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"Yeah, it's all good," Lily responded, rubbing at one of her eyes as she looked over at Zac. "Still kind of...jet lagged or whatever, couldn't find any mascara, sooo welcome to my real face." Lily's real face was a little less pale than her made-up one, and had small splotches of acne if one bothered to look too closely.

She nodded slowly at Liam's advice, perking up when she heard a familiar phrase. "Oh, um, is that the one with the, like, guy who cuts hair and then kills people? The...demon barber guy." She didn't wait for his confirmation, and just nodded to herself. "One of my buddies was super into it. Liked the whole Tim Burton thing." Lily looked at Marcus, then shook her head. "Nah, we just kinda hang in the same crowd. Small world, you know?"

She glanced past Liam to Jamie, and her expression went blank, glancing back and forth between her packmember and a familiar blonde. She wanted to say something, to reach out, but as long as Shiloh was there her hands were tied, and so she bit her lip and forced herself to look away. Her input wasn't wanted in that situation, so the best thing she could do was to pretend none of it had happened.

In any other situation, Jamie wouldn't have shied away from Lily. Far from it, he would've shown her the confrontation between her and Shiloh didn't mean he loved her any less. She was still an important part of his life, she was still family, and the only thing that stopped him was the way Liam addressed him and her and the sudden choice between two very awkward situations.

All he could chance for Lily was a small smile, not realizing she mistook Oliver for Shiloh, and then his attention was back on Liam.

Back on Liam who seemed to know him when Jamie had absolutely no idea who he was or what they were apparently doing on Thursday, if that invitation had been meant for him at all. It was all very confusing. What he should've done, mostly likely, was tell the truth, was mutter I'm sorry, have we met? What he did instead, all awkwardness and non-confrontation, was go along with it just like Temperance.

"I-I've... got time. I think," he said, looking to Oliver to confirm. He didn't exactly want to be left 'alone,' even if the invitation wasn't extended that far. As he stooped down to pick up one of Zac's cards, he made what sounded like an offhand comment in reference to Marcus, "Hopefully the weather will, um, hold up 'til then."

Oliver was baffled. More than baffled. Though he scarcely recognized anyone here, he definitely didn't understand the connection between Jamie and this... obvious stranger, even though the man seemed to know him in some way.

He wondered if this man knew Shiloh in some way, though he also doubted it. It wasn't as if he had made any comment on his face, which the twins had obviously both shared. “It's Beaumont." Oliver spoke smoothly, missing the awkward glance from Lily. “Oliver Beaumont." his smile was impassioned, but genuine. “It's a pleasure. And you are?"

It seemed to be the question that everyone was thinking, just not asking. If anything, the young man seemed to be very uncomfortable, very—or at least he was uncomfortable about "The Thing", which if his protest sign and demeanor was any indication, was probably illegal. Regardless, he put himself between Liam and the growing crowd, offering a hand out for a cordial shake, a gentle distraction from the current situation.

Foot to foot, Marcus swayed back and forth as he displaced his weight, blue eyes watching them all thinking to why the shift in tone. Gathering after a protest wasn't the smartest thing, nor was the fact that a few of them weren't exactly looking like picture perfect citizens.

He smiled at those he didn't know, namely everyone really. Being a recluse was not always to the man's benefit.
"I am sure my employer will understand if I took some time off for a later date. He's been very kind about my situation. Paperwork is never the most quick of things." Vague, he grabbed one of Zac's cards, tucking it neatly into his coat pocket. They also seemed to be making passing introductions. That was good.

That however, did not mean he'd be introducing himself. He felt like he was interjecting.
"I-" He looked around again, voice subdued. "I am afraid my memory is hazy. I don't recall where to go." He rubbed the back of neck and looked at the ground. He knew the feeling of eyes on him, of people looking. He got it enough with his hair and skin in certain parts of town.

And after protests dispersal. One sent off, any gathering was subject to scrutiny.
"Remind me?"


+ all of u he is idek

As before, Jamie didn't know what Liam meant when he said what he did. Room for what exactly? It felt increasingly wrong to lie like this with each passing second. At the same time, he had to wonder what the odds were of this particular person knowing someone named Jamie who looked enough like him that no red flags were yet raised. This whole situation was very, very disconcerting.

Was it possible to tell the truth now, though? Would there be consequences if they tried?

"I..." almost immediately he hesitated and it was hard to look Liam in the eye when he continued, "would really like to stay together. I-If we can."

Liam made a face. "Since when are you an expert in how many people my partner's spare bedroom can fit?" he asked Temperance, but his expression was quizzical - almost like he thought it was a joke.

"You'll have to clear it with Renard," he said, turning to Jamie. "It's not really my call. Anyway. Thursday night."

"The wake," he said. "At Andromache. Or did you forget?"

She wrinkled her nose in a playful manner. "I'm an expert in everything," Temperance said teasingly. It was kind of shocking how easy it was to just lie about all of this. She wondered what that said about her character. No good things, she imagined, feeling kind of slimy. More importantly, Renard was here, too. She wasn't surprised. They were, after all, the dubious duo.

Suddenly, Temperance remembered exactly what ACT UP was about. That, the year, the wake - maybe cracking jokes wasn't exactly the best thing for now.

"Nice to meet you, Oliver. Today must be a day for new faces." But his face was so similar to Shiloh's, who apparently existed here in another form as well. It was all too full of dippelgangers and alternates selves and Temperance needed to have a good, long sit-down to process it all. She looked towards Liam. Where was Andromache? That was the name of some kind of character in Greek mythology... Or some kind of place. Of course it was - but where?

"What time and where are we meeting? There? Sorry, it's just... been a long day." She sighed. As if that could explain her questions.