To Remind Me

[Otto Octavius]

Characters Appearing: Otto Octavius, Nancy Thompson
Location (s): Shopping District
Previous Thread Name.: None
Plot Summary.: Otto has come to do some shopping. Little did he know he would run into a dear friend from the past.

[Otto Octavius]

Near the marketplace, an ancient-looking stone archway suddenly illuminated and rippled like a small pond of silver mercury. A tall figure dressed in a dark green overcoat and small green sunglasses stepped through it with four long metal tentacles protruding from his back. As he descended from the stone platform, he paused and turned, appearing to await someone's arrival. After a moment, a tall silver machine with huge, bulky arms and long bird-like legs emerged from the portal. However, it seemed to be experiencing difficulty navigating through the archway and repeatedly collided with it. Otto Octavius observed his assistant's struggles, wearing a frown and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Ed!" He yelled as the machine stopped and seemed to turn its large oval head towards him. "We spoke about this. Forty-five-degree angle…” The large machine then took a step away and titled its body into a slant before walking through the archway and awkwardly down the thin stone steps.

"Yes..well done...." Otto said flatly as Flo shook her pincers. "Please be reminded of our agreement. You no longer possess machine guns, rockets, or surface-to-air missiles. Furthermore, you are no longer the property of OCP. You are present here to provide me with assistance, also because we cannot trust you to be alone on the station. Do you understand the terms?" The towering machine leaned forward, speaking in a low, growling, almost animal-like voice.

"COMPLIANCE!"

"Fine…" With a deep sigh, Otto turned and motioned for the Ex-enforcer droid to follow him as he headed toward the crowd and began to peruse the market stands. Thankfully, he was only here for a small supply run. What could happen in such a short time?

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy strolled through the bustling shopping district, her brown plaid pleated pants swishing with each step as she scanned the storefronts for the perfect ring to complement the intricate amulet hanging around her neck. Her oversized turtleneck sweater kept her warm as she peered into the jewelry store's display window, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the sparkling rings on offer.

As she stepped inside the cozy shop, the display of polished metal and delicate gems enveloped her. The friendly jeweler greeted her with a warm smile and began showing her a variety of exquisite rings, each one more beautiful than the last. Nancy's fingers hovered over a particularly intricate design when a sudden thud against the window made her jump. She wrapped a hand around the trinket that hung around her neck protectively.

A small bird, dazed and confused, fluttered frantically against the glass pane, its tiny beak tapping in desperation. Nancy's heart skipped a beat as she watched the bird's futile attempts to break through the barrier. She felt a strange pang of pity for the creature, its resilience both alarming and puzzling. “What the hell is going on?” she half-sighed in the face of the clear absurdity.

Just as Nancy was about to reach out to help the bird, it suddenly veered off course and flew straight into a towering mechanical contraption further down the street. Nancy's eyes widened in recognition as she realized it was the peculiar bot she had seen before – a clunky, yet familiar creation that seemed to have a mind of its own.

Curiosity sparked and mingled with caution, Nancy emerged from the jewelry store, the forgotten ring trailing behind a string of unexpected events. She trailed the colossal bot, the sound of her leather flats tapping against the pavement accompanying her attempt to unravel the unfolding spectacle. Passing the lively stands one by one, she remained fixated on the wandering bot, unfazed by the alluring offers of exquisite teas, produce, and wares from vivacious women and men alike.

The ambiance of commerce enveloped the air, yet she remained indifferent to everything and everyone except the peculiar heap of mechanical scraps meandering through the bustling marketplace. As she narrowly avoided colliding with a sweet elderly lady, she pivoted, gaining a fresh perspective on the bot from her new vantage point. What she hadn’t expected to see were the mechanical arms and primarily to what — who — they were attached to. Who was actually beside the actual bot itself.

"It can't be," she gasped, torn between hope and the struggle to trust her eyes after accepting her solitude. Her composed stride erupted into a frantic sprint, then escalated into a full-on run. A typically grounded and sensible girl, she now inwardly seemed more the twenty-two-year-old she once was, filled with hopes and dreams. Something she wasn’t now.

Furrowing her brow, she nearly collided with innocent bystanders in her fear of losing sight of the figures ahead. The two of course stood out conspicuously, yet she feared their sudden disappearance, a strange anxiety she developed. Despite rebuilding her life anew, the memory of him lingered, unshakeable. "Hey, could you hold on a minute? Wait!" she called out, not caring for for the disapproving glances of onlookers as the near breathless woman pursued the man and his robot.

She ran her fingers through her hair and coughed violently, just about to bust a lung from running so much. 

"Only one man knows," Nancy panted softly, gathering a bit of air for her next move. She cupped her hands over her mouth before shouting out the next words, completely and totally aware of how absurd they sounded to any listener. If he didn't turn around and react as she expected, she would have her answer to confirm his identity. "The birds set fire to the gas station!"

[Otto Octavius]

Otto was unable to hear the voice calling out amidst the noisy crowd of vendors and patrons around him. As the crowd closed in behind the giant robot, he looked back, but his sight was blocked. Rasing an eyebrow, Octavius then shrugged and turned back to complete his transaction. He handed over some coins in exchange for fruits and bovus meat, and then passed the bag up to Flo, who was positioned on the upper left. Flo kept looking behind them, hearing something as she opened her pincers, dropping the bag that was caught just in time by Mo! Inside the actuator, a ring of flat pieces of metal rolled out and interlocked with each other, resembling a small satellite dish. Suddenly, Otto froze as Flo picked up a voice from the crowd.

"The birds set fire to the gas station!"

"...How?" he blurted out before his confusion set in. He turned around to scan the large crowd and called out, "Nancy?" Otto then started to weave his way through the people toward the voice. "Excuse me. Pardon us...Please let us through..." Finally, he sighed, exasperated, and held his hand up in frustration.

"Edward…." The giant machine turned and raised up on his large metal legs as steam hissed from his joints! It roared out a loud booming order!

"DISPERSE!!!!"

"Thank you...." As the crowd parted like the Red Sea, Otto paused. He saw a familiar face approaching him, which made him feel uneasy. It was someone he thought had perished when Elusion fell. As the person walked closer, he stopped just a few feet away, and he and the actuators just stared at her.

"How can this be? We searched for you when we arrived here. When we found nothing, I thought..." He then smiled. "I am pleased to see you survived." He had the urge to hug his old friend but had no idea if the affection would be welcomed or not. 

[Nancy Thompson]

"How?!" she cried out in unison with him, though her tone carried a touch of bittersweetness, her excitement palpable as she pressed her lip between her teeth. A gentle smile, revealing her teeth, gradually illuminated her countenance as she delicately intertwined her fingers in a wistful manner.

As he curiously maneuvered through the throng of people, she gracefully advanced towards him in return, her steps leisurely as if traversing an otherworldly mist. With a languid movement, she lowered her hands and lifted her gaze to his cherished actuators, her cerulean eyes alight with affection. Extending a genuine and amiable look, she bestowed upon them a familiar wave that went beyond a mere passing salutation. They were old friends, too.

Her smile softened, a hint of self-consciousness creeping in as she swiftly brushed her curls aside and smoothed the loose collar of her snug turtleneck. Pondering whether she appeared too altered since their last meeting, she cast a glance at him, noting with surprise that time seemed to have left him untouched. His inquisitive gaze, commanding brow, and astute countenance retained their handsome qualities. Whether in his mere stance or his manner of speech, his presence was simply put— home.


"I know," she reassured him in a gentle tone, her eyes drifting down to the floor as a wave of sentimental foolishness overcame her. Despite her inner embarrassment, all she could muster was a wry chuckle at her own expense. "Because I did the same. But when I couldn’t find you, I thought..." Their words seemed to converge towards a shared conclusion, momentarily silencing her until he tenderly added his own touch of sweetness.

Nancy summoned the courage to meet his gaze once more, unable to conceal the glistening sheen in her eyes or the slight redness of her button nose. She felt certain her reaction must have appeared quite insane to him, yet she managed to smile amidst the whirlwind of emotions. “Why, you must think I’m nuttier than a fruitcake,” she gave him and his sentient actuators half of a watery laugh, “I’m just…” she couldn’t find the words as they seemed to hardly encompass what she genuinely felt.

She sighed softly.

"All I meant," she breathed with warmth, "is that I’m glad you’re here now." It was easy for others to dismiss her as sentimental, a mature woman such as herself displaying such tenderness for one from her distant past, separated by harsh circumstances. Yet, she held a deep affection for him, akin to that for family, for he had been her steadfast support and perhaps the one man she trusted the most.

"Did I dream you up?" she half-joked, wrapping her arms around him to reassure herself of his tangible presence. Mid-embrace, unable to resist, she inquired, "Have you encountered anyone else in the meantime?"

[Otto Octavius]

Otto gave a gentle smile in response to her words; he would be surprised by how different he looked when he smiled. He often thought himself intimidating when angry, but his smile made him seem the opposite. As she approached and hugged him, her arms barely reached around his waist. He hesitated momentarily before patting her fluffy hair. Though he wasn't used to being hugged, he was glad to see her.

"We are no dilution. When Elusion fell, we found ourselves stranded in this world. We managed to locate Kaine, K-9, and Edward, but that's all we have been able to find so far. Given the enormity of this world and the limited technology at our disposal, it is quite challenging to locate a single individual amidst all this chaos," he said, placing his hands behind his back as the large robot stood taller upon hearing its name.

"New beings arrive here daily, some not even from Elusion but refugees from other worlds, which were destroyed by some unnatural force. We have discovered that an automated system is responsible for bringing these people here, but we have yet to access it successfully." Otto turned and began to walk next to her, heading towards the large stone arch at the other end of the market, with Ed following behind. As they walked, he glanced at her and noticed that his young friend had aged several years, but he soon realized that only a few months had passed since he saw her last. This could be due to the time dilation that he had theorized. He decided to ask her about it later. For now, Otto was just happy to see that she was alive. Even the actuators seemed excited to see her, swaying back and forth to get a better look. However, as they approached the arch, his pace slowed, and a worried look crossed his face.

"Nancy, were you able to find anyone? Your friends? That Williams individual?" He said with a bit of disdain. But he then arched a brow, looking back down at her. "Donna perhaps…?"

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy released Otto from her embrace, mindful of his space, and nodded as he shared details about his arrival. As her gaze shifted to Ed the bot, she noticed a subtle shift in its posture when its name was mentioned. While she would have found this reaction charming under different circumstances, Nancy couldn't help but remember the unfortunate incident with the mailman and Ed's well-known malfunction, sending shivers down her spine. Consequently, her attempt to smile at the massive machine came across as awkward and forced.

Her affection shifted towards the actuators, causing her smile to become more genuine, her eyes twinkling with a subtle warmth as Octavius unveiled the fundamental reason behind people being displaced from their original worlds to this place. However, as he elaborated, her lips slowly curved into a pronounced frown. It appeared that they shared a common concern: had their friends and family been located?

As she strolled alongside the significantly taller man, she couldn't shake off her sheer disbelief at his presence right beside her—alive, breathing, and appearing completely healthy. Despite her inscrutable expression, a genuine sense of happiness washed over her at the sight of him once more. However, her joy was tinged with a shadow of woe as she thought of Kristen, whom she regarded as a little sister or even a daughter figure. The subtle lines and texture on her skin seemed to deepen as she grappled with the reality that Kristen and the others still remained unfound.

Her heart plummeted like a stone when he asked about his beloved Donna, a spark of hope in his eyes that stirred her with sympathy. "No," she responded, tilting her head back slowly to contemplate the sky before returning her gaze to his. "I haven’t seen her around, Dr. Octavius." Her voice sounding smaller than a delicate rose petal, she continued, "I'm so sorry. I know how much she meant to you.”

Nancy couldn't bear to leave things on such a dreary note. Infusing a sense of hope into her next words, she said, "But remember, she's likely out there searching for you just as earnestly as you are for her." With a gentle squeeze on his arm, she added, "sort of like how we found each other.”


Her gentle sympathy quickly transformed into a momentary shock, although she managed to conceal it well. An uneasy smil, despite her efforts, broke through her frown as she almost stuttered, "Ashley? Mr. Williams? I don’t know." Her widened eyes betrayed her own disbelief. Nancy closed her eyes and shook her head vigorously, signaling him to give her a moment with a hand gesture. She hadn't intended to tell an outright lie, but their reunion had taken a completely unexpected turn. It was an absolute shit show and for what?


There was no simple way to elucidate how she inadvertently summoned a dreaded foe and accidentally consumed the pot brownies infused with the forbidden pink lemonade, leaving herself completely inebriated. Opting for the path of least resistance, she decided to interweave embellished truths into her explanation. "I'm not sure where to begin," she returned to the peculiar statement, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear while maintaining a composed demeanor, even though she felt like a chaotic train wreck inside. "He’s a businessman now, and he is looking after little Clem. He’s aged…nicely. I don’t know if you’ve seen the ads for his hardware store. They’re horribly funny.”

[Otto Octavius]

During the walk, Otto kept his ears open for any updates regarding her acquaintances or perhaps Donna. However, upon receiving confirmation of no such information, he acknowledged this with a slow nod. Otto recognized that discovering anyone from his limited social circle was an improbable feat. The likelihood of him reuniting with Nancy alone was low, given the daily influx of thousands of people into this world, coupled with the millions already in existence. It was a matter of sheer happenstance that he found Nancy at all. Yet, there persisted a frustrating sliver of hope that vexed him at every turn.

"I see.." Otto responded in a somber tone as they looked down at Nancy once more. "I offer my sincerest condolences for the loss of your friends. We pledge not to rest until we find them. The technology available to us is advanced, and once we repair the station, we will use it to locate Taryn and Kristen." Otto tactfully avoided mentioning Donna, and paused in his stride as Nancy mentioned Mr. Williams.

"No...We have not ," Otto replied as he looked up. Flo then proceeded to activate a small holographic screen by opening her pincers. After scanning various channels used for communications and broadcasts, the screen stopped on one already playing. As Otto watched the ad for a hardware store that also seemed to double as a sex shop he raised a brow. Ash's loud voice discussing his nuts and screws could be heard over the audio, causing others around to take notice. As the commercial ended, Octavius let out a loud sigh. Of all the people to survive a cataclysmic event, it had to be him.

As Flo pulled away he observed that monitoring the local broadcasts more frequently would prove beneficial. He then noticed that Ash had aged significantly since their last encounter. Williams appeared to be in his mid-twenties and now older than sixty, providing more evidence supporting Otto's time dilation hypothesis. Though he did feel a slight sense of satisfaction that Williams was clearly older than he was now...Old dude indeed...who is the old dude now?

"...I suppose it is good to see someone having fun amid all this chaos. And we are glad he found the young girl, at least.” Otto maintained a professional demeanor as they approached the stone arch by positioning his hands behind his back.

"Nancy, may I ask how long you have been present on this world? We have been here for a few months, and it has come to our attention that some individuals from Elusion have been here for years even decades. We are curious. I apologize if it is a personal question, but it is essential, and we appreciate any information you would like to share." He paused, not wanting to ask directly about her age difference just yet.

[Nancy Thompson]

Nancy doubted he would actually take her word for it as one of the actuators searched for the derpy advertisement. She had secretly hoped he would stumble upon it in his own home, rather than at that moment. Stunned with how quickly it came up, she found herself unable to do anything but glance downward and force a tight smile, appearing as though she were holding back either a mortified scream or a manic laugh. It was embarrassing, but god was it also the most hilariously absurd thing she had ever seen in her young life.

She felt her insides pucker inward, the cringe seeping through her body and soul, as an attractive lady giggled her way across the screen, Ash's shameless antics eclipsing the content. Her face burned powerfully with embarrassment as she dropped it into her hands, less than gracefully breaking down into laughter, shaking her head while her waves trembled with the motion.

Poor Otto’s composed demeanor effortlessly brought tears to her eyes as she continued to giggle softly, trying to maintain a semblance of composure despite her flushed cheeks betraying her amusement. So many wrongs had occurred since that ‘heartwarming’ gathering happened, Nancy tactfully restrained herself from saying too much about it.

In her interactions with Otto, she had observed that while he could be prone to bouts of intense anger, he consistently exuded an air of sophistication and grace. This quality became evident as he responded maturely to a rather juvenile situation. Nancy discreetly cleared her throat, dabbed at her eyes, and quietly offered her apology, "Sorry. I'm relieved, at the very least, that he managed to locate Clementine. This gives me hope for the future.”

Her countenance gradually cooled, and her laughter faded into a hushed silence as she reflected on her girls— both Kristen and Taryn. Otto's earlier assurance prompted her inner joker to adopt a more pragmatic outlook on their situation. Gratitude welled up within her once again for stumbling upon him and the others by sheer chance. Then, he posed a question that furrowed her brow in contemplation. "Seven years," she replied simply, but this led her to counter with her own inquiry as she gazed up at him. "How is it possible that I've been marooned here for such a long time, while for you, only a few months have passed? Remarkably, Ashley wasn't much older than me either."

[Otto Octavius]

"I would like to share my observations with you," Otto responded as they continued to the arch. "One theory that I have come across is related to time dilation. According to this theory, as an individual moves faster, time moves slower. It can be compared to pushing time through a funnel, where individuals come out on the other side at different rates." He then raised his hand to emphasize his point.

"Another posits that an entity or entities may extract individuals from different periods in time and transport them to another world. This being or beings may exist outside of time and lack the concept of it. Consequently, a mother and child from a world previously destroyed may have been taken, with the child now being an old woman while the mother remains the same age." Otto was frustrated that he continually had to contend with larger, stronger entities attempting to manipulate his life, from school bullies to his difficult family. The experience of being taken from his world and placed in a terrarium of colossal size, akin to a pet store turtle, only compounds his frustration. Nonetheless, Otto maintains that whoever is responsible for this will be held accountable at a later time. Interrupted from his thoughts, Otto looked down at Nancy and offered her a small smile.

"At present, those are merely theoretical concepts. There is no cause for alarm," he attempted to reassure her. Upon arriving at the arch, the upper right arm struck a collection of stone panels situated on the side of the arch. The center responded by emitting a luminous aura that undulated like liquid metal.

"Coordinates set for the Vastreach Space Station," Otto announced before turning to ED209. "You go first," he ordered. The giant mech obeyed and made his way to the arch, this time leaning to one side and bringing his barrel appendages inward as he slipped through the portal and disappeared. Otto then turned to Nancy and waited for her.

"Allow me to offer a fair warning regarding the station, as it may be somewhat disorienting due to microgravity. You may experience a sensation akin to standing on a boat for the first time. However, I assure you that you will acclimate to the environment expediently." He said, holding an arm out to help Nancy up the stone step to the arch.