A Lesson in Fun

[Will Stanton]

"Does your fur not help protect you?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"A little but clouds are really wet, it turns out!"

[Will Stanton]

"I bet that's no fun, then."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I only tried once and didn't get through. I bet it's awesome if you can actually get above the clouds."

[Will Stanton]

"It sounds really awesome. You'll have to show me sometime."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I don't know if I could really carry someone that high..." she says, briefly forgetting that the person she's talking to is a shapeshifter.

[Will Stanton]

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'm negligible, when I'm not being useful.

I used to sneak out to the all-terrain vehicle and load up the night before the teams would go out to take a reading or collect samples. There were some amazing things out there."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Oh right! Yeah, I could totally carry a cue ball up there. What kind of stuff did you see? Isn't it just mostly snow and ice in Antarctica?"

[Will Stanton]

"Oh, not at all. The penguins alone are amazing, even if you're not a fan of breathtaking views. Plus, there's hot springs and all kinds of stuff. It's really quite...peaceful."

[Nailah Weaver]

"And the cold didn't bother you?"

[Will Stanton]

"Oh, not at all. If anything, it's too warm up here," he said, tugging at the collar of his uniform.

[Nailah Weaver]

"What? No way dude!" she chuckles. "It's way too chilly here for September."

[Will Stanton]

"Yes, 'way'. It's really awkward.

Not that I don't like the heat! It's just...not what I'm used to. I'll just have to adapt again."

[Onyx]

"That is an excellent attitude, sir," Onyx says.

[Will Stanton]

"Thank you! It's new!"

[Nailah Weaver]

"You seem like you'd be pretty good at adapting." Nailah nods.

[Will Stanton]

"I try! I bet it will go better this time, too."

[Onyx]

"Better than what?" Onyx asks.

[Will Stanton]

"Better than the last time I met people for the first time."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Well you already met us for the first time and that went pretty okay. Except for the part where you were naked." she chuckles.

[Will Stanton]

"I still don't understand the problem."

[Onyx]

"It is against the law, sir," Onyx shrugs. "You have to follow the law."

Apparently, that was the only problem Onyx has with public nudity.

[Will Stanton]

"I suppose I can't argue with that."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Plus clothes are fun! It's a way to make yourself look ... different. Okay, maybe that's a bad example." she laughs, realizing what she's saying halfway through actually saying it.

[Will Stanton]

"Well, I've only got the one set."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Wait, what? Seriously? No wonder you think clothes suck if all you got are army digs!"

[Will Stanton]

"What's wrong with army..."digs"?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"They're boring. Snazzy, but boring. You need some more clothes!"

[Will Stanton]

"Where would I get more clothes? Do I ask the headmistress for some of those unstable things?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"If you wanna swap your uniform for a different one, sure. Or you go to a store and buy some that you actually like!"

[Will Stanton]

"I've never bought things before..." he said, musing.

[Onyx]

"It will be a good experience for you," Onyx says. "Besides, it is common sense to have more than one set of clothing. I have seven uniforms. One for every day of the week."

[Will Stanton]

"Why don't you just wash your uniform regularly?"

[Onyx]

"They require special care," Onyx says. "It takes some time and it is expensive. Also, if something happens to one, I can wear another while I am making repairs."

[Will Stanton]

That seems to click for a moment. "Oh, of course, when you're not wearing one, you have to be wearing another one. I didn't think about that.

When I'm washing my clothes, I'm washing my clothes. I don't need to be wearing anything for that."