Ignorance is not bliss

Hello. My name is William Dunbar. I am a clone created by Jeremie because the real William has been trapped by XANA. But that's a secret and nobody is supposed to know.

[lyokowarrior-yumiishiyama]

outofpoints; sleep time. 

I’m going to try to get up kind of early to get replies caught up on corrupt!yumi’s blog. Dystopian!Yumi is already on a hiatus until I get internet at home. Clone!William…well….I’ll try to get some responses done there too if I can if you didn’t know before, you do now - I’m clone!Wiliam’s mun XP. Then these three blogs will be on a very temporary hiatus until i get internet at my new home *squeeee* internet service is weird here. it could be a couple days or a week or so depending on if they have to run lines and whatnot. YAY rural areas…

But yeah…from this point forward until we have internet at home, my posting will be sporadic and probably mostly from my phone (so sorry about formatting). I might need you guys to send me reminders, links and whatnot. And if I don’t get those anons done they might have to wait…

But enough yammering on…good night guys!

[underhiscontrol]

[Just an fyi, this is one of the blogs that is now on a very temporary hiatus until things get sorted out.]

[williamdunbarclone]

[As is this blog]

[linecrossed]

A loud groan came from the teen as he flopped helplessly onto Jeremie’s bed. “You’ve got to be kidding…”

Jeremie slid his glasses up his nose. “Hm, wow, you two really don’t look alike. Wonder how no one caught that.”

Another groan came from the bed. “Just tell me why it’s here…”

[williamdunbarclone]

Well it didn't seem that William was hurting Jeremie so the clone relaxed. It was so very obvious though that William hadn't wanted to see him. If it made the human feel any better, the clone's feelings were mutual.

"Accident really," Jeremie went to explain. "Long story short, my attempts at working on another program for detecting spectral activity and possibly neutralizing it needed a test subject. Your clone wasn't supposed to be materialized but something bugged up and he appeared."

The clone blinked as he listened. Like William, he too was curious as to his reappearance. But did that mean that the Creator didn't want him back? Did that mean he was going to decommission him again?

"The emergent properties he possessed before are stronger this time around. He's sentient and, I'm not sure I can bring myself to deactivate him again."

The clone blinked at Jeremie. Was he saying what he thought he was? Would he allow the clone to remain? Despite his blank expression, the clone felt his spirits lift. That was until another shot of pain went up his leg. The clone looked down then up at Jeremie.

"Jeremie," he said trying to get the boy's attention. "I am need of attention. My programming seems to have malfunctioned and I...I am damaged."

[jeremiebelpoisclone-blog]

The Jer clone waited patiently for the other one to sort out what he’d said. If one could consider bouncing anxiously in place patiently. When it clicked, he smiled. “Yeah, that’s right. Activities!” He nodded. ” Makin’ girls laugh, yeah, that’s part of it too! And that’s the wrong answer. There’s no ‘perhaps’ to it. You should say ‘of course’ cuz it’ll be fun!”

He started to pace to get out some of that anxious energy. It felt great to be able to hang with someone and have it be totally okay. Not that Creator actually said they could go pick up girls or anything. But he never said they couldn’t, and that made it alright!

He probably needed to explain a lot to the Will Clone. That one didn’t seem to know much, but he could catch on and pick it up, and that was good. Nah. Will Clone could learn on the way. The best teacher was experience, right?

"Kay, so first we gotta pick up some girls." He paused to clarify. " Find some to go out with us on the date." He paused once more before continuing. " Maybe not girls from ‘round Kadic. I don’t know what’s wrong with’em. A lot of’em seem to like slappin’ guys who ask’em on dates." He didn’t mention that he may have said some things to those girls like ‘Oh? That’s your boyfriend? Man girl, what the hell were you thinkin?. You outta lose that lame-o and go with me instead!’

"We gotta go somewhere that girls like to hang out to meet a couple. Like. A shopping center! Girls like to buy things. They’re real into clothes and stuff that’s pink and black." Pink and Black. Clearly observations he’d picked up from Aelita and Yumi. Plus he’d seen other girls wearing those colors frequently. Must mean they’re into it, or, there’s a good chance they’d be into it. Yeah.

[williamdunbarclone]

The clone listened to Jeremie's clone, trying to absorb the information that he was giving to him. How did he know all of these things? Surely the Jer Clone had existed before he was created but not by all that much. Did Creator favor him over Will?

No. That was, what did the humans say? Moronic. Just like he was perhaps. William nodded as he listened letting his other thoughts fade away. The Jer Clone was going to instruct him, to help him. That would be fine.

"So we meet them at the shopping center and ask them to go out on a date..." He was trying to process the information. "Be careful that we don't get slapped. Why would they slap us?"

He shook his head. "If we do find some of them to go out on a date we make them laugh. Is that it? Is there more to it than that?"

[ask-xana]

"You are using some of my code. This, I believe, makes you rather open to use."

[williamdunbarclone]

"I am not open to use," the clone responded. Was XANA thinking about trying to take control? It would not have been the first time but, if the clone had something to say about it, it would not happen again. He hated that feeling. "If you think that you are going to try to take over my programming then know that you won't be able to. My creator has put in place numerous firewalls to keep you out."

[righteoussword-deactivated20180]

     ”Hm?” The hum came as the devil thought. Sparda had never given a reason as to why he watched people, besides simply finding them amusing and fascinating at once. 

                   At last, he could not find a reason as to why, so he would show instead. 

     ”Come,” he motioned for the other to come to his side, “Detach yourself from mundane everyday worries, if even for this moment. Watch how others flow about their days. Some stopping to enjoy the pleasures this world has to offer, while some rush through and ignore such.” Ah, yes, Sparda enjoyed people watching, and it was clear in how he spoke of it.

     ”Do not fret over anything as you watch people move about. It is rather… relaxing, and amusing. It takes your mind away from your worries and troubles, giving you a moment of peace you did not know you needed.” 

[williamdunbarclone]

It seemed strange to the clone, but he listened. The man's voice inflections made it sound as though he really did enjoy watching people. William wasn't sure how it could possibly be what he said it was. Then again he was merely a program. Created to fulfill a purpose. To do something. The concept of sitting around and doing nothing but watch was foreign to him and it showed.

But there was also a lot he didn't know. If some humans enjoyed this sort of thing it would be best to try it. To understand it. He was the one who wanted to learn after all.

He moved to Sparda's side and tilted his head slightly and did what he could. A woman stopping to look at a bug the small child with her pointed out. The man that roughly shoved passed another. Responses. Reactions. Things that would be valuable for his own learning. How humans interacted. 

Perhaps this would be useful after all.

But he wasn't supposed to be thinking.

"How does one...stop fretting over things?" Just one more thing that the Will Clone had no idea how to do.

[williamdunbarclone]

ask-xana approached

"You are XANA?" the clone blinked his surprise. Why would the creator's enemies be approaching the program. It wasn't as though the clone had anything that XANA could use. "What are you doing here?"

[xanalert-deactivated20140904]

"It is… troubling, not having a reason for existing. Even worse when your existence can be ended so… trivially. How humans deal with this knowledge on a daily basis, I don’t yet know." The AI knit his ‘fingers’ together in thought.

"You were designed for one purpose. It has been fulfilled. When humans accomplish one thing, they turn to another. Why, then, is it so difficult for AI? Is it in the parameters? The efficiency for which we are programmed restricting our ability to be flexible? Or is it the lack of information we have on any other subject except that needed for the task at hand?"

[williamdunbarclone]

The words rang true with the clone whose purpose no longer existed. It seemed as though XANA understood him better than the clone had thought. Better than his creator did. Not that it was Jeremie's fault or the fault of his friends. They were human after all and had no idea the struggles he, as a program. was going through.

"You understand..." the clone pointed out the obvious. Something he was good at. "How am I supposed to figure out what to do next without programming? Without altering it in some way that allows me that flexibility? Jeremie can't even program me to be more intelligent. I don't think giving me an opportunity to exist outside my programming is an option."

He sighed. "I just don't know what to do."

[jeremiebelpoisclone-blog]

Maaaan why did he seem so bored?! 

" No no no, not like that. Like. To go out with’em. Like a date. Show’em a good time. Make’em laugh. See those cute faces light up cuz they like us so much."

He wasn’t really bugged that the other clone had taken his words literally. Maybe he was just like that. But the whole dull attitude thing, that’s what got to him. Did this guy also not know how to have fun? If so he’d have to change that.

[williamdunbarclone]

"Oh...." The clone seemed to mull the information over in his head. Yes...he remembered hearing something Odd said about Ulrich and Yumi needing to go on a date. He'd always found it strange that they would do such a thing. What were they supposed to do in that case, hang out on a calendar? No...now he understood that date meant something else. An activities that boys and girls shared.

"Date....this is an activity?" he questioned, starting to understand a bit but not completely. "It involves girls. Making them laugh. That sounds pleasant. Perhaps we should."

It would be an interesting learning experience, that was for sure.

[einsteinoflyoko]

"Yeah...Odd tried to copy off of Ulrich's test. He wanted the answer to one of the questions they asked. Mrs. Hertz saw him looking and gave him detention for Four hours." Jeremie tried to quickly explain. Cheating is a common thing among students...strange that William does not know of it.

"Oh, She went home already. It's the afternoon and classes are done for the day. Dinner is in a few hours... You can come hang out in my room if you want. We'll just say I'm helping you with some homework. I have a ton of coding to do before I eat." Jeremie offered to the clone.

[williamdunbarclone]

He took in the information, filed it for later usage. Surely it would come up again. That was the great thing about being a program, he could learn these things for later usage. And, unlike a human brain, his memory was absolute. Not able to be tainted by emotions or easily forgotten. Well, that's what he thought anyway.

At the offer to remain the clone smiled. A legitimate one. Not the emotion he often had to pretend to have in order to fit in. Spending time with his creator was something the clone would never turn down and he was happy that Jeremie seemed interested in letting him stay. It was a nice change of pace for once.

"Thank you Jeremie," the clone replied. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

[crimsonslayer-deactivated201801]

Navigational programs? So, the kid’s fancy GPS was broken. That’s just lovely, but wouldn’t he know the way back, even if just vaguely?

If he really didn’t know the way back, that only gives Dante more reason to help him. If this city was anything like Capulet…—

"Alright," The hunter began, his own set of orbs scanning the area. Good thing he didn’t have anything to really do today, "Guess that means we get to wander till we find it."

With that said, Dante’s eyes flickered back to the other, “Got a name?”

[williamdunbarclone]

The question was a strange one, the clone though. "Yes. I have a name." 

Such a silly question. Perhaps he was not the dumbest one on the planet after all. Who didn't have a name. He was silent for a time while he pondered why the man would ask such a question. There had to be another reason, one he was no picking up on. Tapping his lips as he thought, he found that he could't come up with a reason.

Perhaps he'd better tell the man his name anyway even if he didn't ask. "People call me William. What do they call you?"

[affa9262]

"Yes, it does."

He was only pointing out the obvious…typical behavior for this clone, that and the tendency to take everything literally and misinterpret phrases.

"What of it?"

[williamdunbarclone]

"You are against my Creator and his friends," the clone responded, making no effort to force emotions. There was no need if she were a Spectre. His tone was flat but if one paid close enough attention there was a bit of his protective nature seeping through the cracks.

"You are a threat to them. And if you are planning on harming them then I will stop you."

[linecrossed]

William burst into Jeremie’s dorm, startling the teen from his usual napping place at the keyboard.

"What the fuck was that!?!"

Jeremie fumbled for his glasses. “Oh hey William. What was what?” William could hear the drowsiness in his voice and it just pissed him off even more. 

"The fucking retarded spectre dressed up as me! What the hell is going on?"

"Hey you look different…"

"Holy fuck! JEREMIE PAY ATTENTION. Answer the goddamn question." William hoped the boy wouldn’t remember what he looked like in the morning. He’d forgotten to cloak his age upon returning to campus.

"That’s your clone."

"No fucking shit. Why is it here?"

"He replaced you while you were captured by XANA."

"I gathered." He sighed exasperatingly. That explained why everyone spoke to him like he was two years old. "Why is he here though. There shouldn’t be fucking two of us walking around!”

[williamdunbarclone]

Unbeknownst to the clone, William had the same idea that he did. In theory it should have made sense if they had the same mental capacities and personality traits. However, that wasn't the case. The clone did his best to make it back to the Academy, limping while he did so. Some of the human children watched him, and he could hear their whispering. They didn't realize that his hearing far surpassed their whispers and secrets. William could always hear them.

"New ploy to get attention?" a female was asking another. "The stupidity angle doesn't work now so faking injuries? Pathetic!"

It didn't make sense. He wasn't. Either they couldn't see the bits of data leaking out of his wound as if it were blood or they didn't care. It did not matter to him. The human children weren't who he was looking for. The Creator. That's who he needed. Perhaps he could patch him up.

The walk to the dormitories was slow and painful but he managed. He just needed to talk to the Creator, see if he could fix him. He went to knock when he heard elevated voices. Stress patterns were high. The door made it hard to decipher, but the clone knew that something wasn't right.

Instead of knocking he burst into the room. "Jeremie!" he called. "Are you okay?"

The clone stopped in the doorway and some sensation came over him. It made him want to turn and run. William - the one who had just attacked him was there. The clone blinked and glanced between the boys. "He is not harming you as well is he Jeremie?"

The digital code was still seeping from the wound.

[jeremiebelpoisclone-blog]

"And you’re William’s.," He stated, more of a jovial tone to his voice. Creator said if he ever ran into that one, interaction was okay, which was great. It’d be a hell of a lot more fun than sitting around bored since he wasn’t needed right now.

He didn’t know too much about William’s double though, other than it basically did what he did. Acted as a stand-in for the human it resembled.

Now, Creator never did say that it was okay to actually go and hang with this clone anywhere besides around the school, but he never really said not to either.

" We should go hang for a while. Pick up some girls in town and make a night of it. Whatcha say?"

[williamdunbarclone]

As the Jeremie clone acknowledged his identity, William nodded but the blank expression on his face remained. The William clone blinked a few moments as the other spectre spoke. He certainly was as different from the Creator as he was from William. It was an interesting observation. Perhaps he could ask Jeremie about it later. But the question obviously confused William who just stared a moment at the blond.

"Pick up girls?" he repeated, questioningly. "Why would we want to pick up girls? That seems like our arms would get really tired."

[williamdunbarclone]

[Yeah I apologize for my absence here on this blog. My other ones seemed to suck me in.]

[williamdunbarclone]

jeremiebelpoisclone approached

At first he thought it was the creator approaching him and the clone felt his happiness rise. No, happiness wasn't the correct term. Excitement. Yes that was the word he was searching for. But something was different about him...

As a spectre himself, William could always tell a clone or spectre from a human. It was something he had always been able to do. He had heard about Jeremie's clone but had never met him before. Blinking a moment he looked at the other clone in confusion. What was the reason he was approaching?

"You are Jeremie's clone," he stated simply. "I have not met you before."

[xanalert-deactivated20140904]

"Yes. It is what I exist to do. Project Carthage must be destroyed even if I have little information on what it is." The humanoid began to pace. "I still have not transcended what my creator programmed me to accomplish, even if I have risen above every other restriction he’s placed upon me."

He stopped. “And what of you? Is your purpose complete?”

[williamdunbarclone]

William watched XANA pace back and forth and mulled over his words. Limitations. Oh he knew well about those. Perhaps the two weren't as different as the clone thought originally.

But when he asked the question of the clone William stopped and thought. "My purpose was to take William's place until they freed him from you," The words were flat but the clone was thinking. "And that has taken place. I...don't know what my purpose is any longer. Or why I have been brought back."

That was the reason for his confusion, the clone realized. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. What his purpose was. As a program he had to have a purpose. It seemed like he was just an annoyance and nothing more. At least before he was an annoyance with a purpose. Now what was he?

[crimsonslayer-deactivated201801]

          Pale brows furrowed at the reply. Most teens would just… bluntly lie and say no, but not this one. He also seemed to be a bit, out there? Would that be the right way to describe this? Or were the kids of this area really that trusting of strangers?

          …Then again, Dante had grown up in a shit hole of a city. A shit hole with even shittier orphanages and people; seeing kids even taking the risk to talk to a stranger put the cambion on alert-mode. Yeah, he’s protective of children that aren’t his— Even if his demon side wants to eat them. Sue him.

          “I’ll take you back to the school,” Dante said with a sigh, a clear-cut change of heart towards the kid was shown now. Hell, it’s impossible for him to dislike or stay pissed at a kid for long. Maybe it’s because of how his childhood was. “…Do you know the way?” 

[williamdunbarclone]

He took his time thinking about that question. Unfortunately his creator hadn't seemed to upgraded his navigational programming. Without someone else around, he realized that he was hopelessly lost. Being in the midst of town didn't help matters any. The clone hadn't been outside of Kadic Academy much aside from the factory and, as such, being brought into town was a rare thing.

"No," he finally replied as his eyes scanned the area. "I don't know which way Kadic is from here. I don't come into town and my navigational programs aren't up to speed right now."

The words were out of his mouth before he realized what he had just let slip. Talking to strangers was not something he often did - mostly it was just Jeremie and his friends so it came as no surprise that the slip-up had occurred.