But how will you know if sniffing won't work

[negotiates]

You know, I'd like to think that I have enough experience with doppelgängers to be able to distinguish them. Even if neither are human.

Elena will have no shortage of volunteers eager to help her. I have my own family to take care of first.

Comments

[sixthanimorph]

You never can tell when it comes to doppelgangers, huh?

[negotiates]

You can if you know them.

[sixthanimorph]

Alright then, since you're the expert. How do you distinguish a doppelgänger? Do they have tells? Do they all scratch their ears?

[negotiates]

The two I know have distinct personalities and very different backgrounds.

[sixthanimorph]

They can't be very good at blending in if you can pick them out on stuff like that. Isn't the whole point supposed to be pretending to be someone else?

[negotiates]

Ah, I think we may have different ideas of a doppelgänger's purpose. They lead separate lives, each with their own goals and intentions. I'm told that one does have a fondness for imitating the other, but only when it suits her.

[sixthanimorph]

Oh... ohhh. Yeah, I thought you were talking about a different kind of doppelgänger. Those sound more like those identical twins that pretend to be each other to mess with people.

[negotiates]

That about sums it up, yes.

[sixthanimorph]

No offense, but those doppelgängers sound pretty weak.

[negotiates]

[He almost laughs at that. Weak is not the word he'd use to describe either Katherine or Elena.] Our experience must differ considerably. What are your doppelgängers like?

[sixthanimorph]

[He lounges back in his seat, cocky, almost like he's bragging. Which, of course, he is.] The doppelgängers I know can become anyone. Anyone at all. They could be pretending to be your best friend and you'd never know, that's how good they are. But they aren't limited to just people either. They can be animals too.

[negotiates]

[He considers this for a moment. Definitely a lot different.] Sounds more like shapeshifters.

[sixthanimorph]

[He shrugs impatiently.] You could call them that too. We don't call them either where I'm from. We call them morphers.

[primogen_vampirate]

Good goddess, darling. Don't tell me you've been reduced to smelling people.

It's not that I object to utilizing all your senses. But it's rather tacky.

[negotiates]

On this occasion it was necessary.

[primogen_vampirate]

Oh, the things we get reduced to in these "games."

[negotiates]

Actually, it's what I believe my writer refers to as "canon".

[primogen_vampirate]

How perfectly dreadful! And quite the waste of such delightful proximity to such a pretty, little thing I must say.

Although, children aren't everyone's taste.

[negotiates]

No. [He's just... not going to go into the detail.] I take it you're also a vampire.

[primogen_vampirate]

My darling, I am the vampire.

[negotiates]

Oh, really? I wasn't aware that there was such a thing. [There is no one first vampire in his world. They're a family.]

[primogen_vampirate]

Doctor Mina Barrett, formerly Mary Read, at your service. Primogen of the Circle of the Crone of Chicago, Hierophant of the Valkyrien Amazons, and so on and so forth.

I have more titles than a bloody library.

[negotiates]

Apparently so. [His lips twitch slightly.] I'm Elijah.

[primogen_vampirate]

Elijah? A suitable name, I should say.

Tell me, Elijah, what do you do when you're not sniffing teenage girls?

[negotiates]

I remove the heads of those who fail to show me the appropriate level of respect.