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fandomweekly2022-09-08 08:22 am
iluvroadrunner6) wrote in fandomweekly2022-09-08 08:22 am
Entry tags:
[#138] And the Journey's Been So Rough (Original)
Theme Prompt: #138 - Leviathan
Title: And the Journey’s Been So Rough
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 935
Summary: Cursed to human form, he tries to forge a new identity for himself.
He doesn’t think he’ll ever become accustomed to being this small. It’s disorienting, and in some ways surprising, but part of him thinks he likes it. No one flees from his size and bulk. He can sit on a boat without smashing it—it’s strange, but it’s freeing. One of the few aspects of being human that he actually likes.
He has been human all of seven days, and he finds the requirements of being one entirely confusing. You must wear clothing, not because of survival, as the Miami summers are more than warm enough to keep you from freezing to death, but because of a misplaced sense of propriety. Although there is nothing inherently dangerous about a naked human body—you will not go blind if you view it or turn to stone like if you met eyes with a gorgon—being dressed is necessary for polite society. Whatever that’s supposed to mean.
Aaron makes his way into the room as he studies himself in the mirror, wearing what the other man had called “jeans” and a “t-shirt.” They are comfortable and allow for a fair range of movement. It will suffice, and he won’t, as Kendra says, have to suffer for fashion.
“Is the fit okay?” Aaron asks, making his way closer. “Doesn’t feel too loose on your hips?”
Hips. He has those now. It’s still strange. “No,” he replies. “They will suffice.”
“Good.” Aaron nods. “Once we get your identity established, we can take you shopping and fill out the rest of your wardrobe.”
He frowns, looking back at Aaron with confusion. “This clothing wears out quickly?”
“No. I mean, it will eventually, but not right away. But it’s considered unclean to wear the same set for too long. Besides, you have to wear something while you clean them, and you don’t want to put dirty clothes back on after you’ve cleaned yourself.”
“Ah.” He turns back to the mirror again. “I see.”
“Besides. It can be a way to express yourself, too. Once you figure out who you are, you can show that through your clothes.”
“Interesting.” He turns to Aaron with a frown. “What is this identity?”
“In order to operate in the world, you’ll need a name. Something to introduce yourself as when you meet people. Introducing yourself as the Leviathan might lead to people thinking you’re some kind of weird mythology nut.” Aaron tips his head to the side. “How do you feel about Levi?”
He wrinkles his nose. Shortening his name doesn’t seem to make it any less obvious. “I will take whatever name is available.”
Aaron’s brow furrows. “You don’t want to pick for yourself.”
He shrugs, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Sitting is also a new sensation, one he isn’t entirely sure he’s fond of. When he bends his legs, he has nowhere to put his hands, and placing hands is also apparently quite crucial to not offending other humans. But Aaron seems ready to forgive his flaws and gently correct his mistakes. He’s grateful that this is the paladin who imprisoned him.
“Can I ask you something?” Aaron asks, moving to join him.
“You just did.”
The other man smiles, as though he’s told some kind of joke, before continuing. “Are you okay with being human? I mean, you went from big dangerous monster of the sea to something much more fragile. And a world you’ve never really tried to be a part of before.”
“They did not ask me to be part of it before.” Turning to face the young man, he raises an eyebrow. “What do you know of my origins?”
“One of three mythical beasts, created by God. Got jealous because God wouldn’t make you a girlfriend, so you decided to consume everything else. Kind of big ‘if I can’t get hitched, no one will’ energy?”
“I don’t understand that last question. But … it’s incredibly isolating to be the only one of your kind. To have no one who will share and understand your experiences. Yes, I was angry. I did a lot of harm. But you can’t destroy everything. Sometimes, life persists, no matter what you do.”
Aaron looks down at the dark skin of his hands, heel tapping against the floor briefly before nodding. “Yeah. I know what that’s like. Not exactly, as there are other humans around, but … being black is kind of isolating on its own when you’re the only one around.”
He doesn’t understand the vernacular of “being black” but he feels like that’s one of the many things he will have to come to understand. He nods, and Aaron passes the paper with a list of names to him.
“This is a list of names attached to social security numbers that already exist but were never really used.”
“Why not?” A pause. “Why do you need social security?”
“That is a much longer story for another time, but essentially, it’ll make you a real boy. If you pick one, my friend can help activate that identity, and then you’ll be able to get a job, pay taxes, go to school—whatever human experience you want to live, it’s yours.”
He nods again, scanning down the list of names until he reaches one that seems to call to him, more than the rest. “You know, I’ve never named myself. My names have always been chosen for me.” He then points to the one he wants. “But I think I like that one.”
Aaron nods, offering him a smile. “Then it’s nice to meet you, Ryan Metlars. Welcome to the world.”
Title: And the Journey’s Been So Rough
Fandom: Original
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 935
Summary: Cursed to human form, he tries to forge a new identity for himself.
He doesn’t think he’ll ever become accustomed to being this small. It’s disorienting, and in some ways surprising, but part of him thinks he likes it. No one flees from his size and bulk. He can sit on a boat without smashing it—it’s strange, but it’s freeing. One of the few aspects of being human that he actually likes.
He has been human all of seven days, and he finds the requirements of being one entirely confusing. You must wear clothing, not because of survival, as the Miami summers are more than warm enough to keep you from freezing to death, but because of a misplaced sense of propriety. Although there is nothing inherently dangerous about a naked human body—you will not go blind if you view it or turn to stone like if you met eyes with a gorgon—being dressed is necessary for polite society. Whatever that’s supposed to mean.
Aaron makes his way into the room as he studies himself in the mirror, wearing what the other man had called “jeans” and a “t-shirt.” They are comfortable and allow for a fair range of movement. It will suffice, and he won’t, as Kendra says, have to suffer for fashion.
“Is the fit okay?” Aaron asks, making his way closer. “Doesn’t feel too loose on your hips?”
Hips. He has those now. It’s still strange. “No,” he replies. “They will suffice.”
“Good.” Aaron nods. “Once we get your identity established, we can take you shopping and fill out the rest of your wardrobe.”
He frowns, looking back at Aaron with confusion. “This clothing wears out quickly?”
“No. I mean, it will eventually, but not right away. But it’s considered unclean to wear the same set for too long. Besides, you have to wear something while you clean them, and you don’t want to put dirty clothes back on after you’ve cleaned yourself.”
“Ah.” He turns back to the mirror again. “I see.”
“Besides. It can be a way to express yourself, too. Once you figure out who you are, you can show that through your clothes.”
“Interesting.” He turns to Aaron with a frown. “What is this identity?”
“In order to operate in the world, you’ll need a name. Something to introduce yourself as when you meet people. Introducing yourself as the Leviathan might lead to people thinking you’re some kind of weird mythology nut.” Aaron tips his head to the side. “How do you feel about Levi?”
He wrinkles his nose. Shortening his name doesn’t seem to make it any less obvious. “I will take whatever name is available.”
Aaron’s brow furrows. “You don’t want to pick for yourself.”
He shrugs, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Sitting is also a new sensation, one he isn’t entirely sure he’s fond of. When he bends his legs, he has nowhere to put his hands, and placing hands is also apparently quite crucial to not offending other humans. But Aaron seems ready to forgive his flaws and gently correct his mistakes. He’s grateful that this is the paladin who imprisoned him.
“Can I ask you something?” Aaron asks, moving to join him.
“You just did.”
The other man smiles, as though he’s told some kind of joke, before continuing. “Are you okay with being human? I mean, you went from big dangerous monster of the sea to something much more fragile. And a world you’ve never really tried to be a part of before.”
“They did not ask me to be part of it before.” Turning to face the young man, he raises an eyebrow. “What do you know of my origins?”
“One of three mythical beasts, created by God. Got jealous because God wouldn’t make you a girlfriend, so you decided to consume everything else. Kind of big ‘if I can’t get hitched, no one will’ energy?”
“I don’t understand that last question. But … it’s incredibly isolating to be the only one of your kind. To have no one who will share and understand your experiences. Yes, I was angry. I did a lot of harm. But you can’t destroy everything. Sometimes, life persists, no matter what you do.”
Aaron looks down at the dark skin of his hands, heel tapping against the floor briefly before nodding. “Yeah. I know what that’s like. Not exactly, as there are other humans around, but … being black is kind of isolating on its own when you’re the only one around.”
He doesn’t understand the vernacular of “being black” but he feels like that’s one of the many things he will have to come to understand. He nods, and Aaron passes the paper with a list of names to him.
“This is a list of names attached to social security numbers that already exist but were never really used.”
“Why not?” A pause. “Why do you need social security?”
“That is a much longer story for another time, but essentially, it’ll make you a real boy. If you pick one, my friend can help activate that identity, and then you’ll be able to get a job, pay taxes, go to school—whatever human experience you want to live, it’s yours.”
He nods again, scanning down the list of names until he reaches one that seems to call to him, more than the rest. “You know, I’ve never named myself. My names have always been chosen for me.” He then points to the one he wants. “But I think I like that one.”
Aaron nods, offering him a smile. “Then it’s nice to meet you, Ryan Metlars. Welcome to the world.”