energyfieldgood | IC Inbox for Apocalypse Now

I’m not gonna do that!

[He trails off, his annoyance fading into focus.

A zig-zag pattern?! Even better!

He seems to light up, his eyes widening, pupils dilating, pawing at the tissue like a—

—well, exactly like a cat.

Can you do that some more? Please?]

[Rodney stares at the changes in him and it really is just like a--]

Oh my God, you're a cat.

[He just blurts it out like that, playing with the tissue some more.]

The Entities turned you into a cat!

What?!

[It’s enough to break him of the trance.]

I’m not a cat!

[Or not, because he focuses on the tissue again, batting at it. It’s his! He’s killing it dead and he’s the greatest hunter that ever lived!

…

…oh.

He looks back up to Rodney.]

They turned me into a cat?!

I... guess it beats being a bug?

[Is this helping?

Rodney stares, then narrows his eyes at him.]

... Do you have a tail?

[This is not helping. That gets a glare. And a look like he might just sink his claws into Rodney's hand.

But he resists. For now.]

...a tail.

No, I don't have a tail!

[...does he? He never looked. He gives Rodney a very, very miffed look and backs up several steps, before quickly turning around and checking.]

No...no tail.

Hey, you got claws! What's to say that's the only thing you're getting?

[Rodney leans forward in turn, trying to catch a glimpse at his behind.]

Just checking.

[For a moment he just sits there, at a loss. He wishes he had his gear, his labs, Ancient equipment. Something to scan Sheppard with, to figure out what is going on.]

... I guess you coming here means you don't want to tell ADI.

[...he saw you do that, Rodney.]

...well, maybe I'm like Sabertooth. He doesn't have a tail.

[It's more fun to talk about stuff like that, than the reality that this could get so much worse.]

No. They cannot find out. You know what they'd do to me?

I do not.

[He hasn't been here that long and so far, ADI has reminded him more of the SGC than the IOA so he's willing to cut them some slack.]

Examine you, try to help you and make sure you're not a threat to people?

[You know, like their people would?]

No.

[He grimaces.]

They'd count this as working in the service of an Entity.

[So...he lets that hang for a moment.]

I doubt I'd see the light of day again.

What? But it's not your fault. We wouldn't have an expedition left if we just locked up everyone who ever came in contact with some mind- or bodyaltering effects?

[He sounds outraged at that. They can't do that?

Except Rodney knows they probably can and he frowns, looking troubled.]

So how do you wanna play this? Wear gloves all the time? 'cause that's not suspicious at all.

I know but these guys...I don't think they'd care. And I'm not betting my life on a maybe they'd treat me right.

[He sheathes his claws, but it doesn't really hide them--the tips are still obvious, and it's suspicious not having any human-shaped nails.]

I can walk around with my hands in my pockets. Or maybe it wears off, y'know? Like a werewolf? It's not a full moon, is it?

[There's a beat and he looks down at his shoes. Luckily he's wearing boots, which prevent the claws from showing, but he's realizing that he just shredded his socks.]

...I think I have a full set.

Oh yes, great plan. Just don't use your hands, ever. Problem solved.

[If that sounded like sarcasm it's because it was.]

Maybe we should get back to the actual problem at hand, Lion-O. Which is you being in cahoots with an Entity. Do you know which one? What exactly happened in that dream?

Okay, fine. I was dreaming about Atlantis.

[As one does.]

There was this thing on the pier—it was like it was me, but it wasn’t me. It was this shadowy monster thing. It talked to me.

[He shivers involuntarily, thinking about it.]

I think it was the Hunt. It asked me what I wanted.

[I wanted to protect you.]

I guess it was like some Monkey’s Paw type of situation, I figured, hey, if it was giving me a wish, why not take it? I thought about how we’re at a disadvantage here, how it’s difficult to protect…people, how I’d take any advantage.

And yeah, even if I have to make a deal with an Entity, I’d do it.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, back up. What?

[Rodney holds up his hand, staring at him incredulously and leaning forward.]

Run that by me again. You figured if a creepy, shadowy monster version of yourself offered you a wish, why not take it? Are you insane or just stupid?!

[He gestures agitatedly, looking absolutely livid.]

I thought that thing mutated you against your will! Now you're telling me you made a deal with it? Remember how I was all 'it's not your fault' about thirty seconds ago? I take it back. This is absolutely your fault! You deserve to get a stupid tail!

[Wow, Rodney. If he gets a tail he's not gonna tell you anymore.]

Look, I don't know a damn thing about what passes for magic around here--and yeah, I know, it's probably some kind of energy field that we don't have a name for yet--but we are desperately outgunned here! It couldn't hurt to have one of these things on our side?

[He's buddies with Todd the Wraith for a reason.]

I didn't know it was gonna mutate me, I didn't know what it was gonna do, just that I'd get something that would help!

Something that would-- You pounced a guy!!

[His voice rises, turning slightly shrill with the agitation and he clasps his mouth shut, listening into the silence of the night before carrying on in a sharp whisper, all the while glaring at Sheppard. ]

That's the point, we don't know anything about these things! Who knows what that's doing to you? And must I remind you that the last time you started changing like that, it ended with all of us having to literally risk our necks to get your scaly ass de-bugified?!

[He throws his hands up.]

I can't believe you! I leave you alone for five minutes and you sell your soul to the devil!

That guy is fine!

[Rodney’s agitation is getting him worked up, even though he is right. That he can’t get him to see—

—selling his soul so that Rodney would be safe.]

And I’m fine!

[Is he, though? What if the pouncing progressed? What if he ended up like…like then?

There’s no security here that he can keep posted at his room. And if he did find some, he’d probably end up locked up forever. Or worse.]

Okay, okay! So that’s why I called you.

[He huffs, crossing his arms and hiding his hands.]

If this goes bad, I’ll need your help.

Yes, yes, I get to fix your reckless mess. Got it the first time.

[He snaps, his usual charming acerbic self, but the fear under the surface is so obvious it's almost pulsating.

This is freaking him out, especially with his nonexistent supplies. How is he supposed to fix this when he doesn't have his usual tools to fix things? He's been so frustrated with ADI's technology and the lack of information already. And now John just decided to throw himself in the middle of this madness and really, that's just great.]

You know what, why don't I just break out the catnip when you decide to start eating people.

I didn't say you had to fix it, I...

[Well, isn't that ultimately what he wanted? What he always expects Rodney to do? Even though now he doesn't have any Atlantean tech or his tools--

--his thoughts come to a screeching halt when the blast of fear hits him.

Oh.

He can feel a purr start in his throat and he coughs, the sensation so strange and satisfying he doesn't know what to do with it. It's so much more than the poor guy he pounced, like fear distilled into a delicious pure form--

--uh-oh. This is bad.]

Okay. Okay for one thing, catnip would probably be great. And two--I need you to not be so afraid right now? I can feel that!

Oh! Yes, of course, sure! Let me just not be afraid, why didn't I think of that!

[His hands come up in agitation, at least until the words really sink in and he stops.]

... What do you mean, you can feel that?

I can feel...that.

[He gestures at him, his eyes wide.]

Your fear, I'm causing it, aren't I?

[Crap. He's snacking on Rodney's fear. There's something hungry in his eyes, though, something that glints with the thrill of the Hunt. If he was in his right mind, he would have removed himself from the situation immediately.

But he doesn't. He feels like purring.]

...whoa.

Edited 2022-12-06 14:23 (UTC)

Oh, don't flatter yourself. What do you want, a medal?

[It's snippy, acerbic, and very much called out because yeah. Sheppard is freaking him out.

And Sheppard being able to feel that is freaking him out. Plus, it makes him very angry. Maybe he can focus on that. Anger. Agitation. That's good, that's great, he can work with that.

Except he doesn't like the look in his eyes and shifts uncomfortably, maybe moving away a little.]

What? What is it?

...it's interesting.

[He says interesting in an unsettingly detached way, as if he can't quite reach the horror that should be there. He's scaring Rodney and on any other day he'd punch himself in the face for even thinking about it, but right now...

...it's intoxicating.

He extends his claws, reaching over in an attempt to gently latch onto Rodney's shoulders, his eyes gleaming and pupils wide and dilated.

There's a purring sound coming from his chest and throat.]

It's... really not? Look, I'm scared all the time, I think this hardly qualifies as something you haven't seen before, there's no novelty in this, I think this is actually really boring...

[He backs off but then Sheppard's hands - claws - are suddenly on his shoulders and he freezes in place.]

Wait, wait, wait, wh-what are you doing?

[And what is that sound.]

Are you... are you purring!?

It's different when I can feel it.

[He leans against him, against his chest, a proverbial engine rumbling in his own.

Mmm, the fear is so nice.]

What? No--

[He's totally purring.]

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