After spending a month in the ocean, her home didn't exactly feel the same. It was a quaint place- she'd saved up enough to maintain things while she was gone. All the blinds were still folded. Dust coated most surfaces. artificial plants curled on countertops and end tables. Animal action shots adorned the walls. The artificial scent of nature still lingered from automatic dispensers. In the beginning, Galatea thought it'd make her feel closer to Life. Now the scent made her stomach churn.
All of these false things would be gone, by the end of the day. But Galatea had a more important task first- she was here for the mirror room. It had been relatively easy to arrange-a modified walk-in closet, hidden behind a bookcase, with just enough space for a few touches. The contraption to open it still worked, and as the Orphan walked in she was met with reflections. Several mirrors lined the room, and the only light came from candles. Once they were all lit, and the door was closed behind her, Galatea was finally able to calm down.
Returning to city life would be difficult. Noisier. Her aquatic skin wouldn't always be practical- her future foes wouldn't be animals, and she couldn't just waltz around as a Shark Morph for comfort. She'd need to adapt, publicly and privately. As Galatea pulled out her signature mirror, she prepared to take the first step.
"Proteus, grant me the skin to thrive among this chittering jungle of concrete and steel"
failure
A new form wouldn't be as easy to create. Luckily, she'd studied raccoons long enough that the form was familiar enough to emulate. The furred pattern enveloped her body, face changing ever so slightly as an inky mask covered the eyes, the change ending with a bushy tail for envy's sake. A few minutes of admiration in the mirror, adjusting to the walk and gait, the feel of an entirely new skin. A body suitable for the city. Once that was done, she got to work.
The dispensers were tossed. Artwork broken down. Fake plants pleasantly crushed. The Air Conditioning was turned on as all surfaces were dusted and carpets vacuumed. Pleasantly humming and buzzing about, the Thyrsus' work ended an hour later with several full bags of crap in the garage. She'd make sure it was disposed of properly later- but it would do for now. Content with the work, Galatea stretched on the couch and started a documentary on raccoons, munching on some chips that'd gone stale. The changes would fade, they always did. The experience would not.
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