Glitch

[sandywolf]

Who: Randolph Lyall and OPEN
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the SS Blameless and the Iskaulit
When: Sometimes after the crew of the Blameless got curious and opened the first cargo they were entrusted with.

CONTENT WARNING: All prompts will contain mentions of physical and potentially sexual abuse. I will put everything under cuts so it is easy to avoid, but please consider the whole post and comment threads as potentially containing this content.


[Broadcast/Action for people on the Blameless]


[Lyall isn't sure what has woken him up. It's still early and anyone who is not on duty is probably still asleep. All that he knows is that it hurts everywhere right now. It even hurts to breathe, his ribs tender and some of them probably broken.

He drags himself out of the bed so he can get to the bathroom and get some water to drink. Even in the low lighting of the bedroom, it is relatively easy to see that he's covered in bruises. He's walking with an obvious limp and there are marks on his back that look suspiciously like some sort of beast used him as a scratch post.

He manages, with some effort, to get to the sink and to gulp down a bit of water, but even that simple effort seems to have robbed him of what little strength he had and he sinks to the floor with a small whimper of pain.

If only he could be unconscious again.]


[Action] SS Blameless / Iskaulit



[If you have met Lyall before, it will be very, very obvious that something is wrong with him.

He is dressed to the nines as he always is, and with his customary suit, very little of the bruises actually show. But the ordinarily discreet werewolf seems to try and be even more inconspicuous than he normally does. He is making himself as small and unobtrusive as possible when out and about. The limp is still there, even if he tries to hide it, and his face doesn't let anything show even though he is pretty much in constant pain.

He is also very, very skittish right now. He is avoiding crowds, and any loud noise is likely to make him jump quite badly.

Aboard the SS Blameless, he will attend to his duties as usual (or attempt to at least, if no one tries to stop him). Otherwise, he will pretty much navigate between the kitchen and Biffy's room, because he still needs his tea.

Aboard the Iskaulit, he will be doing his usually rounds to sniff out new people, although much more slowly. He probably will end up at one of the places that sell alcohol at some point, although since he can't get drunk, any attempt to drown out the hurt will unfortunately be a failure.]


((OOC: If you would like a starter specifically for your character, PM the journal!))

Comments

[FELIX]

[sandywolf]

[It has taken Lyall a few days to understand that he hasn't actually gone back to 30 years earlier, than this is a glitch from the augment. Knowing it on an intellectual level doesn't really make it easier to live through when your brain just refuses to get out of the mindset you thought you definitely had gotten over.

Somehow, being surrounded by solicitous friends tends to make it worse at times. So on a day where things seem to hurt a little less, Lyall escapes the Blameless for a little while. He leaves a message to Biffy so his Alpha won't worry, and searches for the relative quiet and darkness of one of the big libraries on the Iskaulit.

He sits in an armchair a bit stiffly, a book open on his lap, but even to the casual observer it will soon be apparent that he is lost in his thoughts. He hasn't turned a page for almost ten minutes, and his eyes are not focused on the text at all. Every once in a while, his body shivers, and he even shakes his head a little as if to clear his head.]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix has other reasons to escape from his own ship. The existence of his own glitch is at present only a faint suspicion, but being faced with the far more obvious glitches of the rest of his crew is more than he can take after too long, considering he's at least mostly to blame for it in the first place. Returning to the library to re-shelve and re-arrange the books is a nice, quiet respite from all that.

Normally he'd be quick to approach to visitor to the library, especially one he hasn't met before, but his mood is such that he quietly busies himself for a time, letting as many of his worries drift away as he can. But, eventually, he comes to notice the distracted, perhaps troubled, expression on the other man's face. He tries to tell himself it isn't his business, but that particular phrase has never held much weight with him. Moreover, he can't help the itch of concern that settles at the back of his mind.

So it is that Felix takes a seat nearby.]

Is something wrong?

[sandywolf]

[Lyall is so distracted that eh actually gives a start when eh hears the words... and immediately winces when he does because it hurts.

The movement make his sleeve ride up for a second, and the marks are clearly visible under his shirt cuffs. Like someone put him in shackles. the wounds have obviously been tended to, but they're still obvious, and he goes to cover them quickly when he sees they're visible.]

Just looking for a bit of peace and quiet. I hope that wasn't a bother.

Let me know if this works

[scalpelofmarmora]

[It might be fortunate then that Ulaz was being effected by a glitch as well, not looking like his normal self at the moment. He was... human. That was an odd state to be in. He was still tall though.

Of course the change had woken him from his not so sound sleep so he happened to be up at some unspeakable hour of the morning according to ship's time. He had tried to distract himself in his cabin for a bit, but finally gave up, getting up and wandering the ship to clear his head.

Until he heard that whimper of pain coming from the washroom.

Which was where he found Lyall sitting on the floor, looking like he had just been through a fight and lost badly. He frowned seeing that. Who had beaten him up so badly?]

Lyall? Are you alright?

[sandywolf]

[If Ulaz looked like he normally did... well, Lyall still wouldn't have reacted well, but he might have reacted less sharply.

As it is, he doesn't recognize Ulaz and gives a start immediately huddles more on himself, drawing another pained whimper as more aches make themselves known. It takes him a few long seconds before he can identify the smell and then look up in confusion.]

... Mr... Ulaz?

[scalpelofmarmora]

[Don't worry; it's confused him too. He doesn't like not looking like himself.

This however is not the time to worry about that. He frowned as Lyall curled up more, which drew out more whimpers. He was hurt. He crouched down so he isn't standing over top of him when he is sitting on the floor]

Yes, it is me. Apparently the Atroma are playing another joke. Come. We'll go to the lab and I can take a look at your injuries.

[First priority: helping Lyall and getting him feeling better - or at least less beaten up. Second: figuring out who had hurt him]

[sandywolf]

[Lyall... shakes his head.]

It's fine. It's nothing very serious.

[He sounds like he means it, too. Like he has known worse and being beaten black and blue and clawed at and who knows what else is just a slightly unfortunate but common occurrence.]

I'll sleep it off in a few days.

[Action]

[padadin]

[Even if he's sleeping fine now thanks to Baku, Shiro still wakes up early for his morning run and exercise routine before starting with his duties. Today though, he hasn't left yet because he's found himself with... welp. Canine ears and a tail, all of it white to match his new hair.

Stupid glitches. Procyon apparently likes them, even.

He's wondering what to do about them when suddenly his ears perk up at the sound of a painful whine coming from the bathroom. Worried, Shiro hurries to the location, not bothering to knock only to find--]

Lyall? [Eyes widening, Shiro approaches him with tons of concern.] What happened? We need to take you to the med bay.

[sandywolf]

[Were this happening under any other circumstances, the ears and tails might have drawn a sarcastic eyebrow or a deadpan quip form the werewolf. Right now though... he barely notices them, too busy to try and stave off the concern he can see and hear.

No one should be worrying about this. No one should know about this.]

This is nothing. It'll ... heal on its own in a few days if I sleep it off.

[padadin]

[Lyall is lucky Shiro only has one arm now, because the urge to just pick the man up and carry him away is strong. Instead he crouches next to him, gently putting an arm around the werewolf while being careful not to touch any bruises.]

Nonsense. We should see a healer. Hang on to me, please. What happened? Did someone attack you? Do we need to raise the alarm?

[sandywolf]

No!

[This comes out rather more forceful that you would expect from mild, personable Randolph Lyall.]

Please... no. No healers. I don't need anyone else to see this.

I wasn't attacked. I mean... I was, but it didn't happen here. It was more than thirty years ago and I have... no idea why this is happening again now. I just woke up like this.

[dandyofawolf]

[It's impossible to even think about the fact that he has cat ears and a tail when he can knows the state Lyall is in. It's impossible for his lover to hide it from him because, well, they sleep in the nude. Not to mention how strong their tether is, of course he knows Lyall is in distress.

And it breaks his heart to see his mate like this. To know anyone could have hurt him this badly and to know why it happened. More than once he's wanted to cry and it's taken all his strength to not do so. Right now he wants to be the pillar of strength that Lyall needs, just as his lover once was for him.

So he's spending a lot of time in his room with his mate when he knows his mate needs to hide away. Such as right now as he leans against the headboard with the smaller man in his arms, stroking his hair and pressing kisses to it now and then, his other hand holding one of Lyall's.

He knows truly that his lover never wanted to have him see this but it's too late for that. Now is just the time to support him and not think about those details they can do nothing about.]

[sandywolf]

[It was hard enough, back then, twenty years ago, to tell what had happened and have Biffy by his side, listening to every degrading thing he was subjected to by Lord Woolsey. It was emotional to see how upset Biffy was then, how he could feel Lyall's pain and hurt and feel sad for him, and protective, and respectful of how he had gotten himself back on his feet.

And then, they had been separated for twenty years, and then reunited, and it was just not mentioned again. In many ways, Lyall has been over this for years, and meeting Biffy, getting together with him was the last stone on the building of a new stage of his life. He wasn't permanently damaged by the physical abuse, he got over it, and while his broken heart took time to heal, heal it did.

He never wanted Biffy to have to see him like this, at his lowest. Beaten black and blue, covered in claw and teeth marks, wounds from shackles around his ankles, and bones broken. He knows how hard this must be for Biffy, and he also knows just how solid and warm and strong Biffy is being for him.

He's not wearing clothing right now because it's painful and hard on his skin. He's huddled in Biffy's arms, soaking in some warmth which is helping with the aches in his muscles. His fingers occasionally squeeze Biffy's hand.]

... I'm sorry.

[dandyofawolf]

Shhhhh. You have nothing to apologize for.

[His ears sag a little and he tucks Lyall a touch more against him. Bringing the hand he's holding up to his lips, he presses the softest of kisses to it. Just so that Lyall knows he still loves him and cherishes him like this as well.]

Let me be the one to take care of you now.

[Another kiss falls to his pale hair.]

I couldn't then but I can here.

[sandywolf]

I didn't want you... to ever see me like this.

[It might be hard for Lyall to be brought back to those moments. He's not going to pretend it doesn't hit him right in the guts, especially when his head gets a little woozy and he's not quite sure if he's in the past or the present.

But somehow it's harder to have Biffy watch him go through all of this. Almost as hard as his presence and warmth is comforting. And it's so confusing to once again feels the pangs of hurt and unbelievable pain at Sandy's death when Biffy is right here with him.

It almost feels like a betrayal.]

... I miss him.

[He says the words in a whisper before he can stop himself. Is it the him of now, or the one from all those years ago speaking? He's not sure. There will always be a part of him mourning Alessandro, somehow.]

He died because of me. And I couldn't even protect him.

blameless action - engine room during regular duty

[mongoosecrow]

[Gil has notices something is off with Lyall.]

Hey, man. If you need a break, I can take care of things here? [There is real concern in his voice and face.]

[sandywolf]

[Just the fact that Lyall gives a small start when addressed, followed by a wince at the sudden movement, is proof enough if Gil didn't have a suspicion already.

The fact that Lyall is keeping his suit on as well. He is always impeccably dressed, but sometime when working, he will at least remove his jacket and roll up his shirt sleeve to make sure nothing gets stained. Not today, though.]

Ah... no, it's fine. I need... I'd rather have something to do.

[At least when he does, he doesn't have to try and unmuddle his brain from wanting to be in two time periods at once.]

[mongoosecrow]

[Gil can understand that desire and he doesn't want to force Lyall to be away from something that would distract him.]

Hey, in that case. Maybe we can run some redundant tests? You can never be too careful.

[It's busy work, but busy work that requires focus so that should help.]

[sandywolf]

Of course.

[But even with his brain a bit muddled, Lyall is not completely blind as to why Gil is doing this. In such close quarters, it's difficult to hide anything, even when you are as used to fading in the background as Lyall is.]

... Thank you.

Malum

[passingthrough]

[Kitty looks like he's concentrating very hard as she puts some glasses away. There's a trash bin behind the counter that already has too much broken glass in it for today. She'd take the day off, but she doesn't know how long her her glitch is going to last and this is a decent way to train herself on these new powers for as long as she has them even if she ends up cancelling her pay out for the cost of new ones. She keeps her eyes on what she's doing as she hears someone enter the bar.]

What can I get you?

[sandywolf]

[Lyall is walking slowly so as to make his limp not too noticeable, but still winces a little and sits a little too stiffly at the counter.]

What is the strongest thing you have?

[He won't be able to get drunk anyway, so he might as well fail in style.]

[passingthrough]

[Kitty manages to set the glasses down harmlessly and turns to face Lyall whom she'd only spoken with once over the network. She may not have much of a basis of comparison, but she knows a wince when she sees one. The X-Men may have been good at what they did back home, but it still came with injuries.]

Mmm...strongest that's safe for the general population or actual strongest that humans can't handle? [There isn't a huge supply, but Crowley has procured some superbrew for their stock.]

/bursts onto the Iskaulit late without starbucks

[universal_charm]

_{[ Kirk knows the body language of trying to hide when he sees it, of someone trying their best, their very best, not to be seen and strung to the edge because of it. He frowned as he approached his friend, being sure to move calmly and broadcasting his movements. He grows more concerned when he discerned the limp. ]}

Fancy seeing you here, Lyall.

_{[ A gentle start, not wanting to spook him. ]}

[sandywolf]

[At least now he is not too distracted that he doesn't notice people until they're in his field of vision. His nose is working fine, so he felt Kirk approach from further away.]

Good day, Captain.

[What concern? There is nothing to be concerned about.]

I was on my way to a drink or two.

[universal_charm]

Oh? Then would you mind some company?

_{[ As he asked, his ears perked forward. Yes, his ears. Seems opening that box had come with consequences and his were ears and the tail of a dog. Nothing else, which he couldn’t decide if he was grateful or not for. But he didn’t need canine senses to tell something was wrong with Lyall and under no circumstances should he let the man go drink alone. ]}

Could use a bit of a good stuff myself.