Peter Quill (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zunesareawesome) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
makingthisupasigo2018-04-14 11:02 pm
zunesareawesome) wrote in makingthisupasigo2018-04-14 11:02 pm
Entry tags:
And the stars look very different today...
It was a way out. But it wasn't home.
Truthfully, after Norfinbury, anything would be better than that place, but the cold truth was--there was no way to find his own universe out of the endless multiverse, even if Norfinbury's busted technology had worked properly. He was stuck, here, with a megalomaniac Flynn--granted, a Flynn that managed to open up a portal out of there. Maybe that's what it took to get out of Norfinbury.
Or, Peter thought sometimes on bad days, Norfinbury only released you once you became the twisted version of yourself it wanted you to be. A specially-designed virus inflicted on countless worlds.
Besides, he ought to know something about that.
He didn't stay long on earth, he couldn't. Maybe it had something to do with the mystery of how they were revived in Norfinbury, their bodies recreated or cloned or healed, or maybe it was something that was gonna happen to him anyway, but he could feel the Light burning inside him, inside his head almost as soon as he landed. A desperate need to take to the stars. He'd managed to create a ship and took off.
Time passes, and scientists notice something odd about several exoplanets they're monitoring, especially ones marked as 'earth-like' or other planets in zones that could make them potentially habitable. Bright bursts of light and changes in the composition of the atmosphere or surface, it was inexplicable. Possible evidence of intelligent life? If they didn't know any better, especially with the rocky planets that now somehow boasted extreme changes, it was like something was terraforming them.
There was cause for alarm when Mars suddenly turned blue and green a few months later.
Meanwhile, a small blue-and-orange ship that looked suspiciously like a slightly more organic-looking Milano was racing towards the earth.
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Every time it claims him so does the terror that this time Peter won't let him go and just... leave him hanging until it has consumed him fully, until there is nothing left of him to take.
That means you hate the light, right? And yes, yes he does. At the same time, slowly, slowly, it becomes the new normal in a weird, twisted and utterly wrong sense, like he's forgetting that he's not supposed to be a part of it. Like he can't imagine life without it anymore, without giving his life force, powering it. Is that what Peter wants? Is that what going insane feels like?
Every time he talks to Jake it becomes a little harder to keep up the charade, to pretend it's fine, he's fine and spends his day tinkering, playing video games and drinking beer from a neverending fridge.
But he's trying.]
Hey there, Cowboy. How's it going?
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Friends. Jones was his friend.
Flynn was his friend.
My name is Jacob Stone and I'm a Librarian.]
Hey, it's...
Well, it's...y'know.
Could be better.
[He swallows, studying Ezekiel's face, hoping to see that he was in fact, doing well. That was important, right?]
How are you doin'?
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[Could be better. That about nails it, doesn't it?]
I'm, you know. Great. Things are great. Made a new video game for Peter and me and it's great.
[Is he saying great a lot? He needs to stop saying great.]
It's called the Light. [Everything is connected to the light.] Probably my best one yet.
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[He's not sure of anything right now. Flynn is a jerk, he's his friend, he's the only one who cares, but that can't be true because Jones cares.]
He's a lot nicer. I think. [Probably not a good thing?]
That's great things are great. [You are saying great too much. Jacob's eyebrows shoot up.]
That sounds like a cool game. What's it about?
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Is he... doing anything to you?
[Because that kind of sounds like he's doing something to you.]
It's about... so you're on this space station and you have to fix it. But it's really difficult because your resources are so low. And there's this Light chasing you. And you can't fight it, you know, like in those run&hide horror games like Amnesia. And when the Light chases you, it looks like these giant tendrils and you have to evade them because they drain your health.
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[Probably not a good thing either?
But he brightens when Jones tells him about the video game.]
That sounds amazing! I wish you could send me a copy, I'd love to play it.
It also sounds really difficult. I bet I could beat it, though.
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[I'm not sure. He keeps saying that and Ezekiel's concern grows into outright worry, so it's good to see Stone's face light up.]
Yeah, it's-- [His breath hitches.] It IS really difficult. Wish we could play it together. I'm sure we'd beat it in no time.
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[He's not sure how to explain it. If he can explain it. He's not sure what's happening to him, not sure of anything.
Sometimes he's not sure at all what he himself actually wants.]
...I'm not sure.
[But playing video games with Jones sounds like a great time and he fixes his attention on something so simple. A good memory.]
You haven't beat it yet? Yeah, maybe you need me, then. [He jerks a thumb back at himself.] Maybe it's not meant to be a single-player game?
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[Maybe it's not meant to be a single-player game?
It's suddenly hard to breathe.]
It's probably not. I'm... I'm not sure I can beat it.
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[He might not be confident in anything at all these days, but he's confident in you, Jones.]
You just gotta work at it, give it a little more time. Those games are always the really good ones, y'know? The ones you remember how hard they were? And how great it feels when you beat it?
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You... really think so? You think I can do this?
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[It's not like Jones to be...less confident in himself? That's worrying.]
You're Ezekiel Jones, man.
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[He tries to smile but it falters.]
I'm awesome.
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[Me? Is it him? Or is it Flynn? He's not as awesome as someone, and his amused tone fades, as he stammers.]
As...as...
[He freezes, and tries to push his confusion away. Jones doesn't seem okay, that faltering smile is worrying.]
Anyway...are you sure you're okay up there?
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[His voice suddenly fails him and he shakes his head. Are you sure you're okay up there?]
... I-I had to stop him. I had to try.
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...stop him? Stop Quill?
[Oh...no.]
Jones?! Did it work? It didn't work did it? What happened? [Suddenly he's filled with more clarity than he has in a long time. He needs--he needs to rescue him--he needs to do something--]
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But what if at some point he... won't be able to? What if Peter... changes him like he changed Flynn? What if this is his last chance to warn Stone?]
... We were wrong. The Expansion, he was still... he had more flowers. He had so many more flowers, Stone?
[He laughs, shaking his head again, rubbing at his eyes.] But it's okay now. It's all good. I destroyed them, I... I corrupted the magic connecting them, he can't use them anymore. They're all gone. Everything's okay now.
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But you stopped him? You stopped him, it's over? He won't be able to come after earth anymore, you can come home!
[He's frantic. You can come home, right?]
Did he--does he know? Did--did he hurt you?!
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[He can't bring himself to answer that last question. There's a shuddering breath and then he laughs again, trying to play up his usual bravado.]
Got him good though! He was so mad, it was hilarious. He wants me to fix it but it's alright, sucks to be him, because it can't be fixed. I can't fix it, I made it unfixable.
[And he's really mad at me.]
Listen, I-I don't know what's gonna happen but if I turn into a raging jerk I just, I need you to know that I--
I'm sorry. I really wanted to be okay for you. I really wanted to save you, too. From the tattoos. And from what Flynn was doing to you. A-and from whatever he's doing to you now. And I didn't and now I can't and I'm-- I'm really sorry about that.
[He's smiling but they must be having a bad signal again because Jacob's face swims out of vision.]
I used to be so good at these single player games. I don't know what happened. [You happened. The Library happened.] I'm sorry, Stone.
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The clarity is awful and he almost wishes he wasn't thinking coherently because this is...horrifying and the words ring in his head loudly, like a bell.
not coming home not coming home not coming home
he knows]
I--I'm sure that...that was hilarious--what do you mean, not coming home?
[Did he hear that right? He can't be sure of anything these days.
And then it gets worse and he feels cold again, like the world's stopped still and become frozen.]
...raging jerk? Why--why would you become a raging jerk?
[Is this happening? Is this something Flynn is putting in his head? His heart races and he feels sick--]
No, no, it's not your--not your fault, don't--don't apologize for that. Don't.
[This can't be happening.]
I'm gonna--I'm gonna come and get you, okay? I'll come and get you.
[Flynn's probably not going to let him. The thought of Jones up there with that maniac--and he knows so much better than most the monster that Quill is--is too much to bear. His voice hitches and he can't--he can't handle this, he can't, not with what's been happening because knowing that Jones is okay is what's been keeping him from fully going under, fully drowning--]
I'll come get you. [His voice breaks.]
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It's stupid. It's ridiculous, false hope in the situation they find themselves in. But when Stone tells him that? Something suddenly lights up, something Ezekiel hadn't realized he had almost lost along the way, like his own light rekindled.
Not bright and blaring and searing but warm and golden, like the Library.]
... Okay.
[And for the first time in so long he means it. For the first time the world does feel a little more okay.
Maybe they've been going on about this the wrong way. Maybe they don't have to do this alone. Player Two has entered the game and just knowing that suddenly gives Ezekiel strength in return.]
Thanks, mate. I'll owe you one. ... By the way? Totally hit him with a ray gun. [His eyes are shining but this time it's not tears but rekindled mischief. Suddenly he sits a bit taller, too.] It disrupted his powers and he was fizzling in and out of existence. You should have seen the stupid expression on his face!
[He needs this. He didn't realize how much he needs this. This defiance against Peter, against the light. This connection with Stone.
This sharing.
Stone is coming to get him.]
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[There's something different when Jones speaks again, something in his expression...it's hope. Jacob knows he can't ever, ever let him lose that hope. He's not going to let him down.
He's not gonna let that light go out.]
Ray gun? Like an old-timey 1950's sci-fi ray gun or what, here? [A laugh escapes him. It feels so strange, to laugh again.] Man, I wish you recorded that. Sounds wild.
[He's got to save him. He has to.]
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[Ezekiel's smile broadens, the tiny light in his eyes gaining strength, turning into a small flame.]
It was. It even knocked out one of the tendrils! Man, he was so pissed. He was all roary and 'whaaat have you dooooone', God, what is it with these immortal guys and being super dramatic all the time?
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[He will see it. He's going to see it.]
Exactly! You'd think they're all playin' from the same rule book or somethin'? How to be a Megalomaniac 101? Overdramatics, the chapter?
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Because he's coming to get him.]
I know, right? Really makes you think what they're overcompensating? 'Oh I'm so immortal but somehow I still gotta yell at all these inferior mortals'! Yeah right, mate, who are you kidding?
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