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

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

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.

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[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.]

[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.

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.

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.]

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.]

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.]

Did something happen to your ears?

[He does a visual once over on them, and nothing appears to be out of the ordinary.]

They look fine. There's no sign of infection or anything of the sort.

H-hey. You don't annoy me yet, so try to keep your voice down, alright?

[His half-warning, half declaration of friendship (if you read between the lines, which Venom might have to grow used to...Dylas is rarely heartfelt with new people) is spoken in a hushed tone. In fact, he's going to lean on Venom now that they're out of everyone's way while he catches his breath.]

Everyone is talking so loudly. O-or my ears are freaking out. One of the two. Dammit.

I'm sorry.

[His voice immediately goes down in volume. And he'll quietly appreciate that he hasn't annoyed his new acquaintance. Yet.]

Is anything else acting up? Your vision or sense of smell? Or perhaps they're just sharper because of the environment.

[Now Venom's going into concerned territory.]

Don't apologize.

[He huffs, grateful to have Venom speak in a whisper. He still can't block out all of the sounds, but at least it's getting a little easier now that he's not in the market.]

...Actually, yeah. My nose is feeling a little funny, too. It's not as strong as my ears yet.

[What does Venom smell like, anyways? Dylas is about to find out.]

[Dylas is in luck as Venom showered this morning. He used a local body wash that has a light citrus and bergamont scent to it.]

So your sense of smell is growing more sensitive too?

[This is getting odder by the moment.]

Yeah. I think. You smell like fruit. Why the hell is my body changing like this?

[And it's not like he's leaned in close to get a whiff, right?

Wait.]

W-wait. Puberty only happens once, right?! My voice is already low enough!

I smell like fruit?

[Had this been his world, Venom would have been mildly horrified. He tried to keep a neutral, unremarkable scent about him due to work, but now he felt he didn't have to adhere so strictly to self-imposed Guild rules. Hence the new body wash.

Still... fruit?]

Anyway, yes. Puberty only happens once, but sometimes it can hit later in life. Could that be it?

[Hey. Citrus is fruit. He's just not being specific. And how could he clarify when Venom hits him with that? His ears shoot straight up at that bizarre question.]

H-hey! I think it's pretty clear from looking at me that I've already been through that once! Maybe even twice!

[Does turning into a horse and back count as a second puberty?]

In my world, some humanoid beings apparently age and develop at different levels. I don't want to assume.

[Like the rumors about a young woman who looked about Venom's age and was only three years old.]

[He doesn't like it. But that makes sense. His nostrils flare slightly as he huffs.]

Well, I'm mostly human. So don't forget that.

[He'd ask about the ears, but maybe that's just part of being human in Dylas's world.]

If that's the case, then perhaps this world is affecting you. Giving you stronger senses.

[Why him and no one else is a mystery...]

That's stupid.

[Yes, think about his ears. About how light and fluffy they are, and how they turn to pick up the small sounds around him just like a horse's would...but wait.]

Actually...hey. I could ask Thesa about it, right?

You could. I'm not sure if a direct answer will be available, but it's worth a try.

[He's going to keep tabs on his own senses in case Dylas isn't the only one affected.]

I dunno if I like talking to them. It might be more trouble than it's worth.

[Sure, they saved everyone, but high-tech, godlike people...they don't feel 'real' to Dylas in a way or two.]

I can understand why.

[He's still not sure if he should trust them at all, but they did save him a second time. He toys with his hair briefly.]

Try sending them a message first to see if they respond. Perhaps you can gain a personal audience with them.

That sounds like a pain in the ass. Why do I have to go through this much trouble for something I didn't do?

[Because that's life? But it's still something to consider. Talking to the Orbiters, though...eugh.]

I'll think about it. [And a long pause.] Thanks. For the help.

[He knows how rough it can be to seek out answers, but he hopes Dylas finds something out. He's a good guy.]

You're welcome. Would you like me to get you something from the market? Since you were rudely interrupted by your senses and the crowd?

No. You don't need to do that. I'm skipping work.

[He's decided that just now. Ugh. He hates it so much that his ears flick down like an ashamed dog, but he has to.]

My head's going to kill me if I don't.

I can escort you home at least, so you can get some rest.

[Looks like he's been through enough already, poor guy.]

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

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this is so dumb I'm sorry

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