deercountry | I used to look up at space with hope and wonder in my eyes

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I used to look up at space with hope and wonder in my eyes

Who: Zib, and possibly you? (Some threads closed, some open)
What: Event shenanigans in the form of paranoia and memories about aliens trying to kill you
When: Throughout the month of December
Where: Around Disaster House, or walking around on his own about the city and beaches

Content Warnings: paranoia, obsession, descriptions of cartoon violence, descriptions of more horrifying alien body horror violence, mention of parental neglect, mention of murder, identity issues, insults involving one's sanity, etc. will add more if they come up in a thread.

also, hit me up with pm or plurk if you want a starter of your own rather than one of the open prompts

Winter Mourning / outside Disaster House

Zib is not quite an official resident of the Disaster House, but his ship is currently here on their property while he figures out how to try to fix it and get it running properly again. And his friends had been nice enough to let him sleep on a couch instead of sleeping outside upon discovering that he... did not have a house he had any plans of staying at until this issue was resolved.

So not quite going full-hobo like he was since arriving, he's been in a rather good mood despite the ship crash. For the first time he can ever remember in his life, there are actually people he can think of as his friends that are willing to have his back, and it's gotten him thinking that maybe there are more things to find about this place to appreciate. Instead of, you know, attempting to run away and off this planet as soon as possible.

So once he hears about a Trench tradition to gather some bones together to create a decoration, he does just that, setting it against the outside of his ship in the driveway of the Disaster House for the time being. Maybe it will be a good luck charm--something to keep him going and hope that his ship will be repaired again soon.

Except... it glows, and touching it suddenly brings Zib and anyone else who may have come upon it into his memories. And there are two things that will become very quickly apparent to anyone upon finding themselves in this memory, regardless of which one it is.

The first thing is, Dib is very much human. Far more human looking in his past memories than he has ever looked since arriving in Trench despite attempts to disguise otherwise. The Dib of the past has normal skin complexion, proper ears and nose, and isn't wearing a ratty hood to hide the back of their head. Their glasses don't have a chip in them, and for all intents and purposes, they look like a normal child.

The second thing is that all of his memories seem to revolve around a central target: a small green alien named Zim. Even in memories where Zim is wearing a disguise, it's easy to tell that it's still the same person due to how tacky and lame the disguise is. No matter what form he's in, he is present in every memory of Dib's that can be brought forth when touching the antler decoration he made. Sometimes, it even feels like there's a sudden moment where you are seeing things from Zim's perspective rather than Dib's, before cutting back to seeing it from Dib's if you are unfortunate enough to get one of those type of memory journeys here rather than experiencing it as a third party.

Which begs the question of whose memories you are actually seeing in some regard, doesn't it?

As a result, you may end up finding yourself in one of the following:

A. The day these two first met and their rivalry began, from the look of things. It's... it sure is a lot! It seems like while Dib has been a nice enough guy here in Trench, he holds no such kindness toward Zim from the second they met.

B. One of, if not many, numerous ridiculous fights that these two have had since then. Dib finds out that Zim has an allergy to meat and throws baloney at him in the school cafeteria, Zim retaliates via injecting Dib with a method to turn him into baloney. Dib points out that a nurse might find it odd that Zim doesn't have human organs, Zim retaliates via stealing everyone's organs, including Dib's lungs. They chase, shoot, throw things at each other, yell about how they are going to defeat the other, and so on in a constant cycle of battles and escalating over the most riduculous shit, even if, arguably, Dib does have a point that letting Zim win could hurt the Earth even with the stupidest of schemes. Either way, Dib sure does get hurt a lot in his pursuit of saving the Earth.

Which one of these dumb fights did you get suckered into having to bear witness to? Will there ever be a day where this ongoing cycle ends?

C. The answer to that, dear friends, is yes. And unlike the downright ridiculous fights and sometimes laws of physics and logic getting thrown out the nearest window, the rivalry ends rather simple and brutal. There's no lead up to what caused this particular fight, as if Dib himself no longer remembers what was so different this time. It just starts with Dib, standing over Zim's body, the other bleeding out a bright pink fluid onto the floor of his lab. The little backpack thing that Zim wears has been torn from his back, lying in a mess of broken wires a few feet away.

And Dib stands there with pink blood on his hands, and for a moment, he actually looks confused by this outcome. He attempts to prod Zim's body, call his name... but Zim doesn't answer, and continues to remain lifeless on the floor. Dib looks down at his hands covered in thick pink alien blood, and just... stares, begins talking to himself.

"I... I did it? I actually did it... I actually beat him this time? That's... that's a good thing, so..."

But is it, though? What exactly happens after you've finally defeated your rival anyway?

He glances at the PAK on the floor nearby... and begins to reach out toward it...

Run Rabbit, Run / around the neighborhood and woods

[Once he realizes what the purpose of the Winter Mournings are, and as the month continues, he starts feeling sicker with paranoia. Not just towards others--did they see those memories? Are they afraid of him? Will they hurt him even if they don't know?--but also toward himself. Is he still Dib? Is he now Zim? Is he just a Zib after all, just as his alternate self had called him in that awful void?

So he distances himself. He goes back to staying outside working on his ship, exploring, and gathering supplies for his own needs rather than allowing himself to be in the physical presence of people. But that doesn't curb his paranoia--what if someone tries to attack him while he sleeps? So he builds traps all around his ship in case someone tries to touch or break into it. He keeps his hood up at all times, but prepared to lash out with a PAK leg the second he notices sudden movement. He even steals a couple of knives to keep in his closes just on the off chance someone gets past his PAK's defenses.

He isn't going to let himself be attacked. He refuses to die. He refuses to have things stolen from him.

Not again.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Fern makes an unimpressed noise at that answer. Yeah, he knows science types and how little value they place on sleep, so he doubts that's a good estimation of how much time has passed. Which makes it even worse, honestly - he knows what it's like to be trapped, cut off from the rest of the world, essentially only yourself for company. There are those Zims below, but he knows they don't count.

He reaches up, running a hand through his hair.]

That's really messed up, man. [Of course, probably not as messed up as the thing he's going to ask about next. He doesn't want to, because he knows the answer isn't good, but he can't very well just leave it alone.]

What's with the - [He gestures at Zib's head, indicating the PAK.] - that thing?

Oh, that...

[He touches his PAK with a frown, before he speaks.]

It's called a "PAK"... it's, um, exactly what it sounds like. It functions like a container for a second cybernetic brain that connects to the fleshy one, and contains all knowledge and statistics available to the Irken race. It can also hold various inventions and weapons inside it as well.

[Uh. Well. That's definitely a thing.

Fern just kind of stares a little. He's seen a lot of weird stuff in his life, and he's adding this to the list.]

And it's... stuck to your head? [This is concerning, Zib. Very concerning!!] Do you need help getting it off?

No!

[It's a quick and loud shout, hands going up to his PAK as if guarding it, just in case Fern actually tries to reach out and tear it off. When he realizes how frantic that sounded, he coughs and tries to cover it up.]

I-I mean... I need it. So... don't worry about it. It's fine where it is.

[Uh-huh, sure Zib...]

[That reaction is sharp enough that Fern is tensing up, clenching his hands into fists. He wasn't expecting that, and it's mildly concerning, to say the least.]

Um. [He should let it go he should reeeaaaally make like Elsa and let it go - ]

You sure about that?

Yes. Very sure. I might even die without it if it comes off here.

[Which is... probably a thing that should be avoided? Unless Zib is just being overdramatic here, which could very easily be the case.

He looks like he wants to say something else, but an automated voice suddenly speaks up from his computer.]

"Number #1, our scanners indicate the newly designated Zim Number #100 is now standing outside of your chamber with Number #2."

... Should I be concerned about that?

"It sounds like Number #2 is giving the usual welcome speech about how great and amazing you are, sir."

Ah. Then... keep letting him do that, I guess?

"Understood."

[The voice goes away, before Zib turns to Fern as he sheepishly shrugs.]

The other reason I can't remove it yet is because it helps them think I'm actually one of them as far as their own tech can tell. Among other things I've told them to keep them from thinking about breaking down the door because I'm "working on something to benefit us all and it won't go well if I'm interrupted"...

[Not that they would have a lot of luck breaking down the door anyway, as Fern will see that the door to Zib's room appears to be made of an energy field that will zap anything that touches it. It doesn't look like Zib and Fern can be seen by anyone on the other side either, but if you squint, you can see that it does look like there are two Zims standing close to the door talking. They also have those PAK devices as well like Zib's, albeit theirs are attached to their back instead of to the head.]

[Fern opens his mouth, then closes it. Okay, yeah, the PAK thing doesn't seem great but him dying would be even worse. He nods, not going to push Zib on the subject when it's obviously a serious matter.

He starts at the robotic voice, looking around before focusing on the computer. That's a whole thing, huh? It feels like he's walked into the middle of a big drama without any of the backstory. Zib's explanation helps out a little, at least. It sounds like the kid's gotten into kiiiind of a huge mess and he's making the best of it - namely, he's doing his best to not get utterly mauled to death by a bunch of horrible green aliens. Seems reasonable to him.

Fern takes a few steps towards the door, to get a better look at the Zims, eyeing their paks.]

Yeah? But that's only temporary, right? That excuse isn't gonna last forever.

Probably not, but I just need it to last long enough to finish a plan I'm working on right now that will make this whole thing a lot more bearable. In the meantime...

[He walks over to the fancy throne chair nearby and pulls out something behind it--on close inspection, it appears to be a robotic Zim costume of some kind.]

Once in a while, I'll put this on and make appearances to help keep up the illusion if they insist on meeting with me in person for something. Though, usually Two there is good at keeping the other Zims from bothering too much.

[He says with a thumb jabbed at the door where #2 and #100 are still talking outside the door. If Fern listens in closely, it sounds like #2 is telling #100 about how "Number One" is the greatest Zim of them all (to the point where honestly it sounds like he's describing a god like a cult member would) and that only a few, like Two, is granted permission to meet them after completing some sort of training program that apparently involves a lot of fire that he now directs #100 to go take part in.]

[That's... a tiny bit reassuring? Except the Zim robot costume has Fern looking rather uncertain about all of this. He raises his eyebrows, staring, keeping one ear on the conversation going on outside.

This is sounding a little less like a clever mind and a little more like a cult, and he had more than enough of cults with Deerington and the zealots in Trench.]

... They really believe in you, huh?

Yeah... well, most of them, anyway. There is a group of Zims calling themselves the Resistance that want to steal my stuff for themselves to use for their world domination plans back in their own universes once they find a way to leave this place. This building, however, is heavily guarded with Zims like Two there that are willing to fight them off if they should ever try to cause trouble for me.

[He says with a gesture at the door as Two and One Hundred are finally walking away.]

Thankfully, they usually just hang around in the market area to badmouth me. They've never actually managed to break into the building before now, so I'm not that worried. It's not like they have anyone like me helping them that would be able to plan a way for them to get past my security system.

[... Hey Fern, do you want to take a wild guess of what might happen next in this memory you've been brought into here.]

[All of this sounds very suspicious, and Fern doesn't like how casual Zib is as he explains this. Resistances are big deals, and if there's a good number of these Zims who don't want Zib in power them he's in danger.]

Are you sure you're gonna be safe? What if they find some way to get in here?

Well... even if they manage to get into the building, the laser system I have on my door here can't be removed except from this side of the room we're in, so it should be able to give me enough time to escape if I ever did need to make a run for it? But like I said, it hasn't been an issue in the entire time I've been living here, so I would be shocked if it actually did happen by now...

[But, then he frowns.]

But then, even if I did have to do that... it's not like I have anywhere else to go here. It's not like there's a lot of hiding places in this stupid void, after all. It's why I never leave this room as it's the only place I can really be alone in.

[He's listening to all of this, but at the same time he's starting to look around the room again for air vents or something. He's seen movies, he knows air vents are an impenetrable fortress's downfall!!

More seriously, he glances over at Zib as he talks, sympathetic.]

That must've been really lonely.

[Understatement of the year, but hey, he gets what it's like being trapped in one room for who knows how long by yourself.]

[There are no air vents, surprisingly. The only other immediately noticeable way into this room other than through the door is that balcony over there, but it looks like he has it set up where he can deploy a laser grid across it when he is not interested in using it. There are also appears to be a few guns that look like they would shoot anything that even tried climbing up the walls outside there.

At the statement, Zib blinks in surprise, before he looks away.]

Yeah, it was... but it's fine. There's more important things to be concerned about in this place than worrying about being lonely here...

[His computer chooses that moment to beep somewhere behind him, indicating an incoming message from someone on the lower floors. The words "strange activity noticed outside the building's gates near the Colosseum" is flashing...]

[Fern being Fern makes his way over to one of the guns, examining it and poking at it. Of course he'd be interested in the weaponry, even if he doesn't know a ton about guns.

That answer isn't totally surprising to him. There probably were more important things to worry about, but it's something Fern doesn't want to totally disregard. He knows firsthand just how bad loneliness can hurt someone. He opens his mouth to say as much, but the computer interrupts him.]

Uh, what's that?

[Normally, Zib would be more than happy to show off all the weapons he built to Fern. He is quite proud of them, after all.

But, when Fern directs his attention to the computer, he frowns as he finally takes notice of the flashing message.]

What the... didn't the new recruit just come from there?

[The computer then chimes on with the announcement--]

"It appears that there are intruders breaking in, Number One. They have been identified as members of the Resistance. However, Number 100 appears to be in the process of capturing them with one of your guns from the armory, and has requested to meet with you to discuss what to do with them after."

[Well then!!]

[Welp, this is happening. Fern's jaw drops and he starts looking around again, this time taking in what defenses and weaponry is in the room. Of course, regardless of what he's actually seeing it doesn't feel like enough.

He forms a sword, the weight a comfort in his hand.]

Okay. Okay, this is fine, that's just one Zim that we gotta kill. One Zim with a gun.

Wait, hold on.

[Zib holds up a hand, the antenna on his head flicking back and forth momentarily.]

It sounds like... several footsteps are making their way toward here.

[Sure enough, there's suddenly a very loud argument that comes closer to be heard clearly.]

"100? What happened? How did the Resistance get in here? Why do you have weapons from the Armory?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? I just defeated this entire resistance all by myself! Pretty impressive, since I didn't even know there was a resistance."

"We've been trying to catch them for months..."

"What can I say, I'm just that good. Now, take me to see Number 1!"

[Zib, who has been listening in to this conversation, seems to look between Fern and the door for a second, before coming to a decision.]

Come here for a minute.

[He gestures for Fern to walk with him over to that throne chair set up in the room. Zib snaps his fingers, and suddenly the Zim costume he showed off earlier springs to life to quickly wrap itself around Zib here as he continues.]

Hide behind the chair with your sword. I'm going to open the door, and if it looks like they're about to attack me instead of just talk, then we can drop the act and fight them. Are you on board for that?

[Fern hesitates, but ultimately stops. He glances over at Zib, raising an eyebrow at his... hair? Antennae? Moving. That's weird, that's very weird.

He steps closer, a little reluctant but willing to listen to a plan that isn't just "attack with a sword and hope for the best." Stiffening at the Zim robot costume moving, he really isn't encouraged, but he keeps on going along with this. It's better than nothing, right?]

Okay, yeah. Sure. [He looks over at the chair, then the doorway, and nods before moving to hide.] We got this.

[Zib nods to him, before he takes a seat in his chair here and adopts the most authoritative tone he can to drop the door's laser grid and allow his audience to come in.

A small group proceeds to step into the room: at the front is Zim who gleefully runs up to approach where Zib is sitting. Behind him are what appear to be several other... alternate versions of the same person, albeit with minor differences such as one being shorter, one having their head inside of a fishbowl, and so on that are being marched along at gunpoint by a Zim wearing a purple cloak.

... And at the back, one lone human. A very familiar looking human, as Fern will realize that they look exactly like Zib, albeit with a more normal skin color and a very nervous disposition as Dib is awkwardly look around the room from where they are hiding behind the Zims, trying not to be noticed.

The Zim at the front is excitedly speaking now.]

"Number 1! I have done what no other Zim could do! Apparently, I have captured the leaders of the Resistance! I demand to be acknowledged for the superior Zim I am!"

Yes, excellent work, Number 100. You will be rewarded... uh.

[And then he stops, Zib trailing off as he seems to finally notice Dib in the group. Zib silently glances over at Fern hiding right by him as if to confirm that Fern is in fact seeing the same thing he is here.]

[Glob, this is Ice Finn all over again. Fern watches quietly, trying to push down the weird uncomfortable feelings bubbling up in him. Ice Finn was a mess, being around Finn was a mess, and all these Zims are reminding him of that. He hates alternate universe selves, they're the worst.

His eyes are scanning over the Zims, but they freeze when he reaches Dib. One very normal Dib.

Oh. Geez. So that's what Zib normally looks like. So if this Dib is like, the normal Dib... does that make him like Finn and Zib like himself? That thought occurs to him before he can stop it, and a sense of worry takes over. This isn't good. This really, really isn't good.

He eventually catches Zib's gaze, his brows knitted together with concern. Yeah, that isn't some kind of weird hologram. That's a Dib.]

[Good, so he's not just seeing things. And the longer he looks at his human counterpart, the more Zib starts to remember how familiar this whole scenario is. He can recall this all happening before, and how he had lost his composure last time when he had realized that that Dib was here, ended up exposing himself in front of the rest of the Zims in his eagerness to get Dib onto his side.

But with Fern here, he forces himself to stay calm and approach the situation a little more rationally this time. Albeit, he has been quiet for too long and the Zims are already starting to be suspicious.]

"Uh, hello? You were saying about a reward?"

Ah... yes, yes, we should discuss it. For now though, you should take the Resistance to the holding cells--except for that one. I want an explanation for what he's doing here.

"Which one? The baby one of me, or--"

No, the Dib obviously.

[He points to Dib, who flinches and leans away awkwardly even as the other Zims very quickly push him forward to take the heat, clearly assuming that he's the one who may face the bigger punishment for being here.]

"You know, I was really asking myself that same question. So how about I see myself out and--"

No. You're staying here. Two and 100, escort the other prisoners to the cells and then return here, would you? We need to discuss what to do with this one in comparison to the others.

[The Zim in the purple cloak nods, before shooing the other Zims away by threatening them with their gun and out of the room. The Zim called 100, however, lingers, refusing to leave.]

"What are you planning on doing with him? He is MY Dib after all, so I think I should see fit to what happens to the one that showed up here with me, you know."

Is he more important than your reward?

"No, but I refuse to just leave my rival with some other Zim. No offense, oh so grand leader."

... Fine. If you insist.

[Because Zib is pressing a button to lock down the room again. Now there will be only one Zim to deal with, as Zib whispers to Fern.]

Hey... can you promise me something? Whatever happens next... you'll still be on my side. No matter what the other me decides to say or do in comparison to me here.

[Well, that's... quite the request he's suddenly making.]

[This is an awful, escalating situation. That there's another Dib here - one who looks perfectly normal, one without a PAK attached to his head - is making warning bells go off in Fern's head. This can't end well, alternate selves meeting each other never, ever goes well.

Things seem uneasy with all the Zims, too. He isn't sure what to expect from them, but he's prepared for the worst from what little he knows. It's almost a relief when they're actually willing to leave.

He doesn't even realize how tense he's gotten until Zib starts whispering. He starts, then glances up at Zib, and nods firmly.]

'Course I will be. It doesn't matter what that other Dib does or says, you're the one I'm friends with.

[And for him friendship is loyalty.]

Really?

[Zib actually sounds mildly shocked at that. Then again, it's fair to say that Zib has probably never had anyone acknowledge being friends with him before like this or stand up for him in any way. Either way, it gets a small smile out of him, happy to hear that, before he finally turns his attention proper to Dib and Zim, the latter of whom is tapping their foot in irritation.]

"Are you done mumbling to yourself over there? It's giving me the creeps."

"I loathe to agree with Zim, of all people, but yeah, what's your deal? Why did you want me here for this? I'm not one of you guys."

I wouldn't be too sure of that if I were you, Dib.

[And thus, Zib drops his disguise, allowing the robotic Zim costume to clatter to the floor. Zim immediately recoils back with a loud screech of disgust, while Dib is just sort of looking between Zim, and then Zib.]

"You're... you're a Dib? But you look like Zim..."

"As if! He's an even grosser looking you, and I didn't even think that was possible."

[Zim is looking very stabby, clearly unhappy about being tricked, but Dib actually suddenly runs up real close to Zib to get a very close look at him.]

"I don't understand... what HAPPENED to you?"

[Zib, mindful of the fact that Fern is right behind him listening, realizes he is probably going to have to be a little more honest than he has been if he wants to get Dib to not potentially attack him here... well. Only a smidge more honest. He doesn't want Fern to think too badly of him here, after all.

So he starts telling his other self here about how he had defeated the Zim in his universe, and then found out how to reverse engineer Zim's weapons to wipe out Zim's species from his own timeline, via equipping that PAK on the back of his head. And so on explaining his goal to save other timelines of Earth that still have to deal with Zim, which explains why all these Zims are here and why Zib had seemed rather confident earlier that he was going to be fine, especially if he is apparently capable of using his PAK to reprogram some of the Zims like Two to obey him. (Albeit, without having Two in the room this time to demonstrate like he had last time, since Two has left the room already.)

He does end up accidentally insulting his other half though by pointing out that this Dib is rather soft by comparison, the same words he had said the first time they met, and mentally he curses himself for the slip-up. But so far it seems that he's managing to convince the other Dib to get on his side here rather than running off or attacking him... the same of which can't be said for Zim, who is looking more and more disgusted by the minute, which finally explodes after a certain point--]

"Excuse me!? How dare you mock the greatness of Zim!? Stealing our technology, talking as if you can destroy my entire species--I won't allow you to say another word you imposter, you--you disgusting ZIB!"

[It's here that Zib realizes he made a slight miscalculation--because he had sent Two out of the room along with the Resistance ahead of time, that means Two is not here like he was last time where he could have held this Zim at gunpoint to keep him from attacking.

But because Two isn't here, Zim has a PAK cable suddenly shooting out of his back to try to grab Zib by the throat to get him to stop talking. Possibly even choke him out if he squeezes it hard enough, so that's... not good.]

Edited 2022-02-18 22:13 (UTC)

[Fern knows what that kind of disbelief is like, and if they had more time he'd stubbornly dig himself in and explain to Zib the whole concept of being a weirdo alternate self fuck-up who can still have people who care about you, but for now they're going to have to settle for him giving the other boy a reassuring grin before focusing on Dib and Zim.

It goes without saying he's absolutely prepared to jump out and start stabbing (or punching, because he probably shouldn't murder Dib) if this goes south. He does feel slightly stabbier when he hears Zim's insult, but he holds himself back. Don't jump straight into using his swords, they've got a plan (sort of), he shouldn't ruin it just because he's getting more than a little bloodthirsty....

(The head thing is weird. Now that it's been said out loud he does kind of quietly think Dib and Zib have... slightly normal-than-large heads? For humans, that is. Not that he'll ever say that out loud, since it seems to be a sore spot for him. Them.)

It all seems to be going pretty good, at any rate, insults notwithstanding. Fern actually thinks they might have this in the bag, right up until Zim's anger gets pushed over the edge. He recognizes that kind of anger, so it isn't surprising to see the alien attack, and when he does Fern moves to whip an arm out as a vine to intercept the PAK cable.

But he hesitates for a split second, unsure if these memory-versions seeing him might break something in Zib. That's the last thing he wants, though he quickly realizes he has a way of mitigating this, and another second later another metallic PAK cable is whipping out to intercept Zim's cable.

Then another Zim, specifically one that resembles Two, jumps out from his hiding space.

Oh Glob what would a weird virused alien say???]

No one shall touch Dib!

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