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You can feel your mouth starting to twist into a certain kind of smile you only show when your mind begins to crack. Your mouth starts to drool at the mere thought of painting this room red and black with oil and blood.
[UNSTABLE] RIP THE SINEW. PULL OUT YOUR SHOTGUN. YOU ARE A GOD IN HUMAN FLESH! YOU WERE/ARE THE ARCHIVIST OF THE WHOLE CITY. HE IS NO-
[HIGH RESTRAINT] You hold that voice back for now.
Ashley is giving you THAT look. A look of growing dread. You can see the hunting knife in her hand, ready to make her move.
You clear your mind. Fine. You'll find someone else to let out your pent up stress at later.
"Huh? Of course I'm Nicole. Why, you're acting like I'm a doppelganger!" You have no context for how the fake you talks but damnit, you'll fake it until you make it. "Do you really think my friends would be wearing silver all the time?"
The Old Man lowers his guard for a moment when you begin to speak. "Guess that makes sense. Not like I would know what your friends look like anywho. They just look like blurs."
"I mean, we got to keep some level of secrecy. Especially with a sudden uptick in how many people know about us! Let alone our causalities!"
"Yeah, what was it, roughly two dozen over the last few weeks? <span class="mu-b">They've really been trying to get in bed with E, J, and Z-Corp for some better discounts.</span>"
You can already feel your faux-polite smile beginning to crack. "Is that so?" You have to hold yourself back from staring right at the SERVICE PISTOL parts laying on the table. "How has J-Corp's shipment been, Old Man?"
"I" You almost thought you broke your cover but all the Old Man does is sigh. "It's fine but you know, I might be a Scrapper but I have a name. It's Bill Smith-"
[SEEKER OF THE CITY] "Scrapper" is a pejorative to describe those without a house or stable job. They usually make their money by scavenging for raw material to sell, ala GLORIOUS COPPER WIRING!!!
"I apologize but you do realize we have to keep some level of OPSEC! Loose lips sink ships~!" You put on an oddly coy tone of voice.
"Of course you fuckin' say that." He mutters under his breath, clearly annoyed with where this is going. This is a well worn road of discussion for your doppelganger and him. "I have to keep up the good work and make sure it's absolutely perfect. <span class="mu-b">Everything has to be neat, perfect, and tidy for you. All of these stupid fucking procedures and codes and-</span>"
"Why, what seems to be the matter? It's simply how we must operate things, Bill!"
"It gets fucking old and GOD, that smile you keep giving me. <span class="mu-b">You always act like this peachy keen sugary nightmare, YOU POMEGRANTE PARASITE!</span> It's fucking sickening! I'm shocked anyone can tolerate you!"
"Bill, Bill! Is there something wrong with being polite and kind?"
"P-POLITE? Don't fucking play around! <span class="mu-b">I know you only do that shit to lower people's guards!</span> I know you're a HOLLOW, SOULLESS BITCH- GOD, I HOPE YOU HAVE A DOPPELGANGER!"
