Settle Down

Neopolitan sipped her coffee and looked down. The other day had been fun and games... but she oddly didn't feel like having fun this time. She'd taken the blanket part way off the gargoyle and watched her transform but left the other one as covered.

Walt would deal with her.

She went back inside the house. Kali was headed her way with the coffee pot and stopped.

Kali refilled her cup for her. "You don't want to go "keep them company" either?"

Neo sighed and shook her head. Kali nodded "I don't feel like it either."

"Mmm... I like this. I could get used to it!"

Walt smiled and leaned over and kissed Sienna's cheek. "I could too," he admitted to her. "I think you should wear my old shirts or nothing at all from now on. Preferably the later."

She laughed and he did too. "Not that!" When they had come back from washing he had given her one of his old shirts to wear and one of the blankets until they finished drying off completely and got redressed. "Though that's not the worst idea. I'll consider it if you personally cook me breakfast dressed like that everyday..." she bit her lip.

He wasn't much better off. Infact other his underwear and one of the blankets he was wearing even less. "I'll consider it," He said chuckling as he reheated the extra cut up steak leftovers he'd ordered last night in a mess kit. The "emergency supplies" he'd had stashed in Silver had some MRE's that weren't awful, along with some beans. They were both starving after all of last night's activity and then vigorously "washing" this morning.

"Open up," he said and fed her another spoonful before taking one himself. He was just glad the "neighbors" hadn't come sniffing around.

Sienna chewed and swallowed. "Mmm... it's not as good as our usual breakfast fare but it just better for some reason."

Walt grinned. "Well there's an old saying that goes "Hunger is the best spice". I've always found it to be true."

Sienna grinned and leaning in playfully nibbled on his neck. "I agree. I was certainly "hungry" last night."

He blushed but laughed. "I think I made a mistake and fed a wild animal!"

She laughed too! "You certainly did! You better take responsibility for it!"

He leaned in and kissed her. "Always and gladly."

Sienna blushed but nodded. "Good." Then she looked at the mess kit and opened her mouth.

Walt chuckled and fed her some more. "We'll do this again. I like this too. I promise." He ate another mouthful.

Sienna nodded. They both wanted to linger here longer but they needed to get back to the house.

Demona had watched the one called Neopolitan uncover her and look at her. There was no smile this morning though. She watched her stare at her and then go back in the house.

The door kept opening and closing and people would come and look, but none stayed. It was the same for people coming from the bunkhouse. She sensed something was different this morning as opposed to the other.

She heard more approaching footsteps and saw Sasha but then was surprised to see Baroness and Pirotess as well. One of them should be tied up!

Sasha sighed. She looked at the other two. "I don't think we should leave her here."

Pirotess looked thoughtful. "Is freeing her wise, though?"

Anastasia crossed her arms. "He's already upset. It might upset him more..."

Sasha nodded. "I think I know... Hang on." She went inside.

Anastasia looked at Pirotess. "What do you think?"

Pirotess shook her head. "He had few rules for us and, like him or not, he takes his duty as protector seriously... but now that one of those in his charge has been harmed his ire is provoked. He may be wroth..."

Sasha came back out. "I asked Penny and Tsu. They said to free her. She didn't do anything wrong. They'll tell Walter. I doubt he'll be mad at them or Demona if we get her out of here. Help me out?"

They nod and quickly freed Demona. She's still confused but she can guess who the other covered figure is. "I take it something happened? And why are you not bound?"

The three of them shake their heads and look at the final bound and covered figure. Sasha says,"You better come inside. We'll explain there..."

Mystique hears these things but can see nothing until the door opens one last time. There's the sound of footsteps that stop next to her and then the blanket is lifted and there's light.

"Salutations Mystique!"

The bright face of the cheerful girl smiles down at her. Too damn cheerful! She makes a sound through the gag trying tell her to "leave!" *Mmff*

Penny nods her head and sits down. "I am sorry but no one else seems to want to keep you company this morning, so I decided I would do it!" Penny sips her coffee.

*Fuck off!* "kh mff"

Penny smiled. "I am sorry. It is difficult to understand through the gag. Could you kindly repeat that, please?"

*FUCK OFF!* "Kh mff!"

Penny tilts her head and blinks then nods. "Alright. If you are sure that is what you really want?"

Mystique nods.

Penny goes back inside... and returns with a second cup of coffee that she places next to Mystiques nose before sitting down again. "Here you go. I do not know why you wanted a cup of coffee you cannot drink with the gag on but I am sure have your reasons."

*You bitch!* "Tff mff!

Penny smiles. "You are very welcome, Mystique."

Mystique groans.

*Go away!* "Gh nff!"

Penny nods. "Alright. If you insist I will "go on" and try my best to keep up enough conversation for the both of us!"

*Please stop!* "Pff mmp!*

"Oh, no," Penny assures her,"The pleasue is mine. I am very glad we will be having this opportunity to have a dialog between us!"

Mystique groans and wishes the little mean spirited one would comeback instead.

Penny smiles. "I am so glad it makes you happy!" She tells her while Mystique groans some more. "Though I do have to say I am a little sad that you are not happy being here in general. I do not think you understand that Walter is trying to make everyone happy, including yourself. I am afraid that what you have done has made him and others very unhappy with you. Maybe you are not aware of this?"

Mystique rolled her eyes at her.

Penny nodded. "Of course, I would be happy to go over it with you!" She said while Mystique groans. "You see when you make people genuinely happy an interesting thing happens! They make the other people around them happier too! As you can imagine that increased happiness can then continue to build and spread. It grows you see like a living thing. I like to think of it as a garden or a field of flowers! Spreading little seeds it expands that happiness in the hearts of others! Isn't that wonderful?"

*Fuck you and your happy garden!* "Ffk oo nn oo hff ghhn*

Penny nodded. "You're correct! I also think it needs a gardener!" Mystique groans. "That is what I have dedicated myself to being. I want to be the gardener to help grow that happiness in Master Walter's life! He has a powerful but gentle way of making people happy and filling them with love. He should be happy and loved and surrounded by the same love and happiness he brings others. And the best way to do that is make those around him happy because that's what makes him happy!"

Mystique glares at Penny.

*You're pissing me off!* "Yf png mm ff!"

Penny nods. "That is also correct. It can be poisoned by sadness." Mystique grunts while Penny continues. "Things that make people sad can also spread their speed and grow. I know. I have felt it myself. Many of us have. I know my deaths made my friends sad. I do not like that and I do not want them to be sad."

*You're a defective freak!* "Oo ah dffv ffk!"

Penny nods. "I did die. Twice. Three times if you want to be technical about it. It was painful to think about. Sometimes it still bothers me. And many of the rest of the people here also either died or had very sad and unhappy lives. Some made bad choices that allowed that unhappiness to continue to spread like the poison you talked about. I heard your own life was very unhappy and sad."

*Don't you dare talk about my life!* "Dhn oo dh tk boo mm lff!"

Penny nodded. "Of course, we can talk about your life when ever you want too!" Mystique groans. "But we should wait for that gag to come off first. Also I am pretty sure Walter wants to talk to you about your life as well, don't you Walter? Welcome home you two!"

Mystique's eyes grow a little wide as she hears him say, "Thank you Penny. It's good to be home."

"Yes," Sienna says. "Thank you, Penny. It really is good to be home."

Penny smiles. "You're both very welcome!"

Walt continues. "I do. But I don't want to interrupt you ladies in your conversation, Penny."

She watches Penny smile. "Oh no. I was just keeping her company and having a discussion until you and Sienna returned. I had them bring Demona inside though but no one wanted to come sit with Mystique this morning. I did not want her to be lonely. Did I do ok?"

Sienna and Walt step-up on to the porch. Walt doesn't even look at Mystique. He walks straight over to Penny and kissed her. "You are wonderful as always! I love you, Penny."

Penny smiles. "And I love you, Walt!"

Walt smiles and strokes her face. "Why don't you and Sienna go inside so Mystique and I can chat."

"Alright. I hope you both have a good talk! I will see you later Mystique!" Penny waves as she and Sienna go in while Walt holds the door for them and kisses them both.

Walt takes the seat Penny had been sitting in and takes his hat off. He doesn't say anything. He just watches the sun rise.

*Well?* "Whf?"

He turned his gaze towards her.

Mystique had fought with, for and against some of the strongest powers in her reality. She did not frighten easily.

She flinched. She had his attention.

He held her gaze.

She tried to change tactics and morphed into him.

It was like time skipped. He was no longer in the chair. He was crouched down over her. Staring at her nose to nose.

He didn't blink. She did and started to change turning copper haired and green eyed.

His gloved hand was around her neck in an instant like a vice. She froze.

"She was genuinely trying to be nice to you. To help you. And now you threaten me with her? After you attacked Tsu unprovoked? You thought that was a wise move."

He shook his head as he looked into her eyes. "Friday?"

(("I had Neo bring them out. They're in the box behind you, Walter."))

He nodded as he picked her up like he would a rattler snake. He opened the wooden box. He pulled out a collar and then stuck her with a syringe.

As the shot courses through her veins and her strength weakens he sits down and holds her stroking her hair.

"I'm angry and disappointed... with you as well as myself. I had expected to run onto trouble at some point with someone. I had hoped that it wouldn't be you because with you there are few half measures to take. But I can't let you be a danger to the others. I know your life. I don't want to add to it's cruelties and misfortunes. I'm sorry. I didn't want this for you."

Mystique passes out. Sayoko and Roberta had come out. He passed Mystique to them and they held her. "Now Friday"

Her collar disengaged and he took it off, immediately putting the new one on her.

(("Everything is working perfectly, Boss."))

He took her gag off gently. "I'm not happy about it, Friday."

(("I know Walter. Sometimes you have to be "cruel to be kind"."))

Walt shook his head. "According to Nick Lowe. "I must be cruel, only to be kind: Thus bad begins and worse remains behind." Is how the original goes... Things didn't work out so well for Hamlet."

"I think it will be different for you, Master Walter," Sayoko said as she and Roberta removed Mystique's bonds.

"Sí. I also think this," Agreed Roberta.

He smiled at them both. He still needed to fugure out how best to help them too. "Oh, so you ladies know Shakespeare? What makes you both think so?"

Roberta and Sayoko looked at each other and nodded and then back to Walter and said together, "You are not the Prince of Denmark."

Walt laughed.

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Settle Down Pt 2

Coming Soon]