reorienting: lyrics Gonna Be Here (Trauma Team) (Default)
Glenn Sparks ([personal profile] reorienting) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2021-01-03 07:48 pm

+1 Half-Alien Artist

When the Morpho touches down on the furthest outskirts, the ship itself seems only large enough for two people. If he isn't bothered then and there, he can be found wandering about, clad entirely in his latex-like flight suit and a gossamer mask he's made, comprised supposedly of intricately-woven spider thread.

He can easily be found out and about, sketchpad and an old pencil in hand as he draws what he sees. It's late enough in the evening that he arrives. He's mindful to keep distance from anyone in the area, to the point of exhibiting avoidant behavior unless they deliberately approach him.

Should he even stay here? Should he just go again?

For the most part, he only wanders about the outskirts and wilds. Nowhere in a closed space.

Maybe it's wrong to come here, anyway. But so long as he continues to observe his strict cleaning regimen, and physically distances to keep the temptation to interact with others down, there's no risk. He can treat this just like any other planetary observance. It's worked in keeping himself and others safe for two centuries now. It'll work here, too.

Regardless of where he's found, he's surprised when someone gets too close to his self-enforced distance. Even if they're familiar, he doesn't recognize them at first, shoulders hunched and head tucked downward.

"Ah-- I'm sorry, could you please take a few steps back?"


[ooc: For those I've threaded with before, you're welcome to have your character remember Glenn! If so, please let me know, so I can adjust Glenn's reactions to match. :) Furthermore, please feel free to use whatever writing style/tense you prefer; I'll match it.]
chiaro_oscuro: (11)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
Glenn isn't the only one who's here to draw. The man who approached him is young, with dark hair and black clothes, about thirty years old. He was drawn by the sight of the spaceship, not a model from his galaxy. Ben's been aboard a fair few ships, even here, so he wanted to get a closer look with its owner's permission. He wonders about the flight suit, especially given how careful the stranger seems to be about touch.

There's probably a good reason for that, whether it's some sort of contagion or whether it's some environmental requirement. Some alien species back in his world needed additional help in atmospheres that could support humans, but they couldn't breathe naturally in.

"...Yes. Of course." Ben dutifully steps back. He's sure the other man has his reasons. Ben himself tends to keep a distance from other people, less because he doesn't trust his own powers and more because of his own issues. There's a heaviness to him that's almost palpable - an aura of guilt and doubt. But the visitor seems friendly, so Ben decides to reach out.

"You're new here? My name's Ben Solo." He doesn't offer a hand, since if the young man's concerned about people coming close it's a safe bet that touching him wouldn't be a good idea. "Sorry for surprising you. I saw your ship. We have space travel in my home galaxy, so I thought for a second you were from there."
chiaro_oscuro: (4)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
"I see. I can understand why you don't want me to come too close, then." Ben nods in understanding. "In my case, I prefer to keep to myself most of the time. It's better that way, though I've been trying to reach out a little more lately. I'm not the kind of person who's used to making - or having - friends. I have a few, though, and I've settled here well enough. My problems aren't yours, but I can assure you I've got my own set."

Ben's aware that there are worlds where humans have achieved space travel and moved beyond their homeworld. He wonders if Earth is where humans back in his galaxy originally came from, forgotten long ago.

"Neo-Earth? So you aren't from Earth proper? Earth isn't my homeworld, so I'm in the minority of human beings here."

While he's hardly an expert on Earth, he's only been there a few times, Ben can't help but be interested. He's learned about Earth culture during his time in the Nexus as a hobby. It's interesting and gives him something calming to do.
chiaro_oscuro: (Default)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not an Earthling, or Terran, or whatever Earth people are called, so I won't be much use there. But if you want a friend here in the Nexus...I'll do my best to be one for you. It's just that..." Ben swallows hard. "I wasn't the best of people where I came from. It's not a happy story, so I'll leave it at that. But I'd like to make something better of myself now."

Ben's never sure how to bring up the fact that he was an infamous space tyrant and warlord. It's not something that usually comes up in polite conversation, especially since he's not proud of it at all. He doesn't want to frighten people, especially strangers.

"Sol system. The galaxy I came from doesn't have a system by that name, though I can't imagine we've found every planet there. My homeworld was Chandrila."
chiaro_oscuro: (11)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"It was my home planet, though my family traveled. I was never the kind of person to settle down. The Nexus is my home now. I'm dead back in my world, I'm afraid. It's not so bad."

Ben has lived in the Nexus for about a year, though it feels like it's been longer. A lot has changed since then, and he's sure there are more changes ahead in the future. Good or bad, it's nice to have a future to look forward to at all.

"Then I'd like to be friends." Ben considers, then nods. "It's not my place to judge much of anyone. Welcome to the Nexus, Glenn. You've got a beautiful ship." Ben's got an eye for spacecraft, and knows good craftsmanship when he sees it. "I haven't flown one in a long time, though a friend here gave me one as a gift."

He hasn't even named it yet, though he isn't used to naming his personal ships - since it's his, though, and he's abandoned the military lifestyle, he just might. He doesn't want to use the ship Misfire gave him for war.
chiaro_oscuro: (11)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Blue butterflies?" There's a flicker of a smile on Ben's thin face. "I saw a swarm of those once with my father, a very long time ago. I don't remember it well, I was only a child and a very different person, but they were beautiful. Interesting coincidence."

Ben doesn't have many pleasant memories, but he clings hard to the ones there are. That's one of them, foggy and half-formed though it may be.

He closes his eyes when Glenn mentions that his fiancee is dead, presumably. "That was a good gift she gave you, and I'm sure she'd be pleased that you're taking such good care of it."

When Glenn mentions the age of the ship, he listens to the explanation, interested.

"I have a ship here, though I don't travel with it. There hasn't really been any need to."
chiaro_oscuro: (8)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-04 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"I travel here, sometimes, but I always come back. The Nexus has food and shelter, something everyone needs, no matter how powerful. I'm a Force-sensitive, so I'm not exactly an ordinary human myself."

Ben smiles, a little more than last time, and with this one teeth show.

"Yes, I can help you draw them. Are you collecting the image through telepathy or would you rather I give you a description?"
chiaro_oscuro: (4)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-05 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Alright, I'll draw one for you. They're blue, like how you described your morphos, and they're textured as if they're made of crystal. I'll draw one for you."

Ben pulls out his own pad to draw on for Glenn.

"I'm what's called Force-sensitive where I come from. It's complicated, but the Force is a kind of energy field in my world that connects all living creatures, and certain people are very sensitive to it. Telepathy's one of the abilities it gives me, but there are others."
chiaro_oscuro: (Default)

[personal profile] chiaro_oscuro 2021-01-05 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, I can - that's one of the ways my powers manifest."

Ben concentrates, trying to project the image of a crystal butterfly into Glenn's mind. They're delicate creatures with shining blue wings, a lot like Earth butterflies.

He was very young then, so he doesn't remember much of the story - but he never forgot how beautiful the insects were, and the way they seemed to like him.

As much as he's changed, he wouldn't mind seeing them again.

"There are equivalents to the Force, in other universes. Maybe it's a kind of magic, but I don't see it that way."
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron facepalming (face.palm.)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Glenn...?"

Megatron's on his way to the portals to go back to the Lost Light when he sees the familiar spacecraft. He can't help looking rather concerned, although he notes that Glenn is fully suited up.

"I thought we decided we were going to meet on Sanctuary Station, after I talked to Soundwave about it, not here. I haven't had a chance to speak to him yet, and I can't just show up when he's not there, I'll get shot at and sent to the Autobots in a box. Is something wrong? Are you all right?"

He feels extremely conflicted. He cares about Glenn, but the Nexus is his home now, even though he's still going back and forth to finish the mission, and also in the hope of figuring things out with Minimus. There was a time when he might have been able to take Glenn to the Embassy, even though he himself no longer qualifies as a Decepticon--but not now. Not with Lotor and Ben and Terrible Dactyl there.
Edited 2021-01-04 17:44 (UTC)
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron saying No (NOPE)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Glenn," Megatron says quietly, "I never want to hear anyone say that they feel they have to 'appease' me again."

He ex-vents heavily, wincing as if that one single word struck him right through the spark.

"I am aware that you are observing quarantine protocol. I have not even raised my voice to you. I am simply concerned. Not just about this world, not just about this place, not just about my lover and his family, but also...about you. I thought there might be some kind of emergency, because otherwise, I thought, you'd have let me know that you'd changed your mind?"

He winces. "I know I can be terrifying in person, but we were texting. Do I need to start using...emoji?"

He looks a little perturbed at that notion.

"I hope not."
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron facepalming (face.palm.)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I could...try the emoji thing. It's just that they're all so...cute."

Megatron sighs.

"That's the problem. You're hearing what isn't there. I'm not about to say that I don't have an anger management problem sometimes, but I'm not having it now. I feel like I should apologise, but I'm not exactly sure what I would be apologising for."

adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron looking affectionate (affectionate)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's all right. I know I'm terrifying. I'm just trying to be less so."

Megatron ex-vents. "How about this: I apologise for frightening you. I'll try not to do it again, if you will try to remember that we're friends."

Then he thinks for a moment about Loki's tiny son Eindred. And Cricket's pet, Willie. And realises he actually has managed to turn off the 'I AM LORD MEGATRON, TREMBLE BEFORE ME' field that he managed to pick up during his years as one of the two driving forces of the war that nearly tore the galaxy to bits.

"But I don't think it's all me. Little children and tiny animals aren't even scared of me, lately. I'll put up with cute animations in my texts, and...you'll try to be less easy to spook than a Lillipup?" He holds his hands just far enough apart to hold the pup, if she were present.
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron smiling broadly (actually happy)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Megatron smiles ruefully. "He also called it a Pokemon. Does that word mean anything to you? But there are lots of different kinds of them."

He projects the image of the creature from his optics into the space between his hands.

"I'm not making fun of you; I'm genuinely concerned about your stress level. Also, she's cute, and maybe seeing her will make you feel better.

"Her name was Willie, and she climbed right up on top of my foot, and bonked my hand with her head when she thought I wasn't petting her enough."
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron looking affectionate (affectionate)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-04 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"She was really cute. And I don't expect you to be stress-free, Glenn; none of us is."

Megatron shrugs.

"There are people in my universe who want to kill me really badly and I know that whether or not I actually deserve to die, I certainly deserve their hatred. And I still go back there because I have a mission to finish.

"I'm very happy with the person I love, but I'm still learning how and where I fit into my lover's family, and I'm afraid they won't all like me, or... I don't know.

"I'm worried about the friends of mine who took over a political movement I started and completely fouled up and I don't understand why they don't just start over and call it something else that's not associated with all the carnage.

"I have stress in my life...but I'm able to hear what people are actually saying to me, and see what's in their faces. Which is important for you too...because you need to be able to tell the difference between a real threat and your own insecurities."
adpacempertyrannidem: Megatron smiling a little shyly (oddly demure)

[personal profile] adpacempertyrannidem 2021-01-05 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, nothing is very clear to Megatron right now. Glenn's field is hard to read when he's suited up; Megatron can't touch him; and the humans Megatron is most familiar with (and largely, doesn't like, as opposed to the ones he's met in the Nexus and elsewhere) don't come from Glenn's particular world or culture. All that Megatron has to go on are the words Glenn says, which is why he's confused by phrases like 'without stress.'

"I'm not sure you should be trying to read between the lines. It's the things you've imagined me saying that have scared you, not the things I actually said."

He shrugs. "You're the only member of your species I have ever met and I'm good at reading your field when I'm touching you, but that's not possible right now. I can't distance-read you at all, because you are the only member of your species I have ever met. You're not human, and if I let my instincts take charge, they decide you're a sapient turbofox."

At that, he smiles wryly. "I know a sapient turbofox, although he doesn't know that I know he's a turbofox. The two of you are very, very different beings. I don't think viewing your actions through that particular lens would be wise."

(For just a moment, he looks over his shoulder. Minimus has been in the Nexus, and it would be just his luck if Minimus walked into this conversation and heard him discussing sapient turbofoxes, with a garnish of 'how did you get off the ship and why are you here?' Fortunately, his luck does not appear to be ruling this encounter. There is not a turbofox, sapient or otherwise, watching them talk.)
Edited 2021-01-05 01:54 (UTC)
sordiddetails: (Long Hair)

[personal profile] sordiddetails 2021-01-04 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
It is the landing of a space craft that attracts her attention. In her own world it meant aliens, or other aliens, which were rare or non-existent depending on who you ask. She too stays to the edges of the wilds since humans are problematic for her species on so many levels. While she lives among them the concept of random humans from other universes still unnerves her.

He will probably find the woman approaching his ship, or at least the long sheer dress might cue other species into a female presence. She walks silently in the cold, unbothered by it, in fact it feels good. As an Anthean she is close to seven feet tall and delicately slender in a way that doesn't seem possible for a human frame. Her movements are fluid and while they are slow her long limbs mean that she transverses space quickly. There are other non human characteristics. Her whole eyes are bright yellow with snake like slit pupils and the eyelids transparent, she has small fangs, lacks fingernails, and her skin so pale it seems translucent. Her hair is also bright red and falls well past her waist which could be human but her brows and lashes are the same bright color. Her presence brings with it a peaceful, quiet, calm that may be be comforting or unnerving as it settles onto the space.

Truth is the ship is what attracted her attention and she hadn't noticed him at first. Her eyes turn on him slowly though she isn't reading him with any mental abilities she can see the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Looking at anyone new takes time to process.

"Of your steps or mine?" She asks politely though curious about why distance is demanded. Her species thrives on closeness.

[She's an alien. Her profile is here and that of her species is here]
sordiddetails: (Big eyes)

[personal profile] sordiddetails 2021-01-05 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
She complies but her eyes stay on him

"You're unwell?" Her voice is neutral but concern and worry fill in the ambiance. It's her species norm, the quiet empathy sharing the emotions others did with thier voice.

She shakes her head slowly, one of the many gestures she picked up from her human husband. "I saw the ship. Vehicles aren't common here so I came to see."
angelic_asshole: (like the hat)

[personal profile] angelic_asshole 2021-01-05 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I do beg pardon, young sir."

Seth was clutching his own sketch pad under his arm and slung on his shoulder was a leather satchel containing all his artist's supplies. Usually his oil paints, small portable canvases, pastels, pencils and whatever else he happened to be carrying at the time. He wasn't really looking where he was going as such since he had exploration on his mind and he often got caught up on that. The Wilds were a familiar haunt for Seth.

"I didn't see you there. Please forgive me."

The polite Victorian offered the younger man a polite nod and a tip of his hat. If anyone would view him they would see that he was a man out of time. From a bygone age.

[This is Balthazar's vessel, Seth. Who's info can be found here.
alittlehinky: (ow my head)

[personal profile] alittlehinky 2021-01-05 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Um...a'ight." The young man who's approached him seems completely human, baseline even, though if Glenn is observant enough he may notice the metal braces running down both legs. The man looks around twenty, with sandy curls and tired blue eyes, and there's a calm, guileless gentleness to him.

"Ain't trying to run you off or anything, I just wanted you to know you're out pretty far from the Plaza, the AV field is kinda weak out here and y'might get hurt if you ain't careful."

Obligingly, he takes a few steps back. "The barometer's droppin' some, so if you ain't prepared for storms, you should think about it. Might just be a cold rain this time, but snow's coming, I promise you that. You new here?"

[ooc: had to drop in; his ears were ringing. *squints upthread at Megs*]