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

[ginger_firebird]

"An excess of joy or anger or fear can do the same thing."

Mantis feeds brief images of the many kinds of tears that can fall. He relaxes more into the hug and moves his fingertips in small circles on the back of Yani's head.

[project_kuron]

This is all also good, it seems. Slightly helps with a chronic headache which Yani still has. It feels... so good.

So good.

Mantis might notice how relieved Subject Y0XT39 feels right now. Such amazing feeling. Never felt before.

And then, he hears Mantis's words.

"Excess is bad," Yani says.

It's not connected to the images he's received. It's something he's learned before. Not in Nexus.

He's suddenly shaking. In fear.

"Yani is no good?" the young man asks, shaking. Trembling so much... and his eyes widen in fear.

"Subject Y0XT39 is yet another failure????"

[ginger_firebird]

It’s a relief to hear the thoughts calming down, but Mantis is constantly surprised by just how much Subject Yani seems to be set off by the mere thought of doing something wrong. He had no concept for being a human, an immense fear of some female figure who seemed to be responsible for his current state, and no real idea of where he even was. Mantis sighs again and shakes his head.

“You’re not a failure. You are a person.” He lets Yani see into some of his own memories. Yani will feel an immense rage followed by relief and calm. “Feeling too much isn’t failing. It’s what makes you a human.”

[project_kuron]

"A human. What is 'a human'?"

[ginger_firebird]

Does he not even...? Mantis stops the head rubbing and sighs deep. He feeds Yani images like anatomical models, flashes of a blond man with a smug smile, a raven haired woman with a giant rifle, any kind of people he can remember from his life.

"Human is what you are. You and I are human. It's why we look the way we do."

[project_kuron]

He doesn't know yet, not really. How'd one know if no one tells him.

He looks (and feels) interested, at least, getting all those pictures.

Then, Yani frowns.

"You not looking exactly same as Yani. And those showed, not look like exactly same as Yani. Why? That means... humans can look different, also?"

Then...

"Why all Subjects look same as each? Yani can't... understand why."

[ginger_firebird]

"Humans can look very different. Different shapes. Different sizes. Different colors." He tries to make sense of the description Yani gives of the other subjects. If they all looked the same... Were they all clones? But who could build up the tech to make that many?

"Even if there are many who look like Yani, you are still human. My friend-" He brings up the image of the blonde man with the smug smile again, then flashes a man with brown hair, and another brown haired man into the mix. Their faces are nearly identical except for small markers of age and hair color. "He's a clone. A copy of a man who already exists. But even though they all look the same, they're all different."

[project_kuron]

Hmmmm. Hmm. Hmmm.

"Copy. Clone."

'The Subject' might be realising something.

"Subjects are called clones, sometimes. Part of a secret project. Project Kuron. More such projects? With that human you show? Or something else?"

The only feeling now is slight confusion. For example, is Mantis a clone? And if not, why not? But these are more feelings than thoughts, and not truly quite formed.

If Mantis looks into Subject Y0XT39's mind, he will see all these.

Rows of pods, and in each, a young man who looks exactly the same. Many of such men. All asleep or unconscious.

And then Subject... Yani... thinks back to what Mantis's shown him, apparently trying to compare.

Seems to make sense. Though there's something he has no idea about, so he asks, "What is a friend?"

[ginger_firebird]

So he is a clone. Mantis can work with that to figure out how to talk to Yani and better explain the idea of what a human actually is. At least there's enough comprehension to build a sense of self-awareness that he can use.

The images of the pods scare him more than anything. He knew Liquid was originally one in a set of octuplets, but that... That was a level of production that probably bordered on illegal, if it wasn't already. Yani knew it was a secret, so it stood to reason that there were many ulterior motives at play.

"A friend is someone who makes you happy. Someone you can trust." Yani will see the image of a blond boy next to the image of the blond man from before. "A friend protects you."

[project_kuron]

He doesn't even really know what a secret means, but he knows that the Project Kuron is secret, yes.

So that's what a friend is.

But-

"Impossible. How can someone do that? Isn't possible. No someone can."

[ginger_firebird]

"My friend took me away from people who wanted to hurt me." Another image. Someone holding a shield while standing in front of another. "You might not have experienced it yet, but it is possible."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"Maybe. But..."

"No one waits for Yani. Who ever wants to see Yani and not hurt Yani?"

[ginger_firebird]

"I don't know about that. You and I know each other now and I wouldn't hurt you. It's surprisingly easy to meet someone who would want to be your friend." His head perks up a little. "If you mind gets back in order, I might even be able to see into your future."

[project_kuron]

"Mantis is a friend? What Mantis gains? What can Mantis use Subject Y0XT39 for?"

"Head hurts. Right arm hurts. Can Mantis fix that? Yes, no?"

Wait...

"No. That's unnecessary. Subject Y0XT39 knows. Yes? No?"

[ginger_firebird]

"I gain knowing that I could protect you, even if just for a little bit." It's hard for Mantis to even say that kind of thing, but Yani deserves to feel like he's safe. "I can fix your head, and maybe your arm. Where does your arm hurt?"

[project_kuron]

Meanwhile, the Subject Y0XT39- no, Yani, here? - just tries to understand half of the things Mantis utters.

This is all... so new and unheard of. Very. New and unheard of.

He smiles shakily, because he's already done it a few times and it makes his body feel neat.

"Can Mantis --- slower?"

So much at once. Too much.

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis slows down his walking, but he also stops talking for a moment. He can see how clearly overwhelmed Yani is becoming. After a moment, he pats Yani on the arm gently.

"We're nearly at my apartment. You can lie down and I'll help your head."

[project_kuron]

"Vrepit sa."

Agreeing. Not that he thinks he has choice. Not that he'd even know anyone has any choices in life.

[ginger_firebird]

He will have choices. Even as Mantis leads Yani upstairs, he is thinking of blankets to choose from, how much water might the man need... Mantis's head is buzzing with speculation on what he's stumbled onto.

"I wonder what you'll be like if you get your mind back. Even as you are right now, you're looking at everything around you."

[project_kuron]

"No," Subject Y0XT39 whispers, shakily, worried, as if it was a crime. To be doing what Mantis says he's doing. And so, he refutes it lamely, like a child caught red-handed.

[ginger_firebird]

It's endearing, in it's own way. Mantis shakes his head and finally opens a door leading into his apartment. He holds the door open and beckons Yani to come in. "There's nothing wrong with being observant. It's what you do with the things you learn that matters."

Inside the apartment is the living room, resplendent with a futon couch and a table. Planters in the window are filled with dirt and to one side is a beaded curtain leading into the kitchen. Mantis gestures to the couch.

"Go sit. You've been through enough today."

[project_kuron]

Subject... no, 'Yani'? Comes in.

"No wrong? Then, why all the pain? Mantis... explain."

He sits down on the coach.

He says something, then, in another language. Not any from Earth. Apparently he only knows how to say it in that language. And it sounds as fragmentary and as if he's a very, very small child learning how to talk, as anything else when he's speaking.

He's in no hurry to translate, apparently just thinking Mantis understands everything that's said.

[ginger_firebird]

Whatever name he calls himself in the long run, Mantis waits until he's seated before considering what else to do for him. The new string of words catches him off-guard and he nods quietly, trying to catch a fragment of thought or image that would go along with the words.

"What does that mean? Those words? Your native language is different from others I have heard before."

Sometimes, a child will misunderstand. Especially a child who never knew affection.

[project_kuron]

Subject Yani stares at him.

He then repeats the same alien string of words. If Mantis's looking, he can see this. In Yani's mind.

Yani then points at Mantis, then at himself, and makes a questioning grunt.

[ginger_firebird]

He ponders the image for a bit and kneels down next to Yani. There are a lot of strange and interesting things this man knows. The two in the image were definitely a couple of some kind. It looked like a wedding from Earth.

"Those two are in love. It's a different kind of safety. We," He gestures between himself and Yani. "Are friends. When you're in love, it's very different, but you still protect each other."