[He pauses and looks up thoughtfully, trying to think of how to explain.]
You said this place was like a test for us, right? Well, my mun's been testing me all over the place, and somehow I got to meet ME from the future! Twice!
Well, you're going to be surprised by all of it no matter what, but I get that. Some of that stuff you're probably better off not knowing 'til you're him anyway.
Hm, yeah, I think the thirteen-headed giant wolverine still needs more work.
[Duncan's probably not quite as familiar with the Miseryville variety, however.]
Oh, robots designed to cause optimal frustration and misery. Ya know that's not a bad idea, I blew up the old ones so I've been wanting to take the new models out for a spin.
[He was once attacked by a horde of raccoons that combined themselves into a giant raccoon mech, he is more familiar than one might expect. And those weren't even technically mutants. Not like the hairless squirrels with laser vision that came later, anyway.]
So, like Chris McClean, just as robots. That could work!
[Filmed on Misery Island? Probably not. Run by someone exiled from Miseryville for being too maliciously evil? Possibly. Though if he ever found out Misery Island was a thing, Chris would probably find a way to get there...]
Hey, I live for making people miserable.
[And there is literally no one who would dispute this. Even if he's also capable of doing really nice things.]
I just gotta make do with what I have. Not everybody can make their own robots, you know.
[If he wasn't somehow kicked out of Miseryville, Duncan can at least rest assured that if this Chris character is as bad as he claims, he should end up on a one-way trip there eventually.]
Likewise. Nothing like doing it for a living either.
[Funny, she's not much different.]
Ever consider a job at Misery Inc.? I could use an assistant with your way of thinking.
[She groans slightly. Looks like she'll have to attempt to explain as best she can, and hope Jimmy can follow.]
Okay, so, you probably figured out time really doesn't have any rules here. That's sort of only half right, more like there's no set rules. Muns make them and can change them however they want, whenever they want. Like how you met your future self. But we can do more than meet ourselves from other points in time, depending on our muns we can actually be ourselves at different points in time. So I kinda am my future self. Just... not right now. Ya get it?
Ever hear "it's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the ocean when the weather machine causes the massive typhoon that destroys the whole fleet"? No? Then I'd keep quiet.
[It takes him a few moments to process all of that, during which he just stands there staring.
Then he grins brightly, nodding.]
Yup, I think so!
[That's debatable.]
I think I've got a pretty good mun, though! I mean she hasn't really done anything yet to make me think otherwise. Sure there have been a feeew little things here and there but really they weren't all that bad! Really it's thanks to her I got to learn so much about future-me in the first place!
That's a new one to me! Wouldn't that be boring, though? How would they know who caused the typhoon? It's not as good as wiping them out one by one with a high-powered cannon.
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[Jimmy has been looking for you everywhere, and now he seems a little breathless.]
I just....wanted to....let you know..
[GASP.]
This testing place really works!
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... Whadya mean "works"?
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Yaknow... it like..
[He pauses and looks up thoughtfully, trying to think of how to explain.]
You said this place was like a test for us, right? Well, my mun's been testing me all over the place, and somehow I got to meet ME from the future! Twice!
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[Somebody may have to make an exception to his "kids are annoying and best avoided" rule, he likes the sound of this one.]
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... Ooooh.
The one with the red wings, right?
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If that fails, my death ray could use a workout.
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Some of that stuff you're probably better off not knowing 'til you're him anyway.
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[He's got firsthand experience with the latter, he knows what he's talking about.]
Frustrate-o-bots might be the best option, here. Whatever they are.
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[Duncan's probably not quite as familiar with the Miseryville variety, however.]
Oh, robots designed to cause optimal frustration and misery. Ya know that's not a bad idea, I blew up the old ones so I've been wanting to take the new models out for a spin.
1/3
[Wait.
Waaaait.
Hold on a second here.]
2/3
She knows what you are, Billy.
She isn't welcome of your kind.]
1/2
So, like Chris McClean, just as robots. That could work!
2/2
3/3
[A sinister smile creeps across her face, as she pulls out a spiked flail.]
Ghostsmacking that is.
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That a challenge, spiky?
[She lets out a small maniacal cackle.]
Nah, I'm just kidding. You seem to appreciate what makes a good miserable invention. Unlike others I could mention.
[Her boss, for example.]
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[Filmed on Misery Island? Probably not. Run by someone exiled from Miseryville for being too maliciously evil? Possibly. Though if he ever found out Misery Island was a thing, Chris would probably find a way to get there...]
Hey, I live for making people miserable.
[And there is literally no one who would dispute this. Even if he's also capable of doing really nice things.]
I just gotta make do with what I have. Not everybody can make their own robots, you know.
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[Wait what. Billy notices the flail, stopping dead to blink owlishly at it.]
...whaaaaaaaaaaat exactly are you planning on doing with that, brosis?
[Gonna just. Float up a little higher. Yeah.]
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Likewise. Nothing like doing it for a living either.
[Funny, she's not much different.]
Ever consider a job at Misery Inc.? I could use an assistant with your way of thinking.
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[There's something strange about the way she says that, though Jimmy may not even notice.]
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Hold still, this will only hurt A LOT!
[With her best evil laugh, she rushes toward Billy with the flail, aiming to beat the ecto out of him.]
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Say, do you know anything about your future Heloise?
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[There'a a pause that borders on awkward.]
... Soooort of.
It's, uh, kinda hard to explain.
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[He wouldn't be surprised if she did.]
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It's complicated.
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[He tilts his head, his brows furrowing.]
Complicated how?
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Okay, so, you probably figured out time really doesn't have any rules here. That's sort of only half right, more like there's no set rules. Muns make them and can change them however they want, whenever they want.
Like how you met your future self. But we can do more than meet ourselves from other points in time, depending on our muns we can actually be ourselves at different points in time.
So I kinda am my future self. Just... not right now.
Ya get it?
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[of course, she's one to talk.]
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No?
Then I'd keep quiet.
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[It takes him a few moments to process all of that, during which he just stands there staring.
Then he grins brightly, nodding.]
Yup, I think so!
[
That's debatable.]I think I've got a pretty good mun, though! I mean she hasn't really done anything yet to make me think otherwise. Sure there have been a feeew little things here and there but really they weren't all that bad! Really it's thanks to her I got to learn so much about future-me in the first place!
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Duncan, meanwhile, is at least giving the offer some thought.]
Does my parole officer have to know about it?
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[Those aren't really a thing where she's from.]
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[She's somewhat curious now about those "few little things here and there."]
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Man, now I don't know what to do with my new weather machine!
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[Well, those eehh ones he's still not entirely sure what to make of.]