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[It's... uncomfortable actually. He's only ever been this aware of people in his mind once before, and it sends a shudder down his back. It's like an itch that he can't scratch, and wouldn't be able to. At least his brain is organized enough that there isn't much clutter. David is very clearly highly experienced at organizing his thoughts, though he's used to running through quite a bit more at a time.

This new status just means that he can't focus like he normally does. Too much external data. And with the overwhelming input, pain. And fear.]

Yeah, Emma could do that too. Jean-Grey probably if she wanted to, but she's unnatural, even for a mutant.

[Thoughts of them are accompanied by hatred and fear in turn, but he is very quick to quash that.]

[Judd pulls back the second he's finished looking. He is nothing if not psychically polite.]

It was unusual for us too... And Nikita Duncan is one stone cold bitch. She makes me look like a exuberant wolf pup.

If she wasn't so loyal to protecting what was hers, I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have lasted as long as she has.

[Because DarkRiver and SnowDancer would have taken her out, Sascha's mother or not. Thankfully, she's been... mellowed, if the cats are to be believed.]

I didn't see anything that would make me think that your mind would reject shielding techniques.

I've learned from some of the best shield technicians, but I'm sure Sascha or my brother, were they here, would be able to help you better. We'll start with the basics.

[There's another telepathic 'knock', only this time rather than Judd's presence, there's an image of a shielded mind. It isn't his. What follows is a series of pictures showing the shielding technique as he explains it to David. It isn't going to be an actual functioning shield, but one has to learn to crawl before one can walk.]

Pretty sure my brain structure here is different than it was as a mutant. So hopefully I can learn for a change.

[But if David's anything, he's a very good student. He dedicates himself fully to the process. He's open and quick and adaptive to a fault. Which means it takes almost no time at all to manage some level of mimicry of what Judd's showing him. Not strong, even for the standards that would be expected of a child. But picked up fast.]

[Judd nods slightly, approvingly. He thinks to how he had been taught, then thinks to how they've been teaching Marlee... how Aden is teaching the younger Arrows.]

Good job.

[Seeing that David's getting the basics, the images switch to basic shielding games a parent would teach their infant... perhaps modified slightly to actually be a challenge. At some point, Judd 'ports an energy bar he had found in the kitchenette to him and eats it.]

[Well, if you're going to make a game out of it, David's attention is going to sky-rocket. The guy is a fiend for that sort of thing. But there's also a quiet desperation to the process for David, and after a bit he raises his hands and shakes his head.]

I... I need a minute. I'm sorry.

[He's just so tired. This whole this is only hours old and it took him so long to focus enough to make his desperate cry for help. His whole body is about to give in, and there wasn't enough ice cream to stop that crash.]

I'm guessing coffee is out of the question?

There's nothing to apologize for. [The images stop, but Judd's shield remains firm around David's mind.] I occasionally forget that my training was... abnormal.

[It was torture, if he was being honest, but this isn't the time nor place to bring that up. He tilts his head to the side slightly, allowing his neck to crack. For a second his eyes seemed to darken from brown to pure black, but after a moment it fades back to normal.]

I can drink it... But I don't think you're asking that question because of me. I have a long telepathic range, David. I won't allow anything to slip inside until you're ready.

Oh, I don't doubt your range. I'm more wondering if caffeine would potentially inhibit my senses enough to affect learning this. I'm going to learn this. I'm going to learn it fast, because otherwise... I think I might go crazy.

[He doesn't want that. And he's terrified of it. That sort of overload? It'd fry his brain in new and exciting ways, and David has been given to extreme solutions before.]

I can't say. For the Psy, we have an... odd reaction to most stimulants and depressants, though I've personally found I can tolerate coffee. As you aren't Psy, I can't say with certainty that it would effect you in any way.

If that worries you, my suggestion would be hot chocolate. Caffeine would still be present, but in a lower dose.

I don't keep any hot chocolate, but I do have tea here for...

[Yeah, he's letting that one slide.]

I'll make tea then. Could I interest you in some? I think it's herbal. Honestly, back home, I lived on coffee, before and after I lost my powers.

[He nods, sitting up to stretch.]

Before joining SnowDancer, we were taught to avoid any food with flavor in them, as they could lead to an emotional response. Our diets consisted entirely of meal bars and nutrient mixes tailored to our exact caloric intake.

Walker and I almost fell over the first time we had jam on toast, let alone tried fruit juices or tea.

Jam on...

[David's definitely cross. But he does move to fill the electric kettle.]

How much truly good food have you had? Because I owe you, and I don't know if you picked up on it or not, but I'm a very good cook.

It's been almost 5 years since then. I have eaten. [The bare hint of a smirk spreads across his face.] You're going to have to compete against the den's head chef. She's my brother's mother-in-law, so I might have become a bit spoiled.

I might be able to surprise you. My father was a trained chef at a five star restaurant. I'm good. I'm up to the challenge.

Then I suppose the challenge is accepted.

[After all, if David can joke about this, he must be feeling even the slighest bit better... and the more "normal" things he starts doing again, the better.]

Though you have big shoes to fill.

[Oh no, he's really not feeling much better, except for the fact that he isn't overwhelmed with everything he touches. Hell, he almost feels like he can have clothes back on.]

I'm used to feeling like that.

[Now now, he didn't think a miracle had just occurred...]

I think the feeling is more common than people think.

Oh, it definitely is. It brushes up against imposter syndrome.

[He starts digging around for tea bags.]

Mind throwing me my pants?

[David's pants dart off the floor and hover at arm's length.]

I swear the rest of my life is going to be spent handing out clothes.

Cute.

[He reaches for the pants and pulls them on. Dammit. Don't embarrass him here. Or lop him with those wolves.]

Thanks. Basically, though, we're wired to want to fit in. Humans just as much as anyone else.

[There's nothing wrong with nudity. He just doesn't want to see your undies.]

True. It's an emotional response, however... so I'm still playing catch up.

There are those who would suggest that you were lucky for getting to go so long without emotional attachments. They're wrong. You're luckier now.

[He relaxes a little when the kettle starts boiling. He does hesitate for a second before reaching for the mugs. And then he's preparing the tea.]

In some ways, my life would be easier without emotional attachments. And yet here I am, basking in them like a good little human. They make us stronger.

You don't need to convince me.

[He remembers how hard he once fought to keep himself firmly ensconced in Silence, if for nothing else than to protect everyone else from his ability. But now he can't imagine being drenched in the emotions of his pack, and that of DarkRiver or anyone else for that matter.]

It's cold. Often you don't know who to trust, because though there's no emotional attachment to certain things... logically, you can just as easily justify screwing someone over and sleep soundly at night.

Well, there's where I wouldn't make it as someone who suppresses emotions. I haven't had a night of sound sleep since before my mutation kicked in. Why not have the emotions in that case.

[Still, there are things he wished he didn't have, emotions he wished he could get rid of. He sighs and finishes pouring water over bags and pulls out the sugar before gesturing to one of the cups for Judd.]

[Judd takes the cup offered him, and for the time being, enjoys the warmth beneath his fingers.]

Even with Silence having fallen, there are many who would say that they would rather remain in Silence than face the possibility of falling into madness.

Especially when they will not believe the rate of madness hasn't decreased the way the Council had led us to believe.

The heart is always mad. But it is what connects us to other people.

[But that's his opinion.]

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