"Time commitment is basically a function of your backlash efficiency, both how much you need to use your powers in the typical dungeon you run - I do a lot of shooting stuff with guns, my nonpublic power also works offensively but it's crazy expensive so I don't do that - and how quickly your backlash gives you problems that mean you need to bail out of a dungeon. You're plausibly looking at a really good roll on the second thing, you were awakening and working a shift at Tim Horton's, but only around half of espers get dungeoneering powers."

Wry smile "Well, I was having a very stressful time and would not want to repeat that experience!"

Frown "t might be worse if I have to deal with the victims a lot. I was fortunately spared any really rude and angry customers this time around but I can't imagine dungeon victims are usually in a calm frame of mind. Even just being -  distraught - is going to make it harder for me. I can lean on...professionalism but that's only going to go so far if things get really...emotionally charged."

"If you get combat powers you won't necessarily have to interact with victims at all, just geesh monsters to clear a path for whoever does. It'd be a good complement for me, even, I wind up talking to dungeon victims a lot. It'd be a worse deal if you wind up with, like, a healing power, but you could have somebody as a sort of go-between."

"Having somebody else run interference would help. If I have to interact with the victims. Combat would be simpler in that regard...though..." long pause "I don't tend to enjoy very..violence focused video games."

"Me either. I was a Civilization guy. I got used to it. But you don't have to even if that's where your powers point."

"I have ever played Civilization but I mostly play smaller scale management games. Like Rimworld. Which can get very violent at times - there's a running joke in the community about it being a 'warcrimes simulator'  but you can play it completely non-violently if you want. I do leave enemy raids on but mostly don't get into the more .uh...creative stuff you can do to fictional people in that game. I'm just there for the management aspects."

"Yeah. Well, dungeons are usually not as much like video games as the one Seaweed came from, but you're not getting drafted, you can do whatever seems to you to make sense when you know what your powers are. It's hard to guess - I'm not better than chance but I don't even have a general idea based on your backlash - but we'll know soon."

"It's probably going to feel like forever, on my end. It's already been such a long day. Of course I was also up early and didn't take my usual nap."

"Are you going to want to sleep alone?"

"Well I can nap on you on the couch if I wouldn't be in your way but I would not usually share a bed with a guy I just met."

"You seem probably safe to sleep alone, or at least give it a shot, but I'm at all worried that the nature of your backlash would prevent you from making it known to me if this turned out to be a terrible plan, like if you have horrible backlash nightmares."

"...Yeah that might be a problem. It would get really bad again if we stop snuggling right?" She read that in a fanfiction.

"Not instantly, but awakening pulls pretty hard, yeah."

"I don't usually have very intense dreams but I guess I don't know if I should expect that to hold true. I would feel awkward about this even without the backlash and it just makes it worse."

"I usually don't have vivid dreams but I got awful backlash nightmares when I was awakening. If it helps there is no way for you to be higher-maintenance than I was."

"Well, I did bring a baggy t-shirt to wear to sleep so it wouldn't be...maximally awkward."

"Sure. I'm not going to be weird about it."

"You've been very not weird about things so far. Thank you. Which reminds me I should maybe record that message for my mom?"

"Sure, say when." He pulls up the appropriate app.

"When." pause "Hi mom don't think I can talk to you directly right now but I did want to let you know that I'm doing - probably as okay as could be expected right now - and Traceless has been very accommodating and not creepy or anything, so uh, tell dad not tot to be...dramatic. I'll call you as soon as I can, I promise, but it might not be until this is over. Uh, apologize to Erica on my behalf for not answering her text and I'll call or text her also when I can. Take care."

And beep. "Okay to send this to her now?"

"Yeah, that way she'll definitely see if before she goes off work. And before Dad comes home."

Send. "Are there specific dramatics I should be on the lookout for?"

"He's a bit overprotective. Not so much now that I'm in college but...the first time I was on a date with a guy in high school he texted eight times in two hours."

"Wow. If he shows up with a shotgun don't hide behind me, it won't work."