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expiationmeme2023-05-29 10:59 am
TEST DRIVE MEME #3
Welcome to the TDM for Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with fantasy, science fiction, and some horror elements. We ask that top-level comments are reserved for new characters and players looking to experience a taste of the world and overarching storyline. Characters already in the game, however, are free to use TDM prompts in their own catch-alls and logs. Feel free to submit any TDM / prompt-related questions to the corresponding comment below.
New players / characters looking to app are free to use TDM threads as samples in their application. Preexisting players / characters may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs (with the stated limitations).
You may find the below links helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...
BRAVE NEW WORLD (ARRIVALS)
After receiving the paper with your sentence, the whole world quickly becomes dark and you find yourself falling through what seems to be an infinite void. You lose track of time after a while, but as soon as your focus seems to waver, your vision clears and you find yourself resting rather unceremoniously in a pile of seeds used for chicken feed.
Once you make your way out of the grain silo (and we of the moderator team wish you good luck in finding a fun way out of it), you may find that several other people have been dropped into the world just like you have. Some are disoriented, others are panicked, and others yet are simply angry about being brought somewhere against their will. Amidst the chaos of new arrivals to the world of Expiation, the newcomers will find that there are some people in the crowd who seem a little more familiar with what’s going on.
These people will tell you that you find yourself in a strange new world, and that it’s best to make your way to a nearby town called Aldrip to get settled down there. It’s a few hours by foot away from this area, but it’s the only place in the nearby area that can accommodate newcomers like you.
WE LIKE TO PARTY (WE LIKE, WE LIKE TO PARTY)
Recently, many Chosen have emerged victorious from a hard-fought battle, taking out a gargantuan creature that threatened to suck the energy from the whole area surrounding Aldrip if it had not been stopped. Such efforts do not go unrecognised, and in the aftermath, the locals all decided to band together to celebrate their saviours’ heroics. Nothing less than a village-wide party and parade would be fitting for such an occasion.
This is an undertaking that will likely take a significant amount of effort. While the locals wanted to make this into a surprise, many of them lack skills to put the thing together properly. Chosen who want to get involved in the preparation process can put their organisation and culinary skills to the test to create fixtures and food for the event. Better yet, your efforts over the past months have improved supply routes into Aldrip, meaning that the food shortage has passed, and you’ll have just about anything your heart desires for the occasion.
Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy the spoils of your efforts! Once the day of the party arrives, Aldrip will erupt into a full-scale celebration, and all Chosen are encouraged to party as hard as possible. Good food, good drinks and good times will be in no short supply for the occasion. Additionally, those who took to the front lines in the previous event will be revered as heroes and likely spoiled rotten.
THIS IS HOW YOU GET ANTS
PLEASE PARTY RESPONSIBLY
It’s no understatement to say that some of the Chosen like to party hard- and that’s quite alright! A few days ago, the people of Aldrip had already set aside a few rooms in the inn to act as an infirmary for those who had been injured during the battle with the Branded. It took little effort for them to expand this project into a full medical wing for those who would undoubtedly be acting irresponsibly during the festivities.
It’s up to you to decide what circumstances brought you here. Perhaps you were injured in the previous battle, and have been stuck in bed as you recover from your wounds. Maybe you had just a little too much to drink, and you decided to come by while you collect yourself. Regardless of what your reason for being there may be, the people of Aldrip have guaranteed that you will receive the best of care.
With that said, the place is terminally understaffed. Aldrip’s locals will certainly appreciate any assistance they can get- even if your character might not have the best training or bedside manner. Medicine can’t be that hard- what’s the worst that can happen?
MR. MAGNIFI'S MAGNIFICENT MIXTURES
Once word of the upcoming celebration spread, several individuals from outside town came in to offer their services or goods in Aldrip. One such individual came into town riding on a rickety cart with the words “Miraculous Magnifi’s Medicine! Guaranteed to heal what ails ye!” emblazoned in gold on its side. The thing smells a bit off, with a strong chemical scent coming from the back, but the moustachioed man who emerges from the back assures you that all of his “mixes are made with meticulous ministrations!”
Those who buy and consume the potion might find themselves feeling strange over the next few days as symptoms emerge. Some people wake up to find that their hair has taken on a rainbow of colours during the night, that rats cuddle up to them for no reason, or that their irises have been replaced with strange spiral shapes. Feel free to come up with inventive but harmless side effects for the miracle elixir- it’s meant for some good fun.
They’re strange symptoms for sure, and certainly not the advertised cure-all. However, Magnifi is already gone by the next dawn, meaning that no one can get a refund. Thankfully, the symptoms will go away after a few days, but the chaos that ensues in the meanwhile will certainly make for some fun stories.
IT'S NOT OVER
♪♫ LET IT GROW ♫♪ ► (FUTURE EVENT TIE-IN)
The party celebrating the dread beast’s defeat can be heard from miles outside of Aldrip, but the situation is not quite yet resolved. Much of the once-lush forest outside of Aldrip had its life force absorbed from it, leaving little more than profaned ground and an overwhelming scent of rot. Worse yet, there are reports that some of the beast’s severed golden tendrils have taken on a life of their own, creating snake-monsters that threaten the local wildlife.
However, the monsters are not the only new arrivals in Pessiria Forest. Those who go to investigate the area will find that fairy-like creatures have gathered in the profaned land and are trying their best to help bring the area back to its former glory. At first, they seem to keep their distance or ignore you entirely, but after determining that you mean well, they inform you that they can temporarily bless the Chosen with the power to make full-sized plants burst forth from the seeds they plant into the ground.
It’s still going to be hard work. Even with the power to bring plants to life, planting seeds in the miles of dead forest will likely take a very long time. Still, these strange fairies could use the help, and tough jobs can be better if you bring a little help from your own friends. (Or enemies. No one’s going to judge you for who you bring.)
WHAT'S THAT MYSTERIOUS LAUGHING SOUND?
The process of regrowing the devastated part of Pessiria forest is well underway, but the process does not go entirely smoothly. Partway through the process, locals start to report that they can hear a strange girl laughing in the forest in the middle of the night, but no one seems able to track down its source. Curious Chosen can patrol around the forest at night to try and figure out the mystery.
Those who are particularly sharp-eyed might see a faint spectre of a little girl wearing a straw hat dancing about, but she never seems to stay in sight for more than a few seconds. One blink is all it takes for her to vanish.
You probably won’t be able to catch this strange spectre, but it’s become something of a game among the villagers to go looking for her anyways. Some say that seeing her is a sign of good luck, and wave to her before she disappears. Others say that if you see her while holding hands, it will bless you with a lifetime of good love. Almost all of these assertions are probably nonsense- but what will you do about it?
CW: casual implications of graphic violence
Killing civilians is of no interest to him anyway, and even if he weren't legally required to keep them alive, it would hardly be enjoyable. The cry and scream a lot and go down way too easy.]
No, I'm a waiter at the fucking Cheesecake Factory.
[He delivers that line with perhaps one of the most vitriolic displays of sarcasm possible. Thankfully, Shinichi and Migi don't have to wait for very long.]
Yes, I'm a goddamn superhero! D'you think I put this thing on-
[He quickly gestures to the neon atrocity of a getup-]
Just so I can help people file their taxes all day?
[Or put dishes away, you're skipping around with metaphors, here...]
Aah, hello? I'm a Guardian of the Globe!
[He scowls, searching Shinichi's eyes for any signs of recognition.
Migi is off the hook for now. The poor ugly bastard doesn't seem to know what a handjob is, let alone a superhero.]
no subject
Shinichi is, naturally, ogling the guy with apprehensive confusion and stun (sorry Rex, he definitely doesn't recognise anything called Guardian of the Globe), brows lifted up and posture still extremely defensive, like he expects the other to go off on him any moment. )
You.... really are one? ( Another quick wince, like he thinks that might offend Rex.... ) I mean— we just don't have things like that in my world. Not for real. They're just... just make-believe.
( Never mind that he has freshly started his own vigilante journey against killer parasites from space.
Of course, Migi is now studying Rex as though he's something extremely appealing. Weirdly, he does know about superheroes!! The topic has come up in his studies on humans — a fictional concept in Shinichi's world, but clearly not in all.
Shinichi's right arm lifts again, creeping a little closer. It's totally fine. )
To be considered a "superhero", one must have "superpowers", correct? I have read about the concept on Wikipedia.
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[Rex would be more irritated if he wasn't already well aware of the fact that several dimensions can exist simultaneously, and while the metaphysical particulars that explain this phenomenon have never of interest to him, he's already made his peace with the fact.
That doesn't mean he still isn't going to be as spiteful as possible.]
He could even French kiss somebody before you do! He probably already has.
[There's a lot of assumptions being thrown around here, wow...]
So your world doesn't have superheroes, but somehow you've still got "Wikipedia?" Hate to break it to you, bud!
[Unfortunately, the faux-friendly dialogue is very clearly only intended for Migi, it's almost as though Shinichi's actual head has ceased to exist...]
But that website isn't really known for being the most reliable source.
So, uh, no!
[Technically, not all superheroes have special abilities.]
But I sure do.
(cw: not exactly fourth-walling unless you squint, look ma I'm from a horror canon)
But those deeper upsetting thoughts are (mercifully? or is this actually worse) cut off by Rex's next comment, and Shinichi's sputtering loudly— )
He's never kissed anyone before in any way!
( What's with this guy???? Shinichi Izumi has aged ten years in the course of this interaction. )
It isn't reliable? That's problematic.
( Migi considers this thoughtfully for a moment. He'd gotten a lot of information from Shinichi's textbooks and various other reading material before moving to the World Wide Web. He'll have to do some more research — although in this place.... that might prove to be an issue. It doesn't appear to have much modern technology.
That can come later, though. For now.... the alien is peering very closely at this mysterious person, golden eye gleaming. He's made his own observations but clearly there's much more to learn. The man seems talkative; maybe he'll reveal it openly? Being Migi, he's going to just forthright ask. )
What exactly can you do?
( Shinichi's eyes cut down to his horrible curious hand, narrowing a little. Migi, you can't just ask people about their superpowers... This guy could freak out and try to kill us or something. )
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There is a change that comes with the acquisition of new abilities, including things like things like power, confidence, or even a fresh perspective on life. Rex has been through it all, going from an unloved nobody to someone who could supposedly "save the world" all with the flick of a wrist.
The ending of that time, of that chapter, had just been so damn unfortunate.]
You sure do ask a lot of questions, pal.
[Now, in the company of his friends and teammates, he'd be more likely to let loose and recklessly throw himself into a dangerous situation, but being alone in what now feels like the whole universe is enough to shake things up a bit.
The fight with that thing and all of other Machine Head's hired hands was a grim reminder of the fact that no matter what monstrosities Rex has seen and faced, there will always be worse lurking about in the farthest recesses of the interdimensional void, and he's glad to have never met them.
So surprisingly, he'll keep his cards close to his chest- For now.]
Ever get the kinda answer you wish you'd never heard?
Your, aah, string bean of a meat puppet doesn't look like he's got a very strong stomach.
[also... a huge part of him is loving the attention, the little shit]
You two don't seem like you're all that heat resistant, either.
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( ....That may have the potential to sound extremely sarcastic, but Migi's little robotic tone is nothing but genuine.
The answer is telling, though, even if it isn't a direct one so much. Something that requires a strong stomach — as in a strong constitution. It's true that Shinichi is lacking in that department.... but it's what the man with the strange "aura" says next that really captures Migi's attention, and the parasite's eye is shifting slowly back to stare in Rex's direction.
Heat-resistant...? Heat happens to be something that Migi's cells do not respond favourably to. That certainly isn't something he'll easily reveal, but this is information well worth knowing of, indeed. )
I see. Your assessment of my host is correct. He does not have a strong stomach.
However, I am interested in learning more about others' abilities. Perhaps you and I could speak more about it sometime, when he is not conscious.
Wh- hey...! ( Shinichi has kept quiet more than more people might, but this is going too far....! ) You can't just have conversations with people when I'm asleep!
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[Migi's unshakable demeanor, or rather, his unquenchable thirst for knowledge, is puzzling to say the least. Usually, the lack of a reaction to Rex's violent implications would spur Rex into one of his frequent and hardly necessary tantrums, only he is now stuck in a realm of interdimensional criminals, many of whom's listed crimes may somehow not be their worst.
His certainly isn't.
Rex's eyes widen at the parasite's bold response.]
You aren't just freaky, you're a full-on freak!
[You know, because something about the need for a nighttime conversation doesn't feel right.
Finally, Rex focuses his attention back on the host, addressing Shinichi somewhat properly for the first time since they began speaking.]
I'm guessin' this guy needs a new body?
It's either that or he's got a big stinkin' crush on me.
no subject
A crush.... Wait— no, he— ( First it was french-kissing, now the guy's talking about crushes?? Shinichi's shaking his head fervently, lip curled a bit in disgust. Thinking about Migi like that really curls his stomach....
Meanwhile, the parasite's looking faintly amused (as much as an eyeball and mouth situated in the palm of a hand can, anyway). )
Do you mean to insinuate that I would attempt to relocate to your body? Fortunately for you, it is not possible for me.
( ....He would like to examine your body though. Can he touch it. Just a little. It's fine! )
I only want to learn as much as I can about the residents of this place. Perhaps there is a link as to why all of us were transported here.
( Shinichi gives an awkward little laugh, eyes flitting from his hand back to Rex, and then back to his hand again. Hopefully what he says next won't offend the guy... (the guy potentially with Murder Threat level superpowers....) )
Uh... He probably doesn't want to be alone with you, Migi. You're kind of scary, probably even to superheroes... ( He looks up to Rex once again, brows lifted. As much as this dude unnerves him, Shinichi'll still try to Be Helpful and spare him from Migi's Curiosity.
Of course, then a thought pops up, and he can't help voicing it. )
....Are superheroes supposed to threaten to murder people.....?
no subject
[Migi and a long list of others. At least in Migi's case, it's clinical, and his interest is purely scientific.
Rex watches the duo carefully, haughty irritation returning to his face when the alien states that he supposedly can't jump ship. Much like the quickness with which the young Guardian can create and launch weapons of mass destruction, his mood shifts from goofy to threatening in a matter of seconds.
Yeah, right! Considering the questions that Anime Thing is asking, he may have been born yesterday, but Rex hasn't. The hero's got no reason to trust either of their words, and although the probability is highly unlikely, there's even a chance that Shinichi is a cleverly controlled puppet. Appearing as though he still has his own sentience intact, when that may not be true at all. The tactic might seem a little long-winded, but it'd be a great way to earn some trust before revealing an even more sinister truth.]
The way I see it, me being alive means that hundreds and thousands of other people get to stay alive!
Also, normies and small-time vigilant-dorks don't get to tell me what to do!
[Migi brings up a really good point- If there are any striking similarities between the individuals who were pulled here, it'd be good to take note of them.
Rex already doesn't like that the only other implant he's spoken to so far also seems to possess some variety of special abilities. Well, ability? The talking hand is a stand-out indeed.]
I didn't get where I am today by clappin' my cheeks all the way to the White House! I fucking earned that shit.
[They also were sorely in the need of an emergency replacement.]
You got me?
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(Of course, Migi also knows that, but there are things he'll keep close to his own figurative chest, as well. And technically it isn't a lie to say that it's impossible for him to need a "new body" when he could only swap "arms". Probably best that people don't know about that just yet.)
But both of them are listening to Rex speak, and it's Shinichi who takes the wheel on responding to this one. A quiet horror's blossoming in his chest, and something that refuses to stay quiet (even in the onslaught of insults). )
I understand having to protect people, but.... you can't actually kill some people just so you can stay alive.....? Right?
( This... can't be true, can it? That implication? Surely this guy didn't mean any of it like that? )
cw: mentions of infanticide, violence
He tries not to. When it comes to the actual "bad" guys, he can't say he feels too guilty. Most of the bonafide takeouts in his professional line of work involve the kind of creatures or people that would kill him point blank. The Flaxans had been vaporizing civilians in the street, slaughtering innocent non-combatants in droves, and had come back twice afterwards to only enact more damage.
Shinichi's question is one of the many reasons why Rex hates dealing with the general public. It highlights how deeply privileged they are, how lucky they must be, to have never had to make that kind of tough decision in the first place. For him it had begun with petty thievery, then murder, and now...
This.
But he too had asked the same question once. So for the first time during this entire conversation, he does his best to give Shinichi an honest, no-bullshit answer.]
You ever run into the kind of guy who'd kill a kid right in front of ya?
I know, I know!
[He throws both hands up in the air, palms wide in a grimly animated fashion. This dude is probably gonna have a shitton of bad dreams after this...
Rex hardly considers that his problem.]
Baby murder. The worst kind of murder there is! Probably. I... I dunno.
Anyway.
[The gloved hands are then carefully shoved into his pockets.]
People like me are the reason you haven't.
cw: mention of infanticide / experimentation
Not anymore. No, now that surprise comes with familiarity (he's still so fresh off of that attack on his school by one of the parasites, the thing with every intention to plow through kids to get to Shinichi, the first thing he's ever helped kill in his entire life), and he's taken aback, just staring. Listening, through the odd static prickling in his head. He's never talked about that experience to anyone but Migi before; it's become another thing carried down deep in his gut, aching. He's had bad dreams for a long time, now.
The other's words get worse, and worse, and Shinichi flinches in a quiet, deep horror, feeling ice slip down his spine. But even that much isn't completely unknown to him. Tamiya Ryoko's words continue to haunt him... that parasite, that...... monster. What she'd do to her child once it was born. Experiment on it. Kill it once it no longer had use.
Shinichi's blood feels weird and hot and he's clenching his left fist slightly as his features tighten. )
Then.... I'm glad you stopped someone like that.... no matter what it took. ( For the first time since he arrived here, an anger tightens behind his soft brown eyes, making them a bit darker, sharper. He's aware that Migi's turned to stare at him but he doesn't care. )
Only a monster would do something like kill kids... babies. Innocent humans' lives have to be protected.
no subject
Rex finds himself feeling downright uncomfortable, even taking time to look to his left and right, revisiting his surroundings before returning his gaze to Shinichi's crumpling exterior. He does take note of the way that Migi turns to face his conjoined something or other, if only for a brief moment in time.
Without noticing, some of the young hero's defensive body language falters, his broad, square shoulders slumping. This is so damn weird. He's never had to do this before. When it comes to consoling the crying children and telling people that everything is going to be okay, he's always noticeably absent, either already turning away to head to back to HQ or another emergency, or just doing something else, anything else.
He can't find a perfectly-timed remark for this. Nothing funny even in the frattiest of senses comes to mind, so unfortunately for now, Shinichi will receive a rare shred of dignity from Guardian of the Globes' resident dickhead.]
Yeah, you would think that, wouldn't you?
[Rex sheepishly rubs the back of his (frighteningly muscular) neck with a gloved hand.]
That it's just... The outliers. The one or two cock-brained cuckoos who'd be crazy enough to pull that kinda stunt.
[Rex's hand is back at his side again.
He sighs.]
Most of the time, though, it's somebody who's just...
[He swallows hard before continuing.]
Followin' orders.
[And somehow, strangely...
That feels a whole lot worse.]
I don't know what else to tell ya.
no subject
But the anger... the form it takes. Something that immediately took the shape of thinking that this person deserved to be killed.... that's a bit new.
The teen's sudden resolve falters as Rex continues, the words sobering Shinichi, aching, like something crumbling inwards. He gives a shaky, startled exhale like something else was holding its breath inside of him. Eyelids flutter, and he's taking half a step back. )
—Sorry. ( He breathes, even though he's not sure why he's saying that and his eyebrows are a little knit, like he's mildly confused. An odd discomfort writhes in his gut, and he wishes he was home in his bed. Abruptly, like a child, he misses his mother. )
That's.... that must be really hard. ( He trudges through coming back to himself, mouth tugged into a frown that's becoming empathetic instead of angry. ) To have to deal with those kinds of things.
( ...But he's dealt with some of it too, hasn't he? Maybe not... to this extent, he's never killed a person, but he's dealt with some of the themes of all of this, touched on them, and even that much is enough to keep him up at night. What must things be like for this guy...? )
....In my world, some bad things are happening too. ( He offers, quietly. ) Things that need to be.... stopped. I think I'm the only one trying to.
nsfw this is so horrible im so sorry
What strikes Rex as particularly bizarre is the expression of empathy. He's a superhero with a vocabulary that largely consists of cuss-words and quippy insults, so out of all the members of the former Teen Team and now the new Guardians, he'd be the last to speak to a civilian for several legal and publicity-related reasons. Still, after trolling online message-boards and clickbait-y articles, Rex doesn't get the sense that most regular people are grateful for superheroes at all, having never have had to put themselves in that kind of danger in the first place.
It's pretty damn weird- He had, especially starting out, hoped for more testimonials like this. More expressions of gratitude and sympathy were the key to feeling good about this god-forsaken gig, or so he had thought.
Now, instead of warmth, instead of wholeness, he simply feels a blip of a faintly fuzzy tickle, and then...
Well, nothing.]
Eh!
[Rex shrugs in response, his face hardly moving save for a quick wrinkling of his forever-broken nose.]
Chances are, you aren't.
You just haven't found the rest of 'em yet.
[The others who feel the same way.]
Lemme guess- It's somehow related to an invasion of the Body-part-
[Here, he clenches and unclenches the fingers of his own right hand, gesturing with his gloved palm now facing Shinichi.]
Snatchers?
[And then, even though this is totally HORRIBLE and UNNECESSARY and I AM SORRY-]
Look on the bright side, dude! At least your weirdo friend here only went for your hand! Can you imagine if you had that freaky little eyeball peepin' outta your butthole? [i'm surprised he didn't say penis but(t) somehow this image is even more cursed]
I have so many Aghast Shinichi icons and yet none can truly convey what I need to convey......
Yeah. They uh... were supposed to take over humans' brains all the way, but... guess I got lucky. ( Another smile that's not much of a smile so much of a wince. While he's extremely grateful he gets to keep his brain and not be fully subsumed by an alien, being the anomaly that retains a consciousness and shares his body with an alien is a whole set of stress in itself.... Honestly, it's a horror he's barely really had much time to properly process. Things have just been moving.... so fast.
He's looking up as the other young man mentions a "bright side" — and again, it's not so much openly hopeful, but.... he's at least still curious to hear what he has to say.......
AND OKAY WOW THAT IS ACTUALLY THE MOST HORRIBLE THING HE'S EVER HEARD IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE
Shinichi blanches, at a complete loss for words in those horrified seconds to follow, and mind forced to think of that wonderful mental image (why???? did you have to????? say that???????) while Migi tugs his arm up to helpfully point out— )
That would have been most unfortunate. ( And the parasite pauses, thoughtfully. Of course this has given him something Interesting to think about.... )
Reflecting back on it, I had no thought to attempt entry through that orifice. Likely because it is the furthest from the brain.
( Shinichi looks like he might faint (again. Take a shot every time that happens.) DID YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT IN RESPONSE, MIGI!??!?! )
All right, well— shouldn't we be heading to town now, anyway??
no subject
If only he knew how much lower he could go.]
Ohhhhhhh, okay.
[Once again, he responds to Migi first, making direct eye contact with... Well, the one singular... Hand... Eye?]
So you were lookin' to enter through one of his face-holes?
[Rex blinks owlishly two or three times before continuing.]
Or at least one of the holes that's, like, face-adjacent?
[Where do ears fall within this classification?]
I have a hard time imagining this dude in a ski-mask with sunglasses on... Maybe he was up to somethin' freakier, geez! We don't know...
[Is what he mutters before Shinichi eggs him on.
(*substitute the word "ski" with "gimp")]
D'you mean "we" as in me, you, n' him?
Or just the two-
[Once again, he opens and closes the fingers of his right hand.]
Of ya.
cw: discussion of... parasitic infiltration
Next, I attempted to infiltrate the body through the nostril, but Shinichi sneezed me out. That is how I ended up burrowing my way into the flesh of his arm instead.
It was an unnatural method of infiltration... but unfortunately all I could do.
( The pair of lips tugs into a slight frown; yes, it's highly disappointing..... Meanwhile, Shinichi is trying not to gag too much at all the lovely mental images that Rex and Migi have tag-teamed him into being forced to think through. Thanks for this, really! As if his life wasn't already Body Horror Central!!
He's scowling a little (not in so much of a threatening way as just.... nauseated) as he looks back up at the other young man, fixing him with a wary expression.... He really doesn't want to be subjected to any more of these conversations.... but it'd be rude to try and shrug him off... )
Um— You're heading that way too, right...? We could all go together. If you want...
But no more talks about... infiltration! Okay? ( He casts a stern glance down to his palm, who tilts back up to look at him, before the eye swivels over to look at Rex again. Humans can be so sensitive... but not that one. He seems just fine discussing things like this....... Maybe he'd be a better host after all! )
......I'm Shinichi, by the way. I don't think I um... said that.
no subject
The description of infiltration hardly encourages any change in Rex's consistently persnickety demeanor. Sure, he himself would hate to be in the same situation, but as far as things go, they've worked out as well as they possibly could for Shinichi. He's still alive, he's got control of most of his arms and legs save his favorite, probably, and his body somehow avoided becoming a sallow husk for an overly-logical alien.
That and, for better or for worse, he'll never be lonely? Or something.]
Sure thing, Shi-needy!
[This is all spoken with a mocking twitch of the head.]
I'll go with you.
[why does that almost sound like a threat]
But only because you seem desperate! Then again, if my life was the literal embodiment of "Talk to the hand," [in the most Cursed way possible-] maybe I'd be jumpy and shaken up too. I'd still be better-lookin', though.
[????]
It's Rex! Rex Splode, to you.
no subject
WHAT THE— This guy..... is so weird........ (Can you really be talking, Shinichi? Your right arm is an alien.)
But what's with him! He has no idea how to handle this guy (Rex Splode??) The other boy gives a shaky sigh, somehow finding himself on the receiving end of yet more insults, but at least this guy isn't acting like he's going to beat him up or something..... (not yet, anyway.)
He definitely keeps Shinichi on-edge, but it probably would be better to stick with other people, for now..... So it seems he'll be heading into town with a scary superhero and an alien for company. His life... ]
And I may be referred to as "Migi". [ The parasite pipes up, helpfully, extending Shinichi's index finger out into an eyestalk so he can swivel around and watch things, as well as provide some input along the way. It's refreshing to be able to actually contribute to a conversation and not have to hide away like back in Shinichi's world! ]
Fine.... Let's go then... [ The boy says, sounding decidedly more gloomy about the prospect; he's pretty nervous to find out what's in store. ....And he'll probably be subjected to more of Rex Splode's insults..... but maybe he's free of the horrible Sex Talk..... ]