Blinded me with science

[buckingham]

more than E X P E R I M E N T A L In this laboratory setting you've found yourself in - be it a shady, fly-by-night hackjob, a secret governmental facility, or a sleek, state-of-the art facility - there's no room for error. What's done is done for science: pure, perfect, uncorrupted by human foibles. Data is the only language spoken, reason the guiding light. And for all this progress to occur smoothly, everyone must know their proper role, from the specialists at work to the lowly crew...and, of course, any experiments involved. Some more bleeding hearts would feel sorry for the latter, but make no mistake, they're little more than lab rats. They are not to be pitied. Emotion shouldn't even be wasted on them. Especially not an emotion as messy and useless in and of itself as romantic love. Why, you wouldn't want to jeopardize the breakthrough of the ages on account of some fairy tale, would you? Besides, it would be the most unfulfilling of relationships, for you could never be with your beloved test subject. Unless. Unless you broke them out. Such an action would be highly illogical and, more importantly, met with severe punishment. Are they worth all that? How to Play - Your character is either some sort of test subject/creature/weapon/misunderstood and otherwise tortured prisoner of science OR an outside party (scientist, doctor, janitor, visitor, journalist, sky's the limit). They meet their opposite. They fall in love. Bad Shit happens. Nobody's happy. - Comment with your character, preferences, role, info, all the good stuff. - Reply to others. - Be tragic and miserable together.

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[iobject]

Phoenix shimmies to sink his upper half into the water, his tail curling to the side of the tub. In the dark echo of the salty water, a strange liminal space seems to form, one where his eyes are strange and brighter than their surroundings and there's a hum under the slosh of liquid. In that moment, Phoenix suddenly is further away from being human than any wild animal.

He cups Arthur's face under the water, his newly appearing claws catching in his hair, and he presses their lips together. Whatever pull is in his voice, it's doubled now, not needing his words to carry in the mingled breath and fill up Arthur's head. And with the pull and the kiss and the strange half space, there's air, richer and headier than what's on land, easily held in the lungs for longer whether by some odd biological quirk or a stroke of magic. Either could be believable.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur opened his eyes underwater, the saltiness of it stinging, but he could still see the merman and his otherworldly form. The touch of his face has him almost pull back immediately, but he holds himself there and waits.

The air is rich and fills him deeply, the kiss-not-a-kiss is very odd and he almost tries to return it. But he takes in the breath, his lungs straining a little before now refilled and ready to hold on if he were swimming.

His gaze lingered on the creature's face, something within stirring in a way he weren't sure he wanted to feel for him.

[iobject]

Phoenix withdraws from the kiss, but his hands linger on Arthur's face, his eyes unerringly focused on Arthur's. He doesn't look like he speaks, but a hum is still audible, something that echoes through the water.

Then Phoenix pushes his head back up to the surface, his ears fanning and flicking droplets of water off. The spell can't be entirely broken as long as he's in his true form, but now it's not magnified by the water or by a kiss.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur lifted his head from the water when Phoenix did, not even grabbing a towel as water sluiced off him and soaked his shirt, still transfixed on the merman.

He stared for a long moment at him, mind a fog, and ideas of kissing him-for real this time-circling in his head. A second later and he closed the distance, pressing his lips against the merman's own, not seeking breath this time. The tickle of facial hair brushed Phoenix's smooth skin, Arthur putting a decent amount of weight into the kiss.

Suddenly his eyes opened and he pulled away, shaking his head and swearing. "Shit...I-I shouldn't have...shit..." The hell was he thinking?!

[iobject]

Phoenix makes a soft noise of surprise in the back of his throat as Arthur kisses him, closing his eyes and grasping Arthur's arms on instinct. The kiss is heavy, Arthur's stubble ticklish, and oh does it make Phoenix's head spin.

When Arthur pulls away, Phoenix almost tries to chase his lips, to pull him back in, but Arthur's distress is immediately clear. Phoenix opens his eyes, realizing with horror exactly what might have just happened.

"No, no, it's okay," Phoenix says, his ears folding and pinning to the sides of his head. "Did you not want to do that?"

Phoenix should have thought of this. His voice is bad enough, but sharing breath scrambles human brains even worse. What if he just pulled Arthur into kissing him when he didn't want to? Ugh, fine way to thank his savior.

[unshakencowboah]

"I...I don't...no...I don't know..." Arthur sat heavily down on the floor, head spinning.

He closed his eyes, trying to shake the fog, drawing a shaky breath. The feeling had been so intense...his heart raced a mile a minute.

Its a long few moments before Arthur pushed himself to his feet, grabbed a towel and slowly dried his face and hair. He stared at himself in the mirror. Scars, sunspots, age lines...his eyes flicked to the merman's reflection then back to his own. Who was he kidding? Such a creature wouldn't...

He hung up the towel then leaned on the sink, arms folded. He tried to change the subject, think of anything else except Phoenix's lips. "We should leave tomorrow mornin', before sun up, got a few hours drive to the shore."

[iobject]

Phoenix wants to reassure him, but talking more will just make it worse, so he shuts his mouth, his concern transparent in his eyes. His ears droop, but remain pinned to his skull as Arthur gathers himself.

His heart sinks a little when Arthur changes the subject, but he does his best to put it out of his head. They have more important things to think about, after all.

Phoenix doesn't say anything. Clearly, he's done enough speaking in this form. So he just nods in response, folding his arms on the edge of the tub. Alright. Tomorrow morning. Phoenix could manage a few hours of driving if the ocean's at the end of it.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur nodded and left the bathroom, taking a seat on the couch and having a look on his phone to find the best route to the beach.

However, he was distracted by the thought of Phoenix's lips and the warmth he seemed to fill him with. A warmth that he never thought he'd feel again. He didn't want to feel again, especially with Phoenix because...well, after he helped him to whatever island paradise he was taking him, they probably wouldn't see one another. Phoenix was too good for him.

It was for the best. They were of two different worlds, two different species.

[iobject]

Phoenix does his best to not feel rotten, and he doesn’t do a very good job. He’s been too flirty, too playful, and he didn’t read the signs right. Arthur isn’t interested when his brains aren’t scrambled. And that’s fine—the fishtail doesn’t exactly do it for many humans—but it bruises his chest a little.

Wishful thoughts and magic voices don’t attraction make. Phoenix should just be happy Arthur is helping him. And he is happy. He just... needs to focus on that.

Phoenix pillows his head on his arms, drifting in and out of sleep. He relies on the fatigue of his body healing to help him escape the tangled feelings and tedium of being alone in a tub. His tail drapes over the edge of the tub, flicking occasionally in his sleep.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur eventually pulled his focus onto the task at hand, reminding himself if they didn't get to the ocean tomorrow morning then they'd both be put away, and this time-for Phoenix-for good.

He then checked the news, seeing if there'd been any leaks or notices put up. Nothing. So they were keeping it quiet as possible...He re-scouted his route to the the ocean as it was possible they'd be watching the tolls. The trip would be a bit longer but at least they'd have a hard time catching them.

When dinner time rolled around, Arthur knocked on the bathroom door before coming in. "Hey." he said, offering a tentative smile. "Hungry?"

[iobject]

Phoenix had been sleeping most of the day away, and it's clearly good for him because more color seeps into his scales. Now, there seems to be a shining gilded trim to the fins at his ears, when previously they'd been only a pale and slightly sickly blue. The blue color in his scales is becoming richer in quality, but still not as beautiful as they were in the beginning.

He perks awake, blinking sleep from his eyes as Arthur comes in, and he returns Arthur's smile. They can put the kissing thing behind them, if that's what Arthur wants.

He opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again abruptly, nodding instead before pulling himself out of the tub, balancing himself on the edge as he reaches for a towel. No need to start talking before he's got legs.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur grabbed Phoenix a towel and helped him out onto the mat in order to dry off, pulling the plug to drain the tub. He'd refill it with fresh water and a new batch of salt for tonight. The quiet was strange, and Arthur didn't like it...

"You can talk if you want to, I just..." he sighed, patting his fish tail down, careful of the larger sores still on the mend, though the color was coming back in blooms which was encouraging. Arthur met his eyes. "I ain't used to...well, being liked. Especially like that."

[iobject]

Phoenix doesn’t blush, but he definitely feels like he would if he could. He hesitates, considering whether he should talk even with the invitation to do so.

He opens his mouth, then closes it, his ears flicking uncertainly. He wishes his tail would hurry up and split, but it’s taking its sweet time.

“I like you. It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to,” he says finally, candidly, risking using his voice again. “I just don’t want to make you do something you don’t want to by accident.”

He’s used to caring fiercely for people and then saying goodbye to them. It’s an old and familiar heartbreak. But humans don’t necessarily have the same background as he does.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur waited for him to talk, and when he didn't he half expected him not to again, which would have been a shame, for he found his voice...Was it still wonderful even if it was supposed to be so?

The statement is understandable, he knew he wouldn't forgive himself or Phoenix for enticing him into...well, whatever, against his will.

After awhile he said, "I like you too. Ain't sure what it should mean, if anythin' but...so you know."

[iobject]

Phoenix gives a rueful smile, the tip of his tail flicking. It scatters droplets of water on the wall. His tail is starting to split as it's pat dry.

"Tell me if you still feel that way when I'm a bit more human."

Phoenix has no illusions. He knows that mer are enticing for humans, enticing enough to lure people to their death. When he's closer to human, humans are able to be themselves. Another reason why he prefers not to interact with humans when he has his tail.

[unshakencowboah]

Arthur nodded, that was for the best if he did.

He continued to help dry him down until at last he was as human as can be.

After he was dressed, he spoke up again. "I feel the same as I did a moment ago. I like yea." he smiled softly