It was quiet here, alone in an extravagant lounge, the carpets and curtains a dark navy, the lights tacky with the same neon blue that you’d expect in bars in the city. At least these ones weren’t flashing, much to Melvin’s relief. Standing in the center, he looked at the bar where a bartender was cleaning off the counter, and then to a empty stage with a piano, and then at the couch.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” He asked, and Melvin turned to look back at himself.
Before him was him, but not him. A double image in his liking, but his hair was black and eyes a vibrant red. His clothes were casual, as if he didn’t expect to go outside. Still, he at least looked tidy for another him, and despite there being two of him, he wasn’t afraid. More like, very aware that this wasn’t real, with that strange creeping ability to feel some sort of awkward control of your surroundings that dreams often didn’t provide.

“I guess, if you like blue.” He said to his Other self, glancing down only when he saw a blue tiger curling around the Darker Melvin and purring, to which the Other petted the tiger’s crown.

“Do you know who I am?” The Other asked, and Melvin regarded him.
“I guess you’re me unless this is an Evil Twin dream.” He guessed, looking around. A bar. Melvin really wanted to go on leave again and just hang at a bar, but not one as clique in décor as this. It reminded him of a high end bar in Vegas where you’d pick up hookers in little slip, glittering dresses and heels. Not a bad combo, but not exactly his tastes.

“No. I’m you, but another you from another place. I was taken from you and from a world different from yours.” He said, moving over closer. Despite him knowing it was a dream, Melvin stepped back, feeling that this was all a bit dangerous. Other selves usually didn’t bring you gift baskets or came just to give you a hug.
“Ooo-kay. Why are you here then if you’re from a parallel dimension?” He asked, not sure why he’d have to have black hair in another world – though he did seem to pull it off if that was worth noting.

“To warn you about those around you and to meet you. I was created from you, and while I never got the chance to really live, I wanted to warn you and hopefully keep you alive.” He reached out, offering his ungloved hand. “Will you let me show you my world?”

Melvin stared long at the hand, then at the Other offering it. It never was smart to pass up on a warning in regards to possibly helping you live, but he didn’t like the idea he’d seen something he couldn’t forget. Still, curiosity bite him every time, and he reached out with his gloved hand and took it.

The room filled, flooded with people he knew and didn’t know, dressed in all manner of sleek dress. In that strange reality of dreams, he watched with a strange sort of knowledge about what was going on, and watched his Other look to him before taking his post and working through it all, but this Other had blonde hair like him. Confused, he looked to his side and saw his hand still holding the Other with black hair.

“Watch.” The Dark Other informed, and Melvin watched, the pair of them seeing time pass in the quick way things did, speeding up when nothing of importance or note was happening. It was both sickening and embarrassing to see someone who looked like him act the way he did. He clung to Saliva, which was strange enough seeing her as a person, and seemed to jump at any noise. His profession making drugs was laughable, a sick joke of his unconscious, but the fact he seemed dependent on it also bothered him. This person wasn’t him. This Other. He’d never cling the way this person did, follow along without asking questions at each and every turn, and get that close to Harrison just to whisper in his ear.

“I’m not like that.” He said, looking forward at the other, blonde Melvin.
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” The Dark Other said, and they watched together.

The rest rushed faster than he expected. Harrison as a king, Rep as a Queen in BOTH ways, and everyone he knew and didn’t all being picked and ranked. He was picked as a rabbit, and both the other Melvin and him frowned at the title. He was a pawn rank, a rabbit, and not even anything fierce or impressive. Then again, he wasn’t that close to Harrison.

Rep took him to get showered when he seemed to be throwing a fit after a not so challenging stair climb, then having a talk. The rest moved, and Melvin took a moment to cover his mouth as Melvin volunteered to take Jerry to shower. No….this Other wouldn’t…..he hadn’t been like him before so he wouldn’t….

..and he was proven wrong to his gross embarrassment, to which he spent with a hand spread against his face, peeking out with the same surprised horror of seeing two trains collide before your very eyes.
When that was over, Melvin breathed out and watched as his blonde other continued to make a fool of himself, sitting wrapped in a blanket with Jerry who, while looking better when washed up and dressed nicely, was still unconscious. Then everyone freaked out, Melvin was left pouting with some make believe relationship, before everyone was sent to battle.

Then he was left behind and talked with someone, and they left with Rep. When Rep returned, the dream seemed to slow down.

“Pay close attention.” The Dark other said to him, the pair of them now standing in a small room as Rep talked to the blonde Other. Despite it being a dream, Melvin had been able to share in things like feelings and sensations that were being expressed by this more trusting Melvin, who had been thrilled to be given the chance to not fight, sparred, had grown fond of a tiger, and relied of all of those around him. It was strange seeing him act this way, but at certain points he felt a mix of disgust and envy.

Then Rep spoke, and then he drew his shadow claws upon him. The fear of death and flash of betrayal were raw in his copy’s eyes, and the fight wasn’t even a fight as Rep continued to strike him down. Just when Harrison and another person showed up, both the real Melvin and the copy felt a surge of hope he would live. But no one moved or did nothing. They asked what was going on, and then Rep continued. No one moved a inch to save him, rushed to his side to address his wounds, or even hit Rep in any way to slow him down. There was no expression of alarm, loss, or worry that his copy was being killed, and then he died. Vanishing like a ghost at their feet.

“No one cared. I had lived in this world, were close to these people, but in the end no one cared if I lived and died. My trust meant nothing to them. They were all my enemies. I was really a rabbit.” He looked back to Melvin, and he noticed the mark on his hand from the ritual he saw earlier in this dream world.

“Do not trust anyone. You friend is your enemy. No one cares about your protection aside from your own weapon, and they will trick you in the end.”

Melvin watched where his copy had died as the dream grew dark around them, plunged in shadows. “He…”

“He killed you. He didn’t even think you deserved a chance in battle. You were useless to them all, and killed without a care. Not even a symbol of power under a house of protection meant anything to them.”

Melvin looked back to this dark other. “Why are you showing me this?”
“To warn you. I was created from you in some way in some world. I died because I trusted these people who I called friends.” He gripped Melvin’s hand more tightly as he stood before him, leaning in cheek to cheek to whisper into his ear. “Prince of a thousand enemies - beware.”

Melvin woke with a start, breathing deep as he stared at his ceiling, his comforter clinging to his bare chest as he swallowed for breath. The words in his own voice still echoed in his mind.