C'mon, Sam. Games?

[trythebackdoor]

Hey, mun? This idea of yours? It sucks.

Look, man. I know you've been wanting someone new to throw around. But you're behind on what you've got, and there are better options. Really. You finally got around to icons for that OC of yours.

And... well, fine. Call me paranoid, but I'm not so eager to head out with you. I saw what happened to the last guy.

Comments

[lifes_short_pop]

A raised eyebrow. "Muns with ideas never are. They rank slightly higher than read-only tanks and reformat walls."

[trythebackdoor]

[You get a bit of a curious look. He'd almost say he knew you, but, well... the Jet he knew never looked like that. Or talked like that.]

"Never are..." what, exactly?

[lifes_short_pop]

{{Well, greetings "cousin!"}}

"When a mun gets an idea, it never seems to turn out well for those of us on the receiving end. I wonder if this is how Programs see Users. So far, mine is trying to either confuse me or just make me angry."

[trythebackdoor]

[Hey, man. Sam's still not sure what's with your getup, but he'll play along.]

Not arguing there. [He snorts.] I'm really not sure what it wants with me. And really, really sure I'd rather not find out.

[lifes_short_pop]

He looks at the armor, then at the face, then sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Three possibilities; You're a Program Sam designed, you're from a different universe entirely, or we both found out the hard way that your dad wasn't kidding."

{{OOC: Mun is running with a scenario where the events of 2.0 happened about 7 months prior to Legacy and testing for any unexpected incompatibilities. The only major difference in the canons is Lora's fate, it would appear.}}

[givemereason]

The mun-user wants me to point you towards the game I am in. Your father is there, along several other users and programs you are familiar with. Plus, and I am sure that you will be so happy to hear this, Clu is no longer in power there.

[trythebackdoor]

[Oh, hey. It's you. Welcome to Sam's world of unhappy grimacing.]

Yeah, that one's... pretty high on the list. Which, don't get me wrong, I'd be... [A swallow.] I'd like to see my dad.

But given my mun? Not gonna end well, that's all I'm saying.

[givemereason]

[The one and only thankfully for everyone else. She just gives him an overly sweet smile that somehow manages to be more unfriendly than her smirk had been earlier.]

Oh, nothing good ever happens to the sons of Flynn already in the game. I think the last one had to be emergency ported out of the system by his Alan-One after one of the Rinzlers sliced him open. The only one that has been spared so far is the little beta version of yourself that my mun-user toys with from time to time.

Besides, there is a program of yours there that I am sure would be delighted to see his user.

[trythebackdoor]

[Yeah, he's rating that smile as "grid-piranha" for friendliness.]

How reassuring. Now I see why you want me around.

[Sarcasm can't quite cover the faint double-take at the last line, though.]

You mean— [He stops. Shakes his head.] I wrote a...

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

Muns are the most ridiculous things.

[trythebackdoor]

Spoken from long experience?

[Okay, there's a faint smirk given little kid. Not unfriendly, though.]

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[There's not much of a reaction back. Just raised eyebrows. Sam, you're not gonna be one of those adults, are you? The patronizing kind? She can't deal with that kind.]

Loads of it.

[trythebackdoor]

[Less patronizing, more minor trolling. But hey, adults get it at least as often. There's a repressed smile as he leans back.]

Yeah? Any horror stories?

[annualprank]

[Oh hey, looks like someone's already been talking about him. His reputation precedes him, apparently.]

Sam! Hey! You should come to the Grid, it's amazing there... you're pretty much a hero there, y'know?

[trythebackdoor]

[That it does. All, the same, forewarned apparently has very little to do with forearmed as far as Sam's brain goes. He'll just be staring. Like a very glowy fish.]

...whoa.

[...not the best introduction. (Though this program knows him, and this isn't creepy at all, and what exactly is he...) ]

Sorry, I... [He grins awkwardly, shakes his head.] Haven't exactly done this before.

I, uh, wrote you, then? [This would be much, much easier, if his brain weren't suddenly presenting him with all the code he wrote since puberty. Of course, then the second part registers.]

I'm a what?

[annualprank]

[It's okay, Sam. Kade's used to getting that stare from his User, at least the first time they meet.]

Yeah, you did. Sent me into ENCOM, remember? Had me break out the OS-12, leave that little video file... worked pretty well, don't you think?

[He grins at Sam, happy to be able to tell him about the place he's living now.] A hero! You helped free up the system from Clu, right? It's a lot better now, from what I've heard. I mean, there's still some trouble around, but it's a good place. [And he manages to find most of said trouble, but...]

[trythebackdoor]

Oh, you're—! [A half-startled laugh interrupts.] Are you kidding me? That was amazing! Wish you could've seen their faces...

[Sam's grin turns almost speculative for a moment. Building security was running, which means there's a video feed somewhere. Easy enough to... no. Bad Sam. No more hacking into your own company.

Talk of the Grid is distracting enough anyways. And enough to add a new kind of concern behind the lingering smile.]

I, uh... [A hand reaches back, awkwardly rubs the back of his head.] Not sure I helped, so much. [Just got everyone else in trouble. He forces a grin.] Glad things are better now, though.

[manwhowaited]

Oh, the Grid isn't that bad, Sam. Sure, there's danger, but most of the programs are friendly. Or at least neutral.

[He smiles.]

ISOs are coming back, too. And there are a few Users around - one of whom I think you'd be glad to see.

[Yes, Sam. Your dad's here.]

[trythebackdoor]

[This is Sam's entirely unconvinced face, Alan. Though he supposes he shouldn't be surprised you're there too, by now.]

Yeah, I've uh... heard a few things. [Most of which have more to do with being stabbed than any happy endings. Expression closes at that second bit, though. Or tries. Not like he can hide much from Alan.]

...he's really there?

[manwhowaited]

[Alan has seen your unconvinced face before, Sam. Usually right before you go and do something reckless.]

So I see. Rinzler . . . is still a problem. However, he is only one progam among thousands. [Yes, Sam, he saw that expression.]

He's really there, Sam. Taking on too much guilt, as usual. [This one is Alan's fondly exasperated look. After a thousand cycles, Flynn still tends to get an idea in his head and run off with it.]

[trythebackdoor]

[Reckless? Him? Sam's shocked. And appalled.]

[And giving you a bit of a sideways look right now. But neon orange health hazards or no, Flynn's always been the bigger issue.]

Yeah, well. Doesn't sound like much has changed.

[Resentment makes the best shield.]

[the_gamesmaster]

I'm sure you'll do fine, kiddo.

[trythebackdoor]

...Dad?

[the_gamesmaster]

Hey, Sam. Long time no see, huh?

[trythebackdoor]

You... but. I saw you. And Clu, and— [...that sentence isn't getting finished.]