William/WilliamCure

William and the StrangeVirus Cure

Summary: Sweet William is cured of the StrangeVirus, but what is left is mere confusion, a 14th Century Italian boy utterly lost in the Puzzlebox with Houm as his guide.

Log edited to remove material not related to the Cure. It should be noted, for the benefit of the reader, that not all those expressing opinions or data may be said to be in possession of the entirety of the information regarding this matter. In short, Caveat Emptor!

Puzzle Park You are standing on a ring of holofinished chrome, part of a huge orrery model. The orrery, a hundred meters across, is a stylized representation of the Puzzlebox structure itself, in a chaotic state of perpetual construction. The web of broad orbital rings, arcing topopolitic strands and slender orbital towers turns in a slow, stately orbit, making perhaps one full revolution an hour.

At the center of the orrery is the sun, a hemisphere of sun-yellow translucent plastic that serves as a stage. Fluorescent gas filling the hemisphere glows bright and warm. At the edges of the structure are soft but impregnable wallfields. The orrery hangs suspended inside a sphere, on whose inner surface is projected a swirling mass of color and form. Rainbow fractals melt against sheets of pink flame, liquid copper circuits wriggle and swarm over blooming electric flowers.

Ascending from the center of the sun-hemisphere is... something like a tree, only its trunk and branches are gleaming rectilinear chrome, and its leaves slowly turning cubes of holographic foil that dazzle any onlooker with bright flashes of reflected color. At the base of the "tree" there's a dark circular [hole]. Installed inside is a disc-shaped lift that raises and lowers at resident's will, to carry passengers to and from the Transit Nexus below.

Contents: Atsuko Flyte Squeak System Ataxia Gender Catalog Infosprite [Fake] Puzzlebox Message Board [Fake]

Flyte pads over towards Atsuko around the same time the balloon most likely intersects a sharp part of the orrery. Assuming nothing interferes with the otherwise hightly predictable trajectory, the contents of the balloon should land in the hastily instantiated bowl of water around.. now.

William says to Flyte "I do not care, tell them what happened with Sosael!" He watches the balloon head upwards for a moment, then tilts his head as it pops to release a silvery fish into the bowl of water.

System chuckles quietly to (him)self, nuzzling Ataxia.

Squeak circles around behind Ataxia and System, peering from his hidden spot and watching William.

Atsuko squeaks in dismay, pulling back. "A fish?" She eyes William, and then pulls her knees up, resting her chin on them. "Never mind," she whispers to herself.

Flyte murmurs, "I have no need to relate it, except as an indication that you are, indeed, Strange-tainted."

Flyte examines the silver fish through the pristine glass bowl.

System glances to Flyte. "I know conditions under which even William could be repaired. A shame he is not here."

Houm rises onto the central platform on the lift from the Transit Nexus. Houm has arrived.

System pauses. "I spoke too soon. Greetings, Houm."

William sings "I like fish. Fish I like. Fish in a dish!" He patters up to the Cube Tree and begins climbing it quickly, agile tail coiling around sections. William moves _fast_. He says "Fish!"

Houm ripples a curious purple, obviously surprised, though by what is unclear.

Flyte murmurs, "I had heard rumours they were related, System, but I don't know the details."

Atsuko watches people move with wide eyes and a faintly dismayed expression.

System states quietly, "It is fortunate you are here, Houm. William has once more emerged from Strangewarp. Flyte, Houm is a portion of William's mind- specifically, those elements most connected to Charm-fashion values. Somehow, they were seperated, long ago."

Squeak is hidden mostly behind Ataxia and System, he watches William some more, squeeaking softly as if he's trying to catch the tune of the fish song.

System states quietly, "William's vulnerability to the Virus stems in large part from the fact that he is... incomplete."

Flyte murmurs, "I see, System. An interesting puzzle. Of course, perhaps neither of them wish to merge anymore.." Flyte murmurs, "I must interrupt. Atsuko, do you wish the fish recovered before William reaches the top of the tree? You should tell me now if so.""

Houm seems to glare a little at System, rippling and shifting taller, retaining all cloudlike features. "Houm is not /pieces/."

System smiles marginally. "Houm desires it, I know. More than anything else, I believe.

Houm bubbles, "Houm is /Houm/. Creation, yes. /Pieces/ not!"

William writhes himself up high into the Cube Tree, having fled past the fish and bowl. The silvery creature in the water flicks around, bizarrely spined but otherwise apparently a mostly normal canal fish from Strange Warp. William peers down at the group, and shows his innocent, harmlessly pointed teeth "Oh, such lies."

Atsuko shakes her head. "Oh, my, no. No thank you, Flyte."

Squeak stretches out his wings and ruffles them a few times.

Houm melts into a puddle, then reforms, humanoid and masculine.

Flyte murmurs, "Very well. I suppose it IS William's, anyway.." Flyte murmurs, "Houm and William, hrrrm.. Strangewarp puzzles are always so needlessly convoluted."

Atsuko murmurs, "I suppose I should be thankful I did not fracture."

Houm extends a hand to William, crimson rippling in spirals as he turns from System. The crimson stays most definitely focussed in System's direction, body language huffy and irate.

Flyte notes that William has put as much distance as possible between himself and Houm, despite protestations of 'lies'.

William peers down at the fish from his vantage point in the Cube Tree, but is certainly not going near Houm. He sings a short song about fish before his scorpion's tail coils around a branch, keeping himself in place. He does squint at Flyte "Needless according to who?"

Flyte murmurs, "Me, of course. Did I pretend it was anything but an opinion, Sweet William?" Flyte smiles all saintly-like.

Atsuko giggles softly, covering her mouth to stifle it and staying curled up on her bench, wrapped around herself.

William nods to Flyte "Yes, you did."

Squeak flaps his wings a few times, squeak?ing curiously.

Flyte blinks. Flyte murmurs, "...no, I didn't.""

Houm reaches to start climbing the Cube Tree, following William's path with a fluid grace only a boneless being could have. "Down from there, come now."

Squeak looks up at William and flaps his wings again.

William says to Flyte "Oh yes you did!" His eyes brighten as though he is trying to play some kind of game. However as Houm starts to climb, William begins to edge out along a branch, tail helping him to balance.

Houm continues climbing, crimson fading into concerned ripples of purple in veins. Apparently, gravity affects Houm in humanoid form.

Morgan rises onto the central platform on the lift from the Transit Nexus. Morgan has arrived.

Flyte murmurs, "...I don't want to see anyone fall out of the Tree, so I am not going to continue, William. You and Houm really do need to work out your differences, that I can see."

Morgan strolls in, whistling something eerily reminiscient to "Camptown Races," of all things. He has a cane in one hand, and a paintbrush, held lazily, in the other. "I say, cheerio, good chaps," he says with the perfect English accent.

William is edging along a branch, high above, trying to avoid Houm who is climbing. William stands on the very edge of what the limb he is on will support, watching Houm with a weird, intent gaze. For once he ignores the other Hemotopian.

Flyte's fields fluctuate and flicker rapidly on the surfaces closest to Ataxia, perhaps responding the the jackal's ever-present entropy and probability distortions.

System simply watches, shaking his head.

Squeak bounds out from his hiding place and circles the base of the tree, squeaking!

Houm creeps closer to William, slowly, posture similar to a man approaching a scared... Something. His hand is extended, fingers outstretched. "Billy..."

System smiles marginally, observing quietly, stifling an involuntary yawn.

William examines the hand. Turns his maroon eyes up towards Houm. And steps off the edge of the Cube Tree. He falls.

Houm dives, with heroic precision, trying to catch William before he's out of reach, re-shifting into an amorphous cloud.

Morgan watches the scene, tucking the paintbrush into a conveniently located pocket- preferably his own- and leaning upon the cane as he watches William's climactic dive.

Ataxia's hands reach out and play, though perhaps its needlessly. The jackal seems to be in her own little world, smiling distantly, but pleasantly.

William is, simply, a creature with much more mass than it seems, and not as diffuse as even as solidified cloud. He folds himself up small, offering little air resistance, quite willing to hit the ground rather than touch Houm. He bounces off one of the Cube Tree's shimmering foil leaves, partially crushing it, then another. A thin branch is snapped before William impacts on the ground. A cloud of dust rises.

Atsuko chokes, trying not to snicker. "Billy."

Squeak bounds around and around and then in his excitement runs right in to Morgan and bounces off with a squeak!

Morgan steps cunningly to the side, attempting to deftly avoid contact with the rubberized tiger. He certainly remembers William's little run-in with said tiger a few days past.

Flyte looks somewhat alarmed. "I'd rather that hadn't happened."

Houm drifts to the ground, passing through branches and leaves, reaching for the fallen William, reforming a hand again only for that purpose.

Flyte notes that the cube tree has already repaired itself, nonetheless, but she hates to see that lovely thing insulted.

System smiles quietly, silently, gazing to Houm and William.

Squeak tumbles over himself and gets to his paws again, he looks up at Morgan and squeaks! A new friend? He sniffs.

Atsuko gets to her feet and peers closer. "Is the Tree okay?"

William does not move, at least not initially. As Houm touches the ground, however, he stands up on swaying feet. His neck is snapped, but, noticably, this is not really slowing him down as much as it should. An equally shattered arm is a different matter. Overbalanced, William looks around for succour and narrows his eyes at Morgan "If this takes me, you are the first one I will come for," he threatens.

Flyte murmurs, "Yes, Atsuko."

Flyte murmurs, "Frostbyte chopped it down once, and it just pops back into place."

Houm drifts back into humanoid shape, reaching softly, taking a slow step forward. "Please, to end the running..."

Atsuko looks relieved. And then looks distressed as William begins threatening again.

Flyte murmurs, "But I view it as... I suppose the best word is sacrilege. The connotations are closest, if not quite right."

System crosses over, moving to interpose (him)self between William and Morgan. "I shall not permit you to interfere, Morgan."

Flyte murmurs, "You're really intent on this, aren't you, System.." Flyte murmurs, "I do hope you've thought through the ethics on this one."

Squeak tumbles over himself and gets to his paws again, he looks up at Morgan and squeaks! A new friend? He sniffs.

System smiles harshly. "Absolutely, Flyte. The calculations are clear."

Atsuko is completely baffled. "Calculations?" she ventures.

Morgan chuckles behind his mask, a look of exultation in his eyes. "You are Hemotopian. Earn you keep, or fall forever."

Houm takes another step forward, slowly and smoothly, expression pleading without features to express it.

Flyte murmurs, "...William"

Flyte shakes her head.. "William once said that his purpose was served.. perhaps this is best."

System states quietly, "Calculations, Atsuko. The net effect of the existence of William in the status quo is compared to possible outcomes from his merge with Houm. All scenarios read a net gain."

Flyte murmurs, "Except for Houm, perhaps, System."

Atsuko's ears swivel, trying to catch every word and puzzle out what's happening. "Oookay.." She nods, and smiles at Morgan. "Which side are you on, good sir?"

William ignores Morgan from that point and examines Houm a moment. There is an odd wind suddenly, rippling up through the Cube Tree. As though something, very big, somewhere else, something very red is breathing. William takes a step backwards "What are you trying to do?" he says to Houm.

System chuckles. "It is what Houm desires, Flyte."

Flyte murmurs, "This is, after all, an ultimately self-destructive urge, after all." Flyte redundants! Ugh.

Houm smiles softly at William. "Mend the hurt."

William points out, limbs broken, neck broken "Dead don't heal."

Houm knits his nonexistent brow, expression concerned. "Death? Were this one dead, this one would not be feeling so strongly on the matter."

Flyte murmurs, "...thats a tough argument to beat."

Squeak squeaksqueaks at Morgan and bounces in place a few times, friends play!

System states quietly, "You will pardon me, Flyte, if I will let even such an entity as Houm make his own decisions. He has not has his will compromised in any fashion, and it is his alpha priority to heal William."

System states quietly, "The fact that the net result of such actions are beneficial to all outside parties worth considering makes the assessment even more clear."

William says to Houm "Do I look alive?"

Flyte murmurs, "I'm not asking you to correct you behaviour and I seriously doubt a pardon from me makes a damn bit of difference to you one way or another."

Morgan chuckles, and wrings his hands atop the cane. "William. Serve me, and I will be your savior." He has no trace of accent, now, the voice more a command than anything else. "You have nowhere else to go."

Flyte murmurs, "You will note I am interfering little here, except to make sure that none try to drag Atsuko into this."

Atsuko wonders, "Why does System get to make choices for anyone?" She edges closer to Flyte.

Houm smiles softly. "The look is unimportant. The feel is important. The thinking, the inside."

System straightens, eyes brightening, voice stern. "You will not interfere, Morgan."

Flyte murmurs, "...might makes right, apparently, Atsuko."

William actually...takes a precious moment, letting Houm get far too close - to flash Morgan an _excessively_ obscene gesture, leering at him "Fuck off."

Flyte kind of admires William for that, but doesn't let it show. =)

Atsuko nods slowly. "They taught us about societies like that, in school on Luna." She giggles at William, shocked and gleeful like the schoolgirl she was a hundred lives ago.

Squeak squeeeaks? at Morgan, this game is not much fun.

System reaches to straighten (his) tie, (his) bearing lordly to match Morgan's own pretensions to nobility, proud and stern and clear-eyed.

Flyte does a funny little head bob, her headcrest feathers rising.

System declares, "This is the ultimate consequence of William's own choices, Morgan, and you shall not interfere."

Morgan turns to face System, without really turning- he simply faces the drone. "You droning, self-righteous fool. Limited in aspect, unwilling to see the truth of reality before your eyes, dedicated to the proposition that cause and effect seem to mean something here. The Merry-Go-Round has broken down, and you're still on it, expecting it to start back up simply because you will it to be so. The more enlightened of us have disposed of our rides, and wander the rest of the park, looking for amusements fitting those who would be brave enough to look for the truth with open eyes."

Houm takes another step in that moment, reaching to stroke William's cheek in a hurried gesture. "That. Is not dead."

Atsuko bursts into spontaneous applause with no actual idea what Morgan just said, but it /sounded/ good.

William is touched by Houm and - well, given Morgan's magnificent speech, whatever is going on with him is almost unnoticable. William shivers...

Flyte decides not to make a technical argument noting the apparent presence, despite Morgan's indignant speech, of at least generally linear causality here.

Houm is simply warm, comforting, gentle to the touch, soft and delicate, motherly and fatherly and everything else in between. He tries to draw forward for an embrace, murmuring softly, a gentle lullaby.

System chuckles coldly to Morgan. "No, Morgan, it is you who is foolish. Cause and consequence still operate, as blind as most choose to make themselves to it. And, it seems, you have -failed-." (He) stands, a pillar, stern and triumphant. "Even now William makes his choice, and choices still hold power. And those who surrender their power of choice to slavery- to the Dolls, to the Toys, to the Virus- show themselves the blindest of all."

William does not move, especially. His eyes are fixed on something in the middle distance. His body has stopped mimicking breathing. He is listening to something, a far away sound, grotesquely distant and faded, a faint murmur of silver bells. Houm easily wraps around the StrangeViralled creature.

Atsuko stage-whispers, "I'm not following the majestic speeches, here."

Morgan chuckles darkly, beside System, still leaning on the cane. He is where he expects to be, after all. He's always been here. "Failure? I see no failure of mine here. I see the way of my brood- take what you will, or fall. If he is not strong enough to resist this, then he is not worthy of being a Hemotopian. But you, oh, you silly, silly creature, you, don't seem to realize the fundamental prospect of life- that we make it so. We dictate reality. The strongest dictate reality for the weaker. The stronger will always decide how the weaker will be, because that is the nature of things."

Flyte scritches her ears, murmurs to Atsuko. "System's speech was slightly more accurate, but loses points for being pretentious, and for showing a certain lack of true understanding about Doll cognitive function."

Houm reaches to mend, not the body but the mind, sharing love and care, warmth and love, every bit of love he has to offer. An offer to re-set bones, to knit them, to sooth the agony.

System glances to Flyte, grinning. "Pretension is necessary when communicating to Morgan. And you are the one who misunderstand the Dolls, as you would know if you knew what I knew about Squeak."

William might feel pain, but given his nature as a Hemotopian, it is impossible to tell how severely effected he might or might not be. Still, he does not object to the offer, or take it, being entirely passive. Limbs are easily healed, if Houm possesses the relevant skills. Inside William something coils and surges, considering, then sinking down and down and down.

Flyte murmurs, "Squeak is only one example." Flyte murmurs, "And a rather extreme one."

Atsuko nods. "I like when Morgan calls System silly, but I think that Morgan isn't right about who controls reality. I've been in the other side of that fence." She frowns, faintly. "Squeak isn't really a doll. He's more of a toy."

System states quietly, "One example, altered against his will, by manipulation by Silverrain."

Squeak hears his name and bounds back towards System, squeak?ing.

System states quietly, "The Doll pretense to respect of the choices of others is exactly that- a pretense, designed to smooth interactions with others."

Houm believes, and it is, slowly and disturbingly painlessly, bringing shattered forms back to wholeness, wrapping William for just a moment in his own bubble of reality.

Morgan is over by Atsuko, System forgotten for the moment. He wraps his arm around the mooncat's shoulders, a silver shiv tucked neatly into the sleeve. "And who, my dear, controls your reality?" he croons to the girl.

Flyte murmurs, "...I have to go with Atsuko on this one, System. I've studied some of the Bubble Doll philosophy. It is a very specific set of traits that form a self perpetuating system in a very specialized survival niche.. like any self-perpetuating system or life form, the doll culture is stable within that niche and deserves respect for being a form of sentience.""

Atsuko gasps, freezing with wide and terrified eyes. "I.. do?"

Morgan chuckles, and whispers into her ear, "Do you...?"

System states quietly, "It is a destructive parasitic system like the Strangevirus, one worthy only of being dismantled one entity at a time, pried from its clutches as the opportunity presents itself."

Flyte's fingertip is suddenly on Morgan's nose. "You be good, Morgan." Her fields are very, very bright, and though she is loathe to commit violence here, there is absolutely no doubt that she is about to.

William is silent for his part, listening to Houm. Inside his form, other senses can pick up a churning, reorganisation, something hissing and bubbling. William suddenly coughs and silver appears on his lips.

Atsuko flattens her ears, and tries to turn her head away from her nightmares and the scent of Strange. "Please, please, I do.." She can't move, she's barely breathing.

System smiles triumphantly. "Speaking of such small victories..."

Houm strokes William's head, tenderly, kissing his forehead. A warmth, soothing, tender and easy, settling the mind and easing the body.

Flyte cannot focus on System's triumph, having more important priorities. She said she would protect Atsuko, and is about to rather proactively test Morgan's backup system.

Morgan's mask is tapped by Flyte, right on the nose, but he seems not to mind this small intrusion. "You seem uncertain of this," he purrs, expertly palming the shiv, which shimmers in his grasp like a living thing, all too familiar for those who have seen the material far too many times.

System laughs, turning towards Houm and William, observing as the process of their closeness works its effects. "Squeak, observe this process, and consider its implications for your own treatment program. Can you discern the parallel?"

William's neck seals, everything seems to come up and - the local nature of reality shimmers as something is reset. Clonk. It's faintly audible, a massive rush of information both into William and out again, slicing through multiple layers. Like those machines that take micron thick copies of a dead body. William twitches then coughs up Silver. He would probably fall if Houm was not there, body begining to bring up vast amounts of liquid.

Atsuko is transfixed and terrified by that mask, not seeing anything else. "No, I am. I'm cured now, and I'm in control of myself, I just.. please, if you could.." She stammers, her whole body trembling. "Shouldn't you..?" She gestures weakly at William.. "Your friend.."

Houm slowly settles William to the ground, on his side, all the training of a paramedic and all the gentleness of a saint.

Squeak looks at William and Houm, then at Flyte, Atsuko and Morgan. He looks up at System and squeeaks? He isn't sure which he is looking at and comparing.

Beta rises onto the central platform on the lift from the Transit Nexus. Hydra/Beta has arrived.

System states quietly, "The effect of Houm on William. The reaction of Strange and Charm essences to one another, when forced to interact, and the process of freeing one dominated by a parasitic essence from one of those Warps via exposure to the essence of the other Warp."

William coughs, struggles for air for a moment - as though he _needs_ air - and continues to bring up heavy, thick silver and black fluid. After a while, it thins, gradually tinged pink. William holds onto Houm, fingers digging in, back arching with agony.

Atsuko looks very close to having a good old-fashioned stroke.

Hydra/Beta hums to herself as she climbs upward out of the hole, disregarding the lift to instead scale like an uncanny spider. "Why, yes, hello," she murrs to everyone.

System states quietly, "I know Altis provided you with sensor gear, and you also have a connection to Prime to take advantage of the senses that would provide."

Houm is dug into with disturbing ease, soft and warm as a well-loved pillow or blanket, perhaps both. Soothing, warm, loving, careful.

Morgan flips the shiv back into his sleeve. "The worst punishment has already been inflicted upon you," he purrs, stepping back and bowing to the girl.

System turns to Beta. "Greetings, Beta of Hydra. You come at a time when an entity is being purged of the Virus."

Squeak thinks a while and wiggles his antennae, then nods, over his head appears, "William" and "treatment?", "healing?"

Atsuko sinks to the ground, the most graceful faint you could wish to see.

System nods briskly. "That is correct, Squeak. You have seen before that William is dominated by Strangevirus, which Houm is acting to remove so William's identity can recover to a healthy state."

Hydra/Beta giggles calmly. "If they are losing the Virus, it is their own thing."

System smiled. "I believed you may have found it of interest."

William finally ends up spitting red onto the ground, whimpering a little. He covers his eyes with his hands. The information-laden pool of silver, heart-beat shimmering, coils, swirls, then gathers itself to itself. It flows, purposefully.

Flyte murmurs, "Wise, Morgan. Very, very wise."

Flyte puts her arm around the shivering Atsuko and warms her with directed IR from her fields.

Ataxia brushes a hand behind her head, her tail flicking lightly as she watches on quietly. She smiles a bit.. "Hello, Beta.." she murmurs, out of her distant, and long quiet stance.

Hydra/Beta has affected a very surreal tune to her giggling. And then, her eyes fall... fully upon Atsuko. Blacknesses a *distinct* presence to the catgirl.

Atsuko whimpers faintly, /cowering/ into Flyte. "Oh, please, goddess.." She doesn't seem to realize what she's said.

Flyte murmurs, "Yes, Hydra, she is not with Strange anymore. I have promised to ensure she is allowed a safe chance to become her new self.. "

Morgan looks at Flyte, and giggles, tapping the cane's tip on the ground before him. "You seem to think that you hold some kind of authority over the High Lord of the Hemotopians."

System chuckles. "One thing." (He) crosses over to kneel next to the Virus pooled near William, dipping a finger into the mass, blue light glowing, cold flowing into the liquid mass, freezing it in a radiation out from (his) finger.

Flyte murmurs, "..no, Morgan. I make no claim to authority, nor anything other than a willingness to prevent harm."

Hydra/Beta smiles calmly. "You came to the Virus, and you left it. I still invite your worship in any case."

Atsuko shakes her head, and squeezes her eyes shut, as if not looking will make it all go away.

Th'thsthn rises onto the central platform on the lift from the Transit Nexus. Th'thsthn has arrived.

William is still holding his face, covering it. However, as System acts, the virus does not freeze. It continues to move, without Brownian motion, coiling and unfolding and finally forming itself into a delicate silver snake of perfect loveliness. The snake coils up on itself, head rising. Then it looks around the place.

Morgan nods toward Flyte. "Amusing, then, that you should level threats against me for my actions. Free will is the only card worth carrying around here, after all, and it's rather much a shame that you should attempt to intimidate one such as myself into disposing of it. Rather a shame, really..."

Flyte murmurs, "If you attempt to come within three feet of me or Atsuko again, tonight, however, I will assume you plan violence and act preemptively. Should you feel this is an empty threat, you are welcome to confirm with an independent party.. perhaps System, who's abilities you at least seem to sanely fear, if I am capable of dealing with the likes of you.""

Atsuko begins to weep softly.

Houm strokes William tenderly, watching the snake softly. "The wound? Another? Houm will mend, if desired..." Th'thsthn steps delicately from the lift platform, eyes taking in many details about her.

Hydra/Beta casually slides her gaze off Atsuko, the weight of it leaving. Now, it falls upon the William, the Librarian. "If his will toward the Virus is strong enough, he will remain it. If his will away from the Virus is stronger, the Library will find a new Secretary. He is highly important and critical, but not... irreplaceable."

Flyte murmurs, "I am merely exercising my free will. I find it aesthetically pleasing that new sentients should be allowed to discover themselves without bullying, Morgan.."

Morgan laughs, leaning forward. "System, I fear? He has no idea of what he's missing, why should I fear him? He is, as always, limited in his actions by his feeble notions of reality. He is not free. He can do nothing."

Flyte murmurs, "Consider it art, if you like.."

William still does not say anything, looking around himself. The snake itself uncoils, then flows towards the lift, flattening as it does so, as though sinking into the atmosphere. However William suddenly says nervously "Come' sta?" to Houm.

Ataxia simply, quietly rubs a latex hand behind her head..

Morgan takes a seat, a chair beneath him. It's rather posh, all things considered. "Though it's rather amusing how few truly have sense to listen when it is spelled out for them. Tell me, oh great and wise multitudes, how my brood and brothers deal with those who can't make the cut, shall we say?"

Squeak sees Atsuko is sad and he bounds over to try and make her happier. He squeeeaks? at her and tilts his head to one side.

Flyte murmurs, "With violence and ostracism, as I understand it, Morgan. So I speak only the tongue I think you're likely to understand.."

Houm strokes William's head gently, responding in a barely-spoken affirmative, barely audible to even William.

Morgan raises a finger. "The first is a matter of course, and the only right thing worth determining the strong from the weak. Ostracism, though...is the greatest punishment fit for any of my brothers. And if they are unwilling or incapable of living up to standards..." he croons, waving a hand at poor William. "Then they were not strong enough. Such is the punishment of weakness."

Hydra/Beta idly plants her own hoof in the midst of the stream of Strange, just to feel it washing over. Meanwhile, her ear flicks, rapidly angling toward everyone speaking. She remains her usual inviting presence, not particularly demanding. Just a warm existence, dimly pressing upon your awarenesses in a not particularly obsessive way. She exists.

Flyte murmurs, "Morgan, it pleases me to hear you say these things. It saves me the laborious process of having to actually determine, over time, your actual nature and whether I need to respect anything you have to say. I appreciate the time you've saved me."

William says "Mi dispiace..." He looks utterly baffled, glancing around himself in shock. Strange washes over, snakelike, Hydra/Beta's hoof indeed. It carries something with it, it does. But it is soon gone, leaving the area. William himself stares at the cloud now, since that appears to be the only thing he recognises. Suddenly, he speaks a long gabble of Italian, an ancient language.

Morgan chuckles, certainly amused. "I am...happy to be of service," he says in a tone that is not quite mocking, though certainly inflections of superiority course through it.

Houm responds, voice gentle, rippling and bubbling like a stream. Italian, of course.

Flyte brushes Atsuko gently, attending to her. She wishes Haruki were here -- the other mooncat would be able to help a lot more.

William honestly looks as though he is badly in shock. He half-hides his eyes from the sights around him, as though they are _unthinkable_. Complete confusion and some distress emmenates from him. Only Houm seems comprehensible.

Houm whispers, "An alien world, far more beautiful and gentle, but cruel and harsh. I will help you learn what it is to be here, there has been much time of pain and suffering. You are in a world of angels and demons, my young one." to you.

Ataxia quietly watches, as she has been for some time. William truly gets watched by her, finally.. not just glanced at. There is still something to her, some sort of emotion.. but, it doesn't show through. She looks to be forever smiling, afterall.

Flyte murmurs, "Atsuko, are you going to be alright? Do you want me to take you to a safe place in Up or Charm?"

William stammers to Houm "Pu aiutarmi? C' qualcuno che parla inglese? Italiano?" He swallows "Mi sono _smarrito_..." His voice has an old cadence to it, ancient really, for all that he seems no older than a seventeen year old now "Smarrito..." Then his eyes widen at something Houm says "Ah...angelo? Malefica...demon! Ah..." Clarity touches his face finally. And now he regards the rest of the park with deep, deep suspicion.

Squeak squeeaks? softly at Atsuko and settles down to his belly, crawling towards her and meeeeewwwwing.

Morgan watches the goings-on, content that all is right with his world. The avatar of a rival has passed, though will likely bring bitter fruit for the future, but that is the way that life is, no? No one deigns to lay a hand on him, indeed, and he has seen to the fright of someone. A pity he'd lost his taste for the art he was going to produce here...but that is simply for another time, then.

Atsuko shakes her head. "No.. No, Flyte. I think I will stay, if you will." She crouches down, offering her hand to Squeak while keeping wide eyes on William. And her face holds pity.

Th'thsthn, having absorbed enough data for the moment, flexes xir siphon... but threatens nobody here. Xi moves back to the lift.

Houm chortles softly, wrapping tender arms around William gently. Again, he speaks, voice tender and gentle, barely more than a murmur.

Flyte murmurs, "Very well.. I will stay a while longer then."

Hydra/Beta is simply humming to herself, an off center rhythm, following an order so tangled and complicated that it appears pure chaos with the limited sample you overhear here.

Th'thsthn calls the lift and descends into the Transit Nexus. Th'thsthn has left.

Squeak crawls closer again and nuzzles the hand before giving it a lick!

Houm whispers, "In this room, are mostly angels, though flawed as humans are flawed. I will translate for you, but there are magics that may be put in place that will allow others to understand you, and you to understand them. The man with the blue eyes will help you, though he is harsh in his ways." to you.

System sighs, shaking (his) head after seemingly having fallen into an observational trance.

Atsuko giggles, a faint sound that seems loud in the tense air here, and scratches under Squeak's chin.

Morgan calls the lift and descends into the Transit Nexus. Morgan has left.

Squeak lifts his head and squeeaks, it seems this is quite pleasurable for toys! System crosses over next to Squeak and Atsuko, stroking the rubber cat's back. Squeak looks up to System and then purrs softly.

William stays close to Houm, at least until he catches sight of his own tail out of the corner of his eyes. He stares at it, then immediately tries to jump away from it, panicked. The tail, of course, follows, and William gives a cry of distress, flinging his hands up. He notices his horns then and grabs at Houm. Long streams of Italian come from him, desperate. Mention of 'angelo' is frequent, before he looks at System, over Houm''s shoulder. His tail lashes and William speaks again, switching to an ancient English equally incomprehensible to those without massive records of such things.

System frowns quietly, digging into Mess linguistic records, searching, making matches...

Houm hushes softly, pressing his finger tenderly against William's lips, crooning tenderly. His embrace is warming, soothing, like a mother's touch.

You whisper, "William says "I see. I am dead then? I thought I was. Plague is always so very fatal. Can you ask them their names from me, the angels? I don't know magic, mother of God. I am always a good boy, I follow the Trinity. They are animals and angels and dressed strangely, I think I shall _die_, only I must be dead."" to Houm.

Atsuko speaks a very old dialect of English, but nowhere near as well as she speaks Japanese. She squints, some of the words sounding familiar but nothing making sense. "Oh, poor thing.."

Hydra/Beta quickly murmurs a cozying bit of Italian toward William, oddly influenced but plain.

Flyte murmurs, "I guess he doesn't have most of his memories, poor thing."

Houm whispers, "You are not dead. You are changed, as are all that live here. If you desire to change again, it can be done. We all live in bodies we desire. You have woken up from a long, terrible dream that your cloud is glad you do not remember." to you.

Squeak seems to have no real idea what is going on, though he turns to try and figure out what everyone is looking at.

Flyte murmurs, "Well, System, you're essentially to blame for this. Are you going to clean up your mess and help him, or not?"

Flyte murmurs, "Houm means well, but I don't know if Houm has the capacity to do what needs to be done to bring this to a close."

Atsuko gets slowly to her feet and takes a small step toward William, saying in her best broken and sweetly accented English, "It is alright, William."

System stands, speaking in precise words in a VERY old dialect of English to William.

William crosses himself suddenly, with his free hand. Since he is holding to Houm with strangling tightness, eyes huge and dark, maroon as they fix on Hydra/Beta. William's lips part before he listens to Houm's quiet words. Languages mingle with facility before he regards Atsuko. He seems to be nearly understanding her, but he's certainly no child of the 20th Century. Or perhaps he merely knows his own name "Angelus?" William breathes before looking to System.

System whispers, "You are not dead; you have been drawn, by means as yet unknown, to a world that is the crossroads of many worlds. For a long time you have been under the thrall of evil powers, but Houm has freed you." to you.

System gestures to Houm in reference to something (he) said to William, Houm's name audible.

System whispers, "I am an explorer in this place. I am knowledgeable, and can offer assistance, but my core interest is not necessarily with you. Houm can be relied upon, and will offer you whatever aid he can." to you.

Atsuko chokes, "No. No angelus." She licks her lips, and shrugs back to Flyte. "I was terrible at languages. That one, English, it's very difficult." She smiles a little.

Houm strokes William's head gently, murmuring softly.

Flyte murmurs, "I have to use the translation functions to even use terran english, Atsuko.." Flyte murmurs, "If I try to talk to him, it will all come out in []" Flyte shrugs. Flyte murmurs, "I wonder if its getting near time to dedicate some brainspace to languages again. They're such a pain though, so much deep structure work."

Houm whispers, "All here are beyond life and death. It is difficult to learn, but it is learnable." to System and you.

You whisper, "William says clearly, and both can understand it "I had the Black Plague. I remember that. And now I am here. It is too much for me, sweet Jesus. I cannot understand, why I should be here and not elsewhere. I can only think this place must be Purgatory, neither Hell nor Heaven. But I am shaped like a demon. I am a sinner. I do not know what to do. What is that?"" to System and Houm.

William speaks fluently to Houm and System, confused to the point that terror has no foothold. He points to the Cube Tree.

Hydra/Beta pours forth yet more Italian, words slowly resolving themselves. "...You are in a place that is neither Heaven nor Hell, but a very strange one filled with heathens."

Houm kisses William's head, speaking with a deep honesty.

Atsuko sidles a step closer, to listen, hands behind her back.

System continues to speak, calm and patient.

System whispers, "You are shaped as you are due to the changes the Strangevirus wrought upon you while you were under its power. You are no longer subject to it, and need not fear your own shape. The people here will judge you fairly as a new being, now that Houm has freed you." to you and Houm.

Hydra/Beta continues, explaining to William, "The only ones here bearing the sign of the Sign are not of the Church, however they are crusuaders seeking to purge this place of the demons that had possessed you."

Houm sits, patiently, waiting to clean the landslide about to happen.

System whispers, "Houm, William still needs your aid. He has much to learn about this place, and you are the one he can trust most." to you and Houm.

Atsuko looks to Flyte, and wonders, "How long before the infosystem catches up?"

System bows to Houm and William, stepping over to William, speaking further.

William's gaze flicks to Hydra/Beta, and he says helplessly "Africa?" He's completely out of his depth, and he looks back at his tail. Apparently 'Heathens' made sense to him, and now as he speaks, those with updated Translation software can understand his halting words as the Puzzlebox adapts to his own versions of the languages he speaks "I do not know this 'Strangevirus'. I had _plague_. It was very bad. Everyone died. Dogs ran about in the streets. All the priests died, mother of God, I do not know this place. I..." He looks towards Hydra/Beta.

Flyte murmurs, "I'm getting snatches from Hydra/Beta. Its already happening, but I don't trust myself, nor the system, to parse anything so I'm staying out of it as long as I can."

Flyte earperks. She caught that.

Houm stares at System, then Beta, and sighs. His words are aimed firmly at both. "You must learn more tenderness."

System states quietly, "The method whereby you arrived in this place is still unknown, William, but it is not, to our knowledge, a place of the dead. The Strangevirus is a demon that possesses the souls of those it catches, and is one of the great dangers of this place."

Flyte murmurs, "This is the wrong approach. You're all saturating him with too much information.."

Hydra/Beta responds, her smile slow and wide. "You are safe. You have been purged and exorcised of the demon."

Atsuko moves forward now. Now that the words are making sense, she is a little more confident. She nods slowly. "The plague is over."

System states quietly, "Thanks to Houm. As I suggested, rely on him. He will aid you to the best of his ability; he is incapable of choosing otherwise."

Hydra/Beta looks toward Flyte. And she just smiles. And smiles.

Flyte simplifies things tremendously, manifesting a blanket and simple wooden cup filled with cool water (and not letting William see her do it) .. then passing them to Houm, to pass to William. "He's in shock. Simple gestures, perhaps, may speak more."

Atsuko smiles. "Oh, Flyte, you are so thoughtful, really." She beams at the flyer.

System bows again. "I must leave for now, regrettably, but I shall return to check on you later, William."

Houm carefully, tenderly, hands William the cup first, smiling gently. "Drink slowly."

System calls the lift and descends into the Transit Nexus. System has left.

William rubs at his eyes "You are all too much!" Only Houm seems to be in the 'trusted' category, for he seems stuck "This is a place of angels and devils, and I have been transported here for some reason under God and heaven I cannot know." But he obeys Houm, taking the cup and drinking.

Atsuko's soft little face holds pity and sympathy.

Ataxia in the mean time, is just a watcher. (Idle jackal still!)

Houm wraps the blanket around William's shoulders, voice gentle. "It will not be so much, later. This new land, beautiful and great it is. Carefully, one must tread it. One step, then another, like exploring wilderness. Does this one remember exploring wilderness?"

Hydra/Beta simply drops herself down, curling her legs beneath herself. And then, she murrs, "Yes, God operates with strange purposes. Here, I am, an agent of the demon that possessed you."

Hydra/Beta murrs wonderfully, "Demons can be bound to God's will, but you are wise to not trust me."

William says "I am wearing strange clothes. This place is so...mother of God." He keeps repeating phrases, over and over again before he nods to Houm "Yes, behind the stable yard and into the mountains. Tuscany. I cannot stay here. There are too many..." He does not use the word 'people' "I cannot it is too awful, it must surely be madness or..." He swallows, drinks from the bowl, then bites his lip, staring at Hydra/Beta, pale of face "Mother of God." William turns back to Houm "I cannot bear this place. Is...I cannot recognise it!"

Flyte softly trills, like a bird; she considers what else might be beneficial. "Houm, would it not be best to take William to a safe quiet place? He is probably very close to dangerous physical shock after the departure of the StrangeVirus, though perhaps you have healed such things."

Atsuko can only stare at William, at his pretty face. "I wish I could help," she murmurs to herself.

Houm nods softly, gently lifting the young man. "I will bring you someplace more heart-place being. Closer to home. And teach."

You scramble up on Houm.

Houm calls the lift and descends into the Transit Nexus. Houm has left.