Jamie Madrox (_multiplicity) wrote in utr_logs, @ 2008-09-24 12:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | jamie madrox |
who. Have you heard of my new band, "Jamie and the Dupes?" [Closed narrative]
what. Jamie talks to himself.
when. Today
where. X-Factor offices
"The problem is," one dupe said, sneaking up behind Jamie and playing with his hair, "...split ends." He made a face, curling some of Jamie's hair between his fingers. He had to dodge Jamie's fist.
Another dupe, one perched on Jamie's desk with his arms crossed over his chest spoke up suddenly. "The real problem is that you're lonely. You need a woman."
There was a heavy pause.
"Or a man..." the dupe with his fingers in Jamie's hair whispered.
"Not gay," Jamie said quickly. "Will you stop playing with my hair?" He tried to wave the dupe's hands away, but the dupe wasn't having any of that.
In the corner of the room, one of Jamie's dupes was swaying to music. As soon as he'd come into being, he'd headed for the small radio in the corner. He was ignoring the conversation. Another was standing before a filing cabinet, humming along with the music and bouncing lightly on the soles of his feet. He was doing work. Someone needed to do it.
"Honestly?" the sitting dupe said, "I'm surprised that we're still missing her. We're usually more resilient than this."
"I think it was love," the dupe who was fussing over Jamie's hair stopped for a second, clasping his hands together. "Isn't it romantic? We're pining."
"Okay," Jamie prime said. "Enough of you." He reabsorbed that dupe without further hesitation. "I'm not pining. And I'm not lonely. I wish I could be lonely." He looked around at his dupes, almost glaring.
"That's a lie," the filing dupe said in a sing-song voice. "You'd be miserable without us."
"I'm pretty miserable with you."
"Words can hurt, you know."
"Shut up."
"Think about it for a second, boss," the sitting dupe piped in. "You're so lonely that you're making a bunch of us to keep you company. You're spending the day talking to yourself because you hate the silence. That's not good."
"Thank you, Sigmund."
"And you deflect real emotion with sarcasm or humor." The dupe glanced down at his shoes. "You should probably see a shrink."
"Why should I bother with a therapist when I have you guys?"
"Because then you might get real answers. You might actually be able to change yourself for the better. You might even grow up a little, instead of being stuck in this perpetual boy-child thing. It's not cute."
Jamie scowled. Before he could say more, the dancing dupe began to howl along with the music he was listening to. Jamie reabsorbed him quickly after that.
"You're going to get rid of me next, huh?" The sitting dupe asked, glancing over at Jamie as though not particularly concerned by this fact. "You can't really get rid of me that easy. I'll still be swimming around in your head."
"I can ignore you better that way." Without another word, Jamie absorbed him back up.
The last dupe standing was still filing cheerfully. Jamie left him to do his job.
"I'm going out," Jamie said.
"What for?"
"Going to take a walk. You stick around and answer the phone. Make sure to take messages if it's important."
"You got it."
Jamie zipped his sweater up and headed for the door. He hesitated before opening it, knowing it was slightly irresponsible to leave a dupe in charge. Some of his dupes weren't exactly sane. Some were downright dangerous. "Don't blow anything up," Jamie said lamely.
"Sure thing! You have fun now!"
"Yeah..." Jamie left, shutting the door behind him. Within minutes, he could feel sunlight on his face. Inhaling fresh, cool city air calmed him a little. He walked quickly, trying to outrun his thoughts and the quiet voices in his head.