GENERAL OPEN POST
° Drop off a starter, texting or leave a prompt of some sort, whether text based, quotes or images. AUs welcomed. Please, make sure to link to all pictures.
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Matt is quiet for a minute as he considers how to answer the question. He can shift at will, but not consistently (although better than he used to) and it's not always under his control. It's embarrassing to admit that to these people, considering how long he's lived with the...whatever you call being a shapeshifter is. He won't call it a disease or a curse, like the people trying to destroy them. But he isn't sure he'd call it a gift either.
"Most of the time." T'challa can interpret that as he likes, although the way Matt ducks his head and frowns probably offers all the translation required. "Yeah, but not a, uh. Not a big one. Not a lion or tiger or anything like that."
Embarrassment rolled off the shifter but the lack of control did not surprise him because he had not been with his own kind. Lifestyle and emotions had a lot to do with the shift and the state of the guy left little to be desired. A fighter, then? A poor one if the marks and bruises were to be believed. "We can hold off on your placement until after you've settled in as it should be easier then," he explained and not unkind either.
"Come, I'll lead you to your quarters. You'll stay in the palace but may have your own place late on if you desire it." Not waiting for a response, he began to lead them towards where Matt would stay. "Do you have any questions so far? Do you need a healer to see to you?" He might insist later but would allow a choice for the time being.
"Placement for what?" The woman who accompanied him had probably tried to explain all of that, but Matt wasn't in the state of mind to pay attention. Now he's tired and nervous, so outside his element that doesn't know what to do other than simply follow along as he's told.
And this T'Challa exudes a kind of calm strength that Matt finds reassuring. He'll deal with the whole issue of kings and palaces later, right now he's just glad to be done with traveling and maybe have a quiet place to gather his thoughts soon.
He shakes his head in answer to the offer of a healer. "I'm fine. And I do have questions, I'm just...not sure where to start. Coming here wasn't my choice."
"Placement for the type of shifter you are," he explained, pushing open a door to allow for Matt to walk in first. He first stopped by another room to grab for things before he returned to the one for the new shifter. He placed blankets, pillows, a change of clothes and some energy bars onto the bed. Likely, Matt would move very soon once he shifted. "Similar shifter types stay together to be able to help one another cope and develop." A system that had worked for generations.
"I find it is easier to start at the beginning and work yourself down. I will answer the questions as best as I can." With a nod of his head, he sat down in one of the nearby chairs, trying to look less looming.
The room seems decent-sized, neither a cell nor so large as to be overwhelming. When he has some time alone, he'll trace the dimensions of it, learn where everything is located and what obstacles he might need to avoid. Right now, he just follows the sounds of his host to find the bed and sit down on the edge of it.
Start at the beginning. Matt isn't even sure where the beginning is, but maybe it's easiest if he just asks whatever questions come to mind. Some of them are probably not going to be very polite, but despite his exhaustion and disorientation, he still feels strongly rebellious toward having his life dictated for him.
Difficulty appeared to dictate all throughout his life, much to his frustration but he knew how to navigate most circumstances that arose. All the grooming and lessons from the time of his birth insured it but at the moment he did not know how to handle the shifter before him. Rightfully scared but also unnecessarily rebellious. Did he not know they were only trying to keep him from harm?
"You are not a prisoner. You may travel all over Wakanda as you wish but you are here for your own safety," he explained, hands clasped behind his back. "Should I expect an answer to any of my questions or no?"
"So a prisoner on a leash instead of in a cell." Dress it up however you like, having limitations on where he's allowed to go, no matter the reason, still stinks of imprisonment. Maybe life in Hell's Kitchen was rough, and dangerous more often than not, but at least the decision not to leave was his own.
Matt can't stand the idea of never going back.
If he's going to get anywhere with these people, though, it's pretty clear he needs to restrain his natural urge to fight. Diplomacy hasn't come easily to the situation, but it's probably the best tool he has right now. "I'll answer any questions you have for me, I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just trying to..." Matt closes his eyes and inhales deeply, searching for a way to explain. "Imagine yourself in my shoes. How would all of this make you feel?"
Limitations and restrictions were never anything T'challa dealt with well so he understood the frustration on hand from the new shifter but at the same time there were always certain sacrifices to be made. He also understood necessity and doing things you were not keen on. "Wakanda is a large country, I assure you. There will be plenty of things for you to do and see." Still difficult no matter how you dressed it up but at least it gave a bit more freedom.
Things could be far worse.
While the shifter had a point, he knew of things the other did not. "I know the difficulty with giving up so much but it is not forever. Just until you have a handle on what you are and until threats have passed," he explained, giving a curt nod of his head.
"When did you first shift and did you have trouble with changing back to human form?"
The reassurance that he isn't being kept in Wakanda indefinitely does calm him a little. Maybe once these people have the answers about him that they want, they'll realize that he's better off back at home. That Hell's Kitchen needs him there.
He rubs his hand over his mouth and then nods, exhaling slowly and heavily. It isn't the most gracious expression of acceptance, but considering how difficult the trip was, maybe he can be forgiven for not using his best manners.
"It was several years ago. I was a graduate student. My girlfriend at the time was a shifter, although I didn't know that at first." Unconsciously licking his lower lip, he thinks back to that first change, and how much it scared him. "I starting feeling sick, worse than I have had before. And then pain, a lot of pain. It was terrifying. I think I was in that form for days. I don't remember changing back, just waking up human again."
Intently focused on Matt's shifter tale, T'challa only nodded here and there as he pieced together the greater picture the words handed out. A timeline forming rather easily and it allowed him to judge what might happen or might not with the current abilities. Matt needed a lot more training than he first believed but he decided to not say as much at the moment. The new shifter would learn in time.
"You should begin with easy things," he instructed, "Practice how to pull on the shifter within you and feel the presence. From there you'll have a better sense of control."
Stepping back towards the door, he gave Matt a look. "This is truly for your own good and for all those around you. Untrained shifters are very dangerous."
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stardustly2018-01-01 05:57 pm
no subject
"Most of the time." T'challa can interpret that as he likes, although the way Matt ducks his head and frowns probably offers all the translation required. "Yeah, but not a, uh. Not a big one. Not a lion or tiger or anything like that."
no subject
"Come, I'll lead you to your quarters. You'll stay in the palace but may have your own place late on if you desire it." Not waiting for a response, he began to lead them towards where Matt would stay. "Do you have any questions so far? Do you need a healer to see to you?" He might insist later but would allow a choice for the time being.
no subject
And this T'Challa exudes a kind of calm strength that Matt finds reassuring. He'll deal with the whole issue of kings and palaces later, right now he's just glad to be done with traveling and maybe have a quiet place to gather his thoughts soon.
He shakes his head in answer to the offer of a healer. "I'm fine. And I do have questions, I'm just...not sure where to start. Coming here wasn't my choice."
Yeah, he's a little resentful.
no subject
"I find it is easier to start at the beginning and work yourself down. I will answer the questions as best as I can." With a nod of his head, he sat down in one of the nearby chairs, trying to look less looming.
no subject
Start at the beginning. Matt isn't even sure where the beginning is, but maybe it's easiest if he just asks whatever questions come to mind. Some of them are probably not going to be very polite, but despite his exhaustion and disorientation, he still feels strongly rebellious toward having his life dictated for him.
"Am I a prisoner?"
no subject
"You are not a prisoner. You may travel all over Wakanda as you wish but you are here for your own safety," he explained, hands clasped behind his back. "Should I expect an answer to any of my questions or no?"
no subject
Matt can't stand the idea of never going back.
If he's going to get anywhere with these people, though, it's pretty clear he needs to restrain his natural urge to fight. Diplomacy hasn't come easily to the situation, but it's probably the best tool he has right now. "I'll answer any questions you have for me, I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just trying to..." Matt closes his eyes and inhales deeply, searching for a way to explain. "Imagine yourself in my shoes. How would all of this make you feel?"
no subject
Things could be far worse.
While the shifter had a point, he knew of things the other did not. "I know the difficulty with giving up so much but it is not forever. Just until you have a handle on what you are and until threats have passed," he explained, giving a curt nod of his head.
"When did you first shift and did you have trouble with changing back to human form?"
no subject
He rubs his hand over his mouth and then nods, exhaling slowly and heavily. It isn't the most gracious expression of acceptance, but considering how difficult the trip was, maybe he can be forgiven for not using his best manners.
"It was several years ago. I was a graduate student. My girlfriend at the time was a shifter, although I didn't know that at first." Unconsciously licking his lower lip, he thinks back to that first change, and how much it scared him. "I starting feeling sick, worse than I have had before. And then pain, a lot of pain. It was terrifying. I think I was in that form for days. I don't remember changing back, just waking up human again."
no subject
"You should begin with easy things," he instructed, "Practice how to pull on the shifter within you and feel the presence. From there you'll have a better sense of control."
Stepping back towards the door, he gave Matt a look. "This is truly for your own good and for all those around you. Untrained shifters are very dangerous."