Logs:Minimum Splat Height

Minimum Splat Height
Dramatis Personae Marinov, Shane
In Absentia	2020-08-20 "But when I'm alone... my imagination is just running wild." (Part of Final Boss: Xavier TP.)
Location <PLC> Conversation Room - Midtown East
This is the heart of the Pure Life Center, an expansive living room most notable for the conversation pit in the middle, filled with ovoid cushions in bright primary colors. A more traditional set of couches in red bracket a flatscreen television in one corner, and another set in blue is arranged around a little library with both books and board games. An entire wall of windows, including a pair of glass french doors, let in ample light, and the balcony beyond them affords a spectacular view southward while also providing smokers an outlet at the retreat. Marinov is seated on one of the cushions, having moved a few pillows closer to themselves like a kind of barrier. They're wearing something that seems to be a synthesis of formal and casual. White seems to be their preferred colour this season, and they are wearing a vest with nothing underneath, a couple of buttons undone (and clearly meant to be undone) so that their midriff is visible. The silver-coloured belt clasp of the black belt they are wearing is formed to resemble a double helix, and white slacks that have white decorative straps around the knees. "... and they have a room just for conversations here. And you should see the pool! They call it an infinity pool, but turns out, it's got an edge and if you fall off, you'd- Well actually, I dunno if you'd die. You're pretty durable, yeah?" Despite the text making the issue sound serious, Marinov's tone is currently light as they explain some of the facilities. This appearance is undermined, however, as they tap lightly on their lap with anxious energy. "Is that this room? Are we using it right?" Shane has sprawled across several of the cushions by Marinov, dressed ni pale green and white button-down shirt embroidered with vines and grey slacks, one arm tucked beneath his head. "I'm only rubber to a point. Like, one point, bounce, another point, splat. Where that point is exactly --" A shrug. He turns his head, black eyes fixing on Marinov. "It is swank as hell here, that's for sure. Doesn't really seem intended for long-term living, though." "I guess experimenting with the splat height is. Tough," says Marinov. They pick up one of the pillows that they've gathered and place it on their lap to lean into. "Yeah. I don't. Really know what my long term plans are. I'm so close to graduating but I don't want to- I don't think I can go back to Xavier's." They knead their claws into the fabric of the pillow, not enough to pierce the fabric, but enough that it would be uncomfortable against skin. "You ever think that Xavier is a really weird guy?" "I don't know how many times I felt like that while I was there," Shane admits ruefully. "I don't regret sticking it out, but it -- wasn't easy. You're just, what, though, a couple credits away?" He cocks his head, quirks his brows. "Dude's a fucking billionaire who's like, I want to collect freak kids in my secret mansion and indoctrinate them while I run a vigilante team from the basement, there is nothing normal about that." "Yeah! Exactly! That's super fucking weird! And another teacher is a billionaire. It's... a higher than average number of billionaires on school admin!" says Marinov, almost sounding grateful to have Shane's corroboration. "And like. You're right. It's only a couple more credits. But... the other evening, when I was meeting with Elias." Their claws tense more around the pillow, wrinkling the fabric around it as they press. "I had like. I want to say epiphany, but isn't that just when you have a good realization? It was the opposite of that. There's things I haven't been remembering. Holes in my memory. I was worried at first about maybe being molded into something I'm not, and he has that kind of." They lift their hands from the pillow, unhooking one of the claws from it in order to put two index fingers on the side of their head. "Power. To make it happen. I had a panic attack, thinking about it." "We all know billionaires aren't people so that's fucking -- weird." Shane rolls up to sit cross-legged, watching Marinov knead at the pillow. "You think he's been stealing your memories? Messing with your head? That's --" There's a quick shiver along the side of his neck, and he picks up one of the pillows to hug it to his chest. "That is fucked. I mean, that's serious. And frightening. Is it -- there are a lot of kids here, now. Is it -- all of you?" "That guy, Hive, came by here. He checked some people. I volunteered 'cause... if I was overreacting or something, I needed to know. He checked Kurt, too. There's... gaps. I think that not everyone-- K.C. said she's not vulnerable to that, and I believe her." Marinov returns their hands down to the pillow, some almost electric twitches passing through their muscles. "But at least, I have gaps, Kurt's got gaps And it happened before, to Elias, Tasha, Tessa. They're missing memories. But... I don't really have a long term plan, just the short term plan of uh. Staying away from the man who has absolute power over me if he wants to exercise it." For a time Shane is quiet, fingers curling into the sides of the cushion. His head drops, chin resting against it as well. "I don't think that -- being concerned for your own autonomy is overreacting," he answers, first, carefully. "I'm trying to -- I feel like --" He stops, frowns, takes a second longer to collect his thoughts before trying again. "The Professor is a whole problem to himself, but I'm pretty concerned about making sure you have what you need right now. Do you -- want to finish school? That -- can be important for all the -- shit that comes after." Marinov pulls their legs up and curl their tail around their body then rest their face against their pillow as well, hugging it tight. "I dunno, man. I think I want to? I'm so close. And I know it'd hurt me not having that. I just don't know how..." They take a deep breath. "I feel like shit. Like, I'm fucking furious, and I want to claw his fucking face off. But also just. Freaked out. I was worried about even telling you, 'cause, I was worried about you. I don't even know what I need. I've just been working, not thinking too hard, yeah?" "Yeah." Now Shane's claws dig into the pillow, prickling in to puncture the fabric where his fingers squeeze tight. "I'm sure Hive would let me know if --" A small shiver runs through him. "Getting those last credits we can figure out. And a longer term place for you to be -- if it comes to that. Maybe Hive can help undo what damage is there -- I don't know, I'm not -- real clear on how that brain shit works. But if this is widespread, that's not -- a great --" His brow furrows. "We're going to have to talk to the administration, you know? I mean, it doesn't have to be you. If that's too much. But if he's really doing that shit --" His brow scrunches deep. "Do you think you all would be willing to talk to someone there? About what's going on?" "Yeah, I am on the same page as you about the brain shit. Like, how blacking things out works," says Marinov, brow furrowed. Their ars swivel back at the suggestion of talking to someone. "I don't want to go on campus right now. Even thinking about it gives me this icy feeling in my chest. But if they're willing to meet somewhere else? Or like... teleconference." Their claws tense up again, both hands and feet. "Fuck. Usually when I feel anything like this, I just want to fuck shit up. But when I'm alone... my imagination is just running wild. What is in those blank spots? Have other parts of my mind been tweaked? Have I been, like, adjusted and I am supposed to be... different?" They shake their head into the pillow. "I dunno. It's been something else." "Legit," Shane answers first, nodding slow. "Like, not knowing how deep that goes -- I'm sorry. That's -- I'm not even sure how to get your mind around that. One step at a time, I guess." He extracts his claws from the pillow with a very soft snap-pop-pop, lowering the cushion to rest in his lap and setting his elbows on it. "Is it -- okay with you if I talk to my Pa about -- some of this? Try and -- start figuring out a safe way to approach the administration. Without y'all having to face him at all. And Hive can keep working with you on -- being. You." Marinov is quiet for a few moments, a little bit still. "I think my biggest comfort is that I don't really think I'm all that much like the school wants me to be. So if he's been manipulating my brain, he's doing a real shit job at making it easy on himself." They lift their head, look over towards Shane and then drop their head again so their cheek rests against it. "Jax? Yeah... he's someone who, uh, I expect would have problems with this kind of shit." Wryly, they add, "Maybe he'll have a chance to give a refresher course on consent."