[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

[cruelyethuman]

So...you're basically going to keep doing what you were doing before. Is that it?

[The Darkling closes the book in his lap, slipping it in to his pocket.

He wasn't going to harm this man, but he wanted to. He wanted to shove him so full of shadows that there would never be light in him ever again. That want, that weakness of wanting anything makes his mouth turn down, twisting his usual neutral expression in to something different.]

Or were you holding out on us before? Hiding your true talents and not giving the team your all.

[He might be looking at Newton, but he sees Alina- how he imagines her, bleeding, broken and close to dying. Because of this. one. man.]

Pretty words.

[He would know about pretty words and empty promises, as he echoes Alina's frustrated words from the network so long ago.]

[groupiedrifter]

[His jaw clenches, eyes glancing away. Well... At least he seems to know just how far Newt was willing to push for the team, if he thinks he's going to keep doing more of the same. He will, too, and then some. He just. Needed time to prove his worth. Show that he wasn't a lost cause now.]

... When someone fucks up so colossally, they find ways to be better than what they thought was their best. Just because an awful thing happened on their watch... it doesn't mean it has to be all that's left of them. So you can see 'em as pretty words all you want.

I'll make 'em pretty actions.

[He finally looks at Kirigan.]

How do you want me to make up for it?

[cruelyethuman]

[More words, pretty and alluring, the hope that seems to slither through in how passionate Newton speaks. The want to make this right, when nothing could.

How do you want-

And that is the point of the matter, the tender and bleeding heart of it - there is nothing Newton can do, except step between Alina and the next thing that tries to harm her. A living shield against the cruelty these missions keep throwing at them.

But he meets Newton's gaze, eyes black and deep and endless.]

That would be the easy way out for you, wouldn't it. We all tell you how to fix this, you take those steps, you repent and you grovel, and you would be forgiven.

[groupiedrifter]

You're the only one so far who's mentioned repenting and groveling, so.

[Newton shrugs, gaze moving to a fallen leaf a few feet from Kirigan instead.]

... Nothing about what happened is easy.

But I'm not gonna pretend like I don't owe you and the others. Everyone here, I'm indebted to them. That includes you. [He sighs tiredly, hands slipping into his pockets.] So yeah, if there's anything I can do to repay what you've done to get those things out of me, I'll do it — as long as I'm not hurting anyone else.

... And if that way of repaying you is to stay out of your way and fuck off?

Then I can do that, too.

[cruelyethuman]

Really.

[And he files that away for later. The nature of forgiveness and how easily it was handed to Newton.]

Well, I can't say I'm not surprised to hear that. Imagine that, you tried to kill every last one of us, and- nothing. That's...adorable.

[He doesn't think about the bracelet slammed around his own wrist, the sanctions forced on him for doing less than that. How this station is governed by the same hypocritical rules that runs through his home world.

That line of thought only brings resentment, and he shakes his head.]

If I think of anything, I'll be sure to let you know.

[groupiedrifter]

... It's because the people on this crew are better people than anyone gives 'em credit for.

[He says it quietly, with some reverence for the very crew that forgave him so quickly. As he says it, something in his expression seems to light up — as if an epiphany has struck him in that moment, one spawned by the kindness of those around him — awed by memories of those who had approached him with forgiveness and hopefulness and effort to see him as him — and not them.

When he looks to Kirigan again, he shakes his head.]

And you know what? I love my friends here — and they love me.

Sure, I'm gonna be a fucking dumpster fire, but they know my heart.

And if me putting my life on the line and working as hard as I can for them is 'doing what I've been doing' to you, then maybe I'm not a lost cause after all. [He turns and starts back down the grassy knoll before Kirigan can even contest this, the poor man, and he's walking away with determined purpose.] I'll make it right, and I'll undo everything those fuckers did — even if it means changing my regret!

[He turns, points at Kirigan.]

And I'll be waiting for the chance to prove my heart to you, too, Little Miss Sunshine! Just you fucking watch! I'm not gonna let what they did ruin me or anyone else!

[The sudden determination is something.

Did the Darkling help inspire it???? Possibly.

Who said being mean isn't helpful?]

[cruelyethuman]

[He lets the pretty words roll over him like water, they are ultimately meaningless. They're static, a noise to cover up the fact that Newton came closer to ruining this for everyone, he almost cost every last one of them their regret and the Darkling is content to let the little man slink away.

Let him run, there is nowhere to run on this station and they would meet again, when-]

Wait!

[Getting up on his knees, hand out towards Newton's retreating back.]

What do you mean 'changing your regret'?

[groupiedrifter]

[Newt looks back, brow furrowed.

... Huh. The guy looks particularly startled by that.]

Exactly what it sounds like, chief. The orbs are willing to change them — for a price.

... What that price is all depends on you and your regret.

[Shrugging, he starts away again, throwing a parting word without looking back:]

Ask Viv if you want.