[OPEN] Straight from the horse’s mouth...

[sullenstallion]

Who: Dylas (sullenstallion) & you! Open to all.
What: Dylas has brand new superpowers! Unfortunately, he did not ask for them, and he does not know how to use them. Life ensues.
When: Early September
Where: Around Olympia
Warning(s): Rated H for Horse.

i. the market district

[That morning, when Dylas woke up, he felt different. His head felt a bit cloudier than usual—like he was interrupted in the middle of a deep dream. It’s that level of grogginess that makes everything seem brighter, louder, a little more repulsive. It’s not unusual for him to wake up in a grumpy mood, so he brushes it off and goes about getting ready for his day. Up first is getting something to eat, so he decides to head to the market in an attempt to wake himself up before his shift at the clinic begins.

It’s while he’s there that everything takes a turn for the worse. Being around so many people kicks what he doesn’t realize are his new senses into overdrive. One moment, he’s inspecting a fruit that looks like a bunch of grapes but with tiny apples instead, and the next his ears are swiveling in every direction, picking up every sound around him. His tail sets to lashing as he turns around to snap at a man complaining about his commute, only to yell ‘shut up!’ at absolutely no one; the sound came from much further away.

He doesn’t quite connect the dots, but soon he’s in need of rescuing. His attempts to get away from a crowd that sounds louder and louder than before (did he drink last night? ...is he hungover on carrot wine?), he bumps into one person, and then another. Eventually, he can’t take it. And while he looks flustered, ears flicking in the direction of every sound and almost tripping every few seconds because of his disorientation, he’ll eventually reach a boiling point if no one rescues him.]

Stop talking! You’re all being too loud!

[By then, he’s attracting so many stares and so much judgment that his face is completely red. Is he making a fist? Yeah, he is. Someone better step in quick.]

ii. somewhere nearby or in the clinic

[So, he’s not going to work today. The smells there are just as bad as the noises in the market, it just took his nose longer to catch up with him. He finds someone to cover for him, if only barely, but with how his body is apparently acting up he can’t stomach to be around the scent of potions and herbs and the surgery room. The clinic and the kitchen he works in are both out of the question, then, as is actually asking Lysa for assistance. Clearly, this is a problem he can handle himself.

Or not.

He can be found seated in a park in the Nobles District looking extremely exhausted and unhappy. Seated at a bench, he’s hunched forward, hand resting on his forehead. The kids who would be playing near the bench while their mothers gossiped nearby are instead staring at him from behind a statue like he’s radiating the most unwelcoming aura they’ve seen in their young lives. He’s already snapped at them once, and he can hear both groups of people talking.

When he hears footsteps getting closer to him, he doesn’t even look up. He knows he looks like a sweaty mess.]

Just keep walking. This entire bench is taken, alright?

[And then he does the most unflattering thing ever: he lifts his hand to his mouth and gags. Yet another pleasant scent hitting his nostrils. Maybe someone about twenty yards away is eating a pungent sandwich. Or maybe a cat pooped. Either way, it’s not a scent he can block out, not without getting used to his new powers.]

D-don’t just stare at me. I told you, keep—ugh—walking.

Comments

the market district

[emblazes]

[He's standing closeby when Dylas decides to have a meltdown. The market district is quite noisy, almost ever empty enough for his liking, but shit's gotta get bought and he can't always rely on his room...mates...to handle the task. Not to say he's much better, but restocking just happened to cross his mind this morning.

Especially when the refrigerator proved almost entirely barren.

He's drawn away from looking at some eggs, all varying in shape and color, fixed immediately on Dylas and his outburst. #relatable content.

He's just gonna gawk, just in case(???). Don't mind him.]

[sullenstallion]

[So, this is what it feels like to have your entire life unravel in a fit of insanity. That's what it feels like, anyways. He can hear each foot step, and his ears keep moving to each crisp, loud sound as if it's coming from right behind him when they really aren't.

He takes a few steps back towards Keith purely because it's quieter in that direction, his tail lashing, his fist still being made and unmade like he's a wild horse about to punch something. He can't block out all these sounds, and when someone drops a plate that shatters nearby Keith's favorite All The Eggs You Can Carry stall, Dylas twirls in that direction and looks like he's about to have a heart attack. He literally cringes.

And as he whirls so quickly in that direction, he also sort of elbows Keith in the gut. Fun times!]

[emblazes]

[Dylas you can't just assault a police officer?


But he does, and it wasn't totally unexpected; Keith noted him meandering over, made a point to not actually grab any eggs, lest this guy lose his shit over here too. He's not about to be responsible for a dozen shattered alien chicken eggs.

Scant of a secondary meltdown, he instead receives a pointy joint to the gut. Just noting the guy's nearness couldn't, and didn't prepare him for that. There's an appropriate sound effect to go along with that unintended blow (no cussing, this is a kid's show). He's quick to glare at the horseboy thereafter.]

What's wrong with you-?!

[With a hand cupping over the spot at his stomach, just in case. Protecting it from another pending part 2.]

[sullenstallion]

[He doesn't even notice that he scored a critical hit on a cop. He stumbles for a few more seconds before grabbing onto a post to right himself. Each footstep...each voice...he can not only hear them, but he can pinpoint exactly where the closest ones are coming to.

And there's the really loud guy behind him...who isn't actually loud but his ears are having a diva moment...]

N-nothing's wrong! I'm fine! [From the way he winces and tries to force out the sounds, something is clearly wrong.] Why is everyone so loud?!

[He's being loud. And he looks like he might cry (maybe).]

stop infomodding keith's dick

[emblazes]

[Now he can't tell if this guy's hurt or possessed. He appears to be in pain, but nothing visibly looks wrong with him? He's given him a once-over several times now (no homo) as a precaution, but nothing sticks out.]

It's always like this....

[It's not...that noisy. One would think everyone was communicating via bullhorn by Dyas' response.

Having a bad trip m8???]

i'm sorry i'll picture it smaller next time so it's more accurate

[sullenstallion]

What? It is?

[Shit. Of course. That makes sense. It's only happening to him. It's his ears that are feeling super sensitive, and no one else is...crap, he hadn't even thought that far ahead. He was mostly trying to find a way out of this mob without having to punch someone, but now he's thinking on it, and...yeah.]

I mean, of course it is. I'm, just...I have a bad headache.

[He's having a terrible trip, he'd like to go back to the stasis pods and sleep forever please.]

thank you

[emblazes]

[Keith has no reason to suspect he's lying or...downplaying anything, primarily because he can't quite wrap his head around what even this guy his problem is. What is apparent, however, is that he's not feeling well.

Maybe this is what an anxiety attack looks like?

He could relent with the It's Like You Have Two Heads look, barring the fact that he doesn't realize he's regarding Dylas like a crazy person.]

Maybe you should...sit down?

[His advice is always equal to If Your Stomach Hurts Just Stop Eating Gross Food. Profoundly useless most of the time, unprofitable 100% of the time.]

ii

[gekkajuu]

[By necessity, Atsushi has limited his excursions out of town for work considerably. He can't keep that up forever, but what choice does he have? There's the egg to take care of - and, even if it's shrunk, that's still quite a task.

Currently he's walking it, as one does: he can't get reliable babysitters 24/7, and he has to head out sometimes, at which point he carries the egg wrapped up inside a shoulder bag, with a heat pad under it to keep it warm. He takes quiet routes on purpose - God forbid someone run into him! - which is to say he's spent more time in the Nobles District the last couple of days than he did all the weeks before.

He's not expecting to run into Dylas, and at that reaction, he is honestly tempted to leave. If Dylas is in a bad mood, Atsushi might just let him: bugging him in a manner of speaking won't help, and there's the safety of the egg to consider. But when Dylas gags, concern wins out.]

Are you sick?

[sullenstallion]

Huh? Atsushi.

[He lifts his head at the familiar voice. He's getting a little more used to hearing more sounds in more directions than he's used to, but his voice still sounds a little louder, a little closer than it should. For a brief moment, there's a look of relief that crosses his face.

But then a new scent drafts under his nostrils and he feels a little sick again. Back to looking exhausted, then. His ears droop a little as he resumes looking straight ahead.]

I'm not sick. [But if Atsushi gets closer, he'll be able to get a better read on his scent than he'd been able to before. And that's sick.] My body's just doing things it isn't supposed to.

[...yeah. He'll go with that.]

I was gonna come by today. I didn't forget.

[gekkajuu]

... That is actually a pretty good definition of "sick".

[Atsushi offers a sympathetic look, moving closer so he can sit, too. Being an egg mom is exhausting, okay?]

That's fine! It's not time yet. And if you're sick, we should just reschedule. Please don't force yourself on my account.

[sullenstallion]

I'm not sick.

[He pouts, repeating himself like he's just been told he can't play with the other kids because of a cold. He shifts on the bench, making more room for Atsushi.]

I told you, my...my body's just acting funny. It's not normally like this. [And dealing with his new abilities has left him sweaty and weary-looking. It's a subtle shift, but he starts breathing quietly through his mouth now that he has company.] What are you doing here, anyways?

[gekkajuu]

Hm? Oh, I was just on my way to get some groceries... I wanted to avoid the busy areas of town.

[Which is basically everywhere, but even so. He's gotten used to keeping busy, and his options are kind of limited at the moment. Detours aren't so bad - while the heat pad stays warm enough for the egg, anyway.

Speaking of warm: Dylas looks rather overheated.]

You don't have a fever, do you?

[sullenstallion]

If you hear anything about some tall guy throwing a tantrum in the market, don't listen to it.

[That's basically "I threw a tantrum in the market today." He's sure some people there are still talking about him. He exhales through his mouth and takes a deep breath before turning to him.]

I don't have a fever. How many times do I have to tell you I'm not sick? Maybe you're sick. [Ugh. He groans.] How's your egg baby?

2

[juniberries]

[The Noble District is in Allura's neck of the woods, and currently she's stationed at her usual patrol spot near Sanctuary. It's a slow day, so much so that she does take it upon herself to offer assistance whenever needed, be it helping someone having difficulty walking to the clinic, giving directions as best she can to people who have lost their way, among other help required by the denizens of this district...provided they aren't too ridiculous or belittling a request for someone in the royal guard.

She is alerted by young young woman with a child in tow of someone loitering on one of the clinic's outdoor benches, someone who seems angry at, to this woman, at least, a concern to other upstanding citizens, that it's something that should be dealt with. And when the woman points over to this loiterer in question, Allura immediately recognizes the man there.

Frowning slightly, she thanks the woman who then heads into the clinic seeming proud of tattling on a miserable young man, and she approaches Dylas. She's dressed different than when they first met, wearing an all black outfit reminiscent of her flightsuit, accented in pink with the Royal Guard stone plain as day on her chest.

She crosses her arms, blanching a bit with Dylas gags.]

You cannot take up an entire bench. Do you need to be taken to the clinic? You look ill.

[sullenstallion]

No! Not the clinic! Anywhere but there!

[It smells like bodily fluids in there.

He answers so loudly and so suddenly that he hadn't even taken a moment to look at or recognize who spoke to him. Now that he's responded, he turns to Allura, eyes illuminating with recognition before he goes back to being unimpressed. It's not her fault, he's just not having his greatest day. And he doesn't want his boss to see him like this, either, or have the works there point out that he once baked sweets for sick children.

Wouldn't that just be the worst.]

So, you're one of those guards, Prin...Princess? [Urk. Too many smells.] Seems like a good fit for you.

[juniberries]

[She's kind of taken aback by being shouted at, jumping slightly, but quickly hunkers down and remains rooted where she stands, raising a brow in both annoyance but also concern at how quick he is to say he doesn't want to go to the clinic. Because he clearly is unwell.

She chalks it up to. Well, whatever the equivalent of 'machismo' may be for an alien.]

I am. [There's a smile when she interprets what he says as a compliment.] And if you do not wish to go to the clinic, I can walk you home. You're making the nobles nervous.

[sullenstallion]

[It was a compliment. If he had to pick whether or not he likes Allura, be shocked. He'd say she's alright.]

I noticed. [He speaks flatly, exasperatedly, and slowly shakes his head. Where could he go that won't make people nervous? Besides home.] I guess that's too bad for them. Anyways, it's impossible for you to walk me home.

[And just what does he mean by that? His stomach churns again so he lowers his head.]

I live nearby anyways.

[juniberries]

It is...? [She looks at him, not buying what he says.] If you live so close by, then walking you will be easy, not impossible.

Besides, you really do not look well.

[sullenstallion]

I live right—urk—there.

[He nods his head in the direction of the clinic, The Sanctuary. It's known that some workers stay there, so the conclusion should be obvious. So, he won't go to the clinic, which makes it impossible for anyone to help him home.

But really, the most impossible thing about this conversation is Dylas himself.]

I'm completely fine. My senses shifted while I slept, and I'm dealing with it.

[In fact, he can probably definitely smell whatever cologne or perfume she's wearing. He's not even trying.]

i

[poolhall_killer]

[The voice catches Venom's attention as he's out food shopping. It takes him a bit to place the voice, but soon he recognizes it as Dylas, the young man who aided him in mating all those weird bugs. And it appears he's being badly irritated by everyone being too loud.]

I'm sure they didn't mean to be so loud, right?

[And he's giving some of the citizens a look so hopefully it'll send the message to lower their voices.]

[sullenstallion]

[He turns around quickly when Dylas hears Venom. At first, he's going to snap at him, too, but the villagers actually manage to disperse a little at the combined force of how unpleasant the two of them look.

Funny, that.]

What are you doing here?

[Dylas, the answer is pretty obvious. But he pants out the question anyways, wincing again at a noise behind him. Twitching. Gah.]

I don't need any help.

[poolhall_killer]

I was doing some shopping in the area.

[He notes the expression and crosses his arms.]

Are you sure? I don't like seeing anyone in distress.

[sullenstallion]

I'm not in distress!

[He looks every bit like a wild animal on the verge of lashing out, however, so it's an obvious lie.]

I'm just feeling more bothered than usual!

[So. Yes. Distress.]

[poolhall_killer]

Please, calm down. Let's get you out of here. It's a bit crowded.

[A few people were still gawking so Venom gently ushers the agitated young man away from everyone. He doesn't know what's going on with Dylas but he doesn't want his new acquaintance to stress out any more than he already has.]

[sullenstallion]

It's...I don't need to calm down!

[He huffs and he protests, but aside from standing his ground for a few seconds he's easily ushered away. It's a little easier to focus when someone is forcing him out of the crowd. He doesn't like to feel like he's drowning in it.

Once they've cleared away into an alleyway or somewhere similar, he reaches up to his ears and pulls on them. He winces.]

What the hell is up with this, huh? They're all different now!

[They look exactly the same.]