Sept. 11: Into the Woods

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:27 pm

((open))

Murphy sits in the woods at the base of a large tree. Her eyes are closed and she appears to be meditating. Quietly, she mumbles words under her breath.

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:16 pm

On yet another trip into the woods, Graham spotted Murphy and approached.

"You do know it's not really meditation if you talk to yourself the whole time."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:45 pm

Murphy blushes. She looks embarrassed.

"I wasn't talking to myself!" Murphy says. "I was...talking...to...the tree."

She blushes harder.

"Shut up."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 4:55 pm

He looked apologetic.

"Just some friendly teasing. Honest."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 5:08 pm

"I know," Murphy says. "Sorry. It's just like, if someone walks in on you dancing or singing or something. It's not your fault."

Murphy stands up. A silver-colored bracelet with unique carvings jangles on her wrist.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" Murphy asks.

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 8:01 pm

"I just... need to get away from civilization sometimes."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 8:21 pm

"Why? Civilization is awesome. It has ice cream, video games, television, and all sorts of other great stuff," Murphy says.

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 8:30 pm

"Well... I... err... haven't been around other people much... before here..." he answered uncomfortably.

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 8:58 pm

"Me neither!" Murphy says, "And it's great. I mean, it's just nice to have people to talk to instead of animals...or...umm...yeah. So, where are you from? I'm kind of from all over. Basically, wherever there are animals, that's where I've been."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:04 pm

"Michigan."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:07 pm

"Neat!" Murphy says. "They have a lot of lakes. Like, hella many lakes!"

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:19 pm

"That we do."

Don't think about skinny dipping. Don't think about skinny dipping.

"Lots of good fishing too."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:46 pm

"Cool," Murphy says. "I'm pretty good at fishing. It's the tiny fingers. I can tie flies super-easy."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:58 pm

"I bet you're pretty handy with all sorts of outdoor things."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:52 pm

"Nah, I'm the super-girly one in my family," Murphy says. "I like pretty dresses, makeup, fishing, bow-hunting, cars. Y'know. Girl stuff."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:44 am

Graham perked up at the mention of bow-hunting.

"You bow-hunt?"

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 2:02 pm

"Well, yeah," Murphy says, "I mean, who doesn't?"

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:02 pm

"Nobody else here does," he complained, "Though I guess Vertie or her brother might know how."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:54 pm

"Really?" Murphy says. "That's weird."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:26 pm

"Their loss," he shrugged.

"It started as a family thing for me."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:29 pm

"Yeah. Not so much with me," Murphy says. "My family prefers to hunt without weapons. I'm the wuss that needs a bow."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:50 pm

"What? They're all werewolves?"

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:50 pm

"No. They're just awesome," Murphy says. "My dad is, like, enormous. Plus he's got freaky mutant super-strength and can bench an elephant, no prob."

"And my mom is scary good at tracking and stalking stuff. Before she got all old and mom'ed, she used to go into the forest and mark animals with finger paints without them noticing her."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:52 pm

"Seriously?" he asked, impressed.

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:53 pm

"Yeah, that's pretty much my family," Murphy says. "They're kind of nuts."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:56 pm

An odd, somewhat sad look crossed his face at that comment.

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:57 pm

Murphy didn't notice! "What about your family? How are they?"

by **Graham Jaeger** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 9:26 pm

"It's just my Dad, an older brother, and a younger brother back home. I... didn't exactly leave on a good note so I'm not sure how they're doing."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 9:44 pm

"Oh, well, that's too bad," Murphy says. "What happened? Were they upset 'cause you're a mutant or some junk?"

by **Graham Jaeger** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 9:51 pm

"Nothing like that. He's actually kinda proud of the mutant thing. I just... found out Dad had been lying to us about a lot of things."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:12 pm

"Like what?" Murphy says. "Are you adopted or something?"

by **Graham Jaeger** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 10:57 am

"No. It's..." he sighed, "My Dad sold us a lot of bullshit about the world at large to keep us as scared of it as he is. Hell, maybe he even believes most of it."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 7:58 pm

"What sort of bullshit?" Murphy asks.

by **Graham Jaeger** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:24 pm

"That there was only danger and anarchy outside. That the secret forces destroying human civilization would hunt us down."

"And one time it was insect aliens. So... it's since occurred to he might just be crazy."

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:26 pm

"On the other hand, insect aliens do exist," Murphy points out. "They're called the Brood. The X-Men fought them a bunch of times."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:32 pm

"You're joking... right?"

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 8:43 pm

Murphy shakes her head, "Nope! They're real. Very, very real."

"They lay eggs inside of you."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:19 pm

"Okay... one point for Dad."

"That's some creepy shit," he shuddered.

by **Jean-Louise Murphy** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 11:54 am

"Really? I think it's pretty cool," Murphy says. "I mean, they're aliens! Like, real aliens. That's awesome."

by **Graham Jaeger** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 12:25 pm

"The kind that burst out of your chest."

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