expiationnet | (video) an orb speaks

[ Peter's laughter can be heard as she opens the door. He even takes her poking in stride, since their conversation has already been weird enough. ]

I spent a few years in prison as a kid, I had to make sure.

[ That's not a normal thing to say? ]

A shiv is a... knife. A really crappy, makeshift one. But I was joking anyway, don't worry about it. [ He waves dismissively. ] But yeah, I could eat!

... Are you a bad person, Peter?

(not that everyone who is imprisoned is bad. fushi's learned that, but some definitely aren't good.

although a bad person would probably not say it. on the table, however, there's plenty of food awaiting. fushi's replication comes in handy - stimuli makes it so she can have a copy simply sprout from her hand, so. it tastes exactly like fushi's once had it.)

... Can you tell me what kind of beings have you met...?

(maybe there are other fushis out there. blackhood, the creator, only made fushi, but what if there are other blackhoods? other universes that fushi has never even heard about?)

Edited (typo...) 2023-02-17 23:52 (UTC)

Whoa, no, no. That's not it at all.

[ Somehow the sheer honesty in that question cuts Peter deep. Maybe he shouldn't joke around with someone who's clearly so... new at everything, like Fushi is.

An honest question deserves an honest response, though. ]

I was a prisoner. My dad was somebody really important, and the bad guys grabbed me so that... they could keep my dad from helping their enemies. So that's why.

[ He smiles, but it doesn't meet his eyes. This still burns him to this day, but not enough that he won't tell someone who's a kid, as far as he's concerned. But Peter steps on in and admires the spread. He had like no expectations and this looks great?? How.

Well, whatever! It's story time. Peter grabs a pear-looking thing and sniffs it before he takes a bite. ]

Yeah, none of my friends are from Earth, so I've met tons of people! One of my friends, Groot, he's a Flora Colossus -- the last of his whole kind. He's kind of like... a walking tree? Really tall. His planet was destroyed by Thanos, one of those bad guys I was talking about, and all that was left of him was a tiny splinter -- but someone found him and planted him in some soil and he grew right back into a person! Just like that!

[ Sure, it took years, but that's probably a nicer story than Rocket's or Gamora's or Drax's, right? ]

(fushi's not hungry, so really, this is all for the guest. there's not much to worry about, it seems, so there's a moment she sits next to the older-looking man, a hand supporting her head so she can listen.)

... I've known people who were paying the price for others. I'm sorry this is real for you as well.

(she knows that smile, at least. no need to be that clueless over it.)

... Is Earth your planet? What are planets? Does your friend speak? How does he walk? Does the soil go with him? Must you water him and must he sunbathe? How does any of this work--

... Can I ask you a question?

(NOT LIKE THE OTHER 300 COUNTED.)

[ Peter smiles. He knows she's being honest here too. Wow, it's nice. This is why kids are cool, even if it seems like she's been through some rough stuff too. ]

Yeah. My dad sucks.

[ J'son of Spartax for worst dad of forever, ok!!! But Peter just keeps up the stories. It's more fun to talk about stuff and help Fushi learn. He was once young and full of questions, too. ]

Yep, I'm from Earth! Though most people call it Terra. And planets are... whoa. Hm. [ He's never had to explain this one before. ] It's like, the place we're on? The ground, and the water, and everything? Lemme slow you down a bit on those answers, buddy. I'm not the best at explaining stuff.

[ He's smiling though. There's something very soft about her curiosity. It makes him wish he'd had someone nice to answer his questions, and not Yondu Udonta. ]

Okay, so Groot can talk. But his language is really subtle, and it's really rare, so most translators don't carry it, so for everyone else, whenever he speaks all we hear is "I am Groot." And he doesn't need the soil to live or anything, he just has to drink water same as most organics. Though I think being in the sun makes him heal a bit? I don't know his biology or anything. He's a really nice dude, everyone likes him.

[ He laughs. ]

But yeah, you can keep asking me questions, kid. I really don't mind.

Edited (last one sorry!) 2023-02-18 00:30 (UTC)

I'm sorry, this is all very new to me... I never heard much of anything that wasn't human, or animals, like crabs, birds, wolves, bears, fish...

(it's a lot of information, and sometimes, fushi's face appears a little blank, as if she's buffering. all these stories and peter's demeanor do make a smile stem from her lips, even if a little nostalgic.

so he has a companion who he cannot fully understand, and yet, thinks he's 'a nice dude'. all they can think is when they first took breaths, the shape of a wolf that was beloved by a lonesome human. then, march - a four-year-old who cared so much about them, even if fushi didn't even know how to eat.

it's... nice. there truly are people out there like this. it makes fushi feel warm, like they could find what was asked of them in the man - "find companions who understand you". fushi's tried, but the fear of grief and guilt hits harder.

... they have to try.)

You can keep secrets, right...?

[ Ooh, that's a big one. Not a question Peter expected, but not totally surprising, either. ]

Hey, it's all good. Different planets have different people in them. Different environments, different species...

[ Fushi doesn't strike Peter as Terran, with the way they asked questions. But really, Peter usually assumes people aren't Terran until proven otherwise. He imagines that kind of thing is rare, where everyone looks the same.

The point is, he's expecting Fushi to tell him that they're an alien. Which would be the most normal thing in the world for him. ]

Yeah, of course. Cross my heart.

[ He draws an X on his chest for good measure. ]

... What does that mean?

(please, peter, at this point they might be of your canon themselves... very confused... over everything peter says...

but there's a sigh. it's not 'alien', perse, however...)

Do you know any other orbs of light? That's what I am, really. I'm probably four times older than you or more. You know so much, so I thought maybe you knew others like me. There's only me as far as I know, but...

Sorry, it's like an extra promise. Like a pinky promise—crap, you probably don't know that one either, huh? My bad. I say a lot of Earth stuff, don't worry about it. My friends don't understand me either half the time.

[ He laughs. That, or he has taught all his friends his weird way of speaking, so they tend to get the phrases all wrong.

Anyway, Fushi is saying something that very serious, and Peter hears that. But Peter is, unfortunately, Peter. ]

Whoa, you're four times my age? You look good, dude!

[ OK, he hears it. It's bad. He holds his hands up in surrender, knowing his fast mouth can get him in trouble more than not. ]

Kidding. I'm kidding, sorry. I do that a lot, at the wrong times. Let me think...

[ He really does take the time to think. He's met a lot of races and species in the galaxy, but he's never heard of a race called "orbs of light." The Worldmind was kind of light-like? And Adam Warlock, well, the Magus was kind of like an orb of darkness, but still... Nova Force, Faith Energy, even the Infinity Stones... they don't sound quite like that. Certainly Fushi doesn't seem like a sentient infinity stone.

He's stumped. ]

I've never heard of a species called that, I'm sorry.

[ He knows that's probably not what Fushi wanted to hear. But he means every word he says: ]

But just because I've never heard of it doesn't mean there aren't other ones out there. The galaxy is huge and it's constantly expanding, so I know for a fact that it's impossible to truly see it all.

... Oh. Then cross my heart I will try to understand you more.

(look at them, learning, being nice. opening up, just like tonari had wanted-- but only for now. only a little bit. outliving everyone truly does suck.

the comment makes her shake her head, sighing a little. slowly, it's like gust and mist take over her, only to reveal the white-haired boy who often walks the hallways.)

Ah, that's... Not really how I look at all... This is not it, either, I think, but you'll find me more quickly and easily if you look for me like this... They were young, so-- I really don't have a body that shows how old I am...

(because this is not confusing at all. however, it does give him some sort of relief, and almost immediately, he starts to eat - the grump in his stomach signals so. this body is always starving...)

... It's okay, Peter. I figured. You don't have to look like that. I was just wondering if there was any other being who understood me somewhere.

(NOT LIKE THIS ISN'T SAD OR ANYTHING.)

[ Peter smirks at the turn of phrase, his eyes going wide with understanding as Fushi changes forms. That's so neat! And Fushi's follow up makes sense too—Peter's heard about that happening with shape-shifting species. It must be hard to not know or remember what you look like.

Even if not all of his words make sense, Peter reaches for Fushi and sets a tentative hand on his head. (Helps to be tall!) Fushi might be several times his age, but his words are just too sad. ]

Hey. You don't need to be the same species to be understood, Fushi. I know that real well.

[ He pulls back, hoping he hasn't overstepped. This is the part where he opens up his bleeding heart because he knows so badly how it feels to be completely and utterly alone. ]

I know it's probably hard to believe with how many humans there are here, but back home, I'm more used to being the odd guy out. [ There was also the whole first 3 years in prison, but that's a little too dark for right now. ] And my friends, they're... not one of us is from the same planet, or even species. So many of us lost everything in the War, but we all found each other. And despite all our differences, we still try to understand each other. That's what brings us together. So you really shouldn't give up on being understood, alright?

(fushi doesn't know -- simply because an orb doesn't come equipped with consciousness. several things they have been changed their priorities and ways of thinking - the years they've spent running from their problems as a sea creature taught them as much. digging for friends was such a huge thing.

there's a little moment of surprise, how long has it been since he's been petted? forty years? more? as a human, must have been more. the smile is there, though, even if a little hidden.)

... I know, I understand what you are saying... My friends are all... Humans, or animals. Many fishes... They are dead now, probably... The problem is that, even if you do understand me, you will die, right? I do not. You can cut my hand off right now, it'll just grow back. There's no end of me, so... I've been trying to find people, mine have all passed... But it's difficult with that. So that's what's hard for me to grasp. Maybe finding other immortal beings would help me... So, that's why I asked you.

[ Peter is a very physically affectionate guy, I'm afraid you might be stuck with him now, Fushi.

He nods, taking their words seriously. It's a real issue in space, too. Different races have different lifespans, a fact that isn't lost on Peter. Hell, he's probably going to age the quickest out of his friends, too. ]

Yeah, that's true. That has to hurt, losing people over and over.

[ He looks down at the pear he'd bit into. Already, the white part is starting to brown. To someone who lives forever, a human life would feel that fast, huh? It's wild. ]

I wish I could tell you it gets easier or something. If Groot were here, he'd know what to say. [ He's probably immortal too? He's so good at comforting people. ] But hey, there are species in the universe that live practically forever, so that's not as rare as you think. You'll have chances, I know it.

[ He looks back up, smiling softly. ]

And in the meantime, you might as well make some friends, right? Or, uh, not... I mean, it's really up to you, that's just what I think.

... "I am Groot" doesn't sound particularly comforting, Peter... But it's nice that you are thinking of him and your friends. It's... Important to remember and keep them close to you like this.

(ah, if only peter knew how hard it is. fushi's been through a lot, and the comment doesn't truly help a lot, because he knows. he knows this is what he should do, what he was asked to by someone beloved.

BUT IT'S HARD!!! the pain of knowing and being known... he straight up just wants to fuck off again. he won't, though, he'll to the best next thing. the wolf form also feels like them so much, the first living, breathing being he'd become, so that's what the mist takes him, and the arctic wolf hides under the bed.

and it speaks, too.)

... I want to be friends, you just can't die on me, alright?

Hey, don't knock it till you meet him. [ Peter laughs. You joke, but Peter takes joking as a good sign. And even if it's not a joke, well, too bad. ] It's about the delivery! Groot looks at you with those big ol' eyes... He's practically family to me. Him, Rocket, Drax, Gamora, even Nikki... They make it all worth it for me.

[ Family isn't about blood, Peter learned that much. He knows all about treasuring his friends, and keeping them close to his heart. Especially when he's all alone, in a strange place.

But ohhhh!!! Fushi is a dog now!!! Oh, he's just like Cosmo, this is great. Peter doesn't understand why Fushi decided to be a wolf, but he has to respect it. Anyone else might be overrun by the desire to pet but he's learned from Cosmo that you don't do that! Not without asking, at least.

Peter shares a serious look with Fushi, keeping eye contact even like this. ]

I won't. [ He answers seriously, ] I've survived worse, I'm not gonna die here. Plus, I have too many people counting on me at home—there's no way I'll let anything kill me.

... I know how you feel... These forms I can take are actually people I've met. They all took care of me, in a way or another... I hope you can see your friends soon.

(what a good young lad. fushi can be friends. he seems a lot like his own, the ones who have passed.

and also, mostly because he can fit under the bed easier, hide a little. his other forms won't do that so well, with an owl, a blind crab, a blind mole... this is really so much more comfortable.

the only caveat is that he is happy, and the tail wags without he even wanting to. goddamnit. stop!!! don't make him attached!!-- ah, well.)

... Ok. Then we're friends.

I'm sure they're out there looking for me. I mean, they'd act like they don't care, but deep down... they're all softies. It's cool that you can change forms like that. I bet that helps you keep their memory alive, huh?

[ Maybe it's a little morbid, but Peter can see the bright side in anything. It also tells him that Fushi is a big softie too. He grins, seeing that tail wag. Sorry, Fushi, he's gonna go for a scritch on the head. ]

Glad to hear it, buddy! I'm always pumped to make more friends. [ Scritch scritch. ] And don't worry—I'll keep your whole thing a secret.

[ It's true, he's a great liar. If anyone asks him, he'll say he's mastered dancing with wolves. ]

Do you think they can make it here? Who would you want to see first?

... Sort of... It's-- It's complicated?

(so, if peter wants to hear it, he'll tell him. it's not that complicated, but it's a matter of god being an asshole, and that's a whole thing by itself.

the pet though makes the tail wag stronger, tapping the floor almost in a rhythm. he can't help but to push his head more against the palm, until he's out of under the bed and jumping on it.

his face looks like 'pet', but he's trying to be almost serious.)

... Yes, it's for the best. I need... To see how people are, first. After I think everyone is safe, then I don't care.

There might be a chance! But they'd have to use this thing called the Continuum Cortex, because it kinda seems like whatever planet this is, it's not in the same universe as mine.

[ Can't believe Peter is chill with the multiverse, but then again, he is a Marvel. He keeps petting between Fushi's ears, absentmindedly. It's calming for him too. ]

But if it were down to which friend I'd like to see first... man, it's hard to choose. I'd wanna see them all? If I had to pick one though... probably Rocket. He'd be soo mad at me, but soo worried. He's not real good with his emotions, so it's always kinda nice when he opens up.

[ Rocket is also a cyborg raccoon so like, Peter is leaving out some key details here. But it's not on purpose, he just forgets that people are weird about him sometimes. ]

Complicated how? If it's cool to ask.

[ They're sharing! And Peter is happy to listen, he loves learning about new things. Even stuff that might be too complicated for him to get. ]

I totally get wanting to keep it quiet. I always try to believe in the best of people, but I'm not naive enough to think I won't ever be disappointed. Some people are dicks, or they get angry when they run into stuff that might take them a while to figure out. There's jerks like that everywhere.

Honestly, I don't know... If it's in mine, either.

(the wolf's voice is a little goofy, which makes it a little funny to have serious conversations in, but being petted feels absolutely amazing, so it's not like fushi'll complain. to the contrary, he's even raising his chin to get more scratches. nevermind the foot tapping, because fushi can't notice that either.

also, it's cool, because fushi would not even know what a cyborg is. peter would have to explain. like he will have to explain everything in life from this point forward. congratulations, peter.)

Is anyone really good with emotions? Emotions are complicated. Life is easier when you're a fish. What is Rocket like? Is he... Human? I think you're human. Are you human?

(he means it, about the fish thing. god knows.)

Ah. Well. Alright. I'm an orb of light, just that. I was made to be able to receive stimuli, and understand the world around me... So, well. I can take up the form of people who made gave me stimulus - pain, happiness, concern, all these things... After they die, though. I would know if you died, because I'd be able to turn into you.

(MORBID, yes. but ok.)

There are these beings that aren't... Good... And I'm a threat to them... I was made to be one. So they follow me. They can steal my forms, so I don't just lose a body, I lose the person completely from my memory. So basically, God created me to deal with that, learn, and apparently take over. I told him it'd take at least 100 years more until I understood something, but he's selfish and doesn't listen very well.

(please, more pets. he needs them.)

So, I deal with that, lose my friends again if I lose a fight, and God doesn't help me, and I have to keep fighting them otherwise they'll hurt people. It's not that I don't trust people with my identity, I just need to know everyone is safe from being around me before I'm out in the open like this.

Edited 2023-02-21 00:42 (UTC)

Yeah, it kinda seems like we might all from different universes, honestly... dunno how that's even possible, but.

[ He shrugs. It's waaay too complicated for him to think about, so he just won't. ]

Feelings are hard, man. Probably the hardest part of being a person. [ Being a fish probably would be easier, damn. Fushi must have some wild stories. ] Which, okay, is probably why Rocket has so much trouble with his. He's not human-shaped like me. He's kinda like... Okay, you know how you're a wolf right now? He's an animal called a raccoon, but some bad people experimented on him and filled him full of metal and robot parts. So he walks on two legs and he's super smart and he can talk, but his face and body still look kinda animal-y.

But I'd never say he's not human, you know? I'm not real big on splitting people up based on whether they're "human" or not. I think what's inside is what counts, the shape doesn't matter so much... but yeah, in the traditional sense, I'm human. My mom was from Earth, and my dad was from a planet called Spartax—people from Spartax look the same as people from Earth, pretty much.

[ Fushi really is getting the full background here, Peter just hopes his explanations make sense... Fushi is at least doing a great job of explaining. Peter wants to know everything about his new friend! ]

Ohhh, gotcha. So it only works after someone dies?

[ Morbid or not, death is something Peter is familiar with. It bears asking—though the thought of Fushi taking on his likeness after he dies is kind of... awesome? It would be very cool for his memory to live on like that. But he just promised he wouldn't die, so that'll have to wait.

He keeps the pets coming, petting along Fushi's muzzle and nose, then back to his ears. Who's a good boy!! Who is maybe being set up to be a god? Wow. ]

Dude, that's a lot. Half of that went over my head but it sounds awful. Your god's a jerk, no offense. And if you're being chased by flarks that can steal your memories and stuff, it's no wonder you're careful!

(for a moment, he can only listen, if peter doesn't distract him so much with the pets. it's been a while for fushi being this open, and after forty years without any contact, it's really sending him. he'll even come closer, a gentle butt of his head against peter's face. emotional support wolf.)

... And you grew up with these beings all different from you? Did you ever feel left out? It must be really incredible to meet people like this... I can't even imagine a metal raccoon... Does he want to be more like you? ... I've never met anyone like you... Spartaxi--an? What is different?

(that's a bit of a question, isn't it? in a world where everyone is so different, someone else has problems like that, of not fitting in.)

... Yes, it only works like that. I can duplicate the body and the skills, but it's still just me. A lof of them died because of this situation, though... So not forgetting them is the least I can do-- he's a fucking ass.

(THE WOLF SWEARS!! and he fixes his posture to imitate the Beholder, even if the wolf's vocal chords can't do miracles. it is still dry and serious, however, like he was trying to be grim and a jerk who has a jerk face and a jerk black hood.)

"You must protect all of creation. Perhaps once you are able to recreat the ocean, your duty would be finished, I'm an ugly man who has nothing to do but to give cryptic messages and be annoying and selfish."

[ Emotional support wolf!!! Peter keeps cuddling... it's soothing, you know. ]

Kind of, I didn't know I was part-Spartoi until I turned 13. Turns out my dad was the King? Not that he ever showed up for us. My mom raised me growing up, so I had no idea until then. But that's when I first went into space... Actually, I felt left out for a long time. My first three years, I didn't have a translator implant, so I couldn't understand anybody at all. It was hard for sure.

[ And also he was in a very dangerous space prison, but he doesn't wanna bring the mood down with that detail. ]

Rocket though, nah, he's his own man. He'd laugh at the thought of even being "like me."

[ Probably say "like Quill? You mean a flarking loser?" Peter smiles at the thought. ]

It's, ah—Spartoi. Spartoi don't really go off-planet very often. They're known across the galaxy for their making awesome weapons, that's where my blasters are from. [ He nudges the guns at his hips. ] Fun fact, these'll only work in the hands of someone who's got Spartoi royal blood. They're a family heirloom, about the only cool thing I got from my dad.

[ That thing about his dad being the king is 100% true. But also when Fushi curses Peter laughs. But encouragingly, he's happy to join along. ]

Hell yeah, dude! Flark that jerk. Thinks he can just toy with you and take away the memories of your friends? He's a asshole, if I've ever heard of one! Screw him!

Edited (j'son of spartax is a bad dad, in case that wasn't clear ) 2023-02-21 04:55 (UTC)

... And you really didn't know all this... Wow. Not understanding language is awful, I know what you went through, but it must have been more frustrating knowing something was being told...

(because honestly, to fushi, it was just all brrrrrrr noises.)

Oh. Yeah. I wanted to touch them... Is your dad gone? Why did you leave?

(when will fushi tell him that all the food came out of his hand? eventually, probably.)

Yes!! You understand!! You understand!!

(and here's a very happy wolf, jumping on the bed in circles before peter is attacked. by licks. from a doggo.)

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