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bakerstreet2013-03-11 05:53 pm
do_re_meme) wrote in bakerstreet2013-03-11 05:53 pm
The Body Horror Meme
Body Horror Meme
Something's gone wrong. Maybe it was a little parasite, wiggling under your skin. Maybe something bit you that one night in the woods. Maybe someone decided they didn't like you and placed a curse on you, or maybe the local psychotic AI decided she liked you and filled you full of nanites. In any case, you're changing, body and soul. There's no way to stop it. No way to reverse it. And above all, it's the most painful thing you've ever experienced...
HOW IT WORKS:
- Tag the meme, leaving your character name, fandom, and any preferences in the subject line
- Other character tags you
- You tag back, and use the random number generator to select from the following options. Or don't, and do whatever strikes your fancy. If you roll something your character already is, either roll again, go for human, or pick something that otherwise suits your fancy.
- Other character reacts, or is free to also roll on the table
- Play out the results.
- Have fun, but respect the preferences of others.
1. Water-dwelling You're growing gills, or your skin is turning translucent, or you're sprouting fins, or maybe you're outright turning into some form of sea life. It doesn't matter what you're turning into – what does matter is that you're slowly losing the ability to breathe air, and there's no water in sight...
2. Animal Something bit you, and you're turning into an animal. Your bones lengthen or perhaps shrink, break, twist, and reform, your teeth lengthen or shorten, and above all, you feel your instincts being overridden. Your senses sharpen; you notice smells you never did before, your vision becomes more sensitive to movement. If you're a predator? Man, these people look mighty tasty. Prey? OHGOD, EVERYTHING IS TERRIFYING. Lizard? Enjoy your new inability to regulate body temperature. Bird? Have fun with the whole beak and hollowing bones. And don't even get us started on insects and arachnids...
3. Parasitic Something's inside you, and it's changing you from within, chewing up your insides and altering your thoughts. You're not sure how much longer you're going to be you, and when the parasite's going to take over completely...
4. Demonic You've been meddling with dark powers beyond the ken of mortal man, and it seems you've accidentally sold your soul. Will you be the traditional kind of demon, horns and hooves, or something far more terrifying and ineffable?
5. Undead No doubt about it, you're dying, but as you are, something's been altered in you. Maybe you're becoming a vampire – and not the fun kind, either, we're talking ugly, ravenous, and mad. Maybe you're a zombie, or a ghoul, and human flesh looks mighty tasty. Or maybe you're just turning into a ghost bent on vengeance. In any case, death is never fun.
6. Cybernetic Get captured by the Borg? Strapped to an operating table? Injected with nanites? Whatever happened to you, you're slowly turning into something half man, half machine, your squishy bits being replaced by mechanical components.
7. Lovecraftian You've heard their song, the terrors from beyond the stars, and even now they sing in your blood as your flesh transmutes into something ineffable and unknowable. You revel in the pain you feel even as you seek to spread it, to herald the end of all things... or maybe worse, you're aware of the transition as your mind becomes not your own.
8. Fusion/Hivemind You begin to fuse with the first person who tagged you – physically, mentally, or both. Soon, you can't tell who is who, which one of you is the real you, as your thoughts become one. Join in the fleshsong, mortal...
9. Inanimate Your body slowly petrifies and hardens, turning to stone, wood, glass, or something stranger still; or perhaps you liquefy, turning to some kind of liquid, or maybe you dissolve into the air itself.
10. Wildcard / Pick your own Pick whatever you like, combine a few options, or make up your own.
Meme originally posted by
teal_deer.
Bartleby | OC
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[The beach was not Bartleby's scene of choice, really - not only did he not know how to swim, but water really isn't so great on insect wings. Also, getting soaked made his hair look stupid. It was, however, a great place to go to check out girls in swimsuits, so every now and then he gave it a go.
Today he'd stuck to the shore, alternating between trying too hard to look cool while lounging in a beach chair and actively trying to pick up chicks. He had his glamour up - duh, it was mostly humans here - and was wearing a pair of yellow and black striped swim trunks and a pair of sunglasses. And his headphones. Because why would he ever leave his mp3 player behind? It was waterproof-enchanted, he wasn't stupid!
He was batting an absolute zero on the girl front, but at least no one had punched him or shoved him in the water yet. So, even though it was getting late and the place was clearing out, he was still going to give a few last tries.
Well, except one of those last tries sort of freaked out at him, yelling something at him that would've sounded rather like a curse if he knew anything about casting them, and dumping a bucket of strange-smelling water on his head. Ah, THERE it was.]
Aw, maaaaaaan...
[So here he is, what appears to be a normal dejected-looking guy trying to shake the water out of his hair. Well, his glamour flickered a little when the water-slash-curse hit him, but he hadn't noticed.]
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Except for today.
It was a simple task, leaving his boss’s side to go and get some fresh ingredients from the coast. They needed to add some summer flavor to the menu, or at least that’s what he’d been told. Since he was only an apprentice, it meant that Jungo was the lucky recipient of a train ride to the beach to pick up said ingredients.
His only problem was waiting for them to be ready. He’d arrived a day early, so he had free time for himself. He decided to walk the beach in a pair of black board shorts and the same “Fish Or Die” t-shirt that he always wore. Unlike Bartleby, Jungo is completely unphased by the gorgeous women. He was just there for himself, and it was likely that no one noticed him, even though he did speak to a few people at the nearby food stands.
He was just on his way back from getting dinner when he crossed onto the beach again. It was probably a shortcut, he figured, and if it wasn’t, well...that didn’t matter, either. When he saw someone looking soaked and rejected, he walked over to him. He stopped. There was something strange about him...and Jungo had to rub his eyes, but when he did, the strange appearance was gone. It was probably nothing, right?
When he finally did make it to Bartleby, Jungo held out his towel for him. He was willing to help any stranger he could, and this guy looked pretty agitated.]
Here. You can use this. [There was no warmth to his words, but he was there to help...even if his intimidating stature and the tuque that cast a shadow over part of his face made him look like a dubious thug. Let’s be grateful he doesn’t have his knife with him.] Did you lose yours?
[ooc; I can only meet tl;dr with more tl;dr! It's impossible for me not to. /)_(\]
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Hey, thanks dude! Mine uh. [Some other girl he'd hit on had yanked it out from under him and walked off with it earlier.] I forgot it. Geez, what is this, swamp water or something?
[It's certainly being somewhat stubborn about coming off him. It's also eating through his glamour and other natural magics, so when some drips onto one of his hidden arms, the whole thing flickers again.
...Nope, he still hasn't noticed.]
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[After all, it wasn’t like Jungo could know that Bartleby wasn’t just in the ocean or something. What he did know was that every few seconds he saw more of the person and that didn’t seem to add up. Once again, he rubbed his eyes, and then he tried to think of something to say...
...but then he just reached out and grabbed one of the armss that he wasn’t supposed to see. As soon as he saw it again, he made his move. It wasn’t aggressive, but it was quick, and he raised his eyebrows.] Why do you have four arms? ... Are you an insect?
Annnnd it's bedtime for me. Moar tagging tomorrow!
[He cuts himself off with an awkward squeak as his arm is grabbed - one of the ones that's NOT supposed to be visible. And the instant he panics, the entire glamour breaks and drops, which should just about answer Jungo's question.
Luckily for him, they're just about the only two left on the beach at this point. Unluckily for him, the rest of the curse is now free to start its course.
Oh, and hopefully Jungo didn't touch any of that water when he grabbed Bartleby's arm. It's the sort that's a bit contagious.]
Wha- how did you see that!?
[Oh man, he was gonna get SUCH a lecture...]
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Someone threw water on you? Is that why it feels weird? [Jungo could sense it, too. And instead of answering the second question, he reached into his pocket for his cellphone...he should see what kind of demon Bartleby is. He quickly realized that it was back in his hotel room, however, and he had to just ask outright.]
Mm. It was there, and then it wasn’t...I wasn’t sure if I was seeing things, but I had to find out. [He nodded as if this was a sufficient explanation, and then he moved onto his next subject.] ...What kind of demon are you? You’re not here to hurt anyone, are you?
[ooc; Sleep well! c: And let me know if you have any ideas for this/want to hash anything out, Bartleby is so cute.]
Wow sorry I took so long getting back to this; got really busy yesterday.
[He probably shouldn't jinx it, but it's not like it matters at this point anyway. Bartleby concentrates a bit, trying to get the illusion back up, but nothing happens.]
Uh. That's... probably not good.
[Anxiously, he scratches at his neck... failing to notice the way his skin is starting to peel there. It's flaking up everywhere the water touched him, actually, something shimmery showing underneath.]
No worries! c:
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.
[And as he watches the not-demon scratch at his skin, he notices the shimmering. Jungo might not be the brightest guy around, but he can at least tell that it’s not limited to the scratching, and he rubs the back of his own neck subconsciously as he wonders whether or not he should point that out. In the end, he decides that yes, this is something that should be pointed out.]
You're shining.
[That's the best way to say it, yep.]
aw man I gotta go soon too, stupid work in the morning. :c
...I'm what?
[He has nooooo idea what Jungo means, but his voice suddenly rises to a high squeak at the end of that last syllable. He takes in another quick, squeaky breath after it, looking confused, and immediately... chokes a little, starting to cough dryly. That's funny, it's getting awfully hard to breathe all of a sudden.
Also that place he scratched at on his neck is starting to open into an awfully gill-like gash, probably because it's gills, and more can be seen through the skin around his neck where he hasn't scratched the peeling layers off yet.]
it's fine! i'll be out tomorrow, or part of it, but I backtag to forever
And as someone who cooks for a living? He knows that those are gills.]
Hang on!
[And before this bee thing in front of him can take the time to figure out what's going on, Jungo aggressively steps forward and slings the smaller man over his shoulder. His destination? He spins and quickly starts to walk off towards the ocean. His lack of communication will probably be a hindrance in the long run, but he has his heart in the right place.]
I'm going to help you, okay?
Backtagging to forever sounds like a plan! ♥
His wings flutter on instinct, but they're changing too - shrinking and thickening, becoming more finlike. All they really do is flap uselessly at the air a few times.
Bartleby is terrified, honestly. He's got no idea what in the world is happening to him, he can't BREATHE, and on top of that this random guy he just met is hauling him towards the ocean, which he's convinced is just going to make him less able to breathe. WHAT PART OF THIS IS HELPING HIM??
But he still can't choke out any words, and instead his arms settle into as much of a death grip as he can muster on Jungo's clothes. Getting him into the water might prove a challenge that way.]
Re: Backtagging to forever sounds like a plan! ♥
What’s going on behind Bartleby is completely lost to Jungo. In fact, the changes to his own body are beginning, but he doesn’t even notice those either. It’s small, at first. His hands were the first to get wet, so they’re currently shedding there. There’s a slight webbing between his fingers as well, but they aren’t enough in the way to stop him from carrying this guy.
Once he reaches the ocean, he takes a moment to kick off his sandals...and from there, it’s a fight to try and get far enough into the water to submerge Bartleby. The fact that he only says one word,] Breathe, [probably isn’t helping either. It sounds more like he’s telling the other to hold his breath, but he in fact means it’s time for him to breathe.
If he can’t tear Bartleby off and push him under the water, now up to Jungo’s waist, he’s going to throw himself into the water with him. It’s his choice, really, but as long as the other is breathing...]
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Inadvertently taking in a breath of water.
He convulses as if to choke before suddenly realizing he isn't choking at all - the flow of water through his new gills easily pushes the rest of the peeling skin off from around them. He can feel the water rushing through what seems to him like these big freaking holes in his neck and it is the WEIRDEST thing and oh hey actually it suddenly feels like he finally got that breath he was gasping for.
It tries to add up in his head, but mostly just comes up as a big ball of WHAT. For a moment he just floats there under the water, staring back up at Jungo with a terribly stunned and confused expression.
Contact with the water seems to have sped the symptoms up rapidly, however. The rest of his flaking skin is sliding off quickly now, revealing the slick gold and amber scaling underneath, and his own hands are clearly becoming webbed. He doesn't even want to try moving his legs, they're starting to feel funny and kind of numb. His antennae are changing too, smoothing and shortening, their tips beginning to glow.]
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The skin on his hands starts to flake away as his fingernails grow longer and sharper, adding a taint of blood the water, but Jungo doesn’t even feel it. He’s leaning over and watching Bartleby’s expression and apologizing to him, but the fishman-to-be might not even hear the words with Jungo above the water like this. The skin flakes away more and more, moving up his arm, but with his arm underwater there isn’t any pain to be felt at all.
...And somehow, he can’t bring himself to be repulsed, either. What’s happening to this man he’s never met before is startling and terrifying, but he’s more concerned with how to help him than anything. And he’s coming up with a blank, and that’s really frustrating him. He turns back to face the shore, but they’re alone. Maybe it’s part of the curse, allowing Bartleby to change in a way that he can’t get caught, or maybe it’s just good luck. Who knows? Jungo doesn’t.
After a moment of struggling with how to help, Jungo sticks his head underwater and tries to tear off Bartleby's tanktop. It's not an aggressive act, but he can see how his wings are changing...it's an act of kindness, but it's once again up to Bartleby to determine what it is. For the moment, he's not saying anything, though he does note the glowing. It's...pretty, in a way.]]
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Yikes, dude.
[Oh, did that work? Hey, that worked! He can talk underwater! Some... how.]
W-watch those nails. Hey, um, I'm breathing underwater. How am I breathing underwater? How am I TALKING underwater!? I don't even LIKE water!
[As his own skin washes away to make room for scales, more markings are becoming clear. He's mostly a gold color with occasional spots of amber, but there's a black streak starting around his eyes and going down his sides. The fins his wings are becoming are many-spined, and more fins are sprouting around his hips, helping to push his swim trunks down.
Helping, because his legs are undergoing probably the biggest change of all, starting to fuse together into a tail.]
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What...how is this happening?! [It’s a famous last words sort of situation, because as he raises his voice the gills on his own neck start to open. What comes next is a garbled cry, and he can’t really stay calm anymore. There’s a mass pressing against the back of his shorts that keeps getting longer, and it’s enough pain to his spine that he can’t really stand up anymore. Or maybe his legs are weaker—either way, he can’t keep himself standing, so he starts to float.
Naturally, sticking his head underwater comes as a huge relief, and he can hear the tail end of what Bartleby is talking about. The scales on Jungo’s body are a dark blue, with some lighter blue on the inner arms.]
...I don’t know! How do you make it stop?
[Fish or die, indeed.]
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[Meanwhile, he's realizing that his clothes are quickly becoming very awkward, and shrugs off his tank top. By the time he thinks to look down at his trunks they're already torn - he's almost entirely transformed now. So he pulls at them cautiously, or tries to - he winds up thrashing his new tail a bit and accidentally sending himself spinning around.]
Auuuugh, how do you drive this thing...!
[Sorry if he winds up bumping into you, Jungo.]
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[Jungo can’t bring himself to understand it. His own clothes are beginning to feel awkward on him, but his growing tail pushes his board shorts off. Bartleby doesn’t have to worry about seeing anything he doesn’t want to, at least, because his abdomen is now entirely covered in blue scales. The scales on his back are almost black, a deep dark blue, but the scales on his front are a brighter shade.
While his tail is growing longer, the stretching of his spine being enough to make him want to black out, his legs grow smaller and smaller. It isn’t long before they’ll be fins and the tail will take its place as Jungo’s torso, but his changes are still coming when Bartleby knocks him away.]
Stay...still!
[There's a part of Jungo that's worried Bartleby is going to go swimming off without him, so he latches onto the other's shoulders as soon as he can reach them.]
6
However, a handful of them sometimes managed to stay alive all night, at least until the first game of the morning and the Beacon went up.
Tonight found two of them observing a strange creature that seemed to be some sort of mix between a human and a bug.
Their observations were brought to a halt when several patrolling Space Marines came this way and they scrambled and hid among the rocks.
From their hiding place, they could hear some kind of discussion that abruptly ended with rapid gunfire.
Once the smoke and the Space Marines cleared, the two Cy-Bugs skittered back up to see if their new curiosity had survived.
Miraculously, it seemed to be still breathing, but it was in terrible shape. They gently picked it up and snuck around to the back of the Tower.
When they were reasonably sure that no Marines were patrolling this section of the game, they flew straight up to the top of the Tower to give their Queen what that they had discovered.
The Queen was quite interested indeed in their gift, however, she'd have to work quickly in order to keep it alive long enough to observe it.
She went down below and started gathering supplies. The scientists had left quite a lot of interesting things in their various workrooms, but there wasn't everything that she needed.
Fortunately, there always were spare bits of her deceased children lying around.
It took quite a while to replace the creature's damaged parts, there wasn't always an easy alternative to its organic composition and with the Queen being a giant bug, preciseness was hard to exactly come by.
Finally, her work was complete. The being would live for at least a while longer, though maybe not comfortably. Whatever organic parts could be saved, were, but the rest of its body was a mess of metallic sections and computer parts salvaged from the science lab combined with slightly burnt Cy-Bug limbs and pieces from the Queen's dead children.]