un: jimothy

[doppleman]

[ This audio stream starts off very quietly but crescendos into the scuffling and faint mutterings that can only come from someone fiddling with an unfamiliar piece of technology. ]

—oddamn device always juuuust a little bit different, proprietary pieces of sh—oh, and how 'bout that, it's recording. Uhhhh, welp, okay, let's see, um.

[ All at once the video flicks on, revealing a masked face that is way too close to the camera. He lurches away as if he's seen a monster, shoots the commlink an irritated glare, and it goes dark once more. ]

Frickin'—heeeeelllllllllooo... uh, people. This is, heh, 's not really the entrance I was planning to make, but when life hands you skin, you make a pizza, amirite? That's. Never mind. Real quick question, is there any way to change the ID on this thing.

Hey know what, matter of fact, while I've got you, does anyone around here have experience reversing experimental and extremely invasive surgeries?

[ Soon as the question's out of his mouth, he's sounding progressively more defeated. ]

Could–could really do with a change.

Comments

audio | c.fraser

[nineteenfortyfive]

[You had her at experimental and invasive surgeries.]

You might need to go into more detail about your surgeries, but I'm currently the resident surgeon on board. [The auto doc being the alternative.]

[doppleman]

You—wa-wait, you're serious? You are?

[ And suddenly he doesn't even know where to begin. Like, what if they can really do it? Like, get him his old face back? Like, without exploding his current one? ]

Wow, I—hah, I wasn't expecting someone to actually... I mean, I guess that's normal, having actual doctors on your ship or whatever, kinda got used to pluckin' out bullets with those cute little teeny tongs they use for canapes and stuff. Anyhoozle—

[ On comes the video once more. For a second it seems as if he's bracing for a reaction, then slowly the set of his shoulders begins to relax. ]

Okay, well, um. So, see this? [ Vague gesture to all things head-related (with a clearly cybernetic hand). ] Not what I used to look like. Or sound like. Annnd I think I might kinda be some sort of a... freakish gene-spliced chimera at this point? I dunno how DNA works.

[ So yeah, simple. ]

text | l.odinson

[shiftedshape]

[Loki's watching the convo with Claire and. Feeling some kinda way about what jimothy's described so far.]

Claire really is the more qualified person for this, but I can't help but be curious.
And I *may* have a less risky alternative, though I cannot be sure it would work, assuming I'd even be allowed.
What all exactly was altered?

[doppleman]

[ Tim, still on camera, momentarily squints at the sudden deluge of written word. ]

Well, that all sounds like it's on the up and up, I have no notes. Uh, everything? [ Beat. ] Well, not everything, ifyaknowwhatI'msayin', heh heh, but uh yeah, I am a yawning empty void of a person now that the guy I had to impersonate is dead. Glad you asked.

audio | travistouchdowncrownlessking

[rank1]

Woof. You gotta have a lot of confidence to make a face like that work. Say what you want about that "you're beautiful just the way you are" shit, but here's hoping Claire can work a bit of magic on you.

[A beat.]

Your problem is the face, right?

[The face looks rough.]

video | jimothy

[doppleman]

[ You should see what's under the mask.

Anyway, this is weird, because he hates Jack and his stupid handsome face and he hates his own face by proxy, but he's still kind of offended, like, just a little bit?? Like what even is this, this is dumb. And annoying. And dumb. ]

Wow, got it in one, kiddo. Look at you.

[ What's the opposite of sounding wryly amused? Can you be wryly unamused? That's what he sounds like. ]

This mug's been the cause of every single problem over the last ten years, give or take, so if you've got magic around here, I'll take some friggin' magic.

Rhy$.$trongfork | Separate Broadcast

[smugreport]

[ At first he thinks he's hearing things, some sort of lingering symptom of the Simulation, where a blue light and now familiar voice had taunted him while lost in the swampy thick.

When he's certain it's real though, that's when the true panic starts to set in.

The broadcast switches on to Rhys holding the camera out in front of him. He's in motion, walking quickly down one of the ships halls recognizably in the center axis. ]

Hey- hi!

[ He speaks as if he's out of breath. He really needs to start working out at least once a week or something. ]

Look, I don't know how the fuck he was allowed in this place but that new guy he-

[ A pause to catch his breath again. ]

Don't listen to a thing out of his lying, asshole mouth! He's a conniving, murderous psychopathic dick that some glitch in the system must have left in, because there is no way a guy like that is going be a quote unquote better person, ever!

As for me, I'll just be in the infirmary forever or until he's gone. So if someone could get on letting the Navarch know there's been a huuuuuge mistake that would be great, thanks!

audio | travistouchdowncrownlessking

[rank1]

Kiddo? I'm 34, dipshit.

[Then again, who knows, this guy could be pushing sixty under all that plastic surgery. Either way, Travis hardly sounds pressed.]

I don't have magic, but I've got wicked skill with a sword. If I had my katana, I could just fuckin' plane it down for you. Leave the surgeon with a blank slate. It'll be heat-sealed, too.

text | un: t.crawford

[sanctus_dei]

so your name ISN'T Jimothy?

[doppleman]

Weird, samesies. All right, well, didn't know I was dealing with a master of the blade, so uh... gonna have to just settle for the wonders of modern medicine until they start passin' out weapons to the prisoners! I guess.

Unless they're already doing that? [ He's weirdly hopeful about this. ] I could really use to get my hands on a gun. Not for—you know, but just like, to hold.

[rank1]

Nah, no weapons to be found, unless you can make 'em yourself. All the wardens get shitty guns, though. Got shot with one once. Knocked me out like a light but didn't kill me.

audio | jimothy

[doppleman]

[ Pained noise. ]

No, it–it's Timothy. Name's Timothy. It jus—force of habit, I guess?

[doppleman]

Make a weapon, huh. [ Is he really thinking about this? Maybe. Buuut— ] Made an IED out of a durian once. Didn't, ah... didn't go well.

But hey, okay, now we're getting somewhere, guns are harmless, that's good news?

video | jimothy

[doppleman]

Oh, are you GODDAMN KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?? I'm not— [ Interrupted by his own frustrated sputter, because wow! Fucking rude! ] I can freaking see you, you absolute pissweasel!

[ And like, completely and totally correct given who Rhys is actually talking about, but Timothy's had enough of people trying to kick his ass because of his face for one lifetime, okay?

And you know, normally he'd probably even be willing to take at least a couple lumps about it, because... well, like, look at him, you know? But then he hears those words, there's been a huge mistake, and sudden abject panic rips through him like shrapnel, because he can't go back to the Jackpot he cannot go back there and this dude needs to shut his worthless bandit mouth or he'll shut it for h—

No, nonono, it's not like that. He's fine. They're all fine. He really needs to talk to this guy though. Just a quick chat. ]

Infirmary? Cool.

[smugreport]

[ Rhys makes a startled and distressed noise that's half an octave higher than his regular pitch, the sound of Jack's voice threatening him reawakening something like a dormant instinct.

He pushes it down though, what could Jack do to him here, stripped of anything that made him the powerful man he was? He doesn't have a space station or an army or any kind of superweapon, he doesn't have access to any kind of superweapon.

The man loved to kill with his hands though...- NO! No nonono he is not!! Afraid!! Anymore!! ]

Good luck getting in, asshole! You'll need a wardens permission to get in here and you're neeeeeeeeeeeeever getting that after I let the other wardens know just exactly who you are!

[ He knocks loudly on the infirmary door. Please let someone be in there right now he has not planned for the alternative! ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[He is Alarming in multiple ways. The cybernetic hand catches her attention, but one thing at a time.]

You... what, had very extensive plastic surgery?

[doppleman]

If by "extensive" you mean "become another person entirely," then... yes, I have had become-another-person-entirely plastic surgery, yep.

[ Although there's more than a trace of resentment in his voice, the dominant emotion is resignation. Resignation and great fatigue. ]

[sanctus_dei]

"Jimothy" is a force of habit?

Look, we have people here with some out-there names, how would I know otherwise?

[doppleman]

I mean, I got hired to be a guy named Jack, so... officially declared dead, legally forbidden to tell anyone my real name, you know how it is. Blah blah, corporate red tape, blah blah.

[doppleman]

( Continued here. )

[nineteenfortyfive]

I don't really know if there's any reversing that if you've gone this far.

[AS much as she'd like to try, dabbling in that sort of surgery, now is not the place or time.]

[sanctus_dei]

so your great pseudonym was "Jimothy"?

[Dang are you entertaining already.]

and what does that matter here? the only Jack we have here is a woman, and i don't think she's your boss. wait - did you not die before coming here? you only faked your death?

[doppleman]

I didn't say it had to be good, it just... couldn't be mine. But yeah, I've been introducing myself as Timothy for a little while and my face hasn't exploded yet, sooooo Timothy it is!

[ But okay. Woman named Jack here. He actually truly appreciates the heads up about that—might save him a pair of pants later on.

Tim tries thinking back to his last moments in the Handsome Jackpot, but it's kind of a blur. ]

Nah, pretty sure I got totally merked. Had a guy trying to get his greasy little fun-sized mitts on my hand. Wasn't too concerned about whether I was, you know. Still attached to the thing.

[sanctus_dei]

[There's a pause before he responds. There's a lot to take in there.]

why would your face explode

[doppleman]

[ A sizable pause, after which he sounds extraordinarily weary.]

's complicated, kiddo.

[ Is it? ]

Point being... y'know, this place actually doesn't seem half-bad.