[Mostly Open] So we'll press, and press 'til you can't take it anymore!

[groupiedrifter]

CHARACTERS: Precursors and you. And Eventually Newton. Hopefully!
LOCATION: A holding room in Ximilia Station.
DATE: Est. two days post-mission, after the kaiju is defeated and the orb is retrieved.
CONTENT: The precursors are revealed — and are finally removed from Newt's mind.
WARNINGS: Possession and the bodily autonomy issues that come with that. More will be added if necessary!

Closed and opened starters will be added as I go, which will be announced on plurk! But if you don't use plurk or would rather keep an eye out by email/tracking, feel free to use the tracking option and mark to receive notifs any new top level comments posted to this log! The log will involve an open starter to visit the precursors where they're cuffed/contained in the room, so stay tuned.

Also no rush once the open starters are posted!

Feel free to focus on the player plot log first and come back to this later.

CLOSED STARTER | THE DOCTOR
DARKLING'S TOP LEVEL | WHILE NEWT WAS SLEEPING...
OPEN STARTER | THE PRECURSORS, REVEALED
CLOSED FINAL CONCLUSION | THE PRECURSORS, REMOVED
OPEN PROMPTS | NEWTON GEISZLER'S RETURN

Comments

[groupiedrifter]

I — I haven't really killed anyone, so... I'd probably chicken out if you ever needed me to help you. Like that. I mean, I'm a medical scientist, and I just... I only ever meant to help save lives, y'know?

[A weak, miserable laugh.]

Even though I guess now I can't say I haven't... killed people.

[He twists the ring on his pinky finger. Little skull face, loves this ring. It's been the first time he got to wear it again in months.

He watches Rhysand now as he talks, his fear of the man reaching out and snapping his neck dissipating by the second; if it happens, at least he probably won't see it coming for long. The last few days, he's been terrified of initiating contact — and here Rhys is, touching his hands, treating him so kindly that Newton almost wants to scream at him for being such an idiot, that he barely knows him, that he's entirely damaged this crew in the last few days in ways he'll never be able to make up for.

Instead he slumps forward to wrap his arms around Rhysand, burying his face in the man's shirt. Maybe it's a stupid choice, and maybe it'll get him shoved away and berated, but it's all he can think to do, all that seems right.]

Thanks for stopping me from hurting more people.

And — thank you for letting me live.

[There's an unspoken You didn't have to.]

I'll make it up to you; I'll make it up to everyone, I fucking swear.

[business]

( his arms hesitate, the useless tree branches that they are, and he'd be ashamed to admit it. rhys is not the kind of man who's ever had the luxury of turning down a hug, and a lack of experience suddenly makes him feel wholly out of his depth with the affection. how can one touch put the pieces of newt back together again? he wants to, desperately. to fix the mess and put glue on the shards of newt's psyche, make him feel whole and happy again. how can he make all this better?

he can't. maybe the only person who could is the man in his arms now, he who seems so much smaller than he ever has. breakable, like frost collected in the dips and valleys of leaves. strangely undelicate, though, for all rhys has known he's been through. that he can stand on his own two feet, stand to wrap his arms around a man who almost killed him, speaks multitudes to strength. it's that strength that rhys embraces, one hand cupping the back of newt's skull to keep him cradled under rhys' chin — two oversized bat wings sprout quietly from his back, and quickly cocoon newt in either direction. a little reprieve, if he can't stand the thought of anyone else seeing him. )

Is my memory off? You have nothing to make up to me. I'm the one who pummeled you. And I'm the one who pushed that stupid promise onto you. If anything, I owe you for all my ... well. For being as I am.

( vile and violent. he gives newt a squeeze, pressing his cheek down to the top of his head. )

It means protection, now. These marks that join us. I swear by the stars, I will do right by you. I will see it through to the very end.

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt melts like he's been starved of touch — because he has. He's been desperate for it, even as his body revolted without him knowing why. God, he had felt like a broken, unwell man, even before he knew what was lurking in his head. All that time, he'd thought it was just Newton Geiszler. Just like he'd thought his night terrors were him. Just like he'd thought the distance he'd formed between him and people he loved more than himself was all him... What a fool he was. A stupid fucking idiot.

He presses his cheek into Rhysand's shoulder, hiding in the shade of his wings as he tries to work the lump in his throat loose.]

... They didn't let me do this. They made it feel like every time someone tried to touch my hand, or hug me, or kiss me, that it was — disgusting. [His voice shifts, quietly outraged; quietly upset.]They fucking tricked my mind into thinking it was me all this time... that there was something wrong with me, when it was all I actually wanted.

[He buries his face, his breath a sharp, sad thing.]

I don't wanna be alone with them anymore.