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

[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]

[palmerthing]

*He nods.* Yeah. One day at a time. Even if it happens . . . even then I can just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I've found out with the squirrels that I can block out their minds, only take the information that interests me or just shred the, the brains before I reach them. If worst comes to worst at least I won't be stealing their minds. God, the fact that I could is horrifying.

I needed it too. Having people I can connect with is really important for me.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Doc nods back] It's really the best way to handle changes like this. [takes a moment to contemplate the gears stuck into his knuckles] Believe me, I know.

[Victor, knowingly] I think we all do.

[. . .and then Palmer drops the bits about the squirrels and everyone (except Chester, who is too young to understand and amusing himself with Alice's apron tie) is sporting an expression that suggests they really didn't need to know that. Marty finally says, a bit hesitantly] Uh -- good? Yeah, sorry, that's -- yeah. You know.

[Victor nods rapidly] Yes, I can imagine. Loneliness must be a real problem with your -- condition.

[palmerthing]

It was something I needed to know. Otherwise it would have all built up and I'd be contending with the minds of dozens of animals. Eventually I could have been crowded out, and then what?

*He nods weakly.* Can't touch anyone, can I? Never again.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, thinking about that] Okay, yeah, I'll give you that. I'd much rather be dealing with you than a couple dozen squirrels kinda -- wearing your skin. . .okay, didn't mean to sound so freaking serial killer there.

[Alice, raising an eyebrow] Given he's the one eating the squirrels. . . [more sympathetically, to Palmer] That's terrible. I'm honestly not much of one for being touched by strangers, but -- it would be hard to go without entirely.

[Victor gives him another ghostly pat] Maybe we can figure out something. Eventually.

[palmerthing]

Haunted? Possessed? Possessed by squirrels, ha. What a stupid problem to have to deal with.

Yeah. At least my new self doesn't seem that interested in relationships. That's a blessing. *He shudders.* I don't wanna think about what would come of that. Even a kiss . . .

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, unable to help a small smile] Yeah, well, better that stupid problem than any of the others.

[Doc, chuckling] Indeed. Sudden cravings for nuts is probably the best side effect you could suffer in your current state.

[That causes a group-wide wince, with Victor contriving to sigh in his ghostly state] It really is too bad. Though I guess a species that -- reproduces? -- like yours wouldn't have a need for romance. . .

[palmerthing]

Yeah. Most of the other problems are scary, not stupid. And craving nuts sounds a lot better than most of what I am craving right now.

Yeah, romantic ain't exactly the word I'd use for this shit. More like horrifying. *He rubs his forehead, where he split his skull into hidden teeth just in case.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, biting his lip] Won't ask. I have to imagine nuts would be okay if they were fresh off the tree. . .like acorns that haven't actually fallen yet.

[Dee, back to little girl form] Or would just sprouted be better? Since then it's more alive and stuff.

[Victor shakes his head] I think what's happened here is the opposite of romantic.

[Alice, bouncing Chester on her hip] Unless you have some really weird fantasies. Which -- I don't spend a LOT of time on the internet, but I've seen enough to know plenty of people do.

[palmerthing]

Just sprouted, probably. It's growing then. Animals are still easier, though. I barely remember high school biology, but I think plant cells have thicker walls? It . . . it feels like they do. They're harder to reach inside of. God, that's so weird to say.

Ugh. No, I'm not planning on being an exciting way of getting yourself killed for the truly perverted. Not planning on doing anything that would kill people unless they try to kill me first, and even then the whole anti-violence thing should prevent it.

[save_us_alice]

[Marty, thinking hard] Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's right. Doc?

[Doc, thoughtful] Physicist, not biologist, but yes, I recall that too from my own studies. And I guess you would know better than any of us with your -- unique talents?

[Alice, with a mirthless laugh] Let's hope none of them ever show up here and start pestering you then. The anti-violence field may protect you from guns and whatnot, but probably not from annoyance.

[palmerthing]

I would, wouldn't I? Sometimes I think that I could tell what any cell of me was doing if I tried hard enough, because I know just how much harder it is for them. I know how far along they are. How far we are.

Oh God. *He groans.* Don't even say it. I'd take the guns, man, it's not like they can hurt me. Might hurt the people around me, but I'd just put myself back together.

I would take them over fire, though. Just about everything is better than fire.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, blinking] That's -- pretty wild, honestly.

[Doc, with a slow nod] Indeed. Makes me wonder how the Thing-species evolved in the first place. I mean, yes, we have our fair share of viruses like colds and such, but as far as I know, they don't have any self-awareness.

[Victor laughs softly] You sound like me if my parents ever showed up here. They can be pretty annoying, as you must have gathered by now.

[Alice nods] Yes, I'm glad I don't have to tolerate them as in-laws. . . [her expression turns more sympathetic] I can agree with that. I lost my parents and childhood home to a house fire. Almost lost me as well.

[palmerthing]

I'd be interested in knowing that myself. Sometimes I feel like I can almost remember what the world was like, but not quite. I suppose a disease that's a hive mind isn't the weirdest thing out there . . . might be pretty close though.

That bad, huh? Hopefully they're better than being shot at least.

I'd offer you a hug, but . . . well, I'd rather not fucking kill anybody and all that.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, shrugging] It probably isn't the weirdest -- the Nexus knows weird -- but yeah, I'd say you're up there.

[Doc, intrigued despite himself] So a sort of genetic memory too, perhaps? Interesting. . .too bad I'm not a biologist, I could offer up some better theories.

[Victor, chuckling] I'd give them THAT, but -- well. My biological mother can really go on if you let her.

[Marty, smirking] To be fair, Doc can too.

[Victor, smirking right back] Yes, but he's entertaining.

[Alice nods again, holding up a hand] Quite all right -- and besides, I don't really like being touched unless it's by someone I know really well.

[palmerthing]

Genetic memory, yeah. I could build you a spaceship if I had the parts for it, and I know that's not something the old Palmer could do. That's gotta go back before the dog, maybe even before the alien that escaped the spaceship. I'm not sure how long it's been since my ancestor left its home world, but I feel like it's been a really fucking long time.

You may not be a biologist, but you're the first scientist I've met here. *He takes a deep breath, mostly for effect.* Maybe once I get a little more comfortable I could ask you to look at some stuff? Assuming I ever get to that point--and that you can stand to see what I'm capable of.

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, enthusiastic] I can bet -- not an astrophysicist either, but I can tell you the distance between stars is quite a damn lot! And we haven't found any planets capable of sustaining life nearby either. . .though I guess your life isn't exactly the kind we're looking for?

[that gets an arched eyebrow from the scientist] I think it's going to depend on the stuff, yes. And if I can obtain proper protection. [thoughtful] Thoughts on hazmat suits?

[palmerthing]

I'm the exact fucking opposite of what you're looking for. If that ship had crashed anywhere but Antarctica my Earth would have been screwed a very long time ago.

Just . . . well, I'm so different now. Anything you think would be interesting would probably be worth knowing, and I don't feel pain the same way so it would be no problem for me to change or even to show you how I work. *He makes a somewhat unnerving kind of opening gesture, seemingly oblivious to how awful the implications there are.* Yes, definitely hazmat suits. I'm not going to ask you to risk yourself. Probably best to give any samples back when you're done with them, too, I can reabsorb them.

[clockwork_doc]

[Marty, frowning] There's probably an alternate reality somewhere where that happened. . .and yeah, bet you anything the shit hit the fan.

[Doc nods] Mmmm. . .very hard too.

[Doc's eyes widen as Palmer makes a gesture like he could open himself up like one of those mannequins for kids that show all the internal organs] I -- well, that is useful, but. . .suppose I can always make notes of my observations, at least. [he nods again, more empathetically] I'd prefer not to risk myself either. And I don't think I'd take any samples WITH me. Best place to do this would be the Nexus itself, for any extra protection it could give.

[Marty, shrugging] There IS a clinic around here, but I dunno if you want to go there.

[palmerthing]

One reason not to go looking around random universes. Anyone who stumbled across an Earth like that probably wouldn't make it two steps before getting eaten by the fucking grass.

*Palmer notices the other man's expression and winces.* Sorry. It already seems normal to me. I can control every part of my body, so opening up ain't hard. A bit gross still, I'm not that used to it yet, but it's not painful or difficult.

It would be nice to know how much human contact is a risk, but not enough to actually fucking test it! You seem like decent people, you've been kind, you're not . . . not like the people back home. Take all the precautions you can.

A clinic . . . *He looks back at Doc.* I'd rather have you. I know you're not that kind of doctor, but I actually trust you so far. I think once I know you a little better I'll be able to do this without snapping at you.

[clockwork_doc]

[Alice, with a slight frown at her husband] Really puts into perspective how lucky you and Doc were, when you were yanked into that other Chicago.

[Victor nods] Oh yes -- we had more than enough going on there without having to worry about Things as well.

[Doc holds up a hand] It's fine -- you're a different life form, and I'm -- just not used to offers like that. It probably would be useful to see the -- internals, but. . . [he shakes his head] We'll figure it out when we get there. And trust me, any and every precaution I can take, I will. I don't want anything to go wrong as much as you do!

[Doc gives him a little, anxious smile] Well, I'm flattered. I don't know how much I'll be able to tell you once everything's done, but -- worth it to take a look, right? Once we're properly prepared and comfortable around each other and so forth.

[Marty, coming in] And even if you don't want to go to the clinic, maybe they'll let you borrow some equipment. Bet they have a hazmat suit.

[palmerthing]

Seriously lucky, man. Just like it's lucky that I got dropped here, where there's a second level of protection even if I have, uh, a bad day. Still better if I don't give the instincts an inch, though. I like being me.

I won't change without warning you first, if that helps? Certainly not any major changes. Even the minor ones are pretty fucked up, admittedly.

*A smile.* You can talk with the people at the clinic about what you find? I just don't wanna give more people access to my body, it seems like a bad idea. The more people who examine me the more potential for accidents. Accidents with this shit . . . I don't wanna kill anyone, man.