William B. Afton

You manage to locate the source of this strange sound.

"Oh, you BLASTED thing. Work already!"

"What are you doing?"

He inquires, walking around to face him and the device.

He was surprisingly easy to startle, even if he tried to be on guard all the time.

William held the object away, acting strangely possessive, like he had to protect it from the other man.

What he almost let out was some warning about not sneaking up on someone, having been quite unpleasantly startled by the sudden voice again and wishing he wouldn't EVER do that again. Just to protect his ego.

Only to realize that he himself was a repeat offender of that, especially now, in death.

He sighed, as if steadying his breath a moment.

"If you must know...

Well, actually, I'm not so sure myself. These odd devices, occasionally someone drops one here or there." He waved his hand in gesture back and forth, the device within.

As he'd lurk through that colossal mall, William sometimes witnessed the two sided rectangles dropped by one of the night guards, or someone who just wasn't keeping up with their belongings quite well.

...Wait a second. But he'd seen it there, in his world.

All it took was a few steps into an unfamiliar corner to take him to the place not unlike the diner he ran in the distant past... To the office of his other self.

So, their realities had somehow overlapped.

Whatever gateway connected them, this William must have found his way through. If only he could ask how he got there... There would be no point when the ghost of William didn't understand himself.

"It's my theory that this is a sort of communication device. Similar to something that they used in the...

Ah, right. Technically, I'm from the future to you. So, you wouldn't know."

That version of himself surely hadn't made it to the 90s yet. The most he probably knew of a cellphone was the ones only businessmen like himself would use, particularly clunky compared to the flip phones he'd seen and at one point, owned.

"Are you sure it's a communication device? It looks way smaller than you'd expect... And portable, without an antenna... How intriguing..."

He tries to reach the device without success, as the other is adamant on keeping it for himself. With a huff, he steps back, deciding to look around instead, screens turned off around him. Funnily enough, given the mall held a retro theme, it wasn't as far fetched from his point of view. He didn't know half of the magnitude of how things changed.

Though it did look boring compared to the past's clunky artistry.

William stammered as he clumsily took to protecting his pride. Over an... inanimate object that didn't even belong to him.

Petty.

"I- Wh-

Yes, thank you. It isn't the ones they had in my time, but-

Around here, there's plenty of opportunities.

To observe. Listen. Take in what's around you..."

In other words, on different occasions, he'd watched someone tap away at a similar device before, making it click and pop... but with no keyboard or number pad.

"Now, why don't you do that yourself? If you want to learn, then here. You press this button on its side, and tap it here, like..."

Click.

The lock screen display only flickered off, the brightness flashing to black.

"No- DAMN IT."

Click.

Nothing.

His claws clacked against the glass again.

William growled at the cursed rectangle, tapping furiously. The definition of insanity, supposedly, was doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

Well, he was certainly raving mad by now...

"Oh, I should have just CRUSHED this thing," he snarled.

He gripped the phone with a vice, stealing a look at the other self, watching him walk around.

He's not asking for help. He's not asking for help. He's NOT. ASKING. FOR HELP.

He wasn't that weak.

But the only reason William didn't just snap it in two was because he intended to solve this puzzle.

"Hey, don't- Quit that."

Maybe it was a side effect of dealing with a stubborn teenager on the regular, but William ends up scolding the ghost at his outburst, reaching for his wrist as a second nature to stop him from potentially crushing the device. He managed to hold him in place for a split moment before the ghost reacted and William's hand phased through it. With nothing to hold onto, he crosses his arms, stopping his walk to glare at him.

He snapped at himself, already getting a nerve struck. He was too easy to set off, with how so much of what was left of him consisted of pure rage.

"Don't talk to me like that."

How rude. He wasn't a child who didn't know any better.

"YOU underestimate me. I could have destroyed it if I so wished. In fact... I could have done more to you the first time we met. But..."

He drew close.

"Oh, but I didn't... did I?

I know my own strength better than that."

Having forgotten about the device choked in his hand, William failed to anticipate the next sound.

Crack.

A tiny fracture ran over the phone screen. It didn't break it by any means, but it showed that someone was fired up enough to lose control over his abilities. Well, he did do that in life, even if he'd actively deny it... like he literally just did.

That would be an interesting surprise for whoever this device DID belong to.

His eyes widened.

"...Oh dear."

His voice quickly shrunk as he floated back a few inches. That was... embarrassing.

William held back a groan as he clutched his messy hair. He stuck out a pointer finger, a dark violet flame enveloping the phone that behaved more like a magic aura, leaving it unscathed. He flicked the phone from his palm to his other self, unfortunately waiting for him to take it.

"FINE. Why don't YOU give it a shot, then? But who's to say you'll be any bit lucky?"

"Surely that's the case. You're clearly the epitome of self restraint, dear."

William's smile turns into a petty grin, but he holds back any additional retort, ready to get the phone. However, before he could reach it, he sees the violet fire envelop it, taking him by surprise. He gasps softly, quickly retrieving his own hand as he stares at the other's hand, the strange device forgotten for a moment.

"How did you do that?"

He tilts his head, staring at the other with caution. It might have fixed the phone, but fire was still fire, it wouldn't hurt to keep his distance. He stares at his palm for a while until realising he's still expected to take the phone. He does, grabbing it with his own handkerchief at first, only making direct contact when he confirms it won't give him a second degree burn. It wasn't even hot... How even. He stared at the ghost's face, as if it could magically give him the answers popping up in his head.

"Oh, hush it. So it was ONE little mistep. That... ugh, that can happen..."

As much as he absolutely despised making any kind of mistake... He needed some sort of defense, even if it was poor.

As he watches the incredulous expression of his alternate past, another smug, triumphant smirk curls onto his lips. It was also to be expected that he would still exercise caution before a disembodied spirit, something that could indeed be dangerous, depending on its nature. But it was certainly endearing, to see him draw away from himself out of any fear of being harmed. Such an enjoyable surprise...

It's William's own surprise that also comes to him, as he takes a look at the now repaired screen. He lifts it up, leaning his head in and narrowing his eyes for a better look.

His lips part.

"... Fascinating."

Controlling time? What a novel concept. He mumbled something under his breath.

"If only either one of us did..."

A hand flew up to his chin, curling under it as he pondered with a hum.

"Hmm... It would seem the... particles are bonded together once more. Well. That does resolve the issue, I suppose."

William was truly shocked by the picture. He'd used those flames before, intentionally conjuring them up when he'd conduct manipulation of objects, just like a poltergeist. They really were just for show, so... how were they able to alter the screen's condition? Not even actual fire would have done that...

His arms bent as his hands opened in a theatrical gesture, a finger raising on one of them as he winked.

"Now you know the saying, William. A magician cannot reveal his secrets.

Do you really want to spoil the show?"

Although... perhaps he would have told him, if he knew the truth of how they transcended the space-time continuum like that. Yet, William suspected it was not a boundary of timeline separation they'd crossed, but rather a rift in the existence of parallel universes. That particular science wasn't one he'd done much delving into... But he certainly couldn't ignore the possibility now.

Too bad his interest in the study was just a bit too late to actually pursue. He could no longer sit at his desk and fill up a number of journals over it with books in relation to theoretical sciences open next to them.

"Hm, nevermind that.

Come on, don't forget. It's not just you that wants to see if this will work."

William lightly clapped his hands to urge the other, with another utterance hidden under his breath, but this one biting with snark, and somewhat of a... snort.

"Which it won't."

His gaze returns to the device, pressing the buttons on its sides until the screen turned on to leave him staring blankly at it.

"Huh."

What was what the other tried to do? He touched the screen, but nothing happened at first. It took a few tries until he managed to sweep out of the block screen, getting to the main one, filled with different icons. Were those programs?

"It seems to be touch driven, this is incredible..."

He murmurs, swiping through the main screen as he inspects its interface. Then, he reaches a conclusion, walking up to the ghost once more to him what the screen displays.

"Seems like you were mistaken after all. This is clearly a computer, more advanced than I thought too... The implications behind its size are astonishing- What year is this again? I didn't think you would be farther than a decade or two... Well, you don't seem very old..."

William stops marveling at the device for a second to scrutinize the ghost's appearance. He seemed older than him, but not by much. From his cryptic past messages, he could discern he died and turned into this mystical creature, but how long ago was that? This man couldn't be 60, even less older than that, which arises the question: How long has he been wandering alone these halls?

You manage to locate the source of this strange sound.

"Oh, you BLASTED thing. Work already!"

"What are you doing?"

He inquires, walking around to face him and the device.

He was surprisingly easy to startle, even if he tried to be on guard all the time.

William held the object away, acting strangely possessive, like he had to protect it from the other man.

What he almost let out was some warning about not sneaking up on someone, having been quite unpleasantly startled by the sudden voice again and wishing he wouldn't EVER do that again. Just to protect his ego.

Only to realize that he himself was a repeat offender of that, especially now, in death.

He sighed, as if steadying his breath a moment.

"If you must know...

Well, actually, I'm not so sure myself. These odd devices, occasionally someone drops one here or there." He waved his hand in gesture back and forth, the device within.

As he'd lurk through that colossal mall, William sometimes witnessed the two sided rectangles dropped by one of the night guards, or someone who just wasn't keeping up with their belongings quite well.

...Wait a second. But he'd seen it there, in his world.

All it took was a few steps into an unfamiliar corner to take him to the place not unlike the diner he ran in the distant past... To the office of his other self.

So, their realities had somehow overlapped.

Whatever gateway connected them, this William must have found his way through. If only he could ask how he got there... There would be no point when the ghost of William didn't understand himself.

"It's my theory that this is a sort of communication device. Similar to something that they used in the...

Ah, right. Technically, I'm from the future to you. So, you wouldn't know."

That version of himself surely hadn't made it to the 90s yet. The most he probably knew of a cellphone was the ones only businessmen like himself would use, particularly clunky compared to the flip phones he'd seen and at one point, owned.

"Are you sure it's a communication device? It looks way smaller than you'd expect... And portable, without an antenna... How intriguing..."

He tries to reach the device without success, as the other is adamant on keeping it for himself. With a huff, he steps back, deciding to look around instead, screens turned off around him. Funnily enough, given the mall held a retro theme, it wasn't as far fetched from his point of view. He didn't know half of the magnitude of how things changed.

Though it did look boring compared to the past's clunky artistry.

William stammered as he clumsily took to protecting his pride. Over an... inanimate object that didn't even belong to him.

Petty.

"I- Wh-

Yes, thank you. It isn't the ones they had in my time, but-

Around here, there's plenty of opportunities.

To observe. Listen. Take in what's around you..."

In other words, on different occasions, he'd watched someone tap away at a similar device before, making it click and pop... but with no keyboard or number pad.

"Now, why don't you do that yourself? If you want to learn, then here. You press this button on its side, and tap it here, like..."

Click.

The lock screen display only flickered off, the brightness flashing to black.

"No- DAMN IT."

Click.

Nothing.

His claws clacked against the glass again.

William growled at the cursed rectangle, tapping furiously. The definition of insanity, supposedly, was doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

Well, he was certainly raving mad by now...

"Oh, I should have just CRUSHED this thing," he snarled.

He gripped the phone with a vice, stealing a look at the other self, watching him walk around.

He's not asking for help. He's not asking for help. He's NOT. ASKING. FOR HELP.

He wasn't that weak.

But the only reason William didn't just snap it in two was because he intended to solve this puzzle.

"Hey, don't- Quit that."

Maybe it was a side effect of dealing with a stubborn teenager on the regular, but William ends up scolding the ghost at his outburst, reaching for his wrist as a second nature to stop him from potentially crushing the device. He managed to hold him in place for a split moment before the ghost reacted and William's hand phased through it. With nothing to hold onto, he crosses his arms, stopping his walk to glare at him.

He snapped at himself, already getting a nerve struck. He was too easy to set off, with how so much of what was left of him consisted of pure rage.

"Don't talk to me like that."

How rude. He wasn't a child who didn't know any better.

"YOU underestimate me. I could have destroyed it if I so wished. In fact... I could have done more to you the first time we met. But..."

He drew close.

"Oh, but I didn't... did I?

I know my own strength better than that."

Having forgotten about the device choked in his hand, William failed to anticipate the next sound.

Crack.

A tiny fracture ran over the phone screen. It didn't break it by any means, but it showed that someone was fired up enough to lose control over his abilities. Well, he did do that in life, even if he'd actively deny it... like he literally just did.

That would be an interesting surprise for whoever this device DID belong to.

His eyes widened.

"...Oh dear."

His voice quickly shrunk as he floated back a few inches. That was... embarrassing.

William held back a groan as he clutched his messy hair. He stuck out a pointer finger, a dark violet flame enveloping the phone that behaved more like a magic aura, leaving it unscathed. He flicked the phone from his palm to his other self, unfortunately waiting for him to take it.

"FINE. Why don't YOU give it a shot, then? But who's to say you'll be any bit lucky?"

It took all his strength not to chuckle at the way the other failed miserably to prove his point, chirping the screen of the device. He puts on his best smile and speaks in a polite tone.

"Surely that's the case. You're clearly the epitome of self restraint, dear."

William's smile turns into a petty grin, but he holds back any additional retort, ready to get the phone. However, before he could reach it, he sees the violet fire envelop it, taking him by surprise. He gasps softly, quickly retrieving his own hand as he stares at the other's hand, the strange device forgotten for a moment.

"How did you do that?"

He tilts his head, staring at the other with caution. It might have fixed the phone, but fire was still fire, it wouldn't hurt to keep his distance. He stares at his palm for a while until realising he's still expected to take the phone. He does, grabbing it with his own handkerchief at first, only making direct contact when he confirms it won't give him a second degree burn. It wasn't even hot... How even. He stared at the ghost's face, as if it could magically give him the answers popping up in his head.

You manage to locate the source of this strange sound.

"Oh, you BLASTED thing. Work already!"

"What are you doing?"

He inquires, walking around to face him and the device.

He was surprisingly easy to startle, even if he tried to be on guard all the time.

William held the object away, acting strangely possessive, like he had to protect it from the other man.

What he almost let out was some warning about not sneaking up on someone, having been quite unpleasantly startled by the sudden voice again and wishing he wouldn't EVER do that again. Just to protect his ego.

Only to realize that he himself was a repeat offender of that, especially now, in death.

He sighed, as if steadying his breath a moment.

"If you must know...

Well, actually, I'm not so sure myself. These odd devices, occasionally someone drops one here or there." He waved his hand in gesture back and forth, the device within.

As he'd lurk through that colossal mall, William sometimes witnessed the two sided rectangles dropped by one of the night guards, or someone who just wasn't keeping up with their belongings quite well.

...Wait a second. But he'd seen it there, in his world.

All it took was a few steps into an unfamiliar corner to take him to the place not unlike the diner he ran in the distant past... To the office of his other self.

So, their realities had somehow overlapped.

Whatever gateway connected them, this William must have found his way through. If only he could ask how he got there... There would be no point when the ghost of William didn't understand himself.

"It's my theory that this is a sort of communication device. Similar to something that they used in the...

Ah, right. Technically, I'm from the future to you. So, you wouldn't know."

That version of himself surely hadn't made it to the 90s yet. The most he probably knew of a cellphone was the ones only businessmen like himself would use, particularly clunky compared to the flip phones he'd seen and at one point, owned.

"Are you sure it's a communication device? It looks way smaller than you'd expect... And portable, without an antenna... How intriguing..."

He tries to reach the device without success, as the other is adamant on keeping it for himself. With a huff, he steps back, deciding to look around instead, screens turned off around him. Funnily enough, given the mall held a retro theme, it wasn't as far fetched from his point of view. He didn't know half of the magnitude of how things changed.

Though it did look boring compared to the past's clunky artistry.

William stammered as he clumsily took to protecting his pride. Over an... inanimate object that didn't even belong to him.

Petty.

"I- Wh-

Yes, thank you. It isn't the ones they had in my time, but-

Around here, there's plenty of opportunities.

To observe. Listen. Take in what's around you..."

In other words, on different occasions, he'd watched someone tap away at a similar device before, making it click and pop... but with no keyboard or number pad.

"Now, why don't you do that yourself? If you want to learn, then here. You press this button on its side, and tap it here, like..."

Click.

The lock screen display only flickered off, the brightness flashing to black.

"No- DAMN IT."

Click.

Nothing.

His claws clacked against the glass again.

William growled at the cursed rectangle, tapping furiously. The definition of insanity, supposedly, was doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

Well, he was certainly raving mad by now...

"Oh, I should have just CRUSHED this thing," he snarled.

He gripped the phone with a vice, stealing a look at the other self, watching him walk around.

He's not asking for help. He's not asking for help. He's NOT. ASKING. FOR HELP.

He wasn't that weak.

But the only reason William didn't just snap it in two was because he intended to solve this puzzle.

William listens to the ramble of the other man, nodding along as his gaze shifts from him to his surroundings. That until the ghost starts growling, he takes action before he can note what he was doing.

"Hey, don't- Quit that."

Maybe it was a side effect of dealing with a stubborn teenager on the regular, but William ends up scolding the ghost at his outburst, reaching for his wrist as a second nature to stop him from potentially crushing the device. He managed to hold him in place for a split moment before the ghost reacted and William's hand phased through it. With nothing to hold onto, he crosses his arms, stopping his walk to glare at him.

You manage to locate the source of this strange sound.

"Oh, you BLASTED thing. Work already!"

"What are you doing?"

He inquires, walking around to face him and the device.

He was surprisingly easy to startle, even if he tried to be on guard all the time.

William held the object away, acting strangely possessive, like he had to protect it from the other man.

What he almost let out was some warning about not sneaking up on someone, having been quite unpleasantly startled by the sudden voice again and wishing he wouldn't EVER do that again. Just to protect his ego.

Only to realize that he himself was a repeat offender of that, especially now, in death.

He sighed, as if steadying his breath a moment.

"If you must know...

Well, actually, I'm not so sure myself. These odd devices, occasionally someone drops one here or there." He waved his hand in gesture back and forth, the device within.

As he'd lurk through that colossal mall, William sometimes witnessed the two sided rectangles dropped by one of the night guards, or someone who just wasn't keeping up with their belongings quite well.

...Wait a second. But he'd seen it there, in his world.

All it took was a few steps into an unfamiliar corner to take him to the place not unlike the diner he ran in the distant past... To the office of his other self.

So, their realities had somehow overlapped.

Whatever gateway connected them, this William must have found his way through. If only he could ask how he got there... There would be no point when the ghost of William didn't understand himself.

"It's my theory that this is a sort of communication device. Similar to something that they used in the...

Ah, right. Technically, I'm from the future to you. So, you wouldn't know."

That version of himself surely hadn't made it to the 90s yet. The most he probably knew of a cellphone was the ones only businessmen like himself would use, particularly clunky compared to the flip phones he'd seen and at one point, owned.

William walks around him, trying to get a better view of the device. That thing cannot be a phone, how even? The ghost must be taking the piss... But what does it do? Its screen is bright, perhaps it works like a flashlight too, but a very useless one if so.

"Are you sure it's a communication device? It looks way smaller than you'd expect... And portable, without an antenna... How intriguing..."

He tries to reach the device without success, as the other is adamant on keeping it for himself. With a huff, he steps back, deciding to look around instead, screens turned off around him. Funnily enough, given the mall held a retro theme, it wasn't as far fetched from his point of view. He didn't know half of the magnitude of how things changed.

William perked up at the strangely familiar voice. He turned to see his alternate self yet again, an expression of intrigue changing to something unreadable.

He was surprised to see him yet again, after the first time they'd met in this odd plane of existence, one where a multiverse seemed to be easily accessible. All you had to do was walk the right path, or just sit there and wait for someone you should have never met by any logic to come across you.

This would be a mere acquaintance, if only it wasn't himself. So, the feeling that came over him was one you'd feel when speaking to a friend.

...Despite the fact that he was nothing but a nuisance before. But, he was fascinated by the existence of this self. Eager to see if he could do more than the last time, get him to show enough visible fear, figure out what made him similar, what differences there were to him, besides appearance.

Or just... have him as someone to talk to. A certain someone was far lonelier than he cared to admit.

"Well, what a surprise. So, we meet yet again."

Had it really been so long? William had no way to properly keep time, so he couldn't tell, honestly. Fondness touched up his voice, since he really had no reason to dislike this self, and if anything, was thankful to have someone he knew around here, even if that way of knowing was... unconventional.

He smiles, not fully genuine but rather smug, as if he could feel the eagerness for connection from the other.

"If you must know..."

He trails off, thinking about his own response as he looks at the other. For a creature with a presence as frightening like the corpse of his other self, it was almost endearing to see him like that... Not that he'd admit it aloud, after all, it would be the same as begging for the other to show his claws once more. That won't do, not until William knows exactly how the other works, his abilities, his limits... Going headfirst would be plain careless.

"I had to wonder where you came from, you know? An exit can be an entrance for another... It's unfortunate, seems like I cannot discard the complaints about missing items from employees like before. I swore they were stealing it..."

You manage to locate the source of this strange sound.

"Oh, you BLASTED thing. Work already!"

A man approaches the ghost with curiosity and a lack of caution despite their prior encounter. Whether he was too trusting of his own ability, or completely non-threatened by the other, was a mystery. With a look over his shoulder, he notices what he's battling with. Small, bright, clearly a technological device but unknown to himself as well.

"What are you doing?"

He inquires, walking around to face him and the device.