Shay scratched at her stomach, where her newly acquired gender-swapping piercing was. It seemed only right to get it now when she was so far out of her own skin. Her -- His, male form was damn effeminate, which surprised her (him?) a bit. But she (he?) felt safer in this new skin.
Without realizing it, Shay was heading for Theo's place. He wanted to see his friend, talk more to him after all that weird eye damage nonsense. Shay felt too far gone from everything and the store where he'd bought the jewelry wasn't far off from the Defan manor.
Walking that road again -- well, Shay practically couldn't. It took longer than expected. She couldn't couldn't make it to Theo's place. There were longer routes, but Shay was stuck staring at the street that had led to his demise. Angry he couldn't push the dread it caused to the back of his mind.
He cursed and paced.
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Theo frowned, touching his newly acquired inhuman eye. Several days of experimentation had concluded that there really wasn't much different about it, save its very abnormal color. It was all well and good. In all honesty the mob prince found discovering his new inhuman features. His favorite being the simple fact that he had two extra entities inhabiting his head now, making it easier to mull through the physical changes he'd undergone. He could sprout six additional arms and eight pointed tendrils from his upper and lower body respectively. His eyesight was difficult to explain, in its simplest terms, he could see additional details to things he already saw naturally. Whatever he saw Alvin and Simon also saw, and they thoroughly analyzed and processed everything. Finally there was the ability he wasn't sure who if anyone to disclose the information to. His full abomination form, which bore a very slight resemblance to Simon while looking entirely different. Even his scent was different in that form. There was still a good bit of testing required for that form.
That brought him to the here and now, Theo was tired of being cooped up, it was time to take a walk. Maybe poke around some nasty zones in the underground to see if there was someplace to test this other body of his. It was fine, there were small timers starting to move in on his turf, he could simply harass them. But where to start was the question, and when could he get away with it while being discreet. Last thing he needed to do was alert his mother or friends about his activity.
His thoughts were jolted to his current walk, passively he was being alerted to someone who should seem familiar to him. It was mostly Simon making the noise at this point, Theo paused while maintaining a decent distance before approaching. He realized who it was even though their skin was completely different.
"Shay," he said without a hint of doubt or surprise in his voice. It looked like she'd gone and picked up some gender swapping charm from somewhere. He made a mental note to himself to cancel his plans and stick with Shay for the day instead. This was a fine alternative. It had been some time since he'd actually seen her. And now she was a he, but to be fair, he wasn't quite what he used to be either.
The odd pacing was curious, like something was stopping him from going through with taking the usual way to his home. He had his suspicions, but they could discuss it back at his place. "You're allowed to visit me whenever you want, you know," he added, gesturing for him to come back with him.
@Foxy
That brought him to the here and now, Theo was tired of being cooped up, it was time to take a walk. Maybe poke around some nasty zones in the underground to see if there was someplace to test this other body of his. It was fine, there were small timers starting to move in on his turf, he could simply harass them. But where to start was the question, and when could he get away with it while being discreet. Last thing he needed to do was alert his mother or friends about his activity.
His thoughts were jolted to his current walk, passively he was being alerted to someone who should seem familiar to him. It was mostly Simon making the noise at this point, Theo paused while maintaining a decent distance before approaching. He realized who it was even though their skin was completely different.
"Shay," he said without a hint of doubt or surprise in his voice. It looked like she'd gone and picked up some gender swapping charm from somewhere. He made a mental note to himself to cancel his plans and stick with Shay for the day instead. This was a fine alternative. It had been some time since he'd actually seen her. And now she was a he, but to be fair, he wasn't quite what he used to be either.
The odd pacing was curious, like something was stopping him from going through with taking the usual way to his home. He had his suspicions, but they could discuss it back at his place. "You're allowed to visit me whenever you want, you know," he added, gesturing for him to come back with him.
@Foxy
Shay jumped when she heard Theo's voice and looked over her shoulder to stare at him wide-eyed for a moment before she caught her mental footing and relaxed. "Woah, you look different," was the first thing she could muster.
She returned her gaze to the street ahead and bit her lip thoughtfully. "I was considering if I wanted to come over or not, actually. You've seemed busy lately. But, seeing as you're here now, you're not up to anything right?"
Maybe it would have been good for her, to watch as Theo figured out his powers. Something manageable. Something to be amused at. To be let into sensitive things without being at the center of them.
Now with her full attention on Theo, Shay approached him and reached out to touch his cheeks, right under his new eye. She stared into it as if looking into his very core.
"Christ."
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Theo frowned as Shay gave him the general response he'd been receiving this whole time from people. It was the polite way of saying "what the fuck happened to you," which was exactly what he was about to ask Shay. He simply nodded, he had been pretty damn busy adjusting to this new state of existence. His life was just getting weirder by the minute. "I'm always up to something, but I can put my crap on hold for friends," he shrugged, scrutinizing Shay's male form.
Shay opted to inspect his eye, which was fair enough in his opinion. It was the clear indicator that something had changed with him after all. Seemed like there was a lot happening lately especially with this virus that was going around. After a few moments he flicked his friend's forehead and proceeded to lift him up for further scrutiny.
"You pick up one of those charms, or is gender swapping a virus thing? Also why are you prettier than me? Kinda pisses me off," he set him back down on the ground.
"You wanna head back to my place or are we just gonna talk loudly about weird shit on the street?"
@Foxy
Shay opted to inspect his eye, which was fair enough in his opinion. It was the clear indicator that something had changed with him after all. Seemed like there was a lot happening lately especially with this virus that was going around. After a few moments he flicked his friend's forehead and proceeded to lift him up for further scrutiny.
"You pick up one of those charms, or is gender swapping a virus thing? Also why are you prettier than me? Kinda pisses me off," he set him back down on the ground.
"You wanna head back to my place or are we just gonna talk loudly about weird shit on the street?"
@Foxy
Shay didn't look at Theo like one would look at something interesting. It wasn't that cold calculating of someone in power, or a scientist. Nothing logical behind it at all. Instead, his hand caressed Theo's cheek, and his eyes softened, like finding a wound on your child or pet.
When Shay's forehead was flicked, the concern was immediately replaced by comical indignation, as the two often acted toward each other. Before Shay got a chance to push Theo, the other boy had already picked him up.
"Wow, I feel like a fucking doll. You know, when I reached five foot four, I assumed people would stop lifting me up. My mistake." Shay laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, I picked up one of the charms."
At the assertion that he was prettier than Theo, Shay pet his own cheeks and gave Theo the smuggest look he could muster. "I'm the final form of cute in all forms, Theo. You should know this by now. And someone is a grumpy Gus. Don't ruin my pretty face, please and thanks."
Shay paused and looked down the road when Theo suggested they head back to his place. Shay's heart hammered, and his hands shoot a hint. "Okay," he said after too long a pause. "Let's head to your place then.... Want to take the long way? I feel like walking."
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"Look man, my grumpiness is endearing and makes us a damn good team," Theo responded indignantly and folded his arms. So much had changed over the years, yet so much was practically the same. He couldn't help but shoot an equally smug grin back at Shay. "Fine, I won't mess your face up. But only because I'm not dealing with any of your whining and Alice yelling at me."
He noted Shay's reaction to his suggestion of going to his house. His hands shook a bit, and there was this sense of hesitation coming off of him. Theo knew when Shay was generally uncomfortable with things. Maybe it was his senses, but this felt like fear, not even discomfort. The other by suggested going around the long way. What the hell happened? The other two entities in his mind mulled over with him internally as Theo externally followed Shay's gaze.
He gave the other boy a reassuring pat on the shoulder and nodded in agreement with him. They'd go the long way then. This wasn't something to be discussed out in the open with prying ears all around. "You know you're gonna get an obscene increase in love letters at school now. And if we weren't pra- Shut the hell up Simon god damn," he smacked himself in the head. Seemed Simon could slip messages into his speech patterns. Alvin probably could do similar as well. "Fucking hell, sorry," he grumbled as they walked. "I'm still working the kinks out."
@Foxy
He noted Shay's reaction to his suggestion of going to his house. His hands shook a bit, and there was this sense of hesitation coming off of him. Theo knew when Shay was generally uncomfortable with things. Maybe it was his senses, but this felt like fear, not even discomfort. The other by suggested going around the long way. What the hell happened? The other two entities in his mind mulled over with him internally as Theo externally followed Shay's gaze.
He gave the other boy a reassuring pat on the shoulder and nodded in agreement with him. They'd go the long way then. This wasn't something to be discussed out in the open with prying ears all around. "You know you're gonna get an obscene increase in love letters at school now. And if we weren't pra- Shut the hell up Simon god damn," he smacked himself in the head. Seemed Simon could slip messages into his speech patterns. Alvin probably could do similar as well. "Fucking hell, sorry," he grumbled as they walked. "I'm still working the kinks out."
@Foxy
Theo grinning had Shay grinning in return. It was nice to see his friend smiling like that, genuine and full. Theo didn't often smile so Shay relished when he did. Shay worried about him. Shay worried about herself.
When Theo touched his shoulder, Shay relaxed and reached up to lay his hand on his friends, a reassuring weight, and warmth where everything else in the world felt unsteady.
At first, Shay barely recognized that Simon had slipped into Theo's speech until he was about to say something obviously sexual and degrading. At that, Shay froze just a hint. But Theo would never hurt Shay and Simon.... neither would he, she hoped. No. Theo was her friend, and he would always protect her. He would kill for her.
Shay laughed uneasily, and his smile waned. "That's fine. I'm used to it."
Once at the Defan home, Shay shed a jacket he wore and put it near the door along with his shoes. Rather than making himself at home, Shay looked at Theo seriously and motioned to the stairs. "Can we talk in your room for a moment?"
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Not much was really said in terms of conversation as Shay and Theo headed for his home. The mood was strangely heavy, he knew Shay had something on his mind. The matter of referring to Shay as he and him was what he distracted himself with in the back of his mind. It was all he could do to keep himself from asking any further questions. Theo only had an inkling that it had to do with that week she'd gone missing. He put his index and middle finger under his red eye, rubbing at it, another habit he'd picked up.
"My room huh? Alright, but it's kind of a mess," his tone was something of resigned compliance. He led Shay up to his room, slowly opening the door revealing what appeared to be the workings of a madman. His room was normally unnaturally clean. There was a clear path from the door to his desk. There were ritual circles on the floor. The walls were plastered in strange etchings, and his bed had several heavy books piled on it. There was an open book at his desk and a blanket draped over his chair. Arguably more concerning were the vials of black ichor stacked that sat on the desk, as well as the bloody paper towels in the trash can.
Theo cleared a space for Shay to sit, simply giving him an expression that read "don't ask". At this point he really only wanted to hear what Shay had to say to him. "What happened to you Shay?" it was the question he was anxiously awaiting an answer to. He swallowed, knowing that whatever was coming he wouldn't like it.
@Foxy
"My room huh? Alright, but it's kind of a mess," his tone was something of resigned compliance. He led Shay up to his room, slowly opening the door revealing what appeared to be the workings of a madman. His room was normally unnaturally clean. There was a clear path from the door to his desk. There were ritual circles on the floor. The walls were plastered in strange etchings, and his bed had several heavy books piled on it. There was an open book at his desk and a blanket draped over his chair. Arguably more concerning were the vials of black ichor stacked that sat on the desk, as well as the bloody paper towels in the trash can.
Theo cleared a space for Shay to sit, simply giving him an expression that read "don't ask". At this point he really only wanted to hear what Shay had to say to him. "What happened to you Shay?" it was the question he was anxiously awaiting an answer to. He swallowed, knowing that whatever was coming he wouldn't like it.
@Foxy
Kind of a mess was the understatement of the year. Shay wasn't the tidiest person around, but compared to her room Theo's looked like a storm had come in and wrecked it. Upon his command not to question it, she didn't. They had more important things to discuss, anyway, and it wasn't exactly surprising to Shay that Theo's room looked like a lab for a mad scientist.
And then the big question 'what happened to you.' Shay met Theo's eyes, her own somber. And, in the presence of most other people, she might have tried to hold back the need for physical contact, but not with Theo, who she knew wouldn't leave her. She waved him closer so that he would sit with her, and when he did Shay wrapped an arm around him and leaned against his body. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed out in preparation.
And then, Shay told him. She told him every detail. The things It had said to her. What It had done. How it felt to die or how it felt in limbo, to claw her way out back into the world with new tattoos and coughing up a lungful of pine needles. She even went as far as to tell him about Fitz, and how she had connected their souls in some way.
When Shay was done, silent tears decorated her cheeks and dripped from her chin. She was quiet, pushed as close to Theo as she could be, clinging to him like she might be yanked away if she didn't.
The silence between them settled.
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Theo braced himself for the impact. He knew it must have been bad, but what kind of monster coud have this kind of effect on her? He listened, the other two listened even more intently. He listened as she recalled every last thing the monster did to her. He should have been there with her. Walking her, Simon could have stopped this whole thing. Where the hell were her useless fathers? He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but it was meaningless. It was all bottled anger. Shay didn't need to see that part of him. "That's not going to happen again," came his bitter response.
The whole thing had changed her, even her powers changed as a result of dying. She went missing at the same time he'd gone on the road to becoming less human. He found himself having more questions about the aftermath than the attack itself. She was becoming more death-like it seemed. Or maybe just more into her powers, he'd been reading up on those subjects.
He squeezed her a bit, he wanted her to have some piece of mind. To be able to just simply walk to his house without fear of that thing showing up to strike again. This was supposed to be a safe place for her. "This is a lot to take in. I'm glad you're still here though," for once his thoughts were all a complete mess. There wasn't the mental organization he typically sported at all.
"So you can meld with people now? The universe really wants you to be a nosy little shit doesn't it?" he smirked slightly as he said the words. "Reapers man..."
@Foxy
The whole thing had changed her, even her powers changed as a result of dying. She went missing at the same time he'd gone on the road to becoming less human. He found himself having more questions about the aftermath than the attack itself. She was becoming more death-like it seemed. Or maybe just more into her powers, he'd been reading up on those subjects.
He squeezed her a bit, he wanted her to have some piece of mind. To be able to just simply walk to his house without fear of that thing showing up to strike again. This was supposed to be a safe place for her. "This is a lot to take in. I'm glad you're still here though," for once his thoughts were all a complete mess. There wasn't the mental organization he typically sported at all.
"So you can meld with people now? The universe really wants you to be a nosy little shit doesn't it?" he smirked slightly as he said the words. "Reapers man..."
@Foxy