Beast Boy (
thebeastwithout) wrote in
retrospec2018-01-22 11:48 am
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002 - Octopus's Garden In the Shade
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
[Today on the hot mess that is Retrospec, somebody's either fallen asleep on their keyboard or allowed their cat to play with the computer for too long, 'cause there's a solid string of this for about a minute straight.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Garfield Logan added 3 new photos - in Huntington Avenue, Recollé
2 mins
[The first photo is a blurry image of Gar screaming, with only his head and upper chest visible. Something long and twisty is visible at the edge of the frame.
The second is a slightly less blurry image of a... realistic-looking octopus tentacle, for some reason.
The last is an image of Gar's bare chest underneath a ripped shirt, which no one ever really wanted to see, but we're all being traumatized today so just go with it. Everything looks normal up until the part where his shoulder attaches to the octopus tentacle in the previous picture.
It's kinda gross.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
[Today on the hot mess that is Retrospec, somebody's either fallen asleep on their keyboard or allowed their cat to play with the computer for too long, 'cause there's a solid string of this for about a minute straight.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Garfield Logan added 3 new photos - in Huntington Avenue, Recollé
2 mins
[The first photo is a blurry image of Gar screaming, with only his head and upper chest visible. Something long and twisty is visible at the edge of the frame.
The second is a slightly less blurry image of a... realistic-looking octopus tentacle, for some reason.
The last is an image of Gar's bare chest underneath a ripped shirt, which no one ever really wanted to see, but we're all being traumatized today so just go with it. Everything looks normal up until the part where his shoulder attaches to the octopus tentacle in the previous picture.
It's kinda gross.]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
no subject
[Gar makes some... noises of discontentment as James prods and pokes and squishes at his pleasure. It somehow feels vaguely violating, though he hasn't the least idea how. The tentacle is indeed an enormous octopus's tentacle by any estimation - it squirms unpleasantly as it's released and drops to the floor.]
We all good?
Cool, let's pretend that didn't happen.
Why would you want a fake arm that looks like a tentacle? I'm pretty sure you can't actually like... do anything with this.
no subject
It's not like I can do a lot with the arm I've got now, either. The tentacle can't be much worse.
[ He unzips the backpack and pulls out the arm fully, offering it to Gar. Despite going all the way up and over the shoulder, it's deceptively light and deceptively realistic. He also pulls out the harness, which looks more like a knotted tangle of belts and straps right now. ]
Think you can fit into that? Or is your tentacle too fat?
no subject
[This protest is somewhat unconvincing, as Gar focuses on the fake arm sticking out of James's backpack. He takes it gingerly when it's offered.]
...Geez.
The night that dumb app installed itself on my phone, I was freaking out about algebra. ...I would a' spent more time goofing off if I knew I was gonna have real problems later.
It's gonna hafta fit.
[He still hates looking at the tentacle, but he at least tries to position it and slide it into the hole.
...It jiggles.]
no subject
[ He can't help the amused grin as Gar tries to shove his tentacle into the arm. ]
Here, let me help with that.
[ He grasps the prosthetic by the forearm and jabs it forward, trying to cram it the rest of the way in. ]
no subject
[Gar groans again as he picks up his wobbly tentacle and attempts to shove it in, shooting James a dirty look as he does so. It's... difficult going.]
C'mon...
Stupid -- I can't bulk up as a human, why've I gotta be such a thick octopus monster?
[don't answer that]
Just gotta... push...! Geez! If it was just a little... small --
[There is a sudden popping sound as the prosthetic suddenly slides all the way up Gar's arm with no resistance. ...But Gar utters a choked gasp -- and stares at the prosthetic in mild horror.]
...Aw, fudgesicles. Take it off, take it off, take it off.
no subject
What happened?
no subject
[The prosthetic slides off pretty easily! ...This is because underneath it, there is now a lovely bristled, stick thin, fly leg protruding from Gar's chest. Huzzah everything is better.
Gar's choked scream goes about seven octaves up. He quickly stifles it with his free hand before his parents can hear.]
no subject
[ He whispershouts it and jolts back away from the arm. He's not one to hate bugs or flies particularly, but he's never had to see a fly arm enlarged so much before. James stares at it in morbid, vaguely disgusted fascination. ]
Does it....y'know, move like a fly arm?
no subject
[Gar hisses as he tries to back away from his own arm, which presents a slight difficulty, as can be imagined. James's question is sufficiently answered when the arm begins to twitch and vibrate awkwardly.]
OK.
I need you to cut off my arm. You're like, an ex-soldier right. It's cool I'm ready for this.
no subject
[ Morbidly, he thinks he can probably just yank the arm off--it looks thin and brittle, easy to break off. But instead, he just shoves the prosthetic back on. ]
Just cover it up! Or turn it back into an octopus arm!
no subject
[he will agree with covering it up though
ideally forever
his voice might be getting increasingly high-pitched]
What the hell is even happening! Is this some kinda nightmare? This is like a weird dream, right? What does this mean, my past life was some kinda fly octopus mutant?!
no subject
I hope you like getting your ribcage squeezed, because James is not at all shy about tightening the buckles on this thing. ]
Welcome to Retrospec, man. What it means is you've got superpowers. Lucky you.
no subject
[Too busy screaming and panicking, Gar might not have paused to think about the actual implications here. He shuts up and stares as if this thought has never crossed his mind.]
What do you mean, superpowers. Turning into a weird bug is a superpow -- ow! Geez, man, I've already got a useless arm; don't break my ribs.
This is a superpower?
no subject
[ He doublechecks the strap, gives it a tug, and, satisfied, steps back. There, look at that! Gar almost looks normal. Sure, the skintone's a little off if you look closely and the prosthetic's a little larger than Gar's real arm, but otherwise it looks perfectly normal! ]
And yeah, man, being able to turn into different animal stuff? That is totally a superpower. If it's static, that's just a weird mutation. But if it can change, you can probably control it, and that's a power.
no subject
[He repeats, a little stupidly, to himself, as he looks down at his arm now covered by the prosthetic.]
No way, dude. This is... freaky. If I could've gotten rid a' this by thinking about it, it would a' been back to normal ages ago. It's just...
...It's really a superpower?
[He's not sure whether to sound happy or not, but there's a faint trace of an embarrassed smile coming to his face.]
...And wow, this actually fits surprisingly well. Huh.
no subject
Maybe you just don't know how to control it yet. I don't know how powers work, I don't have any. But what else is it supposed to be, man?
[ Seeing Gar appreciating the prosthetic, though, makes James feel pretty good about the job he did getting it on him. ]
See? What'd I tell you, this thing's made to look just right. Hell, you could probably even move it a little if you tried--not too much though or you're gonna pop it right off your shoulder.
no subject
I can definitely make it through dinner without my parents sending me to the FBI to get dissected.
[Gar rolls his shoulder around for a few moments and feels his... bristles brushing up against the prosthetic. ...It's an extremely bizarre sensation. He tries not to think about it.
From his dresser, he pulls out a thick hoodie.]
You mind helping me get this on?
no subject
[ Once Gar is seated, he begins going through the process, explaining as he goes, because if Gar's going to have to use this long-term, he might as well know. Put a man's sweater on, he's dressed for a day. Teach a man to put a sweater on, he's dressed for a lifetime.
He drapes the sweater on Gar's lap, then positions it so that the bottom edge is opened and the sleeve for the prosthetic is exposed in a straight drop to the floor. ]
Now just put the arm through, pull it up to your shoulder, put your other arm through, then pull it the rest of the way on like any other sweater.
no subject
Uh...
[Gar attempts to follow instructions, and is gratified to find that it's less cumbersome than he had anticipated. The fact that he still has an arm - albeit a bug arm - helps with the dexterity bit.
He pulls the hoodie down and pulls the sleeve down over the fake hand. He glances up at the mirror affixed on the door.]
Yeah... yeah, I think this is gonna work!
And if it like, keeps changing randomly, I can stick with it a little while longer.
[a faint pause]
Hey.
...If I've got a superpower, does that mean I can be a superhero?
no subject
Uh, yeah, duh. That's like, what they're for.
no subject
[He grins brightly for a moment or two, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.]
This might actually be kinda c --
[From outside his door, a woman's voice calls up -- 'Garfield...']
Oh crap.
Out the window, dude!
no subject
Good luck, man.
[ James leaps out the open window in one smooth motion. He lands in a quiet somersault and immediately takes off in a sprint down the block. ]
no subject