#doppelganger blue

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Puck wanders idly through the streets, folding and unfolding its arms. They think the front door wasn’t a real one this morning, but they can’t be sure. It’s sure it will find its way back ‘home’ eventually. It always does. After all, Emery needs her.

As he ambles this way and that, periodically bumping into people, a particular building catches their eye. ‘The Inkwell Bookstore’. Puck was never much into reading, but the paint is white and peeling, and something in it feels familiar. A little bell jingles as it pushes its way inside, nearly tripping on the carpet.

@a-web-of-worlds

There is a person that is not a person at the counter. There is a white-furred rabbit with blood on its teeth in the back. There are ghosts in this place, and perhaps there always have been.

"Morning," says the rabbit, cheerily. "How can I help you?"

How, indeed.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

A familiar and yet unfamiliar woman totters into the Inkwell Bookstore on crooked legs, notably short of an eye. She doesn't quite seem to have her head on straight. Literally. It's bent at an angle.

"Sorry. Do you happen to have any books for young girls?"

@detritus-of-the-earth

'Marie' is in the same place 'she' always is. Perhaps 'she''s scared to leave, or perhaps it's just easier not to. But 'she' has met this thing that claims to be a woman before.

"I am not sure," 'she' says, tilting 'her' head just a bit too far to the left. "We have books for children. They are in the section labelled, 'Children'."

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Rye had taken to wandering about, happy about recent developments. Now it has a bigger family. More parents, a sibling, what else could it ask for?

It sat down at a familiar bench in the park. This place was always fun. Maybe it could actually treat the ducks nicely this time! But right now, Rye stared off at the scenery.

(@vapor-web)

'Marie', unbeknownst to it, had been frequenting the park every spare minute 'she' had in the hopes of catching Rye. Mallory had tried and failed to teach 'her' how cell phones work. 'She' rushes over as soon as 'she' sees the familiar figure.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Something is in the bookstore attic, and it is laughing. It's not quite sure how it wound up here. Maybe it was summoned. Maybe it was born here. Maybe it just got bored.

It's still laughing when somebody opens the door.

@residentsofhollowville

'Marie' pauses in surprise as 'she' takes stock of the... whatever it is. It feels oddly familiar, as though 'she'd' met it in another lifetime. Had Marie- the original Marie- known this thing? Perhaps.

"You are not supposed to be in here," 'she' observes.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

A woman pops her head into the bookstore. It's turned at such an uncomfortable angle that it comes as a surprise that it's attached to someone's neck, but she stays smiling despite it.

"Hello! Can I come in, please?"

She wouldn't ordinarily ask. This is a place of business, after all, why should she? But she can feel something trying to push her out.

Just like at the Institute. Only not very much like it at all.

@detritus-of-the-earth

'Marie' is not yet used to 'her' new face, but 'she' does 'her' best to look polite the way Elaine does. "You are not required to ask," 'she' informs the woman. "Can I help you?"

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

pahket walks into work, stretching. her eyes flick around warily as she walks behind the desk. she pauses when she sees someone already behind it. “who’re you?”

@i-just-really-like-lions

'Thomas' waves. The gesture looks odd, somehow- false and stiff, as though 'he''s copying the movements of someone on TV.

"I am called 'Thomas'. Do you have an appointment?"

Something about the way 'he' talks reminds her of a shitty text-to-speech bot. The cadence is off in a way she can't quite place. And the way 'his' skin moves is all wrong.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

Ariya looked at the door to the Inkwell Bookstore, why did Danni ask her to go here specifically? Any other bookshop would have the book they wanted, yet they insisted she get it from here. Oh well

Ariya entered the bookstore, glancing around for what section would have something about abandoned places.

@investigating-occult

The person(?) at the cash register doesn't acknowledge that she'd entered, only watches silently as if on vigil. Otherwise, the dusty old shop is eerily silent, save for a distant rhythmic thudding sound upstairs.

There is, in fact, a large section related to abandoned places, and to ghost hunting in general. It's not obvious at first glance, but upon looking closer at the selection, the bookshop in general seems to have an odd focus on quote-unquote documentations of the supernatural.

[the-inkwell-bookstore]

The door to the store opens as a man walks in. He looks a bit old, at least to most people, a serious expression on his face. The door closes and without a word he starts looking at one of the bookshelves.

- @bunchofavatars

'Thomas' is manning the register today, though 'he' doesn't seem to be actually... doing anything. 'He' simply stands straight up, stock-still, watching the door with an intentness that is only made more skin-crawling by the emptiness behind 'his' eyes.

"Do you require assistance?" 'he' asks the newcomer, something slightly off about 'his' inflection.