[ it's an entirely fair question, and it deserves an answer... but ness doesn't have to like giving it. she pouts a little, taps her nails against the desk, huffs... and takes a deep breath. ]

There are these... tendrils. Like tentacles, but they don't have suckers or anything. They come out of my anchor and try to batter at everything around me within reach. It doesn't last very long, but you can imagine, if there's anything precious around, it's a problem.

[ she shrugs a little, and looks at stephen out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge his response. ]