[Open] April Catch-All

[groupiedrifter]

CHARACTERS: Precursor!Newt (Featuring Normal!Newt) and you!
LOCATION: Ximilia Station
DATE: April, up until next mission!
CONTENT: The precursors settle into their new situation quite nicely. Newt hates all this.
WARNINGS: Possession and emotional manipulation, general icky controlling vibes, discussion of attempted suicide and mental health issues, some body horror in the Law and Newton thread.



I. Welcome Back (Welcome for the First Time) | TELEPORTER ROOM / HALLS

[The mission ends, and there's an emptiness in the precursor's chest at it — not a painful one, not an aching one, but emptiness like a jar with nothing in it to rattle. It's sickly sweet, the conclusion to that battle, but they don't really care about obnoxious, fleeting humanity — or whatever word each planet likes to call it. One of the benefits of being narcissistic sociopaths is side-stepping everyone else who gush and weep and do all of those obnoxious things.

Things that the old Newt would have done, especially. They can feel him like a splinter, squirming uncomfortably in the mental iron maiden they've vice-gripped him into. He's one of those miserable little souls, just like the rest: scared, sad, and terribly alone. They pay him no mind, because he's easy to release and put back as needed.

They appear in the teleportation room, a little blood on their shoe as they sigh out and adjust their collar.

Then they smile, pulling from Newton's muscle memory.]

... Phew! That was a shit show. Totally thought we were gonna bite it when ol' Long Johns floated in, but I can appreciate a happy ending as much as the next guy. Good work, everyone!

[They heft the very heavy duffel on their shoulder, full of goods from Giva and Sedorum, and pat a few shoulders before they leave as everyone else checks in on one another; it's better to just slip away and get to work. They have so many projects they'd like to work on; they can scrap all of Newton's work on regenerative tissues and consider bigger, better ideas with that material.

Mmm, yeah. A little rest would be nice.]

II. All Work and No Play Makes Newton a Dull Boy | LAB

[Newton being in the lab long hours isn't that out of the ordinary, they think. Honestly, none of the other activities seem appealing — movies and communal book-reading, or whatever tedious activities the others prefer. Honestly, they miss focusing their work on dominating the lives of others. Newton's mind is full of great scientific information regarding earth and earth-like technology, but all of his 'pop culture' and music and comic book knowledge really would be best left in the dark, to be used only when they need to blend in.

They promise him that they will be merciful at some point and allow him out. Like how... humans let their dogs out to urinate. Ha! Yes. But not now. Right now, they're busy. Sorry, amigo, but you stay right where you are. They instead focus their hours writing down every bit of information they can about Giva — complex drawings of weaponry and engineering feats they'd seen and scribbled while there. Knowledge of their wings, architecture, the various species they had witnessed. They write about what natural materials the planet of Giva itself seemed to contain. It joins a large stack of spiral notebooks beside him, all labeled BRACCIA, GYEONGJE, BADROCK - all the places they've visited, at least, with every scrap of information they learned. Things Newton could not remember with his limited capacity, they can record rather effortlessly.

The lad really should be on ADHD medication.

Chuckling to themselves, they sit in the too-quiet room, their desk neatly structured. Beside them, they eat from a nutritious plate of steamed vegetables. On occasion, they light a cigarette, smoking as their focus tunnels in on designs they're reworking from scrap and Ximilia supplies.

It's rather peaceful for once.]

III. Out, Out, Damned Spot! | KITCHEN / SUNROOM | (limited to Clara + 3 additional tag-ins)

[You promised, Newt's whiny voice whispers from the depths. You promised to be merciful.

It's been days since they returned, and Newton has shifted between the lab, the mess hall, and their room. On occasion, they visit the liquor cabinet and pour themselves a drink. Not too much, of course; their medication limits such activities. As they sit and swirl around the amber contents, they sigh.

You're impatient, they think back.

Impatient? Newt laughs, strangled and delirious. It's been...

The voice drifts, because he's not sure how long he's been tucked away.

They sigh and lower the drink.

Alright, alright. Don't have an aneurysm, huh? We'll give you a break. A flare of relief bubbles up from the trench they'd left Newton in. They add sternly: But if you act out or try anything, you'll never be allowed out again. Just a stroll, nothing more, nothing less.

Newt floats back up into himself, for a moment. He sits there, feels his limbs working for him. He runs his tongue along the ridges of his teeth, the feeling almost foreign now. The moment his eyes wet, though, his hands move against his will to wipe the wetness away.

Not allowed, they tell him. Don't embarrass yourself.

He almost replies back aloud.

This is a nightmare, but he only has so long, so he abandons the drink where it is and walks through the halls. He looks a little troubled, brow pinched, while he enters the sunroom. The light feels good on his skin, even artificial, and he sucks in a breath and does exactly what he's told: he strolls. Every person he sees, he wants to scream at, shake and explain what's happening. But there's a cold feeling that runs down his spine when he considers such things, as if a gun is at the base of his neck and trails down agonizingly slow to rest under his breastbone.

He looks at his watch. Five minutes have felt like seconds. How long does he get?

It'll be a surprise, they tell him.

He bites the inside of his cheek, uncertain what to do. So he just lingers in one spot, the shadow of a tree's leaves dancing across his face.

This is why freedom's a terrible method of operation, they tell him. You've finally been given it after all this time, and all you can seem to do is stand in place.

He wants to prove them wrong, but... they're right.

He doesn't know what to do.]

IV. All You Can Eat: WILDCARD / STARTER

[If you want something particular, let me know! Or just tag in with whatever you'd like! Plot with me on simpledog or message me if you're not sure about something you'd like to tag in with. I can also make a personalized starter, if there's something in particular you wanna thread! I'm flexible. :Db Precursor!Newt is more often than not switching between lab, kitchen, and his room, with little outreach to his CR. Other than prompt III, he'll seem relatively normal in spirits. Very casual, yanno??? :)]

Comments

iii. (mention of suicide attempt)

[construing]

Newt?

[ hardly strange to come across another orber in one of two rooms to get sunlight (though her preference remains for the simulation room, and the freedom to bring aboard the new york skyline. the closest thing she has to home.) it's not often, though, that this is their first time coming across one another after one tried to od on pills.

gwen is no longer in black and red. she wears her spider-woman sweatshirt, the hood pulled over her short hair. not quite attempting to pass unnoticed, though she tends to avoid places where familiar faces gather. but she needed food and sunlight, even fake, is better, and she might have kept walking except she can't. venom had kept an eye on him until those last days when everything went sideways. (she wouldn't have been good to reach out. she lacked the capacity, the stability. but seeing him now, she should have messaged him as soon as the pills started working. she should have done that at least.) ]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt freezes when he realizes who's standing across from him.

The last time he'd seen her, he hadn't been able to do anything. Not really. In fact, she'd been the last person he had been able to speak to in some way before having his head shoved back under the surface. It was an accident, he'd been forced to say. It won't happen again. And the precursors will make sure of it.

Hopelessness hits him like a truck. There's really no getting around this, is there?

He swallows hard, holds up a hand, and gives a small (and somewhat awkward) wave.]

Uuuh. Hey.

What's up?

[Very smooth. It definitely doesn't seem ridiculous after the last time they'd been in the same room.]

III 👀

[morethan084]

[Daisy is finally starting to feel like herself again, after taking the worlds longest shower and pretty much sleeping the last few days. Entering the sunroom with the intention of doing her morning stretches, Daisy slows to a stop when she spots Newt just standing there. She saw the way he was acting on the network during the mission, but she kept her thoughts to herself instead of calling him out.

Jaw tight, Daisy debates whether to say anything or just completely ignore him.]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt's not exactly happy to see Daisy. After all, he hadn't been completely out of his control when he'd snapped at her. In fact, a lot of his emotions had been completely genuine: she had distrusted him, made him feel like a freak in her eyes, made it easy to try and keep her away. Because how could he trust someone who looked at him like that?

Oh, how times have changed.

A brief look of guilt crosses his face, and he seems to consider — saying something? Waving? It's hard to say. But he seems to think better of it. In fact, he finally finds something to do with his freedom: he turns and starts to walk away.

It's not particularly cruel in aura, really; if anything, you would think Daisy's the one who cut him off.]

ii.

[firstroar]

Hello, Newt.

[this is starting to become more frequent - or at least, Blue wishes it to be. a couple days after their collective return, the Mu finds Newt in this familiar place, busy as ever, but...he didn't really expect to.

there was no music to lead him here, so a familiar "scent" of his mind here without it...it's strange.

it's why a specter appears, filling in a little part of the room nearby, his hand held up in the pantomime of greeting Newt had advised he do the first time he appeared before him like this.]

[groupiedrifter]

[... Mmm, it's the mu.

They're extremely cautious to tuck away the feeling of their foreign presence, the metaphorical window into his mind somewhat boarded up. Instead it's just some of Newt's more genuine feelings, though they're loathe to allow them — weariness, a mental burden, a feeling that the world is difficult to swim through right now. A lot of the orbers likely feel it, don't they? From time to time, there is a helplessness or a bone-deep exhaustion that overwhelms this frustrating little community.

So many heroes who beat themselves up.

As Newton turns to Blue, they use one of his normal smiles.]

Heeeey, Blue! Nice job on the social gestures.

There something I can help you with?

III

[hatejakku]

Newton.

[ Unlike many of the others, Finn's largely been left out of the loop that anything may be wrong. He wasn't even on the network those last few days (or maybe week) on the mission, so lost in his mind that he began to willingly isolate himself, too. So... no red flags.

But he has been trying to re-center himself since they got back, and that included being aware of the others on the station. It was impossible not to be aware, usually, but now he was intentionally doing it, making sure he didn't get lost again. Making sure things were... real. Needless to say, he's felt the mental state of many of the others even if he didn't mean to.

And Newton might as well be screaming. Finn's been concerned but hasn't approached, not until he sees him on his own in the Sunlight Room. He strides over, worry in his eyes but the relaxed posture says this is just a casual meeting. ]

Hey, you doing okay?

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt's gaze snaps up at Finn like he hadn't registered his arrival until he'd said his name aloud. But then he breathes out, and he settles a moment, and his shoulders relax. He smiles in genuine relief. After all, the first two he'd ran into had been Gwen and Daisy — and there's nothing like discussing dark conversations with one and hurtful arguments with the other to really make him feel like getting a moment of partial control is all just a new kind of nightmare.]

Hey, dude. Sorry, I'm — yeah. I was pretty lost in thought, huh?

[He wonders if Finn would see something, if he stared long enough. Considered him long enough. Would he notice the captivity hidden in plain sight? Well, Newt wouldn't blame him if he never did; he kind of brought this on himself, no matter how important it was in the end. Drifting with kaiju really fucked him up, huh...?

He looks... sad.]

I'm not in a great mood is all.

Just one of those days were things don't feel so wonderful. Everyone gets them, y'know?

II

[coordination]

[ For all of the occasional, emotional mess Yzak Jule can be, he still has a pretty good sense when something feels off. He's a creature of habit and schedule, after all, and part of that is falling into a familiar step along with others and their daily routines here. Newton being in the lab a lot? Not strange, no. But it's the lack of everything else that catches Yzak's attention, and causes him to realize that that something about their particular step is different. Wrong? He wouldn't know how to describe it otherwise.

Enough that it eventually prompts Yzak to seek him out. Newton hadn't seemed in very good spirits in Sedorum; understandable, given what he had told him. But there's also a slight tug to his heart that urges him to do this - the tiniest pang of loneliness from this lack of Newton's usually consistent presence that Yzak has grown accustomed (and attached) to. ]

Hey.

[ He calls out in greeting after he pokes his head in, unsurprised to see Newton here again, and steps into the lab. ]

[groupiedrifter]

Oh, hey.

[They don't quite look up from their work, but they recognize the voice. One of the more tolerable human beings aboard this vessel; hopefully he has a good reason for wandering in to interrupt. They do the common, odd courtesy of casting a small smile over — just enough to be 'respectful'. Really, the customs of these people...]

Something up?

[He doesn't really move to do anything, no wildly gestured greetings, no echo of obnoxious punk rock. Just more of the new same. It's nice and peaceful, and you can hear yourself think; what could be better?]

i-ish.

[lateness]

[ The Doctor is, admittedly, a part of that congregation of hugging, greeting, and generally good spirits-ing crew members, having returned to the station in one piece, albeit a bit scraped and bruised and dirty. Still, it was a marvelous job well done, and he got himself a new hat to boot. Well. 'Hat', he says, but it's more of a helmet, once he gets the hang of the way it sort of drapes across his shoulders when open; either way, it's very cool. (And Ruvilor was more than happy to let it go, even offered him the rest of his armour too. He wouldn't need it in that new world, after all.

The Doctor, politely, declined.)

When all pleasantries are said and done, the Doctor breaks from the crowd and takes note of the rather heavy bag slung over Newt's shoulders. And he takes note of the way Newt hasn't stuck around for very long for the congratulations and ideas for celebrations either.

Well, it was a tough mission; it could shake any human up. It'd even had something of an effect on him, and he's an alien with two hearts, pushing somewhere over 2,000 years old now.

Putting a little more urgency into his step, the Doctor moves to catch up to his friend, clearing his throat. ]

Now, where do you think you're going, eh? No pizza parties this time? I did love the last one. Pizza. Ah, yes, this mouth's got quite the taste for it, it turns out.

[ Hello, Newt. He keeps his hands in his pockets but his long legs make the strides necessary to step into pace with the other man. He gestures to the duffel with his chin. ]

Need a hand? That looks heavy.

1/2

[groupiedrifter]

Re: i-ish.

[groupiedrifter]

... Good to see you alive and in one piece, pal.

[... What the fuck, though. They had sent plenty of capable idiots after him — they'd planned it with very careful consideration; they made sure to place the appropriate tools to silence their living weapons effectively; they'd kept a distance to prevent any of the backsplash of blood from getting directly on their hands. There's no way this moron evaded every projectile lobbed at his head. There's no way!



This is utter garbage. This is bullshit. They are too old to be stuck with this infant and their silly little magic stick. How????????????

Newton clears his throat and smiles. Thinly. With all the effort in the world.]

Uh. No, I — got it, no problem. I just figured I'd leave the pizza party for someone else while I get back to my usual work; it's good to share the party-planning love.

II

[callada]

[The smell of smoke drifting from the lab is different. Enough to get Rosinante to open the door, curious as to what's going on in here anyway these days.

He hobbles his way into the lab, bandaged and bruised but clean, finally. He's supposed to go get something to eat, and he will, but now this drop-in feels like more of a priority when he sees Newton at the back of the room from where he stands, busy with some notebooks.

He clears his throat. His voice is still a little hoarse, mostly from the yelling that had to be done over the noise of the conflict on Giva as he corralled innocents and fought off the occasional Taean bent on revenge. In fact, Newt knows a thing or two about that, doesn't he?]

Got a moment?

[groupiedrifter]

[Newton gives him a sideways glance. If they're mildly disappointed he's alive, nobody has to say it aloud, mm? Instead they sigh, eyes back on the work they're writing. Some part of them wonders if Rosinante would be low enough to kill Newton for getting even. Or, well, they had gotten even, but the point stands.

It would be unfortunate to lose Newton after all of this. They take note of the gun in its holster, sitting in a drawer nearby. They're finishing a paragraph about particularly effective Taeum armor and its natural components as he speaks:]

Who doesn't have a moment, between missions?

[Another sideways glance.]

... You look like you snuck out of medical and could keel over any second.

Not here to do the same to me, are you?

iii

[bossily]

Newt?

[Clara's out in the sunlight room during what counts as night, enjoying the simulated stars that swirl overhead. She's been relatively oblivious to the people that come and go, laying sprawled out in the grass. But there's something about Newt's presence that always draws her in, and she sits up when she seems to sense that he's nearby.

He's just standing there, which isn't entirely like him. She's been worried about him for a while, and this does nothing to make her stop being concerned. With his newfound interest in having space and wanting to withdraw from everyone, his name comes out soft but still warm and inviting as ever. He's still her Newt, no matter what. And she cares about him enough to not let him withdraw completely from her.]

Come sit with me.

[There's plenty of room to sprawl out in the grass beside her.]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt looks so relieved to have a reason to move — more than that, he’s excited by the sound of Clara’s voice. She couldn’t have known the last time he’d spoke to her was a month ago; no, maybe more. Not since the day he’d carted her across Sedorum and parted ways. That wasn’t but a few days before he’d attempted to swallow a whole bottle of anti seizure medication — first and last failed attempt to keep Them from taking over.

The people he’d ran into before her had been… rough to endure, to put it mildly, and he only hopes he doesn’t fuck this up on whatever time he’s got left. He wanders over quickly, flops down and sprawls without a moment’s hesitation.]

Hey, Stargirl…!

[If he looks at her like she’s a visit from a precious memory, nobody has to know. This feels so normal already. It feels like him and her and the usual — and it’s enough to ignore the mocking that only he can hear. The fighting, the disappointed looks, the fact that everything is fucked and there’s nothing he can do about it—

It doesn’t matter. He still has time.

He hopes.]

You trying to get itchy on purpose?

II.

[spacedisaster]

[ It's when Peter can't find him anywhere else that he goes to the lab, and really, he should have looked for Newt there first. It was practically the man's territory. He spots him hard at work, writing down notes, and decides to wait since the scientist is clearly busy. And so, Peter leaves and comes back an hour later, only to find newt in the same position, his stack of notebooks has grown since the last time he was here. There is something off with all this, Peter can't quite place what it is. So he leaves again, this time to go to the kitchen, and comes back with two coffees. Or rather, a coffee for Newt and a beverage for himself that is more sugar than caffeine. Peter taps on the doorframe with his foot and walks in, giving his friend a tired smile. ]

Ey Newt! Whatcha doing here for so long? I brought you something.

[ It's still odd to see Newton without his signature glasses, but perhaps the man wanted a change of looks. Peter himself has gone the opposite direction while he's been part of the Ximilia's crew, his hair now a little longer and therefore wavier, and his beard more scruffy. He frowns again at the silence that follows his question, and then it dawns on him what is really off about the scene. There's no music blasting, no Newton singing under his breath or tapping his foot. ]

No rocking out while you work? Who are you, and what have you done to Newton Geiszler? [ It's said as a joke, of course, but who can tell if the Precursors would understand one even if it slapped them in the face. ]

[groupiedrifter]

['Newton' had been less than pleased to see Peter up and around, but they suppose he's suffered enough for his transgressions against them in the dream (... now, if he got into danger in front of them again... they would not lift a finger, but still, it is mercy all the same). But him living means fetching some of this obnoxiously energizing coffee from earth? They won't complain; Newt's body is very clearly addicted to it, as much as it currently is cigarettes.]

Ooooh, coffee! Mucho gracias, señor.

[The mention of music leaves them internally groaning as they sip their coffee, and they glance to the drawer where they'd abandoned the iPhone, now dead from lack of use or attention. Really, is that the sort of thing Newton wants to be paired with? The obnoxious, ugly sounds? They're doing him a real favor right now.]

Hey, we all could use a little adjustments. Besides, I've got some music in the earpiece.

[It's an easy lie, but also not a complete lie, because there is a copy of Newton's 'playlist' on the earpiece. The idiot had made it a priority at one point. But instead of lingering on the concept of music, they just focus their reply elsewhere.]

... How're you feeling? After. Y'know.

[Do they pull Newton's guilt face properly? They're taking it right from memory.]

2.

[droide]

[ There's nothing out of the ordinary about Newt Geiszler being in the laboratory at all hours, so it doesn't particularly surprise Elthree that she'd left him there last night before returning to her room to enter low power mode and recharge, and is now walking in to find him already (still?) there.

What does surprise her is the silence of it all. And the tidiness of his workbench. She looks around, trying to spot where he's set aside the sonic amplifier she'd given him for that Christmas holiday, wondering where his guitar is. ]

Is there something wrong with the sonic amp? I can fix it for you...

[groupiedrifter]

Huh?

[They pull away from their work for a moment, genuinely not realizing what she's talking about for a moment. A sonic amp? Some advanced sort of technology for- Ah. The accursed guitar amplifier. This wretched, unalive creation gave Newton something to instill headaches across the ship at a much more accelerated rate. They're fairly sure they left that thing somewhere in a drawer...]

Oh! No, it works fine, Elthree, sorry. I've just been kinda too busy with projects and missions to practice my chords lately. You know how it is. Never know how long you've got until the next mission, or how long it'll be, or how much prep we'll need.

I.

[krazed]

Not the first god I've got to see taken down. Most likely not the last.

[Said in a tone completely bereft of any true amazement. All in a day's work, she's sure of it. At least her deal with the orbies wasn't so at the expense of herself. That was her favorite part. She's not expecting to exit the same pad with Dr. Frank-N-Furter but he's a sight for sore eyes and she' walks alongside him and his bag of goodies on her way back to the rooms.]

Hey Dr. Frank, remind me that I owe you one when the kitchen's not full of hungry occupants. Ever had a cheese and egg sandwich?

[groupiedrifter]

Hey, me neither! Though I feel like some of these beings hardly constitute as gods.

Way too lame to be legitimate.

[Or whatever Newt would say. Cheese and egg sandwich sounds abhorrent. Whack. Gross. A collection of whatever other slang Newton has that nobody else would be ridiculous enough to spout.]

Y'know, I'll definitely have to hold you to that sometime. Always pays to try new things, right? You never know what you're gonna like. People still get on my case when I pour ranch into spaghetti, but you can't knock it 'til you've tried it.

[Newton's a foul little beast, they know.

Quirking their brow at her bag, they can't help but ask:]

Whatcha got in there?

iii

[kikoku]

[To be totally honest Law hadn't come here looking for Newt. Threats are all well and good, but it wasn't as if the claims he'd made had felt... entirely out of character for Rosinante. He had meant to ask about it, get both sides of the story. Maybe a small part of him wanted the excuse of being banned from retaliation that Rosinante would likely give him.

No, he just needed some exposure to the idea of Outside, since they'd gotten such a short reprieve from being cooped up in jail before being brought back to the station. But then he recognizes Newt from the network. He could just leave and avoid a confrontation. But.]

I told you to watch your back, Newton.
[YET HERE YOU ARE STANDING AROUND ENTIRELY UNDEFENDED.]

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt startles at the sound of someone behind him, turning toward Law with a puzzled frown that falls into what can only be described as uh-oh or, more gracefully, oh shit. Newt had heard that conversation through a particularly foggy and discomforting film of isolation, but he'd heard it, much like he hears and witnesses every little thing the precursors have done so far in their unwelcomed stay.

And yeah, the recollection is not lost anywhere. He knows what Law's talking about. So he backs up with his furrowed brow and his hands shifting to slide into his jacket pockets.]

Um — duly noted. I was in a bad mood back then, so. My bad. No hard feelings.

[He starts side-stepping toward a different path.

Ah, yes, this is making him move. Looks like he just needed the inspiration.]

But this is really not a good time, so I'm just gonna... go this way.

ii

[winscenario]

[ The station being quiet after a mission is nothing new. People often needed that time to rest and recover, to fing their footing once again. Even missions that don't end so badly like this one, still take a toll on people. For Jim, the worst part was being separated from people he cares so much about and depends so much on, so he's taken a few days to recover from that distance.

Eventually he does leave his room and tries to regain some semblance of a routine, and one of the places he visits is the lab. Now that's one place he doesn't expect to be quiet unless it's empty, and it's even more surprising that it's so silent when the person in there right now is Newton.

He approaches quietly, peering at the stack of notebooks, an eyebrow arching at that quiet little chuckle. Finally, he moves so he can be a little more in Newt's line of sight. ]

This is surprisingly quiet, for you. [ Said with a smile, of course not an accusation. Still, odd. ] What's so funny?

[groupiedrifter]

[Ah, yes, more company. Just what they wanted.

Sometimes they wonder what this all would have been like, if Hermann had just been the one they’d linked up with neurally first. If only… Maybe then they wouldn’t have to field all the annoying little friends from the pile Newton keeps adding onto. Despite these thoughts, the precursors offer Kirk one of the man’s friendly smiles, pulled successfully from memory.]

Hey, even I can enjoy a little peace and quiet sometimes!

Maybe I’m laughing at the fact that I’m being so quiet right now.

Or maybe it was a dumb joke, which is entirely confidential information. [Ugh, alright. What is it that humans say to one another on this ridiculous little station…? As he goes back to his writings, he asks:] … How’re you doing? Things were pretty tense back there.

I mean, the missions always are, but. You know what I mean.