gurabad | 020 » just know that you won't have to do this alone

[Poor, poor Francel. He's had quite the tough time of it since a teleportation accident landed him in a world with only humans. That alone might not have been so terrible, but the way he arrived caught the attention of exactly the wrong sort of people and this world is almost completely cut off from any sort of magical energy. Though there was enough around from his arrival for him to display a few abilities and pique their interest further, there's not enough for any one person to put up a good enough fight to stay out of the lab awaiting curiosities like him.

For the first month he's left alone save for people bringing him food and cleaning him. He's an alien, so who knows what diseases he might be carrying? It's a necessary quarantine period. Once it's been established that he no longer has the ability to hurt anyone and he won't make anyone sick, Francel is scrubbed from head to toe and strapped to an examination chair for one of their lovely scientists to take a look at. He's fortunate that it's Ryan, because Griffith would almost certainly want to try and take a bite out of an alien.

Ryan saunters into the room carrying a tablet with all the current information that's been collected on the supposed alien. He eyes Francel from head to toe. They've dressed him in a hospital gown, but his limbs are longer than most humans and it hardly looks adequate.]

You. Are you cold?

[If he's not at least somewhat comfortable during an exam, it might affect his results!]

[the hem of his hospital gown is resting against his mid-thigh, and if francel weren't physically strapped to his chair, he'd be trying to pull it down.

it would be long enough for even the tallest of hyurs, he supposes, but elezen are longer in the torso and the gown was clearly designed to end somewhere around the knee. the length of the sleeves — equally inadequate — doesn't bother francel nearly so much as the distinct feeling that he's not wearing pants. even so, a denial comes out of his mouth before he can help himself:]

No. My homeland is much colder than this.

[he tests his bonds again, but they hold perfectly well; he finds himself wishing, again, that he hadn't thought to try his hand at aetheryte teleportation. he squirms in his chair.]

You — you all keep calling me an "alien." As I have told you, I am not.

[Ignoring the stubborn denial, Ryan just inspects his arms and legs for goosebumps. If they're present (and they probably are because the labs are kept cold to discourage bacterial growth), he'll retrieve a sheet and gently drape it over his legs. If not, he'll just leave it. Who is he to say what temperature an alien finds comfortable?]

You do know the definition of the word "alien", yes? What planet are you from? What country for that matter?

[He's an alien. Shaking his head, Ryan snaps on a pair of gloves.]

If you want to tell me your name or species, I can refer to you as either.

[francel's skin is more honest than his tongue; there are indeed goosebumps on his arms, and, honestly, the hospital gown is thin enough that it's obvious that his poor little nipnops are stiff with cold as well. he seems slightly pacified when the blanket is draped over his legs — or at least, he sounds less accusatory and more sulky when next he speaks.]

I know it... in the verb form to alienate — [no. no. he is not getting into a grammar discussion when he's strapped to a chair.] — never mind.

I am an Elezen, a Wildwood Elezen, from Ishgard. I take it that means nothing to you.

[Ryan glances at the notes he has open. Some blood samples have been taken and a cursory physical exam was given, but otherwise they haven't done a blessed thing. Because of the quarantine? Really, that's no reason to not ask a sentient subject what they are! Ryan hates working with living subjects and even he thinks to do that much.]

You are correct; it means nothing to me. For your information, the word "alien" in its noun form simply means "unfamiliar". It can also refer to someone from another country... or world in this case. That is why people have been calling you one.

[He'll find out quickly why Ryan left his abdomen uncovered. He slips his hands in through the side of the gown and starts to palpate his abdomen, wearing a curious expression.]

At the very least —

[you could have asked, francel means to say, but then ryan is sort of prodding at him and he makes a sound halfway between a yelp and a whine that is vaguely reminiscent of a squeaky chew toy.

it's a good thing that even his feet are strapped to the chair — francel would probably have kicked ryan if it were within his power to do so.]

Wh-What are you doing?!

[Oh no, that noise is hilarious. Ryan might purposefully prod at his ribs a couple times when he doesn't need to just so he can hear it again.]

I'm examining you. It's what I've been sent here to do.

[He didn't really fight the request, either. Ryan might not have a fetish for odd creatures like Griffith does, but he's still curious! Though so far what he can feel of Francel's torso is disappointing. The musculature is basically identical to a human.]

[unfortunately for ryan, francel doesn't quite make that same squeaky chew toy sound, but his voice stays high-pitched and panicky, and he continues squirming in his chair. being washed and scrubbed all over by strangers in scrubs and masks was one thing — francel had vaguely gotten used to that after a while, it was not unlike how the house haillenarte servants used to wash him before he came of age — but being poked and prodded by some strange hyur for no discernable reason is another thing entirely.]

Can't I at least get fair warning before you — you — feel me up like a sack of popotoes?!

[Strangers in full hazmat suits are also more distant by virtue of their faces being mostly hidden. It is a lot more personal to have a bare-faced man doing it.

Ryan makes a face at Francel's request. He was told that he was good about being handled. What's with the whining?]

Very well. I'm going to feel your back, now.

[Ryan moves around to the back of the chair and opens the panel there for access. His hands slide smoothly over his body, fingers tap-tap-tapping all the way up and down his spine. Sadly for Ryan, his back is just as disappointing.]

Edited 2016-08-23 00:36 (UTC)

[being told what will happen before it happens is much easier on francel's nerves. he braces himself for contact well before ryan starts touching his spine (counting out his vertebrae? whatever is he doing?), and by the time the researcher's fingers have made their way up and down the young elezen's back, francel seems... almost relaxed.

well. as relaxed as one can be when strapped into a chair, anyway.

he's quiet for a little while, and then — in his more dignified lower register — he says:]

...From what I have gathered, the people here are — scholars. You... study things. [a pause.] You're studying me.

[Apparently finished with his task, Ryan ties the gown shut again and pulls the panel back into place. He'll roll back into Francel's view, studying him as he speaks with unsettlingly sharp red eyes. Surprisingly, he decides to volunteer some information. This will probably be easier if his subject is cooperative, and he'll be more likely to cooperate if he knows what's going on.]

We are. Up until now, you've been in quarantine — we weren't certain if you were carrying any strange diseases from another world. The fluid samples that were taken did show some odd bacteria and the antibodies in your immune system are almost all foreign, but nothing has proven to be pathogenic. You aren't showing any symptoms of illness either, so the quarantine has been called off.

[He strips one glove so that he can input some data on his tablet, watching Francel carefully.]

How exactly did you come to be here? Our equipment indicated it was some sort of teleportation, but if that's the case I can't imagine why you put up with this.

[francel eyes ryan warily, much the same way a mouse might lock eyes with a cat shortly before darting towards the nearest exit. how much information should he divulge? these researchers have not been forthcoming with giving him freedoms. he could very well just be making it easier for them to control him.

but then — this unmasked, red-eyed man has at the very least been responsive to his questions, which is more than can be said for the workers in the rubber suits. and more importantly, he needs to go back home. being quarantined for possible diseases seems a reasonable enough explanation for why he's been so abused since his arrival in this world; perhaps, if he's honest, they can somehow get him back to ishgard.]

...It was my first time utilizing teleportation magicks. Normal people typically avoid its use, you see — casting such spells exposes the caster to copious amounts of aether, and overexposure to aether leads to aether sickness. But it was an emergency, and I saw no reason to hold out, so I tried to teleport myself home, and I... I wound up here.

[this doesn't explain why he's putting up with this. right.] I cannot now warp myself back home because this land is nearly devoid of aether.

[The word aether isn't completely foreign to him as he's read old alchemical and physics texts, but the way Francel is using it is. Using it to cast spells sounds absolutely ridiculous, and yet there's evidence that he did exactly that. True, he hasn't been able to do so since, but if it's a substance lacking on Earth he wouldn't be able to.

He still thinks the entire concept of magic is ridiculous. This elezen must be mistaking science he doesn't understand for magic, surely.]

I see. Well, humanity has had the concept of spell casting since ancient times, but if it ever existed there's no one capable of it now. Aether as you know it very well may not exist here. If it does, I would suspect it's only in areas where nature hasn't been disturbed since that's how the myths tend to go.

[There's the hopeful little carrot to dangle: be good, and maybe we'll take you somewhere where you can cast your magic. Ryan won't say as much explicitly since he's not authorized to allow it, but he does want to plant the idea in Francel's head to keep him from succumbing to despair. A subject that just wants to die is useless. Though there is some merit in letting him die since Ryan prefers corpses... no, he's the only one of his kind they have access to. He can't be squandered frivolously.]

I'm going to examine your arms now. Will you cooperate if I loosen the restraints on one of them?

...A battlefield might be a better location to find it, actually.

[this is muttered to himself more than anything else. will they take him elsewhere to find aether, eventually? francel's hopes aren't high, but the possibility exists, and as long as it does, there's no reason for him to not cooperate.]

I won't try to hit you, if that is your concern. But I doubt you will find aught of interest.

[Ryan will decide for himself what's of interest, thank you very much! He carefully undoes the restraints on Francel's left arm, then proceeds to poke and prod all the way down to his hands. Ryan actually leaves one glove off there to feel the texture of his nails and palm. So long as he doesn't try to jerk away, he'll manipulate all his joints one by one.]

You're really very human-like. Are there humans where you're from?

[it's the first time francel has been so intently looked at and felt up by someone else, much less a stranger, and he feels unusually nervous — but he holds himself perfectly still until ryan is done.

it occurs to him, suddenly, that neither of them know each others' names, but francel doesn't do anything to correct that situation.]

If by "humans" you mean men and women like yourself, of more average stature and possessed of rounded ears... yes. We call them Hyurs, in Eorzea. There are many other races, but Hyurs and Elezen are most common in my native country of Ishgard.

Hyur?

[How silly —

Wait.

Can't I at least get fair warning before you — you — feel me up like a sack of popotoes?!

The fact that Francel speaks his language. Popotoes. Hyur. Elezen — elves? Then perhaps...]

Tell me if any of these words sound similar to words you know: Cat, dog, sheep, cow, monkey, chicken, lizard, fish.

Edited 2016-08-23 01:30 (UTC)

[francel blinks and tilts his head slightly to one side.]

I know all of those animals. Though I've never seen a monkey in person — I am told they are wild beasts from the tropics. And we more usually refer to sheep as karakul.

[Suddenly, Ryan lights up. He's so excited at this revelation that he pops right up from his stool.]

Of course. Of course! I completely took it for granted that you speak our language, but it makes sense now — I don't think you're from another planet, I think you're from an alternate world. It's no wonder your physiology is so similar. Of course it is!

[well, francel would love to join you, ryan, but one of these men can't do anything from his chair at the moment...]

Oh. I... am glad to see you so pleased, I think.

[okay, no, he really can't help himself from quipping —]

I... thought this was obvious. Everyone in Eorzea knows that there are other worlds.

Truly? Is it as obvious as the planets in the sky? Alternates have been theorized here and we're almost certain they exist, but it hasn't been proven.

[This is all every bit as exciting as the fact that Francel is an alien. Ryan's practically giddy. Focusing on the examination again is difficult, but he was chosen for this in the first place for his dedication to his work. He forces himself to sit, eyes still sparkling.]

All right, we're almost finished. I'm going to check your legs.

I think Eorzeans would think strangers from other planets more preposterous than strangers from other worlds...

[in reality, dragons in fact came from another planet, in eorzea, but francel doesn't know that. he glances down at his legs. he would cross them, reflexively, but his ankles are still belted to the chair. from an objective perspective, his legs are more defined than his torso or arms, but again, they're none too different from a human's aside from their length.]

Take your time.

[Ryan's only response is a fascinated, agreeable hum. With his interest now fully caught he goes ahead and removes the other glove, wanting to be able to feel small details he might miss with a nitrile barrier between them. He'll nicely tuck the sheets so as to only expose one leg, but it's mostly because from this angle he'd be getting an eyeful of his crotch if he didn't. By now his hands have warmed up, so it shouldn't be terribly unpleasant to have them on his legs (though it's undoubtedly uncomfortable when he goes feeling around for the femoral artery). He tucks him back in afterwards.]

If there are any differences, they're in your internal organs... and your ears, of course.

[Mentioning his ears should be warning enough. Ryan rolls back up near his face, gently brushing his hair out of the way so that he can begin his examination of the only feature Francel has that's obviously different. He starts with the outer fold, dragging his index finger over the entirety of it to check for any oddities.]

Edited 2016-08-23 02:08 (UTC)

[the warmth of ryan's hands lingers on his thighs more than francel would like, and since he's still strapped to the chair, he can't even squirm as much as he wants to. hyuran men generally aren't francel's type (even if he can appreciate that the scientist examining him is prettier than most), so he's fairly relieved when ryan's hands go away at last and the blanket is thrown over his legs again.

that relief is short-lived once ryan says that he'll be examining francel's ears. with obvious panic francel grasps for diversionary tactics —]

Er — if it helps, I know that Wildwood Elezen have better eyesight than most Hy — nngh.

[too late. he bites hard on his lip and resolves not to say another godsdamned word.]

[So far, no bumps indicating a hidden gland that might allow him to cast magic. This exam just continues to not be as fun as he wants it to be! Just in case he'll inspect the other ear in the same way at the same slow, careful speed.]

Yes, that would make sense. There are myths about elf sight —

[Was that a moan? Are ears some secret Elezen sex organ? Ryan pauses for just a moment, debating if he should continue this examination or not. In the end he can't resist the appeal of being first and continues, moving on from the outer shell to the largest of the inner folds.]

Are your ears sensitive?

Come get molested Francel

iyaaa~an

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