[open/closed] I watched a change in you

[deploy]

who: John Sheppard & friends, GUEST STARRING the retrovirus, and anyone unlucky enough to cross his path
what: John's problematic transformation from a man into a manbugthing and all the drama that follows
when: Late April to early May
where: Various, inside and outside the wall
warnings: Graphic violence, sexual content, disturbing imagery, language... your typical Rated R Sci-fi movie

Day 0: John is bitten by a venomous insect in the field. Lingering traces of the Irratus bug retrovirus in his system are activated in biological defense, successfully counteracting the venom.

Day 1: No outward physical mutation. Physiological condition is optimized. All symptoms of stress, fatigue and exertion are eliminated. Near instantaneous healing of minor wounds. Strength, speed, stamina, and durability are at peak human capacity. Dopamines and hormones exceed normal levels. Positive change in mood is subsequent.

Day 2: No outward physical mutation. Instantaneous healing of minor wounds. Strength, speed, stamina, and durability are above peak human capacity. Dopamines and hormones are off the charts. Senses are enhanced. Extreme decline of mental/emotional/sexual inhibitions. Behaviour is erratic and reactive.

Day 3: Physical mutation begins, progressing rapidly. Pupils become slitted. Skin and extremities show signs of textural change, becoming rough, hardened and discoloured. Grey dermal patterning covers significant portion of body. Near instantaneous healing of major wounds. Strength, speed, stamina, and durability , as well as senses, are super-human. Shift of brain chemicals and hormones from human to Iratus bug. Loss of mental/emotional/sexual inhibitions. Behaviour is extremely erratic, reactive, and violent.

Day 4: Physical mutation advances significantly, altering facial features. Skin takes on an exoskeleton appearance. Strength, speed, stamina, and durability, as well as senses, are super-human. Complete regenerative ability. Extreme shift of brain chemicals and hormones from human to Iratus bug. Loss of mental/emotional/sexual inhibitions. Loss of identity, and some cognitive function. Behaviour is that of an apex predator. Hyper-violent, territorial, and predatory.

Day 5: Chrysalis. Complete transformation to Iratus hybrid, and loss of human consciousness. Point of no return.

Comments

[bastardofipswich]

Chase, being the "good" trash son kid that he is, actually did as John requested and painted the apartment in some suitably manly bachelor colors. Like slate blue or blue grey or whatever the fuck. It was easy enough, honestly, with magic, and it gave him something to keep busy with, if only for an afternoon.

Plus, he's getting cash and pizza out of this. Win-win!

But that doesn't mean he can't have a little fun at John's expense. Which is why-- thanks to a glamour-- the walls appear to be painted neon orange, with tasteful green and pink accents. It's like an 80s fitness video threw up in here.

He just wants to see John's face when he walks in, okay, let him have this!

[deploy]

John walks in dirty, sweaty, and in full gear. A rifle in one hand and a duffel-bag in the other. Straight from work.

He stops in the front hallway and takes a look around the place. It's been two days since he was home, with instructions for the kid to finish painting before he got back from his mission, if he wanted a bonus.

Neon orange. Green. Pink. The epitome of that awkward phase between the late seventies and early eighties, when people still had shag carpet, but were starting to wear acid washed jeans. John remembers it just enough to cringe.

But maybe there's something to be said for nostalgia.

"Chase..."

John He drops his duffel-bag on the floor, plants both hands on his hips and stares up at the vomit green ceiling.

"You really outdid yourself. This is perfect. It's not the look I wanted, but it might just be the look I needed."

[bastardofipswich]

Maybe putting up a glamour to make the apartment look like a neon hell wasn't a really smart move when John's got, like, a freaking gun. But it's Chase, so he doesn't really think about these things, not until John's walking through the door and taking a look around at his illusory handiwork.

But whatever, it's not like John's gonna shoot at him for this.

"Pretty nice, huh?"

He's expecting sarcasm, of course. Or at least an eye roll. A lecture, maybe? What Chase doesn't expect is praise, and it's enough to throw him for a second.

"Uh. Really?"

Well. This is awkward. Way to take the wind out of his prank's sails!

"You're not gonna be disappointed if I tell you it's all hocus pocus, are you?" Chase snaps his fingers, the neon colors fading away into black mist, and leaving behind the boring, totally understated steel blue. "Ta-daaa?"

[deploy]

"I like this too." Chase can try all he wants, but he won't kill John's vibe.

"Kinda peaceful. What's that word, Zen? Maybe we should get one of those rock gardens. Even Rodney couldn't kill that." Not that John's a green thumb either, but it's a decent idea. Rocks are about the only pets any of them have the time for.

Minus Carson's turtles.

"Good job, kid. Order us up some pizza and I'll foot the bill." He digs around in the pocket of his cargo pants for his wallet. Opening it up, he grabs a fistful of cash, what he owes Chase, enough for a tip, some pizza, and then some.

"Don't spend it on drugs. I'll know."

[bastardofipswich]

Chase just stares, uncertain of what to do in the face of relentlessly positive reinforcement. His adoptive dad had always been stern and withholding, meting out affection as if it were a resource that needed to be strictly rationed-- you know, typical rich WASP shit. John's cheerfulness is... suspicious. Is he just trying to get Chase's guard down?

Pssh. Nah. He seriously needs to get used to the fact that sometimes people are just nice or cheerful or whatever, without ulterior motives or underlying issues.

Besides, you know what's more important than John's good mood? MONEY. As soon as he's got a fistful of cash, Chase is grinning and pocketing it.

"Putting a teenager in charge of pizza. Ballsy."

Because you know he's going to go hog wild here. Not just pizza, but BREADSTICKS. WINGS. MOZZARELLA STICKS.

And excuse you, he would never spend the money on drugs. Chase's drug of choice is totally free of charge.

As he starts to browse his phone for pizza places, he glances at John, brow creasing a little. "So, uh. Good mission? You kill the Blair Witch?"

[deploy]

"Yeah, actually." John unzips the front of his tactical vest and throws it over the nearest chair. Don't mind him popping the first few buttons of his uniform shirt as he rummages around in the fridge for a beer.

"Kind of a funny story. The Blair Witch was actually just some malfunctioning AI that was activated in an electrical storm. It only looked like a ghost because the hologram went funky. Scared the shit out of me. Turns out that broadcast was the AI still trying to do its job from twenty years ago, and when people came to investigate? She was just protecting her turf. We ended up bringing her back with us. No harm, no foul." John cracks open the beer bottle with the belt buckle on his holster.

"It was all pretty damn Scooby Doo. Guess that makes Chyler Scrappy." He laughs, mostly to himself, and downs half the bottle in a few bobs of his adam's apple.