shellphones | Asshole telepath protection racket

(And well, they frown a bit.)

That's harder. You don't have any psychic powers of your own, so your best bet would be to maintain distance and hope that makes you less noticeable. Approach when they're distracted or tired and vulnerable.

Wanna get started?

I've had my fair share of mind intrusions and overcame them. Psychic powers or not. [He is not referring to Chris. Just like those previous times, he'll overcome this too. His brows furrow.] I'm ready.

(They blink.)

I was intending to coach you on how to have even better (They have to admit he's one of the people who manages not to project everywhere, but they bet there's still a few tricks he could learn.) control of your thoughts and spot more subtle intrusions before the possibility of actually simulating one came up, but if you want to start with that...

Edited 2025-09-20 23:10 (UTC)

I be more concern with yourself, if I'm unable to repel you. [A warning that he may respond violently as a means of self preservation.

There's a reason he reacts strongly when it comes the tampering of his mind. Be it things he does not want others to see, being manipulated, or have his memories reprogrammed entirely. It took him as long as did just to be able to trust what his mind percieves around him.]

Instruct where you feel it necessary.

What, like you'll just automatically lash out and kill me?

(Oh, there's that snappishness. Someone's still pissy.

A part of them wonders: does Shadow really intend to kill them if they poke around in his head, or is he afraid he's going to freak out and kill them for accidentally poking into his head?

...It doesn't make much of a difference, they suppose. Especially since-) That doesn't work anyway, remember?

(They sigh.)I'm not even interested in your secrets.

No, but I could make you wish for death. [There are worse things than death as one could say. He crosses his arms. In quiet consideration.]

Whether it is or not, what memories I have are important to me. I...simply do not want them to be tampered with again.

(They scoff.) I doubt you can top what's already happened.

(That's not even a matter of ability so much as them being pretty sure Shadow has standards.

They sigh.)

I can't actually tamper with memories anyway, just read them. (This is, for the most part, true. That part of their power is blocked. It's possible they might be able to do it if they dove all the way into his head? But that leaves them like, completely vulnerable... and they haven't actually tried something like that since arriving here.

...Probably it'd just give the both of them brain damage.) And even if I could I don't want to. Is it really so hard to believe that I'm capable of not being a complete piece of shit, or do you just assume other people will treat you like a toy the moment you let your guard down? (On the offensive, now. Running their mouth. Picking at a perceived weakness.)

I'm here, aren't I? [He taps his foot impatiently.] Are you going to provide those lesson you mentioned or not?

...

...

...Alright. (So incredibly sullen.

~~They are absolutely mad Shadow didn't take the bait even if picking a fight with him is incredibly stupid.~~) You ever meditated before?

[Maybe if he was younger, he would have fallen for the brat's attempts to egg him on.] ...A few times. [Does brooding count as meditating though?]

(They have no idea how old Shadow is or how that compares to human age.

He's right to think they're a brat, though. They're chronologically like, 19-20?)

Alright. Let's see how fast you can get comfortable and clear your thoughts.

... [He takes a deep breath. For the first time since arriving to the meeting place, his gaze moves from Chris. The challenge of trying to relax, is not letting old haunts creep up on you. He always has to be doing something, because if he's not, his mind tends to wander. What should he be doing, what can he do better? What could he have done? A question that often eats at his mind. There's also the fact he's standing in front of someone he isn't completely sure he could fully relax in front of.

But that's always been the case with anyone. Letting his guard down is just asking to be taken advantage of, controlled.

...But if he thinks about being in a field of lavenders, the plant room on his boat, he can reach some state of calm. Physically, he does appear relaxed. His mind creating a space that makes him feel calm, but there's still a lingering wariness.]

(They frown.) You have trouble with keeping your head clear, don't you?

The more you practice at it, the better you'll be with the stuff I'm gonna teach you. For now, try and concentrate on something you don't care if I see until it's everywhere. Try to ignore any other thoughts you're having.

[He blinks, glaring up at Chris.] It's easier when I'm by myself. [It should probably be obvious why. With a huff, he glances away again.

He can think of one place that brings him calm. A field of lavenders. Something about the way they smell, calms his spirits. An unassuming image that provides no details besides liking lavender.]

Yeah. Unfortunately, needing to defend your mind implies the presence of others.

(Huh. So basically the same thing he was already focusing on.)

That's a good passive defense for if you're worried about someone seeing thoughts but there isn't any proof of deliberate invasion. If someone is trying to actively read what's in your head, it'll probably be much harder than normal to focus on things like that: you'll keep trying to go to whatever topic the telepath is trying to get at. Smarter telepaths will try tricks that bring the information they want to the front of your mind naturally, like asking questions and skimming for the answers that you think of.

Edited 2025-09-29 04:54 (UTC)

...That makes sense. [Even when he can't see himself being swayed so easily. But he can't deny that the mind will wander in the midst of a discussion. Even when he doesn't say what's there.]

(They raise an eyebrow.)

I may not know the specifics but I can still tell you're doubting.

(They can smell that arrogance... or what they're interpreting as arrogance.)

Just continue the lesson and let me decide how to handle it. [It's just how he is.]

Well, if you're really worried about wipes, that willpower will help.

(Willpower and confidence do a lot in the realm of the mind.

But for subtler types of manipulation he's more likely to fall for it if he doesn't believe it can happen.

...They'll just have to watch out for that. ~~Actually they're arrogant enough they'd just fall for it too.~~)

Now I want you to find something that you might not care if I see but that anyone who looks in your mind will regret seeing. Like a really gross thing you've seen or imagined. Be as mean about it as you can without making yourself upset or sick.

[Well, that can be a number of things. It should be a simple request, but nothing about Shadow is exactly chill. What he finds disgusting may not be the case for someone else either without context. But the first thing that comes to mind, is a strange larval creature. Bit creepy with how it just stares unblinkingly. In the next moment, there's an image of a human, slumped over against a wall. On it's head, the leech had attached itself to it's head, slowly devouring it's flesh.]

(Well, at least he's good at focusing hard enough to make it difficult to block out.

They flinch when that second image hits them.) Yeah, yeah, that's good. You can also find something that's just really awkward and embarrassing but I wasn't sure if you had anything like that you'd want others to know about. That's for if you're detecting signs of active intrusion but either don't know or can't access whoever is invading your mind. Keep yourself concentrating on that image so that not only is it harder to divert your thoughts and get what they need but make it actively unpleasant for them to try.

(Could also just concentrate on an image like that so telepaths have to actively work to block it out even when they're not reading his mind if he wanted to annoy them/drive them away, but if he wants to do something like that he'll have to practice it himself.)

Hmph. Of course not. [The Ultimate Lifeform doesn't expose such things he would consider vulnerabilities. At least what he provides certainly leaves an impression! His expression hasn't changed though. Almost as if he was desensitized by the imagery. In fact, the imagery seems to be warping into something more gruesome.

Large cocoon-like structures over mutilated bodies, no longer recognizable as they were taken of whatever these larval organisms deem necessary for their continual development. What comes from these cocoons are creatures of varying forms, ready to perform for their master's needs. To hunt, kill and provide for their kind.

...

Was he suppose to stop?] So you can see what I'm thinking. I can't tell you're there.

Only the surface stuff. Right now you're concentrating hard enough I'd have to make effort not to see it.

(They're not, in fact, always in people's heads, thoughts are just picked up anyway. Is this because subconsciously a part of them is just in every accessible mind around them or because there's some medium through which thoughts are projected and they're just able to access that medium in ways others can't? No idea, though some canon stuff points to an extradimensional component to telepathy, so ...maybe the latter?

They sigh.)

If you want to experience a direct intrusion, you can tell me something you don't care if I find out about and I can try to look at it while you try to keep me from it by thinking of anything else.

Edited 2025-10-02 23:01 (UTC)

So you passively pick them up anyway. [This is important to know, that it can't be helped the other will inevitably hear a simple throwaway thought. Must be annoying.

He's quiet once more, thinking.] All right. [He has a thought. A memory of going to see a certain wishing tree that blooms pink and red blossoms at night. It happsns only once every year in spring, and he had the chance to observe it with someone else. They are obscured in his mind, like a shadow, blurring their image. The important thing is getting passed the alien conquering humans imagery to see the blossoming tree anyway.]

Yeah. What, you think I want to do things like project my worst traumas everywhere when I sleep and hear way too much information about people's mating habits?

(The first one is an intentional jab, but the second one is mostly just to highlight how annoying it can get... and also troll him for a reaction. Gotta get their kicks somewhere.

Huh. Apparently he wants to do an intrusion. They focus their attention, managing to catch a glimpse of the scene before it sinks behind the grisly images of alien monsters.

Something about ...plants?)

You seen the garden at the Conservatory?

(They try to slip along any lines of thought about green and growing things.

Does he feel it? That skin prickling sense of eyes watching him entirely too intently?)

Edited 2025-10-04 03:32 (UTC)

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CW: mutilated bodies and aliens hatching

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