22 ♐ Horse in a Spider's body

[aim_exorable]

Who: Darkleer (trapped in a spidertroll's body) and YOU
When: Throughout the day
Where: The park, and then throughout Vatheon
Style: Open
Status: Open

Morning, the Park



For anyone wandering near the connection between the park quadrant and the main city, they might see something odd. After spending the last few days detoxing (a painful experience), Darkleer has finally decided to venture out in Mindfang's body. There's just... one problem. The empathy. As reluctant as he is to admit that she was in any way right, Darkleer can't deny that it is a powerful overwhelming sensation. But he's not going to give up.

So those wandering about might see 'Mindfang' taking deep breaths and trying to venture into the city.. only when more than a few people are in the vicinity, 'she' seems to pale and quickly retreat until 'she's' in the entrance to the park again where 'she' can sit down and sigh in frustration.

> See what the big deal is?

Throughout the plaza, the rest of the day



At some point, Darkleer manages to get over the crushing feel of empathy- okay, that's not quite right, and the real answer is much longer and involves the kind of stubborn denial that only Zahhaks are capable of, but the point is...

At some point, one might see a finely dressed Mindfang walking about the plaza, with her hair actually brushed and made nice and everything. She actually cleans up fairly well, even with her robotic arm looking a bit jarring in comparison to the rest of the fleshy body. There's also something else a bit jarring:

the giant terrarium full of spiders that she's holding in her hands.

Seriously, there are at least, like, eighteen of them or something. Lord. At least Darkleer seems proud. Awwwww yeah, cleared this body of spiders in the hair, excellent.

> Approach?

Comments

It was tails.

[rebull]

> Of course approach.

He'd like to think they're- getting on a bit better these days, even if it's awkward a lot... and stressing. But she spent all those days asleep, and he watched over her and took care of her- maybe it was a good thing that that happened, he's not sure. Or weird.

Again not sure.

What he IS sure is weird is how Mindfang looks right now. He's yet to really look at the network and hasn't gone through any event change himself, so he doesn't know about what's been going on. So to him? He just sees... a very cleaned up, well maintained Mindfang and it's kind of freaking him out.

"Hey, Legs- strut this way instead, ah?" Calls out, landing and pocketing his hands as he moves closer. A dress, not something she'd ever pick, and her hair is-

Really nice.

Something's wrong. Though he knew that as soon as he saw her put her babies away in a case. That never happens, ever.

crying gently

[butwhyhairspiders]

The second he hears that so familiar voice, Darkleer nearly drops the case of spiders. Oh no. Oooooh no. Why is his luck always the worst? He thought Mindfang had all the luck, this shouldn't be happening to him. How do you even use luck, this is ridiculous.

But no, he has this. Right? It's going to be horribly horribly awkward, but it's nothing simply explaining won't fix. Yes.

Clinging to the case, Darkleer takes a deep breath... and is briefly distracted by the feel of his new rumble spheres pressing against the case. Hm. This is new. Wait, no, turn to Summoner, there we go. He tries to look less awkward than he feels. It's a bit more successful than it would be in his own body. Mindfang's eyes aren't nearly as doelike and expressive.

"Lysunder... You seem normal." If he's calling Mindfang by some ridiculous nickname, than it has to be Summoner.

[rebull]

Or maybe it's the best luck?

No, nevermind, it's his current squeeze stuck in the body of his former that he killed, this is the definition of terrible luck right here. Could only be worse if he found Mindfang in Darkleer's body, not that he's realized that yet.

"Uh- yeah you though-" Gives her and odd look and he- yes he is, definitely checking her our right now in that dress because whheeww, that's a new one... Dem hips, dat chest, kind of wishing she'd move that case away from her chest. That dress really does a lot for her, not that she needs it, though he's still not sure wh-

His chest squeezes.

"Are you uh- meeting someone?" A nervous laugh, brows furrowed. He has no right to ask, not his place to, since he's not- well. But still there is this heat in his ears, kind of angry, and a sick feeling starting to stir in his gut, one he knows he shouldn't feel.

[butwhyhairspiders]

Please never run into Mindfang and the body she's stuck in now. Please.

Up until this point, he's been- managing when it's come to Mindfang's empathy abilities. It's not easy. It most certainly is not. But Darkleer just tries to think of the Void even though it won't really help him. The Void is something that is a part of his body and the mind held within it. Still, on some mental level, it helps. He tries to meditate every morning, after all, to center himself and familiarize himself with the Void he's grown to rely on for so many years. That's been part of his attempts to get his newfound empathy under control.

The other part involves good old fashioned Zahhak brand denial and "work until your problems go away, spoiler they never will" ethic. If he simply throws all his focus into other things, then maybe it will be okay.

But- Summoner automatically earns all of his attention just by existing in the same space as him. He can't help but focus so keenly on him. Initially, Darkleer's own surprise had helped by a slight buffer against Summoner's emotions, but now... It feel suffocating, all the attraction and love and pain and jealousy and not wanting him- not wanting her to go with anyone else. It's all wrapped so tightly up in confusion and misery, it feels like it's choking him. Panic wells up a little in his chest just out of instinct, and he has to take a few steps back, away, just to try and get some air for himself. Wait, he asked a question, right-

"No," he manages to force out, ignoring the fact that Mindfang's voice comes out a little tight and even he can tell. "It's not- Lysunder, I need you to look through your SFC, alright?" It might be hard for him right now to explain the curse. He's just... going to cling to this box of spiders and try to think very very very hard of the Void.

[rebull]

A slow- head tilt.

So, uh, hey boys -His voice goes out again to some friends. To some friends in that box right there.

AYYYYYyyyyyy Lysunder, aye how you doin'?. A voice replies, familiar. Mindfang's spiders and he were always on pretty good terms after all, used em to... keep an eye on her- ended up chatted them up a lot. Oh shit's it's the Sundererrrrrr, how you doin? Summoner's lips quirk up a little, which might be confusing to Darkleer since he can see it. There's a few more voices in his head responding before Summoner finally replies again. You uh, got any idea why she put you in that box? I know I asked ya before, I just- she's- Actin' like a damn wea'do? Yeah, a wea'do, no idea. She just went like- all crazy on us and took out out. Girl's gone screw- Another small voice adds to that- -ER. Gone screwier! But ayye, girl's gotta have her time, we cool.

"Huh-" A reply outside of the commune, through his lips. He looks down for a moment taking out his SFC.

Give him a sec...

[butwhyhairspiders]

Yeah, that's... a weird response, but Darkleer is used to Summoner suddenly laughing a little for no reason at all. Darn communers and private conversations... He just waits as patiently as he can, taking in deep breaths to try and ignore every single other emotion around him. Darnit...

He resists the urge to tap his foot, thankfully, and just waits for Summoner to look through the different feeds. Hopefully he'll catch on quick enough. He's not dumb, after all.

1/2

[rebull]

[Slowly....]

2/3 lied

[rebull]

[He reads enough.....]

[rebull]

[...............To get it.]

[butwhyhairspiders]

[Summoner pls]

Lysunder, do you know who I am?

option 2

[dickleer]

It's weird in this body. It's too big, bulky and lanky in ways that she's unused to. When she reaches for something she finds herself often missing the object, half because her reach is now too long, and suddenly her depth perception is back, unfamiliar after ways of re-learning to judge the distance. And when she does successfully grab something it often gets crushed, Mindfang unfamiliar with this formidable strength, even with Darkleer's designs to her robotic arm.

But she's getting the hang of it, sort of, enough that she's taken to her own little wanderings. It's strange to walk around with such a clear head, and it's pretty clear this isn't Darkleer in Darkleer's body, Mindfang leaving the buttons to his shirt half undone, messily untucked from the pants. And the hair... well it was a good thing it had been in a braid before the switch. But it's messy, and in it's own little way, Darkleer's body actually seems a little more cool, artistically messy and suave rather than uptight perfection.

When she sees him she steers her way over, any thoughts on the state or dress of her body flying out of mind once she sees what he's holding, and for a second a brief look of panic flits across her face, blindly clear since she's ditched the glasses.

"What are you doing with my babies!"

[butwhyhairspiders]

The panic reaches him before Mindfang's words do, and he's already bristling from it as he turns to glare at her. "I'm keeping them in a box! You should be thankful I didn't exterminate the wretched little things. I refuse to have them crawling about on my scalp!"

[dickleer]

She bristles back, drawing herself up to her towering height, and takes another firm step towards him, eyes fixed on the spiders. "You monster. That has been their home for sweeps, and they have never harmed anyone who have dared to attempt to harm me and they are the last I have of him so don't you dare!"

He'd better not dare to mention the way her voice cracked there either or she'll punch him, herb
body or not.

[butwhyhairspiders]

Huffing and growling himself, he tries to stand up as tall as he can. Mindfang why must you be so short? "They can return to their precious home when you are back in this ridiculous body of yours! Until then, I will NOT deal with them skittering about on a scalp I can feel!"

[dickleer]

You learn other ways to be intimidating, unless you're a totaly loser. "Then you'll put them somewhere safe so they don't get harmed in your idiocity. Because if I find any one of tyem harmed in any tiny way I will utterly ruin your pathetic life. Understood?"

Honestly she'd rather take them off him but she's terrified of harming them with his ridiculous strength.

[butwhyhairspiders]

"What do you think I'm doing, you ridiculous and utter fool?" Look, look at this eye rolling, are you impressed? Because this is some serious eye rolling. "They should be perfectly fine in this container. I'll feed them and everything so stop your whining."

[dickleer]

"Besides taking them out of their home?" She growls, teeth grinding as she glares down at him. No she is not impressed her eyerolls should be a lot more sassy. "You don't know that. And I'm not a fool that trusts you with them."

She might actually reconsider her plans of being an ass in his bod to follow him around just in case.

[butwhyhairspiders]

"No, you're just a paranoid fool." Darkleer huffs and does a very impressive hair flip over his shoulder. That he is a master of, thanks. "I can take care of them well enough."

Spiders

[thekidsare0kay]

Sollux hasn't ventured out much, but he's tired of rolling around in his (broken) bed and trying to eat out of (broken) dishes with (broken) cutlery and overall this curse really blows.

Also, he's out of those puffed air fat things that look a bit like cheetos but are yellow.

So he went out late at night when there are fewer people to accidentally kill, in search of tasty things to destroy Equius' carefully balanced constitution.

And there are spiders.

Generally he avoids Mindfang on principle, but there she is, and sigh. Fine.

"What are those for?"

*Spiders*

[butwhyhairspiders]

Even though he already knows that Equius and Sollux have switched, it's still a bit hard to remember that especially with this stupid empathy ability taking up his focus. At least this late at night, the city seems a little quieter and Darkleer can breathe a sigh of relief.

Sollux's presence- distrust and reluctance and exasperation- is a bright ping in all of it, and Darkleer turns to him while adjusting the box of spiders. "Oh, I just had to get them out of her hair." He sighs, resisting a shudder at the whole ordeal that had taken place just to remove the little eight legged menaces. "I still can't believe she does such a thing! It's positively revolting."

[thekidsare0kay]

Sollux frowns a bit, folding his arms across his - admittedly pretty epic - chest.

"Uh... who's hair? You were picking spiders out of someone's hair?"

[butwhyhairspiders]

"No." Another grimace and his fingers tap daintily against the plastic case. At least, they feel dainty to him. "Mindfang's hair. I suppose I should say 'my hair' right now."

[thekidsare0kay]

Oh right. Sollux frowns. "Oh, you're not Mindfang, right. So who are you, then?"

[butwhyhairspiders]

"Darkleer." Moving to the nearest bench, he sets down the case. "And it's Sollux, isn't it? I already spoke with Equius in your body. Has he talked to you about how to control your strength?"

[thekidsare0kay]

Sollux follows, relaxing a bit. Darkleer's pretty okay. "Yeah, I'm Sollux. Equius hasn't talked to me about anything... but I haven't talked to him, either. You can control this?"