Homebodies

A beautiful beach-side town in a vaguely Californian climate full of colorful characters and whacky hijinks! Though at night not everything is as it seems...

Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Tue Feb 13, 2018 1:44 am

The VW Beetle pulled up in front of the Stanton home, likely breaking several traffic rules as it went. The car tucked and rolled, shifting back into Will as he bounded up the steps into his home.

"Sam? Sam!" Will called. But no, it was empty -- of course it was empty; Sam was out doing errands. That's how it worked. That's how it always worked. And then they'd come back together and have dinner, and sit on the couch and watch television, and then it would start again. That's how it worked.

Will idly rubbed his ring finger -- three rings, identical except for the different colored gemstones set in each one. One for each Sam. Each one of his Sam's. Rubbing the rings always gave him calm, even when he found himself in the middle of a wacky scenario -- they grounded him, brought him back to reality. Though he was loath to admit it, it being rather emasculating in this Keep-Up-With-the-Joneses sort of world, he rather liked being domestic, and he'd just as soon leave his job at the confectionery and stay home all day long. But then who would bring home the bacon? Ah well, there were worse lives.

Stepping through the kitchen, and the romper room, and the den, Will headed up the stairs, stopping to look at the pictures on the walls. A rather overwhelmed Will in the middle of three beautiful brides. The trip to Lake Chinook, lying along the beach. A camping trip in Ireland -- where they had been caught in that terrible rainstorm, drenched to the bone. It was everything they could have ever wanted.

Will ran his finger alongside the wedding photo, closing his eyes. It was alright. Everything was going to be alright.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:40 pm

Will sees a crow alight on the tree outside.

Then another.

Then, yet another.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:48 pm

Will looks outside, seeing the gathering of crows. He took an involuntary step backwards, his breathing increasing rapidly.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:51 pm

As Will watches, the crows continue to land until nearly every branch bears one.

Then, in eerie unison, they all turn to regard the window.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:53 pm

Will hustled upstairs, into the bedroom. Headed for the right-most of the four beds, he quickly shrunk down and slid so he could fit under it. Protection!
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:30 pm

Through the curtains, Will sees one of the crows do an odd sort of swoon, then fall off its branch. Another follows shortly, then in twos and threes until he can no longer see any crows in the tree.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:35 pm

Carefully, Will crawled forward to the window, and pulled himself up over the edge, to peek outside.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:36 pm

Outside, Will can see his wives laying in the yard, passed out.

Naked.

Scandalously naked!

So scandalously naked that censor bars hover unceremoniously over them.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:38 pm

Will blinked.

"Gosh darn it!" he cried, opening the window and jumping down to the side of Sam, Sam and Sam, checking to make sure they were alright first and foremost, whatever the neighbors might think.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:58 pm

They don't seem overly harmed. There's some minor scratches on them as one might expect from having fallen on the ground, but none of their limbs are at odd angles and they're certainly breathing.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:15 pm

Step two was getting them inside, out of the prying eyes of neighbors. This was the sort of thing that could lead to gossip for God knows how many years to come!


One by one, Will draped the Sam's over his shoulders in a fireman carry -- a sort of Samwich, as it were -- and staggered his way into the house, trying to avoid bashing their heads on the door frame as he maneuvered them into the den.

Black-haired Sam, he lay down on the couch. Red-haired Sam got two armchairs pushed together. White-haired Sam got the floor, because gosh darn it, there was only so much furniture available!

He ran upstairs to get some blankets to cover them, and then into the kitchen to brew some coffee. This seemed like something you could fix with coffee.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:52 pm

The Sams slowly stir.

"Nnh..."

"What the...?"

"Where are we?"
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:57 pm

"Home," Will said, simply, handing the red-haired Sam a strong cup of black coffee. "You're safe, now."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Feb 15, 2018 4:12 am

"I think we were headed to the shoe shop."

"But we got lost."

"Which isn't like us."
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Thu Feb 15, 2018 4:37 am

"Did you, uh.


Were you going to go clothes shopping, too?" Will asked, mildly.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:11 pm

"Oh god, we're... we're..."

"...that isn't right at all."

"Do you think someone slipped us a Mickey Finn?"
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Thu Feb 15, 2018 7:18 pm

"I'm...not sure.

Weird things are going on, Sam. I got to work, and it was destroyed. I called the police, but no one was there. Something's happening to our paradise, and I..." he trailed off, rubbing RedSam's shoulder.

"It's going to be alright. It's all going to be alright. I'm here for you, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you, OK? I'm not going to let anyone end our happiness."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:44 pm

"That's horrible!"

"Do you think it's a crime wave?"

"What are you going to do about it?"
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:50 pm

"I think...I think it's more than just a crime wave," Will said, carefully. "I don't know who, and I don't know why, but someone's out to....do something to us. To break us apart. To...to destroy what we have here.

As for what we're going to do? My gut says to get you into a car and drive, somewhere they can't find us. Until...until this blows over. But that's...I don't know. Maybe we wait here, in the bomb shelter, and make whoever is doing this come to us."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:58 pm

"Dear, you were many things when you married us,"

"But we never thought you were..."

"...well, a coward."
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:01 pm

"A coward? Sam, I would die for you. I would do anything in your name.


But I can't lose you. Not again."

Will slumped his shoulders, resting his head on RedSam.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:10 pm

"You only get to keep the things you fight for," all three say in unison.
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:12 pm

"And I will stop whoever tries to take you from me. To take this from us.

I swore I would. Honor and cherish."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:36 pm

"We know what you swore."

"We know you're afraid."

"Why?"
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:42 pm

"Fear keeps us on our toes," Will dodged. "A little fear, a little adrenaline in the bloodstream makes everything a bit sharper."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:22 pm

"But that's the trouble, isn't it?"

"You can fear for a lifetime,"

"Or you can fear for the moments it takes until you confront it."
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Fri Feb 16, 2018 10:27 pm

"If there was something to confront, Sam, that would be one thing. Not everything can be solved by punching, especially when there's no one to punch.

It'll all be OK, though. We're just going to wait here until something happens. We can deal with it, then. Together."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:09 am

"Well, should we go down to the police station?"

"There has to be a reason they weren't answering."

"Wouldn't it be better to know?"
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:27 am

Will looked at Sam for a long moment, quietly.

"Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay here with me? To just...let this all slide off our backs and enjoy life for what it is?"
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:30 pm

"How easy is it to enjoy when it's threatened?"

"Your heart's not in it after what happened to the bakery, I can tell."

"Whistling past the graveyard isn't for us."
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Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:32 pm

Will slumped his shoulders, staring at the ground.

"Get your coat. We'll head to the police station."
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:44 pm

"We'll be with you all the way," she says as all three file upstairs to get dressed.

"And we'll make whoever wrecked the bakery regret it."

"So that when we return it'll feel like a home again."
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User avatar
Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves

Re: Homebodies

Postby Will Stanton » Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:46 pm

"No. It won't," Will said, giving a shuddering sigh, as he went out the front door to wait for Sam, idling as the beetle in the driveway.
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Will Stanton
Student
 
High Concept: Pillsbury Clayboy
Aspect: Needs to be Useful/Used
Aspect: Out of Place, Out of Time
Aspect: Unique Worldview
Aspect: Big Ball of Trauma
Aspect: Open-Hearted

Re: Homebodies

Postby Samantha McManus » Mon Feb 19, 2018 9:22 pm

The three don't take long to emerge. They're dressed the way Will remembers them. There's not a hair out of place as heels click down the walk in time. With eerie synchronicity they all get into the VW.

"Let's ride."
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User avatar
Samantha McManus
Student
 
High Concept: Waking Goddess
Aspect: Enraptured by Violence
Aspect: Made of Nightmares
Aspect: Not Crazy
Aspect: Driven by Wolves



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