“There need to be a reason? Maybe I just wanted to kiss you.” He purred, then paused a moment and grinned widely. “Also I think it’s damn sexy when ya get all science-y and technical like that.”
Carlos giggled at that, a greasy hand coming up to cover part of his face. “Don’t you mean ‘nerdy’?” he asked jokingly. “That- that’s not to say I’m unappreciative of the affection though. It’s… it’s nice.” Ugh, he was such a dork.
yeah.. i mean, pureston cut his hand on the glass and my throat got fucked up from the smoke, but we were alright
Hey – Language. But wow… that sounds very frightening. I’m… I’m glad you’re here to tell about it. You okay coming back in the Mess?
yeah, i mean, this is probably going to bring the nightmares back but when’s the last time i gave shyt about that *he walked into the kitchen*
*Carlos blinks after Max but slowly follows him* Uh… okay, if you’re sure…? *Carlos was not reassured at all. But Max needed some water* Um, where are the cups?
i dunno, but i know there’s juice boxes in the back room and those have straws, could *hic* those work instead of water?
I suppose so… but they’re not very big. *he starts to open cupboards to look for a glass of water* Besides, aren’t those for lunch activities or something?
i dunno.. *he shrugs slightly, checking the lower cupboards* i don’t think we’ve had a camp act-*hic*-ivity the entire time i’ve been here… this camp is a giant mess
Do you… not have a schedule or something? Are there no counselors in this particular spot in the multi-verse? Angie must go to a different plane of the camp, I guess… hm… *scientist thinking noises as he pulls a cup from a cupboard*
the only counselor i know is David, but i don’t think he really knows what he’s doing, wait is Jason a counselor? if he is then i know two counselors but not a schedule..
Angela didn’t tell me about a ‘Jason’. Huh… Well, here *offers him cup*. Let’s look for a straw now.
*he looked down at the cup for a second before nodding* he’s a cultist who worships Zeemoog! he’s cool
*freezes as he has a drawer pulled out. He looks at Max* A what? Max, ‘cultist’ implies that he’s dangerous… don’t you mean a devout, or disciple?
maybe.. but i’m pretty sure he’s a cultist cause he make sacrifices to Zeemoog! he also wears alot of white… he once gave me a popsicle but i found who they human blood in them, it was weird
… Max… I’m going to tell you now that you shouldn’t interact with him anymore. I would have made a joke about his name being ‘Jason’ already having been an indication of that, but… this is no joke.
what? why? why do you always keep me from hanging out with the cool people of camp..
He makes sacrifices to a god, Max. I’m assuming that you’re talking about, like, blood sacrifices, right?
.. i dunno.. y-yeah.. *he glanced away, clearly upset*
Max, people just don’t sacrifice animals anymore – at least not in the western world. If someone abuses an animal and calls it worship in this society… I have serious concerns about their mental stability and health. Do you understand?
*he hesitates before nodding, frowning as he looked down into the cup* but Zeemoog needs it..
*Carlos looks into the drawer and finds some straws wrapped in paper sleeves. He grabs one and shuts the drawer* Here you go, Max. Can you reach the sink?
i usually have to stand on a chair to reach it.. *he takes and opens the straw, dropping it in the cup and throwing out the wrapper*
Okay. Do you need help, or should I get a stool then?
a stood could work, thanks *he smiles slightly*
Alright. *he looks around a bit more and finds one in the pantry. he puts it next to the sink for Max*
*he says another quiet ‘thanks’ as he climbed up the stool, filling the cup about half way and drinking through the straw*
*Carlos just stood by and watched him, waiting to see if the water and straw helped.*
*after a minute, no more hicc-ups! he smiled, setting the cup down* yay!
*Carlos smiles.* Awesome. Okay, rinse out the cup and set it on the counter.
*he dumped the rest of the water in the sink and raised it* why do i have to raise if it only had water in it?
Backwash. It’s better to be safe. Let’s get back to your tent, Max. I’ll bet your duckies are missing you.
“Oh
I think he did. Got upset you weren’t there. But he’s ok now. Sometimes
comes and searches the ship but yeah. There wonderful lovely
creatures.”
“They are,” Carlos agreed. He’d never seen anything like them. “Gosh… I hope his parents are somehow able to let him know that it’s okay. Or… I dunno, Yondu… You, um… your species seems to have some minor telepathic abilities. I… I dunno if this is presuming too much, but… are you able to just…let him know I’m okay? I’m just asking – I don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’m just asking…”
“Don’t worry his parents took care of him and… Hmm I guess they can understand me in a way… I whistle and they understand that way I guess. Don’t worry it’s ok. Maybe someday you’ll see him again. But always remember he’ll be you soul traveler…. he’s a baby so that means you will have a long life. You’ll both be old before he carries you to Valhalla…”
What…? Carlos had wondered about what aliens believed regarding the afterlife, but the subject had just… never come up. Did they think space whales were basically boats to the afterlife? That… well, he could see that making sense as a belief.
“You believe in Valhalla?” he asked. That was a term that Carlos had thought was exclusive to Earth… well, until it was revealed that one of Earth’s heroes was actually an alien – a Norse alien, if there was such a thing.
“We all are a bit different but it all comes down to Valhalla for those called warriors. I’m a ravager… we believe in a form of Valhalla. We’re like space warriors…. we have a code. We’re honor bound… we fight great battles at times… kinda like…. uhhhh As petey says… uhh Vikings or pirates I guess. And we belive were guided to Valhalla’s gates by those space critters out there.
“Huh,” Carlos said as he pondered. “That… sounds pretty nice, actually. Valhalla, um.. what is it to you? Is it a paradise?”
“In a way yes…. it’s the absolute… the final…. we stand in the halls of great warriors….. we drink, and eat with honor…. and we watch the world around us…… time is nothing…. but everything is perfect…. the food and drink unending…. and the companionship of our fellows eternal…….”
“Huh,” Carlos said softly. “On Earth, um… Valhalla is all that… but the legend says that there’s going to be a big fight between the realms and the warriors who died and resided in Valhalla would rise again to fight for the good of everyone. Or… something like that… I’m honestly not well versed in the Norse belief system…”
“Norse? That’s what all warriors of space belive too. Thatcwe are honored in breath and will rise to life when it was time to be summoned.”
“That’s… just what it’s called here on Earth,” Carlos explained. “There’s probably thousands of religions here on Earth – Norse is just one of them. Honestly, for a while I thought it was a dead religion. But that was before we had an actual Asgardian appear to help save the world.” He chuckled softly.
“Wait! One of the warrior gods actually came and saved terra! I …. wow… I hope someday to be honored with a drink with one in the halls of asguard….”
Carlos smiled slightly at Yondu’s apparent excitement. “Yeah, he… he did,” he said. “It was, um… It was Thor, the God of Thunder, if that means anything to you space-faring people. From tabloids and rumors, it sounds like Stark has great Avengers parties, especially when Thor’s in town.”
“And he dines and parties with mortal terrans?! I may have to get into one of those. Damn… that’s….. do those terrans even know how big of a honor that is?!”
Carlos’ smile grew wider. “Well, I think the Avengers might have some idea… I mean, he’s their friend and all. Others probably think he’s just taken up the title of Thor… I mean, I did until I did the whole space adventure thing.
“One of his friends here is the guy I mentioned earlier… um, Iron Man. One of Earth’s heroes.”
“Friends! With a literal god!! Oh dear Odin!! Shit Odins legitly real! Forgive me Odin for saying your name without honor!! Fuck!!!” Jumps up knocking the tablet over and starts doing the ravager prayer of forgiveness.
Carlos stared at the communicator in shock and in some concern. “Uh, Yondu? Yondu, are you okay? Yondu!”
Carlos just smiled wider, a bit amused. “It’s not too spicy, I promise,” he said. “But I understand that it’s not to everybody’s taste. I really like them. And yeah… the treat is charmed to be animated. Kind of like your guys’ chocolate frogs. This candy’s just a bit sharper… in a couple of ways. And yeah, it’s based on a magical creature. It um…” Carlos thought for a second, trying to figure out how to describe it. “It’s… like a big snake. But with lots of feathers and shimmery scales.”
“A feathery snake?” He considered that for a few moments, he supposed it wasn’t too farfetched considering some of the magical creatures he’d seen himself, why couldn’t a snake have feathers? “Not sure how much I’d like candy that bites, but I’d be interested to try it, anyway.”
Carlos chuckled. “If we ever get the opportunity, I promise I’ll show you how to eat it. Like I said, there’s a trick to it. You have to grab them behind their head and keep that grip.“
“The parasite. I spoke with the Boss and, apparently, all with the same infection died. But he told me, in his own words, I was lucky. Why didn’t it?”
“Ah… so it would have been lethal, then? That’s very interesting. Maybe there’s something to your physiology that kept it at bay? A blood type or maybe even an ancient family curse? I’m kind of just spit-balling here… does it bother you, Dr Flug?”
“If i’m being honest, Carlos, I’m bothered by the fact that I lived through it. What’s that mean in the long run? What’s going to happen next? It’s fascinating but, anxiety inducing.”
“Well… in my experience living through something is a good thing. It certainly puts things in perspective and switches around your priorities. Have you started running analysis on yourself to see what might be different from before? That’s where I’d start…”
“Now that I’m feeling stronger, search I shall.” Flug answered. “No use standing around asking questions when I have the resources for the answers. It will just take some trial and error on my part.”
“As is the nature of doing science,” Carlos replied with a nod. “Lemme know if there’s anything I can assist with. Sometimes two minds are better than one.”
“Thanks Carlos, but given the nature of what I’m researching, I’m going to need to find a subject willing to take on the infection.” he thought about that for a few moments. “I’m going to have to inject someone with my blood, see what it does to them.”
“A whole person?” Carlos asked. He was making a little face at the idea. “Why not start small? Like, insects or mice? Non-sapient, of course – gotta make sure of that where I’m from. What if the reaction poses a danger to yourself, is what I’m saying.”
“People have quicker results. I rarely have time for little things. Especially when I need answers.”
“Uh…?” Carlos asked intelligently. “But it’s dangerous if you start large. Didn’t you have a violent reaction to it at first? It’s why you nearly died, right? If anything, I think now is the time to be cautious.”
yeah.. i mean, pureston cut his hand on the glass and my throat got fucked up from the smoke, but we were alright
Hey – Language. But wow… that sounds very frightening. I’m… I’m glad you’re here to tell about it. You okay coming back in the Mess?
yeah, i mean, this is probably going to bring the nightmares back but when’s the last time i gave shyt about that *he walked into the kitchen*
*Carlos blinks after Max but slowly follows him* Uh… okay, if you’re sure…? *Carlos was not reassured at all. But Max needed some water* Um, where are the cups?
i dunno, but i know there’s juice boxes in the back room and those have straws, could *hic* those work instead of water?
I suppose so… but they’re not very big. *he starts to open cupboards to look for a glass of water* Besides, aren’t those for lunch activities or something?
i dunno.. *he shrugs slightly, checking the lower cupboards* i don’t think we’ve had a camp act-*hic*-ivity the entire time i’ve been here… this camp is a giant mess
Do you… not have a schedule or something? Are there no counselors in this particular spot in the multi-verse? Angie must go to a different plane of the camp, I guess… hm… *scientist thinking noises as he pulls a cup from a cupboard*
the only counselor i know is David, but i don’t think he really knows what he’s doing, wait is Jason a counselor? if he is then i know two counselors but not a schedule..
Angela didn’t tell me about a ‘Jason’. Huh… Well, here *offers him cup*. Let’s look for a straw now.
*he looked down at the cup for a second before nodding* he’s a cultist who worships Zeemoog! he’s cool
*freezes as he has a drawer pulled out. He looks at Max* A what? Max, ‘cultist’ implies that he’s dangerous… don’t you mean a devout, or disciple?
maybe.. but i’m pretty sure he’s a cultist cause he make sacrifices to Zeemoog! he also wears alot of white… he once gave me a popsicle but i found who they human blood in them, it was weird
… Max… I’m going to tell you now that you shouldn’t interact with him anymore. I would have made a joke about his name being ‘Jason’ already having been an indication of that, but… this is no joke.
what? why? why do you always keep me from hanging out with the cool people of camp..
He makes sacrifices to a god, Max. I’m assuming that you’re talking about, like, blood sacrifices, right?
.. i dunno.. y-yeah.. *he glanced away, clearly upset*
Max, people just don’t sacrifice animals anymore – at least not in the western world. If someone abuses an animal and calls it worship in this society… I have serious concerns about their mental stability and health. Do you understand?
*he hesitates before nodding, frowning as he looked down into the cup* but Zeemoog needs it..
*Carlos looks into the drawer and finds some straws wrapped in paper sleeves. He grabs one and shuts the drawer* Here you go, Max. Can you reach the sink?
i usually have to stand on a chair to reach it.. *he takes and opens the straw, dropping it in the cup and throwing out the wrapper*
Okay. Do you need help, or should I get a stool then?
a stood could work, thanks *he smiles slightly*
Alright. *he looks around a bit more and finds one in the pantry. he puts it next to the sink for Max*
*he says another quiet ‘thanks’ as he climbed up the stool, filling the cup about half way and drinking through the straw*
*Carlos just stood by and watched him, waiting to see if the water and straw helped.*
*after a minute, no more hicc-ups! he smiled, setting the cup down* yay!
*Carlos smiles.* Awesome. Okay, rinse out the cup and set it on the counter.
Cecil smiled despite himself, despite the situation at hand. It
was a tired smile, but a deep one, fond and full. He breathed in slowly
and felt a little bit more alive for Carlos’s ministrations, a little
less like… like a corpse. Like a vampire.
“You may be a scientist,” he whispered lovingly, “and a great scientist, the smartest there is… but you’re also my husband.”
Carlos’s pain and fear for him still cut Cecil like a knife
into his cold white skin, but the radio host was also warmed by that
love that Carlos had for him that was greater than Science, greater than
life and all that filled it. It was the love that Cecil had for Carlos,
too, impossible to contain, keeping him alive (pretty literally, to be perfectly honest).
“Yeah, I guess I am. I think you’re right… Thank you for taking such good care of me.”
Carlos glanced at Cecil. “Oh –– absolutely, honey!”
He reached out and grabbed a couple of the stones from the table before turning back to Cecil.
“I would absolutely do anything for you. I may be very uncertain with what we are dealing with at the moment, Cecil, but there are two things that I know: I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Cecil replied softly, his smile deepening further still, even if it did not widen, did not quite light the tired pink eyes turned towards his husband. The breath he drew in was soft but audible as he asked, “What’s the other thing?”
Carlos smiled at him, gentle and loving. “You just said it,” he said. They’d had this conversation before at least a couple times; Carlos was still trying to decide if this was now a ‘thing’ for them, or if Cecil genuinely forgot the two things that Carlos knew.
He held a stone out for Cecil. “Um… try sucking on it first… see if that does it. I don’t want you to try hurting your teeth right away.”
“The parasite. I spoke with the Boss and, apparently, all with the same infection died. But he told me, in his own words, I was lucky. Why didn’t it?”
“Ah… so it would have been lethal, then? That’s very interesting. Maybe there’s something to your physiology that kept it at bay? A blood type or maybe even an ancient family curse? I’m kind of just spit-balling here… does it bother you, Dr Flug?”
“If i’m being honest, Carlos, I’m bothered by the fact that I lived through it. What’s that mean in the long run? What’s going to happen next? It’s fascinating but, anxiety inducing.”
“Well… in my experience living through something is a good thing. It certainly puts things in perspective and switches around your priorities. Have you started running analysis on yourself to see what might be different from before? That’s where I’d start…”
“Now that I’m feeling stronger, search I shall.” Flug answered. “No use standing around asking questions when I have the resources for the answers. It will just take some trial and error on my part.”
“As is the nature of doing science,” Carlos replied with a nod. “Lemme know if there’s anything I can assist with. Sometimes two minds are better than one.”
“Thanks Carlos, but given the nature of what I’m researching, I’m going to need to find a subject willing to take on the infection.” he thought about that for a few moments. “I’m going to have to inject someone with my blood, see what it does to them.”
“A whole person?” Carlos asked. He was making a little face at the idea. “Why not start small? Like, insects or mice? Non-sapient, of course – gotta make sure of that where I’m from. What if the reaction poses a danger to yourself, is what I’m saying.”
“The parasite. I spoke with the Boss and, apparently, all with the same infection died. But he told me, in his own words, I was lucky. Why didn’t it?”
“Ah… so it would have been lethal, then? That’s very interesting. Maybe there’s something to your physiology that kept it at bay? A blood type or maybe even an ancient family curse? I’m kind of just spit-balling here… does it bother you, Dr Flug?”
“If i’m being honest, Carlos, I’m bothered by the fact that I lived through it. What’s that mean in the long run? What’s going to happen next? It’s fascinating but, anxiety inducing.”
“Well… in my experience living through something is a good thing. It certainly puts things in perspective and switches around your priorities. Have you started running analysis on yourself to see what might be different from before? That’s where I’d start…”
“Now that I’m feeling stronger, search I shall.” Flug answered. “No use standing around asking questions when I have the resources for the answers. It will just take some trial and error on my part.”
“As is the nature of doing science,” Carlos replied with a nod. “Lemme know if there’s anything I can assist with. Sometimes two minds are better than one.”
“The parasite. I spoke with the Boss and, apparently, all with the same infection died. But he told me, in his own words, I was lucky. Why didn’t it?”
“Ah… so it would have been lethal, then? That’s very interesting. Maybe there’s something to your physiology that kept it at bay? A blood type or maybe even an ancient family curse? I’m kind of just spit-balling here… does it bother you, Dr Flug?”
“If i’m being honest, Carlos, I’m bothered by the fact that I lived through it. What’s that mean in the long run? What’s going to happen next? It’s fascinating but, anxiety inducing.”
“Well… in my experience living through something is a good thing. It certainly puts things in perspective and switches around your priorities. Have you started running analysis on yourself to see what might be different from before? That’s where I’d start…”
The Perfect Scientist 