New(ish) Father Blues

[deadgirlslikeme]

Victor Brown (formerly Van Dort) looks a bit harried when he enters the Nexus -- or, perhaps more accurately, like he really needs a vacation. And about a full day's worth of sleep. He heads to a nearby plush sofa (apparently the place noted the darker-than-usual circles under his eyes and felt sorry for him) and collapses on it with a sigh. "Oh dear. . .does anyone have any tips on how to handle tantrums?" he asks, looking around with a grimace. "Because Chester. . .well, he's started getting grabby, and if you take whatever he's grabbed away from him, he just -- how do babies cry so loud?"

Comments

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Doc, looking at him] I suppose you WOULD be the best way to find out. . .and evaluate the threat level of the new Thing. Hopefully we won't ever have to worry about it, though.

[Alice scrunches up her nose, absently bouncing Chester to keep him entertained while they talk] It sounds weird. Then again, I was coming here from Wonderland for the longest time, and I can still walk through a mirror to get there, so. . .

[Victor shrugs] I don't think any of us are good judges. Though admittedly I've never done something odd and then realized it was odd after the fact. The first time this happened I was properly shocked.

[palmerthing]

Hopefully. If needed, though, I am happy to help.

*He picks at his fingernails. They're slightly sharper than they ought to be, but mostly normal.* I probably shouldn't visit Wonderland. Don't want to risk messing up your head, and I have no idea what would happen if I infected your thoughts. *Although God, part of him would love to find out. He just refuses to listen to it. Just like he refuses to listen to the thought that he should grab hold of them, all of them, and feed. Palmer is a person, not a monster, he won't . . .*

Yeah, I can imagine. *He steps closer to the ghost, away from the humans. He already knows the human body, he has a human body, he doesn't need more.* It was a shock when I first woke up this way too.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Doc nods] Thank you, it's appreciated.

[Marty also nods] Yeah, thanks.

[Alice raises an eyebrow] I have no idea what would happen either. . .I think Wonderland is technically a real place SHAPED by my thoughts -- I've brought other people there in the past -- but. . .well, considering what happened when I brought Victor there. . .

[Victor, immediately] That wasn't your fault, Alice. That was just -- bad luck.

[Alice, holding Chester a little tighter] I know, but -- I still feel a bit guilty. I just wish I'd noticed earlier.

[Victor, biting his lip] I should have said something earlier. I'm sure that would have helped.

[palmerthing]

If I can refuse to be a monster then I can fight the real monsters, right? *He sighs.* For as long as I can keep refusing at least. The instincts aren't likely to go away any time soon, you know?

Lets not test it. Worst case scenario is that my presence infects your brain or some shit, and I'd rather not kill you by fucking accident. I think I'd take going the monster route over changing someone else into a monster. At least if I, if I eat them they don't have something alien piloting their corpse. *Palmer wonders sometimes if the old him would have rather died. It's one of many questions that haunt him when he lays awake at night and pretends to sleep.* I don't wanna kill anyone, but the instincts do. I'd hate to make anyone else go through that.

[save_us_alice]

[Doc sighs] No, I wouldn't think they would. Not judging by the movie, anyway. The Thing seems pretty -- intent on spreading.

[Marty, trying to keep the mood up] Hey, saying "no" to the instincts is good, though. Means you've got a shot.

[Alice winces] I don't want that either. I've got rather a lot to live for. [Chester adds a "bah!" in just then] Right, you, and Daddy, and all the rest of the family.

[palmerthing]

Certainly a better shot now than I did before. I mean, it would be nice if I wasn't stuck here, but that's still a better life than if I went back home and everybody still died.

So no visits to Wonderland.

*He smiles at the baby.* Hey kiddo! He really is cute. Shame I can't hold him.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, grimacing as he remembers the movie] Yeah, I -- I don't think you going back to that base is ever gonna end well. At least here you've got space to just -- be.

[Alice shakes her head] For the best -- Wonderland isn't always the most friendly place either.

[Chester waves a hand, going "brrr!" Victor laughs] Yes, he is. . .unfortunately I don't think he's picked up this particular trick from me.

[Alice blinks] Do you think he could? You weren't born with that ability.

[Victor shrugs] I know it's not really genetic, but -- given everything I've seen, I hate to assume.

[palmerthing]

The monster part of my mind wants to just clear out that place. I know I couldn't use it as a home for long, not to mention that I don't really wanna be violent, and yet I want to . . . *He sighs.* I guess I'll get used to it.

Is any place always friendly, man?

It would be cool if he did, but for now I'll just look and not touch.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty frowns] The Thing part of you seriously does not care about anything but consuming everything around it, huh? Not even people knowing but not wanting to attack you helps?

[Alice laughs at that] Good point.

[Victor nods] For the best. I guess we'll find out if we ever find him limp in his crib with a green ghost of himself hovering above it?

[Alice, looking down at Chester, who is now tugging on her dress] I'd hate to see the mischief ghostly-him could get up to.

[palmerthing]

It helps me not want to do it to you, but I don't expect anything like that out of them. They'll almost certainly try to kill me, and the monster very much wants to rip apart everything that could possibly be a danger to it.

What can your kind of ghost actually do to make mischief in the first place?

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty nods with a sigh] Yeah, that's fair enough. I can't see you going back and getting welcomed with open arms. Unless they were trying to slip a knife in your back.

[Victor turns thoughtful] Well -- I can pick up solid objects if I really concentrate. . .but other than that, I'm not sure.

[Alice, shaking her head] He'd find some way to make us panic. Call it mother's instincts. Or perhaps mother's paranoia.

[palmerthing]

Yeah, exactly. I'd be a lot more interested in returning if I had a pistol or two.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're wrong.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, with a half-smile] I'd say "To even the odds?" but. . .

[Alice chuckles] Very true, unfortunately. Though I hope I am in this case.

[Victor nods] Me too. If he can just float around, like I can, that would be all right.

[palmerthing]

Fuck evening the odds, I want them in my favor.

That would be strangely cute, come to think of it.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, nodding] Yeah, I'd probably want the same.

[Alice, clearly trying to picture it] It might be -- so long as he's near his body when it happens. Coming in on a crib that's just got his body in it. . .

[Victor winces] I don't -- that part I don't like picturing.

[palmerthing]

I know that means nothing good for everyone else, but . . . fuck, I'd have done my best not to make it painful.

God no, that sounds horrifying.

[save_us_alice]

[Marty, pulling a fresh face] . . .Best you could hope for under the circumstances? Cripes, I really hope none of them make it here. [He's not keen to see Palmer freak out -- or any of his former buddies either]

[Victor shudders] It really, really is.

[Fortunately, Chester chooses this moment to reach out to him, going "Da!" Alice grins] Yes, that's right! [to Victor] See? Letting you know he's just fine.

[palmerthing]

Even that would be hard. The instinct to feed . . . I can't eat dead things. Could break their backs, maybe. *He looks disgusted with himself.* If they ever came here you'd have to keep us apart, I guess.

*Palmer manages to smile at the kid, hands behind his back.* We're all fine. We're all just fine. Right?

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, abruptly relieved because he was wondering why Victor's body wasn't apparently a temptation] Didn't know that about the dead stuff. . .but right, yeah, we'll -- we'll see what we can do. Hopefully, if anyone else does show up, it's when you're not around. If you guys can just totally avoid each other. . .

[Victor smiles too, waving back at Chester] Yes, Dad! And we're all fine. [with a glance at Palmer] Doing our best.

[palmerthing]

I'm an infection, more or less, yeah? Like a virus almost. A virus needs functioning cells to hijack, if I remember my biology lessons right. *He sighs.* I have to keep to very fresh meat and just-picked fruit. It's a bit aggravating.

I would be very happy if we never saw each other again, God knows.

I hope my best is enough. *He gives the kid another smile.* Such a sweet boy.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty frowns] Been a while since I took bio. . .but yeah, that sounds right. I'm just glad that sort of stuff works.

[Victor, nodding in the general direction of the mall] Be gladder there's a place in the mall that sells that sort of thing. There's live animals too, but. . . [he grimaces at Palmer] Sorry, I couldn't quite bring myself to do it.

[Marty nods rapidly] Yeah, I think they'd be happier too.

[Alice chuckles] You haven't seen him when he doesn't get what he wants.

[palmerthing]

I am too. Just wish the people here didn't count as very fresh meat, you know?

It's okay, what you brought was still fresh enough. Pretty sure they make it themselves.

Little kids can be like that, yeah. Stubborn and shit. Part of why I'm being especially careful to keep out of grabbing range.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty bites his lip] Yeah. . .it's not great to know, but I know.

[Victor fiddles with his fingers] Yes, I -- I think you're right. Which is good, of course, keeps you fed, but. . .

[Alice nods understandingly] It can be a bit much to think about. And yes, he really can be. He'll scream his head off if we take away anything he's decided he wants to chew.

[Victor, smiling] That was the whole reason I came here in the first place. I was looking for advice. [softer] And maybe a break.

[palmerthing]

Sorry. I . . . God, someday it's gonna happen and then what the fuck will I do?

Ah, kids. Wish I had better advice for you.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, fidgeting] I -- damn it. I seriously don't know what to tell you.

[Doc, running his fingers through his hair] Maybe try not to think about it. Focus on one day at a time.

[Victor gives him a little nod] It's fine. I appreciate you just coming over to talk. I needed the distraction. [even if it went in a bit of a weird direction]