Xaviers!

"Trying new things," she says, moving forward and hugging him. It was a little awkward, she obviously wasn't used to the gesture. "It just sounded like you could use one."

Will was at first very gentlemanly about the hug, noting Natalie's..discomfort was the wrong word, but lack of experience. After a moment, though, he put his head down on Natalie's shoulder, and the soft sound of crying filled the underground cavern.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to unload..."

"No, no, it's good," she says, getting a bit more comfortable now that she's here, "You need to talk and I can, no will, I will listen."

"Back home, this'd be a job for my wife. Or my therapist, when she was tired of it," Will said, taking an unnecessary deep breath to steady himself. "I'm a bitch to understand, and it's unfair for me to expect anyone here to just get me. It took years of careful negotiations back home! It's just...bleh."

He was doing his best to hold it back together after his outburst, and was not doing the world's worst job -- sometimes, you've just got to let it out.

"But you need people who get at least part of you as a place to start," she says, "That was a hard lesson for me to learn. So these people you mentioned, do they at least get part of you?"

"They do. They all do. And that's part of my problem; I'm being an ass by not accepting that and instead wishing for more. I'm working on it."

"I'd say more that you should use what they do get as a building block for the more you wish for, but that's unsolicited advice." Natalie was definitely still Natalie.

"Maybe you're right. But like I said, Miriam just took too many liberties, and the Wolves backed off when I took to many liberties. It's just...it's a hard balancing act to walk, I know. And the burden's on me to walk it."

"Well, you do have to walk it, but at least you have someone to talk to about it now, right?"

"Yeah. It doesn't solve anything, but maybe it's a more healthy way of dealing with things than driving a circuit around the country. I think Miriam's going to be pissed at a couple speeding tickets," he said, with one laugh.

"Nothing wrong with getting out and being active," she says, "though I'm not one to talk on that front, but maybe a variety of coping mechanisms is in order. I know I'm working on building my own stable of those."

Will took a step back from the hug and dabbed at his eyes for a moment. "Oh? Do tell.

I suppose that's what the back room is for."

"A bit. I've been sending the others out in rotation so that we're not all in here all the time. Well, we still sort of are, connected and all, but having multiple heads connected to mine means I need some space on occasion. Still keeping up with my appointments with Professor Terrance. Stuff like that."

"Keeping yourself grounded makes sense, especially when you've got a massive change in your...well, your whole life, isn't it? I must say, I'm a bit jealous."

"I will likely find some other shortcomings to this situation at some point, but as of now, I am choosing to enjoy it as much as I can."

"I mean, this is pretty damn fancy," Will said, running a finger along one of the exposed crystals. "It's kind of like you are the university now, complete with a small army -- or at least a squad -- of helpers to run things. I mean, that's impressive as all get out."

"Ashlie said this was a responsibility that I took from her and she was more than happy to give it up. I'm happy to take it. I'm always just a ping away." She grins.

"She hasn't given you the Headmistress title, has she? I'd ask her, but I think she's too busy being fascinated by toenail growth at the moment," Will joked.

She laughs, "No. I'm just Point and network admin, mostly. We're still figuring out that relationship as well."

"Well, here's to finding our purpose. May we all be so lucky," he smiled.

"Lucky is definitely how I would describe it," she says, "And anytime you need a place to hide, you can come here."

"You said you're always a ping away. You're not like Alexa or something, right; I shouldn't just come bug you when I need to Google something?" he smiled.

"Depends on what you need to Google. Threats to the world? Sure. Best reviewed restaurant in Maldon? Maybe use your phone," she chuckles.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Natalie.

And thank you, Natalie." he added after a moment's pause.

"You are welcome, Will," she says, smiling. "Thank you for coming to check on me."

"What are friends for," Will smiled, giving a wave as he made his way back towards the surface.

Natalie smiles and waves back, the gesture causing the drill robot to fire up again and keep working into the wall.