I. ✵ Video

[lordofimladris]

[The video turns on from Eliot's tablet which is propped up against the book he is holding. The gentle sound of running water can be heard and a small glimpse of the lake may be seen. It's a peaceful place, calming.

Eliot himself is composed as always though his gaze is focused more out towards the water, watching the ripples on the surface before glancing back at the screen.]

I have been remiss in investigating this, network it seems. So I bid you all hello then, I look forward to what there is to discover here.

Comments

[espigeonage]

You, I know I'm safe with. But I don't want any of this getting out, even if I'm rendered anonymous. We're all in danger, but this is particularly bad.

[For another moment Julien stares, and then his pupils expand and contract, and he blinks human-style, and nods.]

It's kind of embarrassing. You can touch it, but you might want gloves or tweezers. And be gentle, it's tender.

[He sighs and hops off the examination table. Julien tucks up the hem of his shirt and peels up the layer beneath that, loosens his belt, pulls his waistline down a little, and then reaches behind himself and pulls a band-aid off of his lower back. There's a neat square of gauze in it, bearing a less neat blotch of oil that's clear to human eyes.

Only then does he turn around and bend over, propping his upper body on the table, so a structure the size of a chickpea is visible, slightly beneath the level of his navel. Above where a tail might be. Tiny beads of oil collect near the tip, particularly if it's touched. The skin around it is slightly swollen, but it matches in color and seems to belong there. With it uncovered his smell is stronger now and distinctly inhuman - something like yeast, egg yolk, wool, heat, sweetness, vaguely like fresh maple-bread.]

I have to change the gauze a couple times a day or it'll soak through and that's a pain getting out of clothes.

[lordofimladris]

I understand. If there is anything I can do to help that is within my power, you just have to ask.

[He nods as he pulls on gloves before finding tweezers. He turns to see what Julian is referring to, pulling off the gauze carefully.]

Does it hurt anywhere? Let me know if it does [He only touches it gently with the tweezers, looking for any sign of anything that could look harmful such as dark patches of skin.]

I can provide you with sterile gauze and bandages. [he says thoughtfully as he leans in a little closer so he can see better.]

[espigeonage]

[Some of the oil has spread out over his weird thin skin. Muscles move under his skin as Julien tries not to squirm at the touch.]

No, it - hey - it only hurts if it gets poked hard enough. That just - sort of tickles.

[It's not unpleasant exactly, but it's weird and he can feel Eliot's breath, and it's just embarrassing. Facing away, Julien pinches the bridge of his nose and endures.]

Thanks - I get this from the clinic, but it kind of adds up. Uh - the oil turns into kind of a wax if it gets a chance to cool. It's sort of waterproof.

Man, what else - none of my hair's normal. It turned white and soft months back and I dyed it, and it hasn't grown at all since. I'm not shedding either. [Body hair included - it's all dyed hairlike feathers, two per follicle.]

[lordofimladris]

[Eliot pulls away as he gets some gauze, re-bandaging the gland carefully as not pull on anything else.]

This will need to be changed eventually but it should last you sometime. I am sure it does, it's the least I could do.

[he says as he pulls his gloves off and disposes of them.]

[espigeonage]

[Julien wants to say no, let me do that, this is like being diapered or something, but metaphorically holds his tongue and non-metaphorically straightens up to adjust his clothes at his first opportunity. This whole process is a lot like showing Aaron after he forgot - there's a lot of things to point out. Eliot's either better at not reacting, or Julien has finally learned to read his boss.]

Probably somewhere late afternoon-ish. I've tried... I don't know, milking it? [ew. He makes a face.] Emptying it out. Barely seems to help, though. It's really annoying. My skin's already always making it, I don't have human skin oil now, why do I need a giant gland.

My voice is different. Took ages to get used to it - I can talk normally with my mouth closed. [He's doing that now. It's a little muffled.] It's produced in my chest around where my trachea splits, apparently. Before my temp. changed I still had to be careful touching people, you can feel my voice when I talk and it's kind of weird.