InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I am a brain in a jar."

Sascha Connolly, Ph.D. (bohemiarhapsody) wrote in nosuchplace,
@ 2009-08-29 19:58:00

Entry tags:

logan nagamori, sascha connolly

Thursday: February 7, 2008
Who: Sascha and Logan
When: Mid-morning
Where: The library
What: Someone's having a change of heart (and possibly employment)

Sascha had been discharged from the Medical Pavilion nearly three days ago, but he was still trying to readjust. The encounter with Danté seemed to have knocked a few screws loose in his head- figuratively speaking, of course, although he had a nice shiner over his left eye to show for it as well- and no matter what he did, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was...off. Wrong. Not quite right.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was that seemed so off, but he was beginning to think that maybe it was just him. Maybe he was all wrong. And this place, this job, was really starting to grate on his nerves. He paused for a moment in his mental wangst-ing to shoot a rubber band at Rowan, smirking victoriously as it hit its target smack dab between the elf's shoulder blades. Rowan turned around to glare and gesture rudely at Sascha, and the telepath couldn't help but chuckle. He had taught his elven friend everything he knew about library hijinks and flashed middle fingers, after all.

His amusement was only temporary, though, and within minutes Sascha was back to shelving books and sulking. Sure, he loved books, and he loved being around people, too, but this was almost like torture. He was one of those people who was just born to talk- a lot- and the library was a horrible setting for that particular activity. He wanted to interact with people, to show them just what it was about the books he loved that made him love them, to...to...

He didn't quite get to finish his thought because at just that moment, someone who hadn't noticed him crouched on the floor in front of adult fiction, bookcase 'G' tripped right over him and knocked the both of them to the floor. Brilliant.

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dreammaster
2009-09-02 04:26 am UTC (link)

Logan had been avoiding people again. Ever since he found Adrienne and roused Zach to see her, he couldn't quite face anyone. It felt like the more he got out in the world all he found was hurt. He didn't know if he could handle that. After what had happened the other day, it seemed his fears were correct. Everywhere he went-- even a haven-- there was death and violence.

He decided to pour himself into his art and books. He hadn't been keeping up his studies since the outbreak. He was only in eleventh grade, thus he still had a while to go until he was able to finish school. At least he was used to homeschooling due to his fox ears and would be able to handle studying on his own. He was looking for something to read, thrown off by the Elven names mixed in with the human ones and hadn't noticed the man kneeling on the floor. He tripped over him and went sprawling.

Oh shit! Oh shit! Logan cried in his head. Maybe perhaps he was so quiet in real life, his thoughts seemed to radiate to the canine telepath. I can't believe I did that! I'm such an idiot!

He pulled himself off the ground, looking at Sascha wide-eyed. He was deeply red in the face and his mouth was slack. He seemed utterly unaware he kept mentally chattering at Sascha. Now you've made Sascha think you're a complete headcase.... Yeah, like most of Elysium dosn't think that already.

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bohemiarhapsody
2009-09-05 04:32 am UTC (link)

Sascha barely had enough time to let out a startled "Shit!" before his shoulder hit the ground, and it took several moments of confused blinking for him to recognize his assailant. Of course, they'd really only met a couple of times before, but he'd know those white ears anywhere. He opened his mouth to say something to the boy, but his mind was suddenly overwhelmed by a string of mental chatter.

"Woah, hold on a minute," he said as he righted himself, one hand flailing in Logan's direction in what was intended as a reassuring motion. "If there's anyone here that qualifies as a headcase, believe me...you're lookin' at him." He smiled and winked. "And I mean that literally."

Sascha drew himself up to his full height- a good three or four inches taller than his companion- and leaned back against the bookcase as he gave Logan a once-over. "So, my friend...it's Logan, isn't it? Have anything special on your mind?"

The smile on his face had a definite edge of mischief to it. Of course, Sascha hadn't been around the younger man often enough to realize that speaking aloud had become part of his regular routine again. As far as he could remember, the half-kitsune was mostly mute. "I'll figure it out eventually, y'know. If you need help looking for something, just ask."

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dreammaster
2009-09-11 11:26 am UTC (link)

Logan winced as Sascha pulled himself back to his feet. He was still feeling deeply embarrassed about knocking him over. Not only did he look like a spaz, but he couldn't help but think about the fact that Sascha might have been his sister's boyfriend. He still wasn't clear on all of that. Mitsuko does keep disappearing at night. And she goes to the bungalows. But she could be with Irei... Maybe I should just ask her outright. But even though he had started talking more, he still wasn't really chatty.

Logan's eyes widened when Sascha told him to calm down and used the exact same phrasing as he had. "You... You could hear me? I didn't think I was... Thinking so loud." Crap, did he just hear me thinking about Mitsuko and him? Crap, did he just hear that?

But Sascha's abilities did come to some use for Logan. While he was talking to some, he didn't really converse with people he didn't know well. In fact, he was as silent as always. But when it came to Sascha-- the fact he could hear his thoughts regardless-- it seemed futile to stay quiet in front of him, so Logan found it easier to vocalize.

"I don't really know what I'm looking for," Logan admitted. His speaking voice was soft and low. Unlike Mitsuko, he had no Japanese accent when speaking English, showcasing the difference between the half-siblings.

Logan thought a long time about what he was doing in the library. Of course, he knew why he was there. But he hadn't even told Mitsuko about it. Then, he didn't think he was going to get very far trying to do it himself. He at least needed to tell someone who could help him find the right books. "I.... I want to finish high school. I'm still a year short. But I don't know where to start."

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bohemiarhapsody
2009-09-12 10:34 pm UTC (link)

Sascha could practically see the gears turning in the boy's head as he tried to make sense of himself, and he couldn't help but smile. Logan was definitely a cute kid, and there was something adorably naïve about the direction his thoughts had taken; in a way, it was almost endearing to see him so protective over his sister.

Of course, he was also stumbling into dangerous territory. Sascha wasn't sure how well the boy would handle the knowledge that all three of the parties involved were sleeping together. Poor kid might blow a mental gasket.

"You don't have to think loudly, it just happens. Call it a gift." Sascha winked at his companion, the sly smile on his lips an indication that yes, he'd just heard that thought, and no, he wasn't going to elaborate. Logan's face was red enough as it was.

He was a little surprised, however, to hear that the boy was actively trying to finish the schooling he'd missed. To be honest, Sascha thought it was an admirable goal; he hadn't gotten the impression that many of the teenagers in the haven were terribly concerned about their academic future, and probably with good reason. Now that college- and a career beyond that- seemed almost obsolete in their current setting, he could understand why some people were taking a more lax attitude toward education. He might not have agreed, but he could understand.

"...is that so?" Sascha slowly crossed his arms, eyeing the boy curiously. "And why would you want to do something like that? Big plans after graduation?" He wasn't trying to mock the boy- far from it, in fact. If anything, he wanted to understand what might compel a shy creature like Logan to suddenly come out of his shell.

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dreammaster
2009-09-21 02:20 am UTC (link)

Logan was very protective of Mitsuko. He was protective of all of the people precious to him. He'd lost so many in so short a time, he clung to those he did have. But Mitsuko was special. She was his only family left.

He also knew how she'd been hurt in the past. While she kept a brace face in public, he'd heard her cry after Loki had left. Her breakup with the muse had hurt her deeply and he didn't want to see that happen to her again. He wasn't sure if it was Sascha or Irei, but he knew Mitsuko's relationship with one of those men was something deeper than friendship.

"Oh." Logan nodded, really unsure of what he was supposed to say in response to that. He felt a little on edge and vulnerable that Sascha might well hear any one of his thoughts. Maybe that was why people acted so funny when they found out about Logan's Dreamwalker abilities. The mind was supposed to be a personal thing and suddenly having someone privvy to those thoughts...

"It's my dad," Logan admitted quietly, staring at the bookshelf and idly running his hand up and down the spine of one of the books. He couldn't bring himself to look at Sascha. He was a bit bashful about the whole thing. "He always wanted me to finish school. I mean, before I came here, I could have quit school and become a full time artist. I was making twenty-thirty thousand per painting. But Dad always said I needed to finish school. And even if he's gone... I don't want to let him down."

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bohemiarhapsody
2009-09-28 03:28 am UTC (link)

Ah, so that was the explanation: the boy wanted to honor his father's memory. That was understandable, of course, although Sascha couldn't quite sympathize seeing as...well, seeing as he'd never had parents himself. The desire to please ran deep, he supposed.

"Your father was right- never underestimate the value of a good education. It might be more useful here than you'd think." He gestured with his head for Logan to follow as he turned and headed for the staircase, pulling several pieces of gum from his pocket and offering one out to the boy while popping another into his mouth.

"You've got a few options here, Logan," he said with a particularly loud snap of his gum. "I could point you to the 'Education' section and help you find some of the homeschooling materials, which would get you by...but you'll only learn so much on your own. OR-" he paused on the second floor landing, one hand braced on the railing as he looked down at his younger companion, "I could offer you MY services. I used to teach literature, y'know. It's always been a passion of mine."

Sascha looked out over the expanse of the library below them, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Sometimes I wonder why I settled for this. I'd much rather be in a classroom. Sounds to me like you're right at home in a studio." He raised an eyebrow at Logan. "Thirty thousand dollars? Really? That's pretty impressive. Good chunk of my old salary right there. What did you paint?"

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dreammaster
2009-10-05 01:29 am UTC (link)

Logan missed his parents greatly. As much as he loved his sister, it wasn't the same. His parents had always been there for him. He had no real friends as a child, no family besides his parents. They had been his entire world. And now they were gone... The only thing he could do was fulfill the wish of his father.

Nodding slowly, Logan listened to Sascha speak about education. He hesitated for a moment before accepted the offered stick of gum and putting it into his mouth, chewing on it. At least it would distract him a little bit, maybe make him feel a little less nervous.

He was tempted to go with the first option. Logan wasn't good with many people. He would probably be a lot more comfortable working on his own. But Sascha was right, there was only so much he could learn on his own. Besides, he knew in his heart he needed to break out of his shell. He needed to associate with the people around him in Elysium, outside of Mitsuko, Zach, Chris and Charlie. He nodded slowly. And Sascha-- with his psychic abilities-- was somehow easier for him to deal with. "All right... If... If you wouldn't mind tutoring me, I'd like that." He worried his lower lip, an expression Sascha had no doubt seen Mitsuko do frequently, it seemed to run in the family. "But I should pay you. Because it's a job. But... I don't think I have anything you want." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But I bet Mitsuko would be really happy you're helping me. She might want to repay you. She's been learning how to bake at the cafe. Would that be all right?"

Logan nodded at Sascha's statement. He was incredibly at home in a studio. "I paint... What I see. What other people can't." His Dreamwalker powers were not incredibly common knowledge, but maybe Irei or Mitsuko had mentioned them to Sascha. "The world of the mind." He blushed bashfully. "People just... Liked them. And wanted to have them."He wasn't really sure if he were all that talented.

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bohemiarhapsody
2009-10-22 12:10 am UTC (link)

Sascha smiled at the boy's reluctance. Logan was nothing like his sister personality-wise, and for a brief moment the telepath wondered if making some sort of sudden movement wouldn't send his skittish young companion running for cover. He propped his elbow on the banister and looked over Logan thoughtfully.

"I wouldn't mind in the slightest. Actually, you'd almost be doing me a favor- saving me from boredom and monotony. But if you feel the need to pay me, I won't turn you down." There was such an innocence to Logan's offer that Sascha almost, almost felt guilty for the devilish thoughts that flashed through his mind concerning Mitsuko and several varying forms of "repayment." An oddly satisfied smile crossed his lips as he added, "I'm sure your sister and I can work something out."

Sascha knew little about Logan's abilities, mainly for the fact that he wasn't usually the topic of conversation when Mitsuko was around; no, conversation in general tended to be brief and to the point wherever she was involved. "The world of the mind? I'm...not really sure what that means. I mean, I know what it means to me, but...what sort of world is it that you see?"

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dreammaster
2009-10-29 09:49 pm UTC (link)

Logan was trying to get better about his skittishness. He had certainly gotten better since he arrived in Elysium. He no longer jumped at the slightest movement and ran away. He was even capable of having conversations with people. But he was most definitely different from his sister in that she seemed to soak up attention, craving it. Logan definitely preferred to go unnoticed.

"I'm glad," Logan said, with a small smile. He did not catch onto the small perverse smile. He was rather innocent when it came to that sort of thing. He had also pretty much assumed that Irei was Mitsuko's secret boyfriend, his brain completely incapable of coming up with the idea she might have been involved with both of them.

Logan bit his lower lip, considering how to answer Sascha's question. "I don't dream," Logan finally answered. "I have other people's dreams. When they're asleep and their mind wanders.... I can see it. And I paint it. I paint Dreamscapes."

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bohemiarhapsody
2009-11-08 01:52 am UTC (link)

Sascha was caught completely off-guard by the younger man's description of his abilities, and as he lifted his head to listen in interest, his elbow slipped off the banister and almost sent him sprawling. Fortunately he had the balance to catch himself before he could earn a second black eye, but there wasn't exactly a way to recover gracefully. Well, didn't he just look like an uncoordinated jack-ass?

"Wait, so you're telling me you...see other people's dreams?" The idea probably shouldn't have been so incredible- and to Sascha of all people!- but it still threw him for a loop. He hadn't yet managed to meet any other residents of Elysium with mental powers comparable to his own, and this sort of discovery was encouraging.

"So you're almost like a...dream telepath, then? Can you control what you see around you? Whose dreams you enter?" Oh, now he was really getting excited. "Can you recognize the person a dream belongs to just from being inside it? That's how my telepathy generally works- I recognize familiar energy signatures. That's amazing, I had no idea you had an ability like that!"

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dreammaster
2009-11-20 05:16 am UTC (link)

Logan didn't notice Sascha's near spill. To most, it might have been fairly obvious, but Logan was so concentrate on just trying to keep talking. It was still foreign to him, opening up so much. He didn't really talk much about his Dreamwalker powers. It seemed to make some people uncomfortable. He understood that, so he didn't really tell people about them. He didn't want people to think he was invading their personal dream time.

Logan nodded. "Yeah. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I'm in the dream. I become part of it." He spoke very quietly, as if he wasn't really sure he should be talking about it outloud. He worried his lower lip as he looked up at Sascha with wide brown eyes. "When I sleep, I don't have my own dreams. I sort of... Drift through other people's. It's like when you go through the channels on a TV really fast. And then sometimes I stop on one."

He nodded once again. "Somnopath," Logan supplied. That was the word his mother had used to describe them sometimes. "But most people use Dreamwaljker. I can go into a specific person's dream by focusing on them. And I can control the dream if the sleeper is willing. It can be difficult to do, but sometimes my will is stronger or they don't mind if things are changed..." He felt a sadness in him. "Like with Kaiya. When she would have nightmares and I would make her feel better." He felt a pang in his heart, thinking about the sad little fae. "Sometimes I can recognize whose dream it is, sometimes it takes me a while. Dreams are... Confusing." He paused. "Like when I went into Irei's dream. I didn't recognize him at first. He was a child. And he called himself another name. His real name. But because I know him... I eventually realized it was him. I... Felt it."

He went quiet again, thinking about his frightening dream encounter with Irei. But how he'd first appeared as a child who looked like he was about to cry.

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