Private Someone Like Me

Kait · May 17, 2020

Not long after the new NEK0 got situated at their dorm, Ganymede got a message on his phone. He had asked for someone to tell him if more NEK0 showed up on Manta Carlos. In his mind, nobody understood the NEK0 as well as each other - so of course he would want to meet them.

He was probably overdressed when he started flying to the dorms. He had a suit on - it helped him feel more comfortable, more like himself - and he wanted to put his best foot forward. He cared what his fellow NEK0 thought of him.

Soon, he would appear in front of Rhys's door and start knocking. "Good evening," he would say, "I'm Ganymede." Then, he would add in an obscure Chinese dialect: "I'm a NEK0." Latin: "If you can still understand me, that means you are as well." Finally, in Swahili: "Welcome to Manta Carlos."

@PixelatedGlory

PixelatedGlory · May 18, 2020

Rhys was in their room of course, sitting on their bed. How strange. They didn't really need a bed and before they would have just... no that wasn't good. They were told not to focus on that by the counselor lady.

The room was very, very plain. Not a single decoration other than what the school had already provided. Rhys was wearing pajama pants and an oversized tshirt. Nothing fancy at all. Of course their dark leather collar was on though.

A knock at the door. Who would that even be? For a moment Rhys looked around for a hat to hide their ears or something but then remembered they didn't have to. They stepped over to open the door and.. were greeted by another NEK0? What?

Rhys opened the door and stood there with a wide-eyed face full of confusion. They replied in the same languages Gany had used but in reverse order. "hi, i'm Rhys. Is it your job to greet people? I didn't know you were coming. I didn't even make anything to eat or drink..."

Kait · May 19, 2020

Gany smiled, and proceeded in Japanese. "Not at all, brother. I'm just a student like you are. I wouldn't expect you to make anything for me, I just wanted to meet you. And I wanted to help you get used to living here. We NEK0 can understand each other in ways others can't understand us."

Already, he felt that he understood Rhys fairly well. The subservient behavior, apologizing for not being a better host. He saw some of himself in these things.

"How have you been adjusting to this place? Also, ah, may I come in? Or is this a bad time?"

PixelatedGlory · May 19, 2020

They flinched at being called Gany's brother. Up until that point they had only ever been called brother or sister by their 'siblings'. It was uncomfortable. But Rhys quickly hid their discomfort and hurried to back out of the way to let Ganymede into the dorm room.

"You can come in. I don't have anything to keep hidden," they smiled legitimately. Having a guest that claimed to understand them seemed like a positive thing. Certainly better than having to hide from guests. "It's very confusing here...," their eyes widened slightly and they hugged their arms to their chest as they hurried to add on, "But it's good. I'm not complaining. I just miss my brother and sister."

Kait · May 20, 2020

Ganymede noticed that flinch. Perhaps he had been too familiar. In any case, he came inside and found a place to sit.

"It was confusing for me too. I didn't understand why they gave me a bed. And I still feel weird about how I don't have to do anything on weekends. But all the extra freedom is nice once you get used to it." He would still wake up from naps, or jolt upright a few hours into reading a book, scared, thinking that he forgot some chore that he'd neglected and would be punished for. It was always a relief when he remembered where he was.

He considered asking about Rhys's brother and sister, but thought better of it.

"What do you like doing? Just for fun, if nobody's asking you to do anything?"

PixelatedGlory · May 21, 2020

Rhys nodded in agreement as they stood against the wall with their hands clasped in front of them. Unconsciously following what had been their standard rules for being polite. They blinked at the question.

Weird how the simplest concept of what they liked could be so overwhelming. But they didn't have a reason to lie. At the very least they seemed to understand somewhat how it felt to be a NEK0 here. So Rhys sighed and looked down at their feet. "I... i'm not sure I know what I like. Dancing and singing can make me feel good, but not when everyone is looking at me."

"I haven't learned anything else that was 'fun' I guess. Do you know any?"

Kait · May 25, 2020

Ganymede was beginning to realize that in some respects, he had been lucky. Not that he had gotten to compare notes with the other NEK0. At least between the horrors or the drudgery he sometimes got to do things he enjoyed: reading books, piano practice, magic.

"Well... I started to like playing the piano, once I had been learning for a few months. I like reading, too and the school has a big library full of books. There's also video games. I played those for the first time when I got here. And... there's movies and shows and things that you can watch for fun. And there's so many other things that it'd take too long to think of them all."

An idea occurred to Ganymede. "If you're not doing anything else, do you want to try one of those things with me?" If Rhys said yes, Ganymede would ask them if they had a preference.

PixelatedGlory · May 25, 2020

Rhys listened quietly and respectfully with their hands clasped in front of them. Ears twitching just faintly. And then they allowed themself a small smile. A small smile that widened more as they realized this was an actual thing that was happening. An invitation or... offer? To have fun with someone that was more or less like them.

They nodded quickly at the offer. "I would like that, yes, very much. I was just cleaning things but I can do that later."

They just had to pick an option. Normally that would have been harder but... games were fun- Rhys knew that for sure. "Can you show me the video games? I like to play games when people want me to play with them. Are you very good at them?"

Kait · May 25, 2020

Rhys seemed excited - and that made Ganymede excited. "Sure! I'm not incredibly good at them, but I have a Switch at home with some multiplayer games on it."

Ganymede held out his hand. "Want me to take you there using magic? My foster family won't mind... Also, I live with a foster family now."

If Rhys was interested in that, Ganymede would explain that they just had to take his hand and he would take her there really fast. All they had to do was not let go until after their feet were back on the ground.

PixelatedGlory · May 26, 2020

Rhys wondered for a moment if they were supposed to change into something more appropriate for visiting. But Ganymede hadn't mentioned it and... well, there was no one else to make a big deal about it. They did take a moment to swap their slippers for shoes though since they assumed walking outside might be necessary at some point.

"I've never seen real magic used before," they replied quietly as they stepped back over to take Gany's hand. Clasping it as tightly as they could, not really knowing what the trip would be like.. In fact Rhys closed their eyes and hoped things went well, scrunching their face up slightly in tension and quickly coiling their longer tail around one leg for safe-keeping.

"I'm ready when you are"

After Gany used his magic Rhys would have still kept holding on and their eyes closed until told it was safe to let go, worried about releasing too early- because that would be doing something wrong.

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