action in the front hall [6/??? artefacts collected]

[sadfreezingbrit_archive]

[ Philip and mystery doors have a history. One that did not end well for him last time.

So when he spots the door on the first day he doesn't need to think twice about turning around and leaving.

When he returns a few hours later he curses silently to himself.

He sticks around, trying to find out more.

He fails and returns to his room at night.

Only to be completely and utterly unable to sleep.

Eventually he resigns, gets dressed and takes his place in the front hall in the early hours of day two.

And there he's been sitting ever since (on a blanket on the floor), away from the bulk of the crowd, glaring and wary eyes fixed on the thing in front of him. ]

I hate you.

[ It's unclear whether his remark is directed towards the door or himself. ]

Comments

[blimeyjamwalls.livejournal.com]

[ Daniel's been working the fringes of the crowd, but still hasn't gotten a straight answer as to what's so great about the door. It's new, apparently. It can't be opened. He'd be intrigued himself, if he weren't frustrated with not knowing why so many people are obsessing.

He's looking at the crowd rather than at Philip when he addresses him. ]

Excuse me, sir: I don't suppose you can tell me why -

[ And then he looks at Philip.

And stops dead.

And steps back. ]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Philip just left his surveillance blanket to take a few steps, stretch after a prolonged sitting session.

He turns around and--

Is it possible to stop even deader in your tracks? Because he would certainly like to make an attempt at that.

He never did get the courage to knock on Daniel's door and now that he sees him he is, for all intents and purposes, frozen solid in his place. ]

[blimeyjamwalls.livejournal.com]

[ Another step back. Then Daniel stills himself, not wanting to seem a coward. ]

...I'm armed, [ which is a lie, but hopefully he won't be called on his bluff, ] and we are surrounded by people.

[ Just. Just to remind not!Philip of these facts. ]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I'm not.

[ He slowly raises his hands to show that they are empty. ]

I'm...

[ Recalling any not so bloody details of watching Clarence in control is oddly difficult. But he knows- he thinks he-- He knows Clarence made a distinction between them and- he didn't introduce himself, but he said he wasn't Philip and Daniel seemed to believe it and... ]

It's me... Philip.

[...and now he's desperately clinging to the last bit of hope that this might actually mean something to Daniel. ]

herpaderp

[blimeyjamwalls.livejournal.com]

Philip?

[ Daniel's first expression is something like: holy crap, mixed with definite relief.

But then it slips. Whatever the hell happened, it involved someone - something - wearing Philip's face. It's a little hard to take statements like "it's me" for granted after that. ]

...Is this true?

[ Because if it weren't he'd totally say "oh, you caught me, it's a fair cop". Bravo, Daniel. ]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I--

[...can absolutely prove it, except for the part where we have the same body and share the same thoughts and memories and there is not a single thing you could ask me that he wouldn't know as well.

He swallows. Then nods. NODS! That's all the confirmation anyone could ever need, right? ]

[blimeyjamwalls.livejournal.com]

[ Lucky for you that Daniel tends to believe what he's told. He's still wary, still not totally sure, but... the other person didn't seem too interested in imitating Philip, did he? And besides that, he wants Philip's claim to be true.

Hesitatioooooonnnn. ]

...Tell me, how did you come back to yourself?

[ That's one of those "I'm still not sure, so convince me" kinds of questions. ]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I... don't remember.

[ And he's about to slip into gloomy silence again when it hits him that damn it, Philip, we want to make an effort here and pull yourself together, homicidal aliens only get in the way of a potential friendship if you let them.

For a moment he looks determined. It passes as he continues to speak, but for a second at least it was there. ]

I know he wanted to leave here. He prepared this... ritual, he- he killed people and--

[ Back on topic. Back on topic. ]

You interrupted him. He continued after you fled, but... I don't remember anything after that. It must have--

[ He shakes his head. No point in his crystal theory. Onwards!

I woke up in my room the day after and everything... everyone, including him, was just... gone.