(XD I'm about to get to that part. Lemme turn on the feels music to get into the tone of the story I gotta tell)
(Basically Mirros are from another planet because I have lack of creativity for origin stories and humans worried they would be overpowered by the new species. Then, a new form of technology was created in secret and revealed to the public: the Rhadomir Collar, named after its creator. Basically it's for mind control enslavement)
(XD ok)
(oof, I see)
The images from the past haunted him despite his mental pleas.
"You're gonna give me your arm," a deep and slurred voice commanded, the owner waving a cigar in the air. It was to press into his flesh to be rid of the excess ash. It took everything to keep his arm still and to move his head.
A barely noticeable shake of his head then resulted in his head being slammed into the wall.
"You aren't worth more than a stain in this here carpet…"
"You. Will. Do. As. I. Fucking. Tell. You!" Each word was accented with another slam, hand around his neck.
(Reference to one thing he was forced to do a lot)
(ok working on a reply but I also gotta study rn)
The images from the past haunted him despite his mental pleas.
"You're gonna give me your arm," a deep and slurred voice commanded, the owner waving a cigar in the air. It was to press into his flesh to be rid of the excess ash. It took everything to keep his arm still and to move his head.
A barely noticeable shake of his head then resulted in his head being slammed into the wall.
"You aren't worth more than a stain in this here carpet…"
"You. Will. Do. As. I. Fucking. Tell. You!" Each word was accented with another slam, hand around his neck.(Reference to one thing he was forced to do a lot)
(ok working on a reply but I also gotta study rn)
Alright cool. No rush! But Cameron is going to remain ignorant lol
Calixto gave Cameron a sad smile. "Consider it lucky you never knew then," he said, non-injured hand clenched in a fist to keep himself calm. "We don't originate from this planet. Not even sure exactly where from, I was small when I came here. My kind can morph their appearances to some extent, which… humans were not happy about," Cal started, a forced chuckle escaping his lips. His fingers were pressed hard into his skin again, but he realized it quickly and opened his fist. He wanted to be able to at least use one of his hands.
"They felt fear that we would use this to manipulate them. So… Mirros from every age were forced into a large facility for some sort of chip to be injected into their flesh. It was to connect to a new technology that would take over our minds; make us complacent. Families were ripped apart and enslaved. Beaten. Forced to do whatever we were told. Two years ago we were all finally freed, but we were already broken by then."
Calixto stared at his palms now, to avoid eye contact with Cameron. He forced himself to shrug lightly.
That's why I didn't fear you. No one would care if I died anyways.
(ok yeah sorry, feels train came by lol)
"…oh." Cameron replied faintly, looking at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't…I didn't know." he bit his lip, not sure what to say. "I'm really sorry. I really am." he was starting to stammer a little bit. "You…that must have been terrible. It really must have been." he fidgeted with his hands for a moment, eyes flicking around, then back to Calixto. "I'm sorry that I didn't know." And that my ignorance hurt you by making you relive memories…I'm sorry for that too. He swallowed.
Calixto looked back up at the taller male again for a moment, shaking his head. "Please. By the sounds of things, you weren't treated much better. You weren't allowed to know," he said, pursing his lips.
Cameron shrugged a little. "I was treated fine until the Empire took over Kevra." he replied honestly. "And at least I had Roshan. They let me keep my shield-mate. But…it doesn't sound like you had anyone. I'm really sorry." he rubbed the back of his neck again, embarrassed still that he hadn't even recognized the word Mirro.
"It's fine," Cal insisted. It was out of habit. It really wasn't fine. Self harm shouldn't have become an issue, but the pain was so familiar. Like a comforting embrace. An embrace that was wrong but felt right. "You're not the one who needs to apologise," he added. It felt awkward to see pity in Cameron's eyes and to be apologized to for no reason. But there was a strange comfort in knowing someone else cared.
Cameron bit his lower lip a little, looking at Cal still. "It's not, though." he ran a hand through his hair. Dye came off, streaked on his hand, and he sighed, dropping his hand back to his side. "I uhm…even if I'm not the one that needs to apologize, I'm still sorry that that happened. And…" he wasn't sure how to communicate what he was trying to say. For one thing, this wasn't his native tongue, and for another…he just wasn't sure.
Calixto tilted his head lightly at Cameron. Why was he so insistent on saying sorry for something he had no part in? Why was he so concerned? Part of him wanted to close himself off and let the issue drop, but the rest was curious as to what the other had to say. "And…?"
Cameron shook his head. "I don't know how to say what I mean. Sorry." he replied with a sigh, shrugging and looking at Calixto. "Sorry." he said again, raking a hand trhough his hair again, then groaning as he realized the dye was still setting.
"Right, you're Kavran. Your english isn't bad if it helps any," he offered. Noticing Cameron messing up the dye in his hair, Calixto grabbed Cameron's wrist lightly. "Stop, you'll smear it all off," he said. Not a demand. No malice in his tone. More like a recommendation if anything.
"No, that's not it." Cameron replied. "It's a feeling here," he pointed to his heart. "That doesn't communicate to here." He pointed to his mouth, then shrugged. He smiled a little. "Alright, I'll stop." He put his hands in his pockets with a soft sigh. He still wasn't wearing a shirt, as the dye was still setting in his skin.
(Me: IS IT LOVE-)
"Pity? Empathy?" Cal began suggesting, mind already coming up with assumptions. He kept apologising after all. Calixto focused on looking at Cameron's facial features rather than his bare chest. He had seen it earlier, but didn't allow his eyes to linger. Just because they had both spilled their dark pasts to one another probably didn't make them much more than acquaintances.
(Nope not yet :P)
Cameron thought for a moment. "Both, perhaps? Though empathy sounds closer." he replied, looking at Calixto. "Sorry." he shrugged, and shifted in place. His eyebrows, too, had been dyed, which looked rather strange. Up close, the freckles that dotted his skin could still barely be seen beneath the dye.
(Bump?)
(Dw, got the tab open to remind me I have to reply. Really busy with school lately)
(Alright. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten :)
Calixto narrowed his eyes slightly. "Stop that. Stop saying your sorry. There isn't anything to be sorry about," he stated. It should have sounded a bit annoyed. It should have stirred up a bit of frustration. No. There was only confusion with his tone sounding a bit sad.
"And don't apologize for saying sorry either," he added quickly. Cameron seemed like the type of person to do that.
Cameron sighed. "Well, now I don't know what to say." He replied with a slight smile. He was looking at Calixto still. "I uhm…I probably should leave and stop bothering you, shouldn't I? I shouldn't even have come in here in the first place, it was…really irresponsible and rude of me." He shrugged a little. He rubbed a hand over his chest to check the dye. Satisfied that it had set enough, he pulled his shirt on with a soft sigh.
Now was the moment that Calixto's eyes stole a glance at Cameron's chest as the fabric quickly covered the newly dyed flesh. "While yes, it was very rude, putting it lightly, I don't consider this 'bothering me' persay," Cal commented with a hum. Some part of him was intrigued by Cameron still. There were similarities between them. In some ways…
Cameron shrugged. "I was drunk, okay? That's my excuse." I was drunk and lonely and I wanted to be held again, is that such a bad thing? He took a deep breath, tugging on the hem of the shirt for a moment. He studied Calixto. "Sorry, though. It won't happen again unless you want it to." he dipped his head to Calixto and headed for the door.
Calixto narrowed his eyes. "I believe you missed the part where I said you weren't bothering me," he said, a slight hint of annoyance in his tone. He didn't know what it was, but he was enjoying talking to Cameron. He had a nice aura about him that tried to stay cheerful in the middle of all the horribleness. Cal envied that more than a little bit.