#8

[rank1]

[The recording flickers on to the ground, and the toes of red and white skater shoes, flanked by the tattered hems of a pair of jeans. The camera sways, the recorder's attention elsewhere, and there's a peek at a pair of sleek stiletto high heels on a woman's feet. Off-screen, Travis sniggers –– he just can't help it. When he speaks, he's thoroughly self-satisfied:]

Play nice, okay?

[When the camera is finally pulled up, it drags along a pair of long, stockinged legs until it's fixed on a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair. Rouged cheeks, long lashes, the whole package –– she pouts for the camera like a pro. She's wearing a blouse with bishop sleeves and what would normally be a pussybow collar, but it's worn open to the ribs, low enough to reveal the gore of her bra. (It might be a little familiar.)

She is flesh and blood and bone. No foam to be found here.]

What do you think of the ship so far, Sylvia? Sweet digs, right?

[Sylvia tosses her hair over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. When she speaks, it’s with a French accent and an attitude.]

It is a prison. I’ve seen worse. One of you had better be a trained manicurist!

[Travis scoffs and wheels the camera around so he's in the shot, too. He reaches an arm out to her. She checks her nails and sighs before stepping under Travis’s arm, wrapping her own around him and resting her head against his chest. She pouts, turning big doe eyes up at him.]

At least I have you, darling. You’ll protect me, right?

[Travis's eyes widen briefly, but he doubles down to declare:]

Of course, baby. Best ten tickets I ever spent.

[Yes, this is the most obnoxious video the network will ever have. Fortunately, it is over: the feed cuts off there. Just be glad Travis isn't into PDA.




And no, Travis has not become a VFX specialist. Sylvia, a flesh and blood human being who is totally not someone else, can be found with Travis around the ship. Maybe you'll catch them eating lunch together with food taken from the mess hall, with Travis waving down anyone who shows even a glimmer of interest to introduce his wife. Maybe you've stepped into the observatory and found them on a weird little "date", arguing about the multiverse –– Travis seems to approach the subject from a purely sci-fantasy approach, while Sylvia's take is more grounded in reality. Or you've just stepped into the gym, and here's Sylvia bored as Travis lifts increasingly heavy things in an attempt to impress her. Or just around!! You do you!! In-person meetings may happen before the network post because William is gonna come down on Travis' ass ASAP after this post.]

Comments

[shiftedshape]

[Sylvia turns, looking surprised to see him despite having heard him come in several minutes ago. She preens a little.]

Thank you. What exists is exciting enough without adding obvious stupidity to it. I mean, how exactly does facial hair make someone the "evil" one?

[Not that it doesn't amuse him to think of Thor being the evil brother by default.]

[dealwiththe]

To be fair, everything probably exists somewhere. Even the really stupid stuff.

[ Case in point. But he digresses. Rubs absently at his perpetually-stubbled jaw. ]

It's about as silly as an evil twin with a different accent.

[rank1]

[Travis is, in spirit, turning to look at the camera with a grimace. Here in reality, on the other hand, he's rolling his eyes.]

That evil twin shit is so fucking cliché.

[shiftedshape]

[Sylvia turns to Travis and pats his cheek.]

If we end up meeting any evil twins, just kill us both, okay sweetie? Then it won't be cliché.

[dealwiththe]

[ Lucifer raises an eyebrow at that. ]

Speaking as someone who invented a lot of the cliches, that's... not really the way to avoid it.

[rank1]

[The edge of a grimace persist despite Sylvia's hand on him; kill them both, huh? He lays his hand over hers to peel it off, but he keeps his fingers wound around hers. Might as well take the advantage of the situation, hold her hand.

Mostly to Lucifer:]

So what would you do?

[shiftedshape]

[Loki notes that discomfort in Travis' expression. He'd assumed so that that Sylvia was safe and sound back home, but now he can't help but wonder if he's struck a nerve accidentally.]

Yes, what is the best way to identify if someone is really who they say they are?

[Sylvia smiles cheekily at Travis.]

[dealwiththe]

[ Lucifer doesn’t miss the exchanged looks, though he doesn’t know the significance or context. Something is off about this situation but he doesn’t have enough information to suss out what.

So he’s just going to answer the question. ]

Well, my evil twin wasn’t very good at impersonating me, at least not to the people who actually know me. So, probably the best way to suss out an impostor is to let the people who know you best figure it out. They will.

[ He pauses a beat. ]

Of course, here on the Peregrine, we can just check the roster.

[rank1]

[Travis feels like he's between a rock and a hard place, and his grimace only gets more apparent.]

Mine's a fancy Irishman, you'd have to be dense to not tell the difference between us.

[He squeezes Sylvia's hand and glances at her sidelong.]

But you're a warden, so I guess if he ever shows up, you can just go check, right?

[shiftedshape]

[Loki shoots Travis a look. He has an Irish doppelganger? Weird.

Aaaaand he definitely forgot about the roster in his excitement to do this. He'll just. Play it cool.]

Sure. Aren't you glad I'm here?

[Sylvia flashes a charming smile.]

[dealwiththe]

...Right.

Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds to it.

[ He is, in fact, going to go check the roster now. Because he doesn't think there have been any new warden arrivals in the past couple of days. ]

[rank1]

Thrilled.

[His tone is mixed.]

See ya around, warden.