…
…
…
Over time, I'm able to feel Inv grow gradually warmer. There's still a slight chill while holding him but it's much better than when I first started hugging him…
'Definitely did not expect meeting him here to go like this…' i think to myself, hoping he will say something soon.
…
After what feels like a good amount of time, I hear Inv finally say something!
"J-Joey?" Inv quietly stutters out.
Pulling my head back, I look up at Inv.
"Inv! What happened?? Ive been trying to talk to you this entire time but you were acting weird an- oof!"
Caught off guard mid sentence, I feel Inv pull me back into his embrace with even more strength. My only saving grace being this isn't my physical form but my soul??? Yeah, I'm still getting used to that part.
"Joeyyyyy~ hehe" I hear Inv say as my face is practically pressed into his chest. My heart rate skyrocketing when I feel Inv start to rub my back at a quickened pace.
'Is it really my heart or just a fake impression of one??? No idea! I probably shouldn't think about it' I think to myself, the more pressing matter being that Inv is really starting to feel me up right now!
"I-Inv! H-hold on a second! Are you ok? Why are you suddenl- AH!" I feel Inv grip my tail making me cut off my question.
'MY SPIRITUAL ASS!'
"Joeyyyy~" I hear Inv say while groping my tail more.
'OK! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???'
I would be more into this if it weren't for the fact Inv was just acting weird not responding to me! And he still won't! He just keeps saying my name with a slur in his tone.
Not really wanting to but feeling like trying to calm down Inv is the right move i try to reason with the currently groping Inv.
"I-Inv chill out for a- AH! I-Inv! Can you just- GUH! Inv! Please just-
Not listening to me, Inv just keeps going. Not paying attention to a single word I'm saying. My frustration building at the same time. I don't want to yell! I really don't! But at this point I feel like I have no choice!
Come on! There has to be some way to reason with him without yelling!
Trying to ignore Inv gripping certain parts of my body(or soul). I think on how Inv was able to move in the first place. The entire time I was trying to move in this space while Inv was just able to… do it…
'Ok… maybe instead of trying to do it… I just… make it happen?' I think to myself, unsure if I'm even going anywhere with this.
Thinking on how to do this, i simply state something in my head hoping it will work.
'Inv… will stop touching me' I say to myself with immense regret. The touching can happen later! I want to speak to Inv first!
After saying this, something strange happens. Where Inv was once touching me, now only his paw remains over my body. As if an invisible barrier appeared blocking Inv's paw from making physical contact.
"H-huh?? W-wa??" I hear Inv whine, repeatedly trying to physically touch me but each attempt is thwarted by the invisible barrier.
Hearing his whine hurts my heart! I obviously wanna do the same thing but I at least have to figure out what's going on! Comfort first! Touching later!
Since giving out this strange… command… no part of my body is physically touching Inv right now which also includes my head that was just previously glued to his chest.
With nothing holding me down now I'm able to easily slip out of Inv's embrace. Finally letting me look up at Inv once again.
"Inv. Please say something to me! Are you ok?" I ask, hoping Inv will finally get out of whatever weird delusion he is in.
"J-Joey… p-pleas… n-no… d-don leve me…" Inv says while still trying to grab at me. Each attempt hitting nothing but the emptiness in front of me.
'Alright! System! Whatever the fuck you did messed with my partners mind! Explain yourself!'
Of course, I get no response. Go figure.
With the desperate attempt to get answers from the system attempted. I start speaking.
"Inv what are you saying?? I'm right here, and I'm not leaving you!" I say with 100% conviction. Me? Leaving Inv? Yeah I'm not going anywhere in a million years.
"B-b-bu-
"No Inv! I need you to stop and just… calm down…" I interrupt Inv and calmly say.
Inv, still with a worried look. Stops his flailing towards me. Letting out small whimpers.
"Just calm down… I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, I will never leave you… just… relax…" I smoothly say, my words looking like there finally having an effect on Inv!
Inv slowly puts his arms down on his side, not trying to touch me anymore. Appearing to finally calm down.
"Just take a deep breath and close your eyes… I will still be here when you open them…" I say, which immediately makes me question what I just said. How the heck would we even be able to breath if were currently souls right now???
But despite these thoughts, I see Inv slowly close his eyes and take a deep breath.
…
…
…
Slowly Inv opens his eyes, looking much calmer than before. His eyes holding a much better clarity than before.
"See? I'm still here" I smile while saying this towards Inv, who also lets out a smile of his own.
"Mhm…"
Feeling that I handled this situation pretty well, I relax. It's time to finally talk to Inv.
But before I can say anything…
"Tank u faek Joey…"
…
Wait, what? Did he just call me fake?! He… He did all of that thinking it wasn't real?!
"I don kno ef he wil stil feal da same wa ef he eve saw me lik dat… bu et nic herin Dat fro u…"
…huh??? What the heck is he talking about?????
"I kno he sai i don lok lik a monster…" Inv pauses, bringing his paws to his face.
"Bu… bu ef he eve saw wa i relly lok lik… I fel lik I wud los him… ta one gud ting Dat has eve hapend tu me…"
…
Realizing what Inv is talking about I hold myself back from saying anything about how this is actually real and that he really is talking to me right now.
I never thought I would hear Inv bring this up so soon after what happened inside the shelter during the first cycle we met. When he looked in the mirror he called himself a monster…
Back then I never really got a clear answer on why he reacted like that… but what he just said…
'What I really look like' I repeat the words to myself, confirming something that I suspected ever since seeing his passives.
A specific passive that has stuck with me ever since reading it.
Mimic (Vessel)
Effects: copy the appearance of any species you come across. The more you know about a certain species, the more accurate you will look to said species.
I was prepared for this honestly. At the time I also thought the same thing. I really don't care what Inv looks like. I still feel the same way now. Even if I've gotten sorta used to his uhh… slugcat form? Is that how it works??
Anyways, I feel like if I want to get closer to Inv. I have to accept him as he is. No matter what form he takes.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
A/N - the soul space is just an excuse to give the characters more time alone together :). also it will be important.