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]

That sounds like a good idea, I'll look into it.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Glad to help in any way I can.

[palmerthing]

It is very much appreciated, man. Trust me.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[smiles] I just -- I remember how helpful people were to me when I was new. I like to pass it on, when I can.

[palmerthing]

You're doing well.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Thanks. [rocking on his heels in a rather Alice-like manner] Do you want me to call the rest of my family in now? Just so, you know, you have an idea of who they are?

[palmerthing]

What? Oh! Oh, yes. That would be very helpful, thank you.

[deadgirlslikeme]

All right, just give me a moment. . .

[Victor pulls out something that looks kind of like a pocket watch -- but given the fact he's typing in it, it's obviously not. A few minutes later, once communications are done, a few new people arrive on the scene -- along with one familiar face for Palmer. Marty raises a hand in greeting as he approaches] Hey. See you found my cousin around here.

[palmerthing]

Yup! He seems nice.

Good to meet everybody. I take it you all know about my situation, but just in case . . . please don't touch.

[clockwork_doc]

[an older gentleman, with longish white hair, brown eyes, and -- are those metal teeth? -- steps forward with a nod] Marty's informed us. . .and we all ended up watching the movie you're from recently, so it's very fresh in our minds. I'm Dr. Emmett Brown, "Doc" for short. You know Marty and Victor -- this is my daughter, Dee -- [he indicates a small brown-haired girl who offers up a wave] and my daughter-in-law, Alice, with her son, Chester. [Another brown-haired woman, with striking green eyes and a baby in her arms that looks quite a lot like Victor, nods in Palmer's direction]

[palmerthing]

*He smiles at the baby and the little girl, but still looks mildly spooked by the sheer fact of being outnumbered. All these people who know, he's not used to it yet.* Uh, hi. I'm Palmer, I guess. It's nice to meet you.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Dee, chipper as always] Nice to meet you too! Sorry we can't come closer, but -- yeah.

[Victor gives him a look like he wishes he could give Palmer a comforting pat -- then remembers, "Oh wait, I sort of can!" A moment later, his body's flopped on the ground and Victor's ghostly body is beside Palmer, patting his shoulder]

[Marty blinks at that] Oh, uh -- didn't expect that to happen. [his eyes flick toward Victor's body, trying to hide his concern over it]

[palmerthing]

*Palmer smiles at him.* Thanks, man. I appreciate it. It's sort of intimidating to be around all these people who know at once. Didn't realize how weird it would feel to be, you know, outnumbered by humans.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods] I didn't think about that either. . .but none of us are interested in attacking you.

[Alice, with a little nod of her own] Only if you ever intend to make a lunch out of Chester, and Marty has assured us that possibility is remote.

[palmerthing]

I know, my instincts are just being stupid.

God no. *He shudders.* Even if you ignore the obvious moral issues, I know better. Friends are a good thing to have.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor gives him a little smile] I think humans have some of those stupid instincts. Probably the same ones that made me want to flee all of my biological mother's parties as soon as I could.

[Alice, smirking] No, those are smart instincts. [back to Palmer] Yes, they are. I've made my fair share of good friends in the Nexus, including the people around you. Hopefully you'll be as lucky.

[palmerthing]

That bad, were they?

I hope so too. Which is important to remember, since I can't really be friends with people if I end up killing them first. Gotta avoid accidents.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor grimaces] Terrible. Did I mention Nell Van Dort was a terrible social climber? Who would simper to the nobility to their faces before insulting them behind their backs?

[Alice shakes her head] Not that I have much sympathy for the lords and ladies who looked down at your former family for earning their money through trade. And would find our current set-up absolutely appalling.

[Victor nods] Yes, trust me, I know. [he smiles encouragingly at Palmer] You've been doing good so far?

[Marty] Yeah, I mean -- our first meeting could have gone a LOT worse.

[palmerthing]

Oh God, one of those.

I'm doing okay. It's tempting, sometimes, but not too bad. *Although he can't entirely help how his eyes flick towards the humans and back to his hands. They register as prey, even though he's doing well at ignoring the fact.*

That could have certainly gone worse. This place may stop active attacks, but I'm more of an infection than anything. If I'd been hungrier, if there had been no one else around . . . better if I not think about it.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor] Yes, exactly. It was not a pleasant way to grow up.

[Alice shakes her head] I imagine not. . .and "tempting" is better than outright "attacking," so. . .

[Marty shares a look with the rest of his family] Yeah, I think we'd all prefer not to think about that. I ended up watching the movie again after meeting you, and -- yeah.

[palmerthing]

I bet.

Yeah, lots better. I really wish I wasn't tempted, though, it's awful to find yourself wanting something like that.

Sorry. *He looks carefully at each of them, memorizing their faces.* Okay. I'll remember you, just in case.

Are you all okay with me being here in spite of all that? I can leave if it's too uncomfortable.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods] There are -- reasons I'm not exactly sad leaving my world had to involve me faking my own death.

[Alice grimaces] I bet it is. But at least you're keeping it in check.

[Marty nods] Yeah, I'm not sure what would have happened if any other Things had ended up here. . .

[Doc] Probably nothing good. [he shrugs as Palmer offers to leave] We did come to introduce ourselves.

[Dee, bouncing on her heels] Yeah, kinda be beside the point if you left now.

[palmerthing]

I think I'm doing pretty well. And yeah, I'm glad too. If it had been Norris . . . fuck, imagine if it was the dog.

Ha, point. Wasn't sure if you wanted to stay for long is all. I know I'm more than a bit disturbing. *He flashes a smile with teeth that are just a bit too sharp.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Marty, wincing] Oh jeez, that would have been a disaster. I probably would have petted it without a second thought.

[Victor, biting his ghostly lip] Me too. . .would have been a terrible test of the anti-violence field!

[Alice, shaking her head] Let's not think about it. Or at least let's pretend you would have ended up the same as Palmer here!

[Right on cue with the smile, a blast of steam issues from Doc's elbows. He looks back at it, then gives Palmer his own, rather lopsided smile that exposes what are clearly brassy teeth] I think we're all a little disturbing in our own ways.

[palmerthing]

If you see a dog here that looks like the one in the movie then don't pet it until you've done some kind of test, yeah? Don't want to end up like me. I'm a mess.

At least I'm not the only one, huh?