Sketchy Meetings
Marvin was tossing and turning in their cave- his mind spinning from the images plaguing him. He panted and whined in his sleep, eyes shut tight. He was so warm the water felt unnaturally cold…
It was following him- he had to swim faster- faster! He tried to glance behind, thinking for a second he lost it...but then, he smashes head first into a body. He screeches, bubbles flying out of his mouth and almost stealing his breath away. Blue glowing claws shoot out through the froth and tries to grab Marvin. But, the merman shot backwards- his heart was pounding so loud in his ears.
Two pairs of glowing pink eyes stare down at its prey- a sickly white mask on its face, long flowing green hair floating around its head like a seaweed halo. It swam almost mechanically- but still too fast for Marvin to predict. It lashed out and drove Marvin into the ground, digging claws into his shoulders. Marvin screamed and tried to wrap one of his tails around the creature, then both his tails. It wouldn’t budge- if anything it pressed up against him harder. Its face leaned down and a broken mechanical noise like a ruined receiver whispered to him.
“How long will it be till you fall again?” Marvin shook and blinked tears out of his eyes as they floated away to join the dark water. Even though he can’t see the bottom of its face- he feels like its smiling, enjoying his pain. It laughs then gets right in Marvin’s face, so they are touching nose to nose.
“When will you become me again, Marvin?” His controlled self cackled- and Marvin was shaking his head, trying to find his voice. But- it was being stolen from him again- the ringing and static starting to fill his head. He sobs, feeling that numbness he despised so much-
“P-Please-” He pleades to the clone, “I… I’m not like you-! I..I won’t be a w-weapon for them! I… I’m not a machine!”
The twisted version of him shakes its head and laughs harder, before increasing the pain yet again. All that Marvin could see was its eyes and that horrible, horrible mask.
“We can’t change what we are- this is inevitable.”
Pink and static filled Marvin’s vision as he screams-
With a jolt, Marvin sprang up in the cave, hardly able to catch his breath. His eyes were wide and he gripped a hand over his chest, as if he could claw that horrible awful feeling out again.
He started to hear something close to ringing- sending him into further panic as he searched around desperately for his mask. Marvin sees it just a bit from him and he snatches it up, hurriedly putting it on- not caring if it snagged on his hair. With the mask on, he started to relax some, sinking into the sand and holding himself. That… was one of the worst nightmares he’d been getting… but it kept happening- and each time he panicked in the same way. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, frustrated- exhausted.
The warper mer looked back to his brothers- Anti and Jameson were curled around each other. Jameson had a peaceful smile on his face- and Anti’s posture was actually relaxed. He was finally starting to trust them again- knowing that he didn’t have to hide or reject touch from his family anymore. It was a big step… and yet, Marvin couldn’t help but feel a weight on his chest.
...Why wasn’t he getting better?
Marvin snorted quietly to himself, anxiously balling up his fists and feeling restless. He would wake up the others if he tried to join them… and he wasn’t sure he could handle it either. That’s why he’d been sleeping on his own anyways… Henrik had started doing it too. But- he couldn't just stay in the cave… he was too agitated. He looked back out the mouth of the cave then back to his brothers. He swallowed stiffly, took his ribbon off his wrist and tied up his hair messily- then quietly and swiftly took off into the night sea.
Marvin knew he could warp away- but… it was nice to do something more natural. Like… he wasn’t just some… He tried to steer away from that thought. He wasn’t… he knew he wasn’t. He placed a hand over his heart as he swam, the rhythm of it a small comfort.
The path Marvin took was random- but it had drawn him to the Ocean Arm’s base. It made sense… even if they were keeping their distance because of those new white suits… Before that they had spent so much time there. Learning all new things, talking to the blue suits, playing with equipment. The blue suits… really cared about them all it seemed. They never tried to pull his brothers or him into random dark rooms for answers to their questions- knocking them out or taking random samples. They… just simply asked. And- it was nice to answer... who knew it was possible? The boys had never really seen compassion or patience with the white suits… they took answers and asked questions after (if at all). And if neither the blue suits or them knew- they could go look or find stuff… and it didn’t have to be painful if the boys were uncomfortable. It was nice… and they even taught them to make their cool machines!
It really made Marvin… feel something different. That he wasn’t some lab freak- that he was more than just- something fake… some creation- a machine. Some days it would make Marvin think…
Was this what it was like? To be human?
But, Marvin couldn’t let himself think like that. He knew what he was- or... at least he thought he did. Now, he wasn’t so sure. And it scared him.
Marvin swam over the base and looked down. Most of the lights were off, only the machines’ lights flickering below the surface. That made sense… it was night. But- Marvin saw one of the bubble like structures that was lit up bright. He didn’t want to be in the dark… or wake anyone else up by going into the base. So, without really thinking, he swam over to the bright place and looped over it for a second before he settled on the glass. He pulled his tails to his chest and then wrapped his cape around himself- kinda like he saw the blue suits do. It was actually kinda nice… warm in a way he didn’t expect. He was ready to just lay over the bright glass and drift back to sleep- but then the sound of a hatch opening had him startling up.
Over the side of the bubble glass- a female face popped up, goggles over what… looked like a second pair of goggles? Short cropped hair flew up with her momentum as she curiously peeked out.
Marvin had never seen this one- it couldn’t be a blue suit then. He quickly swam up, tails shaking as he stared at the white suit with wide eyes. He’d warp away- but she could have a weapon! He was scared- he was really scared- and he could feel his warp powers wavering. That wasn’t good- was she doing something to him??
The girl fully popped up and quickly held out a hand to the merman. “Wait!” She called, sounding just as panicked as Marvin. “I- didn’t mean to scare you! You… just scared me when I was working is all!”
The warper gave her a look, a laugh coming from him before he can stop it. “I scared you? How is that possible?”
The girl seemed to flush but she fully swam up to be a eye level with the merman. She had a glowing PDA in her hands- but… it wasn’t filled with the stuff Marvin usually saw on them. Instead of diagrams and long blocks of words- it was.. Drawings? He thinks that’s what they’re called? She had a pointy looking stick stuck behind her ear- but it didn’t look sharp, it was blunt. That would make an awful weapon…
“Oh well- I was working in this observation pod because i was… uh- studying the nighttime creatures. I wanted to look at their bioluminescence.” Marvin gave her a confused look and she quickly responded, “Glowing! The.. fish that can glow in the dark-” She giggled then gestured to Marvin. “Kinda like you!”
Marvin knit his eyebrows together and looked down at his tails- he was giving off a soft blue and purple glow. But, her just sitting here and watching… that didn’t sound right.
“Why don’t you go and catch one?” Marvin asks, a bit of venom in his voice. The girl now looked confused- and she pushed back her hair to keep it out of her face as she held her PDA close.
“Oh, I’m no hunter. I like to study them naturally! I don’t want to make any of the fish scared- they’re so much prettier to look at when they’re swimming and free-”
“What would you know about swimming free, white suit?!” Marvin suddenly growled, baring his fangs.
“W-What?” She stammered, swimming back a bit.
“Were you just- sitting there studying things in- in their tanks! Watching the ‘pretty’ fishes and- and my brothers trapped in there! Doing nothing but watching?!” He started to shout, feeling his anger rising almost painfully.
The girl looked scared (which she should be) but… she didn’t run. She tried to get a bit closer and Marvin growled, curling his tails up towards him and getting into a defensive position. The girl kept her distance but didn’t back away- her voice was gentle. Like.. Dr. Danan when she wanted them to calm down.
“I.. I think you’re confused-” She said, expression concerned. “T-the people that I came with.. N-none of us were part of the... The hybrid experiments. I.. I didn’t even know we had anything like that- i… I just studied and drew out in nature! Out in the ocean and provided visuals- I.. I had no idea about you… a-and your brothers.” She seems genuine, which has Marvin pausing and starting to uncurl.
“That… blonde one… and the d-dark haired one with goggles.. They said the same thing…” He muttered, remembering the day the crash happened. The girl cocks her head at his descriptions, then speaks up.
“O-oh yeah- I bet Stacy scared you… she can get intense. Especially when someone is hurt- that’s why she was a nurse-” The girl adds quietly, a sheepish look on her face. “And Goog- oh um… Tillman- he’s kinda scary. He takes charge very well- but he has a voice that kinda reminds me of a robot.” She giggles, “D-Don’t tell him I said that! He’s actually very kind… and can be funny.”
Marvin turns to really study the girl now, just daring to get a bit closer. He sees- what looks like seaweed bandages wrapped over part of her head, and scratches on her cheeks and neck.
“...you were the one hurt… that day-” The merman mumbled.
The girl blinks and then laughs a bit, “Oh! You saw me then? I… guess I was-” She seems to nervously push back her hair to lightly massage the bandaged area. “I don’t remember much from the crash- I just remembered danger.. And scary lights- I remember seeing the kids and hurrying to do something… then it was black.” She giggles quietly, reserved, “I’m just glad they all got out alright… we may have only been neighbors… but I really like those kids.”
“...you talk a lot-” Marvin found himself saying. The girl’s face turned even redder.
“O-Oh? I.. I guess I do- I ramble.. I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to make you…”
Marvin got closer and shook his head. “No- it’s… okay. Just… weird.”
The girl cocks her head again, “Weird? Why is that?”
Marvin had trouble finding the words, “You.. don’t act like a white suit…”
The girl still looked confused. “Is that a compliment?” She laughs a bit nervously. Marvin nodded.
“Yeah… it is-” He found himself responding again without thinking. Then, he backs up a bit and messes with his mask- his hair.
“M-My brothers- w-we call… t-the people in HQ… they’re the white suits… because of-”
“-The white on the suits...!” They both end up saying, the girl realizing as Marvin spoke. She stopped and covered her mouth. She looks at her suit- it's the last intact one she had from home: white, orange and black.
“I.. I’m really sorry-” She warbled out, “I… I had no idea- If I knew there were creatures- …human-like things in our facility- I never would have stayed there!” She ends the sentence with a type of fire in her eyes, passion making her voice raise.
Marvin felt his chest tighten slightly. She- saw them- him… as human-like? That… used to scare him- but… right now it gives him some comfort. He gave the white suit a small timid smile. She paused then smiled back.
After a few seconds of silence, the girl seemed trouble by the quiet and quickly swam a bit closer and stuck out her hand. “I’m Lizzie! By the way- Elizabeth actually- but i don’t like Elizabeth… L-Lizzie Scott!” She still kept her distance but seemed to hold her hand out invitingly. Marvin hesitated, confused by the gesture… but then he remembered meeting Zara. This- is what Humans did when they meet someone. Slowly, the merman creeps a bit closer, the white yellow light from below lighting him up instead of the cold blues of his membrane. The girl seemed to suck in air in her mask at the sight, making Marvin’s stomach drop slightly. Did he scare her? Was it his mask?
She notices the hesitance and quickly bridges some of the distance again, “Oh no- I’m sorry! I… have just never gotten to see a Warper up close! Or… a-anything like you…” She sounds- starstruck. “You’re…like nothing I’ve ever seen before…” The phrasing of that almost has Marvin swimming back again. It reminds him too much of the white suits- they used to tell him how beautiful him and his brothers were…. But it was all a trick- used to placate them. But… coming from her- from Lizzie, it sounds different.
He finds himself repeating something she said earlier, a light but stressed laugh escaping him. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
Lizzie seems taken a back- but soon she’s laughing too, hiding her laugh behind her hand. “Y-Yes- it absolutely is!”
Marvin feels himself relax then and once again, he slowly advances. He offers his hand to her, a sheepish and unsure expression hidden behind his mask- showing in his eyes.
“...Marvin-” He whispers, feeling a rush of… some emotion he’s not sure of. “My name is Marvin.”
Lizzie is quickly smiling again, seeming overjoyed. She takes his hand then shakes it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Marvin!”
Marvin chuckles a bit uneasily, but he nods. “Um… s-same- .. i think.”
The refugee studies Marvin for a second before getting just a bit closer, hugging her pda to herself again.
“Hey… I know you’re probably anxious being around… people who are from the place you… got hurt from… but would you like to sit with me?” Her cheeks seem to flush again as she looks at the merman with a shy expression. “I… noticed you sitting on top of the bubble… and I figured it might have been just the light cuz its dark… but- you looked kinda lonely too…”
Marvin hesitated and looked away slightly. He… didn’t want to admit it. But he was a bit… he didn’t want to bother his brothers or wake anyone up. But.. he didn’t have a mama grim- or a scrap pile or favorite place to be. When he feels this way… He’s always so lost.
He finds himself nodding, “... y-yeah… i… think that could be nice…”
Lizzie’s eyes sparkled as she excitedly kicked up in the water with a grin. “G-Great! We can… just chill!”
Marvin knit his eyebrows together, “...like the cold boxes inside?” He asked with confusion. Lizzie erupted into bubbly laughter, bubbles flying up into her hair. “Kinda! Except we don’t have to be cold-” She gently took Marvin’s hand again and brought them back towards the glass bubble, settling on the top of it. As soon as she had sat she let his hand go then sat with her legs over each other, rocking slightly as she placed her pda in her lap. “We say chill to mean like… staying kinda still like something cold- but its just so we can stay in one place and chat!”
“Ohhh-” Marvin answered, settling next to Lizzie and folding one of his tails over the other. It.. felt kinda weird to be this close to someone, being friendly.. And not laying on top of each other. Guess he didn’t spend enough time away from his brothers.
Lizzie was still giggling to herself, “We have lots of silly words and phrases like that!”
Marvin nodded with a polite smile. Lizzie patted her legs kinda then pushed hair away from her face again. “I’m sorry! I’m talking too much again aren’t i?”
The warper shook his head, “No no… it’s okay-... it’s nice.” He looks out into the dark of the ocean around them. He whispered, almost to himself. “... it’s too quiet at night…”
“I think that too!” Lizzie exclaims, “Quiet is only good for sleeping- but I like staying up and… just listening to music or drawing.” She closes her eyes and smiles, “Night is peaceful- and its a cool kind of silence. Like the world is getting rest, and so you can too. Even if you’re not sleeping- it’s like rest for your soul-” She stops and bites her lip, “o-or heart, I should say.” Marvin hummed in thought.
“I… guess it is,” He mumbles, rubbing a hand over his own heart. It… wasn’t racing anymore… he was actually feeling calm even after that nightmare. He was almost feeling… better actually. He didn’t think he could feel like this when he wasn’t around his brothers…
Lizzie let the silence linger for a second, picking up that white stick and starting to push it to the pda’s surface. Lines followed after the point, creating lines that came together...and was forming into something. Marvin wasn’t sure what… but he was intrigued. He knelt a bit closer, watching Lizzie work. They sit there for a few, Lizzie’s eye flicking to look at Marvin every now and again. But, slowly she stops the stick and looks fully back up to the merman.
“Hey, Marvin? Can I ask you a question?” She inquires quietly.
Marvin tilts his head. Then, he smiles. “If I get to ask you one too-”
Lizzie giggles and nods- then pauses and adds back kinda nervously, “Oh- its kinda two! A-Actually…”
Marvin smirks, “Then that means two for me too, right?”
She chuckles and nods, “Yeah!” Then she hesitates before trying to ask. “I like your mask… why do you wear it?”
Marvin visibly flinches, and Lizzie almost immediately responds, “Y-You don’t have to say! I know there’s some things that people don’t like to talk about…”
Marvin touches a hand against his mask, “It’s okay… i-it’s a long story…” He digs some of his nails into the familiar grooves he’s made on its surface. “... it keeps me… as myself- in a way…” He shares just hardly above a whisper.
Lizzie looked confused, and a bit concerned. But, she didn’t push. And that made Marvin feel so much more at ease. “...second question?”
“Oh! Right!” She giggles a bit, then looks back at Marvin with gentle smile.
“Would you mind if I drew you?”
Marvin blinked and tilted his head, looking at the lines on her pda. They… kinda looked like how his cape looked… and his tails.
He looks back up to Lizzie. “...I think so- but can I ask first-?”
“Hm? Oh go ahead!
“...what’s drawing?”
Lizzie looked dumbfounded for a second- then she bursts into giggles and waves her hand. “Oh! Of course you guys don’t know- here! I can show you!”
She twists around then sits legs crossed in front of Marvin and fixes her gaze at him, picking up the white stick and going back to the surface, making marks a lot faster than she was before. Marvin watched in confusion and tried to tilt his head to look but, “hey! Stay still! I’m almost there-” Lizzie said. Marvin didn’t get it but he settles down and tries to watch from the opposite side.
After a few minutes, Lizzie perks up then grabs her PDA and turns it around so Marvin can see. “Ta-da”
On the blue surface of the PDA- the lines came together and made something that looked how Marvin looked. It wasn’t perfect like the cameras the white suits used… but somehow it was nicer. She… made that- without one of the fabricators or other weird gadgets they had. Just… her hands. That was amazing to Marvin.
He swims up closer and pokes at the PDA- expecting to feel the scratchy texture he sees. Lizzie is patient as he looks and traces his finger over the lines. “...that’s me- but… not a picture that your machine takes… right?”
Lizzie nods with a smile. “Yeah! I just take this stylus-” She holds up the stick, “And I use the lines on the surface to try to capture the likeness of things around me!”
“...don’t you have things that can already capture images like that?”
She hums in thought, “Yeah… we have lots of things for that. But. even if its long out of practice- art or well, drawing! Is an important skill- there’s always a need to communicate with drawings… and it’s a way of really understanding the things around us.” She finishes with a smile, but quickly blushes and hides behind the PDA again. “Or… at least I think so- I’m...kind of biased…”
Marvin’s face is looking at the drawing with a strange expression that Lizzie doesn’t know what to think of. Then, he meets her eyes, “...could you teach me?” He asks in a hushed whisper.
Lizzie looked so happy. “Oh! Of course! Ah… I’d have to see if they have extra PDAS like this! But- i’d love to teach you-!”
Marvin waits a second and swishes his tails against the glass before looking back up sheepishly. “...could we… tomorrow?”
Lizzie grins then points a finger at him, “oops! That’s another question!”
The merman’s face falls and he almost withdraws, but Lizzie quickly corrects herself. “Oh! I was teasing!! Of course I’m okay with that!”
He stares at her, then laughs a bit, nodding at Lizzie. She smiles in return. Marvin does still seem a bit nervous though- he looks like he wants to stay- but also like he wants to go.
Eventually he whispers out quietly, “I… should get back to my brothers…”
Lizzie nods and smiles gently, “That’s okay- I do need some sleep for tomorrow!” She giggles then rocks her PDA on her legs, blinking up at Marvin with soft green eyes. “I’m… excited to see you tomorrow…”
Marvin hesitates.. Then smiles. “I… think I am too.” He nods to her and then swims up into the open sea. “Tomorrow night- … I’ll- see you then.”
She giggles and returns the nod, “Okay- be careful getting home!”
The warper mer pauses at this, then gives Lizzie a lazy smirk. She hadn’t see a Warper before right? With a flick of his tail, a warp gate opens right behind him, the purple and blue making the water around them bright. Lizzie gasped then laughed in disbelief. Marvin grins at her, “I think I’ll get there just fine-” He then waves and slips through the gate. As it closes, Marvin sees the energetic white suit wave back.
