1 | Video

[keywrite]

[This kid's been here for a little less than a week, and he's just now decided to try out the network terminals. Specifically, one of the ones on his dorm's floor. The face that appears in the video feed isn't a very happy one.]

So I've been here for about a week, and I forget how many people I've never met that seem to know my name.

...What I'm saying is that basically, there's at least one guy around here who shares my face and has been pretending to be me. Maybe two. But if you're looking for Riku, that's me.

[There's a pause while he tries to decide whether to end it or not, then he does. He'll stick around the terminal for a while, then he'll go prowl the lower levels of the tower.]

Comments

[bloodyashes]

Yeah. Different timelines, different people, same name and face.

[Maybe that different timeline shit has has something to do with what the Tower's pulling now.]

And then one replica from each of them.

1/2

[keywrite]

[He's only sort of listening, counting on his fingers and muttering to himself.]

Two of me and two of him...

2

[keywrite]

So there's another Riku, and then a replica of him as well, right?

[bloodyashes]

Right.

[Assuming this was, in fact, one of the originals. One of the replicas had thought he was for a while, right?

...Actually, wasn't it the two replicas with purple collars?]

One of the replicas also goes by Riku. The other... hell if I know what name he's using now, he's never really settled on one and changes it whenever he wants.

I forgot the Replikus both had purple collars

[keywrite]

[Replicas are so confusing. The big difference between this one and the other one is that this one still thinks he's the original.]

Yeah, see, that's why I made the announcement. I don't want someone claiming they're me if they aren't...I guess the other me doesn't count.

[This conversation is also confusing.]

I think pretty much all the replikids do? idek

[bloodyashes]

[Have a shrug on the video - kid, he's been handling replica issues for years now.]

I know the feeling, but in the end, it doesn't really matter. The Tower tends to pry out people's secrets one way or another. And a name's a name - I'd rather call you all Riku than have to deal with the flip-flopping that someone does when the mood strikes him.

[But replicas were always damn stubborn about having their own identities when they decided they wanted to. Asch doubts anyone knows that quite as well as he does.]

I think so too

[keywrite]

[Repliku here has little experience with replica issues outside of his own.]

...That'll just make things more confusing, if you call everyone that looks the same by the same name.

[bloodyashes]

If you've got a better solution, I'd love to hear it. I'm certainly not going to force any of them to change their names.