(no subject)

[a_nancy]

There is a little old man in the Nexus today, dark of skin and bright of clothing. He seems entirely unsurprised by being here. He also seems, when the light hits him just right, to have too many limbs to his shadow.

Mr. Nancy is in the house.

Comments

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc decides it's probably time for a change of subject] Liking the Nexus so far, Mr. Nancy?

[a_nancy]

It seems interesting, if nothing else.

[clockwork_doc]

[Marty, wiggling his stick a bit] "Interesting" is definitely the word for it.

[Doc nods] But it's been good to us, for the most part. If I hadn't found this place, I likely wouldn't have ever seen Marty again. [he -- doesn't like that thought]

[a_nancy]

Which would be a shame, yes.

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, with a faint smile] I'd use stronger language than that to describe the idea.

[Marty, mincing no words] It would have sucked. I'm really glad I ran into that one giant robot lady who knew you.

[a_nancy]

Another good way of putting it.

[clockwork_doc]

[Marty, grinning] Not gonna comment on the giant robot lady part?

[Doc, shaking his head] He's already said that our lives are pretty unbelievable.

[a_nancy]

Plus my own life isn't exactly normal. I doubt this place has normal people.

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, thinking for a second] You're -- absolutely right. I don't think I've met one person who could be called "normal" by the usual standards.

[Marty, smiling] It's a big meeting place between universes with a mind of its own. "Normal" people aren't gonna wander in here -- or, if they do, they're gonna flee the first chance they get.

[a_nancy]

Run screaming, I imagine.

[clockwork_doc]

[Marty nods] I mean, we've met some characters here. The giant robot lady was practically normal. Victor thinks he ran into the devil -- or a version of him, anyway -- once.

[Doc, frowning] When he was first looking for a piano, right? And of course there was that camera. . .

[a_nancy]

What about the camera?

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, making a few appropriate hand gestures] There was a camera here a couple of times that offered free automatic pictures. What it didn't tell you on the sign is that the pictures had a chance of transforming you temporarily in some way.

[Marty, smiling at the memory] Yeah -- Doc got turned invisible, Victor got deaged down to a kid, and Alice got aged up to mid-30s or so. Weird couple of days!

[a_nancy]

And yourself? Or did you miss out on it?

[museicalmarty]

[Marty nods] Yeah, that one I didn't stumble across. There was the vending machine, though -- got some awesome soda that lets you walk on walls! And later met the lady who helped keep it stocked and scored some extra cans.

[Doc, laughing softly] I worry about your enthusiasm for that soda sometimes.

[Marty, pointing] Walking on walls is cool and I won't hear any different.

[a_nancy]

It can be a fun trick, I agree.

[museicalmarty]

[Doc, with a sideways glance] I suspect there's some natural bias in your answer.

[Marty, going back to his fishing] Nah, he just knows what's up. And what's down, sideways. . .

[a_nancy]

Oh, there may be a bit of bias in old Mr. Nancy.

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc chuckles] At least you're willing to admit it. [then, suddenly, his pole jerks in his hand] Oh! Great Scott, I think I've got something!

[a_nancy]

Well don't just stand there, then. *Not the most helpful, but then he rarely is.*

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, holding on tightly to the rod] What should I be doing? I'm not used to this!

[Marty, watching] I think -- aren't you supposed to pull in the opposite direction of the fish? Tire it out or something as you pull in the line?

[a_nancy]

*Mr. Nancy just watches. It's funnier that way.*

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, struggling with the fish] I'm pulling in every direction possible, and it doesn't seem to be making much difference!

[Marty, a bit frustrated] Well, what do you want from me? I'm new to this too!

[a_nancy]

*Eventually Mr. Nancy takes pity on them and takes the pole himself. Although it's even odds if he'll pretend it was his catch from the start, because he's like that.*

[clockwork_doc]

[Doc, who is having a hell of a time with this incredibly tenacious fish, is only too happy to hand both pole and credit for the catch to Nancy. He grimaces at his abused palms] I didn't expect the creature to put up such a fight. . .

[Marty, eyeing his own pole] Me either. What kind of fish are in this lake?