you start to feel off about it you can leave. Three, don't, like, walk in blaring music or screaming incoherently. That's just rude."

"How loud can music be?" Addy asked. "How does audio translate to thoughts?"
"Well, you see, I haven't figure out how to fuck with the volume of things yet," Toby said. "It's all just stuck on one volume, no matter how much I want to turn the dial up or down."

"So if I go in with Duck Song stuck in my head," Zak started. "You guys would all hear it?"

"I mean, I'd think so," Toby said.

"Do you have Duck Song stuck in your head?" Alistair asked.

"Not at the moment," Zak said.

Addy drummed her fingers on her thigh, betraying her nerves.

"So would we all hear each other at the same time, or...?" Weslyn asked.

"We're about to find out," Toby remarked. "This might take a second, just bear with me."

"That's always something you want to hear," Dave remarked dryly.

"It'll probably be fine," Elizabeth said.

Niki opened her mouth to retort before a static-like noise cut her off.

It sounded like the feedback when you turn the dial to make a radio station more clear, static on either side of clear words and sounds before it balanced out into clarity.

"Did it work?" Darryl wondered aloud.

His question was answered by and he waddled away, waddle waddle waddle-

Zak! Clay's voice chided, the feeling of amusement rather than laughter filling it.

That was not me, Zak defended.

Well, you got it stuck in someone's head, Nick reasoned.

My bad, Addy chimed in quietly.

George's amusement was shared with the group.

Oh, I don't like this, Dave grimaced. Y'all are just... in my head.

That's what a group link entails, Dave, Will sassed.

I can unlink you if you're uncomfortable, Toby offered.

No, it's fine, just an adjustment, Dave replied, arms folded.

Tommy seemed remarkably quiet during this whole exchange. Weslyn glanced to where Tommy had seated himself on the counter. The blond was sitting with his legs crossed, watching the rest of the group as they adapted to having everyone else in their minds.

Elizabeth followed Weslyn's glance. You good, Tommy?

Tommy offered a thumbs up. Waiting for everyone else to adjust, is all.

Everyone good at this point? Toby asked. No discomfort or anything?

I'm good, Weslyn said.