[it's all pretty obvious, isn't it? that there's a lot of pain and hurt that hinders esme from comfortably using her powers now, outside of the obvious lack of comfort in the company she'd share her powers with. it's a bit generalized, but wanda thinks she gets the gist of it.

if she were someone else, if she didn't already caution her own mind against the will of others, perhaps the pain inflicted would have felt a hundred times worse.

the connection ends abruptly, esme taking her hand back onto herself, and the apology is rather unnecessary, in wanda's eyes.]

No one likes it when someone says they can read minds. Manipulate them in some way. [she purses her lips to the side, looking down, and rubbing at the heel of her hand with the other.] I was made to use my powers as a weapon against others. I hurt people. Even after I no longer wanted to be seen as a weapon, there were rules I had to follow.

Don't read the minds of those I worked with, don't plant ideas in people's heads. For a while I felt that no one could really trust me.

[tell the mindreader to not read your mind, and take their word for it. right?]

The only one who never feared me was my brother. He didn't mind that I was in his head, even if he couldn't do the same in return. He let me hide there when the rest of the world was too loud. [wanda raises her head to look at esme, having wanted to give her the privacy to rub away the tears without someone staring at her.] It's not the same, but it felt similar.

Whenever you're ready to try again, let me know. You won't hurt me, Esme.