doublejimers

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[What a rough week.

Not that any week in Infinity is rough, given the lack of work, but sometimes those events take a lot out of a guy. Like those zombies, or swapping bodies, or countless other things that shouldn't be possible. It's not unusual for Dojima to hit up the bar, anyway - even if he is alone. There's nothing like a cool, soothing beer in the summer, too. Dojima finds himself easing already, bottle in hand, simply sitting at the bar and watching soccer. He was never much for sports (maybe a bit of baseball), but it's more entertaining to watch than he thought, especially with all the others in the place getting into it themselves. Not a bad atmosphere at all. He's still more subdued, though, what with being by himself. Oh well, still fun to watch.]

Comments

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Hesitating for a second, Adachi ventures out and towards the first mistaken Dojima, curiosity getting the better of him. They were exactly the same, from that slight crease in the brow, etched into the skin from wrinkling, to the point where the last of his stubble reached on his jaw, to even the deeper set of his eyes. He leaned back on his heels and whistled, impressed.]

Where'd-

[No wait.]

When'd you come from, pa-uh...sir?

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

I’ve been here.

Ran into this guy once before, even. Least... I think it was him. Unless there's even more doubles a' me running around this town.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

What's with the whistle?

[Shaking his head, Dojima sets down his own beer, waving a hand.]

Should'a asked before. I meant, when was it... back home at Inaba, before you got here?

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Adachi nods, taking the seat that the other Dojima had occupied earlier (talking about those liberties), and in addition, taking a gulp out of his beer.]

Yeah, I mean...any new developments on the case?

[He's obviously being careful, but only to those to which it'd be obvious. There is one difference between them, for sure - and it's a pretty important one. He glances back at his Dojima - yup, they're even making the same expression now.]

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

New developments?



Can’t say there’s been any progress considering I can’t get back to Inaba.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[This Dojima's frown sticks, though. He doesn't even have to glance at Adachi.]

I see.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

...Uh, why don't you sit down...sir?

[Adachi addresses the frowning Dojima, patting the empty seat to his other side, and putting him squarely between the two. He really isn't all that up for getting punched in the face again, considering the road to where they were now wasn't entirely pleasant at times. Hopefully he could just guide the conversation away from work (yeah right, good luck with that when dealing with Dojima). The alcohol had to be helping already.]

So, uh, how's the game going, Dojima-san....s?

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

Picking up a little from before, that’s for sure.



So I’m guessing you’re with… the other me.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[Dojima chokes the tiniest bit on his drink (which he took back from Adachi), before he realizes he couldn't possibly mean it that way. He'll just let Adachi handle that (which might be a bad idea) while he coughs, thumping a fist against his chest. Don't mind him.]

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Adachi is a little better at control. His smile stiffens, but just barely, before laughing off the question, cheerfully thumping the choking Dojima hard on the back like a good subordinate.]

Heheh, guess so - a real slave driver! Sometimes, I don't get a second of rest at night, and I wake up achin' all over because of it - not much of a difference, huh?

'Course, there isn't much of a case around here. You could say we're kind of on permanent leave.

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

Permanent leave, huh?

So what’s he got you working on?

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[Directing a glare at Adachi, Dojima pipes up before he can lay down some more innuendo, which (lucky for them), his other self hadn't picked up on. How could he? Back then, he himself hadn't even thought of the possibility of where he was today.]

Infinity has these annoying events. Might've been through 'em yourself. Figure it can't hurt to investigate. Usually come up empty-handed, though.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

Now, now, Dojima-san, you can't say that.

[Adachi drums the fingers of one hand on the counter, looking awfully innocent.]

Sometimes, they're pretty...rewarding.

[Resting his elbow on the surface and leaning over towards the less familiar Dojima, Adachi addresses him with wide, earnest eyes. Nothing but honesty here.]

You should try it out some time, sir. They can get pretty interesting! Show you all sorts of stuff you wouldn't have even thought about before - a real eye-opener!

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

I’ll… take your word for it.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[Against his will, Dojima's face reddens, and he tugs Adachi out of the other's space. He uses the opportunity to look away, waving down the bartender for two more drinks. Adachi isn't entirely wrong, but thank goodness his double is smart enough to not ask for further explanation.]

It's not always bad, I guess.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[There is a dangerous look growing in Adachi's eyes, but he doesn't make a move just yet, and it's hard to recognize unless you know to look for it, besides. Settling back in his seat ever-so-obediently, Adachi raises a brow at the counter as it fills up with beer. These two certainly weren't pulling any punches there - the space was almost beginning to get littered with full, half-full and empty glasses alike.]

Well, suit yourself. But in case you change your mind, you can...show each other the ropes or something. I mean...you gotta have each other's numbers and stuff, right?

[See this smile? It's only mischievous if you squint.]

How does that work anyway? You call yourself up and hope it rings? I mean, what if it just re-routes to yourself? Wait! U-unless you guys have different ones? It ends with two-three-seven-four, right?

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

Wh—

Hold up for a second, will you? Just what kind of operation are you guys running, anyway? Can’t be anything credible.



And since when could you memorize my phone number? I had to give it to you at least a hundred times back at the office.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

That's my number here.

[Wait, why would Adachi call enough to have it memorized, anyway? When did he get serious enough to even be able to memorize things like numbers?]

No weird operations. Just Adachi bein' an idiot, that's all.

[Sparing Adachi no beer, he takes the other fresh bottle, swigging as he jabs an elbow into his side, out of the other Dojima's view. (Unlike his other version, he knows full well that the particular smile on his face is anything but innocent.) He remembers being that Dojima. Rather, in his position; his time frame. Being oblivious and painfully lonely, skeptical of everything. Unfortunately, his own detective's intuition is right about this one. There is something fishy.]

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[His is a heavy sigh. Adachi rests his chin in his hands, with no drink to nurse and not even a snack to preoccupy himself with (owner must be a cheapskate). Just in time, though, there is a roar from the other patrons of the bar and the responding echo of the crowd from the television, as the game takes its first interesting turn, with a goal from the underdogs, tucked in right at the corner, barely grazing the very tip of the goalie's hands, though it's not enough to stop it.

Like everyone else, Adachi looks up, but even if his attention's fixed on the screen, he murmurs to himself, just loud enough for one Dojima to hear and not the other.]

Wonder if you two are the same everywhere, huh?

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

What!?

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately, this Dojima only got half of the sentence. It seems to be enough, though, even if he's certainly not as angry looking as his counterpart.]

What did you say?

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Adachi blinks at them, looking honestly confused.]

What? I mean, it's a valid thing to ask. Do you guys drive the same car? Have the same fingerprint? How about shoe size? Same exact morning routine? Like your coffee straight up, black, and scalding hot? If one of you eats a ton and gains two pounds right now, will the other expand to match? You know - stuff like that.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[He leans back after a second, preemptively wincing.]

J-jeez, what are you two so worked up about anyway?

[detectivedad.livejournal.com]

Couldn't tell you. Not like I run into myself too often.

[ Huh. Maybe he was wrong after all. His expression contorts into an awkward grimace, and he turns to take a swig of his beer (is that a hint of embarrassment he's showing?). ]

It's nothing. Don't go saying awkward things like that.

[juneslater.livejournal.com]

Yeah. This is only the second time.

[Dojima nearly mimics the other, facing away as he takes another drink. Of course, only this Dojima would know two-hundred percent sure that Adachi full well didn't mean that. At this rate, though, the other one might start to figure something out here.]

'Course someone's gonna misunderstand you.

[Naturally, they didn't misunderstand at all.]