☆001 - Getting a foot in the door.

[live_ringer]

[The writing appearing in the journal is a loose, scrawling amalgamation of print and cursive.]It's never dull around here, is it? Popping out as a naked pod-person with no memories, journals turning into grotesque little creatures... and while I appreciate the sudden and unexpected upgrade in the style of my clothing this morning, I do wish the

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[Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

((ooc: Quicklog is splendid. :>))

[That evening Gene was sprawled across one of the bunks in his tiny room, flipping through latest journal entries. It was an information gathering venture but, truthfully, the point was to have something to look at that wasn't drab, gray walls as much as anything else. He glanced up at the door and wondered if he shouldn't be standing outside of the room to flag Range down. Everything kind of looked the same in these parts, after all, so he imagined it could be easy to get lost.]

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[It'd been a while since Range had been in temporary housing, but after a few times of turning himself around he had gained his bearings, walking slowly and trying to find Gene's room without looking too obtrusive. He should've asked for more specific instructions when he had the chance.]

[Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

[Eventually, Gene decided that going outside to flag Range down would be the best course of action. He could take the journal with him to keep himself occupied, after all. He stepped outside and... stopped abruptly. He caught sight of the back of a man that was about six feet tall with a very familiar crop of messy brown hair. Even if he couldn't see his face yet, this was likely the Range that everyone had been talking about. For some reason he couldn't place, he hesitated for a long moment before speaking up.]

Your name wouldn't happen to be Range, would it?

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range heard his name and turned automatically, barely registering the similar sounding voice before seeing the stranger that had called out, coming to a stand-still. He did a quick run-over, noting the similarities and the differences within the same span of time. The hair, the height--their eyes were different, he was sure of that much. He thought he could smell smoke and remembered Aurora's strange questionnaire--Gene had mentioned smoking, hadn't he?]

That's me. You must be Gene--guess they had a point.

[He paused, not sure what else to say and feeling the words sticking in his throat. The wave of relief and anger from before came back all over again, and it made it harder to smile.]

Sorry you got caught up in everyone jumping to conclusions; that's the last thing a newborn needs to deal with.

Re: [Quicklog~] I'm sorry for the tl;dr

[live_ringer]

[It was one thing to hear people say he looked just like someone. It was another thing entirely to see it with his own eyes and see that the resemblance went past uncanny to identical. It made him sort of uncomfortable: the idea that they could be mixed up so easily and the fact that Range had a history here that he didn't. Comparisons were bound to be made in a situation like that and, despite knowing that Range couldn't help it, a tiny bit of resentment started welling up.

Familiar resentment. A lot like what he felt in his dream. And come to think of it, Range's profile was a lot like the silhouetted figure in his dream that had disappeared. ...Damn.

After a moment, Gene realized that he had been stuck frozen and staring for much longer than was probably socially acceptable. So he tucked his small panic attack away and forced a glib sort of half smile.]

Aheh... seems they did.

[Gene shrugged when Range mentioned the mix ups, and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.]Guess it was bound to happen. At least we know what the deal

Re: [Quicklog~] No worries!

[wartimenovelty]

[Range took a couple of steps closer before trying to stand in a relaxed manner, relieved that he was able to re-confirm the differences. He noticed Gene staring and looked right back, trying to pinpoint what it was that was bothering him so much. He had the urge to leave and it took everything to stay still, telling himself that he could deal with this.]

You think we'd have to go that far? Well, it wouldn't hurt--considering how many times people come in and out it might be for the best.

[He paused, not sure what else to say. He took in the coat and fought back the urge to tease Gene about it--what was with the coat, anyway?]

I think it's past the need to say that we must be connected. It's just the 'how' that we want.

[He had his own guesses, but he held them in for now. Maybe he was over-thinking it. Maybe he just wanted it to be the case, but even as he thought that he felt a sense of dread. He curled his fingers to try and adjust his focus, letting out a quiet breath.]

Re: [Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

[Yet another thing they had in common. Gene also felt compelled to bolt, but curiosity and the need to clarify things kept him there. Well, that and the fact that running the three feet back to his room and slamming the door while Range was still there would look rather silly.]

I was half-joking about the PSA, honestly. [He spread his hands.] But hey, it's something to keep in mind if things get out of hand.

[The coat was hardly the oddest thing about Gene's attire, considering he was still stuck in the too-small boarding school uniform that the Sphere had seen fit to give him. But then, if the coat was what Range focused on, then it was doing its job of distracting from the rest.]

Well... the most obvious connection would be blood relation. Someone on the journals, Aurora, mentioned something about "variants". But I'm not particularly fond of that theory.

[Genes scowled at the thought that he could be little more than a spin-off self created by this place for its own amusement. No matter what was going on, he just couldn't accept

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range laughed as he forced himself to try and relax, knowing he must've been too tense if he missed the joke.]

Believe me when I say it is. I haven't seen it too often, but there're enough stories about doubles that most people wouldn't mind the notice.

[He glanced at the coat and the hint of other clothing beneath it--a school uniform?--before focusing his attention back on Gene's face, nodding slowly.]

I've thought about the blood relation theory more than the variant one, to be honest. Aurora's thinking is--probably more tuned into the logic of this place at this point.

[There was a pause, and he felt that sense of anger and relief again. He started to move before going still.]

I guess that'd make us twins, huh?

Re: [Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

[Gene shrugged at that.]

He mentioned biological twins as well, but I figured it was best not to leave anything out since you lot know how this place works better than I do.

[Gene himself was starting to feel a little ill at ease, just a touch awkward at the mention of twins with Range right here in front of him. It certainly rang truer. So why did it stir up this antsy feeling? He supposed he could spare the introspection for that later.]

I guess the idea twins feels less off, though.

[The desire to fidget was starting to become overwhelming so, to curb it, Gene pulled a cigarette and lighter out of his pocket. One inhale later his nerves were calmer and he had something to occupy his hands with.]

So. [wry grin] What do we do now?

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range narrowed his eyes as he saw Gene pulling out a cigarette and smoking in front of him. He was half-way to saying something before reining himself in, not sure why the urge had come up in the first place.]

I don't know all of the stories involving doubles, but I'm willing to guess that usually there's some sort of tell. We won't know for sure until we get some more information.

[He paused, running a hand through his hair and smiling, restlessly playing with one of the locks before dropping it back to his side.]

If you don't mind gaining a brother, we could say we're twins and leave it at that.

[The words sounded familiar as he spoke; too familiar. For a minute he was sure Gene would say no.]

Re: [Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

[Gene caught the narrowing of eyes. It was a common reaction to the habit, after all. He raised one brow ever so slightly and waited for an admonition that never came before moving on.]

It was mentioned that it didn't seem like they hatched but that there wasn't much evidence to support that. Since I definitely had the 'pleasure' of that little experience, I'd say that's a point in my favour.

[Again, that antsy feeling rose up when Range suggested more or less adopting (or was it reclaiming?) each other as brothers. He wasn't sure why he felt uneasy about the situation. It made as much sense as claiming those hatched at the same time as you as siblings, after all. After a pregnant pause where he took another puff on his cigarette, Gene shrugged.]

Sure, why not. Just hope you don't end up being disappointed if I turn up to be the overly warm and fuzzy family type.

[That last comment came with a wry upward quirk of the mouth that signified he was half-joking again.]

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range paused, trying to remember where he had seen that mentioned before.]

Aurora mentioned that, didn't he? That's a good sign to start with. [laughs] I figure hatching is always awkward, even if it goes well.

[There was a moment where it didn't connect, and his reaction was slow because of it. When he saw Gene giving him the slightest of a smile, relief sank in. He returned the smile, and he sensed that it was almost too sincere.]

Are you kidding? You could be a brat and I'd still keep you as my brother. Consider yourself stuck from here on out, Gene.

Re: [Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

That he did. [Range's laugh was met with a snort.] Guess hatching is the sort of awkwardness that makes for interesting common ground, if nothing else.

[Gene didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't for Range's face to light up like that. In a way it was almost reassuring, but he couldn't kick the slight feeling of apprehension that came from it. So, they were 'family' now. No pressure.]

Oh, be careful saying things like that. [Said as he pointed his cigarette at Range and grinned.] You may tempt me to test the bounds of bratty behaviour.

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range shifted on his feet and crossed his arms as he continued to smile, wondering whether he could get the story out of Gene.]

You mentioned that they mixed us up from the beginning, right? Maybe you could tell me who greeted you sometime. [He changed his tone, making it more playful.] And at least you weren’t born with a sibling. The cocoons are small enough already.

Is that so? [After a moment he motioned at the cigarette, raising an eyebrow and making a show of inching forward.] Well, if you’re going to be a brat, I'll just have to take your favorite things away so you'll learn.

Re: [Quicklog~]

[live_ringer]

[Gene wasn't exactly the quiet type, so coercing that story would be little trouble. He tapped his ash and took another lungful in before getting into it.]

Mm, there were two people. One was a white-haired kid named Dash who assured me that the short skirt he was wearing was the fault of the Sphere. The other guy's name I only caught as "P" and he had half his face covered in hair.

[Range's comment on siblings caused Gene to grin and pause for dramatic effect.] Well, actually I did have a sibling. Didn't share a cocoon, but we did manage to bust out at the same time. Hope you don't mind sharing the twin title.

Now, now. [He held his arm up, back, and away so the cigarette was as far from Range as possible without actually having to step back.] You're my brother, not my mother. If anything, you should just join in on the brattiness.

Re: [Quicklog~]

[wartimenovelty]

[Range paused as he tried to place the names; he thought he had seen the name Dash and the handwriting with it, but a guy whose name started with P? The hair description sounded like Raise, but--]

I'll give this Dash kid the benefit of the doubt and say that the skirt probably was. I don't think I know the other guy, but half the time people end up knowing who I am despite that.

[As he heard the rest he smiled, shrugging.] If I'm sharing it, I'll share it. I like big families.

[He had barely uttered the last statement when he felt that familiarity he couldn't place again; it left a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, and it lasted even when he raised his arm and held his hand out, beckoning.] I'm not your mother, but I'm the oldest here. I can't be too bratty.