The hivemind is conquering for me?

Evanthe and I walked towards the bar together. The woman was rather shy and kept her head down as she walked. It was actually a nice contrast compared to my rather loud company I usually keep.

I didn’t feel the need to fill in the silence as the woman had a faintly suppressed smile upon her face, clearly she was ok with how things were. We walked together for another couple of minutes before she actually spoke up.

”Apollo, how do you choose your friends? Also, how do you have the nerve to just walk up to someone and declare. ’We are friends now?’ It seems crazy to me.” Evanthe’s question needed no time to gather up a reply.

”I just use my gut. When I get a good feeling about someone, I am usually right. My gut tends to like making friends with women more though for some reason, it must like being surrounded by beautiful things? I suppose everyone does though huh?”

Evanthe’s pale complexion turned a hue pink at being called beautiful, before her nerves got the better of her, forcing herself to ask this question. ”A-and. What do you expect of your friends when you are in p-private?”

This caused me to think. ”Erm... I don’t really expect anything. I only ask that my friends don’t blab my secrets to people, unless it’s for my benefit. Other than that, I can’t really think of anything, Oh! Actually, yeah. Just try to get along with my other friends as well. And if there are any problems, just tell me. Ok?”

I looked down at Evanthe to see a trace of relief and disappointment? On her face before she nodded her head and said that she understood. The walk to the bar wasn’t too far after that. The bar was one of many on the compound, student and faculty run.

The Bar aesthetic looked simple on the outside, like most of the buildings here, but from what I was told on the brochures, the drinks were strong... So I was eager to test them out against my poison resistance.

As the two of us were walking towards the bar, from close behind me I suddenly heard an incredibly familiar voice. ”Hey killer, I knew it was you who was called out during that welcoming ceremony.”

I spun around on my heel to the sight of a woman. Five foot four in height with dirty blonde hair in a loose ponytail that now had a small blue streak passing through her fringe. She was wearing large sunglasses that covered half of her face, but with the way she stood and her jeans and khaki jacket, I knew the woman standing before me.

”Woah! Mindy?” A smile emerged on my face. Of course it would, this was my friend who I had not seen in months and was not expecting to see for a long time. I immediately walked over and picked her up into a bear hug, causing her to laugh at the suddenness.

Mindy hugged back, a weight of releif unchaining itself from her body. ”I missed you.” She whispered, prompting me to whisper back. ”I missed you as well.” I then placed her down and turned to Evanthe.

”Evanthe, this is my good friend. Mindy, Captain of the serpent swords mercenary company. Mindy, this is Evanthe, my new friend who is in the Psionic guns club. Evanthe was caught off guard, but extended her hand out.

”Oh, um. Hi there. I’ve never met a mercenary before, nice to meet you.” Mindy met Evanthe’s hand. ”Nice to meet you too, but I am a former mercenary captain. Not anymore.”

My head snapped to Mindy confused, demanding an explanation non verbally. She then nodded to the bar, indicating she would talk about it after a drink. I nodded back before suggesting.

”Well, let’s not stand out here, there is food awaiting inside and company to reunite with. Oh Mindy, Janine is here. She is going to be delighted to see you, I just know it!” Mindy was taken aback hearing this. ”Overlook Janine? No shit? Huh, it will be good to see her again. We can reminisce about Alexandria together.”

I nodded to Mindy. ”Hey Mindy, can you go in and order us some drinks? I just need to speak to Evanthe alone for a moment.” I said, prompting the woman to jolt in surprise, not expecting to be spoken of in that moment.

Mindy looked towards Evanthe and smiled. ”No problem, just don’t leave a note if you decide to leave, that is not a cool thing to do to your friends.” She said, self deprecatingly before heading into the bar.

With Mindy... ’Goodness, I can’t believe she is here... That is awesome.’ I thought as I looked at her heading through the doors before shaking my head with a cheerful smile upon my lips. With Mindy gone, I turned to Evanthe, who was looking up at me confused.

”I would just like to take a moment in advance if at any point tonight you feel out of the loop about anything, as becoming a friend in an established group can be daunting, Just know that I look after those I consider friends and will do my best to keep you included ok? Most, like my sister, are quiet and only speak when spoken too. Everyone just sort of listens to one conversation at a time anyway.”

Evanthe looked at me like a deer caught in headlights. She was literally just thinking along those lines. Honestly, Apollo just saying that he was aware that something like that might occur and that he told her that he would keep an eye out for it washed away the fear of meeting new people.

She might have only known Apollo for a day, but she could tell he was a good man. Nodding her head, she meekly said ”Ok, I understand. Thank you for your kindness Apollo, it means a lot.” She said, meeting my eyes strongly for a few moments, her eyes were enchanting, but I only got lost in them for a moment before she averted her gaze.

After making sure my friend would be ok for the rest of the night, the two of us entered the bar. The bar itself had incredible sound insulation as it was packed with hundreds of people, of which you could not hear a peep from outside.

There was rambunctious laughter and conversations all over. I had to deafen myself for a moment as I became overstimulated before finding a frequency that was tolerable. ”This place is always crowded the few times I have been here. It might be tough finding where your friends are.” Evanthe stated.

”Not a problem, I have a little life hack.” I said calmly, before stating even more calmly. ”Orchid, come here.” Being a highly evolved predator in a bipedal flesh suit, Orchid could pick out sounds from a crowd, especially her mates and within ten seconds, she was walking towards me with a smile upon her face.

”That was longer than ten minutes Apollo, but it is ok.” She said with a smile that took me off guard, considering the public space. ”Orchid, can you show Evanthe to the table you got for us?” Orchid nodded. ”Of course Apollo, but we are in a Boothe, our company has... Grown.”

She was trying to maintain her chipper façade, but a part of her annoyance just could not help but to break through at the end. ”Very well, I will come and find you shortly, I am just going to the bar, I have a surprise for everyone.”

Orchid nodded her head before turning to Evanthe. ”Gun girl, come.” She stated with authority. Evanthe’s legs were moving her before they even registered they were moving. I smiled watching the two walk away.

’It’s always good seeing Orchid in a good mood. Our little kiss must have perked her up.’ I thought before making my way to the bar. I spotted Mindy sitting at the bar tapping her fingers against the bar, still wearing her glasses with a bored expression upon her face as a guy was talking to her.

If she was showing any other emotion other than boredom, I would have left her be as she might have been picking up or being picked up, but I think she needed a hand.

”Sho, like I was shaying. Ifs-shwe go back to my place, we could have shome fun? Does that shound good to you?” The man said. Mindy closed her eyes and shook her head softly. She had forgotten what bars were like when not accompanied.

Suddenly she felt a hand press up against her lower back and she was about to cold clock the guy who got bold, but paused hearing a voice. ”Hey Babe, sorry to keep you waiting. Did you order the drinks?”

She instantly turned her back on the drunk guy as a smile bloomed across her face. ”Yeah hun, but the place is packed right now, the bartender said give him a few minutes.”

As the two began talking the drunk guy looked at the back of the woman he was just putting his sweet moves on.

’Oh! Thats why She wasn’t intereshted? She is already taken? I was about to shtart queshtioning my game.’ He thought before walking off, looking for another hottie to bag instead.