failguardian | 4 ❀ Action/Video

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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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[Jade's first few months here in Luceti have taught him that he should be prepared for sudden appearances of virtually anyone at any time. When he heard the knock at the door, his mind processed the possibilities as he made his way towards it. It could have simply been any of the housemates who were out, as odd as it would be for them not to be able to get in. It could be a stranger - or one of the friends that the others had made here stopping by. It could be Anise, who has been gone for a worryingly long period of time.

Or it could be Peony, or Dist, or Van. Or Gelda.

Just because it wasn't the New Feather cycle, it wasn't enough for Jade to rule out those possibilities.

But no. What he sees when he opens the door manages to be the singular thing he was not expecting.

Himself.

There are too many potential explanations formulating under his head, the loudest voice whispering, "Replica", but all of that is drowned out by the pure shock of it. His eyes widen slightly, his head tilting back. Jade grits his teeth and takes a step back holding a hand out threateningly towards the person. The mirror image of himself.]

Don't take a single step.

[She grins tiredly when the door open, ready to drag herself up to her room to have a good sleep.]

Hey, C - Whoa!

[She takes a step back at the fierce expression on his face and the outstretched hand, which almost hits her on the chest. Too shocked by the Colonel's actions, she doesn't notice how her voice had changed.]

Wh-what's going on?

[Layton isn't terribly well-acquainted with Jade, but even he raises an eyebrow or two at that little slip. Not that anyone can tell.]

Research, Colonel?

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.]

[It's hardly been a full day since Ion was cured of his miasma affliction, but he was already trying to walk around on his own. He couldn't make it very far, but he could at least manage short distances -- such as the distance from the living room to the front door. He's not sure who he was expecting when he opened the front door, but it certainly wasn't Jade.]

Jade? What are you doing out so early?

[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.

[...Man, why did the puzzle-solver have to be the first guy to reply? Anise didn't even know he and the Colonel knew each other.]

[Oh well, nothing to do but tough it out!]

Yes. [It's an effort to not sound happy and excited while speaking. How do people always manage this? It's no fun.] Sorry, but I can't give details.

[She gives herself a pat on the back for that; it's great that the Colonel is always such an evasive guy.]

[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.]

[How... mysterious. ~~Is this how Luke feels all the time~~]

Asking for details but offering none? I'd hate to have to call you stingy.

[When she sees it's Ion at the door, she immediately smiles, relieved. While she isn't sure exactly how much time had passed since her kidnapping, seeing Ion alive is already a weight off her shoulders.]

[But wait - ]

Jade?

[~~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?

[Alive and standing -- something Ion wasn't able to do anymore before Anise was taken. But still hanging onto the edge of the door, "Jade's" confused reply only warrants an equally confused one from Ion.]

...is something the matter?

[She almost lets out a long, loud "booo". Almost.]

Well... [How would the Colonel respond to that? She coughs, trying to stall for time. Thinking of witty comments on the fly is hard.] Well. You kn- uh, you understand. People are always nosy- [Dammit, she can't think of a more serious word for it, but she hopes the Professor feels the full weight of that word directed at him.] - and I'd like to keep my business to myself.

Edited 2013-06-16 07:46 (UTC)

[Confusion everywhere. She blinks again.]

Did you just call me Jade?

[What.]

Are... you not Jade?

[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.

Hm. [Did the man just make a PA pass at him?? Well, wutevs. Layton is beginning to get an idea of where the colonel's need is coming from.]

To address your inquiry, the Malnosso have done relatively little to me physically. However, they did turn one of my housemates into an owl for about a month.

[What.]

Of course I'm not Jade!

[For the first time, Anise realizes how different her voice is. Before, she had subconsciously passed it off as a sore throat, but now...] I-Ion, don't you recognize me?

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?

[You know, if not for the fact that Ion has become so accustomed to the oddities of Luceti, he might have just gone on being confused until Anise realized what happened on her own. But given this wouldn't be the first time Ion's seen people swap bodies in this place, and there's only one occupant of house one who's been missing for far too long--]

....Anise?

[When does Jade ever not make PA passes at everyone?]

A month?! [Her voice might have squeaked. Just a little bit. But she quickly coughs again, trying to bring her expression under control. The Colonel never gets ruffled, after all.] I-I mean. I see. Did the...transformation just wear off on its own?

[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.

Yeah, that's me.

[She has a sneaking suspicion of what's going on, and it's not a conclusion she likes.] Uh, can I come in?

[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?

Oh! Of course. [He shuffles a bit to the side and holds the door open for her to walk through, then closing it behind her and leaning against it.]

[Anise may not be happy right now, but Ion's got a smile on his face. Changes aside, this was still Anise, and that meant she was finally back! How could he not be happy about that?]

I'm sorry for not recognizing you sooner, but I suppose the Malnosso are to blame for that. I take it you haven't been back for very long? [And haven't looked in a mirror?]

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