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staysaneathome · 4 months

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Okay so because this won’t leave my brain, have a weird, tentative, not-quite canonical in any sense timeline:

Bad end of Wolf 359. Pryce and Cutter get the Dear Listeners’ cloning technology and secure the way for humanity’s domination amongst the stars

In response, Goddard Futuristics pulls funding for Dr. John Geistman’s cryotechnology development. After all, who needs to worry about the future of humanity if you’ve guaranteed your corporate survival? Sure, you’ll bring a few of them along as “citizen-employees”, but there’s new markets to conquer among the stars! Forget the sad kiwi, it’s time to diversify services!

And then Dr. John Geistman goes and develops inexplicable necromantic abilities. Hm.

Pryce and Cutter try to have him arrested, secreted away to the states, but the man makes a flesh fortress out of cows, of all things! And then is recruited by the U.S. government to have the sitting president reanimated after the president’s “accident”!

But Pryce and Cutter have excellent PR people, and you can’t survive the cold recesses of space if you can’t adapt! It turns out their corporate “rivals” have the same idea: the weird necromancer can say what he wants about “saving the Earth”, but it turns out that no one really wants to listen after being reminded of what he did to those cows! And those policemen. And the cult he’s steadily amassing.

All told, it’s easier than it feels like it should be to escape the rapidly failing Earth with all of Goddard Futuristic’s vital employees, plus a few lucky relevant non-employee participants (Dr. Geistman has some cousins that Pryce is most interested in seeing if she can awaken any latent wizardry in, see if their children can inherit anything—Warren Kepler is her reluctant lab rat in this). Really, blasting off to space with all the other multitrillionaires is almost boringly simple!

Dr. John Geistman somehow killing the entire planet, ascending to godhood, and destroying every other planet in his way to stop them escaping in an act of spiteful vengeance is the only interesting part of the whole ordeal! And sure one of the twelve ships gets slightly damaged and can’t make it the whole journey.

But Pryce and Cutter have decades of experience in cheating death. This academic can’t even make them break a sweat.

(The unfortunate denizens of this twelfth vessel attempt to soldier on and create civilization anew on the planets they do reach. When the Empire of the Necrolord Prime, the renamed John Gaius, retaliates by killing these planets, they get a bit testy. The descendants of the survivors form the rebellion group the Blood of Eden.)

The eleven ships set up shop several hundred galaxies away. This becomes the Corporation Rim, which warns its inhabitants to not expand too far for fear of “alien” (really necromantic human) remnants.

Goddard Futuristics, with the help of the Dear Listeners’ cloning technology and Pryce’s advances in AI, rebrand as Stellar Firma Ltd. and begin making and selling planets. Pryce and Cutter remain the shadow-rulers behind the all-powerful Board.

Their business rivals on the other six ships set up their own corporations, beginning to set up colonies for mining and contractually -obligated labor. Some of those colonies get lost in the violent in-fighting between these lesser controlled companies which constantly devolve and are reborn anew. Those abandoned colonies form their own governments and societies opposed to those of the Corporation Rim. These are much more successful, and even propagate higher learning and better infrastructure.

In order to keep up with the competition over this new source of income and potential exploitation, the Corporation Rim kickstarts the development of Security Units within their companies, with inbuilt monitoring to data mine their new clients.

Pryce and Cutter meet an untimely end when they take a party barge to the Pleasure Moon of Quixotic, along with the rest of the Board and their families. Stellar Firma, deprived of the overlords that have guided its course since the twenty first century, is thrown into chaos.

I.M.O.G.E.N., Pryce’s magnum opus, becomes the supercomputer behind Stellar Firma’s operation in constant conflict with Internal Standards. She is in charge of using the Dear Listeners’ technology to combine DNA that’s proven to be receptive to the obedience protocol (Donors include R. Min., D. Jac., D. Eif., and A. Max.) to create clone assistants to design and sales consultants. One of these clones proves to be resistant to this gene. She decides to roll with it.

Years later, a Secunit that managed to hack its governor protocol follows a young human that an Asshole Research Transport AI feels very protective over into a coffee shop run by a clone and one of the most powerful administrative AIs to escape the Corporation Rim…

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beepochi · 1 year

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many thoughts head overflowing but Liam going to spend the holiday with his dad and his dad's partner (they drink milk tea together and vibe)

eheh yea this is p much canon. liam genuinely loves jian once theyre finally introduced n vice versa😌 (one thing james actually facilitated well)

think ive only ever written one drabble thing w jian n liam interacting (even tho also hv many thoughts) but dont reckon itll ever see the light of day? so just gonna stick it down below for fun >:) its uhh set after james n jian break up🕺

It’s pouring outside the bar and Jian just stands on the footpath, feeling too cold and too hot. He also feels like he’s about to cry and briefly considers calling someone. Desmond or Marcus. No, not Marcus. Nor Desmond, actually. He swallows and starts walking, the rain hitting his shoulders. He loves them both. But they can be stifling. Their worry; concern; care for him. So earnest and real. He finds it overwhelming and he’s not sure he could face it tonight.

He starts feeling properly cold after he’s walked about a block. He’s soaked now and regrets wearing just the one layer; a thin white shirt. He wipes a forearm across his face and hopes he doesn’t get sick. Sniffing, and still feeling on the verge of tears for no apparent reason, he looks around. He recognises these buildings, he knows where he is. James lives nearby.

Jian swallows and his eyes actually well up for a moment. He blinks rapidly and blames it on the rain. He crosses the street.

On any other night, he’d go home. On any other night, he’d text first. On any other night, he’d stop and think. But tonight is not any other night and he’s not sure what he’s doing.

He doesn’t even need to think about the route; his feet just naturally take him to the classy apartment building.

It’s only when he’s rung the doorbell that Jian starts feeling sick. What if he tells Jian to go away; what if he’s found himself someone new; what if said someone new answers the door?

The door opens. Jian blinks and looks down.

“Liam.” he says, surprised. Liam’s face goes from confused to delighted in a matter of seconds. “Jian!” Jian swallows and desperately tries to think of an excuse, of a reason he suddenly has to leave again, of some reason for Liam to pretend he never saw him, of- “Jian.” a lower, less delighted voice sounds. Jian shifts his gaze upwards again. James stands behind Liam, a vegetable knife in his right hand. He’s in a white dress shirt and navy slacks; the dress shirt is pushed up to his elbows with the first two buttons undone. He looks gorgeous. Jian doesn’t have any words for him. James’s face shifts to a frown as he runs his eyes over Jian. “You’re soaked.” Jian swallows and looks down. He’s made a wet patch on the flooring outside. “I-” “-come in.” James tells him, putting his left hand on Liam’s shoulder as they both step back. Jian’s stomach turns. Nonetheless, he bends down to pull off his shoes before stepping inside and letting the door close behind him. He places his shoes beside the various other pairs, then has nothing to do with his hands. Liam moves in for a hug and Jian doesn’t mean to sidestep. Liam pulls back and pouts. “You don’t like me anymore?” Jian swallows, eyes flicking up to James’s before he answers. “Course I still like you.” He says. “But ‘m all wet. Don’t want you gettin’ sick.” Liam nods slowly and James’s free hand falls to ruffle his hair. “Go lay the table bud.” he says gently. “For Jian too.” Jian opens his mouth to refuse when James cuts him off with a look. Liam gives his dad a corny little salute before running to the kitchen. Jian clicks his thumb joint and feels his stomach twist. “‘M sorry, I-” “-it’s fine. You need to change, c’mon.” James turns and starts after his son. Jian watches him for a second, feeling god-awful, before he bites his cheek, peels off his wet socks and follows.

After a brief stop in the kitchen to deposit the knife, James leads them to the bedroom. Jian hovers awkwardly by the bed as James goes through his wardrobe. Jian is fascinated by how somewhere that used to be his home now feels so foreign. He bites his lip. “James, I didn’t- ‘f I’d known Liam was here I wouldn’t’ve-” “-it’s okay.” James cuts him off calmly, turning away from the wardrobe with a pair of grey sweats and a black shirt. Jian feels his eyes go hot and prickly and he scowls. “It’s not— ‘m sorry. I didn’t mean— t’ come. I-” “-Jian.” James hands him the clothes and catches Jian’s eye. “It’s okay. I mean it. Let me get you a towel.” Jian numbly accepts the clothes as James moves to the ensuite. He drops his gaze to them and they feel so soft. He puts them on the bed.

James returns and comes far too close in order to drop the towel over Jian’s head. He then starts to dry Jian’s hair. His jaw is set, Jian notices, yet not quite in anger. “You look nice.” James tells him after a heavy silence. His eyes are on his hands as he continues to move the towel against Jian’s hair. Jian’s throat clicks as he swallows. “Night out?” James pushes and Jian feels nauseous. “I—” he starts and wishes he could read James’s face, his tone, anything. “-went to a bar.” James’s hands finish and he nods, stepping back. “With friends?” Jian doesn’t know why he’s asking this of all things. He pulls the towel off his head and drops it on the bed. “No.” He mutters, stripping off his shirt and retrieving the towel to rub roughly over his arms and torso. “By yourself.” James says and he folds his arms over his chest. Jian focuses on pulling on the black shirt. It’s too big for him, obviously, and smells of James. “Are you okay?” James asks after Jian stays silent. Jian moves his hands to the waistband of his trousers. He’s not sure how to answer and undoes his fly button and then his fly. James lets out a very light sigh. “Are your boxers wet too?” He asks. “Do you want to borrow some?” “S’fine.” Jian peels off his trousers. James hums as he nods. Jian wishes he would look away as he moves his hands to the waistband of his pants. “Which bar?” James asks. Jian sets his jaw. The shirt is big enough that it covers everything so he pushes his boxers down quickly and doesn’t bother drying before he tugs on James’s sweats. “The Bridge.” Jian mutters and he watches James’s eyebrow twitch. “Why that one?” Jian bites the inside of his cheek and breaks eye contact. He pulls the drawstring of the sweats tight. “Thought it was what I wanted.” James is quiet. Jian has trouble making a knot. “But?” James prods. Jian scowls as his fingers fumble and he has to start again. “But nothin’. Some creep tried t’—” He fucks up a simple knot once again and cusses. James steps closer and knocks his hands away. “Tried to what?” He asks, making quick work of tying the drawstring but not moving back when he’s done. Jian refuses to lift his eyes from the waistband of the sweatpants. James’s hands come to rest at his waist. So light, Jian can’t even feel them. “Nothin’.” He says. “He was just horny. I wasn’t bein’ clear.” The hands get a little tighter. And then, finally, the question Jian had been waiting for: “And you came here. Why?” Jian can feel the warmth of James’s body, he can smell his shampoo, his cologne. He looks at James’s socked feet and his chest aches. Wetness returns to his eyes and he glowers. “Why d’you think?” There’s a small breath from James. “I can’t read your mind, Jian. You need to tell me.” Jian takes his bottom lip into his mouth and realises James’s socks are mismatched. One is navy, the other is black. He sniffs wetly and he didn’t mean it to be such a loud noise. “Needed t’ see you.” He manages. James is quiet. Jian regrets his phrasing. And then there are soft lips pressing against his forehead. “Okay.” James murmurs, pulling back. His hands travel up to cup Jian’s face and he makes it unavoidable to meet his eyes. Jian’s vision is blurry and he blinks. A tear slips out and he clenches his jaw. James’s thumb brushes it away. “I really didn’t-” His voice is tight and he doesn’t know what he’s even saying. “-‘m sorry.” James just watches him, eyes critical. Jian bites his lip as his eyes overflow again. “I know ‘m not- it- but I couldn’t—” James cuts him off with a kiss.

Jian, of course, hadn’t expected a kiss. And if he did, he might expect a soft, tender one. This one, however, is firm and hot and demanding. James’s hands tighten where they cup Jian’s face, giving him nowhere to go. There is tongue and teeth and Jian’s mind is hazy as he just lets James take.

When James finally pulls back, it’s only enough to let them both breathe. “Stay the night.” He says, nose brushing Jian’s. Jian should say no. “Okay.” James presses another kiss against his lips. “Liam’ll be happy.” He says, stepping back. “Put your clothes in the laundry, I’ll wash them tomorrow.” Jian nods and picks up his soaked clothes.

James goes back to the kitchen and Jian watches him continue chopping vegetables. He feels awkward and is about to offer to help when there’s a light tug on his shirt. “Jian, I did your ones the right way round, look.” Liam pulls him along to the sleek dining table and shows Jian where he’s set Jian’s plate. Jian nods, confused, but gives Liam a small smile anyway. “Fork on left, knife on right.” he explains proudly. Jian blinks and looks back to the table. He notices his place is the only one set this way and can’t help laughing, ever so quietly. “You got it wrong man.” He says softly and switches the knife and fork around. “Knife ’n the left.” Liam groans. “I knew it.” He grumbles and moves to fix his and James’s. When he’s done he looks back to Jian. “Does this mean you’re coming back?” He asks, eyes bright and hopeful. Jian’s stomach drops. He doesn’t know how to respond. “Dad said you didn’t love him anymore.” Liam obliviously continues and Jian thinks he might vomit. His eyes flick over to where James tenses in the kitchen. “But that’s not true.” Liam tells him. Jian really doesn’t want to start crying again, definitely not in front of a child. He clears his throat, trying to get rid of the lump there. “Yeah. S’not true.” He agrees quietly. Liam smiles and Jian notices a missing tooth, one of his top canines. It’s very cute. He points halfheartedly, “When’d that happen?” Liam’s face - impossibly - brightens. “Two days ago!” He says, sticking fingers into his mouth as if to better show Jian. Jian snorts and gently tugs the hand down. “Very cool.” “This one’s loose too!” Liam pushes his tongue against one of his bottom canines and Jian nearly cringes as he watches it wiggle. “Careful.” he mutters, not feeling particularly keen on watching it be pushed from Liam’s gum. Liam rolls his eyes. “Doesn’t hurt.” Jian snorts again. “So brave.” Liam laughs and then he’s taking Jian’s hand and pulling him to his bedroom.

He sits Jian on the bed before telling him to stay and carefully moving a big Lego structure to the middle of his floor. “It’s a spaceship.” he starts, adjusting the toy dinosaur seemingly just plonked on top. “And a hair dresser’s.” Jian laughs and slips off the bed in order to have a better look.

Liam happily guides him through, pointing out all the little secrets and quirks. Jian thinks it’s actually quite impressive and tells him so. Liam accepts the praise as if he already knows and Jian’s chest pangs with affection, listening to Liam start on the dinosaur’s backstory.

They’re up to the bit where the dinosaur is wanted in seven states when James’s voice cuts through. “Dinner’s ready boys.” Jian looks up. James is leant on the doorframe, expression unplaceable. “Yus!!” Liam shoots up and races out of his room. “Wash your hands!” James calls idly after him. There’s an ambiguous yell in reply. Jian stands and steps carefully around Liam’s spaceship. “Did you make?” He asks. James pushes off the doorframe. “Pasta.”

Liam’s plate is already full when he and James join him. Piled high with pasta and one leaf of salad. Jian snorts to himself as he sits beside Liam. “Leave some salad f’r us, huh?” Liam ignores him, shovelling a forkful of pasta into his tiny mouth. “‘Lwedy ate slad jus’-” He swallows. “you guys didn’t see me eat it.” Jian laughs. James doesn’t. “Liam, manners please.” Liam pouts, but sits up straighter nonetheless. James looks to Jian. “Help yourself.” Jian nods and puts only a little bit on his plate. He doesn’t feel hungry. James watches with a moderate expression but doesn’t comment, helping himself once Jian is done.

It’s quiet for the first minute. A weird tenseness hangs in the air. Jian swallows his mouthful, stabbing a piece of cucumber with his fork. “What’re you doin’ at school Liam?” He asks because the silence is making him more and more anxious. Liam, much to his father’s approval, chews and swallows before answering. “Doing a project on the Nile.” “Yeah?” Jian pushes because if he can just get Liam to start… “Yeah!” Liam grins and Jian feels a flood of relief. “And it’s also- I’m working with Amelia who’s my best friend! And we have to- it’s really cool!” He pauses to have another mouthful before excitedly continuing. “We’re making a cardboard copy of the Nile. To scale! And-” Jian lets out a helpless laugh and even James, who seems so restrained and distracted, snorts quietly. “-y’mean not t’ scale, yeah?” Jian gently interjects. Liam’s cheeks tinge red and he lets out a bashful laugh. “Right, right. It’d be massive otherwise! Oh, right! It’s the Nile from ancient Egypt. Forgot that bit. That’s the main bit.” Jian smiles and nods, picking through his food. “So we’re making a cardboard copy, not to scale, and then we’re also making some games from ancient Egypt and it’s so much fun!” he quickly munches down another forkful. “Jian, did you know the ancient Egyptians invented toothpaste?” Jian did not. “No.” He says. “That’s awesome.” Liam nods. “Yeah! And locks too!”

Thus, over the course of the meal, Jian learns all kinds of trivia about ancient Egypt. Interesting facts he will no doubt forget by tomorrow. After everyone’s finished, James tells Liam to load the dishwasher and he goes to the bathroom. Jian feels useless as Liam does his chores, so helps out by wiping the dining table and kitchen down. Liam tells him he doesn’t need to and soon enough shoos Jian out of the kitchen to ‘relax.’

Jian sits on the sofa and does not relax. He spots the blue highlighter stain he’d accidentally marked on the couch last year and idly rubs at it. He’s surprised James hasn’t cleaned it off properly. He then looks at the blank TV before standing and moving to the window. He shifts the curtain and peeks out at the cityscape. It’s pretty.

He goes onto the balcony and leans on the railing. It’s cold but he likes it. Gives him something to feel other than sad. He doesn’t even know if it’s sadness. Maybe it’s more like disconnect. Uncertainty and confusion, too.

He hears the door slide open then shut behind him and his chest twinges for no reason. A hand slips around his waist as James comes to stand next to him. “What’s going on?” he asks, soft. Jian goes straight back to on the verge of tears. He swallows and starts scratching at the railing. “Nothin’.” James makes a noise of disagreement. “You want anything? Beer?” “Tea.” Jian says. James lets out a breath of laughter. “I only have earl grey, that alright?” Jian wrinkles his nose and straightens up. “Hot chocolate.” James’s hand rubs up and down his back. “Okay.” The hand drops as he turns to go back inside. “Don't stay out here, it’s too cold.” So Jian follows him in.

He drops next to Liam on the sofa and squints at the TV. He’s watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Jian keeps his distaste to himself and instead drops a hand over Liam’s shoulder and shuffles so they’re both comfy.

James makes them each a hot chocolate and has a glass of wine for himself. He sits beside Jian on the couch but doesn’t touch him and Jian isn’t sure if he’s happy or sad for the fact.

They watch one more episode before James tells Liam to go to bed. Reluctantly, Liam does so. But before he goes, he makes Jian promise to be here tomorrow. Jian’s stomach knots as he does.

The atmosphere immediately changes when James comes back from tucking Liam in and Jian tries to ignore it. He bites his thumb nail as James drops beside him, watching him go back to the Netflix homepage. “Anything you wanna watch?” he asks, absently scrolling through the many options. Jian drops his hand from his mouth. “No.” James pauses on some crime show before scrolling on. “Movie or TV?” “TV.” Jian mutters, not sure what to do now he’s not chewing his nails. James moves to the TV shows page. Jian sees he’s been watching Queer Eye (though he’d not apparently managed to finish his episode) and Abstract. He can’t think of anything further from what he feels like than Queer Eye. The trailer for some psychological crime drama starts playing. A woman stabs a man on a beach. “Light or heavy?” James asks, frowning at the trailer. “I don’t—” Jian starts before worrying indecisiveness will annoy James. “-let’s just watch…” He hurriedly scans the screen for something. “Tintin.” James glances at him. His lips twitch as he looks away. “Okay.”

Jian does actually like Tintin, but he doesn’t think James is enjoying it. That starts making him antsy. He keeps glancing from the screen to James’s deadpan face. He chews his lip and wonders if it would annoy James more to continue watching a kid’s show or to start the search for something to watch all over again. “Relax.” James finally says and there is an edge of annoyance in his tone. Jian’s gut sinks and he bites the inside of his cheek, glancing over. James side-eyes him. “You’re being very loud.” He says. Jian scowls. “Didn’t say ‘nythin’.” James sighs and runs a hand over his face. “You didn’t need to.” He looks at Jian for a while, then fixes his eyes back on the screen. Jian had assumed there was more to come but apparently there’s not. He swallows audibly and shifts, tucking his legs underneath himself and leaning subtly away from James.

A few minutes pass in which Jian quietly watches the TV. But he’s just getting more and more edgy. Finally, he puts his feet down on the plush carpet. “I should go.” He mutters as Tintin and Snowy board a boat. James looks over at him. His eyebrows are raised, not in surprise, not in worry, but in something almost like flat disapproval. “What about Liam?” He asks, returning his gaze to the TV. Jian hates the disinterested air he’s putting on and clicks his thumb joint again. “Shouldn’t’ve even come.” James doesn’t reply to that and Jian feels a rush of frustration. “What about you?” he asks and he sounds immature. A muscle in James’s jaw jumps. “What about me?” He keeps his eyes trained on the TV. Jian swallows. “Don’t you want me t’ leave?” James lets out a dry breath of laughter and looks back at him. “Clearly, baby. That’s why I asked you to stay.” Jian hates when James is sarcastic. It always makes him feel stupid and small. “Doesn’t seem like you want me here.” Jian tells him and he hopes to god he doesn’t start fucking crying again. James sets his jaw before he answers. “I don’t know why you’re here.” He says and his tone now has a slightly softer edge. “I’m trying to give you space.” The lump in Jian’s throat aches. “I don’t want space.” He says, very quietly. James watches him. “What do you want?” God fucking knows. Jian wants to go home, he wants to stay. He wants to talk things through, he never wants to speak again. He wants James to touch him.

Slowly, so James can tell him to fuck off if he wants to, Jian moves. He moves to sit on James’s lap, thighs either side of him. James’s hands naturally come to rest on his hips and Jian isn’t sure where to put his. He settles for James’s shoulders. James continues to watch him. “This is what you want?” He asks. Jian isn’t entirely sure. He nods. James is still for a moment more before one hand comes up behind Jian’s neck and tugs him down.

#sorry its in present tense lmao couldnt be bothered changing #also bear in mind havent rly touched it since at least a year ago #OH marcus is uhhh future bf in one timeline lmao still havent decided how things turn out long-long longterm #also also 'i did yours the right way round' uhh its never come up but jians ambidextrous w left hand dominance fun fact #n just realised jian apparently goes looking for casual sex at a bar BEFORE dinnertime? ignore that lmao #ask #drabble #grow as we go

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