nexus_crossings | It's a Beautiful Day in the Nexus, and You are a Horrible Coyote: Part 1

It's a Beautiful Day in the Nexus, and You are a Horrible Coyote: Part 1

Perhaps you're browsing the open market, easing through a crowd of strangers of all shapes and sizes and colors, looking for a shiny new trinket or vital supplies to bring home. Perhaps you're taking a stroll through the park near the Plaza, following the walking path around the pond, enjoying the quiet sounds of nature or carrying a pocketful of bread crumbs for the turtleducks. Perhaps you're just after a cup of coffee and you don't plan to stay, or you're looking for work to keep busy, avoiding some task you really don't want to do. Whatever the case, everyone in the Nexus is here for a reason. For a purpose. Everyone is looking for something, whether it's a physical object, a friend, or maybe simple peace of mind.

Wherever you are, you're not alone.

You won't have seen him before he speaks, nor heard his approach. But there he is, as if he has come from nowhere. Perhaps he has. Coyote's suit is immaculately pressed, a pleasant smile pulling his lips back from his teeth. Wherever you are, so is he, looking to you in greeting.

"Hello, friend!" he says, ears perked forward attentively, his furred hands clasped in front of himself. "A question, if I may. What's the one thing you desire most right at this exact moment?"

[OOC: Please READ BEFORE REPLYING! This is part one of a mod-sanctioned event in which your character will have a wish temporarily granted. However, rather than granting the spirit of the wish as intended, Coyote will twist the wording into something your character finds genuinely distressing a la The Monkey's Paw. Please message me to arrange consequences for your character and (if needed) to set boundaries! While your character will not have fun, participating players absolutely should. For those who want to participate but don't want their character in distress, stay tuned for part two. You're also welcome to tag into threads after Coyote has worked his magic and left, though please ask the target player first.]

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Ghost's head spins as he automatically tries to follow Siri flashing up to him and circling, only to run into the human neck's limited range of articulation. He shakes his head to clear the confusion, leaning back to look at her better. "I know, I know! It's... really, really strange. I don't know how to feel about this at all. Do... do I look weird?"

At least he scans as a healthy adult human? There's even a trace of Light somewhere in there, just much more muted than is normal. He might not be able to do anything with it in this shape, but his connection to Blaze isn't totally severed.

"He's doing pretty well so far," Blaze says, turning back to Steve and Nike. "But it's a hell of a situation. Looks like he got hit by the same guy who's running around cursing people all over the Nexus. We need to go track him down and knock some manners into him. Get this set right." She pauses. "And by 'we', I mean Nike and me. Steve, I need to trust you and Siri with watching over Ghost."

"Careful--" Steve's hand reaches out to steady Ghost's shoulder when he nearly pitches himself off the chair he's seated on in his attempts to lean back far enough to keep Siri in line of sight. That tiny self conscious voice wrenches at all of them. Siri's points jostle as Steve sucks in a breath. "What--no you look fine! Nice even, I'd say. Right Siri?"

"I mean, for a Human..." Siri pulls away from reach while she spins this way and that, trying to make sense of one of her fellow Ghosts being put in this sort of situation. It's a relief in and of itself to know he's not been completely severed from his connection to Blaze. Not entirely been robbed of his Light. Bad enough he's stuck in this body without losing a part of himself along with it. "Hang on, we can probably get you a mirror."

For her part, Nike finally seems to relax just a tiny little bit to being told she's going out there with Blaze. The argument for being left behind sits unused on her tongue. She nods when the titan looks her way.

Steve though. He jumps to be told he's not coming, but even a cursory glance at Ghost and he knows the other isn't going to be able to stay safe if things get hot. He barely has a handle on his motor skills as is. "Nothing will get to him." Steve promises.

He's really not used to everyone staring at him so much (as opposed to him staring at them). Add in how out of place and clumsy he feels, and it's hard not to feel self-conscious. Steve's hand on his shoulder is as warm as his reassurance, though. Ghost finds himself swallowing involuntarily, surprised by how many emotions come welling up at once.

"Oh, that's good- I mean- thank you. It's, um. Hard for me to tell."

"You look totally normal," Blaze assures him, for her part. "Just not like yourself. You'll see. Just don't get too caught up in overthinking it, all right? You start to feel weird and uncomfortable, make sure you get something else to think about."

Ghost looks around at her as she closes up the comm unit and seals it back into her helm. He knew he wasn't going to be allowed along, but that doesn't make him any happier about his Guardian leaving his sight. "You're going already?"

"No time to lose." Blaze pats him on the shoulder, painfully hard. "I'll keep an open comm. You can track how it's going. Next best thing to being right there." She gives Steve a slow nod; they both know how important his assignment is, even if it's not the exciting one. She's worried about her little partner, but she can't do anything to help him here. "Meantime, Steve and Siri can help you figure out how to handle that body."

"Blaze, just... please be careful." His eyes flit from her, to Nike, the twin of the look being shared between the two Titans.

"The proprietor may keep a small mirror on hand, Siri." Nike spent a lot of time in the upper office area of Katsuya's business here and while she has always maintained a respectful distance from a man she sees as a professional hunter of her kind, he is a friend to Blaze. They have bonded insomuch as they can over that shared facet. She watches the small bot disappear off to go ask before catching that look Ghost is giving her.

Having a human face doesn't make Ghost's emotions any easier for the angel to parse but she and he have always been of one mind when it comes to Blaze's wellbeing. She nods ever so slightly his way. Nothing will be able to touch the titan without going through her first. Literally if necessary.

Nike, after all, can get back up again. She allows her gaze to slowly shift to Blaze before quirking the corner of her mouth upward ever so slightly. "Besides, should something happen to us we would not be able to complete our mission. Blaze would not fail you."

They can all but see that seed take root in the Exo's mind: her head jerks a little, as if to look at Nike; she straightens, frowns a little bit even as she nods firmly. "Exactly. We're gonna get this done, Ghost. I promise. The mission comes first."

Ghost looks between her and Nike, and it's not just for the promise that a small smile creeps onto his face. "All right, then... remember. Eyes up, Guardian."

Blaze leans back over him, reaches down to boop his nose gently. "You keep your head down, Little Light. I'm counting on you."

Ghost sucks in a breath, bobs his head a bit. It's going to be physically painful to watch her walk out the door without him. Even knowing Nike will keep her safe... why is his chest so tight?

Steve's wise enough to keep his mouth shut while they say their goodbyes no matter what he thinks of the exchange that just went on here. The trembling breath Ghost sucks in too quickly as Blaze is leaving though? That Steve might be able to help with.

"Lean forward a little." He murmurs. It'll help the man breathe a bit easier as well as give him a bit of privacy if he needs to have a bit of a cry. "I know this is rough, but we're going to get through this. Do you want a glass of water?"

Lean forward. Okay. He can do that, there's a table right there to lean on. Try to breathe. He's not sure why it's stuttering now but Steve's right here, he'll know what to do.

"Will that help? I..." His voice chokes. Ghost swallows; it seems to help. "Sorry. I'm not sure what's- oh." His eyes are blurry; when he touches at them (very carefully) they're wet, and that's when he gets it. He's only ever seen this kind of thing from the outside, heightened vitals and stuttering voices and other people in distress.

"Can't hurt." There's no magic fix to make this better. Steve knows that. "But if you'd rather I stay right here for a few minutes yet I can do that too." He's slow to reach out again. The hand he rests on Ghost's back is gentle, but warm.

"There's some benefits to being human, but uh. I'm guessing it's a lot More Emotion than you're used to. And this is rough. I won't try to pretend it's not. But you're not alone. You won't be for any of this. We'll make sure of it."

"I... I think that would help. Thank you." Deep breaths. Steady. His sheer surprise to find himself crying will do half the work of making it stop, but the comforting touch at his back is-

Actually that makes his chest constrict again, how do humans deal with this? Ghost squeezes his eyes shut tight for a minute. He's not enjoying this, right when he was getting some control over this body.

"I'm used to emotions, but my shell doesn't... react like this. It's as if everything I feel is amplified." Analyze. Deconstruct, explain. Maybe that's the way. He knows that. "Blaze explained it once- at least, I think the same thing applies. A human body doesn't just respond to emotions, it feeds them back to you. All those chemicals, the physiological responses... there's so much of it."

No wonder humans seem so erratic all the time. If feeling a little sad can tailspin so fast into feeling very sad... Ghost swallows, then reaches up tentatively to touch Steve's arm.

Every sniffle, every shuddering breath Ghost gives sends Steve's own nerves more and more on edge. He's almost completely sure there's nothing Wrong with Ghost's human body but the niggling reminder that he doesn't Know what was done to make the little Light like this keeps needling at him. Steve's used to this, though. He's better able to smother his worry from showing in his touch, his face.

The corners of his mouth twitch in a tiny smile instead to hear Ghost explain in much better articulation what Steve already kind of suspected but didn't have the words to explain. "You do get used to it. Well, hopefully You won't have to, but. I promise it's usually a lot less overwhelming when it's not suddenly thrust on you." He starts just a little when Ghost reaches up to touch him back.

"Oh, sorry. Do...should I stop? I'm not...quite sure what kind of contact if any you'd find comforting. Everyone's different there."

From over by the counter Siri hovers quietly watching all of this go on. The proprietor has gone upstairs to Blaze's cache to dig out anything that may be of use to them. The titan and Nike aren't going to stick around digging through supply boxes when they've got even a slight chance of putting this to rights before Ghost will need the things in those caches. He did, however, instruct Siri on where to find a small compact mirror. It's sitting on the counter now but she hasn't quite worked up the nerve to interact with Ghost while he's in tears.

Seeing one of her own Crying is...unsettling. Human body or no.

Edited (I forgot i said i was going to include this oops) 2021-06-30 01:29 (UTC)

"No, it's okay." His fingers tighten on Steve's armor, subconsciously. "I've just... never been able to touch anyone back before. Without headbutting them, I mean." He surprises himself with his own involuntary laugh, even with tears still in his eyes. Touching people back is kind of nice, isn't it? And his Guardian may have had to leave him ~~behind~~ here, but Steve is right. He's not on his own, and he's not in danger. He can handle this. They can handle this.

He's careful when he reaches up to wipe his eyes on his sleeve, but slightly gratified that it works. His face still feels kind of heated and weird, but having a face, let alone a stretchy outer layer, already feels weird to him. He draws another, less shaky breath, and lets go of Steve at last. He probably has to, he thinks. He's not sure what's appropriate on his end either.

"Thank you, Steve." His voice sounds off, even more than it already did. "I think... I should try drinking some water. I need to know how to do that at least. And..." he looks around, at last, eyes lighting on Siri. "There's a spare PINpoint in the cache upstairs. Katsuya might already have thought of it, but I'm going to need that too, please."

"Sure, here. I'll go get you a glass." Steve pulls away when Ghost does, glad that he's been able to help even a little. Maybe it would have been better if Blaze was here for Ghost instead, but well. She's not and Steve wasn't about to sit by and do nothing about this.

He's relieved either way to spy Siri whole and fine hovering by the counter with a small palm sized mirror sat next to her. "Thanks, Siri." Maybe it's best to wait until Ghost no longer looks as though he's been crying to show him that. Water first.

Siri bobs before floating a bit closer to Ghost just to give him a cursory scan. Make sure he's Really okay despite the crying. Not in pain or somehow hurt. Sick. "He was taking out some things you'd need when I found him. I can message him that you'll need the spare PINpoint too." It won't take Her more than a thought to do so.

Ghost might not be sure if he should admit how much even a little comforting helps, but it does. As the brief bout of tears passes, it's easier to breathe again, to try and focus on what he needs to do here. What he can do, to try and help.

With Steve going over to get a glass, Ghost pushes himself up carefully. His first instinct was to follow his friend - floating easily alongside, able to follow along with everything that's going on. That's not possible now, but he still feels uncomfortable just sitting there, pinned to the chair by his own weight and ineptitude. (He sympathizes, suddenly, with the way his Guardian tends to pace holes in the deck of their ship.) He can at least try to practice using his limbs until Katsuya returns.

"Thank you, Siri." He blinks as she scans him, understanding the gesture. "I'm all right, really. I'm not injured, even if I feel, well. Crippled."

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It's a Beautiful Day in the Nexus, and You are a Horrible Coyote: Part 1

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