riverview | 3 [@dodger//video]

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3 [@dodger//video]

Ugh, my head...

[Dodger seems like he just woke up... and like he woke up pretty roughly at that. He looks the same as normal, if a little more relaxed and sleepy. Although, those who haven't seen him lately will now be able to see that he's wearing what looks like a shock collar with a green light glowing on the buckle. A power suppressor. Also, the lights are on in his room for once, so the observant might be able to catch some less blurry shots of the somewhat invasive amounts of information kept on several people around the city, which are plastered all over his walls along with identifying pictures of them. Something which he hasn't taken the time to read through, since he doesn't remember any of it.]

I feel like I got hit by a train... shit. Hey- there's notes all over the desk here, so I know this is my place, but- fuck, I don't remember a single fuckin' thing about- here. Someone wanna tell me what's going on?

[He doesn't look any different, his scars are still there and so is his scruffy beard. But this doesn't seem... quite like Dodger. His tone is less condescending and sullen, more just... sleepy, with a morning grumpy sort of vibe. Like he'll pop back up and be a cheerful, relaxed person once he gets some coffee. And speaking of indulgent drinks...]

....Fuck, Janet's gonna kill me if she sees all the bottles in here...

[ooc: Dodger has forgotten everything past his 20th birthday, including all of his CR in Riverview. Enjoy letting your muses explain their version of events to him... or just fuck with him. He doesn't know any better.]

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[ Ages are wild and wonky things, but Cain gets the general psychology of it for sure. He just hasn't felt that way in... possibly ever because the distinction wasn't so big back when he really was that age. ]

Maybe when you got here and Janet wasn't?

[ It's perhaps the gentlest idea he can pitch. He doesn't know all the sordid details of Dodger's past, but there's no way it goes well considering the rapid backslide he apparently does sometime in the next few years where his memories are missing. ]

Yeah, first names do have a way of making things more friendly and personal. Jamie it is, then.

Maybe.

[He doesn't look that different... well. He has some tattoos he doesn't remember, but he guesses those could also be recent... maybe. But they look more than a year old, at least.]

I never told you about her, right? [He pauses.] ...I don't figure whatever made me end up like this happened here, then. I woulda talked about her at some point, yeah?

It's hard to tell. You never mentioned her to me, no.

[ Which wouldn't surprise him if something happened. It could also just be a case of packing the emotions away from the separation but Cain doubts that considering the huge difference from the Jamie of then and the Dodger of now, apparently. ]

Up to you if you want to talk about her now or... respect your later wishes?

[He hadn't even thought about... treading on his future self's toes. Hell, Ed had mentioned that this might be a temporary thing, but... hell. He isn't one for foresight like that, so he just shrugs. Any excuse to talk about his girl is a good excuse.]

Well... see, back when I was a teenager I was part of this gang, and.. she ran a flower shop in my territory, so I was sweet on her and I always used to come visit her when she was working... she always smelled like milk and roses. Still does. Those are her favorite flower, y'know? I even caught her drawing them on the edges of her planner, when no one was in the shop. [He laughs, a little sheepish.] She likes saying I'm a little like a rose bush, all sharp and prickly with these... little hints of beauty that make me worth keeping around. Or some shit like that. It sounds a lot sweeter when she says it, she's got this darling accent...

[It's visible from a mile away that Dodger's starstruck by this girl. He's talked about crushes with Cain, even expressed his deep desires about Reaper - but nothing compares to the way he melts when speaking about Janet, the way his voice almost sounds like it's in prayer. You can almost see the hearts in his eyes, hear his heartbeat thumping at the thought of her.]

We've been together for six years... she's done me some damn good. And... fuck, I'd really rather not think about what I'm gonna be like without her.

[ Cain listens quietly, and a couple of things begin to slot in place. He can't jump to too many conclusions but there's plenty of information in the way Dodger talks about her to the way he normally is with all of his memories. There's a huge gap between them. ]

There's a lot of reasons you might not have spoken about her to other people, so I'd try not to worry too much. She sounds like she's done you a lot of good.

Just... seeing what I've been up to, makes me worry something happened to her. Y'know, something that pushed me to... [He waves a hand vaguely. All of it.] ...I'm- I mean... I really hit rock bottom after whatever happened, huh. I mean, the evidence is all over my room, it looks like a goddamn psychopath is living there.

[It looks like the place he grew up in.]

[ He tilts his head in allowance. ]

I could be placating here, or give it to you straight, but either way it won't change the situation any. Unfortunately it's just a matter of you not knowing something you used to know, and it'll probably come back soon.

[ Speaking of his room, though... ]

Mind if I take a look at your walls later?

[He hesitates again.]

If that wall's what I think it is, I probably shouldn't be showing you. Chances are I'll be throwing a fucking fit once I get my memories back, over it showing up on the network. [Which... he's clearly put off, just by the existence of that whole conspiracy board.] Why, did you- see yourself on it?

[ Cain nods, because that's definitely true. Worth a shot but he also won't push it. There's a good chance Dodger in his right mind wouldn't have a lot of issue with it, either, and he can just ask about it then. In the meantime, Brink is a perfect reason for him to not try without permission anyway. ]

Either myself or my brother, not sure which. That's mostly what I wanted to know.

[ Mostly, but there's also too much information to be Abel already. ]

[Another very rusty turn of the gears, while he reasons that out a bit.]

You have a twin? And he's... in the city?

[It's not the same enthusiasm he had the last time he heard about Abel... if only because this time he doesn't know Cain well enough to be excited at the prospect of two of him.]

[ Which makes sense, and Cain just looks more amused for Dodger working it through. ]

Yeah, just recently. Abel.

["Abel Kane" is the name his mind immediately assumes, and that gets a laugh out of him. Their parents must have been some weird folks.]

I'm guessing no one I know is here, or they woulda gotten ahold of me... funny thing is, I woulda figured I'd take advantage of being in a new place outside of my world. Y'know... invent a new me. Be someone better. Instead it looks like I turned into...

[....He's just going to let that trail off. Benny isn't territory he wants to get into with a somewhat stranger.]

[ Close enough. Trying to explain why seemingly-normal twins have different last names might be a bit more than he wants to get into — divorce might work, but if it doesn't, it starts getting sticky. ]

You never mentioned anyone from home being here, no, so there's that, too. If nothing else, now's a good opportunity to try doing that. Assess what it looks like you're doing and consider if it's worth it as you are now.

[ They're up to Cain's floor now, and he heads to the kitchen area of the common room, motions for Dodger to take a seat if he'd like. ]

Believe me, if they were around no one would hear the end of it. Especially my brother... fuck, if he was around there'd be a goddamn firing squad after me.

[He slips into his seat, sort of... lazily drooping to rest his chin on the table. He's still tired as hell from whatever it is Dodger normally does.]

I probably got a good reason for what I'm doing... but something big happened between what I remember and what I don't. So it all kinda depends on that, yeah?

Then let's assume you're the only one you know that's here.

[ He'll just bustle around getting some ingredients out for now. He spares Dodger a glance but doesn't comment on the slump since he can assume it's to do with the headache/hangover he alluded to when he made his post. ]

That's true. Then try to think of something else to focus on?

It looks like I've got pets to take care of, so there's that... should probably figure out if I have a job.

[He's quiet for another moment.]

...Fuck... I figured walking woulda helped but my head's still pounding.

Last I heard, you work as a mechanic.

[ There's a quiet hum at that. ]

Want me to hit some of the lights?

[He nods and gets up to dim the lights, leaving just enough to work by. That definitely helps, but he still rummages in the fridge for a beer to nurse while he goes back to his seat. Hair from the dog and all.]

Checks out, that's something I could do pretty well... I worked on a fishing boat back home. This, uh... this old man, Bill Gordon, gave me a job when I moved into New York. I was seventeen, obvious mutant, couldn't land an interview with these damn scars on my face... so he just gave it to me on the spot, figured I needed it and I was either gonna quit or make it worth his while.

[He hesitates.]

You can stop me if I'm rambling, I know none of this fucking matters.

No, keep going.

[ Even if he's working, Cain spares a glance and a smile up for Dodger. ]

It helps me keep the rhythm while I'm cooking if there's someone to talk to. Or listen to. So do you actually like fish after that experience, or is it hard to be around nowadays?

[He ends up with some hint of a smile on his face... it's nice to not feel like he's being pried into, but just encouraged to keep the conversation going. It's nice.. relaxing. He can see why he's friends with this man.]

Fuck, I never cared one way or the other... I'll eat anything someone puts in front of me. I've even out of the garbage... more times than I wanna admit. [He shrugs.] If anything, I kinda like the smell. Smells like... accomplishment. Like the smell of going out and making something of myself, not just- being under someone's boot, y'know? I spent six fucking years as someone's dog, so... working there meant being free.

[A fact that he's nowhere near as comfortable with as he makes it sound... he still lives fully at the behest of Bill Gordon, and when he comes home at night he remains dazed and confused without a guiding force. But at this age, Dodger really thought if he pretended he was okay with things for long enough he would start feeling the way people are supposed to.]

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