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[hammer]

[ The image of a rather ordinary, unremarkable looking man fills the screen. He’s clean-shaven, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, and he’s got brown hair, cut short and though it’s a little messy, there’s something about it that suggests that it had been styled at one point earlier in the day. He’s just slightly disheveled, which those familiar with the comings and goings of individuals to Keeliai might recognize as a sign of a new arrival. ]

So this is… [ There’s a moment of silence, as he trails off and glances away from the camera. ] …different.

[ It only lasts for a second, before he looks back and rolls his eyes. ]

The whole—I mean, well… Whatever.

[ He takes a deep breath, lets it out, and pulls himself together. ]

Right, okay. I was given a place to live but no job, and I’m guessing that it isn’t free rent forever. So if there’s, I don’t know, a job center? Help wanted ads? Some turtle world version of Craigslist? Something? Could someone point me in the right direction?

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[doesthemath]

As I understand it, the lodgings are ours for the duration of our stay, but a few hours work per day is mandatory, and necessary for food, clothing, and other such things.

[She's new as well and...stalking his conversations to see if he gets any good leads on work.]

[hammer]

[ Maybe he is dead after all. This is turning out to be some kind of hot chick heaven. And obviously someone made a mistake by letting him in. ]

A few hours? Actually a few or is a day more than twenty-four hours here?

[ It's a world on a turtle. At this point, he really wouldn't be surprised by anything. ]

[doesthemath]

I've only just arrived so I couldn't say for certain, but I've not heard anything about the days being longer here, or more than three hours of work being required.

[She lifts her shoulders ever so slightly.]

[hammer]

Three? That's it? Wow.

[ So maybe he can be surprised after all. ]

I'm Justin, by the way. Justin Hammer. Just arrived from New York City.

[doesthemath]

[Wanda's eyes narrow at him. Something tugs at her mind...]

Hammer. That name is familiar. What is it you do, Mister Hammer?

[hammer]

Is it?

[ Does that mean she's part of the Superfriends? Probably. Everyone else seems to be. ]

I'm a weapons designer. I do work for the government. If you've heard of Hammer Industries, that's my company.

[doesthemath]

Oh!

[Yes, she's familiar with him. Well, a version of him, and only distantly.]

You're a great deal younger than I'm used to seeing.

[hammer]

Younger? Really?

Wait. There's another me somewhere? You're serious?

[doesthemath]

I could be wrong of course, considering the very large age gap, but you do share the same name and profession so it stands to reason you're likely the same man.

[Wanda shrugs lightly.]

Not that I know him of course. Just of him, his business.

[hammer]

[ He's going to regret asking this. He knows it. But he's going to do it anyway. ]

Is he a decent guy? From what you're heard, I mean.

[doesthemath]

[She shrugs.]

I've heard nothing to suggest that he is. Nothing to suggest he isn't either, of course.

[But he's human, and in possession of a great deal of money and power. There are few in America with both that are also decent people, in her experience.]

[hammer]

[ He guesses that it's better not to be known either way than to be known as an asshole. ]

If he's anything like me, then he's probably not in the public eye much. Business people usually aren't unless they screw up.

[doesthemath]

[Smiling just slightly at that comment, because it's true, she shrugs again.]

That's one possible explanation. What would you do if he wasn't a decent man?

[hammer]

I guess there isn't much I could do. Except learn how he was a dick and try not to do the same things.

[doesthemath]

[She nods, finding his answer reasonable. It's not all that different from her own reaction, really.]

Is there some reason this is a concern of yours?

[hammer]

Not really. It's just not every day you learn that there's another you out there. Well, not every day for me. I guess it's every day for some people.

[doesthemath]

For some, though in my experience the similarities between people have been notable but...not as close to exactly as many seem to experience here.

Regardless, you may find that people here may care more about your actions while in Keeliai more than that of your counterpart's in their universe.

[Some, but not all, unfortunately.]

[hammer]

One can hope, right?

[ Justin's resigned himself to the fact that he's going to be judged for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. ]

How about you? Is there some other version of you out there?

[doesthemath]

[Her lips press together a moment at his question, then relax.]

There is, apparently, however she is not here, nor has she been.

[Which is good, because Wanda's not certain she would like this other Wanda at all. Not with what she's done.]

[hammer]

That's good. I mean, I'd think that was good. It gets confusing enough when there are two people in the same place with the same name. It's got to be ten times worse if they have the same face too.

[ Which to him sounds impossible. But they are on a city riding on a turtle. He's willing to suspend his incredulity for a bit. ]

[doesthemath]

Agreed. Things are complicated enough as they are, to be dealing with too many people sharing faces or similar pasts.

[She has enough to deal with, with the son of her counterpart present, and members of the other teams.]

For instance, finding leads on foreigner friendly places to work.

[hammer]

What about with other foreigners? Or do most of them work for the natives? The... the kedan?

[doesthemath]

Not as much as they used to. From what I've heard, most kedan were pleased when we began arriving, but for a small portion. Time has passed and with things getting worse, they've grown less tolerant, or outright hostile toward us. As I understand it, many foreigners work for other foreigners, or at least those who have established their own businesses.

[hammer]

Hostile like shout curses at us when they see us on the street? Or beat us?

She's so reassuring.

[doesthemath]

That depends upon the kedan, I imagine, but both from what I've heard, and of course only if you're incapable of defending yourself.