OOM: William Evans Visits Miami

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's on his way to the door, his polo shirt and jeans dusty from training with Duncan and a lasso out by the stables most of the morning and a pair of new work gloves hanging out of his pocket already showing signs of wear. He's got a lot on his mind, not the least of which is a small list of items he's on his way to retrieve before heading out to Ellen's world again to fight robots - because that's something that happens now that Milliways has become a considerable part of his life. Spy, cowboy, futuristic robot slayer... why the hell not. Sure beats posing as another millionaire playboy looking to score hot guns.

But then there's also the question of if he should go ahead and start working on the matter of finding this spy that's responsible for his burn notice before the guy finds him... assuming they don't already have a target on his back when he goes through the door.

It's those thoughts that make it so he doesn't even see William when he brushes past him; "Excuse me..." he mutters in a soft, distracted tone - not stopping his steady steps.

Comments

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael nods, looking back up at him; "I trust him with money, and with knowing how to get his hands on just about anything I could ever need with the right incentive to do so. But... I wouldn't let him date my sister or take care of a baby or anything..."

He shakes his head, a slight smile twitching at the corner of his mouth at the thought of any of them with a baby...

"Oh, uh... pulse grenade. Okay, pretty much everything runs on electricity; and the place we're going into is no different. From what I can tell the power in Ellen's world got cut a long time ago, but some of the buildings... like the one we're going into... have generators that can make electricity for, apparently hundreds of years." He takes a long drink off his beer; "It powers the lights, doors, computer terminals, and most importantly the security robots and gun turrets. A pulse grenade in the right area, as a last resort, would shut down everything that requires an electric signal within a certain area - leaving us literally in the dark, but possibly saving our life if we get pinned down."

He's pretty sure William only gets about a quarter of what he said, but probably the quarter worth getting.

[not_his_pa]

"I think that makes sense, just shuts down what you want instead of blowin' everythin' up?"

As that can cause problems if you want to use something again.

[luvs_yogurt]

He nods easily and snags an old cellphone from the edge of the counter where it's already been broken open. Thumbing open the case he shows William the internal circuitry. It's been modified with a tracking device, but the thought remains the same.

"It kills all of this stuff. Which unfortunately makes it a really fancy paperweight. But, if it means we won't get killed by rampaging robots, I'm all for losing power."

[not_his_pa]

"Would that even work in Ellen's world? It seems like things never quite act like they're supposed to there."

[luvs_yogurt]

"I think so... I wasn't able to get a look at the generators, but for the most part electricity and circuits all work the same way." He's had a little time to fiddle with the laser pistol she gave him in an effort to determine if he can retrofit it to take batteries that actually exist in his world where fusion wasn't exactly harnessed.

His phone buzzes hard against the counter and he picks it up, nodding before flashing William a smile; "Barry wants to know if we're meeting him for a late night drink or breakfast. What do you think? Wanna go back out now or sleep over here tonight?"

[not_his_pa]

"I don't know. Don't want to be in your way," He also doesn't want to go back yet as he just got here but Michael has stuff he needs to do.

[luvs_yogurt]

"Never in my way, William. How long's it been since you slept under a different roof? I've got a comfortable bed that you're more than welcome to for the night."

He was no stranger to crashing on the couch when he had company.

[not_his_pa]

"That ain't Milliways or outside? I don't know and I would like that,"

He wants to see more of this world and maybe even help Michael out if he can.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael smiles, happy to provide a little bit of a rest.

"Sure thing, tell you what - there's a bathroom under the stairs in the back if you want to relax and scrub up and I'll see what I can do about putting together something a little more Miami for you to wear."

[not_his_pa]

"Alright,"

He heads towards the bathroom and peers in, he's only ever taken showers in Milliways and considers just washing his face, but he is kind of dusty.

[luvs_yogurt]

The tiny, broken bathroom is a small step up from some of the third world countries Michael's stayed in but he follows William back to explain just in case.

"The shower's a little touchy, he lets himself in and pushes back the vinyl curtain covering the tile cubical with a drain at the bottom. "Turn the vice grips right for hotter," he turns it on to both demonstrate and get it warming; "and when you're done, all the way to the left."

He pulls down a couple white towels with 'Hyatt' embroidered on them and sets them in the dry sink. "Soap, shampoo, basics are in the rack hanging off the shower head. Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, I see. Thanks,"

Its not too different from what's in Milliways and he should do fine. Once Michael leaves, he reminds himself how to do everything and then takes a wonderful hot shower.

His elbow's almost healed so he takes off the bandage and stands under the water for a while. He won't waste it but running hot water is always amazing.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael's always happy to help, but he's still learning the sorts of things people he might bring back do and don't know. Things he undoubtedly takes for granted.

While the shower's in use, Michael digs into his clothes to locate a plain white t-shirt and pair of boxer shorts to get him through the night and then some jeans that should do the trick paired with a button down come morning.

"Got some basics for sleeping in right here by your towels," he calls out over the drum of the shower before depositing the clothes and heading up the stairs to toss down a blanket and strip off the clothes he'd been wearing since getting back from the Wasteland. If he was going to be spending more time at the bar, he was going to have to bring back some more clothes with him.

When the shower cuts off, he's already half way into packing a bag to leave in his room.

[not_his_pa]

The boxers and t-shirt are nice just kind of different and William puts them on before bringing the other clothing and towels out.

He feels like he's not wearing enough compared to what he usually sleeps in, "Thank you."

[luvs_yogurt]

"Hey, any time." Michael grins from the platform over the bed where his couch and desk are situated. "I let Barry know we're on for breakfast so any time you feel like bedding down, have at it. I don't have a television or anything like that, but there's a radio down by the bed if you want to listen to some music or something. I know it's getting pretty late."

[not_his_pa]

"I've got a book in my jacket, I'll be fine. There was a new one of my favorites at the store today,"

He arranges the blanket and pillow and starts reading his new dime novel.

[luvs_yogurt]

For Michael, it's easy enough to crash after he gets his bag together.

He wakes early, before the sun comes over the city and hits the big window to really heat up the loft, and starts the coffee as he watches the young guy curled up on his bed. It's nice to have company, and William's a good guy. Honest, kind, but with that same spark he knows he's got himself that keeps him trouble.

It's easy enough to get lost in his thoughts as he puts the kettle on the tiny stove to boil; but it's not William he's thinking about - it's Emma. After decimating a pack of mutant crab-monsters... his first thought wasn't 'Wow, that's really fucking weird' - it was 'I should take Emma out to dinner'. He's never had that sort of thought process before.

It worries him.

[not_his_pa]

Not long after Michael's up, William wakes up and is briefly confused before he remembers where he is.

Then he yawns and pulls on the clothes that Michael left for him, the jeans aren't too different from what he's used to, but the shirt seems almost too nice, "Mornin'."

[luvs_yogurt]

"Morning sleepy head," Michael smirks from the bar where he's already halfway through his first cup of coffee looking through yesterday's paper. He's already partially dressed, khakis and a white linen button down that's comfortable enough for the impeding warm, humid day.

"Clothes fit you pretty good, you should be fine with your boots." He folds the paper onto the counter; "I've got coffee ready, sugar by the stove... I think the milk in the fridge is still okay but any more my sense of time's so screwed up I'm not even sure what day it is here."

[not_his_pa]

"I don't need milk, we don't always have it and there's sugar?"

Milliways has taught William about good coffee but daily he drinks harsh coffee.

[luvs_yogurt]

The stuff Michael buys is nowhere near what Bar has, it's cheap - but definitely better than anything he had in the Army and he assumes what William's got back home.

"Yup, bowl by the stove shaped like a pig - don't ask, my Mother's influence."

[not_his_pa]

First he takes a good long sip of the coffee which is pretty good already before adding some sugar to it,

"Its cute."

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael chuckles under his breath; "Since Fiona left, I think she's been trying to add little things like that in an effort to make me miss having a woman around."

In addition to having something to use against him every time she asks if they've talked at least once a month.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, it makes things nicer. My Ma's always doin' stuff like that,"

It's usually the kind of things he would never think about like flowers or having the house be a little cleaner. Horus has helped a lot though as he's in the barn and the house and just makes everything nicer.

[luvs_yogurt]

He nods into his coffee, smiling. "She's pretty sure I'll never get married," at his age, he's pretty sure. He wouldn't want to put anyone in the position of having to deal with being in a romantic relationship with someone like him.

"At least there's always hope for my brother."