"I think I should go to the med-lab," the injured dupe sighed heavily as he reached for the offered hand with a tragic expression. Jamie rolled his eyes as he moved towards the pair. It seemed he had gotten rid of one dramatic dupe only to have found another.
"I think you'll be fine," Prime interjected as patiently as he was currently able to. "Dupe yourself a few times, that should spread the injury out. I think." Jamie was still learning about this power of his and just how it worked in certain situations, but duping seemed to somehow reduce injuries, so long as it was spread out.
"You should just absorb me," the dupe insisted again. "Just make a few more of us and get it over with," another moaned. "Yeah, I don't want to feel your backache when I get absorbed." "Just listen to yourself and spawn a few more, what can it hurt?"
With the peer pressure from... himself... the injured dupe finally gave in. With a sigh, he hit his fist into his palm quickly four times, wincing as the movement was still enough to irritate his back. The wince became less obvious with each spawning. He turned to face the four he had produced and all five shifted their torsos around, stretched their arms and rolled their necks in turn.
"...I guess that's better." "See, told ya." "Hey, it still hurts, you know." "Are you our whining side personified?" "Bite me." "Oh look! I found a quarter!"
"Ok, ok," Jamie Prime sighed, quickly stepping in and holding out his arms. "C'mon, guys." He worked through the ranks of his dupes as quickly as he could, drawing them into himself one by one. At last there was only Jamie Prime left, and he took a moment to note his injuries. Back and neck were a little stiff, wrist ached minority, face scraped, but all in all, only minor damages. Not bad.
Hearing his name brought him back to the reality that the guy who hit him was still there, and the nickname pulled a reluctant but hot flush to his cheeks. Oh God, he had not heard that name in a long time, it was one he had tried so hard to get away from, no less! He spun quickly to face Fredrick, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the pink haired man. He was trying to place him, but it had been so long and Fredrick was so changed, he was not having much luck. Thanks to his old friend Ricky, he had been teasingly called "Kiki" for years, and had only managed to escape the nickname for good when he moved out of New Mexico.
"Don't call me that," Jamie said quickly, mouth forming a thin, tight line across his face. He was normally very laid back and jovial, but this struck that seemingly ever-raw cord of adolescent insecurity. He managed to compose himself and almost tame his glare before he asked directly, "Who are you?" He hated not being able to place the face, and wanted to know just who he was pissed at for bringing up that ancient nickname.