"So, is there some kinda thing about not using your powers on other Melanians?" White Fire asked.

"Since we're all receiving empaths, broadcasting our emotions is like speech," m-Taa explained. "So picture it like being around someone who talks about how they're feeling all the time.  Normally it's fine, but if someone's experiencing strong negative emotions, it's like shouting about how angry or sad you are--there are times when it's appropriate, and times when it's not.  Our culture is based around the idea that everyone should give each other enough space that we don't force ourselves on others.

"Now picture someone who can shout directly into your brain as loud as a starship engine, and you have some idea of what a projecting empath is like to us."

"That sounds rough," said Rah.  "I'd probably want some kind of shielding.  Like earplugs."

"We have those, but they generally cut someone off entirely," m-Taa said. "We use them on those who are too fragile to handle the emotional input, or sometimes for emergency personnel who would be overwhelmed by others' pain and panic, although we also have robots for that.

"Anyway, it's not as grim as all that," she continued. "It mostly meant being trained a lot harder in control than most children were.  And we do have fun, although sometimes in different ways than other species--like, we prefer live theater to vids, because not feeling the actors' emotions feels flat and wrong."

"Huh," said Rah.  "...so you're probably up for dancing later, right?  Lots of emotion on the dance floor."

"Sure," m-Taa said. "As long as it stays positive, it shouldn't be a problem either way."

"Sweet," White Fire said.

"Because we are up for dancing," Blue Fire added.

"Excellent," said Rah.  "Do we have war stories first?  They're optional, at our age, but sometimes we have a few."

She had a few herself, but didn't want to be the one doing all the talking.  It was too easy for her to do that.

"If you want to," White Fire said.

"It sounds like you want to go first," Blue Fire added.

"Well... it's a tradition where I'm from," said Rah.  "And I haven't been a superhero before, but I was a defender of our civilization from the Gargantuas..."

She spun a tale of gigantic monsters attacking a city, of engaging them in hand-to-hand combat with some allies, growing to tremendous size to engage with them.

"...and if Sura hadn't caught me falling down from that height, I might not be here to tell the story today," she concluded.  "...Well, I might, though.  I'm the toughest of our generation.  I have no idea what it would take to kill me when I'm at full size like this, but it would be a lot."

"Well, don't test it," m-Taa said. "My stories are a bit less heroic, but..."

She told a tale of when she was doing research for her doctorate, and encountered a carnivorous plant that nearly swallowed her, and against which her powers didn't do any good, until she spotted that another plant growing nearby had chemical defenses against the larger plant, and used that to make her escape.

"Unfortunately, I already had my dissertation topic, so I didn't get any new data out of it."

The Fire's tell a story about when a large number of spirits started to run wild, possessing and harming people. They had gone to meditate at the temple of the fire lord at the top of a massive volcano. There they received a vision that told them an evil sorcerer king had developed an idol that was driving unbound spirits into a frenzy. With help from the vision, they found and destroyed the idol and then did battle with the sorcerer king before capturing him and then handing him over to the authorities.

"Sorcerer king?  That's pretty cool," said Rah.  "Anyone up for some dancing?"

Dancing was going to be a challenge at this size, but heck, she was getting used to it.

"We're certainly up for it," Blue Fire said.

"Sure," m-Taa said.

"What kind of music should we go for?" Blue Fire asked.

"Something lively, with a good beat," said Rah.  "Charthump or something like that, maybe."

"I know just the thing!" White Fire said as she headed to the desk, before coming back. "We've got floor six."

"Now, then, what do you guys want to drink?" Blue Fire asked.

"...Man, what do they have here that I like?" Rah wondered idly. They didn't have the same things, but...

"How about one of those Red Zips?  They look tasty," she decided.  Some kind of fruit juice, electrolytes, mild stimulants... that sounded like a good plan.

"Indigo Dazzler for me," m-Taa said.  Mildly alcoholic, but mellow.

The drink orders were in, the twins led both of you to the dance floor. The music was loud and there were a couple other groups there, dancing.

Rah threw herself into it... at first.  Whenever someone was dancing near to her, her moves got tighter and more controlled.  She was, after all, quite strong, and didn't want to break someone accidentally.

m-Taa opened herself up and let herself flow with the mood of the floor, which was positive and invigorating.

The twins began to dance too. A bit more wild, with a strange chaotic energy to it, like their namesake.

Rah grinned, and tried to see if she could lure anyone into dancing with her.  It was just for fun, of course, but why not?  This was a time to celebrate.