"Well...that's fine," he smiles. "I have a friend back home who would say all that happened is that you found a new dream. Nothing wrong with that. Things just...change sometimes. But yeeeeeaaah, the squid thing makes memories a little hard."
His are still filtering into place. He has people he needs to look for on shore. Names and faces finding a place in his mind's eye, making a mental note to get them first. The preening is adorable, though.
"Of course it was. My boyfriend's a shapeshifter, it always looks pretty neat to me, though he has...uh more control over it. But sure, I'm happy to try and figure it out with you."
That sure does look like rocks!! Praise be!! He nods, moving his arms a little faster to get them going.
"Oh, neat! Maybe your boyfriend will be able to help figure out the shapeshifting thing since he has practice with it!"
He has no idea how much Varian's boyfriend knows, but the fact that he actually knows how to control his shape shifting means he probably knows a lot more about the power than Luca.
Focusing on the rocks, Luca says, "Got it."
And he powers ahead, his tail beating furiously against the waves, his single focus being on getting them to the rocks.
"He might be able to give you some pointers for sure."
And it would be nice for Fern to be able to talk to another non-human. There's not a lot of them in town, to be sure. And in turn, it might help Luca settle in a little better- having someone he can relate to a little more than a human.
As they get to the rocks, Varian tries to help steer the piano in that direction, heaving out a sigh of relief as they get closer, and he can see signs of the boardwalk further ahead.
"That's definitely where we need to go. Can you see those lights in the distance?"
He looks up at the lights, making sure to push the piano in that direction.
"Yeah! I can se them!"
Which means that there are other humans where they're going, so he won't be dumping Varian off somewhere far away from human civilization. Although, realizing they're close gets him thinking.
"Do you think the humans here will be okay with sea monsters?"
At the question, Varian lets out a soft, amused snort.
"Oh yeah, lots of Sleepers- that's... that's what we're called? People from other worlds? Well, lots of them aren't human. That boyfriend of mine is literally made of grass, you'll be fine."
He does pause to consider. He remembers what the Townies were like in Deerington, who definitely wouldn't take to a non-human that well.
"...Uh, but just in case the natives are weird, stick by me. I'll protect you."
He's naked and has literally one leg, but sure. He'll protect you.
"Why are we called sleepers? Don't the people native to this place sleep?"
An odd term, which makes him wonder if there's going to be something weird about how they sleep, or how the natives sleep. Do people brought in randomly conk out at inopportune times? Do they sleep differently in some ways?
As for sticking by Varian, he'd be glad to since Varian seems nice, but somehow...it's not that he doesn't think only having one leg means he can't fight. Massimo only has one arm and Luca's sure he can fight. It's just...well...
"Yeah, and I can make sure they only see me in human form until I can feel things out."
"Oh, well. The world before this was a little girl's nightmare? The idea was we were sleeping in our home worlds, and we were brought into the dream that way. So we were Sleepers," he pauses. "It turns out it's more complicated than that, but that's the term we're used to."
He knows now they technically weren't sleeping, they were something else. Something... different. He's not sure if they'll end up calling themselves something different in this new world. Collectively, they've got so used to 'Sleepers', it feels weird to think of themselves as anything else. Language is funny like that, he supposes.
Once he gets his leg back and his alchemy in working order, he'll be considerably more threatening. But right now, he's about as dangerous as a newborn kitten.
"That's a good idea. And if you need a place to lay low... well, I don't know if our house is here or not, given it was technically in the dream. But you're welcome to stay with us."
"A telescope? Oh, I definitely want to live there now!"
When Varian accepts his help getting to land, Luca reaches up with a hand so Varian has something to balance on when getting off the piano. Once he's off, Luca figures Varian can put his arm over his shoulder and Luca can bring him the rest of the way like that. At the suggestion of pulling off a piece, though, Luca looks at the piano.
"I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to pull off a piece. Are you?"
So if Luca sets up shop in the room with the telescope and never goes to his actual room...well, Varian's been warned.
"Yeah, that's fine. You can lean on me."
It definitely will work better than Luca trying to pull a leg off a piano. Luca gladly lends support, and once they get out of the water, as his skin starts to dry, the scales recede leaving skin in their place.
"Well, we have the space. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem."
The Disaster House has always been good at picking up strays, after all. What's one more kid to add to the mix? He smiles, nodding in thanks, leaning on Luca as they make their way up the beach. Varian turns his head to watch the change, his eyebrows raising.
"Wow, that's... actually really impressive. It really is a full-body transformation."
"Thanks, and yeah, it is." The only sign left that Luca isn't human is his slightly fish like smell. "It's a good thing, too. It makes it way easier to sneak into human towns."
They'd never have been able to get into and out of a human town alive if they couldn't turn human, and convincingly so, after all.
Looking around at the beach, Luca says, "Well, at least there's a ton of debris washed up here. I'm sure there's something around you could use as a crutch."
It's pretty impressive, honestly!! Nary a scale in sight!!
"Oh yeah, this is an excellent way to go about undetected. I wouldn't have guessed for a second if I hadn't seen you transform myself."
He hums softly, nodding, before pointing further down.
"Lots of stuff over there- maybe something there might be useful. It looks like a lot of...Sleeper stuff actually," he chuckles. "I'll laugh if we actually find my leg here."
No offense, Varian, he kind of hopes they don't find your original leg. Assuming there was one, because he knows sometimes people can just be born short a limb. Like Massimo. Looking around, he points.
"There's some debris that looks like it's made of wood over there."
"Oh, don't worry, it's been ages since I lost it, and the guy who ate it left. Our chances of finding the flesh and blood one are minimal, and it would be pretty decomposed by now."
That's...not a comforting statement, Varian. That's not a comforting statement at all.
"That's great! Just what we need, let's head there."
"Yup!" he pops the P- trying to make it a lighter subject than it actually is. "In the old place, every October some people got turned into monsters. Uh- big rage-filled ones? Someone I knew turned into a dragon and ate it."
The lost leg is much more complicated than that, but he doesn't delve into the extra layer of weirdness to it just yet. That is not a first meeting conversation.
He starts scanning the beach, before making a happy noise, leading them over to a good, solid hunk of driftwood. He leans down to pick it up, testing his weight on it a little before letting go of Luca completely.
"Right. I really hope that's not going to be a thing here."
He doesn't want to deal with people he knows turning into giant monsters and trying to eat him. When they find the driftwood, though, that brightens things up a bit.
"Great! I'm glad we found something. And hey, maybe your real artificial leg will show up at some point!"
Which he's sure would work better, but for now, he's glad that Varian has something.
"Believe me, I'd be very okay with that. It made October... a real bad month."
His own leg would be ideal, and he can see less...normal things washing up a little further up the beach- books and personal knickknacks. That seems as good a place as any to really start focusing.
"Well, we can still keep looking, but at least this'll save your back and my dignity a little."
Varian was fortunate that he never turned into a monster himself. Not... a literal one, anyway. He'd seen the process happen to a lot of his friends and family here though, and it looked awful. He never wanted to experience it for himself. He's already got enough of a guilt complex without adding that mess to it all.
"Of course! If nothing else, I can grab some metal to make a new one. But that's the last resort and-oh."
One of the robed figures is coming their way, carrying robes and backpacks. They smile, seemingly friendly, but Varian carefully places himself a little in front of Luca anyway- mistrusting. The Waker hands over the stuff, welcoming them to Trench, telling them the backpacks are theirs. This is a far cry from the Townies Varian remmebers.
The humans seem nice, but Luca doesn't object when Varian puts himself between them. He's used to his friends and family being protective of him. While that can sometimes feel a bit smothering, in place like this, where he has no idea where he is or how anything works? It's welcome. He does take the bag when offered and start rooting through it, though.
"Oh, I have some clothes in here!"
Among the first things he sees in the bag is an item from home. His seaweed shorts. Luca quickly pulls them on, then pulls the fresh robes he's been offered on over that.
Varian keeps himself between Luca and the Wakers until they step away, gesturing towards the boardwalk, promising food and warmth up there. Once they head off in that direction, he moves to look in his own bag, brightening up.
"Clothes and my leg!"
He pulls out a pile of clothing and his steampunk-y prosthetic. He sits on the sand, getting himself dressed and his leg back on- exhaling happily once he's done so- raising to his feet and throwing a grin in Luca's direction.
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countryclub2021-08-09 05:25 pm
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His are still filtering into place. He has people he needs to look for on shore. Names and faces finding a place in his mind's eye, making a mental note to get them first. The preening is adorable, though.
"Of course it was. My boyfriend's a shapeshifter, it always looks pretty neat to me, though he has...uh more control over it. But sure, I'm happy to try and figure it out with you."
That sure does look like rocks!! Praise be!! He nods, moving his arms a little faster to get them going.
"Let's aim for that!"
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He has no idea how much Varian's boyfriend knows, but the fact that he actually knows how to control his shape shifting means he probably knows a lot more about the power than Luca.
Focusing on the rocks, Luca says, "Got it."
And he powers ahead, his tail beating furiously against the waves, his single focus being on getting them to the rocks.
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And it would be nice for Fern to be able to talk to another non-human. There's not a lot of them in town, to be sure. And in turn, it might help Luca settle in a little better- having someone he can relate to a little more than a human.
As they get to the rocks, Varian tries to help steer the piano in that direction, heaving out a sigh of relief as they get closer, and he can see signs of the boardwalk further ahead.
"That's definitely where we need to go. Can you see those lights in the distance?"
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"Yeah! I can se them!"
Which means that there are other humans where they're going, so he won't be dumping Varian off somewhere far away from human civilization. Although, realizing they're close gets him thinking.
"Do you think the humans here will be okay with sea monsters?"
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"Oh yeah, lots of Sleepers- that's... that's what we're called? People from other worlds? Well, lots of them aren't human. That boyfriend of mine is literally made of grass, you'll be fine."
He does pause to consider. He remembers what the Townies were like in Deerington, who definitely wouldn't take to a non-human that well.
"...Uh, but just in case the natives are weird, stick by me. I'll protect you."
He's naked and has literally one leg, but sure. He'll protect you.
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An odd term, which makes him wonder if there's going to be something weird about how they sleep, or how the natives sleep. Do people brought in randomly conk out at inopportune times? Do they sleep differently in some ways?
As for sticking by Varian, he'd be glad to since Varian seems nice, but somehow...it's not that he doesn't think only having one leg means he can't fight. Massimo only has one arm and Luca's sure he can fight. It's just...well...
"Yeah, and I can make sure they only see me in human form until I can feel things out."
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He knows now they technically weren't sleeping, they were something else. Something... different. He's not sure if they'll end up calling themselves something different in this new world. Collectively, they've got so used to 'Sleepers', it feels weird to think of themselves as anything else. Language is funny like that, he supposes.
Once he gets his leg back and his alchemy in working order, he'll be considerably more threatening. But right now, he's about as dangerous as a newborn kitten.
"That's a good idea. And if you need a place to lay low... well, I don't know if our house is here or not, given it was technically in the dream. But you're welcome to stay with us."
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How could they be in a little girl's nightmare? Why would they be pulled into someone's nightmare.
"I'll probably take you up on that offer. If your house is here. Because I know I definitely don't have a place here."
And even though he could probably find a place to hole up, he'd rather not be alone in this place.
Soon they're approaching the shore, and the piano suddenly stops when the legs ram into some sand and underwater rocks.
"Well, this is as far as I can get the piano. Do you need help getting to land?"
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Varian hopes he has his notes, he's sure they would be useful! Luca seems the sort who might enjoy ringbinders full of facts.
"Not a problem. I'd have to look for it, but it's a good, safe house if it shows up. It's got a big telescope, too."
Seen as Luca clearly has a big love for space. He offers a smile, nodding.
"Please, if you don't mind. Then maybe we can rip a piece off it and I can use it as a crutch."
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When Varian accepts his help getting to land, Luca reaches up with a hand so Varian has something to balance on when getting off the piano. Once he's off, Luca figures Varian can put his arm over his shoulder and Luca can bring him the rest of the way like that. At the suggestion of pulling off a piece, though, Luca looks at the piano.
"I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to pull off a piece. Are you?"
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"I figured that might sway you. It's a pretty cool room."
He's glad for the help off, leaning on Luca as he frowns at the piano. That was a good idea in theory, but in practice? Probably not so much.
"Maybe if I had my tools with me. Buuuuut I don't," dang. "...Are you gonna be okay with me leaning on you until we get further up the beach?"
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So if Luca sets up shop in the room with the telescope and never goes to his actual room...well, Varian's been warned.
"Yeah, that's fine. You can lean on me."
It definitely will work better than Luca trying to pull a leg off a piano. Luca gladly lends support, and once they get out of the water, as his skin starts to dry, the scales recede leaving skin in their place.
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The Disaster House has always been good at picking up strays, after all. What's one more kid to add to the mix? He smiles, nodding in thanks, leaning on Luca as they make their way up the beach. Varian turns his head to watch the change, his eyebrows raising.
"Wow, that's... actually really impressive. It really is a full-body transformation."
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They'd never have been able to get into and out of a human town alive if they couldn't turn human, and convincingly so, after all.
Looking around at the beach, Luca says, "Well, at least there's a ton of debris washed up here. I'm sure there's something around you could use as a crutch."
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"Oh yeah, this is an excellent way to go about undetected. I wouldn't have guessed for a second if I hadn't seen you transform myself."
He hums softly, nodding, before pointing further down.
"Lots of stuff over there- maybe something there might be useful. It looks like a lot of...Sleeper stuff actually," he chuckles. "I'll laugh if we actually find my leg here."
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No offense, Varian, he kind of hopes they don't find your original leg. Assuming there was one, because he knows sometimes people can just be born short a limb. Like Massimo. Looking around, he points.
"There's some debris that looks like it's made of wood over there."
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That's...not a comforting statement, Varian. That's not a comforting statement at all.
"That's great! Just what we need, let's head there."
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Well, that's horrifying. Luca decides to focus on just getting them over there for now.
"Right, okay!"
Once they reach the spot, a lot of it looks like junk to him.
"See anything that looks useful?"
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The lost leg is much more complicated than that, but he doesn't delve into the extra layer of weirdness to it just yet. That is not a first meeting conversation.
He starts scanning the beach, before making a happy noise, leading them over to a good, solid hunk of driftwood. He leans down to pick it up, testing his weight on it a little before letting go of Luca completely.
"Hey! This'll do nicely!"
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He doesn't want to deal with people he knows turning into giant monsters and trying to eat him. When they find the driftwood, though, that brightens things up a bit.
"Great! I'm glad we found something. And hey, maybe your real artificial leg will show up at some point!"
Which he's sure would work better, but for now, he's glad that Varian has something.
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His own leg would be ideal, and he can see less...normal things washing up a little further up the beach- books and personal knickknacks. That seems as good a place as any to really start focusing.
"Well, we can still keep looking, but at least this'll save your back and my dignity a little."
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Especially for Varian, losing a leg, but he doubts anyone would enjoy people turning into actually monsterous monsters and attacking everyone.
"Yeah, looking's much easier like this. And even if it doesn't end up being here, I'm sure we'll find some stuff that might be useful."
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"Of course! If nothing else, I can grab some metal to make a new one. But that's the last resort and-oh."
One of the robed figures is coming their way, carrying robes and backpacks. They smile, seemingly friendly, but Varian carefully places himself a little in front of Luca anyway- mistrusting. The Waker hands over the stuff, welcoming them to Trench, telling them the backpacks are theirs. This is a far cry from the Townies Varian remmebers.
"...Uh...thanks?"
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"Oh, I have some clothes in here!"
Among the first things he sees in the bag is an item from home. His seaweed shorts. Luca quickly pulls them on, then pulls the fresh robes he's been offered on over that.
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"Clothes and my leg!"
He pulls out a pile of clothing and his steampunk-y prosthetic. He sits on the sand, getting himself dressed and his leg back on- exhaling happily once he's done so- raising to his feet and throwing a grin in Luca's direction.
"Pretty cool, right?"
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