I2: Feet of Clay

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:09 pm

"That much is always true, no matter what else is or isn't. You're you. It's nice to meet just you, Sam," he grinned.

"It's been some time."

THAT voice came behind her, to her left. Will Stanton stood there, in what was clearly some sort of X-Team uniform, though not any that Sam had seen before. She had her hair cropped back in a neat ponytail, and she stood in a ready pose, at attention, with her arms behind her back.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:13 pm

"Miriam didn't say anything about this. Were you lot... hiding?"

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:16 pm

Wonka-Will laughed. "Miriam doesn't say a lot of things. But in this case, no, we weren't hiding.

"Not worthy of seeing us, she was, a third, gruff male voice sad from behind her and to her right.

If she turned to look, she might quickly turn away. This Will was distinctly without clothes, with wild, ragged green hair flowing down his back. He was adorned in war paint and tattoos, and muscular as all get out. He probably lifted, bro.

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:20 pm

"Well she was... just trying to help Will. She meant well."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:21 pm

"She did! She's great. No hard feelings, aye? This just isn't really a place for her.

She reminds us of someone we used to know."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:23 pm

"It's not a place for anybody. I mean... yeah, Will's got like no boundaries, but it's still Will's mind."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:24 pm

"I'll admit, if I knew we'd be having company, I'd have tidied the place up a bit," Will laughed. "It's seen better days. Ah well, you do what you have to do to survive, I suppose."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:27 pm

"I'm sorry. I was just worried. I didn't think I'd have to deal with..."

"...well, you know, that thing," she says, gesturing at the box.

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:31 pm

"You like it? I'll admit, it was a bit of a rush-job, but I think it's held up quite nicely, considering it's age."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:38 pm

"It feels... like it's meant to attract me."

"But it's not from here, is it?"

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:40 pm

"I'm afraid you have your cause and effect reversed, ma'am. The fact that it attracts you is an unintended side effect, and we apologize for any inconvenience that it may cause you."

"'Here' is such a nebulous term. I mean, what DOES belong here? Where IS here? WHEN is here? Does HERE belong here?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:44 pm

"Miriam thought I made it, but I'm... I just don't have the skill."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:45 pm

"Oh, no, don't worry about taking credit for that. We built it.

We just followed your lead."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:53 pm

"But I'm not... he hasn't known me that long."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:55 pm

"Well, yes and no. It's a bit wibbly-wobbly. But I suppose you're right. We haven't known YOU for very long at all.

But then, we've been around the block a few times."

by **Samantha McManus** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:57 pm

"I know he's older than he seems."

"This looks like it's keeping something safe."

by **Will Stanton** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:59 pm

"Oh, hadn't you guessed by now? It's us."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:01 am

"What, you were in that? But I didn't... it was locked!"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:09 am

"We still ARE in that. It's STILL locked. You haven't opened it."

"Yet," the third one grumbled.

"You see, we're less here than normal. Less here than you're here. Here, try to touch us. Go on, try.

Don't worry, we don't bite unless asked."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:12 am

"So what, you're trying to trick me into opening Pandora's Box?" She asks suspiciously, opting to try to touch the uniformed Will, who seems like the most sane of the bunch.

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:14 am

Sam's hand passed right through her! That...

OK, maybe in a mindscape that doesn't violate the laws of physics as much as you might expect.

"Not Pandora. Wrong pantheon, ma'am."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:16 am

"I told you, I'm not who you think I am!"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:18 am

"No, you're just Sam. You said so yourself! I'm not sure I've ever met just Sam," WonkaWill teased. "Why wouldn't we believe you, just because we have so much more experience than you could possibly comprehend?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:21 am

"Look, I'm just... frustrated. Believe me, I'm glad you're protecting him... however you're managing that."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:24 am

"You're flipping things around. We ARE him. Believe me, this is entirely self interest."

"He's what's left when we were forced into shelter."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:26 am

"So what you were saying is... if you were loose he'd have better defenses? Things wouldn't... rampage through all this glop before getting to you?"

"I mean, I'm not sure how I feel about... loosing things in people."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:31 am

"We've been ravaged before, but the imps didn't do this. We didn't enter shelter this afternoon. We can handle a few things loose in the belfry. This was a last resort."

"And, while we're being honest, you--I'm sorry, I mean, NOT just Sam, but our Lady and friend--had to come in and do a bit of rekajiggering a couple times even when we WERE up. Shields have never been our strong suit; we've always been an open book. We got better, as our status improved of course, but don't think that the three of us being back would exactly make everything watertight."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:35 am

"But it's... a start, I guess."

"I don't know. I don't think I'd wish the feeling of... things waking up on him."

"...nothing personal, mind you."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:38 am

"Well, you hardly know us. I'd love for you to stick around and find out. Mi casa es su casa and all," WonkaWill grinned.

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:40 am

"Right now I just want Will to have some peace after what he's been through."

"He deserves to, regardless of me acting like a head-case about it."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:48 am

"There IS no peace. Everything is conflict. Everything is strife," NekkidWill grinned. "The strong walk through trials and come out, tempered and strong on the other side."

"Too bad they don't come out wearing pants. We have COMPANY, for God's sake."

"We've been through more than you know. We've suffered great loss, and are just beginning to try to put it together. But we're not complete yet."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:58 am

"...and there's also the worry that if I let you loose, Will is going to start running around without trousers."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:59 am

SavageWill gave Sam a glare at that one.

"Well, you could always ask nicely"

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:02 am

"...anyway, can I... sleep on it? I mean, can he sleep on it?"

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:04 am

Nekked WIll was about to growl something in response, but UniformWill stepped in first.

"We've been waiting a long time. We can wait as long as you need."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:06 am

"I'm not... trying to frustrate you. Just I'm... not really sure all my impulses are good ones."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:07 am

"In my experience, they always were.

But then, I suppose I've never dealt with JustSam before."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:09 am

"Well you've caught me at a weird time in my life," she admits.

"But I will be back."

by **Will Stanton** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:09 am

"Oh, if you want to avoid weird times, you won't come back.

If you want a friend who will stick with you through thick and thin, however..."

by **Samantha McManus** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:15 am

"I don't think... not being weird is going to be an option for me."

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