THE MOUSE IS A CORRECTIVE @subjectdaphne - Tumblr Blog

DAPHNE 'THE MOUSE' FLYNN has been in Boston for THREE YEARS. They are gifted and have the ability of VIBRATION MANIPULATION. They are now unclassified but if they weren’t, they’d still be CLASS AA. They were born on APRIL 4TH, 1965. They’re EIGHTEEN and use SHE/THEY pronouns. They’re known to be PASSIONATE and LOYAL as well as FIERCE but look out, they can also be VINDICTIVE and IMPULSIVE. They are a BARISTA by day and by night they like to PLAY THE PIANO.

#ungifted;intro

FELIX.

“Perfect is subjective to beholder. Even Daphne understands that herself. Her parents are rich yet she works in an arcade and spends her days fighting crime because it is what fulfills her,” Felix pointed out sagely. “Though, if you ask me, that is far from a perfect life. It’s tiresome life, is it not? Having to wake up everyday knowing that the town depends on you to uncover local crooks with your smelly, broke friends.”

He barked a laugh and leaned back into his chair, letting his leg drop down onto the floor as a smug smirk spread across his features. “I’d much rather be cat. Free food, free drink, little boxes, all the luxury a person could ever need.”

Felix animated again when Daphne gave him an answer, moving bits and pieces around over the table. Dice, tokens, miniatures. He picked through a small pile of half-painted figures and plucked out a little creature with a dagger.

“You can be both, in fact,” he supplied cheerfully as he plopped the mini in front of them. “A goblin thief if you’d like. It fits with the lore of goblins and everyone likes a redemption arc.”

Sweeping his hand through the air as if uncovering an ancient, mystical relic, he recited with dedicated fanfare: “A runaway goblin with a sticky fingers fighting its compulsion to rob their teammates while adventuring through the depths of the Underdark to challenge the evil drow before entering the abyss to meet the Spider Queen, Lolth. –The story practically writes itself.”

Felix grinned a lopsided smile, eyes lit up with delight at the prospect of telling a new story of his new, brave adventurer before it went out with a record scratch at the suggestion of a purchase. That was right. He did have a job to do, but the game…

A shifting of movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention and as he looked over, the kids who had been engrossed in Spiderman had begun gravitating towards their table at the sound of swords and warriors.

“Shhh-- Do not worry, we will just play one game. Just a little one-shot and then you can be on your way,” he said hurriedly, doubling down as he placed a set of dice before them.

“Now, let’s roll some stats, shall we?”

Daphne smirked a little at Felix’s interpretation of the character and shrugged her shoulder. “Smelly friends aren’t too bad,” she pointed out, “she seems happy enough.” Being a cat, on the other hand, appealed very little to her. After so long of being a test subject, being human seemed the most ideal and free.

A grin flashed across her features at the idea of being a goblin thief and she nodded, scooting up to the edge of her seat at his reassurances. She only understood a handful of the backstory he came up with but that was alright, she was excited. She didn’t think she’d ever played a proper game before and certainly not one as free ended as this.

“If you’re sure,” she said.

It wasn’t the fastest moving game, she had many questions that needed answering from lore to definitions to just in general, what are you talking about? In the end, the goblin thief did manage to steal some treasure which Daphne thought was something to be proud of. Throughout the game, she had also perked up quite a bit, allowed herself to relax into it and really enjoy herself. It was fun to be someone else for a spell, and she wasn’t lacking in imagination as much as she thought.

“Thank you,” she said with a grin after they wrapped up, “I wish I knew others that played this, it was really fun. Deeandee.” She nodded, committing the word to memory since she had yet to realize it was not a word but an acronym.

They stood and slung their backpack over their shoulder, holding the Ghost Rider comic in their hands. “Maybe . . . I could come back to play again sometime? If you’re allowed.”

#int;;#passwithoutafelix

FELIX.

“It means I control the game. A narrator, in other words.” He smirked as he said it, as if it were a private joke between him and himself only. Dungeons and Dragons was as much of a game as it was a reality for he who spent his evenings masquerading as caricatures for fun and then later for a living. A game master he was indeed and the whole world happened to be his playground.

Felix settled in comfortably in his seat with a hardcover book when Daphne took hers, foot propped up on the edge of his seat and back curled against the back of the chair. He seemed comfortable contorting into a ball, cramped into a too-small space. The way he casually rifled through pages as if looking for something said that he did it often.

“Daphne, like Scooby Doo. Nice. I always preferred Velma. Something about the glasses,” he commented absently, deliberating for a moment on one page before thumbing through to the next few. Then, he stopped and put down the book.

“Well, it does not say in the book that you can, but I’m sure we can figure something out. All goblins are evil, but for the sake of this game, we can say your goblin has gotten lost along the way and found itself among the heroes,” he explained.

Flipping the book around and pushing to beyond the DM screen, he splayed the pages to some illustrations of painted warriors and priests. “These are the playable classes: fighting-man, magic-user, cleric and thief. With advanced, you get monk as well.” He started to explain the classes in depth, meticulously describing their pros and cons while stumbling through tangents about exactly how cool they can be in their own right. From the sounds of it, he was certainly an enthusiast of fantasy and make-believe, even going so far as to gesticulating their rightful weapons with his hands.

“Goblins are not allowed to use magic since their intelligence is so low, but I can make exception if you give me good reason,” he pointed out, glancing over the table at her. “You see, Dungeons and Dragons is all about imagination, whatever you can think of can become reality with a little bit of creativity so the only hard rules are the boundaries of your mind.”

Felix propped his chin upon the heel of his palm as he returned the expectant gaze. “So what say you, Daphne? What would you be in your wildest dreams?”

She watched him curl up in the chair and flip through the book, tipping her head to the side. The game seemed awfully complicated to her. Another smile at the mention of Scooby Doo and Daphne nodded. “I like Velma too,” they said, “but Daphne's life seems kind of perfect, doesn’t it?” And having discovered the show when they first escaped, why not shoot for that perfect life?

They arched a brow as he started explaining some of the lore and classes, nodding along. At the mention of a thief, she straightened out in her seat, pursed her lips together. A thief sounded better than an evil, stupid goblin, now that she understood that’s what they were. Besides, it wouldn’t require too much imagination; she’d been free for three years and already learned how effective it was to steal. She could survive well enough off what she made as a barista but she certainly would not have as many records as she did if she didn’t learn to use her five finger discount.

The question made her roll her eyes, if only because of how ridiculous it was in this scenario. She was sure it was incorrect to answer a normal person, one that doesn’t have anything to worry about, one that can stay at home safe with their family. “I want to be a thief.” She answered. “Can I be that instead?” They considered defending the change but stopped themselves, it probably wasn’t best to detail her qualifications in a store. “I didn’t know goblins were so ridiculous.”

She paused, realizing that he probably couldn’t just sit down and play a game with her for no reason. “I really can’t buy anything else, though.”

#int;;#passwithoutafelix

FELIX.

“Goblin is small creature with leetle black heart and attack in big numbers,” Felix answered simply, stressing the vowels as he spoke if he were speaking the words of a very mystical legend. “Verrry dangerous critters should one find themselves alone without adventuring party.”

He batted his lashes when the girl swapped the box for the comic, insistent on the comic. Felix missed the offense in her voice, other rather, chose to feign ignorance in the light of it. If she decided to make a purchase, it was better than none and she was still in the store, which meant he still had a chance to make another pitch.

Felix circled around her, popping up over her other shoulder with reinvigorated delight as he pivoted. “Ah, but you are mistaken,” he said sagely. “Rules and tiny statues are expensive, but if you know the rules, the game is very much free. All you need is brain and uh…” He snapped his fingers and closed one eye, scanning the ceiling as if it might help him recall the word better. “–Imagination! That’s it. All you need is a little theater of mind and big smile. ”

Felix smiled big, demonstrating enthusiasm for her like she’d never seen it before. He turned on his heel and moved around the shelves to the other side of the shop where a plastic table was set up with a few cheap folding chairs. It looked like a make-shift set-up, erected shoddily by one over-enthusiastic employee who was convinced live demonstration would make more sales.

“Come come, I will show you. I am also master of dungeon,” he said, gesturing for the girl to follow.

The screech of the chair legs on the cheap plywood flooring drew the attention of all in the store as he plopped down behind a 3-panel screen with fantastical art of dragons and warriors printed on it.

“My name is Felix, by the way. What is yours?”

She raised her eyebrows, still rooted to the same spot she’d been in since this conversation began while Felix circled her. Barely a legal adult and she was far more stoic than her current company, who seemed to bounce with energy just like those children on the other side of the shelf. Albeit, Felix was much less noisy than those children, which kept Daphne from wanting to leave right away.

A quiet laugh fell from her lips at that exaggerated smile and she shook her head. She wasn’t so sure she had an imagination if they were being honest but a game about adventures still appealed to her.

They turned on their heels, following the other’s stride over to the card table. “What does that mean?” She asked, not yet sitting, as though she were waiting to be granted permission. Internally, she was a ball of nerves and worried about looking stupid. She was sure that she already must, which frustrated her, though she kept it to herself. The other’s friendliness still helped somewhat to put her at ease.

Hesitating, she set the comic book down on the table and took a seat across from him, dropping her backpack down between her legs. She glanced up at him and shrugged, an odd response to being asked one’s name but it was a more complicated question with her than most. Subject 2301, Jordan Carpenter, Mouse, like the other subjects had affectionately called her - Fortunately, she never forgot how to answer, even if it still felt like a half truth. “Daphne.”

She rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward, hanging off the edge of their seat with an expectant look on her face. “Can I be a goblin?”

#int;;#passwithoutafelix

FELIX.

“It is okay. They are in box for protection, not just for environmental waste,” Felix replied, gesturing to the game box that was now in her hands. The girl– person, seemed a little skittish, but Felix took it as an opportunity to make a sale. Half the war was already won if she was holding it, right?

Felix hovered over her shoulder, peering down at what she was holding. He’d developed a knack for observation over the years, capable of picking out tiny nuances about people’s behaviours and interests without having to ask too many questions. She seemed shy, nervous, uncertain and young. All things he understood well as he was once all those and more.

“Yes, new issue of Spiderman come out recently. They introduce Hobgoblin, a new villain with all the powers of Green Goblin and more after criminal Lefty Donovan hypnotized to trigger explosion in goblin lab. I read it first day we got it,” he told her, mostly musing aloud. The soft groans of the kids who overheard him spoiling the great villain of the issue could be heard from the other side of the shelves.

Felix glanced at her when she made her query, then at the comic she had selected. “It is if you enjoy ghosts on motorbike but you look not like type to enjoy motorbike. Ghosts, maybe. Motorbike, no,” he said before taking the comic from her hands and sliding it back into the space where it was. Then, he doubled down on the box set in her hands, gesticulating to it emphatically as if she couldn’t feel herself holding it.

“Have you ever wanted to go on adventure? Dungeons and Dragons is great game for that. Lots of spiders and goblins in there. Also ghosts if you want them, but there are so many other cool things inside,” he said.

“Do you want to try it?”

.

She probably would have caught onto the man’s sales tactics had she spent more time in society than the measly three years she had under her belt. Unfortunately for Felix, her naivety wouldn’t do him any favors; she hadn’t been planning to spend any money there to begin with. Since she got stuck talking to him she decided not to steal the comic, but there was no way she could afford a game set.

His reassurance brought a small smile to her cheeks and she looked down at the game, still no intention to buy it but glad it wasn’t dented or anything. Also glad that he wasn’t angry at her; as meek as she was at first glance, that didn’t last too long, and she was glad to avoid any confrontation.

“What’s a goblin?” She asked, brows pressing together. She was never sure whether the questions she asked were the kind that others would consider her stupid for but . . . Well, the employee seemed friendly enough, even if they knew he was just paid to be.

A hint of her more assertive showed itself when he took the comic from her hand and set it back on the shelf. “I saw the motorcycle on the cover,” they said, “I don’t mind it.” She picked it back up and then set the game set down. Why she chose to be offended that he didn’t think she’d like motorcycles (which he was correct about – they were far too noisy) was uncertain even to her, though assumptions had always tasted bitter.

Her offense was soothed as he continued speaking, appreciating the sort of chaotic charm that he had. “It looks expensive,” she said with a shake of her head, “just the motorcycle ghost, I think." But he had convinced her to steal it at a later date, maybe from a different store.

#int;;#passwithoutafelix

@wingsofaleida

When they met, Daphne was so burrowed into her little shell that she barely had a word to say to Aleida. She only knew she liked good music, knew that she had at least some of that same anger and hate that Daphne harbored, and that she was safe. She proved to be safe several times so that now, more than two years later, Aleida was one of the few people Daphne truly considered their friend.

It was past dinnertime and although Daphne was nursing a growling stomach, she didn’t whine about it. Instead, she settled a vinyl into her record player, cranked up the volume, and stepped back with a little smile. “I found this one yesterday,” meaning they stole it, “what do you think?”

She reached for the cover and moved over to her couch, a torn up, plaid thing with cotton hanging out of the sides. Her apartment was not nice by any standard, the walls were a hideous pinkish brown, the carpet stained and frayed in more areas than not, but it was hers. It was hers and she had five locks on her door and then some on her windows; nobody was getting in unless she wanted them to.

She held the cover out to Aleida. “I heard a lady at work talk about it.” It was U2′s new War album. Daphne sat cross-legged beside her friend, nodding their head ever so slightly to the beat of Sunday Bloody Sunday.

#int;;#wingsofaleida

FELIX.

There was a number of things Felix had to get used to as an employee, such as actually approaching customers versus watching them from far away. Go Go Gaming was run by a quirky old man with a stubborn obsession with tabletops and board games in the light of new Nintendo and SEGA systems claiming the attention of the youths of 1983. Felix had to admit that the appeal of hunting ducks appealed to his feline senses, but he was trying something new these days– something a little more human– and Boris Baxley had trusted him with a low-paying opportunity to give it a go.

The shop was cramped and quiet, stocked full of comic books and manuals and big, hefty boxes of starter sets and expansions. Tiny plastic miniatures of bearded devils and dwarves and dice lined the racks and shelves, boasting a fair price of 99 cents should anyone want them. The tinny chime of the door bell alerted Felix to new comers, a gaggle of students coming in for a looksee. Naturally, he dove behind a shelf to avoid detection.

He spied on the kids between the books, slinking along the shelves as he watched their eyes light up with delight at the latest issue of Spiderman. Felix was so encapsulated in watching how the kids came to life that he failed to notice the new entry that had slunk in behind them until he nearly collided with her.

He stopped in his tracks, looking like a deer in headlights before snatching the nearest box set off the shelf and presenting it like a grand door prize.

“Can I interest you in starter kit? A starter kit,” he asked in his best salesman voice, tone laden with the heavy intonation of Russian. “It is the very first edition of revisions for advanced D&D, introducing new classes such as druid, monk, paladin and thief.”

He put on a wide grin, strained and foreign on his features. “The starter set comes with rulebook, dice and character sheet. Very good for beginner. I recommend you give a try.”

@subjectdaphne

At first glance, she was a meek little thing. Skinny and quiet, keeping to herself and avoiding the flock of kids that she happened to enter the store with. They were so loud, so excited, their arms flapped about with so much energy that she half expected them to fly. Fly or accidentally hit someone, or knock something over, or some other thing she was keen to avoid being caught up in.

They were hovering around the comic books so Daphne went around the shelves, hiding behind them to stay out of their way until they were finished. She wanted to look at the new Spiderman, too. She heard it mentioned by one of her friends and thought, why not? A story about someone like her, someone with abilities that they never asked for, sounded interesting. Who didn’t want to see themselves reflected in media?

She noticed the man there, also seeming to hide from the kids but thought little of it. Instead, she reached her hand through the opening in the shelf, fumbling with a comic book on the opposite side. She had no idea which one she was grabbing from that angle but she pulled it anyways. She tried not to knock anything over as she did it but was so focused that she didn’t notice the other boy come closer, and closer, until he bumped into her. A loud gasp and she whipped around, fast as a trained soldier, that same motion knocking one of the game sets to the floor.

Daphne winced, pursed her lips together. At least she didn’t lose control again, there was that.

“Sorry,” she said, looking uncertainly over at the other, “I didn’t mean to.” She set the comic down and leaned over to pick up the game, grateful it didn’t seem damaged. “No, I was just here for Spiderman but,” she shrugged, almost shyly, “I thought I’d just wait.” Not to mention, she had no clue what half the words out of the guy’s mouth had meant. Paladin, druid, Deeandee, it all flew over her head.

She picked the comic she’d snagged back up from the shelf, took a second to read the cover. Ghost Rider. She hadn’t heard of that either (or most of the things in that store) but it looked interesting, at the very least. It certainly had fewer children putting their grubby hands all over it. “Is this one good?” She asked, holding it out to him.

#int;;#passwithoutafelix

😰💚

😰when my muse is stressed, how do they act out?

With violence, whether intentionally or not. She has a moderate degree of control over her abilities but when emotions run high, that control slips through her fingers. If it’s just stress and not anger then the loss of control won’t be with any violent intentions, however, if she’s angry she’s likely to injure those around her without remorse.

💚what does my muse get envious over?

There are many things that Daphne finds herself envious of. Those who had anything close to a normal childhood, even if that just means that they weren’t a test subject. She’s jealous of those that aren’t gifted for how easy their lives seem to be, jealous of those of a lower class than herself, of people who don’t have to keep such big secrets . . . The list goes on. She’s full of resent and rage for what she went through when she was being tested on and meeting people who aren’t so overwhelmed with hatred is another thing she finds herself envious of. Even so, she can’t let go of it.

#answered;;

🎒what was my muse’s worst subject in school?

Daphne never attended school. She was in a laboratory from age four to fifteen. By the time she got out, she was so far behind and so distrustful of the government that even in a sanctuary city like Boston, she had no intention of enrolling in any public institution. Due to this there’s a lot of general knowledge that she has no awareness of. She has a very shaky grasp of American history and the world wars as well as the current nuclear race with Russia but there’s no depth and when it comes to science, literature, even spelling, her understanding and knowledge of it is very juvenile. The same goes for pop culture, almost all references will fly over her head. She is a very curious person who wants to learn, however, and she is slowly teaching herself more about the world.

#answered;;

merlinaddams

(◕ᴗ◕✿)

#aesthetic.

caroldanversenthusiast

nancy wheeler the woman that you are

#aesthetic.

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

THE MOUSE IS A CORRECTIVE