dualislogs | [closed]

[Harry's pretty sure there's a correct choice when it comes to picking a conspiratorial meeting point — and he's also pretty sure this isn't it. That he chose his location pretty fucking poorly.

The giveaway there are the vast number of beady penguin eyes following his every movement. The fact that they crane their necks upwards as he pulls a lighter from his impossibly khaki uniform. That their mass acts like a wave of black and white arrows just... pointing at him.

In his defense, it isn't feeding time.

In their defense, they're penguins. They can't possibly know that.

Still, he finishes lighting his cigarette (a nervous habit that... may or may not be banned out in the open like this) and does his best to ignore them. If they're stuck staring at his back long enough, they'll get that he doesn't have a feeding bucket on him and go back to waddling around and shitting everywhere. In the meantime, he's going to go ahead and scan the crowd.

And maybe pace.]

[ The truth is always somewhere in the middle of one idea and another right? Sometimes. At least that's what Arkady had heard other people say. She's not really sure if that's the case though because the truth about why she jumped at the zoo was 100% the fact that she just wanted to go to the zoo. After zoo had been mention she partially checked out on what the real point of them going even was. All that mattered was they were going to a zoo. Not only that but they were going to the zoo to meet a potential new friend. That was even more great!

Once they get there Tidus slight distraction isn't lost on her but she doesn't bring it up. Instead she just wraps her arms around him from behind as he looks at the map and then moves with him as he starts walking, sliding an arm down to lock in his. She's touchy feely and really can't help it. Especially once she starts to really like someone. ]

Penguins!!! [ That's the area they're approaching at least and she's super excited about it. Maybe a bit too excited about it because she starts to pull Tidus along towards the penguin spot. ] We have to go see them! Pingu penguin! [ Enjoy the bald excited girl in a flowing almost see-through skirt and the boy with the giant park map coming towards the penguins, Harry. It's going to be a great first impression. ]

[ The good thing at least is that Arkady is a distracting presence -- a fun distracting presence! -- for Tidus's wandering mind, helping to pull it back on track along with their oversized park map. He isn't going to complain or make any mention about the arm hooked in his, either -- it's nice. A kind of physical affection he forgot to miss for a while. ]

Wh-whoa now! [ And it's also the perfect way to tug Tidus along and have his legs stumble, but he laughs as he manages to keep up with Arkady's enthusiasm, the wall of the penguin pen rising and the little black and white blobs coming better into view, and. Tidus spots Harry, but honestly?

Looking up penguins online does not prepare him for how utterly...goofy they look in perfect, surrounding Harry's feet, like a litter of puppies. And if puppies could stick out their front paws, awaiting for a hug.

Now those are a fun distraction, where super secret illegal mind conversations aren't exactly at the forefront of Tidus's mind when he calls out, raising his Arkady-less arm. ]

Harry! Hey! Penguin dad!

[ It's a jovial greeting, the map flapping from Tidus's hand. ]

[The moment he spots Tidus, Harry feels a kind of cold dread trickle down his spine. Despite the mild chill, the small of his back feels like a swamp. He's sweating.

It's not completely unexpected, he supposes, but it's a heavy contrast to the bright grins slapped across the pair's faces — and the sheer excitement of the woman causing his current wave of anxiousness. The... incredibly bald woman.

INLAND EMPIRE — Para-natural baldness. Her powers are such that the hairs are constantly released with a kind of... psy-static. A mystical follicle anomaly.

Harry gives his head an almost bovine shake, like he's trying to rid himself of a fly. With a brief (and rather despairing) look at the just-lit cigarette pinched between his fingers, he edges around the mass by his shins and approaches the wall. Grins with that rigor-mortis expression he sometimes wears when panic begins to set in.

There's the faint pap-pap-pap of dozens of feet as he leans forwards and grinds the cigarette out against the concrete.]

Tidus! How's it going?

[Warm, because... you know, the head knows that they know each other.]

And who's this? [The grin relaxes into something less strained, and suddenly he's shoving his other hand out. Big, blunt-ended, nicotine-stained fingers spread and ready for a friendly shake.] You guys on some kinda zoo date?

Penguin dad! Hello! [ She likes that. Penguin dad. It's probably going to stick now. The smile on her face doesn't fade as she takes his hand and shakes it enthusiastically. Despite how frail she appears her grip is deceptively firm. ]

Is it a date? You'd have to ask Tidus. [ She bumps Tidus with her hip playfully and winks. A bit of teasing to lighten the mood. It's what she does after all, attempts to lighten moods when she thinks maybe they'll be a bit too tense. In general this place is tense. Meetings are tense. People are tense in general. And she likes to help. ]

I'm Arkady! [ And somehow she's still grinning. Though, there's just a hint that perhaps she's forcing that cheerful energy. There's still a lot to be upset about in this place and a lot to weigh on someone's shoulders. Especially someone who's psychic and blames herself for everything that happens. But, she's trying to not let people know those things and instead she plays a part. ]

[ Enjoy your new life as Penguin Dad, Penguin Dad.

The initial questioning about dates gets a furrowed brow, a look of come on, really? that isn't taken seriously until Arkady joins in, brow now bounced up with his eyes as he throws her a taken back stare. It lasts into her introduction before Tidus turns away, the urge to rub at his head or neck blocked by his occupied hands. He knows they're messing with him, he knows! But is that what this looks like? Is he okay with that?

...

It's not a big deal, is what Tidus does remind himself, returning to the exchange with no less a pout to hide an otherwise sheepish expression. And whatever this act is meant to be now. ]

Arkady wanted to see the animals, [ he says, with a sulky voice to match his sulky face. He gestures towards Harry and the pen with his map hand, which makes a thwap sound as he does. ] Should you be smoking in there right now?

[ Not to sound like a party pooper or anything, except he does. ]

[With the second utterance, Harry finds himself hoping against hope Penguin Dad doesn't stick. For a whole host of reasons, really. Firstly, he's suffered one too many nicknames already: Captain Sober, Dick Mullen, Shitkid... the list goes on. Secondly, dad is never going to sit well. Thirdly, he already has a heraldic bird, and it certain isn't a penguin.

The biggest reason, however, is that he's a guy who got so fucked up that he forgot his name for a little while. He likes owning it again.

Yet despite all that, the thing that earns the irritated little twitch of his brows is another subject entirely.]

I'm not. [On cue, he holds up the stubbed out cigarette. With exaggerated precision, he takes a finger and taps the end of it, just to really underline how unlit it is right now.

PAIN THRESHOLD — Fucking ow! At least lick your finger first, asshole! It's still hot.

His eyes water a little. He drops his arm and gives the cigarette another quick scrub on the wall, before setting it behind his ear. Shut up.]

See? No penguins were harmed.

[The small army of penguins seem to disagree. They're currently being very harmed. There's a distinct lack of attention being thrown their way, and worse? No fish!

One particularly bold member of that union spreads its wings and waddles closer to the edge of the wall. Its head reaches up, twitching this way and that as it analyses the new pair. It keeps stretching, ducking and staring.]

[ Alas, Penguin Dad is certainly going to stick. She has already decided on it being the best new name that could possibly exist and there's no going back. Unless she forgets about it. That depends entirely on how much she drinks and experiments. Maybe he'll get lucky someday and she'll forget all about it. Or she'll get lucky and she'll forget all about it. There's a lot that's starting to crowd up her mind that she just wants to forget about.

But right now the important thing is to tease Tidus more. Clearly. She puts on a very overly exaggerated frown and looks at Tidus and then to Harry. ] I guess he wouldn't want to consider it a date. That's too bad. We could have had fun after! [ And she goes there. Even manages to keep herself from laughing, though there's a smile that's trying desperately to pull through her fake frown now. ]

That's not going to be nearly as good later. Not now. [ He's ruined a good cigarette and she's mildly offended by it. Probably because it's been so long since she's had one herself. Too long now that she thinks on it. Though if she thinks on it too much she might end up thinking about how much she actually wants to go back to the days when she just partied all day. Which was very counter-productive to trying to solve a mystery about a dystopian robot society, so she pushes those thoughts away.

It's too easy for her mind to wander. She shakes her head, as if she were clearing it of the thoughts inside and then her eyes glow bright white ever so briefly as she locks eyes with the penguin. It wants fish so bad she can almost taste it through it. ]

Don't be mean, Penguin Dad. Get them fish! And maybe us. Now I want fish and chips.

[ ok sure harry, cool not smoking there. Maybe it was a needless point to bring up after the fact (Harry smokes, what's new), but what's said is done and all that, and Tidus doesn't have much time to think about it as the teasing swings right back over to him again.

And the gutter in his mind taking fun after to mean exactly what it doesn't. A fact he realises quickly, but he isn't sure how to follow that up with the mental fumble it produces regardless, other than an awkward defence of: ]

Hey, I dunno what you're talking about, okay?

[ There was an Attempt to be joking in return about it, but it's lost in its actual delivery. He's too aware of how much better he could be handling this (make a better joke, man! this isn't serious!), but instead of trying to fix it, goes for attempting to fix the map instead, fiddling to get it somewhere close back to its original state. Eyes flicking over to the penguins, the one in particular whose attention is on him and Arkady. ]

Is that why they're following you? [ He means the feeding thing Arkady mentioned, then adds in an explaining tone: ] I've never seem them before. They weren't around the last time I came.

[ So he knows zilch about penguins other than their goofy faces. ...and bodies. ]

[Apparently Harry's instantly game when it comes to casual teasing, because he plays along, head shaking slowly as he meets Arkady's frown with one of his own. It stays there, too, evolving into something a little more genuine as she turns that disappointment on him, instead.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — Be still my beating heart, she sees it, too! You just extinguished a trace of yourself, brother. Didn't even think to take one drag, huh?

Yeah, why did he do that?

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — Hey, hey... It ain't all bad! You didn't see it before, but now you know: she could be your buddy-buddy.

It's a thought. His attempts at sharing cigarettes in Dualis have been summarily rejected by pretty much everyone who's not some fellow forgettable bar-door drunk. And more than that, the para-natural and psychoactive make pretty good bed-fellows, right?

Somewhere below him, one of the penguins nips at the rubber boots he's wearing. He hums, staring down at them for a moment, before glancing up at the pair again.]

I dunno, lady. It's kinda early for feeding time. It's a whole... public event, you know? [He sweeps his knuckles across his jaw, mock-thoughtful. Sucks a long breath in, continuing the motion for a good couple of beats. And then:] Although... [He squats, suddenly.] Tidus, buddy, you're in luck! We just so happen to do a penguin experience. [From his new position, he reaches one hand out (allowing it to be half-pecked at) while he smooths his other down the little dude's back. The grin he's wearing is that of a salesman.] I mean, normally we're all booked up, but seeing as we're friends, and I got a little time? [His shoulders rise in a tiny shrug.] I'll give you the low-down, you get to feed them...

[His eyebrows have climbed up, too, and whoops, he's pulling The Expression.]

C'mon, what's 50 duos for the perfect date?

[ Feed them? They'd get to feed them? There's a mission. Somewhere in the back of her mind Arkady knows this. It's buried under fishies and dreams of feeding the penguins though. Sadly, teasing Tidus isn't buried. No, he's not going to get that lucky. The focus of her often all too scattered mind was currently penguins and teasing Tidus with her new Penguin Dad friend. Friend who wastes good cigarettes that could have easily been enjoyed.

As quickly as it came the thought flitted from her mind and she moved back to thinking about the penguins.And feeding them. And the date teasing. She widens her eyes and looks like a puppy wanting the biggest piece of bacon ever. Please give her this. Violet eyes blink as she looks frmo Harry to Tidus and then she claps her hands together and jumps up and down.

Is she an adult that's tripped on acid more times than she can count? Maybe. Or maybe she's just a penguin enthusiast. ]

Tidus! Can we?! We can right?! We don't have many animals where I'm from anymore. Or zoos! [ Or anything. Because they'd accidentally fucked England completely. And maybe more places. Arkady is just going to casually skip admitting that they don't have animals because maybe, just maybe, the FreakAngels accidentally killed them when they punched a hole through reality. Unimportant parts of the story are unimportant.

Her heads inclined now to the right side and her eyes are practically begging saucers. Then without any amount of shame or hesitation she flings an arm around Tidus neck and grabs Harry's hand and nods her head. ]

50 duos for penguin feeding! Deal! [ Here's to hoping Tidus has money now that he's been volunteered. ]

[ Fifty duos-- ]

Fifty duos?! [ The meaning of that amount only sputters into Tidus's head and out his mouth the second time it's said, and he gawks between the pair, the oblivious excitement coming from the latter who -- it has to be oblivious! Or just not caring. Same difference! ]

That's daylight robbery, man! [ Tidus swings out an arm -- his map hand-holding arm, now a scrunched up mess -- in protest. None of the penguins react. No one understands the criminal activity taking place here other than Tidus. ] Do you have fifty duos? I didn't bring that -- I'm not spending that on feeding the flappy things! They're already chubby!

[ Which is more important than what he has or doesn't, at least what he isn't doing. He shoots whatever face Harry is currently making with disbelief. Points at him, still half-hooked at the neck by Arkady. ]

I wanna haggle! Twenty duos!

[ is it too late to haggle when a handshake has taken place ]

[Harry returns the shake, sending a sly wink alongside it. His stupid grin takes on the barest hint of sympathy as he turns it on Tidus.]

Sorry, kiddo. Can't haggle on a done deal. [Having released Arkady's hand, he's brought both of his down to the nearest penguin. Thumbs resting beneath either flipper, he slides them up, like the little guy is shrugging.] Besides, fifty is already a friends and family discount. [The penguin's head flops against one of Harry's arms, and it busies itself by clapping its beak at the hair there.] It'll be great. Promise.

[And with that, he releases the penguin and pushes himself to his feet. Using that prickly chin of his, he indicates a small building across the enclosure. Its done up with a crude arctic landscape, with a couple of doors either side of the wall, and a hole painted to look like an igloo for the penguins to waddle through at will.]

Go wait at the door, there. I'll be two, three minutes, tops. [He begins the awkward process of moving between the minefield of penguins like the world's worst bowling ball avoiding every pin. A few meters in, he pauses, and turns just enough to flash Arkady a couple of finger guns.] Catch you on the flipper side.

[He doesn't even wait for a reaction, instead immediately turning away again as he heads to the other door, keys jangling as he goes to unlock it. A couple of the penguins that had been following him in an orderly queue patter excitedly over to the fake igloo and duck inside.]

Don't insult the pengus! [ She narrows her eyes at him and then lets out a tiny huff of defeat. What a cruel person Tidus is turning out to be! Not that she did have fifty duos on her. In fact she's got 0 money on her. Or anything a usual person would carry around with them. Usually, if she wants something she just gets it.

The tiny spark of excitement returns when he tells them to go wait by the door. Will they get to see the penguin feeding after all? It's the thing that really matters here, isn't it? Wait.

No.

There's something else that's more important. ] Flipper side! [ She taps her head and grins. Right! Something more important. She takes Tidus' hand and guides them towards the door. In her attempt to seem as casual as possible she swings both their hands to a song only she can hear. ]

This place is fun! [ She smiles at him and then tilts her head. She could just ask if they're ready to talk privately, but she prefers to just do things. It's more interesting that way. So, she pulls them into their minds. Or her mind? Or just a mindscape? It's all weird and complicated. It's like they're still at the zoo but everyone around is just a glowing white blob that doesn't move. Everything has a weird purple hue to it too, all sorts of shades with the occasional hint of blue and yellow. Kind of like a weird trip. ]

So, we need to talk about things?

[ Nothing about those penguins appear offended, not even the one that had been manhandled by thick fingers either side of its (chubby) form, and Tidus isn't sure how he got in this current situation anymore, despite being the guy to arrange this day out.

He's given up his protests; vocally, anyway, with none of his disgruntled leaving the rest of him, aura and all. Regardless, he doesn't fight as he's the one manhandled -- or womanhandled -- by Arkady a second time, better her to lead him than his own two feet. This was nothing close to how he was picturing this meeting to go, and while it wasn't dangerous, it was disorienting.

Even before the shift of Arkady's powers coming into play. Their own tiny collection of white and black friends, blipped out from immediate attention to the haze of her mindscape. Tidus doesn't look back or around to observe their surroundings, though it's different from last time this happened. Probably better for it on Harry's end than when they did this to Hank, although Tidus's immediate thought on the shift and Arkady's prompting question is: ]

Yeah, about this fifty duos? 'Friends and family discount'? I'm calling-- [ Can one's 'inside' voice cut off with a huff? Tidus's does regardless, a mental tch, a grumbling of nothing but emotion following for a second. ]

Fine fine, serious talk. You okay, Harry?

[ Begrudging as it is, it's not insincere, or not meant to be. At least Tidus was better prepared for this when Arkady used a less visually-inflicting mind chatter on him in their first meeting. How would Harry take to it? ]

[One moment, Harry's shutting the door behind him, taking in some great, steeling breath in that brief window of privacy. The next? The next the world just... shifts.

Harry shifts, too. First, a surprised lurch backwards into the door. Then, downwards as Tidus's voice hits and a bolt of terror sends him scrabbling into a corner like a dog exposed to fireworks. He crouches there, chest heaving and eyes blinking owlishly.

LOGIC — This is the mind thing, isn't it? Tidus never described the visual side, but it stands to reason, right?

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — And ohhh, buddy. Speaking of visuals, you thought pyrholidon was wild... It's like you pressed your eyeballs inside a jellyfish. Imagine—

VOLITION — No, don't imagine anything. Not until we know how this works, okay? Just stay calm and think, "I'm fine."

Mumbled:]

M'fine.

[He feels his throat bob as he says it.

VOLITION — Okay, close, but maybe try thinking it this time. Just... when you're ready, a nice, clear: "I'm okay."]

I. AM. A-OK.

[ Maybe she should have warned them both. Maybe. It's much more amusing this way though. Kinda like the first time she ever teleported someone. They were so surprised and surprises are fun. Right? ]

You don't seem fine. [ She looks over at Tidus and then sighs mentally. ] Too much? [ It seems so and now she's mildly disappointed. ]

Should we have just done mind talking? We can do that!

Hey -- hey, Harry--

[ The mood and any grumbling Tidus had left in him is severed clean, dispelled the second he notices Harry's reaction. Difficult to miss despite the partition of what one calls a solid wall, but that's been faded by the same power that allows them to see the same white dots of people wandering the park. Instead, it's like peering through milky plastic, with Harry's figure turning from upright into a more circular shaped, its glow catching Tidus's eye. A miniature human-made igloo, which is more concerning than funny.

And that's not even touching on the voices. Different pitches of the same source, and Tidus doesn't understand, but he'll dismiss that confusion for what's immediately important. Seriously, one thing at a time here. ]

No visuals, cut it! Take it easy, I would've freaked out if you did this to me the first time too. [ And his 'second time' wasn't even this trippy, despite how much he didn't want to see his own flickering form. Tidus turns his attention back onto Harry, some part of him wanting to go to whatever door would get him to the other side, but reality then returns to what it should be before he can make any decision. The indoors shaded by the roof, the colours dulled and normal.

A solid wall to greet him. No Harry shapes to be seen.

That doesn't ease Tidus, but hopefully it does the older man. ]

Hey, everything normal on your end now? You cool? [ He aims for casual in his reassurance, hands smoothing out the air uselessly. Thinks to add, even if he's unsure he'll be heard: ]

You good, Harry?

Edited 2020-02-29 14:11 (UTC)

[At some point, as the new voices continue rattling in his head, Harry manages to force himself up again, hand pressing against the concrete behind him for support.

DRAMA — That's genuine concern, sire. It appears they're under the impression that you're panicking.

COMPOSURE — What's the giveaway? It's not like they can see you sweating... knee jerking... God, cool the fuck down, okay? This is embarrassing. You're embarrassing yourself and they can hear it in your fucking head voice.

True or not, he can feel the back of his neck heat up, cheeks burning. Before he can wonder whether a bright red face can be witnessed in this new purple world, the vision seems to flicker off.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — Aaaand now it's gone again. That's disappointing. You don't think you ever did the Hunch—

ENCYCLOPEDIA — B-hydroxy-phenothiazine.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — Right. But this kinda lines up with what you heard about it. A wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am, then nothing.

And yet, for all of that, he's thankful for the return to normality. For one thing, he's now aware of the three penguins that appear to be stood off to the side, observing his little breakdown from the entrance of their igloo door. Those glittering eyes appear curious, but blissfully without judgement.

SUGGESTION — You might want to try replying again.

Harry clears his throat - an automatic build-up to talking - but he manages to think the words instead:]

Oh yeah. Super cool.

[It's a much better attempt. None of that weird stiltedness from before.

SUGGESTION — And now go open that door. Just... maybe wipe your forehead first. Dead giveaway.

He takes a slow, steadying breath, then does just that, pressing his brow into the crook of his elbow before drawing the bolt open.]

Hey. Sorry, feel free to head in. Just, uh... just wait here while I go grab the fish, okay? And throw that lock across.

[He's very loosely gesturing, already turning away to head into the attached corridor, because yes, the blush is still there, and no, he doesn't want them seeing it. Just stare at the barely fenced-off penguins and give him a minute okay?]

[ Now she actually feels bad. That's what Arkady is focusing on the most. It's fun at first until people start to really freak out. Then it slowly gets less fun and more guilt-y feeling. When the psychic images disappear she has her shoulders visibly slumped in a vague gesture of defeat that mixes with her feelings of guilt.

Guilt that mixes with the discomfort she feels from the other two. Sometimes being psychic isn't nearly as fun as others. ]

I'm sorry. It's just safer that way, nobody notices anything weird at all.

[ And somehow even her psychic voice manages to sound a bit discouraged. Like a kid that thought they'd made the perfect breakfast only to be told that strawberry frosting cereal wasn't a legitimate breakfast. It should be a very good breakfast!

Now she's just going to sulk though, folding her arms across her chest and not really moving in any direction until someone pulls her along to their destination. She's given up on the dream of seeing the Pengus and instead is focused on feeling pretty bad that she's evidently freaked out a grown man and a ....Tidus. ]

[ It's like there's a bigger conversation taking place than there should be, and it bewilders Tidus to be listening into. Is that normal? No. ...or maybe it is? But he doesn't think -- can't think -- anything too prominent as it occurs when he's not even sure what to make of it. And then there's Arkady beside him, deflating to the reactions.

They're all rather jumbled right now. Tidus begins to start a thought before the door opens enough to signal them to go in, distracting him. But then Harry's already going, so he makes a decision to turn back to Arkady first, who's showing no signs of being in a rush to get in.

He puts a hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. ]

It's alright, don't worry about it. Just a little warning next time, okay? [ He says it hushed, not meaning on his end to sound rattled; just maybe being too forceful in the moment. Flashing her a smile, pushes the door the rest of the way open, tipping his head for her go in first. ] We can do it later. Think Harry liked it?

[ Which isn't a thought he means to share, quizzical and quiet and to himself, but what's keeping thoughts to yourself during a telepathic link? If Arkady goes in, then he'll close the door and do the lock behind him. ]

[Having left the scene, Harry's head seems a lot quieter. There's a stray observation every now and then, pointing out a sound, or smell, but the frantic tripping contributions have slowed to a stop. Barring a brief aside from one of the more creeping, oleaginous voices, anyway:

ELECTROCHEMISTRY — Guess what, baby? That crippled soldier behind your ear? He wants to fight.

When Harry reappears, not only does he return with the bucket of fish he promised, but with a box of gloves and the stench of tarry cigarettes, too. His eyebrows dance up as some kind of greeting, and he sets the bucket down to the floor, before turning his attention to the box in his hands.

His face is its usual level of ruddy now.]

So. Do you guys wanna get straight to business or what?

[His eyes flick up as (having tugged a couple of pairs free from their cardboard prison) he throws the balled up gloves towards Tidus, then Arkady.]

[closed]

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