Ah. Right. Decontamination was fluff, mindless filler for what really amounts to isolation and observation. Containment. But Hugh realizes how it must sound, now. Realizes how upsetting it must be when that uneven pace at his back halts abruptly in favor of a noisy wet anxious squirm, confirmed when he glances back and sees Cassius held in place, clutching at himself to keep the seams of himself together. Something in his chest that may not even be a nameable organ at this point clenches near painfully at the sight of him, so small and downcast. Scared, maybe.
So Hugh becomes the opposite. Turns on his heel primly and reaches down to clasp Cassius' writhing hands in his own, coaxing those seams shut for him. Wears a smile that glitters, warm and balmy the way Cassius' anxiety won't let him be. The way his nature prevents.
"Oh no, no. It's only a bit of time in isolation, Cassius, decontamination is - the Captain likes his official terminology is all. Makes him feel important, I wager. No one is going to hurt you or your--"
A pause. The wet squirm under his hands. The handshake had been brief, but now he can tell for certain that - yes, those are. Little bodies. Worms. The sort of things that fill up sunbaked dogs and come at him in nightmares, from time to time, only the ones where they take his shape instead. Some worm-bitten, noxious rotten strange thing that he's becoming. Sometimes he looks down and he's full of those horrible alien worms and they're inside him and eating him up and--
No, no. A smile.
"--friends. I won't allow anyone to hurt you, Cassius, you have my word. And believe me, my word is golden."
For their sake and the people aboard this vessel.
He caught that. Is trying not to visibly chew at it. Cassius is - keeping him safe is paramount. This Hunter might kill them all for the loss of him.
(If it were only him, he might not be so worried. But no, no - Cassius doesn't deserve that either. Not as far as Hugh's seen.)
"I'll lend you some of my books, how does that sound? The room has a television and everything. I've got every episode of Gatstronauts downloaded, you'll adore it."
no subject
Ah. Right. Decontamination was fluff, mindless filler for what really amounts to isolation and observation. Containment. But Hugh realizes how it must sound, now. Realizes how upsetting it must be when that uneven pace at his back halts abruptly in favor of a noisy wet anxious squirm, confirmed when he glances back and sees Cassius held in place, clutching at himself to keep the seams of himself together. Something in his chest that may not even be a nameable organ at this point clenches near painfully at the sight of him, so small and downcast. Scared, maybe.
So Hugh becomes the opposite. Turns on his heel primly and reaches down to clasp Cassius' writhing hands in his own, coaxing those seams shut for him. Wears a smile that glitters, warm and balmy the way Cassius' anxiety won't let him be. The way his nature prevents.
"Oh no, no. It's only a bit of time in isolation, Cassius, decontamination is - the Captain likes his official terminology is all. Makes him feel important, I wager. No one is going to hurt you or your--"
A pause. The wet squirm under his hands. The handshake had been brief, but now he can tell for certain that - yes, those are. Little bodies. Worms. The sort of things that fill up sunbaked dogs and come at him in nightmares, from time to time, only the ones where they take his shape instead. Some worm-bitten, noxious rotten strange thing that he's becoming. Sometimes he looks down and he's full of those horrible alien worms and they're inside him and eating him up and--
No, no. A smile.
"--friends. I won't allow anyone to hurt you, Cassius, you have my word. And believe me, my word is golden."
For their sake and the people aboard this vessel.
He caught that. Is trying not to visibly chew at it. Cassius is - keeping him safe is paramount. This Hunter might kill them all for the loss of him.
(If it were only him, he might not be so worried. But no, no - Cassius doesn't deserve that either. Not as far as Hugh's seen.)
"I'll lend you some of my books, how does that sound? The room has a television and everything. I've got every episode of Gatstronauts downloaded, you'll adore it."