alwayskayaking | Duplicity Inbox

I'm not a cat!

[Without Tim there looking at him, it's far easier to snap at him. Jon glares in the direction of the kitchen for a moment before going to sit on the sofa, next to the photo album. To takes all of two seconds for him to decide he's going to not be wearing his shoes for long, so he toes those off and tucks his feet up.]

I see 'attractive' runs in the family.

[It's said in a tone that says it's tedious to have so many pretty people around. But then he gets to the first photograph of Sasha.

Not!Sasha.

Jon stares down in creeping horror as he turns the page and finds her there, as well. Another from what looks like an office Christmas party, well before when the real Sasha was taken. Jon's ears flatten and his tail curls close.

'Treasured Memories,' indeed.]

And it's so hard being the ugly one of the family! I don't know how you normal folk stand it! [He jokes. Pouring a large amount of milk into Jon's cup before heading towards the couch.

As Jon looks though the album he hopefully won't be too startled when Tim suddenly exclaims.] Whoa! A tail and claws too? You really got the full package, didn't you? [He smirks as he places the cups down on some coasters sitting on a small table in front of the couch.] I probably shouldn't ask; but I'm going to. Has your tongue changed at all? [This he asks as he moves to sit down next to Jon. Secretly picturing what a rough cat tongue might feel like. Unable to decide if that would lead to the best or worst kind of blow job.

Eventually Tim notices the flattened ears.] Sorry, I'll stop teasing you. Although it really isn't anything to be ashamed of. From what I understand you can't always help what this city does. I say just blame this place and live your best kitty life with no apologies for a bit!

[Tim will have to live with the mystery of Jon's tongue. It hasn't changed, but he just gives the other man a disparaging glance at the question.]

I don't care of you tease me. [Well, all right, he does. That's beside the point.] It's the album. They must have printed out digital photographs to fill it. That's... This isn't the real Sasha in these, Tim. I recognize her. It's the Not-Them. I'm sorry.

[Tim stares for a moment at Jon with a completely unreadable expression. Almost as if he's waiting for a punchline.] What--? No. I-I mean look. All of these picture are of before Prentiss attacked us. [He leans over to tap at a photograph.] See? Not a single scar in sight. That's not-- how--? [The hardest part is that Tim knows he's making excuses. Trying to cling to what should be logical. That these photos couldn't be changed even if deep down he knows that Jon is likely right.]

These have to be the real Sasha. She was alive when these photos were taken! [His voice starts to take on an angry tone to it. An anger that he can't decide what it's directed at. The creature? Jon for being the messenger? Or mostly at himself for forgetting his best friend at the archives.]

[Jon ducks his head, shying away from Tim's anger. His hair and tail fluff up a little bit. 'Don't shoot the messenger,' comes to mind. But then Tim's a man who needs something to direct his anger at when he's feeling helpless. Jon knows something of the feeling.

Should he lie? He'd championed lying to himself about things that were patently true for a very long time. But confirming someone else's lie now was antithetical to his nature as a creature of the Beholding. There was not comfort to be found in the truth of this, only horror.]

You're, ah... you-you must be, er... right. I'm... confused. Sorry.

[He's an atrocious liar, and it shows, but he's making the attempt for Tim's sake.]

[The fact that Jon tries to lie about it just confirms it more for Tim. Taking the album from Jon in order to take another look Tim removes a photograph of his face pressed close to the thing that use to be Sasha. The two of them squeezing together to both fit in the selfie, out at a bar after work, smiling like drunk idiots. Which he's pretty sure they were at the time as he remembers that night. One of many similar nights but this one was a special night. He turns the photograph towards Jon so he can see what he's looking at.]

I don't know... [He pauses and tries to collect his thoughts before he continues. Now sounding more tired than angry.] I mean you must have known, even as obtuse as you seemed back then, that we dated; right? It wasn't a secret. Everyone at the archives knew. [He flips the photograph back over. Staring at the woman who matches the memories in his head but apparently wasn't her at all.] This picture we took together to commemorate the night we decided to- how did she put it? See what a bad idea it would be to date a coworker. Except it wasn't bad. It was good. Even if it didn't fully work out it was still... good.

[He looks back at Jon. A fresh pang of anger coming back into his features. It just wasn't fair.] So why? Why out of everyone can I not see that this isn't her? Why even after you tell me it's not? Why do I still look at this and see Sasha? [The words come tumbling out of his mouth faster and faster.] I-- I just went back to work! I just thought it was her! Just so glad she managed to not get hurt during the attack. She saved my life and I didn't even notice she was dead! Christ Jon, even now all I can see is Sasha when I look at this and-- and-- UGH!! [Angrily he tears into the photo. Ripping it into shreds. At least attempting to focus his anger at the proper target and not at Jon. Not!Sasha wasn't here to scream at but he could at least destroy her in picture form.]

[Jon's eyes widen slightly at the admission. He hadn't known they were dating. He just sort of assumed Tim flirted with everyone. But before he can say as much, the other man is off on a rant. He watches photo go to pieces, the face of the thing that wasn't Sasha James seeming to leer all the more when just her mouth can be seen.]

Tim, I- I am so sorry. I didn't know you two were- I- [Not the important part.] I'll get it fixed. There- this place has all sorts of people with magic. I can find a way to get it fixed so it's the real her.

[He reaches out for the other man to try to touch his hand.]

But I won't remember that it's the real her, will I? [He doesn't react to the touch to his hand. Feeling like all of his energy has suddenly been spent with the destruction of the photo. Later he'll appreciate the comfort Jon is trying to give and kick himself for not being more open to it in the moment. Right now he just feels cold.] If you put the real Sasha back I'll just see a stranger. That's how it works, right? The person in the photo won't mean anything to me then. Just some smiling face I don't know.

[His hand just rests atop Tim's.]

Maybe I could-I could fix that, too. When we were in the Lonely, I was able to remove its influence from Martin. Maybe I could take away the Stranger's influence, show you the truth about Sasha. If I can manage for myself, um...

[He's grasping at straws.]

It's fine. [It was not fine.] Don't worry about it. [Don't make it worse is what he really wants to say.] They're just pictures. [He starts to shut the book.] And I still have the ones of-- [His heart stops.] Can you tell? Even without meeting the original; can you tell when someone has been replaced? [Danny wasn't exactly replaced. Tim saw what happened to his brother, but that was also the Stranger. So why couldn't his photos also be altered?]

[He's ruined it. Something nice that Tim had and he'd ruined it. Like he usually does. Jon's black ears are practically hidden in his hair with how tightly they're pressed down and back.]

No. I- Elias knew. About Sasha. He's the only reason we were able to confirm it. And... Melanie. There's always someone the Not-Them can't fool or chooses not to. She's the one who first pointed out there was something strange going on. I didn't believe her at the time. I'm sure that's really your brother. You do look like one another.

[He's not actually sure, but he can hope for Tim's sake.]

Are you sure? It's not just- I want you to be able to remember what she really looks like. [A pause.] If you want that. I know I do. For myself, I mean.

How can you be sure? Just because we look alike? That doesn't mean anything. [It felt wrong to question his brother's face. It did look exactly like what Tim remembered. That smiling face who looked down at him and tried to inspire him to go to the gym more. Then again so did the Not!Sasha. How could he possible be sure?] Elias... he would know? Would he be able to tell? [Tim's original plan had been to simply avoid Elias for all time while in Duplicity. Unless given the chance to kill him. Maybe that would need to change now.] Or was that only because he worked with Sasha and knew her before she was killed?

[It still felt so strange to say out loud that she was gone. Killed and replaced. I'm unforgettable. Her voice echos in his ears. Or was it that thing's voice? He can't be sure anymore.] She deserves to be remembered, doesn't she?

[...] You really think we can fix these pictures?

I don't know if he could tell. Or if he'd tell you if he could. [Jon sighs.] Elias seems more Web than Watcher some days.

Let's fix our memories and the pictures first for Sasha. Then we can see about Danny, all right? I have some people who might be better options than Elias for asking after. If I could just borrow one of those photographs for them to test things with?

[This... is good! This is progress, right? He can't fix Crowley for Martin, but he can fix this for Tim. He needs to fix it.]

Yeah. Sure. Take the whole book if you want. [Questioning everything about those photos now means that Tim has little interest in walking down memory lane. It was a painful pang to look before when he thought he was looking at the dead. Painful, but also nice to see them as well. Now that he couldn't tell truth from lies there was no joy to be had in it.]

And the bracelet. Would you be alright if I borrowed it for a couple months? It will take me a bit of time to get my plan set up and find everything I'll need.

[Months. Jon had sort of been envisioning maybe a few days. A week at the outside. He takes the album from Tim and looks down at his wrist where the bracelet is still clasped. Maybe it doesn't work, but there's a part of him that hopes it does. That wants to believe that he's been safe and hidden from Elias' gaze for at least the past day or so since it's been on.

A lot of things have happened, but that, at least, has made him feel just the tiniest bit lighter.

Probably best not to get used to it.]

Y-yeah. Yes. If that's how long you need it for.

[The album is set in his lap, and he finally undoes the clasp properly, offering it to Tim. He doesn't look thrilled about this.]

Do you think Gertrude knows a good place to get C4? [He asks casually right before taking the trinket from Jon. Wanting to try to raise red flags. Wanting to start the thought that this isn't going to be a prank, but in fact an assassination. Wanting to see if he gets Elias's attention once this starts.]

[It certainly works on Jon. His eyes go wide, his tail and hair fluff up again, and he pales just a bit.]

I don't- that's not- You're not really going to...?

[This is an earlier version of Tim, but it's so easy to get sucked into thinking of him as the angry, bitter, and violently explosive man he'd ended up becoming.]

Pull a prank? Sure I am! One I hope Elias will find unforgettable. [He's not sure if that's a dig at himself or Elias. He doesn't really care at the moment.] And what's a good prank without a little C4? [Later he'll feel bad and maybe apologize to Jon for leading him on about his real intentions. For now he wants to test to see if Elias will care if he's actively and opening planning on trying to kill him. Regardless if Tim decides to go through with it or not.]

Tim...

[He might have made a slight miscalculation. So, he's going to reach for his tea and sip it to brace himself. Mental note: Tell Gertrude again not to give Tim C4 or bomb-building demonstrations. The tea, as it happens, does calm him mainly via distraction. He'd only meant to sip, but it's deliciously milky, and he starts to suck it down rather quickly.]

Please just remember he's a vampire now, too. It's going to be harder to do... things.

Doesn't mean those things won't be fun to try. Even if a bit of garlic in his coffee won't kill him. Or iocane powder.

[He makes an unhappy, distressed sound in the back of his throat that's very feline as the tip of his tail flicks in agitation.]

Don't go buying iocane powder. Please.

Of course I'm not going to buy iocane powder. I don't know where to get some. I'm going to pay someone else to buy it for me.

[Are you having regrets Jon? ARE YOU?] Why do you think I'd need a couple months? Besides maybe there are some better options when it comes to poison here.

[Jon is having a significant anxiety and he's telegraphing that in every human and feline way possible.]

I can't actually tell if you're joking.

Maybe that's for the best. It's probably better if you stay in the dark and don't worry about my plans for Elias. Unless you have some information about vampires that might help me. [He wants to lean a bit heavily to make it sound like he plans on harming Elias. Hoping that when he does eventually plan his attack that Elias won't be there to stop him as that will mean the bracelet works. ~~Or Elias doesn't care what Tim does.~~ If he is there to stop him then they'll know for sure it doesn't work.]

You said this was a prank.

[He finishes his tea and sets it aside, clutching the photo album, instead. Jon is suddenly feeling a great deal less overly affectionate. It doesn't occur to him that might have something to do with the bracelet. It doesn't just hide a person from remote viewing. Wearing it makes them more open and solicitous with physical affection. Because nothing in Duplicity can be easy.]

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