A toddler in need? AKA one slight deaging

[project_kuron]

There's a young man, about twenty five by the looks of him, in the middle of the square. Plaza. Whatever.

He's looking either cofused out of his mind, or slightly upset as if he's spilled his soup or something, or was late for school, who even knows, just by looking at him one might think so, or mighty bored, it might be hard to tell.

He might look very familiar to some.

If he sees you, whoever 'you' might be, he might gesture vaguely at you. Maybe asking for some clarification. Or. Well. Whatever it is, it's definitely a question, one can judge that by his face expression and a vague spoken (sounded?),

"...a-ah?? Uhm, uhm, o-...ee??"

Comments

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy struggles to follow along with the disjointed speech patterns but thinks he's got a good grasp on them.

"You're a person." Tommy confirms but wonders why any human would think they were not a person. His mind drifts back to his own torture and how they tried to break his mind.suddenly, Tommy feels a bit of sympathy for the human the way someone might for a dog that's been beaten.

"I didn't like the intentions of that presence. It didn't belong here."

He's still trying to keep up. The down side of isolation is that language skills were fading as he became lost in his own mind.

"Thomas." He nods pointing at himself. Then he looks away thinking how much he wants to hear Tommy in a voice that doesn't exist any more.

[project_kuron]

"A person," the Subject repeats, with an utter lack of understanding of what that might mean.

Tentatively, he asks, pointing at him,

"Same as you?"

Was that one a person? Would it explain what a person was? Maybe.

"Thomas," Yani repeats, pointing at Tommy. "Thomas. Thomas. Understood."

He's learning. He takes a deep breath, looking like he's really, really enjoying it and has just realised the possibility of breathing in, deeply, like this. Looking and feeling.

[iamjustvisiting]

How does he answer this? Tommy mills it over before speaking. "We're different types of persons, but yes we're bother persons."

The eagerness to learn gets a faint smile from Tommy. "You ask a lot of questions It reminds me of Farnsworth, another human I knew."

[project_kuron]

Subject Y0XT39 frowns. Should he stop speaking?

He's silent for a moment, mulling everything over.

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy is grateful for a moment silence. It's not that he doesn't want to talk but it gives him a chance to get his mind back in order after whatever happened. Once he feels stable again, he gives the man another mental go over and notices something else.

"Yani, have you eaten lately?" He can see it in his body or maybe he just isn't getting the right food. Tommy knew that struggle when he came to Earth. The nutrients a human needed didn't fit his people, not completely.

[project_kuron]

Food? Oh. He thinks he understands.

"Is sometimes given Quintessence as sustenance. All Subjects are given Quintessence sometimes. Life energy."

[iamjustvisiting]

That was an odd way of describing food. All Tommy can associate it with is some of the strange cults he'd studied on Earth. Eventually he nods.

"Yes, humans need it to survive." Antheans did too. Most things needed to take in energy from somewhere.

[project_kuron]

Nod.

"Given to Subjects when Subjects are very weak. To those Subjects that are functional, only."

"To you, too?"

[iamjustvisiting]

His language is so wierd but it starts setting off Tommy's fight or flighr feelings. These were the kind of things they said about him when he was imprisoned.

"Yes, I eat."

[project_kuron]

"Understood."

"Are you here to give Quintessence?"

[iamjustvisiting]

He was just assuming that Quintessence meant food.

"I can take you to get some." He didn't carry food on him, but he could cook. He just didn't want to. Buying it was easier.

[project_kuron]

"Understood."

'Yani' smiles a little. He's not sure why. It just feels right, to do so. Very right.

And he's feeling a little... hmmm... not hurt?

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy's people don't really smile and he's certainly not used to this military like attitude. It makes him nervous, and he turns slowly to ealk toward where he saw food places. The human would probably follow, and he would check after a few steps to see.

just using that account for icon. for face expression. XD

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Subject Y0XT39 follows Thomas. What else is he to do, after all?

He doesn't know what nervousness is, or he'd know he's nervous, himself, too.

He's a bit apprehensive about being fed, but, so far, this one, Thomas, hasn't hurt him... well. Has, once. His head. But that was, all in all, quite earlier than now, now... wasn't it? So... Yes.

He follows quietly. Sometimes just taking a deeper breath, since he's discovered how enjoyable that is.

And also, Thomas might notice, 'Yani' isn't very good at walking. As if he's just learnt. A bit wobbly and unsteady. But, manages, slowly, also now learning to use his arms for balance, slowly, too.

[iamjustvisiting]

He doesn't walk too quickly either.. The gravity hurt his joints and back,, slowing him down.

Tommy takes them to a diner that Tommy knew had food safe for Antheans. down. Goes way to the back and sits in the corner. He's been here so often that a pitcher of water comes with glasses. Oatmeal, watermelon chunks, French fries, and a piece of broiled fish show up not long after they sit.

[project_kuron]

There are probably people in a diner. If there are more people, the young man tenses and looks wary, and, as if he'd like to pretend he's not even here. Feels that way, too.

Though the food distracts him a bit. And confuses him. He has no idea what the intended purpose of these things laid now before him is. At all.

Tommy loves watermelon so much I even have an icon of him eating it. XD

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy watches the young man. There are people here, but not too many. The Anthean didn't like large groups either. They unnerved him. He's unsure why the person sitting with him is so confused by food. Surely he wouldn't have grown this far without it. Perhaps, this person was used to food that looks different.

Tommy doesn't hesitate. Picking up the fork he sticks it into one of the watermelon cubes and pops it into his mouth.

Heh. :)

[project_kuron]

So that's what this was for. For some reason.

He uses the fork and does the same thing. Once there's a piece of watermelon in his mouth, he's not really sure what to do, just keeping it there for a moment. But then, he chews it slowly. This is... interesting.

[iamjustvisiting]

Once he starts eating Tommy leaves Yani to himself to eat at his own pace. Tommy slowly picks at a little bit of everything that has been brought. He also drinks an unusually large amount of water, or well it would be unusual to a human that knew what was normal.

[project_kuron]

Nothing strange to Yani here. Well, no stranger than anything.

Suddenly, Yani screams, almost falls down from his chair, and...

Then just goes still, for a moment. It all happens really too quickly, almost. The other, alien presence, if Tommy's even looking, he might notice - the other alien presence takes over 'Yani''s mind. Or over his body. Well, what difference does that make, anyway?

And smirks.

"This has gone on far enough, Thomas. Now tell me: what do you want with me, exactly. What are you doing? This is getting tiresome."

[iamjustvisiting]

The cry startles Tommy so much he partially chokes on what he was swallowing in the moment.

His mind has focused on the young man because he's trying to figure out what happened. The change in emotions, from near empty to something that feels overwhelming and somewhat hostile, cues him in to the other presence. Yani certainly didn't have this level of emotions.

However, the pain the young man experienced a moment earlier has Tommy wanting to know what this other thing is. His own mind triggered to bring up the memories of his torture that has only ended a few months earlier.

His mind focuses down like a laser beam burning through an object. He's trying to get information from this other presence. He's prepared to protect himself though. Should this hostile presence try to do the same, he's going to shove the memories of pain from his torture at it. It should be enough to keep it at bay.

[project_kuron]

His pupils are purple, now, by the way. So, really, not something that can go without notice.

"Well? I don't have all day."

Very slight irritation. One could almost expect next words to be that a gentleman shouldn't make a lady wait, or something. But they're not. Maybe it's just implied, here.

"Do tell. What's happening, here? What's this all for?"

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy is slowly focusing down on the presence attached to that purple energy, following the tendril back to the source. He might have given a real answer but the tone, the word choice is to reminiscent of his captivity. Pain surges into his mind and a feeling of claustrophobia. The memories are hard to manage when they are so close to the surface. Thankfully, he isn't interacting with the young man's mind or he might feel the pain. However, he is attached to the presences; she might feel the pain.

Tommy swallows hard and then shakes his head. "You don't belong her."

Those words come out so slowly because he is trying to pin point what this presences is. Once he realizes it isn't human, he's sure it doesn't belong.

[project_kuron]

There is irritation. And curiosity. Pain is nothing new to Honerva, she's often been in pain, though she often lashes out when she feels it. It's not a good feeling.

However, mostly, she's now curious.

"And what of it?" the young man voices the question, but there's no pretence about who is in control, really, as she still is. That presence.

"So what if I don't? Alteans only belong on Altea, the ancients would say. Later ancients, that is. For all was born on Oriande. Yet, that would've stayed a fairytale in the minds of all, if not on research."

"One does not belong even on one's own planet's moon, people used to think, many ages ago. Not belonging is but a coward's phrase for discovery."

"When you look at the lightning bolts, what do you see? The ancients thoughts gods threw them, while fighting against each other. But then we found out what the lightning really is and where it comes from. There are no gods, save ones we can tame. And so, no gods at all."

"And if I don't belong, who'd have known? And what shall you do, if I don't?"

[iamjustvisiting]

Tommy listens to the questions and the sense of dislike grows more in his presence. This person feels like a conqueror which ruffles his Anthean sensibilities. The questions go on and on, annoying him more and more. His years imprisoned and tortured cause significant irritation.

He closes his eyes and starts focusing on the person in the young man's mind. The sense of disdain over the obvious pain and disregard for his person pushing him to action. Humans are like animals but even an animal doesn't deserve this kind of treatment.

"I know." The voice comes in Yani's mind but Tommy's presence shows up near the being. It's an astral projection, not solid but able to speak and appears solid. "You don't belong in his mind."

Tommy has power despite his weakened state from torture, human interactions, and partial blindness. He was sent to Earth for his physical and mental strength rather than knowledge. His whole presence is placid and unconcerned.