failguardian | 4 ❀ Action/Video

[Early morning comes with a special delivery by the Malnosso: one half-conscious Anise Tatlin, wearily knocking on the door because she doesn't have a key on her. She feels unsteady on her legs, and there's some weird feeling that won't leave her alone, but she's too tired to care.]

[But the person opening the door is in for a surprise. Anise doesn't look like Anise any more. In fact, she looks more like a certain other resident of the house, one with long hair, glasses, and a smile that is frankly just a bit terrifying.]

Late afternoon: Video

[Anise is getting bored with sitting around. Besides, it's no fun if she doesn't try impersonating the Colonel, especially now that she's somehow in his body! The thought still weirds her out, so she tries not to think about it too hard. Now, how did the Colonel speak again...?]

Greetings, Luceti. [There, that sounds formal enough. Okay, time to try being assertive.] I need all the details on the wei-- [Er, too informal. Quick, Anise, think!] On all the most...the biggest changes the Malnosso did to your bodies, and how long the changes had lasted. This information is critical to my research. Your cooperation is appreciated.

[The observant may note that, despite it being Jade's face on camera, the name on the entry is Anise's. Those familiar with Jade may also note "he" sounds much stiffer than usual.]

[OOC note;; Replies will come from

failnecromancer!]

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That's precisely what I'd like to know. [He says with a steely tone in his voice - one usually reserved for enemies.]

What name were you given?

[Of course he'll be the one asking the questions here, as he shows through his demanding tone.]

[Given? What? She blinks, tired and baffled, her exhaustion heavy enough that not even the steeliness in the Colonel's voice is enough to scare her.]

Huh? Colonel, I don't get what you're saying.

[He jumps onto the sentence quickly and sharply.]

Colonel. So I take it you know who I am.

But you seem otherwise confused. Do you have no idea who you are?

[It makes sense. Replicas can't retain memories. And they sometimes tend to be particularly dim - case in point, Luke. Yet this replica still had at least some basic information about him... how could he not realize that he looked the same as his reflection.]

[~~Hey, are you calling her dim?~~ She puffs up, instinctively resorting to aggression in response to his, especially since her tired state is making her more cranky than usual.]

Of course I know who you are! Don't you remember me? [She frowns.] Did the Malnosso mess with you too, Colonel?

[Something about the other him's mannerisms seemed oddly familiar. ...And very disturbing when applied to his own body.]

The face is certainly familiar. I have to admit that. [A quick moment of humor in his seriousness.] Otherwise, you seem to be someone whom I hoped would never exist.

Boooo, Colonel! [Definitely some Malnosso fuckery going on, but at least he doesn't look like he's about to cast some painful arte at her any more. Now if only he'll stop blocking the doorway so she can go grab some sleep...They can always sort this out later.] What's that supposed to mean?

[For a moment, he gives an utterly mortified look at having witnessed his voice make a "Boo" sound. Then he gives an exasperated sigh.]

Let me make this perfectly clear, then. If I may be blunt, on the whole you appear to be a replica of me, most likely designed by the Malnosso. However, you are also exhibiting traits of a friend of mine. You are quickly proving to be quite the disturbing individual.

[Anise's eyes widen at that mortified look, then stretch even wider at the explanation.]

What? No way... [Frantically, she glances down at herself, taking in all the details she hadn't noticed until now.] I - ...What?

[And he watches over the other him with a renewed look of suspicion. Sure, it seemed like the confusion of a newly created replica, but the fact that it bore his own image was a keen reminder that he could be smarter than he appeared.]

Why don't you take a moment to digest that information, Colonel. Have you not been shown a mirror?

[And, all these mentions of "Colonel" must have been heard by another - as the dog comes scurrying on up.]

I'm not the C- I'm not you. It's me, Anise!

[She groans when Colonel comes up. Not even the puppy is enough to lift her spirits.]

Anise. [He echoes back skeptically.] Is that truly who you believe that you are?

[What sick joke are the Malnosso playing?]

Yeah! Of course I am! [Colonel stands up on his hind legs to paw at her, tail wagging hard, but that only makes Anise want to push him away. There are too many things going on at once.]

So...The Malnosso... [Did they really just change her body to...]

They seem to have replicated my form and Anise's personality, yes.

[He says with a thoughtful stroke of his chin.]

I can't say that I'm flattered.

Colonel! Don't talk about me like I'm an experiment! I'm not a replica!

[She folds her arms, puffing up, scared and angry.]

I suppose it may be possible that you are not. But it's harder than that to believe that you're actually Anise Tatlin. [And he pushes up his glasses quietly, giving a shining gleam. Many more possibilities were racing on his head, but seeing the other him's reactions to this primary one could help him to draw some conclusions.] After all, I've been starting to think that she's actually been sent back home.

Colonel, don't joke around! [He seems perfectly serious, but sometimes it's nice to pretend.]

[Still, his last sentence makes her stop short, eyes widening.]

How long was I gone for? [Time had passed in a strange, blurry haze when she was in the custody of the Malnosso. She knows it was for awhile, but for the Colonel to say that...]

[Ion must be so worried.]

I currently don't have the patience for comedy.

Anise Tatlin was kidnapped by the Malnosso about a month ago. In fact, the last I checked, her room was completely barren. [A bold-faced lie. But a way of testing what this supposed Anise remembers of her own room. Jade himself has already memorized whatever actually is in the room.]

What?! No way!

[Her expression falls, but is quickly replaced by simmering anger.] The Malnosso stole all my stuff?

Any number of things could have happened. But it's not like she owned many possessions, regardless. [Or so he's pretending.]

Huh? I have tons of stuff! [Is this a test, or did the Colonel really not think of what she had as 'a lot'? Anise thinks the former option makes more sense.] And would you please stop talking like I'm not the real Anise?

[She's onto him alright.]

My apologies, sir. [He waves a hand.] But yes, perhaps there were a few items here and there. Like one of those trendy... discmen, were they called?

[Sir? That sounded really weird too, but she'll prove herself to the Colonel first.]

Yeah! It's something from this world, kinda like that music box in Sheridan, but way smaller. I've got a couple of music discs for it!

Hm. That may be right. What sorts of discs are those? Do you think that I'd enjoy any of them?

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