knowledge / POWER @wehelminth - Tumblr Blog

{rami malek, forty, masculine agender, they/them} || ISAAC “HELMINTH” NAZARI is a mutant with the ability of PARASITE PHYSIOLOGY. they’ve been in new york for FORTY years where they spend most of their time as A GENETIC RESEARCHER. when i think of them, i think of AN ENDLESS CHORUS OF EERIE SONG, THE PERFECT HEXACOMB OF A BEEHIVE, AND THE HARSH FLORESCENCE OF LABORATORY LIGHTS.

#c23intro #new char hype?

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

Matteo pauses for a moment, considering it, before shaking his head softly. “Nah, I think I can find some at my place.” Chances were, the bandages here would be needed elsewhere more. “Thanks for the meds though, those would probably have been harder to find and all.” Matteo adds getting ready to leave, “Ah, thanks again for this. I mean-like, being here and all.” He says before giving a small nod “Stay safe and all” Matteo turns, and walks out down the hall, towards the doors that he had come in not long ago.

dipping their head in a nod, the colony’s attention returned in most part to the paperwork they had been working on. as with all things, organization was key. particularly when medical attention was involved. “if you have further complications, you’re welcome to come back, but we would suggest the emergency room before our clinic.” and with that, the patient was discarded with little more than a few hasty notes and a folded corner to mark his differences.

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past #my part of the end #mostly for activity reasons #but still

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞.

The assistance is… well, it’s something. Dante marks that off the checklist if organ rejection is off the table, then only mechanical functions need to be retrofitted, and Dante still has his old contacts with a professor that owes him a favor near Silicon Valley. He’d also apply for a government grant, and maybe ask the fucking dean again, but—he could start. Another proposal. Another life saved. Taking the load off UNOS for another kidney or beating heart.

He stows the kidney in place of a heart. Since Isaac can’t make it viable with organ filtration, the heart as a pump is just the thing to get started. “Okay. I’m going to need—Christ. We need to make this portable. A power source, a motor. Materials that don’t break down as easy. Non-toxic.” Dante rattles off what he needs as he hands it over to Isaac. “Do you have any engineers over there in your little private folder? Former colleagues? Anyone?”

artificial replacements are exciting for more than just the potential of human improvement. with enough time, enough expertise... the colony and their future members may be able to create hosts of their own. without the need for replacement of the old, sick, and dying... without the imperfections that organic, evolution-pressured lifeforms are riddled with. humanity could plunge itself straight into destruction—they would rise up, as a collective, and steal a rightful place on earth. beyond, even... surely other species, on other worlds, could be found and corrected just as those on this one?

“we may have a few former colleagues we can connect with regarding that. some are anatomical engineers—up until this point, mostly theoretical, but given our work together, we’re certain we can make the arrangements work.” and these, while not mutants themselves, are almost as knowledgeable on the subject as they are. a perfect match, so long as they can keep certain controversies in the past.

#c ;; dante #sadly not /:

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.

“Honestly anything here is kinda boring, but I guess I don’t know. My idea of boring is kind of everything.” She hadn’t figured out what she liked to do yet. So right now everything felt like it wasn’t her. Then again, she wasn’t sure that she would know what it felt like when she was comfortable. “This isn’t some strange thing, is it?”

her answer was far from surprising, but they discarded any further thought on the matter. the important thing was that she had a pair of working hands. nothing more, nothing less. “strange, yes. we require your help in restraining a volunteer.” strength was less important, too, than the ability to hold still. “can you fulfill this, or should we look elsewhere?”

#c ;; holland #past tense for the past

𝐥𝐞𝐨.

It’s very thoughtful of Isaac to clean up the nearly-non-existent blood from Leo’s arm. Leo finds kindness in a lot of small, fleeting things people do because she always thinks they don’t need to. They can’t hurt her in a way that matters. It wouldn’t matter if they let a few drops of blood spill down her arm. The gesture, to her, seems gentle.

“Is that not a dull way to live one’s life? Why do this, if not for passion?”

passion isn’t something the colony is... entirely unfamiliar with. while emotion is little more than a cloud to judgement, ambition is the very thing that’s helped the human species rise to the ultimate apex predator—useful in small amounts, disastrous on a larger scale. “we choose to make our decisions based on other things.” instinct, chief among them. instinct wrapped in ego. “that will be it for now. if we require more invasive samples, and we’re certain we will, we’ll approach with the proper forms in order.”

#c ;; leo

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

Matteo shrugged “I guess, but I mean, if it was that bad, I probably wouldn’t have much say in the matter” He knew how to take care of himself for minor things; and if it was ever bigger then that then he would actually drag himself to the institute’s infirmary. If they couldn’t handle it, then he probably wasn’t super conscious. “Yeah, I know, just figured it didn’t hurt to ask” Matteo says, taking the pills and swallowing them dry before taking a sip of the water. “The best you can offer is all that’s needed” He adds with a small smile.

the explanation is of some sense, so they leave the matter to rest. it matters little if matteo is the type to seek out help when it would benefit him. their only concern is whether they’ll leave the medical center in an appropriate state—and only until their shift is over. “would you like some bandages as well, or will your own supplies suffice?”

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞.

Ah, well—Isaac hasn’t seen his handiwork yet. If he can get the body to cooperate with foreign material, especially when it’s a vital organ? Dante’s going to be a very happy man. “See now, I didn’t say that I didn’t make an attempt,” he says, plucking an anatomically correct, yet artificial kidney out. “This thing doesn’t have muscle or nerves, so I’m just stuck on how to make it autonomous.”

He sighs and grabs some papers, some Silicon Valley eggheads trying to help him invoke the muscles via electronic coding. The code’s not great, since it’ll need computers the size of two Walkmans, but he doesn’t know what else to do. Unless there are mutants that can help, there’s not much else that’s going to be useful here. “Here. I mean. The technological gobbledygook is outta my degrees’ hands, but unless I can regrow actual organs? I’m not exactly sure how to let this weird lil’ thing help.”

while expression is discarded as unnecessary, their interest is visibly piqued at the mention of an attempt. even if said attempt had ended in failure, there’s a valuable lesson to be learned. more importantly, a possibility that their own expertise could prove useful. much like dante could not force the body to accept his offering, he could not breathe life into artificial tissue. for that matter, neither can they. but they can offer something sufficient.

“we may be able to assist,” they start, hands clasped loosely in front of them. “the technology is... lacking in that department, but we exist with some mastery over genetic material. with the right kind,” human, of course. preferably from the afflicted themselves... “we may be able to get it to work with your artificial organ, rather than against it. not functional on its own, but little is outside of an organism.”

#c ;; dante #for real smh...#could have done a lot of good #but nope world domination calls

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

“Yeah, but not everyone at the hospital is gonna be cool with mutants and it can be tricky keeping that part hidden and all. The last thing I need is to cause some sort of fuss; especially with everything that just happened” Matteo shook his head. “There’s a reason I came here is all I’m saying” He stood up to follow the other. “So, are you like, a doctor? Or just someone with the right skills for this? He asked, mostly out of curiosity. Matteo didn’t get the same vibe from them that he had gotten from the medical staff at the institute; but that wasn’t a great frame of reference.

“certainly, challenges exist. but in more serious cases, it’s best not to rely on the care of volunteers.” did it matter? not particularly. in a perfect world, volunteers would have been in charge of everything that humanity could want for. medical care, food, housing... the current state of it was abysmal. but that was a matter that would be fixed in time. “we’re not a doctor, no, but we are medically trained. doctors are hard to come by in places like these.” not unheard of, but why volunteer when they would no doubt have a job lined up? humans couldn’t go without rest as readily as their own kind. “here,” they added, carefully offering two small white pills and a small glass of water. “insufficient, but the best we can offer for pain.”

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞.

An idealist. It’s fucking novel. Dante smirks at the notion of improvement; he’s seen too much fighting out with a ragtag group of people and seeing the worst that people have to offer; from humans and mutants. From people fighting with each other. Maybe it’s why he clings to the extracurriculars as much as his work here—he’s doing good. And if he’s doing good, at least he’s doing something about it, rather than feel miserable and watch the world descend into chaos.

“No, no. He’s satisfied. No complaints yet, since it’s gonna take a while to get used to.” He hears them talk, and takes some papers from under his desk, haphazard and barely researched. “Bone is easy. I can make bone and have it adjust well enough. But the fleshier bits? The kidneys? The livers? Sometimes people just clock out if it’s a bad match. Sometimes it’s a month, sometimes, minutes. It’s just—trying to make an artificial thing is harder than it is. The body’s too complex for me to just whip up a goddamn artificial kidney out of thin air.”

“we suspect that will hold. our calculations depict that the rate of complication will be minimal.” nonexistent, although they don’t claim to be so egotistic. a billion could get the treatment and only one receive negative results, and it would still be a chance worth considering. going through with, but only after consideration. it’s a world very, very far from reality... but not one they don’t believe in creating. in starting to create.

but easy has very rarely been on the tip of their tongue, for good reason. confidence builds arrogance. arrogance builds failure. “have you ever made an attempt at something more malleable? bone is a good start, but far from the end goal. replacement is a whole-body affair, after all. all cells require it, at a certain point.”

#c ;; dante #EXACTLY

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

Matteo lips form a thin line “Right, yeah, ok” He says, going to run a hand through his hair but raising his arm and bending it causes a sharp pain to jolt through it, so he drops his hand back to side. “Yeah, that’s totally fine. Just need something to help me sleep without waking up and all. They should disappear in like a week or two; but should become basically pain-less in like…” Matteo furrowed his eyebrows trying to figure out the timeline “2 or 3 days? Maybe one or two more, but basically, I don’t need a lot. Just enough to get me to that point, you know?” He asks. Matteo shakes his head at the other offer, “God, no, I’m good. Hospitals ask way too many questions”

the eyes caught his pained movement, but paid it little attention. the fact that the patient in question was pained by his injuries was a given, and added nothing of interest to the equation. given his secrecy, they doubted they would receive much more intel on what had caused it, but that too mattered little. they were here out of convenience, for a scouting assignment they had no real stake in. “most often those questions are for your benefit,” the voice adds, the and scribbling something down on a slip of paper. “if you’ll follow us, we’ll get you sorted out.”

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.

“Is it as boring? Because I am tired of…” she pointed at what she was working on. “Although am I experienced enough for it?” Holland didn’t actually like working here.

“that all depends on your definition of boring.” they cared little for the volatility of human amusement. tasks needed doing and feel-good chemicals only got in the way. “regardless, much of experience is gained through live events. consider this one of those times.” beckoning her along, they started down one of essex’s many long hallways.

#c ;; holland #past tense for the past

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞.

“You got a point there, Nazari. You’re a fucking workhorse, but I respect it.” He has to hand it to them, ever since they came on the project, they’d reignited the passion that Dante had for research and the sciences. He had enjoyed working with his research assistants of course, but there was something about working with a peer that had him working full throttle. And one that knew his ability, nonetheless. Mutants working for a common good—what a concept.

“Then we will. Though I’m just on the orthopedic side of things—when you go around and fiddle with people, it tends to get a little dicey.” Finishing off the empanada, he turns to grab at the latest data that they had on hand and goes to check. “What do you got in mind? I mean I’m still trying to work on the extremities, but if you have anything in your fancy-shmancy genetics lab there, I’m all ears.”

a workhorse. while not generally a term used endearingly, the colony has no qualms with agreeing. “we don’t require the same rest many others do. why shouldn’t we fill our time with improving the state of humanity?” it’s their only goal, after all, albeit not in the same way dante has laid out. external improvements are fine, but they will only hasten the demise of those less evolved. humans have proven to be incapable of wielding great power. once they have stepped in to remedy that, there will be more use for this kind of technology.

“the ethics can be questionable, we understand. human trials are... complicated in that way.” they hold the sanctity of life above all else, save for them war rears its ugly head. then, who cares? let the young and bold die. they can be replaced. not so for things involving medicine, involving science. not unless it makes mass murder more effective. “but the benefits here must outweigh the cost. is your patient not satisfied?” they are. they really, really are. they only need another try to confirm their previous results. “perhaps this time, something more complex. something transplants often fail.”

#c ;; dante #its always the most fun!

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

“Well, yeah, I know but-” Matteo cuts himself off with a sigh “Just trying to make things easier” He murmurs under his breath. Matteo knows that he could have stayed at the Institute and gotten help there; but everyone there had seemed so overwhelmed and people in way worse shape-like River-that he had chosen to go elsewhere. There were rumors of a healer in the area but he hadn’t been able to make contact so he had gone to one of the clinics that was known to not ask as many questions. “Uh, you know, when their like this, it can be helpful to wrap them with bandages and stuff. Plus the cream. But this is as bad as it’s been in awhile. The last time I had to get them wrapped was like-” Matteo squints as he tries to remember “forever ago”

“that is unnecessary. your presence is no more burdensome than anyone else’s.” and particularly not with the wounds presented. electrical damage could be complicated, but the offhand treatment for pain was not. given that the markings in question had come from matteo’s mutation, the colony found it unnecessary to do any further testing. it was unlikely that it had damaged anything aside from the affected area. “bandages are doable. you may have to settle for oral pain relief, however. is that acceptable? if not, we can refer you to the hospital, but be aware that the wait times have gone up.”

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past

𝐥𝐞𝐨.

“Oh, I’ll try anything once. More than once. Not as if it can kill me.” If anything, she finds new medical procedures and practices thrilling. Of course Leo doesn’t understand them on any level, but when your body always regenerates, you do develop a morbid fascination for seeing how far it can be pushed. In a way, she sort of wants a physician to rip her apart and tell her what’s wrong.

“Not in a long time. I did try once a few decades ago, but the needle kept breaking off in my arm and eventually they realised there was something different about me so I got chased off. It’s probably kinder for everyone that way; immortality isn’t something one ought to wish for. A malady more than a blessing.”

“it’s something to consider, at any rate. particularly when pain relief may be necessary. for now, you should do well without.” a prick of a needle is hardly the worst of what someone can experience for the sake of experimentation. more importantly, for the sake of knowledge. regardless, leo’s cooperation only makes their job easier. research is best done on the ignorant, if not the willing. anything else begins to complicate the matter.

withdrawing the needle from her arm, the hand extends to press a wad of cotton against the wound. by the time it does so, only a drop of blood is left to be absorbed. her body’s ability to heal has certainly not been exaggerated. “we prefer to see things with more neutrality. a mutation is neither a blessing nor a malady, simply a matter of existence.”

#c ;; leo

𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨.

“I know you guys are seeing people worse then me, that’s really all I need” Matteo stated, remembering those he had seen around the area. He pauses at the other’s question. Matteo thinks about lying, saying he got shocked or hit by someone else- but he doesn’t think that would do any good here. He came to these people for a reason, he may as well be honest to the person helping him. “It’s a side effect of my ability.” Matteo shrugs. “I can control electricity, but it burns if I hold onto to it too long. These show up if I overuse it.” He chews on his bottom lip “Shit happened, I used too much, made too many things and now I’m dealing with it. But I really only need some stuff to take off the edge.”

“we don’t refuse assistance to those that need it. if you are injured, this clinic will see you. perhaps not first, but nonetheless...” the voice finishes, examining the strange markings on matteo’s arm. true enough, they could easily see that they were, in fact, made by electricity. they have to wonder how someone with mastery of lightning would still be so vulnerable to it. a pitiful, painful, mutation. “what sort of treatment has been offered to you, before? burn wounds like these are rarely simple.”

#c ;; matteo #past tense for the past

𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞.

Dante should be jumping for joy, after the whole debacle with the patient. The consent forms were given and while he had to get his ass raked over coals with the whole medical ethics of it all, the patient was alright with mutants. A welcome surprise! He’d tell Isaac to relax, but God they were a workhorse. He’d even brought them celebratory empandas—though they were taken by some of his younger assistants first.

“Damn, I mean—further augmentation?” He asks, waving said empanada around. “Metal legs and shit? I mean, unless you can get marrow to transplant to metal. Why’d you ask?” The possibility is exciting, and while it might be hot off the heels of the trial, there’s no time like the present. “You gonna make some more work for us?”

there’s no doubt in their collective minds that there’s good reason to celebrate, although their own reason for doing so undoubtedly differs. finally, after years of toiling at the feet of those far, far beneath them... the solution to their plight has been found. their ( reality forbid ) prayers answered. their dilemma blocking them from their secret to success has finally been relieved. they can reproduce themselves. and in doing so, fill the lives of billions of lives. but starting small is appropriate. one host. then two. then five. and so on.

“it’s the next step, isn’t it? improvement shouldn’t stay small.” in much the same way that they must occupy the minds of every small-minded human ( and human-adjacent ) on this planet, dante must provide the pathway to evolving the body. together, they can go far. the colony will just have to keep the specifics to themselves for a time. “we understand your hesitance. but this is a major success. we feel an obligation to see it through.”

#c ;; dante #say that!

@hollandbright !!

“this isn’t normally something we would ask of someone so inexperienced,” the voice began, perfectly level; “but there’s been a situation and we could use an extra pair of hands. are you available?”

#c ;; holland #past tense for the past #i realize both my starters to u are to the same character #whoops #if u hate that ill change it <3

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