geonomy | Drift Fleet Inbox, pt. 2

[While Clay can't talk, there is one way he knows of to let him communicate with Allen. He nods - Yes, he's fine, then shakes his head - No, he can't talk. He's tried, and all that came out were... lion-y sounds. It doesn't help that the tongue and teeth and lips feel all weird.

He still keeps his face covered up a bit, though. This is awkward and embarrassing.]

No, huh...?

[Well that sure makes things more difficult. But at least from the head movements and Clay's very apparent embarrassment- he still had his own mind and could understand Allen. That was something. Honestly, he just feels bad for him, enough that he reaches out without thinking and pets his mane - like he would run his hair in Clay's hair or well, pet one of the foxes]

It's okay....we'll figure this out.

[The touch surprises him, honestly; he wasn't really expecting a smile, sure, but what he was expecting even less was to be touched. He ends up lifting his head a bit in response, then lowers it again with a sigh. He doesn't know how to purr, and it would be weird if he started, but he can sure see why Hermione liked it so much when he'd pet her. It feels nice.

Slowly, gotta keep his movements slow here, Clay moves his head over to rest on Allen's knee, then looks up at him with his eyes. He trusts him with this, that they'll figure it out, and it's about the only way he knows how to convey it without being able to speak.]

[ Yeah this...is definitely strange. He keeps reminding himself that this is Clay, or even kidding himself that maybe it's not a lion, but some kind of big dog. Yeah...that could be a thing, right? Right.

He pets the mane a little while more, as he thinks, before he speaks up. ]

How about...try visualising yourself as a human. Maybe that might do something.

[Allen his legs aren't human-like at all, how does that help anything -

Still, Clay will try. He scoots away from Allen some, raises himself up to a standing position, then tries to push himself up to his hind legs... only to tip forward back to all four of them.

Yeah, this probably won't work. He stares hard at his front paws, almost squinting, trying to concentrate... but that just makes one of the equipment start to hover again.]

[Welp- he grabs one of the floating dumbbells and tries to pulls it down]

Your mind is wandering, focus just on being human.

[One of his main problems with this is - well, Allen's right, his attention wanders easy. He concentrates on something, then shifts it, then focuses on the wrong thing.

But with Allen urging him to, he tries again. Not just mimicking being human, but just focusing on being. He shuts his eyes so that he doesn't see his paws, tries to imagine himself as a human -

And it takes a moment, but it happens. The transformation is quick, taking less than a second to shift from lion to human. When it happens, Clay takes in a gasping breath, like he was holding it to concentrate, and just flops over onto his back.]

Of all the powers I could've gotten, I got this?

[As he changes back, Allen lets go of a breath he barely realized he was holding. ]

You did it!

[He lets go of the dumbbell and reaches over for Clay's hand]

Are you okay?

[He groans, lifting his free hand to run through his hair above the visor]

I guess? This keeps happening, I don't know what I'm doing to turn it on or off...

[But hey, that's right, Allen had to face down his fear just to help him. He looks up at him, squeezing Allen's hand.]

Are you?

My guess is you're setting it off when you let your thoughts wander to it. Powers can work like that, especially new ones.

[Which is a pain really, but that's how it goes. At the question, he tilts his head like he was going to scratch the back of his neck- but oh right, missing arm.]

Well, it's ... it's been a day, I'd say. [He chuckle humorlessly at the remark before looking back at Clay]

But at least I'm with you now. That alone makes it better.

Edited 2016-11-27 08:58 (UTC)

Mm... That might be it.

[Which is so annoying, ugh. He keeps thinking about it because it's so new.

But with that last part, Clay gives a half smile, then lets go of Allen's hand, sitting up and wrapping his arms around his middle, chin resting on his shoulder]

Same here. I just wish I had a power that was easier on us both.

[And you know, something that'll make Clay actually be able to walk around and not scare Allen to death.]

[When Clay wraps his arms around him, Allen can't help but relax against him for a moment with a sigh.]

Yeah...

[He's not going to address his fear right now. All it will do is bring it back. So-]

If you get stuck in that form again, you're going to have to learn to walk. I doubt I could carry you back to the shuttle way I am right now.

[That's right, Allen doesn't have super strength anymore... Rather than address it, he gives a snort at that, tipping his head over to bump it against Allen's gently]

Yeah, or maybe I'll just drag myself there. I can't figure out how those legs work, man.

Really? Don't you get any sort of...deeper animal instinct in that form that tells you how to walk? Isn't that how it usually works in stories?

Well, those stories lied, 'cause I never got some kind of inner guidebook on this whole thing. My legs feel backwards when I'm like that, how am I supposed to walk if I want to bend them one way but they go the other?

[He sighs at that, relaxing a little further against his boyfriend]

And then everything else feels weird, too. I have a tail.

Oh. That's rubbish, I'm sorry.

[As much as he dislikes lions- having to learn it all himself like this?? Where's the fun??]

Ah...yeah. Think the tail's still there too.

[It's not, but it was too tempting to joke about it]

Drift Fleet Inbox, pt. 2

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;

Action;