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Links [Shale House] - Emily Shale-Vanders - 07-11-2025
Emily shut the door to Rachel's bedroom. It had been a hell of a day for all of them. She had received Elyse's text and she wasn't surprised. It confirmed what she had been thinking. Emily knew what she had to do now. They just had to keep her going for a bit. Hopefully her plan would work. If it didn't, Emily would be at a loss for what to do next.
Emily went to her room and changed into her exercise clothes before going to their gym. She found Jared there, working through some martial arts movements slowly. He did that when he needed to calm down. Jared was good at hiding his emotions when he needed to, but he was also good at channeling them into something to relax them.
Emily needed something more physical. She went to the punching bag. Jared responded by moving, gripping the bag from the other side as she attacked it. There was nothing tactical about what she did. She just hit the bag - hard and repeatedly. It wasn't enough. She stopped as she began to sob and fell to the ground. The day had been too much. Way too much. Jared was there in a moment, holding her tight and she sobbed into his shoulder. Neither one spoke. Both of them knew that no words were necessary yet. The only thing she needed was to cry.
Emily finished and released Jared, wiping the tears from her eyes. "What happened at work?" Jared asked, going right to the heart of it. He knew what had happened with Rachel, but he knew it had to have been more than that to cause this reaction.
"Someone informed Moscow Police that there was a bomb threat at the building. We got everyone out okay, and they found nothing, but they have no certain date for when it will happen. They don't even know if it's true, but it's credible. They told me they couldn't tell me much more yet, but they're investigating. Staff is working from home as much as possible, and security is going to be increased at the building until we know what's going on. They say they'll keep me informed as much as possible. At least they're taking it seriously."
Jared nodded, and kept silent as she embraced him again. "I'm going to move on with Rachel's treatment...later tonight - I need to not think about these things for awhile." she said breaking the silence.
"I have a distraction. An experiment I want to try," Jared responded, pulling away and wiping tears from her eyes.
She chuckled and gave a wry grin. "Not until after the baby."
Jared chuckled. "Not that kind of experiment.
She laughed. It felt good to laugh. "Alright - what do you have in mind?"
RE: Links (Shale House] - Jared Vanders - 07-11-2025
Emily was still showing her sense of humor despite the rough day. Hearing her laugh helped Jared focus a little more. Jared hadn't planned on trying to combine their powers this soon, but the opportunity had presented itself. With Rachel asleep, Mara out with friends, and them needed a distraction. It sounded like the perfect time to bring it up.
"Rachel wanted to see Elyse today, so we headed over there, and while I was there, I may have promised the kids there to help figure out how to fix Nox's problem with the power," that reminded Jared that he should have some nanobots here to inject. "Be right back."
Jared went upstairs and found the appropriate package and brought it downstairs. "Part of that is the Wicked Truth is going to scan my brain - see if we can see any difference." Emily gave him a look of incredulity. "There's little risk and they will be removed after the scan."
Emily took the injector and helped Jared insert the bots into his system. "As I was saying...one of the residents there - Liv - is a healer, but doesn't think she's strong enough to do it. Made me think, what if I, or someone else, could add my power to hers somehow. If we could somehow link our powers together."
Emily's brow furrowed in thought. "Has that ever been done - is it even possible."
Jared shrugged. [color=light green]"I have no idea...but myths and legends talk about magic users combing their powers."[/color]
Emily nodded, catching his drift. "And since myths have their basis in some truth, there's a possibly this is possible."
"Thought it would be easier to learn with two people who trusted each other completely. One less hurdle to cross. Also thought - didn't you learn how to control your power from a witches group in school."
Emily chuckled. "A Wiccan group - not necessarily witches - but you're not completely wrong. Not all of us could use the power. You wondering if I have any tips?" Jared nodded. "Not really - but I would think one person would have to control it and the other would have to willingly do it." Emily looked down in thought. "I have an idea. Let's start by meditating. Clear our minds. It's been a rough day for all of us, so this should help get in the right mindset." Emily stood and turned down the light.
Jared got into a kneeling position and Emily knelt in front of him. He reached out his hands and she took them. [color=light green]"Together?"[/color] Emily nodded.
RE: Links (Shale House] - Emily Shale-Vanders - 07-12-2025
Emily took Jared’s hands and Jared began to speak, guiding them through the meditation. They didn’t need it. In truth, Emily didn’t hear his words, but she knew what he was saying. He had taught her to meditate like this and she had gotten into the habit of doing it.
In her mind, she pictured a light. She visualized it as a candle, but she knew Jared visualized a lightsaber. The thought brought a smile to her mind. As she inhaled, the candle grew brighter and as she exhaled, it grew dimmer. She alternated between having her breaths lower in her body and higher. She focused only on the light inside of her as she breathed. Then she fed her frustration, sadness, stress, and anger into the light. She felt them all melt away and she smile, giving Jared’s hands a squeeze. The emotions were replaced with a complete calm.
Her mind clear she began to speak to Jared. It was her idea. ”Summon your power, but don’t use it. Hold on to it only.” unlike Jared, she would have no clue that he was using his power at all. ”Im going to use mine to see if I can find yours. I’m going to try to reach for it, see what happens.”
Emily embraced her power and began to tentatively send threads of power to Jared - probing and searching. Emily had no idea what she was looking for. She had no idea what she would find. She couldn’t find anything. Or maybe she did, but because she didn’t know what she was looking for she didn’t see it.
”No - nothing…” she said. ”You still holding the power?” Jared answered in the affirmative.
Emily let go and this time she focused herself towards Jared, not embracing the power. The idea was to embrace his power - no - seize it as he said. She focused not on her own inner light, but instead focused herself towards mind on drawing it through Jared.
Emily tilted her head. She had felt something…different…as she found her own power. But she hadn’t connected to Jared’s. ”Maybe you try it? See if you can find anything?”
RE: Links [Shale House] - Jared Vanders - 07-12-2025
Jared felt the chill as Emily embraced her power. She always said she had to embrace it and that just felt weird to him. For him it was more akin to wrestling a demon cobra to the ground. It was also weird that he could feel it when she channeled, but not the the other way around. Strange rules.
He could feel her threads though. He could feel her probing and trying to find his source of power. The probes themselves were harmless, but he could feel them nonetheless. Emily tried a couple of things and they didn’t work. Then suggested he try.
Jared began to probe as well, trying to find the source of her power and seize it. But there was nothing. He could sense nothing.
”Nothing…” he told her. Maybe he was wrong and this wasn’t possible, but it was too early to give up.
Emily bit her bottom lip in thought. She didn’t want to give up yet either. ”If only we knew where to look or what to look for…”
Jared thought for a moment and then remembered the scans of Nox’s brain. The “hole” had been there. ”Right here,” he said, pointing to his head. ”Thats where the horde was in Nox. And when I delved, that’s where the hole was.
Emily nodded in understanding. ”I felt something when I tried to draw the power through you. I’m not sure that’s the right terminology or not - but it’s what it feels like. I’ll try from there again.”
RE: Links [Shale House] - Emily Shale-Vanders - 07-12-2025
Emily began to probe again - looking for the spot Jared mentioned. Then she tried it again. She tried to grab her power through Jared - and hit a wall. ”Damn it,” she said. Releasing her power. ”Let’s break for a moment. I need to think.”
Jared nodded. ”I’ll go get you some water,” Jared said standing and helping Emily to her feet.
Emily began to walk around the gym, contemplating as she did. She was feeling enough to believe that this was possible. She just was doing something wrong. She had hit a wall. Perhaps Jared was shielding himself somehow. Protecting his power from being taken. Or maybe it was something else.
Jared came down a moment later and handed her a glass of water. She leaned against the wall and took a sip. ”What are you thinking?” Jared asked calmly.
”That this is possible, but we’re doing something wrong,” she looked at him curiously. ”You aren’t blocking me somehow - with the power or otherwise?”
Jared shook his head. ”Mind is completely clear. This is why I thought it would be better for two people who trust to do it. And I’m doing nothing with the power.”
Emily nodded. It was the answer she had expected. A wall. Perhaps his power was that wall. ”Are you holding the power? Jared shook his head. ”Dont seize it. Not yet.” Emily tried to draw the power through him again. But there was nothing. No wall, but no power either.
Emily grimaced. She was so close. Then a thought came. If not holding it was too little and holding it was too much, what if he was reaching for it. What if he brought himself to the cusp of holding his power. ”Bring yourself right to where you can almost grab it, but don’t.”
Jared nodded and Emily reached out. Suddenly a fury was coursing through her. She saw Jared’s eyes widen. He had felt the change too. Jared had described his power to her. A molten river of fury. Surrendering to it would get you killed. You had to fight it. She realized now that was an understatement. ”How does it not burn you alive?” she gasped. ”I can’t do anything with it? Can you?”
RE: Links [Shale House] - Jared Vanders - 07-12-2025
There was suddenly a change. His power was there - coursing through him. He could feel hers too - sweet and almost gentle. Holy shit! We’re did it!
”You’ll need to seize it - can surrender,” he told her when she said she couldn’t do nothing.
Emily nodded. ”I know. By the way - your description wasn’t close enough,” she gave him a grin. ”Try something. Remember to surrender to mine.”
Jared nodded. The dichotomy of seizing his power and surrendering to hers was the first step. It took several tries but he did it. Then he began to channel. The difference between the powers was there. Hers was almost - flowery. Such a strange thing. He flowed his own power naturally and hers seemed to fill in gaps. They never joined together, but flowed next to each other. Filling in like a tapestry.
”There are holes in what you’re doing?” she said.
Jared shook his head. ”No - you just can’t see all of it. he responded.
”You can see it all,” she asked curiously.
”I can. It feels like…your power is flowing through you to me. Like a conduit. I thought it would be more like I was in a pool of power. It’s different.”
Jared went though a familiar weave - he did the same delving he had done with Nox. And applied to to Emily. Nothing was wrong with her - so he didn’t feel anything. He dropped his power and then let go of Emily’s as well.
Emily gasped at the release. ”you okay?”
She nodded and wrapped him in a hug. ”Yeah,” she said, a smile on her voice. ”You just understated how terrifying your power is.”
She kissed him. ”Do you realize what this means. How much more can we do together than separate?”
RE: Links [Shale House] - Emily Shale-Vanders - 07-12-2025
Emily smiled. This would open up a lot of doors to what they could accomplish. On top of that, it raised a lot more more questions.
"It is a big deal, but that means we have a lot more to figure out too," Emily said.
Emily released herself from Jared's grasp. "For example - why couldn't I use the power and you could? Can two women connect, two men? More people in general. We got lots of experimenting to do. One we can do right now. You try to start the link. I tried to draw my power through you while you were keeping the power close without seizing it. Try it now."
Emily reached for her power but didn't embrace it. She waited for a few minutes. "Nothing?" she asked.
"Nothing - not a wall or anything. I just cant do it."
Emily thought about that for a minute. "So only women can start the link...or you just don't have a talent to do so. More questions - but we need to do some more experimenting - with more people I think." Emily got out her wallet. "I'll contact Nox - he knows a lot of people who can channel. Maybe they'll be willing to help out here."
Jared nodded as Emily got out her wallet. Hey Nox! Jared and I were able to successfully link our powers. I had to start the link, but only he could channel it. It raises a lot of questions - I'd like to get some other people involved - men and women - figure out what more we can do with this. This is exciting for sure.
Emily sent the message and turned back to Jared. "What did it feel like?" she asked.
"There was more power there, but different. Very different. Yours was calm and peaceful - so much different than what I was used to. It was...surreal."
Emily grinned. "I could feel yours too - as I already said. It felt like my power was flowing through me. A conduit - like you said. We will have to see what happens with our other experiments." This had a lot of potential.
RE: Links [Shale House] - Nox - 07-12-2025
We got plenty of channelers at Kallisti come by before opening hours I'm sure they'd love to help. I can also get Liv to be there if you give me date/time you wanna do it. She's gotta take time off work.