Defying Gravity [Open]

[thevictoriandetective]

Who: Sherlock and YOU
What: In which Sherlock turns green and shiny
Where: Trailer #23, also everywhere else pretty much.
When: After he gets back from the Agent attack
Warnings: Some tiny bit of body horror



A.

Sherlock's annoyed, tired, and for once, entirely looking forward to a proper night's sleep. He wasn't fond of sleeping when he was on his cases, but this wasn't exactly a case, and he found the resistance to be overly dramatic and asked entirely too many questions. Of course he was going to go back, all in all it was interesting even if he was fairly neutral on the whole thing, plus he wanted to figure out how those annoying Agents ticked and play around more with what he could do, like the jumping thing. Still, he learned quite a bit and it wasn't a wash.

How many times has he 'logged in' this week? He couldn't count. He would have slept there overnight again but he wasn't entirely sure the Agents or the Resistance wouldn't somehow find and bother him again, so this was a more prudent action. He fell asleep on his bunk and passed out for twelve hours.

...

The next morning, for some reason, his shower just made him feel tremendously itchy all over. He sat uncomfortably on his bunk with fresh clothes, wondering if somehow he didn't catch bedbugs. With his enormous fluffy roommate he wouldn't be surprised if he brought fleas in or something...still, he tried to go about the rest of his day ignoring the growing uncomfortable itching. He had to get a shift over with first before he could go back to the Matrix, so he had a few hours to kill.

It was only getting worse. He knew it was far more than an ordinary ailment when he ripped off his coat and grabbed a random branch on the ground and tried desperately to scratch at the middle of his back. There wasn't any relief, maybe he should find some salve to--he looked down at where his fingernails were digging into his arm. They were scratching against something hard. Like plastic or a shell, and just as shiny. He peered at his forearm--it was red where he'd been scratching, but when holding it up to the light, it was like there was a pattern. And felt quite hard. And it was sort of iridescent. Green.

Blast. This was what they were talking about, weren't they? The changes. This was ridiculous, he couldn't--the greenish scales--scales, weren't they? That's what they were--were becoming more prominent. And quickly, too. Like he was watching a time-lapse video, the pattern, most green, some brown, some pale not unlike the color of his natural skin tone, were appearing. They linked together, like armor, dulling his sense of touch slightly, but not entirely. Almost like he was wearing a thin glove. Yet, oddly enough, felt more sensitive to temperature, than anything. The itch was disappearing with the arrival of the scales...which were now on his other hand, and he could feel a tickling sensation wash over his face and down his back...

"This cannot be happening." Sherlock didn't care if it was only for a year, this was completely unacceptable, he was human and the world wasn't supposed to work this way and magic was ridiculous and he had to get to a mirror RIGHT NOW--

--he raced back to the trailer he was living in, knocking some things over in his frantic rush and stumbling to the bathroom.

He would be lying if he didn't say his heart just stopped when he saw his reflection.

Scales. All over. Coupled with his fangs he didn't...look human anymore. His face structure remained the same, as it always had been, he was afraid that maybe he'd look even more horrific, but really, how much worse could it get?

He kicked off his shoes, and his feet were just like the rest of him. He could feel it, the way everything felt slightly dulled, the weird way that he could feel where the warmest spot in the room was but he couldn't feel the way clothes slid over the top of his scales.

Sherlock shakily made his way to his bunk and climbed in, and curled up under his big coat, wishing it was all just a dream.

B.

As much as he wished he could, he couldn't stay cooped up in the trailer forever.

It was stupid, he was being stupid. Why should his appearance matter? Only vain idiots would be bothered by this.

Apparently he was a vain idiot then. He spent twenty minutes fixing his hair before going out but there was really no way he could make looking like this any better so he gave up.

A year. He could get through this. Only a year. The fact that he'd just gotten here and he'd have to spend a tremendously long time like this was...not ideal, but logically, it shouldn't matter about what he looked like. It wouldn't affect his work, not really, and the teeth thing was helpful in opening up difficult bags of chips.

Memories of being bullied horribly in school for being different flashed through his mind as he pulled his coat collar up, tried not to meet anyone's eye, and trudged along the path to do his job and maybe get some food.

[OOC: Until I can get some proper art up, imagine he looks something like this without the headfins or this

Comments

B

[waitingforplayer2]

Chiaki's already at the mess hall, putting together a plate of breakfast, fiddling with her hoodie anxiously. She has too much to do, she can't spend much time here...

"Oof." She bumps into Sherlock by mistake on her way to the coffee, luckily not spilling anything on their clothes. "S-sorry..." She looks up to make her apology and sees the scales.

"Sherlock!" She hasn't seen him much around since they met. He definitely didn't look like this. "You changed."

[thevictoriandetective]

Sherlock was pretty light on his feet naturally and despite the bump he regains his footing easily. His eyes widen slightly as he'd been hoping to sort of somehow avoid any and all contact with other people for the rest of his time here--right, like that was going to happen.

A sigh, and did his best to pretend he didn't care and that it didn't bother him.

"Obviously."

[waitingforplayer2]

Yeah, it was a pretty hard change to hide. She ducks around him quickly to get to the coffee and pour herself a mug. After a moment's thought, she pours one for Sherlock, too.

"Do you feel okay?"

[thevictoriandetective]

He blinks at the second cup of coffee. Was she being nice to him? Was it a social nicety?

A shrug. "Physically, I feel fine. Just cold." He always dressed warmly though, so it wasn't a big deal. But emotionally, mentally...well...he wasn't even going to admit that to himself.

[waitingforplayer2]

It's a fairly average temperature at the Carnival, like always. Chiaki frowns.

"Maybe you need more coats. Or more sun?"

[thevictoriandetective]

A pause as he considered the implications. He knew, of course, that reptiles needed heat. He pulled his scarf up higher. Reptilian traits to go along with the look. Wonderful.

"Something like that I suppose," he said quietly, frowning.

[waitingforplayer2]

"The coffee might help." She fumbles with her own and sighs. "But... Zecora would probably know more about that than me... or Ginko."

Leave it to her to mention the animal keeper as one of the people that Sherlock might ask for help.

[thevictoriandetective]

He takes the coffee and sips it. It does make him feel a bit better, the warmth. "Thank you," he says quietly. See, he's not a complete jerk.

Logically, that shouldn't bother him. It made perfect sense, and there was no point in suffering for no reason when there was someone with actual practical knowledge that could help him. But he wasn't exactly thinking logically and his left eye twitched. "Are you trying to say that I need to be helped by an animal keeper!?"

[waitingforplayer2]

"U-um..." Oops. "I mean... they've both been around longer... and changed a lot more..."

But she really should have thought about somebody who had scales.

A

[otoko]

[Being Sherlock's trailermate, there are certain things he tends to notice. (other than mysteriously appearing objects of questionable origin in the fridge)

One such thing is...there appears to be a lump where Sherlock is, on the top bunk.

...Hmm.] ...Are you cold? [He could always fetch a spare blanket if the guy is that desperate...]

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock whirled around, his blue eyes wide as he realized his trailermate was right there. He actually was cold, pulling his coat collar up like that was going to help hide the obvious changes. His hand and face were covered in scales and were green, there was no hiding that. Suppose he could wear gloves and a mask, he often wore gloves but a mask would be tedious. Come on, Sherlock, pull yourself together.]

I'm fine.

He's too polite to ask why they're green. also 'changes' is basically the obvs answer so EH

[betheman]

[Well he's not really buying it...but, he can do something at least, as much as it'll be absolutely HORRIBLE for him.

And that is go toward the thermostat, and crank it up.] Very well. In that case, if an increase in temperature irritates you, you may lower this again later on.

Otherwise, this should be fine until you have a proper extra blanket.

[...He surely can't have missed all the green, right? Right?]

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock stops and just stares because he can't believe that he hasn't said anything about the obvious. Sherlock's the kind of person that blurts things out brutally honestly so he's sort of bewildered by the response.]

The...it'll be far too hot in here for you, won't it?

[otoko]

Hmn! I, the man Gongenzaka, have trained in frigid cold, and blistering heat.

Even if it becomes 'too much', I shall remain steadfast..! [In other words it totally is bUT SHUT UP SHERLOCK HE'S FINE..........]

[thevictoriandetective]

I don't want you fainting on me, I can't carry your heavy carcass out the door.

Just...I'll find a portable heater somewhere soon.

[See, he's not a complete jerk. Even if his reasons are practical.

Still nothing about the scales? Really?]

[betheman]

Hm! I, the man Gongenzaka, have spent hours in saunas far hotter than this, [he assures the other.] Believe me when I say, this is not a matter of pride that I take this.

[As it is.] Investing in thicker blankets may well benefit you, however, if you feel the need for a heater such as that...

[...Still no scale comment.]

[thevictoriandetective]

[He's not entirely convinced, but he lets it slide. He sits up in his bunk, frowning.]

You're really not going to say anything?

B!

[empty_vessel]

Okay. Yes. Broke Rule #1 already. Jimmy's staring. Snake-man in a longcoat trying to be inconspicuous and getting lunch. He's sweeping the tables for forgotten dishes and ends up crashing straight into a post, jarring himself and the tub. Nothing spilled beyond a few glasses, but it's a sharp reminder to focus on what he's supposed to be doing.

"I-I'm sorry for staring. I just started yesterday and it's all kind of overwhelming. If you want, you can grab a seat and I can get you something?" Figuring Sherlock might like a chance to ditch at least some of the staring, now that Jimmy's made an ass of himself. Especially since he's still wearing the hat to hide his own new additions.

[thevictoriandetective]

Sherlock can practically feel the stares, he's getting more self-conscious by the second. For all his bluffing and bluster he was clearly bothered by it. He was attempting to use logic and reason as armor as much as his coat was, but he came from a world where this should be impossible. The guy who was taking crashed into something and that certainly didn't help with trying to be inconspicuous.

Blue-green eyes glared, but as much as they should be one of the few softer human features left on him, they remained icy and cold. They'd always been a near-unearthly color anyway, and only added to his inhuman visage.

"Ugh. Fine," he waved a gloved hand, and went over to gloomily sit down. Now he was startling the newbies. Wonderful.

He wondered if this wasn't some sort of revenge by the Carnival itself for all his gawking and pointing when he first arrived.

[empty_vessel]

Jimmy wilts under the intense stare, pausing only to get Sherlock's order before slinking back to the kitchen. After a few, he comes back out with a tray loaded with Sherlock's meal, plus what's probably a bagged lunch for later.

"And again, I am so sorry. Second day or not, staring like that was rude and I really should know better." He winces, embarrassed at his behavior.

[thevictoriandetective]

Sherlock's mildly placated by the offer of food and food for later, so he's a bit more amiable this time around. He can't completely blame him for staring. He would have been far more blunt if he was on the other side.

"It's fine," he says, reaching for a fork. He's got rather large fangs, one can see, visible when he starts chowing down. A pause.

"Thank you, for the...uh..." he waves a gloved hand at the food. He did have manners, when he wasn't being sulky or inconsolable.

"So you just arrived? What'd they get you for?"

[empty_vessel]

Jimmy manages to avoid staring at the fangs, although he kind of supposed they would have been part of the snake-person package. A quick glance around confirms that nobody's really paying attention to him and he can sneak a few minutes to sit down.

"Me? She... Well, she saved my life. I was getting dragged into a.... a bad situation, and if she hadn't tossed me a lifeline, I wouldn't be here now." The smile gets a bit strained. 'A bad situation' is a massive understatement, but there's all kinds of bad in that story, and Jimmy doesn't want the guy he just offended thinking he's insane too.

[thevictoriandetective]

Sherlock feels a little bit more stupid every time he finds out about other people's' circumstances about how they got in this place. His was basically an accident and entirely his mistake. As much as he blamed the Carnival for not being specific about things...

"So how long are you here for?"

[empty_vessel]

"A year and a day. That's the standard starting contract, right? She also mentioned the option to renew if I wanted to stay on, but.... Probably not. I've got too much at home waiting for me." The smile warms as Jimmy thinks about his family. He knows he's screwed up, but he has a chance to try now. To do something to make up for it.

"You? I mean, if you don't mind my asking."

[thevictoriandetective]

"Good. Don't. I can scarcely imagine how much worse it'll get around here," he muttered, digging at his food.

"Year and a day for me too, because I accidentally played a game without paying," he rolled his eyes. "It was so stupid. It was a riddle. Who pays for riddles? If some guy came up to you and asked you a riddle, would you think you would have to pay for it?"

Sherlock was obviously peeved about this. Even moreso after what happened to him. Now he was stuck looking like something out of that one science fiction show thing that John watched sometimes.