Mixing It Up! [Koty]

[Koty Hura]

"I was aware that it is common for meta genes to run in a family, but I was unaware that it was possible for specific meta traits to run in a family as well.. You continue to be fascinating, Lin." ... Koty needed to find a new word. Fascinating was already getting old. At least Lin didn't seem to think he was creepy for being so interested. A bit surprised, perhaps, but he didn't seem to mind.

So there were cousins that Koty needed to watch out for, and he shouldn't go around blabbing secrets to Lin. Both things that he could do. Apparently, though, Lin was also interested in Koty's ability. Which he could also do.. but the consequences were something he wasn't sure about. He'd have to be careful and he would have to avoid poking too much.. but he was too curious to not want to try.

"I do not mind at all. If you would.. think of a memory. Preferably something simple and positive. A favorite meal or a comfortable seat in your childhood home or a television show you enjoy." He removed his gloves and set his elbows on the table, offering a hand to Bolin and Chonglin each. "Then simply touch my hand and.. imagine that we are watching the memory play out on a screen. That you are sharing it with me.. I will offer you a memory first."

When Lin did reach out and touch Koty's hand, he might suddenly get the impression that he knew Koty was able to read their surface thoughts.. and that Koty was acutely aware that they had that impression because he was creating it... and as soon as that was comprehended by at least one of them (it was a little hard for Koty to differentiate and he wasn't sure who was getting what) they would know the feeling of the first time Koty had tried chicken noodle soup. Know the taste of it, know the texture, the pleasant heat of the stuff running down his throat on the otherwise cold bus. How the saltiness of it was pleasant even thought Koty generally didn't prefer salty foods and the broth seemed to fill his mouth and stomach with satisfaction because he had been famished and running late that morning..

But would Lin accept the memory for what it was, or would they, as one, try to dig deeper into it as if it were there own? Their combined minds may well have the ability to rip the information directly from Koty, well past anything he'd intended to give to them.

[Bolin & Chonglin Zhou]

"Well, the four of us,"

"we're not actually blood related. Through marriage…"

"Kind of. They're cousins of our cousins." Bolin and Chonglin were no experts in genealogy, but as far as they were aware that actually meant they had no relation to the Chengs. All the same they considered them cousins and close friends.

When told to think of a positive and simple memory, immediately Lin thought of Will Meskill, their host brother and good friend. He was a plain kid who enjoyed the simple things in life. They could clearly remember his voice that still cracked when he was trying to be serious. His strawberry hair was always messy, and his face was covered in freckles. He was always able to put a smile on their faces with his goofy antics.

Their memory of the boy slipped away for a moment as they each placed a hand on Koty's to see what memory Koty would give them. With this they felt their mind was a little more… exposed to Koty. Like it was there for him to just read as he pleased. It was an unusual sensation, but they stuck with it knowing that it would stay as long as they were in contact with the boy. The two of them no longer had the taste of their sandwiches in their mouths, instead it was chicken soup… Wait, chicken noodle soup? It was weird to feel the food despite their mouths being empty. The warmth ran down their throats.

Bolin wasn't completely sure he was feeling it though. It didn't exactly seem whole, more like a dream. But he could taste it…. To his brother though, it was very real. One thing for sure, the both of them were very confused. They didn't feel quite as connected with each other as they did before. They often felt the connection they had, like a pair of magnets pulling together. But each with their different experience of Koty's power, it almost seemed like he was blocking the pull.

They both let go, sensing one another completely again. "…Woah."

"That…. was weird." There was still a little smile on Chonglin's face from the memory, and how it just happened. But still, to feel like there was stopper in their synchronization was indeed weird for the twins.

[Koty Hura]

In the split second between the end of the memory and the moment the twins released Koty's hands, he'd felt that strangeness as well. Felt their unique impressions and perceptions. It was two views of the same thing.. From the same mind? Or.. not quite, but...

"Like glasses.. one lense fogged and the other clear.." The same vision from the same source of the same thing through two different eyes with somehow different views despite being both from the same place. This was something new to Koty as well. "I have.. never experienced anything quite like that. I expected to be overwhelmed, not to.. have such a profound effect on you." Of course, now he was curious what would be different will a fully joined pair.

"I am most sorry if you were caused any distress.. I had no idea how either of us would react. Perhaps I.. focused in one direction more than the other? I.. I wonder if the same effect would exist if I were only in contact with one of you." Despite doing nothing wrong, Koty felt.. guilty. Or perhaps not quite guilty, but at fault for an unforeseeable thing. "I will not ask for you to repeat what may have been an uncomfortable activity. I am sorry.."

And with that, Koty started packing up what was left of his lunch. Maybe it had less to do with possibly offending the brothers (or.. whatever may have just happened) and more to do with how very strange the experience had been. It had only been an instant, but the closest he could compare it to would be.. feeling numb across one entire side of his body, having all of his senses there muted. It almost made him feel nauseous. And he hadn't even managed to get the memory they'd intended on sharing with him. Only given, then an instant of intense awkwardness and confusion. It was borderline dizzying.

[Bolin & Chonglin Zhou]

Lin nodded. Koty put it the feeling in words. They couldn't've described it better themselves. Neither had felt that feeling of being separate since before they manifested. But they could still feel each other barely in their minds. It was a complete block. Maybe someone with more of a handle on their tactile telepathy could do that, but the twins didn't really feel like finding that out.

"Oh, it's alright."

"Wǒ didn't expect it either. That was a bit more weird than it was distressful." The experience was a surprise and confusing. The idea that someone could pull them apart caused a bit of unease instead of the actual feeling. Perhaps if they thought of the memory instead their connection would be a bit stronger? Still Bolin and Chonglin both felt it would be imposing to ask to try again.

It was a bit awkward for the two of them as they finished up their lunches. Each were watching Koty out of the corner of their eyes as he packed up. Did it bother him too? Neither could even imagine what it was be like to experience it from the sender's end of it all. They were unsure how to continue their conversation with Koty. After all it was, for lack of a better word, weird.