mc-adarsh

[mc-adarsh]

ZODIAC BINGO! templ

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh hummed in reply, not in agreement nor in disagreement more in eagerness to forget about that specific detail. The downside of his ability was that it wasn't useful for attacking or defending, he was the healer, so he needed others to come to his defence. Even more maddening given most of those were incredibly good-looking.

He frowned when Tej typed in the code. The same key crashing down five times and the screen flashing a warning that the passcode was incorrect. He supposed trying every combination imaginable would take weeks, if not months. Was Tej the type to be convinced to do that? No... he seemed far too independent to get himself stuck with such a simplistic grueling task.

And Adarsh seemed all against stereo-types, he needed to find someone not-Indian to do the computer work.

He nodded, his expression remained grave. "I saw that room," he said. "I wonder if it was specifically build for us, or used by those unfortunate fellows in the mass grave," he commented. "I didn't think to look for cameras, but since the island is full of them, they're probably plenty in the room as well."

And the outcome would all be on these servers.

But if the mass grave was to be believed, the people with the answers were dead.

Or were they?

Adarsh’s hair stood on end as Tej brought his attention to the heavy footfall below them. He too didn’t recognize the person they belonged to, his eyes narrowing. “They’re acting very suspicious,” he said, as his hands formed knuckles, watching the stranger’s every move. He could get them, easily, they didn’t look like they could handle themself in a fight. 

“I’ll get some answers out of them,” he said in a low growl and shot away from the railing and moved quickly but silently down the stairs towards his target.

The stranger could not so much as utter a cry before Adarsh tackled them to the floor and brought down a fist on their head, hoping to knock them out.

Dark brows told the tale of just how confused Tej was by Adarsh's remark. Shot at anyone? Huh? Safe to be there? Well, that was simply annoying. Adarsh cleared everything up quick: the hornets, that day they were ambushed at the Hub. Adarsh used physical tactics to combat the robo-bugs, and Tej trusted in an ability he knew little about.

"I saved your ass that day, hm." A tilt of the head as he drawled, "Safe, yeah. Won't touch a hair on that pretty head of yours." Poking the, er, bear wasn't wise, and yet Tej didn't see the fault in what he said. (Without Zaid around, perhaps a squabble with another brown guy would suffice.)

However, the tower lent more to focus on than testing Adarsh's already short fuse. Tej picked up Adarsh's joke and gently banged a fist on the number pad of a keyboard 5 times. "Damn, that doesn't work either."

Experiments. A haunting idea. The push of a foot to slowly swivel in the chair came to a halt. His voice lowered. "See the room and the bed yet? Like a bed in the medicentre but with like, restraints on it. Didn't figure it was for a little light bondage." Who'd been there before them, who had to endure it? (Who was next?)

Almost on cue, a door shut somewhere below them. Heavy footsteps tracked across the floor. Tej left his seat to look over the railing, near enough to catch a glimpse but far enough away to stay hidden.

After a moment, he whispered. "Maybe we can ask this one." Tej motioned for Adarsh to join him. "Looks smart." Based purely on the wire-rimmed glasses the person downstairs wore. "Like they'd know what's going on up in here." A pause. "Funny, I. Who is that, do you recognize them?" Tej squinted again, voice still in a hush. "I've never seen them before, have you?"

[mc-adarsh]

He smiled. It wasn’t judgy exactly when Darcy said it, but he found that: yes, he would do that. He wanted to figure out his own limitations as well. Was he good at this? Could he save people from the brink of death? Probably a good idea to not tell Darcy about Florida man. “I’ll do that,” he said. “If you promise me you’ll try not to get hurt. Nothing bad at least.”

Once again her conviction and confidence convinced him. Though it was also his belief, there had to be an end goal in mind. He just feared it would get worse and worse before they even got here. Perhaps people had to be taken out, had to be eliminated, like they already had been. He was planning on making it through as far as possible, to the very end. So he could find out if his amnesia was his own fault or that of some scientist. If he’d agreed to this, or if this had been done to him. “There has to be,” he agreed. “Would be nice if we can clear this level quickly.” 

He nodded in agreement. She did have a basis for it, and she could be bossy all she wanted within the scope of her knowledge, but he wasn’t going to like it. Okay, maybe he did like it a bit, but he’d never admit that. The raised eyebrow was met with a slight grin. “I don’t like most people,” he said. “I can count the people I do like on a single hand.” And even among those he had some doubts. “I respect her… I think.” Or at least her knowledge. Maybe not her as a person… no, he definitely respected her. They barely differed ten years, yet Adarsh could not help thinking of Akhila as an auntie. 

“For my reputation,” he corrected himself. It was for himself, of course he healed people and it would be nice for them too, but they all were a means to an end. 

He frowned, then bit his bottom lip when she asked him not to get pissed off - see this was how people saw him. This was why it was so hard. This was why he needed his healing ability. Of course it wouldn’t magically change his personality, but it gave him a way to prove himself useful. It might even help people to look beyond it. 

“No, because I like you,” he noted. But of course he understood what she was trying to say, maybe it did piss him off a little. However, since it was coming from Darcy, he kept himself from sneering. “I am… trying. And you’re right, I don’t like it. Also I have never punched anyone right out of the gate,” he corrected. He had yelled at people, so he couldn’t deny that.

He swallowed. “And then there is the fact that people already have an opinion. I want to change it, but when they express it, that’s when I get angry.” And most of them were also idiots. 

“You’re the first one I’ve told,” he admitted. “I haven’t really found the need to speak about these secrets to anyone. Mine is probably about my past as well, and I don’t think I’d even recognise it’s about me. Unless it says I punched a lot of people, that I can believe.” He gritted his teeth. “What’s yours?” 

"Can't really blame her for it, those hornets were terrifying." It was the kind of catch-22 effect on Adarsh's powers - he needed more practice to get better, to figure out his powers better and know how they worked, but the only way he could actually practice was the one thing nobody actually wanted. "Next time we get attacked and people get hurt, try to pay attention to how you're doing things, what kind of wounds you heal. The more we know, the better, really."

Darcy nodded lightly. "I do believe there is an ending in sight, we are just not aware of it currenlty. It was probably all there, told to us when we signed up, it's was all just taken away and now we gotta actually figure it all out for ourselves. But there is no way there isn't an end in sight for all of this." She sounded as convicted and certain of her words as if she was talking about something so simple as the sky being blue or the sun always rising in the morning.

Darcy couldn't help the small chuckle. "Yeah, not going to even try to deny that she's bossy, but in a way I don't mind. She has basis for it and has the best intentions of everyone. She can be bossy all she wants, as far as I am concerned." And okay, maybe she was into it a little bit, she couldn't help but think, but she pushed the thoughts and that one time away from her mind. That was really not something to think about now. "But yeah, I get along well with Akhila, I respect her immensely, and everything she tries to do for all of us." A raised eyebrow. "Do you not like her?"

She tilted her head, confusion written all over her face, trying to wrap her head around the words Adarsh just said. Doing the healing for himself. "How can you heal people for yourself? That just doesn't make sense to me."

What he said after made it maybe a bit more clear what he meant before, but still, Darcy just could not understand Adarsh sometimes. "Okay, I'm going to ask you something and I need you to not get pissed off about it, but-- you are not like that with me. You were at the beginning when we met, but not for most of the time we've known each other. And as much as I believe I am great and right and all that, I doubt it's my stellar personality solely the reason for it. Be with others like you are with me and they will see the difference.

"Not to mention, you make it clear that you don't like that you are figuring out that you're selfish or easily frustrated and angerable. The latter two is harder to control, I am aware of that, but why not just try to be different? It's not easy to override instinct, trust me I know, but if you don't like who you think you were before, you could just try to change it. Be nice to others, don't yell at them, don't punch people right out of the gate."

She frowned, listening to the secret Adarsh got. "As far as I know, it's a person who is influential in their field, but that just-- That just sounds weird. Spotting? Forced retirement? Illuminaty? All of it together makes absolutely no sense." She looked up at him. "And I'm guessing nobody raised their hand that it's about them, right?"

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh had had zero interest in the tower beyond stating its presence to any newcomers and looking at it from afar. It was a huge disappointment of course that so dar he hadn’t heard of any scientist found within it. He really wanted to punch one of them.

And then there was the info of everything that was found. 

He’d escaped the medi-centre to go to the tower. Had found the way in along with it seemed almost everyone else.

And sighed when he was faced with computer stuff. He had nothing with those. And certainly not with the other person who was roaming the server room.

He was frowning, of course. Especially at the ‘sunshine’. “It has,” he agreed. “Shot at anyone lately?” He asked, then stared at the servers. “Is it safe for you to be in here? I saw what your ability did to the Hornets.” He wondered what it could do to another person… was Tej the kind of person who lost control easily?

He followed Tej to the computers, watching the keyboard. “I don’t think so,” he answered. “Did you try five times zero too?” It was a joke. His frown deepened. “What could possibly be on those servers? Experiments?”

The Tower @mc-adarsh

On the second floor, Tej searched first for a power source. Wires climbed the walls towards a sunless sky, and most traveled down through grates in the floor. Tej followed the strange connective tissue between servers in primary blues and reds, sometimes yellows and greens. Often with his fingertips tracing along the various branches of wiring that split off like tributaries of electrical rivers.

He would've carried on tracking down where each tendril ended if he wasn't interrupted. "Ah, Adarsh. How's our sunshine doing, hm?" Tej nodded. Adarsh's frown yet to turn upside down, from what he saw. "It's been awhile." A run in with the hornets, and neither was too pleased about it.

"Can't believe this has been in here the whole time." Tej sank into a spinny chair at a computer bay, and slowly turned to face the console. "Check this out." He reached a hand to click and clack across a keyboard, more for the feedback and to hear the keys than anything. The monitor did not light up, despite the many servers that thrummed and blinked throughout the crowded room.

"And I already tried 12345. Thought for sure it'd work," he drawled, a little levity added. "Know anything about computers?"

[mc-adarsh]

No thoughts. That seemed to be the best way to go about this. If he had none, he couldn’t fall into a pit of despair. He couldn’t question everything he was doing, wondering at the possibilities. 

But despite it all: he was still wondering. He wondered at everything it said about him that he acted this way, that he eagerly sunk down to his knees. He wanted to know if he was any good, if Alex was correct and he’d done this before. Despite how his mind upon waking up had defaulted to: straight, male. He certainly wasn’t straight. As his palm settled on the muscled thigh of the other, he was certain he wasn’t new to this either. He went on impulse, on muscle memory. 

He grinned up, he delighted in the way Alex looked at him, at his banter. “Wouldn’t that be nice,” he said in response, his breath coming heavier, the anticipation sinking to his stomach, filling him with a heat that was unfamiliar yet impossibly welcoming. His hand caressed Alex’ thigh, moving closer, the pressure on his head from where Alex held onto his hair felt fantastic. Everything about this felt fantastic. 

Why hadn’t he gone to Alex before all this? 

“I might not remember much,” he said, as he brought his hand to replace Alex’s. “But I am good with my tongue.” He opened his mouth and licked the tip, relishing in the harsh taste of salt. He used his own fingers to guide Alex’ cock in a perfect angle to his mouth, then slowly wrapped his lips around it, a moan enveloping it as he did. His body slightly shuddering. Fuck it must’ve been long. Even before this cursed beach. 

Everything else forgotten, Adarsh focussed his efforts on whatever could bring the most sounds from Alex’ lips, while his worked tirelessly. 

"Babe, I can annihilate you any fucking way you want."

From most people that would sound like an unfounded boast; from Alex, it was a lively and confident promise. It wasn't that he considered himself some lothario, but the complaints from his bed partners had been few; Alex slept with people who he found either intensely attractive or overwhelmingly engaging, and never held back on his thoughts on the matter in either direction. Which people seemed to like, by and large.

So he tossed out that claim with a low, warm laugh as he greedily helped himself to palmfuls of Adarsh's bare skin as it was offered, reveling in the feel, the light scratch of hair, the thick heat of skin. And Adarsh in turn didn't seem shy at all in his appreciation of Alex's body, which Alex cooperated with and encouraged fully, especially as Adarsh's dick responded to his grasp and the man himself followed it up with kisses and his lips trailing down, down, down to where things got even more interesting.

"Oh, hello," Alex murmured, sinking his fingers into Adarsh's blue-black hair as he stepped out of his briefs and tilted his hips, making a willing show of himself for the other man's delectation. "You're not shy about this, huh? Whatever you had going on for you before now, maybe it involved fucking around with other dick-havers." He tipped his head, keeping hold of Adarsh's hair with one hand while he slid the other one up the underside of his own hard-on with a little hiss of anticipation, bringing the quickly slicking head bumping against Adarsh's full lower lip. "Go on, let's see what kinds of linguistic skills you've got in this area."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh frowned, and almost grinned - almost. He got the joke, and it was also a bit true. There was a before. To him at least the before seemed monumental. To others probably less so. A before and an after on the subject of his ability. A before and after when it came to how much he cared about figuring out his secret. Now he had an all-together different end-game. To better his standing, to be one of the important people. Steve’s comment about him being the messiah held more truth than Steve realised. “I don’t think my memory loss is a coincidence,” he said, just shy of saying ‘yes’. He was the hero of this story, he was going to be. Whether the story liked it or not. 

He straightened his back and nodded gravely. Though he’d only really cared for Maria’s death, hers seemed the most sad, the most terrible. He’d met her, afterall. The others… they’d gone into the forest to explore and met their end: that had just been dumb. “No one? No wonder you think this is some kind of pleasure cruise. Someone died first day everyone got here, and four people, at least I think it was four, died in the forest on the day the hornets came.” 

Adarsh’ frown turned into a sneer. Then became a bit more relaxed when the scroll was produced. He shook his head, produced his own, no-longer neatly bound, scroll from one of his pockets and held it between his fingers. “Even if it’s a secret about me, the me from before, I doubt it will bring anything back. I met someone who said she knew me from before, but nothing she brought up wrenched anything loose.” He placed the secret on the table. He also didn’t feel the need to do a match up of everyone’s secret so he could figure out which one was left and could be his. He didn’t think it worked like that. And what if it was something terrible from a past he couldn’t remember, he’d just be stuck with new knowledge that he’d been a horrible person. 

“Who knows if they’re even true, and not just something to mess with our heads.”

“Yes.” Steve’s brows pinched, “is after hornets a little like after christ? Is there a B.H timeline too?” Evidently, any poorly themed joke was going to fall on deaf ears here. Adarsh, healer and amnesiac, was all wound up without a playful safe word. “So…you’re telling me you’re the messiah?” Steve pulled his drink towards him for a slow devouring taste––not bad, not the worst he’d ever made. “Five deaths, hold up Adarsh the healer, amnesiac, messiah. No-one’s told me about deaths are you being for real right now?” 

Exactly how had that slipped by everyone’s lips? No-one had felt the urge to press upon him just how dangerous it was, except for flimsy half-baked stories. Though Steve only needed to think about Zaid’s horrifying erogenous display to remind himself of the possibilities, and consequences. It also put a serious downer on any potential plans for sprucing this place up. “That’s a horribly pessimistic view.” Not that Steve was a raging optimist. Though the words of a rag-tag cargo pants messiah were perhaps to be taken lightly.

“Maybe you just need prompting.” Said the man with absolutely no medical expertise what-so-ever. Exclusive exposure to amnesia via trashy soap operas watched whilst consuming a bottle of bubbles. “What about…” Steve fished into his pocket for the little neatly bound scroll. He’d tied it up to prevent an untimely spill. “One of these. Do you have one? Could be a clue somewhere about who you were or are.” Could be a load of nonsense. Exactly how was anyone here going to have dirt or information on him, when he’d just arrived? Lindi, and Tej, excluded of course. 

[mc-adarsh]

Of course, Adarsh was still frustrated, he didn't know everything, he barely knew a thing, but here was someone who at least had known him, who could say something about him. Even if it was something he had a hard time believing, it was his college days, he must've been very different then.

After all, he'd ended up looking like this. He didn't think someone with a university degree from the States would end up roaming the street, sporting this haircut.

He wondered what down fall he'd been through after college.

"Oh yes, of course, take your time." Even if there was an eagerness and a note of impatience to his voice. He couldn't force her to remember. And it wasn't as if she was suddenly going to be able to tell him about what he'd been up to after college, because as she'd said: they hadn't been close.

He blushed slightly, then grinned. Yes, that did sound more like him. He could imagine himself following someone around just because he was into them. A bit like he did with Alex. "No... but that does sound like it could be the truth." Even if she wouldn't know, she seemed to be able to put some puzzle pieces down.

The questions turned away from him - such a bother - and onto the broader subject of: this place.

Adarsh sadly didn't think he had the answers to those questions, he'd heard too many theories and hadn't bothered to really pin down which one he believed him. "That's anyone's guess," he said. "Survive is my guess, do some challenges along the way when the people who run this place throw them at us. There are cameras everywhere, and this huge tower, so we're probably being tested. At least it's for sure that we're being watched. There is a warehouse with food that keeps restocking itself magically, a pit in the middle of town with corpes... plenty of weird shit going on. You'll be getting some type of super power as well at some point."

Crystal found it quite fascinating, this desire to be known by others. So far, she didn't know anyone and they didn't know her and that was kind of the fun of it. All her life, she had been morphing and changing to fit whatever she thought might interest and attract other people to her. That was easiest, especially with the threat of disappearing somewhere new, forced to start over again and again. She was basically doing the same thing here, starting over with all these people and giving them what they want, giving them the Crystal that would keep their interest. And clearly, the Crystal (or Kris) that went to UCLA with this guy who knew nothing about himself was the one that would stick.

"Well you've got me now. I'll see what I can do to reboot that memory, I haven't thought about university in so long. It's hard to remember things on the spot." She hoped that would be enough to move on for now but leave him wanting more. She would have to remind herself to think of new things that he might have gotten up to in a college setting.

There was no telling if or when his memory might return, so Crystal felt she might have a very short window of opportunity to play around. He was willing to accept her words as fact, even if he sounded a bit confused he didn't fully try to dispute it, not that he could if he wanted to. "Oh, yeah. I mean. Again, I don't know if it was genuine interest in the art or if you did it to…you know, shoot your shot. There's a lot of hotties in art clubs, so I wouldn't blame you. But I wasn't that deep into your mind, darling." She was about to say that he was the only one who would know for sure but…not even he would know.

"Hmmm…I'll have to think about it. I've been busy. But you know what I really want to know. What the hell is up with this place? What's going on? What are we supposed to be doing exactly?"

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh drank in the sight of Alex for a moment as he pulled the shirt over his head. Eager to expose skin, to have a full picture of the other before him. As if the very sight of those muscles he’d only felt under his fingers would make him come undone. He was hungry for this, absolutely famished. None of it could happen quickly enough yet every moment had to be celebrated and acknowledged. His fingers were on Alex’s skin until the voiceless command came to remove his own shirt. There was barely a thought to how he looked. He’d already spend hours trying to uncover every inch of himself in the hopes of a memory.

He was heavy in build, but with plenty of muscle underneath it all, with hair all over his chest, arms, and back. There were scars on his back, fading to a dull colour barely seen but still there. Old scars and raised flesh along his arms, his sides. His body told countless stories, but he was privy to none of them. 

All he cared for now was to keep himself healthy and strong. 

And for Alex to want him just a desperately as he wanted him in this moment. He grinned at the words. No other time would he have relished in ebin called an asshole. “Your skill with languages was a turn on and I didn’t even realise it,” he said. “I wanted you to annihilate me with words.” 

His shirt gone, Adarsh just needed to tug at his now threadbare cargo pants to get them down to his ankles. He pushed his body against Alex and groaned as his hand moved between them. 

He was all action and no thought. Nothing beyond his appreciation of Alex, both the physical form and the mental strength and challenge. He wanted that confidence and wit, but he wanted the physical release possible between them even more. 

“I am glad we agree,” he said, lips rushing forward to meet Alex’. “I am all about making up.” Ignoring the little voice in his head that tried to tell him he had no idea what he was doing. As long as he didn’t think, he’d be all good. His hands buried themselves against Alex’s skin, his neck and chin, before making their way down, and he followed, forcing wet kisses into that most perfect skin. One hand ended on Alex’ hip, while the other dipped two fingers under the waistband of Alex’s underwear, and Adarsh’ lips and tongue slid down as the underwear did.

Adarsh took it upon himself to shift the action to a room that wasn't being used and had a door to shut, and Alex felt pleasure effervescing through him at that -- it seemed that his mercurial ex-antagonist was dead set on this going somewhere, and somewhere good. Alex was certainly not about to dead it off, not with how good Adarsh's hands felt on him, or the brimming passion of his kisses. If their fight on the beach was anything to go by, the fucking would be just as elemental and explosive.

The weirdness of the encounters Alex had been through and the sudden and strange eruption of his special powers sloughed off entirely as Adarsh tugged at his shirt and Alex helped him along -- not a twinge of his previous scrapes and aches remaining, just that dizzy-high feeling. That was transmuting quickly into a different sort of rush.

"Even being an asshole on that beach you were fucking hot," Alex said, twisting some of Adarsh's shirt in his hand to yank at it, indicate that Adarsh should take it off while Alex attended to undoing and shoving down his own jeans. He hadn't resorted to wearing any of the FLOWR branded undies yet (though there might come a time, depending on how long they were stranded here), and his own blue briefs had been chosen for how they flattered his muscled thighs. Those and his arms, no studio exec had ever had a problem with, it was the way his weight settled in his ass and stomach that required notes and diets.

But Adarsh wasn't some LA gym rat and Alex wasn't thinking about that, just the notion of getting his hands on more of that rich dark skin and the arousing scrub of Adarsh's chest hair, arm hair, the feel of his solid heavy body. "And a good fight does get me going, but this..." Alex reached down to press his palm hard against Adarsh's hip, then slide his fingers between the man's legs, to feel the hardness there, "...gets me going even faster. This is a helluva way to make up and put it behind us, bro."

[mc-adarsh]

And Darcy wasn’t wrong thinking he’d been direct and rude - and smug. He wouldn’t want to be healed by himself either if no explanation was offered up to begin with. But there was self-reflection, and then there was Adarsh’s tendency to think people thought the same way he did: meaning in his mind it had to be because he had already established himself as the violent on. “She was probably scared as well, with all the hornets around,” he suggested, the closets he would come to saying something in favour of the young woman. “I do, not necessarily on the wound however, I think it goes faster when I do, but I haven’t been able to test out that theory yet.” 

The worst was yet to come. For someone who believed this to be the real world, and had the cheesy notion of them all working together, her outlook on the future was much more grim. But it was the one thing Adarsh could fundamentally agree with. It would only get harder. And with so many powers in play, so many new people on the beach, it could only get more complicated. Of course they’d be tested for that. “If it’s a test… you’d think there would be an ending in sight. I do hope it all becomes a bit clearer the more challenges we overcome.” 

He raised an eyebrow. Saying shit about people wasn’t new to him, and he’d mouthed off a lot of people so far, he couldn’t even keep count. It felt almost normal. Who was he if he didn’t express his judgement of others? 

He wanted to say something rude, but caught himself. Character growth or something connected to the way he felt about Darcy. Almost as if he practiced more patience with her than he did with others. He hummed in response. “Hmm, you’re right. I stand by that she’s bossy, but in the beginning… she’d be much better at noting down what has and hasn’t been healed by my power.” He narrowed his eyes a little, perhaps in jest. “I suppose she’s someone you’ve gotten along with?”

Adarsh blushed, hard to see on his skin, but still present. “I–” He wanted to backtrack and explain, to push through what he was feeling and attempt to rectify it. He hated this feeling of disappointing her by shooting down her idea. He bit the inside of his mouth. “I think…” he couldn’t ignore the need to explain, yet at the same time the constant question of why he found all these conflicting emotions when in the company of Darcy. “... I struggle with the idea of doing this for other people, and not for myself.” Inherently selfish. And horribly stubborn. 

“Hmm, the hornets probably because they are insects who dig and hide within the ground. Clearly they were made to dig up what they dug up. A little push to help us along to get to the next challenge.” He paused. “Also definitely to scare the shit out of us.” Either by their very existence, or the mass grave they’d uncovered, leading to tunnels. Whatever was in those tunnels must be the next challenge. He wondered if they were being pushed into uncovering a mystery, or if they were simply pushed to discover the next challenge.

Adarsh’ heart felt a lot lighter at Darcy’s chuckle. He swallowed at the sudden feeling, trying to determine why. Why? Someone in his former life reminded him of Darcy, but he couldn’t remember that person, just the feeling he had around them. He decided to focus on the question, to be the main character in this conversation, even if it meant uncovering feelings that weren’t all too great. “I punched two people within the first few days that I got here, I get frustrated without knowing why… I think I’m more of a loose canon than anything close to helpful, also I don’t feel the need to help. Not most people at least. Now that I can heal… it’s much easier to throw myself into the narrative and push myself to playing some kind of hero. It feels good, it doesn’t feel as frustrating as finding out time and time again that I’m too selfish to be bothered to help other people.” 

He produced the slip of paper and read it out loud to Darcy. “HERE IS A SECRET: Safety and camaraderie is everything to me! Except for that time that I kept quiet when I should've been spotting, resulting in the forced retirement of an illuminary after he'd broken his back. Who am I?” He frowned at the paper. “I don’t know what an illuminary is.”

Darcy listened to Adarsh’s words. “We all gotta learn about each other’s powers, she probably wasn’t really sure what you were capable or if you actually could help or not.” Adarsh did have the tendency to be direct and rude, so if he was when he tried to help, it wouldn’t be totally surprising if the woman wasn’t sure what he’d wanna do with the touching. “So you need to touch people to heal them?”

Darcy gave a nod. “I agree, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I’m pretty sure the worst is yet to come, who knows how long we’ll actually be here, right? And yeah, I think all of the powers could result in injuries while we’re still trying to learn them, figure out their kinks.” Her little adventure with Calamity certainly turned out dangerous to the point she’d not be trying to take somebody with her for a long, long time for sure. Not until she could be certain that she wouldn’t endanger either of them.

She gave a look to Adarsh. “Come on, she just wants to make sure everyone is doing okay. Can’t even imagine what kind of responsibility it must feel like, to be the doctor on the island to whom everyone looks at. And there’s no harm in her seeing the people you healed, especially in the beginning. You are not a doctor, you wouldn’t be able to see signs of, say, internal bleeding, that she might notice. But yeah, obviously it would be best if you could help her in not be completely overworked.”

A raised eyebrow. “So you don’t like the idea of the list. Got it.” It didn’t even cross her mind that he wouldn’t want people to come to him for this kind of help, especially considering just how proud he seemed that he could heal people, but apparently she misread the situation.

“Yeah, I definitely agree that they had to have a reason. I’m pretty sure they have to have a reason for everything they are doing, even if it’s not necessarily obvious or clear at the beginning. Like, the giant hornets – why. What is the point, aside from scaring the shit out of us. I keep wondering and I cannot come up with a proper, logical reason, but I am certain there is one.” Darcy wondered just how much they knew when they signed up – if they knew that attack would hit, or the secret messages would show up, if any of what was waiting for them, they’d known and they signed up with their eyes open or all they knew was that there would be tests. Either way, not knowing now felt like she was going a little mental.

She let out a small chuckle at Adarsh confirming that yeah, she probably sounded a little cheesy, but really, Darcy couldn’t help it. She did fully believe that one of the goals they’d have to work for was to find a way to cohesively work together, live together and build a community together from scratch. What Adarsh said next, though, that kind of caught Darcy’s ears. “Do you feel like you can only help now, that you know you can heal? Not without it?”

“Yeah, that is definitely a possibility,” Darcy nodded and then tilted her head as she looked at Adarsh. “What do you mean you bearly understand the one you got? What did you get?”

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh hadn’t considered that. Personally he’d believed that it was part of his power because people were dumb and would fight what they didn’t understand. Or that they thought he was a violent man, and healing felt like an odd pick. 

He hummed. “That’s an interesting thought.” He paused. “Whatever it is, it is rather handy in some situations. I had one girl who tried to fight me for touching her who became very calm after.” And who had wanted another dose. If he had been less of a shallow man, he would’ve thought that worrisome. Instead he felt like it signified how amazing his ability was.

He nodded gravely - though he didn’t necessarily share the thought. He found it rather disappointing that the tiger creature was dead already, he would’ve loved to test bringing another person back from the edge like he’d done Chance. He was begging all the gods he knew - since he had no idea which one he might have once believed in - for just a papercut at this point. If he could heal himself… he probably would’ve already tested out the possibilities. 

“I fear the beach will give me plenty of opportunities. If not robots and animals, then certainly powers. I know there are some out there that could seriously hurt another person.” Like Tej’s.

He frowned. It was the kind of community thinking that Adarsh found he was lacking. He felt like people could come to him if he was at the medicentre. Otherwise they’d best leave him alone unless he offered. Keeping a list sounded troublesome. And he hated how selfish it made him feel that he had very little interest in doing it. “Akhila is a control freak,” he said. “I think it’s more likely that she’ll want to see everybody and then maybe will let me have a go at it if she’s overworked.” If at all. “Maybe she’ll like the list idea.” And then he wouldn’t have to do it. 

Maybe he was the control freak. Or having power was already going to his head.

Adarsh nodded. “Big brother,” he agreed. Had he read 1984? He could say who the author was, so maybe. “Could be it depends on the person. It feels like they do have some… goal when they show those images. Why else would they show them?” 

He offered a grin. “A little cheesy,” he said. But strangely enough it warmed his heart. If only he could figure out why his reaction to Darcy was like this, when others made him frustrated or irritated. “There was a whole lot of helping going on.” He remembered Selin suggesting they head back to the beach to warn the others. Akhila helping the girl. “I’m glad I can help now too, with my ability.” 

Instead of being a burden, since he had no idea how he might react.

“Maybe that’s why our wardens came up with this whole secret trouble, we were getting too buddy-buddy.” He shrugged. “Though I barely understand the one I got, and I don’t feel like I have a foot to stand on to judge others. For all we know I am the biggest dickhead out there.” A violent angry man, selfish and impulsive. Yet, he also wanted to protect Darcy, Lindi, Selin. 

He also was judgemental. Despite feeling he didn’t have the right.

Adarsh was already helping Akhila in the medicenter, that was definitely good. Darcy was listening as he explained what he could and couldn't do so far, nodding along - he seemed smug, yes, but also visibly relieved, that he kept talking and for a moment Darcy wondered just what it must have been like, going this long without truly knowing what he was capable of. Watching others get their own powers and wondering if he was the outlier in this situation too and wouldn't get one. Something she didn't consider much since hers showed so early.

"It makes sense that the more you heal, the more exhausted you are, but it's interesting how it potentially makes the one who gets healed doopy and docile as well. Maybe something to balance out the fast healing in the body and make it easier on the body in general," she pondered.

"I do hope the more you use it, thought, the more you can actually heal things - but it's not something we can truly test or get you to practice, you learn as we go. And please don't misunderstand me, but I hope we never have to truly test your power and push you to your edge about it."

They would all need to know, though, what is the level that Adarsh could still handle and they could go to him with and what would be a level where they were better off seeking out Akhila's help with. "We should put out some sort of notification somewhere where we list the things you can actually do and continuously update it so everyone knows."

She tilted her head for a second and then shook her head. "The beach is full of cameras - and those are just the ones we can see. I am certain there are even more that we can't even see. So seeing other people didn't really make me wary of them or more suspicious of them. It felt more creepy than anything. The whole 1984, we're constantly watching you, situation."

The screens didn't show her anyone whom she trusted any less, but then Adarsh asked if anything was shown to her that made her trust somebody more and she immediately thought of Benji and Tej knowing him. It shouldn't be something that made her trust him more - just because he knew Benji, it meant nothing. But-- it still did. But it wasn't something she wanted to talk about with Adarsh, or really, anyone for that matter, so she shook her head, nothing showing on her face.

"No, nothing that made me trust stronger either. Just-- I guess everyone being there for the others, everything trying to help each other and working to make sure we all get out of it in general. That made me trust everyone better overall." A pause and she chuckled. "That sounded way too cheesy, I know."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh made a face. He was about five seconds away from blowing up based on her tone, but she was supplying him with something nobody else was: his past. Becoming grumpy and angry wasn’t going to help. Becoming non-verbal because he was too frustrated to speak wouldn’t either. He gritted his teeth. “Hopefully,” he agreed. “And it is.” INcredibly tough, and when people acknowledged that, he felt better about it. He was supposed to have that understanding from everyone. Nobody had it as bad as he did. “And up until now, I didn’t know anyone who knew me.” Even if it was barely a connection, it was better than anything. He looked genuinely happy for a moment. 

He hadn’t expected the name to be correct. He thought the name would be incorrect, that it wasn't his, because it felt like it might not be. However, he trusted her more than his own instinct. Clearly. He’d been able to smell the bullshit on Chance, but if Chance had pretended to know him, he would’ve gladly overruled that feeling for the sake of being known. He was so desperate to have his past. 

“At least you’ve been able to answer the question about my name,” he said, offering a smile.

He smiled, it sounded… well, not like him. From everything that had happened the last few months, he had found he was easy to anger, into boxing, and incredibly judgemental. That man didn’t sound like the one she was describing, but he’d been younger then. Maybe he’d been like that. He gritted his teeth, set the odd feeling out of his mind, instead offered her an unsure smile. “Dance, drama?” He frowned. “I can barely imagine that.” Maybe not the popular thing. “And after school… did you ever hear anything about me again?” he asked. He sounded so eager, so desperate.

"And I thought the stories of the giant robot hornets were crazy. Well, those still are pretty crazy, but...full blown amnesia." Crystal was mystified. Maybe it was insensitive, treating him like some sort of spectacle, but how exactly did one address this delicately? (Maybe pretending to be someone he knew in the past wasn't a great start.) "Hopefully I can be of some help." she offered with an innocent, unassuming smile. "It must be tough, not knowing anyone, not even yourself."

He offered up a name, though it sounded like he didn't know for sure. Crystal was positive given her many years in Missouri, the only names she could feasibly generate were more common among Southern white guys. So instead of agreeing with his uncertainty, Crystal nodded as if he'd hit the mark. "Adarsh! Yeah! That does ring a bell! The language though...I don't know how much I can help you there. Geography isn't exactly my strong suit." She didn't even really have a firm grasp on her own birthplace and culture, figuring out his wouldn't be much easier.

She also didn't dwell on the fact that maybe they weren't so different. But at least he had amnesia as an excuse.

While Crystal couldn't give insight on names, languages or culture, she could sure come up with stories about fictionalized college life. "You were a master at pottery, I do remember the countless girls whispering to each other wondering what else your hands could do." she claimed, with a raise of her brows and a mischievous smirk. "You were pretty popular from what I remember. I don't know if that was on purpose though. Pottery, dance, drama. You were in a lot of different clubs."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh swallowed. He felt solid in his desire, aware of his whole body and the eagerness to be closer. Blood rushing to his head - and another body part - as Alex parted his lips, as he moved closer, their bodies connecting in all the right places, sending a shiver up his spine.

His smile was more self-assured, hungry, eager for satisfaction. 

The thought of a previous life shot through him for only a moment. Of the possibility that he was married, that someone was waiting for him. He had no wedding ring when he woke up, but he still feared being a cheater. But if he was, he was going to assume whomever he was with would understand.

Alex was all together too hot, too enticing, too appealing to ignore.

And the way he grabbed him, kissed him. 

There was no way Adarsh could stop, no way he could convince himself that he wasn’t going to absolutely do his best to make Alex wish for more.

He kissed him back, feverish as his hands found the fabric of Alex’s shirt, clawing at it to keep him closer, using the sway between them to pull Alex through the room into one of the currently unoccupied recovery rooms. He opened the door blindly and kicked it close behind him. 

Not caring to lock it.

His hands went back to Alex’s shirt, pulling at the fabric, letting his warm fingers press into flesh. If Alex had any injuries left, they would now certainly be healed. Maybe even take away some scar from youth he’d forgotten about, with Adarsh’s power completely out of his control.

Sasha was more than mollified by Adarsh's encouragement and praise for his neatnik ways, and it didn't take too much coaxing to get him going where he was needed to be. The cherry on top of this being a surefire way to grade-grub up some kudos from Akhila (which honestly, Alex couldn't so much blame Sasha for -- being the one to bring any form of pleasure to the doc really was a heady experience, he knew that personally).

By the time Adarsh was bidding good luck to Sasha on his endeavours, the dupe was already eagerly crouched down investigating the cupboard for the promised cleaning supplies and probably was none the wiser on the door being shut and lock turned on him. Alex was practically hopping on his toes by the time Adarsh got back, flush with the shared mischief for the perpetration of a different sort of mischief. Whatever healing mojo Adarsh had done on him, Alex was still feeling the syrupy-smooth heavy sultriness of it moving through his body ... and maybe Sasha was getting reverb from it? That would explain how happy he was to have tidying foisted off on it, some kind of shared soporific endorphins--

--but Adarsh's words soon distracted Alex from thinking about his duplicate completely. He gave a low, pleased laugh at that confession, letting his lips part while the other man was looking at them; his front teeth were a little prominent and younger Alex (Sasha Alex?) had been faintly self-conscious about it, but years of posing for photographs had taught him how to balance it out, allow for a soft glimpse of pink tongue as well to offset the bunny teeth.

"If there's an unsexy way to tell somebody that they've been on your mind, tiger, you skipped right over it." Alex moved onto, against Adarsh, his body thrilling at the remembered solidity of the other man, reaching almost automatically to skim the heel of his hand down Adarsh's side to his hip before he allowed himself to curl his fingers onto warm flesh as well, get a good and proper grip.

From there it took barely anything, only a tilt upwards to account for the few inches in height between them, before Alex was kissing him. Nothing gentle or searching here, either; that didn't seem to be necessary. He kissed Adarsh hard, open-mouthed, full of desire with each swipe of his tongue as Alex slung his other arm around Adarsh's neck and gripped the back of his shirt collar.

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh frowned. The quote was familiar but he didn’t know from what, so he voted to simply ignore it and instead watch the other carefully. With all these secrets around. You never know. Then again, he clearly didn’t care enough because he’d altogether managed to avoid most social interactions. Except for this one.

“I’m a healer and an amnesiac,” he stated, clearly annoyed. Less so with the not-bartender, more with the world.

He sat, what else was he going to do. He took a sip from the juice. Terrible. He huffed instead, the other had a way about him that threw Adarsh off. Far too attentive. He liked it more when people decided to keep their distance from him. Or just sought him out for his ability. He still didn’t comment on the drink. “You’re new,” he stated. Not a question. “After the hornets probably.” Or just dim. He looked away. The earlier comparison to Alex wasn’t helpful. Not that it mattered, his lack of any progress with his memories made him agitated, angry, and horny. But he still wouldn’t seek out Alex, despite how his body suddenly craved to do so.

“I can only heal bodily harm,” he informed Steve, gritting his teeth. “And yes, I meant that literally. No memory whatsoever from before ending up on this cursed beach.” He was still frowning. “It’s worthless cause to get to know everybody. We’ve had five deaths in as many months since we got here. Very likely scenario that it will only get worse.” 

“Shaken or stirred?” Steve asked, a light-hearted attempt to brighten the gloomy mood. Adarsh. All straightforward with little to no flair. Evidently, the holes in his pants were symbolic of a man who lacked both style and substance. Steve decided to stir the concoction of juices he’d created. Inspired loosely by a Piña colada. Very loosely. “So, you’re the healer…amnesiac is that…lingo around here? Or do you need to discover your sense of self?” Steve came around the bar to push a drink towards Adarsh, having kept one for himself.

“Nope! My assistant.” Steve nodded towards the other who’d shuffled down to examine some of the wobbly deckchairs. Not easy on the eyes, however he was incredibly attentive and knew what to do with those large hands of his. 

Steve slid into one of the barstools, and propped his elbows up on the counter. “Please sit Adarsh.” Enthusiastic wave of his hand. “I’m Steve, and not a bartender either.” Evident by his drink, it was sweet but sharp, and distantly related to a Piña colada through the essence of coconut. “Just here to facilitate and get to know everyone.” Besides there were secrets to divulge, and Steve had a mysterious priest to uncover. He smacked his lips, lift of the mocktail glass for inspection. “Hmm….Not my best.”

 “Whoops! Oh, well. So…tell me about yourself? Or are you literally an amnesiac?” What a pity that would be! Pretty face with no story to tell? Maybe there was a story, a trauma yet uncovered. “Can’t you like…heal yourself?”

[mc-adarsh]

@alexpanganiban

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words || I don't know what to do with myself || HELP! ||

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || could happen at any moment || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them || I'm obsessed with them ||

[mc-adarsh]

@akhilaasthana

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || BOSSY || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted || egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex || mommy issues ||

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend || Akhila's Boy ||

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

[mc-adarsh]

@crystalslucky

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted || egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual friends || old friends ?? || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them

[mc-adarsh]

@ash-johnson-stunts

Attractiveness:

repulsive || hideous || ugly || not attractive || unappealing || not unattractive || meh || no preference || ok || mildly attractive || nice looking || cute || adorable || attractive || pleasant on the eyes || good looking || hot || sexy || beautiful || gorgeous || hot damn || would tap that || perfect || godlike || holy fuck there are no words

Personality:

grating || irritating || frustrating || boring || confusing at best || awkward || unreasonable || psychotic || disturbing || interesting || engaging || affectionate || aggressive || ambitious || anxious || artistic || bad tempered || bossy || charismatic || appealing || unappealing || creative || courageous || dependable || unreliable || unpredictable || predictable || devious || dim || extroverted || introverted ||  egotistical || gregarious || fabulous || impulsive || intelligent || sympathetic || talkative || up beat || peaceful || calming || badass || flexible

How likely they would have sex with them:

not if they were the last person on earth and the world was ending || fuck no! || never || no way || not likely || not sure || indifferent || I’m asexual || maybe || probably || it depends || fairly likely || likely || yeah sure || yes || would tap that || hell yes || fuck yes! || wishing that could happen right now || as many times as possible || we are already having sex

Level of Friendship:

never in a million years || worst of enemies || enemies || rivals || indifferent || neutral || acquaintance || friendly toward each other || casual punching friends || friends || good friends || best friends || fuck buddies || bosom buddies || practically the same person || would die for them || true friends || my only friend ||

Current impression of them:

I hate them so much || I don’t like them || I don’t trust them || they annoy me || they’re weird || I’m indifferent || meh || they seem alright || they’re growing on me || truce || I think I like them || I like them || I’m not sure if I trust them || I trust them || they’re cool || they’re genuine || I think we’re going to get along || I really like them || I think I’m in love || oh fuck they’re hot || I love them