your-new-replacement

[your-new-replacement]

>[He keeps looking at Employee, seeing him take out the scissors, and the look on his face.]

>[He then takes the scissors and stares at them, and slowly his expression becomes hard to read...]

>[...]

> That's right. Go back to your roots.

> It's not so hard, you'd done this before. At least this time you have a reason, right?

>[...]

>[...]

>[He can't do it.]

>[He stares at the scissors for several moments, and all he can think of is that moment. All he remembers is him. This guy looks so much like him.]

>[The only difference would probably be that he struggled.]

>[Rowan's shaking. After a few more seconds he just drops the scissors. Employee already knew he'd be attacked. There's no surprise to it, he would have just died and wasted everyone's time.]

>[There was no reason to even consider it as an option. But Rowan still did. Is anyone surprised?]

>[He's frozen stiff. Dead silent. Afraid even more now. If both the other and himself.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"..."

>[Scissors. Those are nice and familiar...]

>[Though they remind Rowan of him. Of how he was.]

"The scissors work."

>[His voice is much more calm now. Almost like Rowan is trying to further convince Employee to give him them.]

>[It's definitely a bad idea. But what other options does Rowan have?]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"...What?"

>[Is this guy offering Rowan a weapon? Like genuinely?]

>[He can't help the surprise on his face. Surely if Employee has died in the elevator, he's aware of the potential that Rowan, like other doppelgangers, could be dangerous and violent when given opportunity?]

>[But at the same time... it could be a way for Rowan to know... Give this guy a good scare maybe? Whatever he'd need to do to be sure.. just a bit of shifting would be all he needs...]

"Uhhh..."

>[But... even though enjoying the idea of getting some payback for what that person had done then sounds nice, the thought of enacting needless violence on another, especially if it's not him.. it's wrong, it's so wrong. There's no good way to justify it...]

> Rowan would only be proving to you his inhumanity. Even the thoughts he's having stop him from separating himself from the other doppelgangers.

> That animal desperation... Beyond pathetic, how he falls on old habits so easily.

>[But there is a reason. It's just to be safe. That's all it is, self defense, for good measure.]

"..."

"Yeah, sure, I wouldn't mind it..."

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"Yeah..."

"It's okay... You're not too bad... I hope... And I'm sure I'll get over it eventually... Scars heal over time, don't they?"

"Besides, I don't see them very often. That definitely helps..."

>(I wish I could tell them apart though...)

>[Habitually he goes to running his hand over his own scars, the other one absentmindedly fidgeting with one of the plushies legs.]

"I just have a feeling I really can't shake off right now..."

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[...Oh.]

"...Oh."

>[Well now he feels even sillier.]

>[Rowan keeps the plush in his lap despite the awkwardness he's experiencing, now not wanting to put it down, but still not wanting to directly hold it.]

>[It's blatantly obvious how tense he is however much he attempts to seem lax.]

>[And now he won't even look Employee in the eye. Though in the back of his mind, he's still asking so many questions about the presumed stranger. Specifically ways he could figure out his identity... Because even through the nice treatment, he can't shake the feeling he's being deceived.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[Rowan still feels awkward doing anything beyond holding the plushie, taking it into his hands and setting it in his lap stiffly.]

"Alright... Satisfied?"

>[This feels silly and stupid. Even though Rowan owns several plushies, something about having one in front of another person, it's almost shameful.]

>[Especially the implication that he needs it in some way, with how it was given to him.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"Oh, no. That's okay, I don't need it."

>[Despite this, Rowan continues to fidget. Touching his arms the same sort of way he had when he met that guy. And as he had done countless times before.]

>[He just can't seem to relax. Though Rowan's not going to admit that.]

"Besides, I wouldn't want to damage it or anything."

>[Surely that's reasonable enough for him.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"OH-"

"My bad- I had no idea!"

"I-I meant more along the lines of like.."

>[Rowan realizes can't really say. Not without voicing his suspicions further.]

>[It's getting repetitive. But he has no proof either way. If he's being lied to then how is he supposed to find out? He can't just scare the guy into shape shifting. And if he's wrong, he'll look fucking insane.]

>[But he doesn't want to get too comfortable unless he knows this isn't that guy.]

"... nevermind..."

>[The more he stews, the more restless he seems to get.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"No, I don't think I can. But maybe I'm just not trying hard enough."

>[He laughs a bit more.]

"But.. I dunno. Isn't that what it is, when you walk around with the identity of another person plastered over you? Whether it's willful or not, you're still impersonating somebody without their consent..."

"Maybe that's just me though."

>[Rowan looks at Employee again, gaze moving up and down the other's frame to try and decide something.]

"Why don't you try taking off your face?"

>[That's definitely a weird ask, but given the current topic it's probably not suspicious. But he still aches to know. He still doesn't trust.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"Not really, no "

"It's just what happens when you're some freak wearing their face."

"I'm used to it, though the last one did cause a bit of a spiral..."

>[He puts his hands together, fidgeting uncomfortably. Even though the other is acting polite he doesn't feel particularly welcome here either.]

"It's nice of you to say that, but honestly I don't really agree.. I deserved that, at least partly. What's funny is that he'd probably scold me for saying that."

"'Shut up, shut up, you're not a bad person and you don't deserve every single bad thing that happens to you, you deserve nice things too everyone does!!!' ok then can you shut up? That'd be a pretty nice thing."

>[Rowan chuckles softly.]

"He really acted like he cared and wanted me to be nice to myself then did nothing but push me to the edge to get what he wanted out of me. Hypocrite."

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"Well... There's.. the one I knew a while back.. and shot. Nothing super memorable about him.."

"Then there's.. my one..."

> Don't spare any details, Rowan. You deserve to know. Everyone does.

"...He's not... important either..."

"The only one I remember..."

>[Rowan hesitates to say anything. If this is who he thinks it is, would he just be handing this guy everything he probably wants to know? And he doesn't trust him anyway.]

>[If it's not, then he's essentially trauma dumping into another stranger.]

>[He decides to simplify it. To satisfy this guy.]

"Essentially he just yelled at me for almost an hour and treated me like nothing but a little life lesson. Even hit me with some"moral of the story" bullshit at the end."

"It was a pretty degrading experience. Was pretty much breaking down right in front of the guy and he didn't even blink until I.."

>[Too much info.]

"Yeah."

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[Rowan stares the other in the face, trying to sort his thoughts.]

> "Why? Because I look like a protagonist?"

>[Something's lying to him. Whether it's the man in front of him or his own thoughts, someone here is trying to fool him.]

>[And he only knows so many people who refer to themselves as "protag"]

"I don't know.. am I?"

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"Right, sorry..."

>[He looks suspiciously at the plush, setting it beside himself on the other side awkwardly. He doesn't want to seem overly childish before this stranger.]

>[Though he still can't shake the feeling that he knows this guy. Beyond just sharing a face.]

"Are you... sure we've never met...?"

"I just can't help the feeling that I've talked to you before..."

>[He's not wrong to be suspicious, surely.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

"...what?"

>[Seeing Employee giggling, he feels a bit silly over his brief moment of panic over a mug and some water.]

>[He doesn't know whether he should laugh or not, or what to say, given his embarrassment. So he just sits there inspecting the mug a bit more before setting it down, careful not t spill anything.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[Rowan sits where he stands, hesitant to go any further into this room.]

>[He doesn't want to intrude, after all.]

"Thank you, sorry about all this.."

>[He takes a few quick gulps, before noticing the cup returning to its prior weight, and seeing it's full again. For some reason it elicits a reaction of concern. It's not gonna overflow, is it?]

"...huh?"

>[Drinking more and watching it fill once again, he looks confusedly at Employee, before seeing the switch, and flicking it off, the water stopping and causing him to sigh with relief.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[He tries to shake off the awkwardness that he suddenly feels.]

"Yeah, I could go for a bit of water..."

"Thanks..."

>[Rowan's hand moves to rub the scars on his arm, trying to distract himself by tracing fingers along each individual line, counting each one.]

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]

[your-new-replacement]

>[Even with his worries dismissed, he still can't shake the bad vibes he's getting.]

"Ah..."

"Oh, no reason! It's nothing important, I must just be overly paranoid!"

"Y'know how it is, stress and all gets to your head when it feels like all these figures from your memory are looming over you and you have no real manner of escape beyond just hiding away because you know they can and will find you and-"

>[He cuts himself off, realizing he'd begun to ramble.]

"Gh-.."

"I went way off-track there..."

>[Somehow, after not even twenty minutes of being in the exact same company building he'd go to see his boyfriend, Rowan has successfully managed to get completely lost.]

>[In a quick moment of rather poor decision making, Rowan takes a turn and enters the first familiar thing he sees.]

>[And now, stuck in what feels like a one-way elevator, Rowan finds himself staring into a room with a face he hadn't seen in quite a while.]

>[Not his though. Rowan isn't so deluded as to believe in ghosts... Yet. Must have unknowingly hopped at point..]

"Uhhm.. Hi there.. I think I'm a bit lost... Would you happen to know the way out of here?"

>[...Best just hope they're friendly.]

> [Hm, this guy]

> [You walk over to the elevators entrance, blocking him from taking even a step into your office]