(no subject)

[madman_with_a_box]

[It was easy to say that John was new to all of this strangeness. It was a fact, and yet, that bit of logic had done very little to ease his mind in regards to what all this entailed. He is, after all, a man of science, but he's also incredibly excitable - and under a lot of stress due to upcoming classes beginning soon. It's his first entry on this mysterious Network, and he's sitting on a sofa in a rather mundane looking living room - aside from the papers, random gadgets, and unfinished looking projects scattered about. An impressive stack of quantum textbooks rests near his knee, which is fluttering up and down rapidly in an anxious movement.

He leans forward, peering over the rim of his glasses, and frowns a little.]

I sort of like this idea of this Network thing. It's all very...clandestine, hush hush, bonding experience, speaking out into the void of the internet in the hopes someone hears you and has something important to say. I like it, it's clever - even if it does leave you feeling a bit exposed. Internet's not really all that secure, is it? Anything can end up on the dark web for the right price...

Anyway. It's all well and good, and I'm getting used to this idea of Different, even if it is bloody mad.

What I want to know is why my entire research plan decided today that it wanted to be delightfully lemon flavored? [He holds up a cheerful looking bowl of lemon sherbet, which he sort of wrinkles his nose.] Honestly. It could have at least had the courtesy of being banana flavored if it's going to inconvenience me.

Comments

[darkforcerising]

Bold choice, liking banana flavored stuff.

[madman_with_a_box]

Oi. Bananas are good!

...Unless you're allergic, I suppose. Then you might steer clear.

[darkforcerising]

Bananas are okay.

Synthetic banana flavor is suspect.

[madman_with_a_box]

[John wrinkles his nose immediately.]

Synthetic bananas aren't worthy of being mentioned. What's the point of having banana sherbet if it's not made with real bananas??

[darkforcerising]

The only ice cream I know of with real banana is a banana split.


[Anakin doesn’t know the difference between ice cream and sherbet]

[captainspain]

[Jack stares at the screen feeling that odd sense of weirdness that he gets around Anthony and Alec. But with the accent the feeling is strong. He smiles]

At least it's your research plan and not your phone or coffee pot like me. I almost ate my keys once too.

[madman_with_a_box]

[The dubious expression falters for a moment when he sees the gentleman smiling at him. For a lingering moment, he can swear that he's seen him before, this man - like a sense of deja vu, but a pleasant one. He blinks for a moment, but it's impossible not to smile back. John laughs a little and sets the bowl down with care.]

That's precisely why I don't drive in this city. Won't eat your keys if you don't have - well. Right, house keys. Oh, some people must be swimming in lemon sherbet, then, if everything you touch turns into it. Anyway - I'm supposed to be working out a plan for my PhD students and we begin tomorrow - and I swear I've seen your face somewhere.

[captainspain]

[Jack laughs softly. This man is oddly charming as well as familiar. The babbling feels familiar too, almost like he's heard it before. He flashes the man another smile]

My name is Jack Porter...I'm an actor...not super famous or anything...maybe you've seen something I've done.

Though weirdly enough....I feel like I've seen you somewhere before too.

[madman_with_a_box]

Actor? Broadway?

Nah, I've not been to any shows on Broadway or the West End when I was in London. Can't be that. Maybe it's been on ads? I bike through Manhattan on the regular; might have been there!

[John grins right back, pleased - but even that didn't seem quite right, seeing his face on an advertisement or a playbill. Yet another mystery - but perhaps there was something to it. And if...hm.]

Well. Maybe we have! I mean...we're both Different, right? So, the odds are astronomical, but in a realm of potentially infinite multiverses where our...er, other selves come from, these memories and what not. I don't know, maybe we know one another? I mean, it's as reasonable as anything else I've learned about this!

[The cheeky grin that follows was accompanied by a bit of a laugh, his dark eyes bright.]

I'm John. Doctor John Smith.

[captainspain]

Mostly yeah, though i've done a few tv shows and a few small movie roles. Nothing break out yet but I live okay.

[Handsome and charming oh boy Jack is in trouble here]

Yeah I'm Different too...got my first Memory about a month or so ago.

So Dr Smith...what is your research focus?

[inquiryguqin]

[On the video, there's also a fellow researcher. In the background, there's piles of textbooks and historical looking antiques]

It just seems to be a lemon sherbet week. You do research as well? I'm curious for academic purposes, what is your specialty?

[Quantum physics, he's wonders?]

[madman_with_a_box]

So...what, there's a week where everything important a Different touches turns to lemon sherbet? They didn't put that holiday on the staff calendar...

[He gingerly sets it aside, as if spilling the contents would ruin his work and not just make a sticky stain, and sighed. He perks up a bit, however, at the question, and smiles.]

I'm an astrophysicist. I teach some at Columbia so this is for my PhD students.

[He pats the textbooks smartly.]

You?

[inquiryguqin]

That seem to be the case. If you need something, then...voila. It's lemon sherbet. It happened to my cellphone, my laptop, and my car. I have to hide it from my pets. I call the bureau and nobody picks it up.

Astrophysics. Impressive. The science of space, correct? I watch documentaries about black holes a while ago, and the possibility of life on other planets.

Oh me? I recently graduated and taking a break. PhD in history and ancient civilizations, so I have an interest in the ancient past of the world.

[madman_with_a_box]

Weeeeellll....sort of. Astronomy is the study of space and celestial objects, and Astrophysics falls under that umbrella. Astrophysics is the study of applying physics to the interpretation of astronomical observations. So not just identifying the Andromeda Galaxy, but measuring its size, distance from the Earth, elemental makeup, and the like. Also! Sorting out if extraterrestrials exist falls under astrophysics!

...That's becoming more and more likely, now that I know about all of this Bureau stuff.

[John smiles, though, and his interest perks.] Ooh, love me some ancient civilizations and history. I thought about going into that as well, or at least a minor in undergrad, but didn't have time to devote to two paths of study. It works though! I study the ancient galactic past, just like you study the ancient Earth past!

[inquiryguqin]

Mn. I watch a number of documentaries covering the subject. It's all very fascinating trying to find life on other planets and other stars throughout the universe.

A while back the Bureau did open a portal to another world, but I'm not sure if it's door to another universe. You should have joined us on the expedition. I kept notes on the civilization we explored, but so far, the people seem to come from an ancient past that isn't written in the history books.

[It's a rare occurrence, but Wangji actually smiles at the interests]

I can tell you all about Earth's ancient past and compare notes, but my specialty is Ancient civilizations of the East in Asia, but my specialty of history is broad. I'm Doctor Lan. Lan Wangji. Wangji is the first name.

[But then, another interest]

Ancient galactic past? Do you think maybe something like civilization on other worlds? It sounds like science fiction if you don't mind me saying so.

[seawalled]

Oh, God, you look like them too.

I'm being tested, I just know it.

[madman_with_a_box]

Sorry, what?

[John has the grace to look a little confused, albeit in a somewhat animated fashion. He tilts his head to the side, an eyebrow raising in distinct uncertainty.]

Look like who? You know, you're not the first person to have a reaction like that to me, and I can't figure out why. Do I have doppelgangers out there, or something? [He grins a bit, pleasantly, in amusement.] The odds of that are nearly astronomical, you know!

[seawalled]

Oh - sorry, sorry! My cousin and my stepbrother. The resemblence is uncanny, really. ... I'm Ellie, by the by. Pleasure to meet you.

[madman_with_a_box]

Oh-! I met one of them, I think! A bit surly, grouchy, Scottish fellow? With this face?

[John was grinning, but when he pointed at his features, immediately set it into a somewhat irritated frown. He held it for just a moment before his features softened again.] He introduced himself as just "Crowley", so I don't know what his first name is. Seemed alright, though, past the fact that he was irritated at me at first. I guess I can understand that, finding out someone - well, another someone, I suppose! Shares your face.

Found it fascinating, me. The odds are really astronomical.

Nice to meet you, Ellie!

[seawalled]

[the impression is so unsurprisingly spot on that she cackles with glee] That's him, yeah.

And here we always used to say it was amazin' how much he an' Anthony looked alike, now there's you. This Different thing is just full of surprises. I wonder if there's some posh Manhattan magazine editor out there with my face...

[scotch_egg]

Oh come on. Who the hell are you now?

Please tell me your father isn't Alastair because if he is I may go strangle him myself.

[he had enough bloody family to deal with. It could be they weren't related at all, but one look at that face reminded him sort of a picture taken from sixth form. Except he was too bloody chipper.]

[madman_with_a_box]

Oh. Oh wow, they weren't kidding!

[John leans in, looking deeply fascinated, and thoughtful. He narrows his eyes a little, peering over the edge of his glasses.]

Don't know who my father was, so I can't really say! Was born in London, in 1985, though! I'm John - and...blimey, this really is amazing. Sorry, it's just - [He laughs a little, pleased and bewildered all at once.]

The odds of having a doppelganger is one in 135, but this! Meeting one's doppelganger face to face is one in a trillion! That's brilliant, and I wonder if this whole Different bit has something to do with it. What's your name?

[scotch_egg]

Dopple-- Doppleganger? What do you think this is? Some kind of bizarre science experiment? If anyone is the doppleganger it's you. We came first. You're just the ruddy little upstart.

No idea who your father is? None at all? Where were you born?

[madman_with_a_box]

[John carries on unfettered, not at all insulted by the gruff response. He's still inordinately pleased about it, and curious.]

Well, technically, both of us would be dopplelgangers of the other, regardless of who came first. It's sort of a two way street - but no, I wouldn't call this a science experiment. More like a research study than an experiment. Sorry, I'm a bit of a scientist. Anyway!

London. I was born at the Royal Free Hospital in London, December 2, 1985. Mother gave me up, I was a ward of the state until I aged out at 18. Eh, I tried looking for them both, but I didn't have any records to go on - there was no official paperwork or anything like that. S'why I have such a generic name.

It's all fine, though.

[The pleasant smile masks a lot, but he'll never let on, especially to a stranger.]

[scotch_egg]

Don't correct me, you know what I meant. You don't just greet a perfect stranger and say: Oh, your face is like mine, we must be science...twins. [he shook his head. Took in that life story which he didn't expect to get and filed it away for further use]

It's not fine. None of this is fine. Your mind will be completely warped until you don't even know what's real anymore. Get out. Get away. Go home. Anywhere but here.