[open] lately i'm feeling like a big bang

[brightline]

who: marco & YOU
what: catch-all post with various open starters (amnesia and regular)
when: August
where: all around the Quarantine
warnings: descriptions of morphing (body horror) and nightmares; Marco is forgetting how to morph, though he's still capable of it.



i. nightmares/nocturnal (for floor 2)

[The thing is, Marco's been living alone for the past few years, or at least sleeping as alone as he can. Even back when he lived with his parents in the valley, he'd had his own room, his own space, with walls thick enough to hide it unless he was having the absolute worst nightmare possible. The only real exception had been when he was staying in Ax's scoop with him and Tobias, but at that point things had been so bad they were all having nightmares and judgement wasn't on anyone's minds.

But honestly, since the war had ended, Marco hadn't been obligated to share even a whole house with anyone, let alone a building floor with 9 other people and a room with 4 other people. So it's been a hell of a long time since he woke up, sitting up straight in his bed with sweat pouring down his face, yelling 'NO!' at the top of his lungs, in a room where people could actually hear him. And the whole floor probably heard that.

Breathing heavily, he pushes his hands back through his hair, dark eyes scanning around him, looking for an enemy for the first few, muddled seconds; after that, he's embarrassed and still panicking, his heart beating too hard, his face flushed, skin and hair damp with sweat, trying to figure out if anyone saw him.

Once he's dealt with the nightmare, he'll be in the kitchen with a light low, drinking water and making himself a snack. Anyone on the floor is welcome to hear his nightmare or run into him in the kitchen in the middle of the night.]

ii. morph-capable

[At some point, Marco forgot how he does it. Morphing. It had been so second-nature before, like a really, really unpleasant version of breathing, and now he can't remember how to trigger it at all.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't do it still. He just has no idea when it's going to happen. Or where. Or what he's going to turn into. Thankfully, he still remembers all the rules, and remembers how to get out of morph, or he'd be one sad sack nothlit in a flash. Unfortunately, pretty much no matter where he is, you might run into him spontaneously shifting forms, a gruesome mass of protruding bones and extruding feathers or scales or fur or mandibles. It's pretty unpredictable, and there's wide variety of animals and aliens that might pop out next - pick your poison.]

iii. beach party

[Marco was around the big River Festival party, wandering along the beach, checking out the water, occasionally going gull to scope the place out, do some recon, getting a feel for the place. It's been a while since he had to be secretive, since he had to hide what he can do, and who he really is, but it's a habit he falls easily back into, morphing out of sight, making sure his regular trunks are tight enough to do it.

But when he's human, all bets are off. Marco is loud, exuberant, and running around basically anywhere, on the regular beach or the clothing optional one, without a care in the world. And he's his usual charming, charismatic, wisecracking self. Even while he's gathering as much intel on the people here and what they can do as possible.]

iv. out and about

[Marco is no Rachel when it comes to shopping, but he's no slouch either. After all, with 7 million in the bank and counting, he's learned how to do a fine bit of shopping. Unfortunately, he's totally lacking in the 7 million here, so he's got to manage a budget, and thankfully he's pretty decent at that.

Marco will be out and about around stalls in the various outdoor markets, haggling up a storm. He'll also be at the outlet malls looking for discounted brand stuff, an trying to figure out the style conventions in a totally new world. Everything he knows is totally wrong here, and he's not Marco if he's not ready to grace the cover of GQ at any moment.]

v. wildcard

[Throw me a random starter, combine any of the above prompts, or hit me up via PM for a customized starter or to plot something special!]

Comments

ii.

[alchemyfreak]

[Ed had gotten used to seeing some strange things in all the various worlds he'd been to. Although Attollo hadn't boasted much on the monster front, Purg and the Quarantine certainly had their fair share. Plus there was always the random resident here or there that looked like they fit in better with the monsters.

He was used to all of that. Truth be told, if he considered it he'd also be used to the idea of someone shapeshifting, not only Envy from home but others over the years as well.

What he wasn't used to was someone in the middle of the path he was on that appeared mostly human, as scales seemed to grow along his arms and neck while a giant snake-like tail started to form out of nowhere. Only for the process to reverse just as abruptly as if the guy had no real control over it.

Sorry Marco, that doesn't seem normal.]

Hey, are you all right?

[At this point Ed's just hoping this is something unique to this guy's personal experience and not the new confusing and horrifying surprise awaiting everyone on the moon.]

[brightline]

[Considering he hadn't acquired anything new recently that he might've gotten an allergy to, the whole 'morphing by accident and not under any sort of control' thing is really, really disturbing. And annoying. And dangerous, because, as is apparent by the blond guy with the long braid walking up to him looking vaguely concerned and asking if he's alright.

Well, so much for stealth.

Of course it's not like Marco was making any particular effort to hide the fact he can morph, especially after being so out of the habit post-war. Keeping it secret had been ideal, but not absolutely necessary after a few days of recon and working out that there doesn't seem to be any kind of Yeerk presence on this moon at all. Still, he hadn't exactly wanted to morph in the middle of the street in full view of the public either. Not a pretty sight.

As he finishes up the demorph, feeling the last of the nasty cobra tail slide back into his spine, he shrugs and gives the guy an easy smile.]

Yeah I'm fine. I know it looks super weird, but it doesn't hurt.

[No use in showing all his cards. He's not going to admit that it's out of control, no way.]

[alchemyfreak]

[His immediate reaction to that sort of dismissive reassurance is that it is hiding something. He's done this for too long to think otherwise, but there was something else that was immediately apparent to the blond and Marco could probably see the relief radiating off of him.]

I take it shape shifting is something you're used to. Sorry about that.

[Not about to be a moon-wide epidemic of people morphing snakes, got it. If anything he might look a little embarrassed for bothering the guy at all.]

Things can get a little weird around here, just thought I'd make sure...

[brightline]

[The guy's relief is pretty much palpable, and Marco can't really blame him. Morphing is a complete horror show, and it looks like it should be agonizing - feels like it too, honestly - but it isn't. Then the guy apologizes and comments that he must be used to it, that he's just checking, and he's calm about it, there's no panic, no weirdness, no pity.

There's just Marco standing there in a pair of athletic leggings and a T-shirt that pulls across his narrow shoulders, barefoot in the middle of a city, and this blond guy looking at him curiously. Thankfully, Marco's pretty used to standing in weird places in skintight clothing.]

Totally appreciated, man.

[Glancing around, Marco surveys the stalls and shops in the area.]

Hey, can I ask you a favor? Do you know this area? Because I could really use a pair of sandals and a shirt that leaves a bit more to the imagination...

[alchemyfreak]

[Ed is used to weird and horrifying, and honestly very little of it bothers him anymore as long as it isn't painful and/or contagious. Those were his main concerns after living in Purg, and it continued in Attollo and now here. Was it painful or dangerous, and was it a new situation that could possibly be spreading throughout the place?

Another thing Ed is used to is pity for all the wrong reasons. It was part of his motivation for concealing the automail. Either he didn't trust a person enough, or even if he did he didn't want to deal with that inevitable awkward moment.]

Actually, I can help with that. Shops along the beach tend to sell clothing in case someone's in a pinch... shirts, water shoes, sunglasses- that sort of thing. There should be at least one nearby. Let's take a look.

[Ed's also making a mental note that these might be useful to add to the General Store's inventory, they hadn't had a chance to stock much yet and mostly stuck to the essentials from his days in Purg. He knew they weren't likely to sell much through a repair shop, but having a small stock in case of emergencies had always suited him.

He waves a hand for Marco to follow, starting toward the river and line of small shops peddling the usual beach fair, ice cream, snacks, coolers, sunscreen etc.]

We'll probably have better luck this way unless you want to grab real clothes from one of those big stores. That'd be a longer walk though, and I'm ... not sure they'd let you in barefoot, actually.

[This place had a lot of weird rules after four years in Purg.]

[brightline]

Thanks.

[It's genuine, his brows raising a bit as he glances off in the direction of the beach where the guy gestures, and he nods. He's a little surprised he's willing to show him the way and come along, but Marco's sure not going to look a gift horse in the mouth (whatever that means) and so he takes it. Walking along beside the guy as the start down toward the shops by the beach, he glances over at the other guy.]

Yeah, I mean, I could probably totally charm them into letting me in, but I'm not really in the mood right now.

[And at least he's not stealing things in gull form or anything - the ability to pay for things digitally here is a total gift, and if they had a morphable phone that would make it perfect.]

I'm Marco, by the way. Pleased to meet you. I mean, the circumstances kinda suck, but still. You seem like a cool guy.