silph_co | Video

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Hey there, kiddos!

So...

I'm guessing by this point you've all seen the dude that looks and sounds just like a really roughed up version of me.

That's Jack Number Two.

[He figures it's about time he addresses this situation, since it could end up being a sort of liability.]

Long ass story short, he's my doppelganger, he took an insanely high paying job to basically be a secondary me. And he was really good at it for a while, but then I guess some shit happened and I haven't seen him in years and he's all pissed off about things that happened when I wasn't even around.

[Like it's Jack's own fault that he ended up getting his ass kicked by terrorists and the casino went into lock down with Other Jack in it. The dude has Jack's DNA, he could have gotten out. Probably. Anyway the point was it wasn't anything that had been Jack's fault.]

He doesn't know I'm a high ranking member of this stupid organization. Don't mess with him or anything, cuz for one he's basically me and messing with me is a bad idea in general - I at least like most of you people. He doesn't.

And plus I'm trying to work shit out with him, so just leave him alone.

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He was a separate person before he was you?

[Like prototyping a Sprite. Ever wanted to know what you're like when you're someone else? No?

Tough shit, because it's the nature of the Game to ensure you do. Me especially, because my nature is to saturate reality with myself. That's also the nature of the Game. But I guess ego will always find a way.]

Been there. Good luck with that.

He was an actor. He came in for the job, he was just what we were looking for.

Thanks. It'll be fine, we got a history, he just needs to calm down and get over whatever bullshit he went through that, again, I wasn't involved in.

But I'm an easy target for him to get pissed at, it's not like there's many of us from our world here.

Well. I'm glad you've told me before anything embarrassing could happen.

[You know, like thinking your doppelganger was you and propositioning him.]

Yeah, I get it. A story needs a villain.

[For example: Team Rocket.]

Not that you did anything, just that you exist. And if he's been you, then you're his problem.

Like I said, been there.

Well shit, apparently so! You get it!

But I'm more than willing to give him another chance - hell, I miss the dude!

Yeah, that's part of why I figured I'd say something.

That coulda been awkward as hell! Plus he's got a terrifying girlfriend so it just woulda been bad all around.

But you can tell the difference cuz his mask is all cracked and fucked up on the left side and he has stupid hair.

Whereas your hair is always perfect. [Said in a sort of fond, teasing tone.]

That's why I pay my stylist the big bucks!

[And he'd paid a lot for his hair.]

They're definitely earning it.

[Steven Durante. Are you actually flirting with him in front of people? Who are you and what did you do with the real Steven? Is this how you'd be in a world without homophobia, where you're surrounded by people who're also criminals, so there's no real need to be Respectable for them?

Huh.]

Edited 2020-02-22 18:18 (UTC)

[I think for a second, forgetting myself enough to want to come up with a splinter I would have missed before the difference between us was dissolved by my Ultimate Self.

But frankly, I can't think of one. I was pretty well determined to escape all of them. All of me. I wasn't expecting a one-to-one equivalency, though. He's barely scratching the surface of what I've been through, and what I've become. I do remember how it felt, though. Before I truly understood.

Individually, I made myself miserable because I was miserable. Haunted by the potential I brought to each of my selves, the potential I could never seem to satisfy. Blah blah blah. Normal people, I assume, are generally satisfying normal potentials. The potential is normalised by the normalcy of their existence. So what I actually achieve by thinking about it is the realisation that of course Jack could and would miss this partial self of his.

Nice.]

Maybe give him a couple.

But worst case, you can always appeal to the human appetite for a story. Then sell him on a redemption arc.

If you're really lucky, maybe you'll get to pull on it later.

[Which means Jack is going to flirt right back.]

Oh, by the way, lemme know if you're in town. I got something for ya.

Yeah, I backed off for now - gave him a lot to think about and withdrew.

Eh, maybe but...this is a real delicate case. Plus side is...he's me, in a lot of ways, so I know the angles to take.

[Or so Jack assumes.]

... Jack.

[Steven might be feeling comfortable enough to lightly flirt, but that is definitely said in a tone of warring scandal and amusement that Jack can probably guess how warm Steven's cheeks are. Because there's complimenting a guy's hair and then there's that same guy making it obvious you're fucking.]

I'm actually going to head out again by UBIRD for that that race in Kanto pretty soon, but I'll be back once it's over. So... late tonight, tomorrow at the worst?

What? I like getting my hair pulled, I'm not ashamed. [About any of it.] No shame, Steven.

Whenever, it's no big deal, I just saw something I think you'd get a kick out of.

[There's a sigh. Jack can't see it, but he's pinching the bridge of his nose.]

You're definitely shameless.

[It's said fondly, though. Very fondly.]

And I do want to see it. I just-- want to try this race thing too. Fail Whale is looking for a way to redeem himself.

And make no apologies!

Oh yeah, that. I'll listen on the radio, I'm not shlepping my ass all the way to friggin Vermillion to watch The Wacky Races But With Weirder Cartoon Animals.

[There's a small part of Steven that's a little disappointed the Jack won't actually be there. He hadn't expected it. But at least he'll be listening. Steven will just have to work hard to give Jack something actually worth listening to.]

Well. I'll see you when I'm h-- back, then. Maybe message me if you're heading to bed. Then I won't wake you up by coming over.

Do the team proud.

Yeah, sure, I'll give ya a goodnight call. You get in after I crash, just make sure you've got treats on you to shut the dogs up. I don't care if you wake me up, but I care if them making a racket does.

Oh. I meant I'd go back to the dorm if you were asleep when I got in, but if you don't mind...

[Honestly, he likes crashing at Jack's a hell of a lot more than sleeping in the Rocket Dorms. Which is funny, because he almost never stayed the night with his hook-ups back home. Jack, though... it's different with him. ~~It must be because he's a regular fuckbuddy. Can't be anything else.~~]

Nah, I don't mind. You'll be in a shitty mood if ya gotta come all the way back from another region and then crash in the sad as hell dorms. I don't wanna deal with that.

Yeah, no, that's fair. That's more than fair.

And hey, then you can show me the thing at breakfast.

[Hearing someone say they've done the exact thing I would have in a situation is pretty fucking novel. I'm not sure I like it, but it's not like I invented the task of convincing people of what's already true. If it works, it works.]

So are we setting up a needlessly cryptic code phrase or something to make sure it's you before we shoot the wrong Jack, or are we just supposed to close our eyes and hope for the best?

I don't think we need to go that far - Other Jack's mask is messed up on the left side and he's got longer hair. That he doesn't style. Or use any product in.

Also he goes by 'Tim'.

[My hair falls a bit oddly without product, but it's still essentially the same style. Thinking about Jack's hair.... assuming it follows the rules of gravity, that's basically a fucking mullet.]

Yikes.

[I snort a bit through my nose, which is the closest I come to actual laughter.

Typed shit like "lol" or "ha ha," "hee hee," etc. isn't quite the same thing.]

So, no respect for the image he's damaging.

Fuck it, then. Either you get this loose doppelganger under control or you have someone to pin a crime on once in a while.

That's what I'm doing, champ. He just showed back up, I'm willing to give it some time.

Patience is a virtue for a reason - I'm speaking from experience. Rush things and ya fuck'em up!

[It was way easier when he could just blow Tim up whenever he wanted. Or at least threaten to.]

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