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Comfydant 505-word fanfic challenge
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Published:
2022-06-15
Words:
512
Chapters:
1/1
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29
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330

Inconvenience, Juiceless

Summary:

Fulgur trying to avoid angsting about the inevitability of his cybernetics losing power and how it might affect those around him. Attempting to write a little something for https://505writingchallenge.carrd.co/ prompt #3, Recharging

Notes:

I don't write much fiction so be kind <3

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Fulgur woke up feeling heavy.

If only he could recharge properly! In his sleep, like he used to in his own time. He was getting tired of it, this constant need to stay in power-saving mode. It kept his limbs from moving normally, and it always took them a few seconds to turn on enough to get out of bed. It was bad enough that everyone kept telling him that they'd be there to support him when the battery finally ran out on his cybernetics. Not that Fulgur didn't appreciate his new family offering to care for him when he inevitably ends up burdening them, he did, he really did appreciate that. But damn if it didn't sting, that creeping knowledge that there would be a day where he wouldn't even be able to turn the page of a book with his own hands. As long as he stayed in this time, surrounded by people who genuinely care for him, he would run out eventually.
With a sigh, he swings his legs out from under his sheets to rest his shoe-feet on the ground. I'll just have to make do, no use wasting time fretting about the future. Better to make the most of today, while my health is good and everything electronic is working. A grim nod, a deep breath, and he stood, ready to start his day.


He was only barely able to finish eating his breakfast of leftover takoyaki before the itching started."A normal side effect of the augmentation," the doctors had assured him, "You'll get used to it, and of course, the neural connections in the limbs themselves will help alleviate some of the discomfort." He groans in annoyance, moving to the bathroom. How could the doctors have known that one of their patients would be on long-term low power mode, unable to benefit from the itch override built into his cyberlimbs. That sort of discomfort alleviating feature was one of the ones deemed "non-essential" during power-saving mode. Thank fuck Uki knew all about helpful lotions and moisturizers that he could spread around the limb dock sites.

300 years from now it would be standard practice to install a limb docking unit into an amputation site to minimize the need for grafting skin from other parts of the body onto the new stump. The dock supposedly shortened the recovery time from previous cybernetic installations. It also facilitated limb customization, so that folks could easily upgrade or switch out limbs based on their budget and needs. These days, it just made Fulgur's limbs easier to remove for shenanigans and cleaning.

It takes all of his willpower to not scratch by the time he reaches his bathroom. Doing his best to ignore his dry skin, he pulls out Uki's favourite moisturizer, sinks to the linoleum floor, and applies a copious amount to the edges of every limb stump and his throat filter. "Ahhh...that's better..." He leans his silvered head against the wall, frustrated at how much he always had to do to feel even a little bit normal.

Notes:

Headcanon time \o/ I've seen a sort of limb docking site feature in some fanarts and I really really like the idea that the limb dock exists on the actual stump/amputation site rather than the limb directly interfacing in to the flesh and bone. Less FullMetal Alchemist where the limb hooks directly in to the bone and muscle tissue, more like a Switch Joycon slotting in to a specific spot on the console itself.