JGoB, Tuesday Evening

[not_the_irs]

There was really only so much time even someone like William could spend with his nose buried in a book. Eventually, he found himself at JGoB (slightly blasphemous name aside, they did manage rather excellent pastry) with a mug of tea, an apple tart...

And a book.

Shut up.

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[legion_we_are]

While Myria had become accustomed to simple human things like walking and breathing. Her jailors were not.

Nor were they used to the glands that influenced their actions.

And, try as she might, trying to steer them away from the real human in their path was not happening. "Walk," she reminded them kindly. "Do not float."

[not_the_irs]

Two Auditors looked at each other for a long time.

Talking with their mouths was still...foreign. "What is he doing?" one asked finally.

[legion_we_are]

"Consuming the nutrients necessary for continued function of the body." And it was...

Something.

Not that she'd allow them to know she had tried it.

[faithandscience]

William had looked up reflexively at the sound of the shop's door opening, and now was trying to figure out what was wrong with the people who'd just entered without making it look as if he were actually staring. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but they didn't seem to move the way a human ought.

And then he'd heard one of them inquire as to what he was doing.

Definitely suspicious. He didn't say anything just yet, eyes flicking back to his plate and the half-finished pastry.

[not_the_irs]

"He is looking at us," one observed. The rest of the Auditors shuffled closer to look at William's plate.

"No, he is looking at this piece of porcelain."

"Ceramic."

"He was observing the food product."

This was hugely productive.

[legion_we_are]

Myria smiled at William, silently wishing he would run like a clever little human ought to. "Immaterial," she said. "There are more important matters to attend to."

[faithandscience]

Unfortunately, intelligence and sensibility did not always go hand in hand. And so there was no running on William's part.

"Can I help you?" he asked, his tone one of forced politeness.

[not_the_irs]

There were more consultations. "Why would we require assistance?"

"Do we appear to need assistance?"

"What could he possibly offer us as assistance?"

Six pairs of eyes focused intently on William.

[legion_we_are]

Oh. This was not good at all.

"No assistance is necessary," Myria said sharply. While they knew they did not have to listen to her, the bodies tended to respond to tones of voice. "We are leaving now."

Just so long as one of them wasn't clever.

[not_the_irs]

Four of them spun on their heels (one hovered slightly above the ground as she did so), responding instinctively to the tone.

One man crossed his arms and glared at her. "We do not wish to leave. There are things to observe and categorize." He pointed at the counters full of baked goods. "They...smell."

This one was going to be clever.

[legion_we_are]

"It is what they do." She gave the one hovering a look that worked better than any mouth could to voice displeasure.

[faithandscience]

"Who are you?" William asked, his tone sharp. They most certainly did not belong here. Were they these 'Auditors' that had been spoken of on the radio?

[legion_we_are]

"They are--" Myria stared at them. No other Auditor had a name save for her. And humans would expect names.

[not_the_irs]

The Auditors consulted among themselves. "Foreign," one finally offered.

[faithandscience]

Not a good enough answer. "Well, you've got that right," William nodded. "In fact, I think you need to leave. And perhaps fix whatever it was that you've done that's destroying so many worlds."

Because making a polite request was going to work.

[not_the_irs]

There was more consultation, then the six Auditors turned to Myria with identical expressions of "and we're supposed to care...why?"