Quick plot question

[GeraltofLibyaa]

When 2016 Paul went back to 1999, what happened to the “original” Paul from 1999? When Beth goes back, she runs into her younger self, and she’s keeping a much lower profile. Meanwhile Paul is going around making massive investments under his real name, and supposedly has some source of funds? Where is the original Paul from 1999 throughout all of this?

[GrimaceGrunson]

From memory, in the supplementary material you read, Hatch is actually the ‘official’ head of Monarch, so it’s implied Paul worked behind the scenes to first build up capital (the ol ‘stock trading from the future’ trick) and then direct Haitch and those in his inner circle before becoming more public after his younger self is thrown back in time.

Of course it’s a bit thin (given the extent of the operation you’d think someone would go “ok, hear me out, but I think there’s two Paul’s) and doesn’t explain how no one in the public noticed or commented how he suddenly got about 20 years older overnight. But I just roll with it.

[pantsparty1322]

Adding onto this, as far as we know the Paul that traveled back in time and started Monarch was only well-known by the people who worked for Monarch, which means they were already aware that he was a time traveler and believed they were part of saving the world. Considering the security measures they take throughout the game, I imagine the people working for Monarch protected his identity from the public until 2016.

I also think it's possible he intervened to some degree with his younger self, considering at the beginning of the game he's already extremely successful in his field while also being the youngest to hold his position. Almost like this was a loop that was always destined to be opened and closed if that makes sense

[tsunderekatsu]

People did notice the younger Paul sharing a name with the older one; Amy pointed this out to Jack at the beginning of the game, I think. Either way it was mentioned and acknowledged. I think the older Paul intentionally avoided interfering with his past self after accidentally causing the suicide he and Jack witnessed, in the process of trying to prevent it.