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It had been a few years since then, actually had it? Honestly, [XALA] had to actively check to keep track of the time he once used to keep. The place he found himself in was coined as the 'Extraterrestrial District' by those who lived there. A smushing together of concepts that resembled where they had all found themselves in. They're aliens, they're in the boonies, the Peak District is kind of a boonies and that's how we arrive at that! Yes, as it turned out [XALA] had been taken in by a community of Aliens which hide themselves in an untraceable corner of the British countryside, as in actively untraceable by their own means. Also, we say 'Aliens' but that's their self-identity, they are not really so different in nature from Monsters, it's complicated.

Are you aware of the 'Theory of Perception' when it comes to Monsters, reader? Well this paper is enough content for a story in of itself, so we'll keep this brief: Penned by a Monster researcher themselves, this paper posits that the nature and aesthetics of Monsters are shaped by the perception of the community that they find themselves in. Monsters can be anything, yet they so often take the form of things depicted in Mythology, Folklore and stories we tell each other over a campfire in the darkness of the wilderness. Why do they even more commonly manifest as anthropomorphic animals? Or why do they abide by rules and lore based on theories and rhetoric spread online via a Mandalla Effect? This all points to Monsters, their nature and their aesthetics being shaped by a collective perception. If people presume knowledge of something their eyes do not visualise, something inhabits those beliefs into the world of the physical. Even in strange instances of that perception contradicting current knowledge on this chronology.

This brings us to the Monsters in question: Aliens. We have spacecraft and probes on the surface of Mars, we know what lies on its surface. But does this knowledge and documentation truly outpace the: I Reckon's? Perception shaped by media, stories and theories, of things like little grey men who inhabit the rock? Does it outpace the imagination of what could lurk out of the range of technology and our perception? It's telling these Aliens are well... HERE on Earth, a place beset by this malleable conception that can bring perception into life and not on the planets themselves, where we literally have eyes as we speak. An even bigger question, does it even matter? These Aliens are keeping out of the public eye for now, but when they are perceived, when their physicality is something not to be denied, will the reach of Perception escape the borders of our very planet? Will what these Aliens speak, be the only truth that matters?

Well this is what is theorized by people waaay smarter than [XALA], in fact he can barely get his head around this research even as he read the text with his barely solid eyes and brain. But it gives him a fair idea on the nature of Monsters and how the inhabitants of his new home can physically exist. Helps to process the unfathomable trauma of his new normal.

-Y'know, you could probably find the answers you're looking for just asking us, instead of some Monster's opinion of us.

[XALA]'s appendages, extending from his forearms, reach out to close the book he was reading suddenly, surprised suddenly by his new visitor. Peers up, not moving his neck up as with his body, Gaia only know how his malleable bound of flesh will interpret those movements, to meet their gaze, it was a voice he recognised. Towering over the once Human was an Alien, a smooth, glistening figure coloured on whatever was on the border between Grey and Navy Blue. Tentacles covered their limbs and the top of their head, covering a very aquatic frame, covered in gills and scale-esque pattern to their body. Conforming neither to Merman or Scylla, but it almost look like these were the blueprints that informed what [XALA] beheld in front of him

Her name was Galasgey the Broodgiver, which is an insane title let's just get that out of the way!? But she was Neptunian, in fact most of the Aliens in this little grove were Neptunian, Saturnus or Martians. She was the head of a committee charged with overseeing new arrivals into the town, to make sure they acclimated into the place. Of course [XALA] was a very special case being an enigma to all communities, so he gets special observation by Galasgey, personally checking in on him.

-I'm happy to see you're taking to your librarian duties so well! It's been Forty Tides since you took on this role, after all. I say we celebrate with a stroll through the town with some reminiscing, wouldn't you say?

[XALA] stammers a little before making his reply, the sheer presence of this woman unnerves him... Like in a flirty way.

-Y-yeah absolutely Counsellor. [XALA] Replies.

-Galasgey, [XALA]. Remember? This is my name, which as friends we go by don't we? She asks, with a slight giggle to accent her question. So, how are things here?

-I mean yeah it's okay, I'm having fun with the new experience. I guess I wasn't much of a bookworm when I was Human, so learning about books is neat. Since apparently so many of you... Us lot come from these things, right?

-Well Monsters have been known to be shaped by a collective unconscious we understand, which in turn has been influenced by literature over history. That's how we understand it at any rate. Replies Galasgey.

[XALA] incorporates a nodding along of "I understand" just to sweep this part of the convo under the rug for now, since what he really cares about right now is:

-...But I just wish I didn't have to give up my old job to be here. I don't see why any of this transferin' was necessary.

Galasgey sighs, knowing she's about to repeat herself for the 10 millionth time.

-Again I must stress we were extremely happy with your work as our Town Architect, while you were more "put together" let's say. Your positive impact on the refuge is undeniable [XALA]. But I cannot in good conscience let you keep working like that in your condition.

Just to back up her point, Galasgey can even see [XALA] start to sag and come a part as she speaks her piece. Prehaps at this point [XALA] might be tempted to rebuttal her and say how Super Fine and Very Attached To His Skeleton he is, but as he goes to speak his jaw drops, quite literally, being unable to produce the sounds to do so. That is to say nothing about how his arm falls down to his side, least the bottom half as the front lurches forward to attempt a gesture. How graphic and more importantly: Embarrassing for him. As soon as he notices what he's done, because he of course can't even feel any of this properly, he slurps back his drooping parts back to were they should be.

Galasgey just sighs as she turns her head and smiles, she knows this is hard for him to stop his momentum in the middle of thriving. He bounced back from his predicament so well! But my god, the boy is literally melting, and the science department still hasn't figured out how to stop it yet. The prevailing theory was that [XALA] would let go of his Humanity and he'd just transition into a Monster. But despite that having happened by this point... This is still the form he keeps, a Human, albeit one that's melting. The Aliens at the lab need more time to parse whatever the Angels did to this poor guy. The Alien can't help but fret over [XALA], she's become quite invested in his safety as time has gone on, some part of her mind always dedicating some thinking space to worrying if he's doing okay.

Nearly glooping onto the floor with comedic timing seems to have finally humbled [XALA] enough to stop warring with Galasgey on this issue, his head just looks to the floor. The Neptunian helps him up finally, and they head towards the café, to give [XALA] some company as he takes a break from work. They arrive at the qaintly named Roswell's peak, none of the residents understood the reference when [XALA] named it, and get a nice window inside seating on a big table.

-Oh are we expecting someone else? Asks [XALA]

-Well you've become quite the.... What was the word you taught me? Scrimbly Bingo, of this town. People are gonna wanna check up on you, of course. Explains Galasgey.

She takes out her com device, a little shell clam circle shaped thing, from the folds of her gills? Well some fold on her skin she hopefully doesn't need to breathe, anyways the point is she's taking their orders from the little machine.

She orders their usual, Mermaid's Tear, think of it like a BonBon kind of situation, except the condensed milk is seawater. Alongside some sweetness, made from Flora found at the seabed of Neptune, not too dissimilar to Vanilla. The taste is far away from that pallet however, just imagine the taste of a warm tea that could double up a disinfectant? Yeeaaahh. Though [XALA] has, with what things that can taste still remain, come to grow nostalgic of the taste as a token of his time at the refuge. Also, it's gotta be good for someone who is themselves 98% an open wound. Maybe it's the stinging he likes as he's drinking it? Tch, depraved perv.

As Galasgey finishes their cup, she looks out the window and waves to an oncoming visitor. [XALA] slowly turns his head, has to be careful to make sure it stays on you know, towards the guest at their table. It was the Kobold; Took.

-Unusual to find you around these parts Took, what brings you to the town centre? Asks Galasgey.

-Oh I just finished my uh, quota early so I had some time. Swung by the 'ol uuhhh library and didn't find anyone there, so just wondered here. Explains Took, in the most "I wasn't looking for you, I just so happened to be pacing to what I thought was your exact location" way.

-Well since you're here, you can take my seat. Offers Galasgey. I got to go finish off some errands for the day, but don't wander now, I'll be right back!

The Neptunian squeezes past Took as he occupies the chair she was on. A little look of regret on the Kobold's face as he sits in her moisture she left behind. The pair watch her leave as a bit of an awkward silence falls onto the scene, [XALA] looking clearly dejected at his situation. Took doesn't really know what to say, somehow this feels familiar, the lull as someone goes through the inevitable. It incites something resembling pain.

[XALA] does perk up somewhat and breaks the silence:

-So you finished early? How was the haul today?

-Suspiciously good. Replies Took. The waters seemed to be teeming with both the fish they introduced here, as well as shit ton of Haddock and Bass.

-I mean, that's good ain't it?

-Hmmmm, why are they migrating to even shallower waters tho? Like they're all swimming away from something. I don't like it, I hope one of these things from Neptune isn't gonna fuck up the rivers like.

[XALA] gives a loud annoyed sigh.

-You're about to find the Space Godslayer Kraken and I'm not gonna be there to see it. He laments. Why not just like sneak me on the boat next time? Just lie and say we're gonna float on the river, come ooonn it's been ages wince we've been fishing together.

-Oh has it? Took replies with a sly smile. You were so bad at it I hardly noticed having to pick up your workload.

If [XALA] had the structural integrity to punch Took's arm then now is when he would do so.

-Seriously tho [XALA] you know I can't, just enjoy your dossing of and get better mate.

-No come on, it was what I looked forward to every day, kept me going. I loved hearing your stories about the old refuge and pissing you off by explaining anything newer then a decade old. The breeze of the riverside, having some tinnies afterwards, it was so mint. Come on just one time? I even learnt how to like extend my arm into a spear? Like put my bone at the end, that's gotta be good for stockpiling on fish!

Even as [XALA] protests, Took can see that he's leaning forward ever so slightly with every passing word. Actually, that implies that ALL OF HIM is leaning forward, as opposed to a very visible split between the weight of his front half being unable to be supported by the back. Eventually his speak becomes unintelligible, and he slumps into the table in front of him like custard. He's all in his own drink and everything. Took rolls his eyes at this display, as he comes around to [XALA]'s side of the seat. He grabs whatever he can of the mashed potatoes in front of him and holds it to his side. This is a song and dance he's done many times before, the absolute shapes he's had to cradle lately, it's become second nature. He gets out a syringe from his pocket, or at least what we'd recognize as one after the top has been popped off. The needle slowly comes up, and the blue liquid inside starts to glow after the slight contact with air. Took aims the top of this somewhere inside [XALA] somewhere it can reach the deepest part of him.

After administering the shot, he tightens his grip on [XALA] as the glowing blue goo begins to form more solidly. It stretches out into several tendrils that looks like from an outsider's glance to grab on to all differing parts of [XALA]. As the goo starts to thicken, the grip these tendrils have becomes stronger, as it all starts to pull this mess back together into the shape of a man. Took knows the moment [XALA] can support himself again, but still keeps him in his grasp, softly repeating that it's going to be okay. Of course, deep down Took is fighting an anxiety that THIS is the time where [XALA] is too far gone and THIS is the time it isn't going to work. This ritual is likely as much for The Kobold as it is for [XALA]. Eventually, his grip does release as [XALA] becomes Person Shaped again. Took slaps him on the back some.

-Rest. The Kobold repeats.

[XALA] slumps into his seat, very visually embarrassed at the whole affair. How many L's must the Churn of Idiot catch today in his quest to prove how I'm Fine he is? Took leaves him to sulk to himself as he pops into the gents quickly.