#deceitus vortex

"What are you?" The worker blinks. There is no way, it can't have figured it out this swiftly, "What do you mean, I'm a human--" "The fuck you are," It bares its teeth at the worker and even though hive has reported humans show teeth to one another in a positive manner it is uncertain if this is the case here. It shouldn't have happened this quick…it can't fight in this state, can't flee. No no no. It sags a bit, swaying on its feet. "I am a human, I have no earthly idea why you'd think otherwise." "No idea, really?" Virgil says with a strained laugh, "how about let's start with the fact that you stole my fucking face?" “That—would it not be possible for fellow humans to have the same features?” It has no idea that Virgil is finding its appearance like peering at uncanny CGI of your own face. It is wrong to see it crumple in uncertainty. It is possible this face stealer truly doesn't know. After all, unless it was toying with him it would be really stupid to try fooling him with his own face. "I mean, technically? But I know I don't, so." Leader would instruct it to get back to hive at all costs. Worker doesn't know if it can kill the human…if it wants to do that. "Oh…I definitely knew that." It says, a cold shudder encapsulating its body. It is pushing itself to maintain this form with its injuries. It doesn't know how many humans are within this ship...surely this human has a hive. It can't surely take on a single human, let alone a few dozen. “Yeah… Clearly… Uh. You can just turn back you know. Into whatever alien version you are .. I'm pretty…used to alien bodies? Wouldn't want you to pass out or anything if that injury is...bad…” Perhaps this human is a leader? It would explain why it knew immediately. It would be wise to heed its words for now. Janus's body molds back into its proper self, the gash in its carapace and its right second arm bent at a weird angle. Smaller cuts are scattered throughout his body. It is a few inches taller than Virgil but it ends up kneeling from the pain and exhaustion. Virgil's eyes widen at the state it's in, letting out a gasped "Holy shit." The carapace bits is like Logan's but—there's fluff too, kind of like a bee? Floofed at the connecting neck, wrists, ankles…way bigger than some bee though, wow— And also kneeling from presumably pain. Shit. What is he supposed to do? This isn't one of his crew, it's some stranger but they're hurt? What does he do? It doesn't seem like it's faking these injuries. It seemed to think the best way to get help was to pretend to be human, probably doesn't have anywhere else to go…fuck. Which is how he gets a delirious bandaged up alien sprawled across his lap, drawn in by the warmth and soft touches.

So Virgil has no idea how he's explaining this to the crew, who left him on the ship while they went to collect supplies/information. Meanwhile Janus is making self-satisfied chortling noises, leaning into the human's pets of its floof. It is fully convinced Virgil is the Leader of his hive and it somehow earned this leader's direct care and attention, still successfully in fooling the human somehow.

The Crew arrive to find their Deathworlder somehow procured the trust and adoration of a creature of horrors, a monstrous entity he somehow tamed?? Virgil gets told the Deceitus are supposed to be vicious mindless creatures...clearly not the case just like it wasn't with him.

Fun hijinks ensue with language barriers (Janus doesn't know common, just English), Logan having a telepathic buddy, Patton curiously optimistic about another deathworlder buddy, and Roman having none of the personal trauma regarding the Deceitus but still!! The stories!! The fact Virgil tamed it surprisingly easily...

As for 9. That WIBAR AU with Kid Virgil Except Also Baby Deceitus is There, this one is an AU of The End of Being Alone

Essentially, Deceitus young are expected to be Workers are soon as they develop wings, enter baby Janus who has a small defect with its wings and gets lost/abandoned on the same planet that Kid Virgil happens to be on. It is starving and unsure of how to forage for itself and upon seeing a young human, decides to present itself as an adult human in the hopes of gaining its trust and therefore access to its food.

Virgil doesn't instinctively trust this strange adult human, it takes a few attempts by Janus. Seems weirdly bad at lying and naïve about things...Virgil has to teach this dumb dumb adult how to camouflage and hide his human traits better.

There's something there...Virgil doesn't know what it is, until they're thrown in danger one day and Janus sheds its human form to protect Virgil.

Janus is injured and feverish from infection...expects to be abandoned by Virgil but instead the human stubbornly keeps giving it food and trying its best to tend to its wounds. Virgil was told not to trust any alien, but the Humlits are good and while Janus did pretend to be human (something an evil alien would do) he did protect Virgil and tries rejecting food for Virgil's sake so, he has to be good.

Virgil is much more squirrely and guarded when he encounters the others in this one since he is hiding away Janus and is unsure if he trusts them to not hurt Janus.

At the same time, more inclined to take their food as is needed for Janus. The others probably think there's some food insecurity going on there, given Virgil's tendency to keep the food for "later" and not always eating it directly in front of them.

Eventually Virgil gradually gets closer with the others and Janus's condition is only worsening, so eventually has to reveal Janus to them in hopes they'll provide help. He is hysterical when he is told they will need to bring Janus to the ship to receive proper care.