(no subject)

[deployed]

CHARACTERS: Bellamy + Noctis, their gross offspring, and you.
WHERE: The Station
WHEN: DAY :048 - DAY :050
SUMMARY: accept a visual representation
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary.

( the hatchening | closed to bellamy and noctis )

[ At first, Bellamy thinks he's broken it somehow in the transition. Can you take this? There's something else I want to do, he'd asked after having come across Noctis in the hall. There's only so long anyone could hold an egg, and Bellamy finished in the library. He'd meant to pawn the egg on the first willing party he found, and go to the training wing. Instead, as he extends the egg towards Noctis, there's an audible crunching noise. Bellamy stalls, looking down to where both his hands and egg are poised over Noctis' outstretched hands. ]

Is it...leaking?

[ Something is dripping, slick over Bellamy's hands and splattering over Noctis' upturned palms. It's black. Bellamy's thoughts flicker to nightblood and Ontari, chest split open and Murphy and Abby's arms stained black to the elbow with her blood. It's a gruesome image, even if it only lingers for a split second before obvious worry over what's happened to the egg crowds it out of his head. ]

Was this supposed to hatch?

[ Surely someone would have been keeping track of when it was supposed to hatch. The idea that it's happened by chance is worrisome, though Bellamy's afraid to move in case he makes the situation worse, even if it's to go find Cathaway or Prince to try to foist the splintering egg off on them. His mind latches hard onto Noctis, fretfully wrenching his attention to the matter at hand as if Noctis isn't already attentive enough. ]

( the baby shower | ota )

[ They're stuck.

This becomes very obvious about five minutes in, after the initial panic has settles. For all intents and purposes, Bellamy and Noctis are holding hands. They have six little legs wrapped from wrist to wrist, with six tiny sets of claws to pinch each time they try to detach. To be fair, neither of them have tried very hard upon mutual agreement.

At least the dripping has stopped.

Feel free to bump into them and remark upon their snoozing appendage's charming visage. ]

Comments

Late D48

[erbier]

[ She comes in the initial stir of it, like everyone else, to take stock of what has happened. She observes quietly from the back of a few people, and then she leaves, having ascertained the facts of the situation, for the moment. No need to hassle them nor the creature, they were on display enough as it was. And Ilde herself did so hate to be put on display, her sympathy to that is genuine.

She comes back later with food for the boys, fruit, easy to manage with one hand, unburdened.

But she's come to see the creature, more than them. It is something she has had to learn, since coming to the Station: how to look at the inhuman with anything other than a desire to strike it down for her own safety. Coming to accept that she herself is no longer precisely what she would consider human has helped.

She extends a finger, dirt from her garden embedded into the grooves of her nail, in her fingertip, a part of her, and strokes its scaly little head, winding her touch between its blinking eyes. ]

Not all bad.

[ She decides. ]

Bite me

[sistershoggoth]

The fuck is that?

[ Annie: queen of eloquence and subtlety. ]

the hatchening!!

[somnifacient]

[Noctis' mind is best described as a large question mark followed by an exclamation point. Bellamy's alarm hooking into his brain and pulling his attentions directly down to what's happening in his hands is redundant -- he is definitely, definitely aware of what's going on right now.

Ot at least, he'd be able to tell you what's happening from a play-by-play standpoint. The egg cracking, its shell blossoming outwards, oozing, and his fellow host shooting a gruesome image into his head that he's not sure what to do with. It adds to his confusion, even as pieces of the iridescent shell fall to the ground with a light clatter.

Why, though? Is this supposed to happen? Those are the million gil questions.]

I... I don't-

[And then something moves within the egg. Black and unfurling, writhing to life, in a pool of ooze that continues to dribble down both of their hands.]

Ugh, what the hell-

[Sorry baby slime lizard-dragon, but ugh. You're gross. But more alarmingly, it's twisting upwards, unfurling its six legs and clenching its little claws around Noctis' hand, Bellamy's wrist, and part of both of their forearms.

Noctis freezes in place. Pinpricks of panic poke at Bellamy, ceaselessly.

h e l p]

[somnifacient]

[It's awkward for him, to be the center of attention (or at least, with the center of attention so forcibly latched on his hand and arm) and it's shown in every way up until now. A buzz of uncertainty follows him, though it's recently subsided now that the curiosity of his fellow hosts have been more or less sated.

When Ilde approaches, he accepts the fruit with his free hand, turning it over in his fingers. The creature doesn't seem to mind her touch, and he slowly extends his arm (and Bellamy's too, sorry buddy) so that she can get a better look at the new addition to the station. She'll note how his sleeves have been stained dark in the already-dark material, if she's observant enough.]

I think it just wants to sleep.

[Sounds like you, Noctis.]

[adamance]

You should be more careful in the future about experiments. [Lexa recalls the moment in which they were all reached out to, but she had ignored it, especially upon learning that it would necessitate caring for an egg. While she cared for her novitiates, she has a difficult time seeing the purpose of this. Now that it's been given life, that hasn't changed.]

Do you intend to grow attached? [Given that it's Bellamy and a guy who she only spoke to like once, it feels like it's a question that's fair to ask.]

[somnifacient]

[So, so deadpan. Annie, how is he supposed to know?]

My new best friend.

baby, can assume this is some time post-hatchening.

[decommission]

Has it eaten anything? [ He'll be peering at the thing from wherever the pair of them are handcuffed together by their new baby.

The scent that wafts from it tickles his nose. He lets out a loud sneeze into his elbow. ]

[erbier]

[ She continues to stroke the creature, despite the way its secretions begin to appear on her hand, despite the way it has already made marking of the boys. There's something bemusing about this infant life, its stubborn cling to a world it knows nothing about. She too had clung, coming out of her egg-- The emotion in her is not so much maternal, as empathetic to what it was to unfold overwhelmed, alone but not alone. They are, all of them, small things growing. ]

I see, though I assume you would also like to sleep, at some point.

[ A faint smile intended for the pair of them, but she's already begun to rub the little creature just a little bit harder, feeling out the muscles that keep its pin-prick little claws sunk in to them. It blinks and makes a disgruntled noise at her, to which she gives a friendly coo. It kneads its little claws into the boys, curious. ]

[sistershoggoth]

Your friend's fuckin' ugly.

[ A shrug. ]

This is what you fuckin' get for playing Suzie Homemaker.

[deployed]

[ Somehow, the prospect of the egg hatching hadn't really been something Bellamy considered when he'd agree to ferry the egg around the Station with him. It'd been easy to tuck it under his arm while he read, or tote along as he ran laps around the track. He'd just assumed the hatching would happen somewhere else, to someone else (probably Cathaway) and all he was responsible for was helping it along.

As it turns out, he's incredibly wrong.

The panic radiating from Noctis doesn't do very much to calm Bellamy's nerves. Taking a few deep breaths doesn't really steady him, but Bellamy clenches his jaw and slowly flexes his hand. All he gets for his trouble is a fitful clutch of claws, so he abandon the attempt. ]

Have you ever seen something like this?

[ Noctis summons weird things out of thin air. Maybe he can identify the jet-black creature oozing contentedly over their interlocked hands. ]

It's still dripping.

[ Panic is ebbing into disgust as Bellamy examines the newcomer. It doesn't seem intent on maiming either of them, which allows some of Bellamy's initial panic to abate. ]

[deployed]

To Noctis? I think it's a little late for that.

[ Which is either a dark joke about the potential outcome of their time in the Nest, or a knock on just how long he's spent holding on Noctis.

In the aftermath of panic and confusion, Bellamy's settled into irritated resignation. The little monstrosity likes him. Satisfied that it isn't gearing up to eviscerate him, Bellamy's inclined to indulge it. ]

I don't know.

[ As good as a yes, really. ]

did you bring a stroller steve

[deployed]

No.

[ Though that's likely something that should cause concern. It yawned at one point, and Bellamy got an eyeful of the equipment there. ]

It sleeps. It hasn't bothered staying awake very long.

[ Which shouldn't be endearing, but—

Bellamy can't decide if Octavia would be flattered or furious to know that Octavia had considered her in the same category as a small ooze monster. ]

We'll have to figure out that part eventually.

[ This last aside is directed at Noctis, prompting. Bellamy's sort of hoping red meat isn't going to be on the menu, but it's not like the pair of them have had a lot of luck so far. ]

[deployed]

[ bellamy doesn't really get this reference, sorry noctis he's no help. ]

This isn't helpful, Annie.

[ also their offspring's face has character!! ]

[deployed]

Noctis already had a nap.

[ Casually throwing Noctis under the bus, isn't that how parenting works? ]

It's a baby. [ technically. ] We should probably just be glad it isn't making noise.

[ The pricks of claws have stopped bothering Bellamy. They haven't broken the skin. The ooze isn't burning his skin, or Noctis'. Whatever it is, it's a more benign presence than it's looks would signal. ]

Gentle, [ he instructs, cautious over the newly-formed scales and patches of exposed flesh. ]

[sistershoggoth]

Who the hell said I was here to help? The fuck do you want me to do about it anyway? My shit only works on my own monsters.

[ Still she reaches out to prod the slimy proto-thing. It makes a hiffy little noise about it, claws tightening irritably. ]

[somnifacient]

[Way to call him out on his power nap, Bellamy. He gives his companion a sideways look, though he won't deny it -- it's a little embarrassing, though, when stated so plainly and partly out of context. It's true, being bound together courtesy of a slimy lizard meant that they didn't have much time to do much else other than wander around the station and wait. Occasionally sit, and in Noctis' case, occasionally doze off.

Still.]

I'm all right for now. [A correction, though he's eying the way Ilde interacts with the creature, aware of the sensation of its claws kneading into his skin. He's quietly glad that they're not much sharper than they are.] You have any idea what this thing might be?

[He's asked each host this so far. Most of the answers have been some form of "I don't know, but good luck with that" in return.]

[somnifacient]

Hey, be careful. [-comes the warning to Annie as she pokes at the slime dragon. It's almost comical how quickly Noctis can adopt the Concerned Parent voice in a situation like this.]

I don't think it likes that. [The way he can feel it tense around his wrist tells him this much.]

[somnifacient]

[It's definitely still dripping, and it's warm. Why is it so warm, and so heavy? Why won't it let them go? Is it sleeping?

A drop or two of heavy, sticky goo lands on the toe of his shoe. Noctis tries to wriggle his wrist free, but is quickly met with a tightening resistance, as well as claws gripping him more poignantly than before.]

I... no. Not exactly like this.

[There are plenty of lizard-like creatures on Eos, he thinks. But even as he peruses through his mental bestiary of monsters he had hunted back at home, none match whatever it is clinging to them now. There were wyverns, there was the giant, terrifying Jorumungand, there was wildlife that was more benign but... no. Nothing like this.

He can feel the ooze stain into his sleeve, and since the little hatchling doesn't do much else other than close its eyes and remain still, Noctis assumes that it's gone straight to sleep. This doesn't solve their problem, but his own anxieties lessen, knowing that it doesn't plan on biting their arms off, or borrowing through their skin, or any other terrible fate that he can think of.]

What are we supposed to do now? I thought Cathaway would be here when it hatched.

[This is something for space mom to handle, not them. Surely.]

[sistershoggoth]

Nah? [ Sarcasm. ] You don't think so?

[ She just wiggles her fingers at it further. She is really just daring it to bite her. It makes more grumbling whiny noises before finally snapping at her. Her fingers dance away. ]

Nope, don't think it likes that. So, what, you two are just gonna sit here and hold hands all day? You hate running your laps that much?

[somnifacient]

[The joke with a double meaning doesn't go unnoticed by Noctis, and it suits his wry brand of humor fairly well. He'd find it more comical, though, if it didn't ring so true. Maybe later he'll laugh at it. Right now, he's occasionally wondered if himself and Bellamy are going to be stuck together like this for days, or weeks. If it came down to it, they'd find a way to pry themselves away, wouldn't they?

(Wouldn't they?)

He exhales, long and heavy.]

Babysitting an egg seemed pretty straightforward. [It's not much of an excuse, but he had just assumed that it wasn't him who would've had to deal with it hatching.] I didn't think we'd end up like this.

[A shrug of his shoulders. Basically, add another "I don't know" to the pile in response to Lexa's question.]

[somnifacient]

Cut it out. [He looks vaguely alarmed when it snaps at her, rightfully so.] If you make this thing angry and it decides to rip our arms off or something, I'm blaming you.

[Geez.]

What else are we supposed to do?

or paper towels

[somnifacient]

[The question of what it eats is one without an answer. Like Bellamy had said, it's mostly just been asleep, only occasionally stirring with a yawn or two. In those moments, Noctis had hoped that it would disengage itself from their hands, but he was always met with disappointment a few seconds later.

At this point, he's resigned himself to his fate. That's evident in the way he looks vaguely exasperated, but not quite enough to edge into annoyance territory.]

I'm guessing we could always stick some fruit or meat in front of it, and see if it shows any interest. Other than that, I really don't know. [Dryly:] I've always been more of a cat person than an oozing-lizard person.

[erbier]

Not at all.

[ It bemuses her regularly that anyone thinks she knows anything. She was a zealot from a world on the edge of apocalypse. The surface world had been wiped of most species. Perhaps such a creature as this existed below ground, where the old world and old terrors lurked, but... she wouldn't know about that either.

She tickles up under its sternum, getting the sleepy little thing to flex upwards. She observes this thoughtfully. When she takes her hand away, it coils back down, wanting to keep its belly warm. ]

Do you mind?

[ if she... sticks her arm in there and takes it. ]

[sistershoggoth]

It's probably not big enough to rip your arm off yet, don't be dramatic.

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

It might just strangle the circulation out of your limb, that, I think it's probably ready to do. Isn't that right, killer?

[ She goes in like she's going to bop it on the head, and that's when it finally catches her, teeth closing around... most of her fist. Then it hisses and recoils. Annie just kind of peers at the needle marks dispassionately. ]

It's certainly not gonna eat any of us at that rate.

[adamance]

Every action comes with its brand of consequences. I avoided the egg, so I'm not left to care for the creature. [Frankly, she doesn't care to grow attached to any animals that aren't her horse. ... Come to think of it, she misses her horse: it's been a while since she road it (or any horse), and she can't help but miss it.]

I recommend that one of you take care to see how you're affected by it. You may not know now, but everything here has a measure of feeling ... as if you have no choice but to do the thing in question. Here, it's caring for the creature. [Her eyes focus on Bellamy for a longer moment.] Of course, some of you may not need that urging. [It's a creature that needs to be care for. While it's not a person, Lexa is basically calling him out for caring too much for it ... or anyone ... without full justification.

But in a mocking way.

Just to be clear.

Some part of her does find this humorous.]