[He furrows his eyebrows just slightly at the conclusion, making note of the process of getting to it, but shakes his head a little.]
As far as I know they're not fighting, and I think Nate would've told me if they were, so don't worry.
[He's not sure Nate would've told him, but he's still pretty sure he would've. And even if he hadn't, Lance has a way of finding things out, so the information would've probably gotten back to him anyway.]
Nate just got a new job recently, and it has weird hours. He's been busy a lot. He'd commiserate with you over the lack of paper though; I know that's something that really annoys him about this world.
[And to try to get a bit more understanding of this situation--]
It's not a lie as that's where they both met, only it had been Simon's first day and well. He had created quite a few scenes.]
And hey, what's with the third degree? I'm the new guy around here.
[Lance will notice that Simon's right arm draws up and over the left elbow joint, squeezing hard. A nervous tic and a dead giveaway- Simon often will perform the same repeated gesture constantly to calm himself down.]
If anything, I should be the one askin' you guys all the questions.
[Definitely an obvious tic that he makes note of, and so adjusts his response accordingly.]
Do you have questions to ask?
[And he'll just open the container of vanilla brownies--not his usual baking choice, especially since cocoa is so expensive here and so they're not even chocolate, but there's a limit even for him on how many muffins one person should make--and take one, leaving the lid off in an invitation for Simon to grab one if he wants.]
[His mind races with the questions he's kept locked up in his head. Where do people go when they disappear? How old is the youngest member of the Displaced? Why is it that everybody else seems to be doing just fine and every other minute he constantly feels as though he's on the brink of-]
But, you still haven't said anything about that room.
There isn't a dead guy in there, right? Because, um, i-d-k if anyone cares about hygiene in this apartment, but? Bacteria? Gross? Plus there's the whole rigor mortis thing, and I haven't seen it, but just thinkin' about it gives me the heebie jeebies...
[Lance can practically see the gears turning, and it's no surprise that the room comes up again, but... The rambling is ridiculous but somewhat endearing all at once, and he can't help but smile a little.]
There's no dead guy. I can't tell you any details since it's really not my place to do so, but there's no dead body. Or an alive body, for that matter.
[Just, you know. For the record.]
It's just a room. You'll have to ask Nate or Wade for the whole story.
[This is like the Seven Stages of grief except it's just the 800 Tumultuous Emotions of Simon. He sounds exasperated, clanging both hands on the surface of the table.]
So you're tellin' me this whole time, I've been roughing it on the couch when there is a completely vacant room that I could've, y'know, at least slept on the floor of?
Because there are some really unusual situations that can happen here, and one is going on right now. It isn't just that there's an unclaimed room they refuse to let you stay in, I promise.
[He'd just tell Simon what's up if it weren't for how private Nate is about things, so that's going to have to be up to him.]
He is still as he processes, and while his brain would usually go a variety of places, he finds himself growing exhausted. Simon doesn't do well with uncertainty, as he's only okay with it in small doses. Little adventures away from the Apex Car were fun, but they all involved proper equipment and never lasted very long, and soon enough he'd be back into his organized and dimly lit room with all the bits and bobs that he uses to construct his own realities.]
Uh huh.
[It occurs to Simon that he must set himself on some kind of path. A steady road, so that he avoids stumbling and falling, so that he avoids this.
This constant, never-ending cycle of jittery unhappiness, of fear.
Unconsciously, his fingers hover over the Glow. Since he has now at least secured a safe place to stay and the next point of focus is a finding a job, he decides that the third step will be something he has always dreamed about and never quite gotten a good enough taste of.
The pursuit of power. Numbers are one thing, but the abilities of a god? That's a whole different beast entirely.]
[The reaction gives him pause, because it certainly doesn't seem like Simon's convinced. Lance watches him a moment, trying to get a read on him, and considers asking directly what he's thinking about; however, the gesture catches his attention and he decides a distraction might be a good idea for now.]
[Make no mistake, Simon was ecstatic to learn that he could generate electricity from the soles of his feet. Having his old shoes stripped from his body was a huge inconvenience, as they had helped compensate for his clumsiness, something that had only increased wildly as a result of his recent teenage growth spurt. It hasn't been long since Simon suddenly surpassed Grace in height.]
I mean, it's somethin'.
[Still, his hesitation comes from the notion that the slight generation of sparks and the ability to stick to surfaces may be the end all be all. In his mind however, that doesn't seem very god-like. In fact, it sounds like he's barely scratching the surface.]
Probably not. Our powers tend to increase in strength over time, though that time seems to vary per person.
[As far as he's aware, anyway; he knows some people who didn't even discover their power at all for months, let alone see any upgrade to it, though his own has progressed a few times in the four or five months he's been here.
And he has to ask, even though it's sometimes a touchy subject for people--]
What does your power do? If you don't mind sharing.
Mine? Oh! I think it's, like, generation of electricity or somethin' like that?
[He sounds pretty happy about this now that he's actually describing it.]
Like, I'll have to think real hard and move my feet and then, zippity-zap-zap, presto-change-o, also I can stick to walls.
[Simon prattles on like he's describing a collection of Pokemon cards.]
'S not much, but uh, can't say I hate it. I know there are elves and princesses and all sorts of people 'round here, but before I touched down? I was pretty much just your average Joe.
[A lie.
But Lance doesn't need to know that yet. Simon is forgetting all of the information he divulged earlier in the group chat. This is why it helps not to send frantic messages at 3 AM.]
[He raises his eyebrows a little at the sudden change in mood, but a positive change in mood is usually better than the alternative, so he'll take it. He doubts, of course, that this is nearly as casual as it sounds, especially since Lance does remember the group chat conversation, but he won't address any of that for now.]
I didn't have any powers at home either, so this is all new to me too. Or was before the last place I ended up, anyway.
[Still, same idea.]
That's a cool power, though. Especially sticking to walls; that sounds like it could be really useful.
[Simon notes that Lance asks more questions about others than he seems to answer about himself. Smart man- Not everybody can be trusted until they prove themselves trustworthy. So, the blond teen continues to talk, as if to test the other and see what interests him. He'd like to be friends, hell, they feel friendly...
But Simon has to be sure.]
Yeah, I used to have a pair of shoes that helped me out with that stuff back where I was, but uh-
[He offers the psychologist and all-too-casual shrug.]
They ganked 'em before I came to. Whaddya know!
[He scans the other's face for anything, any trace of emotion. It's a subtle gesture, though Simon's rather convincing feigned smile gains some actual warmth when the next few words flow from his lips:]
Thanks for listening the other night, by the way.
What you said really helped me. I can actually sleep for longer than just a few hours now, so, heh. That's some real progress.
[He's about to address the topic of the shoes--they sound awesome--but then Simon changes subject to their previous discussion, and Lance's own smile is tentative but very genuine when he responds.]
I'm glad I could help. It's really difficult adjusting to being here, and not being able to sleep just makes everything so much harder.
[Especially, as far as Lance is concerned, if you're stuck in the safehouse. He's glad that Simon has at least found somewhere safe to stay here with Wade and Nate, at least for now.
But that addressed, he offers lightly--]
As for your shoes, it's possible you'll get them back. Sometimes we wake up holding things from home, so that just makes the sleeping thing all the more important.
[Lance is privy to this entire emotional face journey. Simon, after a long period of silence and the variety of facial expressions, turns scalding red, the blush extending from ear to ear. He nods sagely, closing his eyes, clearly trying to swallow his embarrassment.]
[That is... This kid sure seems to be going through it. Lance doesn't for a moment think Simon would've been considering the potential of getting a person, and so the sheer level of blushing really points to one most likely possession for a teenage boy to be thinking about getting.
So he'll just... Ignore that. You're welcome, Simon.]
It seems to be entirely random, though, so it's hard to say when or if you might get something. So don't count on it, but it's possible.
[Huffily!!! He will be making angry eye contact with Lance as he grabs one of those vanilla brownies all too aggressively and shoves one in his mouth. Poor boy isn't really used to eating just for the joy of it. Rationing on the Train could get pretty brutal at times.]
You made these?
[Simon's expression remains blushy and disgruntled, but he murmurs. A strange, Star Wars-creature type of sound, followed by an "Mhm."]
They'ref preffy goodph.
[DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL at least the has the decency to go find a napkin or whatever equivalent of those they have in this place??? Gross. His mouth is all... Crumby.]
[He's half-joking, and unbothered by the lack of manners; he remembers being in college and surrounded by teenage boys who did far worse than talk with their mouth full.
But all that aside--]
I should probably let you get back to what you were doing, but it was nice to meet you in person.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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As far as I know they're not fighting, and I think Nate would've told me if they were, so don't worry.
[He's not sure Nate would've told him, but he's still pretty sure he would've. And even if he hadn't, Lance has a way of finding things out, so the information would've probably gotten back to him anyway.]
Nate just got a new job recently, and it has weird hours. He's been busy a lot. He'd commiserate with you over the lack of paper though; I know that's something that really annoys him about this world.
[And to try to get a bit more understanding of this situation--]
How did you meet Wade?
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[That's said very quickly.
It's not a lie as that's where they both met, only it had been Simon's first day and well. He had created quite a few scenes.]
And hey, what's with the third degree? I'm the new guy around here.
[Lance will notice that Simon's right arm draws up and over the left elbow joint, squeezing hard. A nervous tic and a dead giveaway- Simon often will perform the same repeated gesture constantly to calm himself down.]
If anything, I should be the one askin' you guys all the questions.
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Do you have questions to ask?
[And he'll just open the container of vanilla brownies--not his usual baking choice, especially since cocoa is so expensive here and so they're not even chocolate, but there's a limit even for him on how many muffins one person should make--and take one, leaving the lid off in an invitation for Simon to grab one if he wants.]
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Ch'yeah! I've got a whole bunch.
[His mind races with the questions he's kept locked up in his head. Where do people go when they disappear? How old is the youngest member of the Displaced? Why is it that everybody else seems to be doing just fine and every other minute he constantly feels as though he's on the brink of-]
But, you still haven't said anything about that room.
There isn't a dead guy in there, right? Because, um, i-d-k if anyone cares about hygiene in this apartment, but? Bacteria? Gross? Plus there's the whole rigor mortis thing, and I haven't seen it, but just thinkin' about it gives me the heebie jeebies...
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There's no dead guy. I can't tell you any details since it's really not my place to do so, but there's no dead body. Or an alive body, for that matter.
[Just, you know. For the record.]
It's just a room. You'll have to ask Nate or Wade for the whole story.
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[This is like the Seven Stages of grief except it's just the 800 Tumultuous Emotions of Simon. He sounds exasperated, clanging both hands on the surface of the table.]
So you're tellin' me this whole time, I've been roughing it on the couch when there is a completely vacant room that I could've, y'know, at least slept on the floor of?
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It's a little more complicated than that. If it weren't, I'm sure they would've just given you the room.
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[Simon's brows furrow. There's that unpleasant sensation in his gut again.]
Then why does it even matter?
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[He'd just tell Simon what's up if it weren't for how private Nate is about things, so that's going to have to be up to him.]
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He is still as he processes, and while his brain would usually go a variety of places, he finds himself growing exhausted. Simon doesn't do well with uncertainty, as he's only okay with it in small doses. Little adventures away from the Apex Car were fun, but they all involved proper equipment and never lasted very long, and soon enough he'd be back into his organized and dimly lit room with all the bits and bobs that he uses to construct his own realities.]
Uh huh.
[It occurs to Simon that he must set himself on some kind of path. A steady road, so that he avoids stumbling and falling, so that he avoids this.
This constant, never-ending cycle of jittery unhappiness, of fear.
Unconsciously, his fingers hover over the Glow. Since he has now at least secured a safe place to stay and the next point of focus is a finding a job, he decides that the third step will be something he has always dreamed about and never quite gotten a good enough taste of.
The pursuit of power. Numbers are one thing, but the abilities of a god? That's a whole different beast entirely.]
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Have you figured out your power?
[He asks it lightly, gesturing to his own chest.]
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[Make no mistake, Simon was ecstatic to learn that he could generate electricity from the soles of his feet. Having his old shoes stripped from his body was a huge inconvenience, as they had helped compensate for his clumsiness, something that had only increased wildly as a result of his recent teenage growth spurt. It hasn't been long since Simon suddenly surpassed Grace in height.]
I mean, it's somethin'.
[Still, his hesitation comes from the notion that the slight generation of sparks and the ability to stick to surfaces may be the end all be all. In his mind however, that doesn't seem very god-like. In fact, it sounds like he's barely scratching the surface.]
I'm just wonderin' if that's all there is to it.
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[As far as he's aware, anyway; he knows some people who didn't even discover their power at all for months, let alone see any upgrade to it, though his own has progressed a few times in the four or five months he's been here.
And he has to ask, even though it's sometimes a touchy subject for people--]
What does your power do? If you don't mind sharing.
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[He sounds pretty happy about this now that he's actually describing it.]
Like, I'll have to think real hard and move my feet and then, zippity-zap-zap, presto-change-o, also I can stick to walls.
[Simon prattles on like he's describing a collection of Pokemon cards.]
'S not much, but uh, can't say I hate it. I know there are elves and princesses and all sorts of people 'round here, but before I touched down? I was pretty much just your average Joe.
[A lie.
But Lance doesn't need to know that yet. Simon is forgetting all of the information he divulged earlier in the group chat. This is why it helps not to send frantic messages at 3 AM.]
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I didn't have any powers at home either, so this is all new to me too. Or was before the last place I ended up, anyway.
[Still, same idea.]
That's a cool power, though. Especially sticking to walls; that sounds like it could be really useful.
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But Simon has to be sure.]
Yeah, I used to have a pair of shoes that helped me out with that stuff back where I was, but uh-
[He offers the psychologist and all-too-casual shrug.]
They ganked 'em before I came to. Whaddya know!
[He scans the other's face for anything, any trace of emotion. It's a subtle gesture, though Simon's rather convincing feigned smile gains some actual warmth when the next few words flow from his lips:]
Thanks for listening the other night, by the way.
What you said really helped me. I can actually sleep for longer than just a few hours now, so, heh. That's some real progress.
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I'm glad I could help. It's really difficult adjusting to being here, and not being able to sleep just makes everything so much harder.
[Especially, as far as Lance is concerned, if you're stuck in the safehouse. He's glad that Simon has at least found somewhere safe to stay here with Wade and Nate, at least for now.
But that addressed, he offers lightly--]
As for your shoes, it's possible you'll get them back. Sometimes we wake up holding things from home, so that just makes the sleeping thing all the more important.
1/?
2/?
even if Simon treats people like things, possessions to be kept]3/3
I-I see.
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So he'll just... Ignore that. You're welcome, Simon.]
It seems to be entirely random, though, so it's hard to say when or if you might get something. So don't count on it, but it's possible.
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Simon just turns even redder.]
Why are you lookin' at me like that?
[Angrily-]
D-don't judge me! I was just-
[aslkdfjalskdjflakdj]
Having a thought.
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[He says it lightly, shoving the container toward Simon to give him a distraction.]
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You made these?
[Simon's expression remains blushy and disgruntled, but he murmurs. A strange, Star Wars-creature type of sound, followed by an "Mhm."]
They'ref preffy goodph.
[DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL at least the has the decency to go find a napkin or whatever equivalent of those they have in this place??? Gross. His mouth is all... Crumby.]
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[He's half-joking, and unbothered by the lack of manners; he remembers being in college and surrounded by teenage boys who did far worse than talk with their mouth full.
But all that aside--]
I should probably let you get back to what you were doing, but it was nice to meet you in person.
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