(no subject)

[palmerthing]

 *There's one more new person for the Nexus today. He stumbles in looking more than a bit freaked out, but to be fair he's been having one Hell of a day. When he sees that he's no longer where he was he doesn't even bother to be properly confused, instead slumping into a chair and lighting up.* Bunch of paranoid fucking lunatics, man. If I never go back there it'll be too soon.

Comments

[palmerthing]

*He smiles wryly.* Great motto.

Grimm's were, ah, pretty grim. *A little laugh. This humor thing is the best. Then he takes another hit of his joint and raises an eyebrow.* That would be one hell of a nasty trick, even for a faerie, which were definitely not the issue for us. I saw the spaceship, it was definitely aliens. Great big saucer, downright cliche.

Not that it's really surprising, right? I mean, everyone knows that the government has one at Area 51 or whatever. Ever read Chariots of the Gods?

[museicalmarty]

[Marty smiles back] We'll see if it pops up on a sign anywhere.

Heh -- I guess when you've got the name, you gotta live up to it. [He makes a face] Trust me, I've seen them do some -- fucked-up stuff. My best friend is part-mechanical because of what his Keeper did to him.

[Marty shakes his head at the book title] Not ringing a bell. But I've heard a lot of the conspiracy theories about aliens -- my dad's a bit of a sci-fi nerd. Usually that sort of stuff is about little green men with big eyes and probes, though, not body-snatchers or shape-shifters or what have you.

[palmerthing]

Grimm's did pretty well at living up to the name in my opinion. *He too makes a displeased expression.* Oh, ouch. Yeah, that doesn't sound good at all.

It's usually greens and grays, sure but who knows what else they're covering up. Although to be fair these guys are kinda self-keeping secrets, so maybe they're clueless here too.

[museicalmarty]

Yeah, I think so too, from what I remember from being a kid. Haven't actually read anything of theirs in a while. [he shakes his head, teeth gritted] Nope. Definitely not. Especially since the asshole made Doc build all the stuff himself before -- [he shakes his head again] No, you don't want to hear about that. Not my story to tell anyway.

Got me -- I mean, I don't know if they're covering up anything at all in my reality. Though I guess if you've got faeries, aliens aren't a stretch. Your world, though -- well. Who freaking knows. I mean, you've already got a monster that -- uh -- you guys have any clue what it does to the people it snatches? [Marty can't remember if the movie actually made that clear or not]

[palmerthing]

*He supposes he may as well be honest about what Things can do. It would make him seem more trustworthy, odd though that seems.* It depends, I think? Sometimes it just, like, devours them and uses the mass to make a Thing version of them. Other times it infects people, replaces their cells one by one until there's an alien where the human was.

We still aren't sure if they know they're Things or it's a sleeper agent kind of deal. We don't know their motive, or if they even share one. We just know that the situation is not good. *For either side.* We started out with twelve people, we're down . . . well, we don't know. No way to be sure how many of us are Things so far.

[museicalmarty]

[Marty blinks a few times] That's. . .you seem to know a lot about it. And damn, that's creepy. . .being replaced one cell at a time. . . [he can't help a shudder] Oh man. No wonder everybody in your world was super paranoid. . .

[he frowns] Wouldn't they have to know they were Things? You know, since they're taking over the original people? I mean, yeah, I dunno how a Thing thinks, but. . .

[palmerthing]

We had a couple of biologists, they figured some stuff out. It's still theory--but it makes sense, you know?

The ones who were violently taken, yeah. But if you change cell by cell, at what point do you stop being you? Do you ever stop being you, or are you just the same person but with powers? I don't know, man, I'm no philosopher. *These are the things that would keep him up at night if he ever slept.* I wish I understood, but . . .

*A rueful smile.* You know, it would be just our luck if it turned out it was scared of us too. That's the thing about paranoia, it can cause more problems than it solves. It would be fitting for the whole thing to have been needless to start with.

[museicalmarty]

Right, yeah. . . [Marty really, really wishes right now that he'd watched the movie more recently and thus knew just how much they actually knew about the Thing(s). Palmer sounds pretty sure, but if he heard it from a scientist. . .who could have been a Thing. . .damn, meeting someone from this movie is confusing]

Neither am I, but -- I dunno. [He runs his fingers through his hair] Technically I picked up a few powers from my time in Arcadia -- don't ever use 'em, but still. I was changed by being in the fae world. I'm not gonna be the Marty was before. Is that the same thing as getting replaced by an alien? [He doesn't think so -- but --]

I can buy it being scared, but -- I mean, how the hell did you guys find out about it? That people were being taken over?

[palmerthing]

*Hell, being some from the movie isn't too much better. He knows what he is, more or less, but fuck if that doesn't cause issues of its own.*

I suppose that depends on how much you were changed. Was it all of you? Do you still feel, you know, generally like yourself? Do you think like yourself? What can you do?

We were woken up in the middle of the night by barking, the dogthing was trying to convert the dogs. Not sure if they had scared it by barking or if it didn't feel safe around unconverted creatures or what. *That's how the humans found out, at least. Palmer awoke already knowing, the knowledge part of his core, and wrapped around that innermost self was terror of being discovered.*

[museicalmarty]

Well, it wasn't like Doc, that's for sure. . .but the outside definitely got changed. Not much, but -- if you stood me up against another Marty, I'd be the more handsome version. Had to look good for that prick. . .but I still feel like me, yeah. I never let him get that far into my head. [he shifts awkwardly] It's mostly I'm supernaturally good at performing -- think I've got a "compelling voice" thing going on too. But I've never really tested it out, because -- well. Makes me feel like one of them.

Right, yeah, the dogs. . .so they saw whatever was going on with that dog and freaked out, and -- shit proceeded from there?

[palmerthing]

No, you don't want to feel like one of them now do you? *After all, we're always the good guys. It's them that do the bad things. Or maybe he's being too cynical.*

Shit proceeded from there, yes. Stupid of the dogthing, really, but then you can't expect a dog to strategize very well. *Wryly.* If it had just stayed put and not tried to change anything we wouldn't have degenerated into a bunch of paranoid lunatics.

[museicalmarty]

[Marty bristles] Like the asshole who tricked me into leaving my family and my entire world by saying he could make me a famous rock star, when he really meant forcing me to play fucking who-knows-HOW-long concerts to silent audiences until I was about ready to collapse? The one who posed as Doc's favorite student before sneaking him away and making him build his own replacement parts before ripping him open and turning all his internals into metal and furnaces? No, I don't. [yeah, uh, nerve hit there]

Yeah -- you think how it thinks is affected by what it currently looks like, then? Like, human-Things are smarter than animal ones? [he shrugs] Yeah. . .or maybe if one had tried to talk to the humans -- er, once it had English down. . .

Tis my birthday :D

[palmerthing]

They do sound rather terrible, I admit. My situation is probably affecting how I think. *It is, and he knows it. But then his situation is his new nature.

*He takes another hit of weed. Weed is nice.* I think it might have something to do with size, maybe. The headthing wasn't too bright, the dogthing was smarter, the Thing people are just like normal people if not better.

I wish we'd managed to communicate, but the human Thing we caught first didn't have proper vocal chords yet. After that everyone started panicking and pointing flamethrowers at each other. *His eyes narrow slightly--how did Marty know that the first one couldn't speak? Probably a coincidence, but he has to be paranoid. Anything else was too apt to get him killed back home.*

Happy Birthday! :)

[museicalmarty]

[Marty relaxes a little bit] Yeah, same. Just -- I guess you don't know how awful they really are until you actually end up trapped by one. I don't ever want to end up like the guy who took me.

Oh -- I guess that makes sense too. [though the way he says 'Thing people are just like normal people if not better' -- yeah, that's a bit worrying to Marty. He's pretty sure all the normal humans in that movie were totally against Thing-ness in all forms. . .]

Right, yeah, you need those first before you can even attempt the local language. [It actually is a coincidence -- Marty was thinking in terms of "an alien from who knows where probably wouldn't know English right away" and what if it had tried to talk to them BEFORE taking over people. But still, given Marty's slowly coming to the conclusion Palmer probably is a Thing, the paranoia is probably at least a little justified] What do you think's gonna happen when they realize you're missing?

Thankee

[palmerthing]

Yeah . . . *The old Palmer wouldn't have wanted to become him, either, so he's kind of on the other side of the equation here. Assuming the old Palmer isn't just dead, with a monster puppeting a mockery of him. Fucking existential uncertainty.*

*Hey, Things have a larger knowledge base to work with! Admitting that has nothing to do with being one himself! He is one, but that has nothing to do with it.* Sadly, language is pretty dependent on the body of the creature using the language. They have to teach apes sign language for a reason, right? And if the Things naturally changed color to talk or whatever we'd have no way to respond. *Not that Things particularly have a natural state, being shapeshifters, but you get the idea.*

I don't care, because I'm not going back. But if I had to guess I imagine they'll panic. Someone just disappearing, in the middle of a mess like that? Yeah, that'll get them riled up. *A small smile.* I almost wish I could see it.

Welcome! Hope it was good

[museicalmarty]

[Existential uncertainty is the worst. Marty sometimes worries about how much Arcadia changed him -- not like he used to, but sometimes. He considers himself lucky that he still feels mostly human -- especially when compared to Doc, poor guy]

[Marty doesn't know that! Marty doesn't know anything about Things except 'scary body horror creatures'] Right, yeah, because they're not built like us. . .so there was no hope for talkin' it out before it got a human voice, and that didn't happen before the freak-out. [he can't help a small surge of curiosity] Wonder what they're like when they're not taking over dogs and people. What does a "natural" Thing look like?

They're probably gonna be terrified you're a Thing who escaped, yeah. [Marty wonders how that'll affect the end of the movie. MacCready was willing to freeze to death when it was just him and that other dude, but if he thinks that there's still one out there. . .] I mean, I can't blame you for not wanting to go back and, I dunno, take a molotov to the face or whatever they're doing now. Just, uh -- what happens if one of the others finds the way in here? If you found the door. . .

[palmerthing]

Why would they have a natural form at all? I mean, they might, but they might just be lumps of flesh or whatever. They're able to fission into separate forms, we saw that with the head, so their real form might look like a slime mold or a sponge or something.

Yeah . . . *At the thought of one of them coming through he freezes, his eyes going flat and dead as the light leaves them. Did something just move there, under his skin? Or are you imagining it? But after a moment he relaxes again with a little aid from his drug of choice--it's amazing what a help the stuff is, now that relaxing is safe--and the light returns.* If one of them comes through, I guess we'll see how well that anti-violence effect of yours works. I'm not going to trust any of the bastards. Not after--well, I won't get into it. Bunch of fucking awful stuff, man.

[museicalmarty]

Well, I figure -- there's gotta be a default, right? Some shape they use when they're not taking over the creatures around them? [Though them just hanging around as lumps of flesh sounds gross, ew]

[Aaaand yup, after that little display, Marty's decided that "Palmer" is definitely a Thing. Things which are not good: this. Though he's made no move to try and attack Marty yet, so -- hmmm] It's pretty solid most of the time. Only allows violence if both parties want to fight. So yeah, so long as you don't want to get into it. . .

[palmerthing]

Again, why? If there was a default if must have been generations back anyway, so it's kind of pointless to speculate, but I have a hard time imagining a default for something that shapeshifts like that.

*Now that his expression is back to normal, it's hard to imagine such a carefree guy having ever looked so sharklike. So dead. But he was, and he knows he was. He knows that he came far too close to changing. But if it works that way, this effect, then he can't afford to be on edge. He can't be ready to fight. Dammit. He's going to go through a lot of weed if this keeps up.* I need to calm down, then. Too likely to do something stupid otherwise.

*Speaking of doing something stupid . . . but to Hell with it. Either this place is safe or it isn't, and if it isn't then he'll clean things up afterwards. The kid must have seen his reaction, must have seen how the thought of the humans arriving made his flesh squirm. He sighs.* I know there's a question you want to ask me, man. It's the obvious question and all. Go ahead, ask.

[museicalmarty]

So do I, honestly, but -- I dunno? Feels like there should be one? [he shrugs] Got me.

[Hard to imagine, easy to remember. Marty supposes he can't blame the Thing -- being attacked with flamethrowers can't be fun -- but damn, does it make him nervous. Fortunately this Thing seems to be pretty anti-violence so far, so that helps matters. If he doesn't want to fight, and Marty doesn't want to fight. . .then the anti-violence field should hold for them too. Good] Yeah, that -- wouldn't be good for anybody.

[Aaand -- okay, it's come down to this. Marty takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly] I think I've figured it out already. . .but you're not the original Palmer, are you? Not the same Palmer that was there before the Thing.

[palmerthing]

*He leans back a bit, doing his best to project absolutely harmless.* I wish I could tell you that I was perfectly normal, that I'm the same person I was a week ago. Unfortunately I'm not normal and I'm probably not that person at all. The dog got to me first thing. Or to my original at least.

It's kind of fucked up, really. Most of my personality is still the pacifist stoner with authority issues and a dry sense of humor, but I can look at that personality from an outside perspective and wonder if I'm playing it correctly. Then underneath that is the urge to keep hidden and assimilate prey. Which . . . well, staying under cover is just common sense when everyone is after you with fucking flamethrowers, but can you imagine how goddamn badly 'pacifist war protester' and 'all living things are food' go together? Or rather fail to? Sure, the old me was a Veteran Against the War, he wasn't exactly innocent, but that was just the reason he became pacifist.

You know how long I've wished I could tell somebody that? Good to get it off my chest, I gotta say. *He fiddles with the joint absently.* I'd appreciate it if you kept this to yourself, yeah? Even if hiding wasn't instinctive, I associate people knowing with fire and fun shit like that. The fewer people know the less tense I am, and I don't think it's good for anyone if I'm tense.

[museicalmarty]

[Marty isn't going to buy "absolutely harmless" -- but the effort made to try and project it is appreciated. He listens as "Palmer" explains what's his deal, raising an eyebrow] So it's like. . .you're like mostly the original guy, but there's all these alien instincts layered underneath now? That's -- weird. And yeah, I can bet 'pacifist protestor' and 'eat everything' are slamming into each other in bad ways. Yikes.

[he holds up his hands] I don't have anybody here I could tell, and, trust me, the last thing I want here is a fight. [and screw it, "Palmer" was straight with him] You know how I said some of the people who come here are characters in movies in other worlds and all that? Like I'm sort of from Back To The Future? Well, there's a horror movie in my world called The Thing. Guess what it's about. [he runs his fingers through his hair] I don't recall exactly what happened to you -- been a while -- but I know it ends with MacCready and one other guy preparing to freeze to death after everybody else dies, so. . .

[palmerthing]

Definitely weird. It's a bit like being a character actor, I guess? Only a lot more so. Sometimes I have to remind myself what I'm supposed to be thinking, other times I feel like nothing ever changed.

There's nothing quite like realizing that you've been watching someone you know to see if you can get him alone, or moving to keep him cut off from the group. I never even wanted to change anyone, it seemed too easy to lose group coordination if there were too many of us, but I kept finding myself staring at people when they weren't looking and imagining how good they would be. Of course I always felt a bit sick once I realized what I'd been daydreaming about . . . *He visibly tears himself away from that unpleasant train of thought.*

Thank you. *And then the next bit of information comes up and he winces.* I didn't think I was going to last much longer. Hopefully movie me gets at least one of the bastards first. Windows, maybe? I never liked that guy much. I can see how MacReady could be one of the last, though, he's a tough one. I tried to talk them into burning him, but he grabbed the dynamite before we could manage.

[museicalmarty]

I wouldn't know, I've never been a character actor. [he pauses, thinking that over] Though sometimes I tried to pretend I was more okay with things back in Arcadia than I actually was, so. . . [he shrugs]

[Now that? That reaction to the desire to assimilate? That makes Marty relax just a fraction. Not much, but -- it is comforting to see that "Palmer's" apparently not interested in infecting him.] Yeah, I can bet. . .you know what that makes the Thing sound like? Some sort of weird alien disease. Like a cold, only it can at least sort of think for itself. And it's got some sort of -- hive mind going on? I mean, why else would you worry about "group coordination. . ." [Part of him thinks Doc would be better for trying to figure this out, but he doesn't think "Palmer" would appreciate him bringing in someone else, especially a scientist] I dunno, do you remember anything from -- before Palmer? I'm just trying to understand here.

I -- wouldn't be surprised? Like I said, been a while since I watched it. And yeah, MacCready is one hell of a tough bastard. [he smirks a little] Though he is the main character, so he gets a few breaks the rest of you guys don't.

[palmerthing]

*He's glad that he got Marty to relax a bit. Frightened people are dangerous people.* It sort of is a disease, yes. A disease that changes every cell of you, that replaces you. As for the hive mind . . . I couldn't read other Things' minds, but I'm pretty sure I count as a hive mind myself. Every cell can do any job, right? Shapeshifter and all. So I'm only using my brain to think out of habit. But no, most of the worry about coordinating was the more fundamental problem of not getting in each other's way when doing so could get us killed and none of us dared communicate through anything beyond facial expressions. Let me tell you, trying to communicate 'as far as I know he's still human, did you change him?' with a glance is fucking difficult.

*No, he would absolutely not appreciate that. Certainly not without a lot more time to get comfortable and a whole bunch of safety measures for both sides' sakes.* Memories? Nothing much. A vague sensation of being a dog, a good idea of how to go about repairing a spaceship, some very odd hints at what something alien might be like. Palmer's memories are a lot clearer.

If you watch it again, tell me how it goes. *Eyeroll at the last bit.* He would be the main character, wouldn't he? Rugged alcoholic loner, perfect for an action movie.