The Doppelganger ID Handbook

Why IDs matter at midnight

Most of the people who pull into the station at 2 a.m. just want smokes and a slushie. But some are doppelgangers — copies wearing a stolen face, waiting for you to wave them through. Let four or more in and the night ends in the Bad Ending. The ID card is your only reliable filter, so make the check a ritual.

The three-ID rule

No single detail proves a customer is fake. Look for two or more mismatches before you deny — but never ignore even one.

1. Name spelling

The database spells the name exactly. A doppelganger's card often has a subtle twist: a doubled letter, a swapped vowel, a name that looks right at a glance. Read it slowly. "Maria" vs "Marla" has ended more shifts than any monster.

2. Birthday

The birth date should match the database to the day. Watch for a year that's off by one, or a month that doesn't fit the face across the counter. A customer who flinches when you read the date aloud is worth a second look.

3. State watermark

Each legitimate ID carries a state watermark — a faint seal in the corner. Fakes show it missing, washed-out, or from the wrong state for the face presenting it. Hold the card up to the light; the register lamp is bright enough to read it.

Cross-checking the database

The register has a customer database tab. For every ID:

1. Type or select the name.
2. Confirm a record exists.
3. Compare name, birthday, and watermark against what's on screen.

If the search returns no record, that is itself a red flag — real regulars are in the system. Combine a missing record with any watermark doubt and Deny is the responsible choice.

Behavior tells

Documents lie; bodies are harder to fake. Even a perfect ID can sit on a customer whose actions are wrong.

Use the security camera feed and listen for footsteps on the wooden floor — a copy often moves with no sound, or with steps that don't match its stride.

Approve or deny

The register shows two buttons:

• Approve — let them leave. Safe if the ID is clean.
• Deny — lock the door and refuse service. Costs a little reputation if you're wrong.

When in doubt, Deny. A false denial is a slap on the wrist; a false approval is a tally mark toward the end of the world.

When the counter hits four

Every wrongly-admitted doppelganger is stored as a count. At 4+, the night cannot be saved — the Assimilation begins and you get the Bad Ending. Track your denies, trust the process, and remember: the database is your friend, the watermark is your proof, and hesitation is the copy's best weapon.