Two of Them

Log Info

• Title: Two of Them

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Ravenstongue receives a gift from the two resident diminutive garden pixies: a strange golden beverage in a tiny teacup. She decides to drink it and, after a head-splitting headache, discovers that she has what appears to be a perfect clone of herself standing in the house. Telamon comes home right at the perfect time to see double. The original Ravenstongue and the second Ravenstongue have a bit of a fight about Telamon until it's pointed out that the second Ravenstongue likely doesn't have long to live, triggering an existential crisis for the clone that's resolved with an offer of a kiss that the RT-clone tries to make into more with a failed charm spell that, ironically enough, causes her to vaporize. Ravenstongue and Telamon are left to grapple with the strange happening, and Ravenstongue resolves to have a rather heated discussion with the pixies afterward.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-      
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.             
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Lily-of-the-Valley                       Pixie             Female    A blonde pixie who is a massive fangirl.
Mirabilis                                Pixie             Female    A green-haired pixie who tolerates Lily's existence.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Lúpecyll-Atlon home, afternoon.

"Do you think this is really a good idea?" Mirabilis the tiny pixie asks, furrowing her brows in concern as she looks at Lily-of-the-Valley putting out a very small teacup of a golden liquid onto the counter of the Lúpecyll-Atlon home. Her dark eyes move nervously to the open kitchen window, left open by Cor'lana as she walked into another room to clean up. It is, after all, the time for spring cleaning.

Lily-of-the-Valley smiles brightly as she claps her hands together. "Don't worry, Mirabilis! I think she'll really appreciate it!" she says.

The two pixies depart through the window, although Mirabilis lingers longer as she stares at the tiny note left by the tiny teacup. The concerned pixie shakes her head and flies off, apparently deciding that whatever will happen... will happen.

Eventually, Cor'lana makes her way back to the kitchen and notices the teacup and note. Her curiosity piqued, she picks up the note and squints at it. "Dear Lady Lúpecyll--we are very happy with our current arrangement and wish for you to experience one of our favorite concoctions. We believe that you will be amused and delighted by the results. Sincerely, your humble servants--Mirabilis and Lily-of-the-Valley," she murmurs as she reads off the note.

"Huh," Cor'lana says, and she takes a look at the tiny teacup. "Well, might as well, right?"

Famous last words. She downs the concoction... And then there's a splitting headache--

Oh. Oh.

Cor'lana stares at herself. Except there's no mirror.

Apparently her head wasn't the only thing to split.

And unfortunately for the peace of the Lúpecyll-Atlon household, both Cor'lanas find themselves yelping in fear at seeing each other for the first time.

And this is just the right time for someone to come home too, after picking up some things at the market. Food, some supplies, and a copy of the Tribune. The door swings open, and Telamon calls out, "Honey, I'm home!" Pulling off his boots, the goods piled on his floating disk following along as he ambles into the living area.

"Interesting story in the Tribune. Evidently Grinder Goldbells is currently on the hook for consorting with the powers of darkness. Bad news for him if that's the case," he comments, looking up from the copy of the Tribune to see Cor'lana. And Cor'lana. Uh.

He kind of sputters to a halt, before saying, "...Boy, I hope this is just you branching out into illusions."

Instead of one bride-to-be, there's two of them standing in the kitchen--two pairs of violet eyes turning to stare at him. "We have a problem," says Cor'lana-one, rather flatly.

"Well, of course we have a problem! You idiot, you should know better than to drink random things that fey bring to you!" Cor'lana-two replies. She looks exasperated, throwing her hands up into the air. "Didn't you listen to anything Grandfather told you? Didn't years of reading books about fairy tales and the fey teach you anything? By the gods, girl, you are so stupid!"

"Hey, I'm not happy about this, either!" Cor'lana-one huffs. "I just thought that the pixies wouldn't leave me something to drink that resulted in... Two of us!"

It's at this moment that Pothy flies into the room... looks at the two Cor'lanas... and looks at Telamon. "This is getting out of hand. Now there are two of them!" he says, imitating a man with a slight accent.

Telamon looks from one to the other. Then carefully, he walks over, and touches one on the shoulder, then the other. "Well, neither of you seem to be a phantasm or illusion," he says cautiously. "Which is... interesting. Wait... you drank -what-?"

He reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "You know, I thought we had a discussion about being careful what we eat and drink when it comes from the fey?" He looks back and forth again. "Gods. I ... really can't tell the difference. If there is one."

He looks at Pothy helplessly. "I don't suppose you can tell?"

It's true--both Cor'lanas seem to be flesh and blood. They even both have the same reaction to Telamon touching their shoulders--the slight flush of their cheeks. "I drank an odd golden liquid that was in a tiny teacup that Mirabilis and Lily-of-the-Valley left for me," Cor'lana-one says, gesturing to both the empty teacup and the tiny note on the counter. "The note said it was one of their favorite concoctions--I just... sort of assumed that meant it was something nice, like a tea, or a wine. Not a potion that results in two of me."

"Two of us, you mean." Cor'lana-two folds her arms. "Do I--we--sound like that? God, that's weird. Thought our voice was deeper sounding."

Cor'lana-one stares at her. "Oh gods, you're right! Wow, that's weird."

Pothy flaps onto Telamon's shoulder. His blue eyes regard both Cor'lanas for a moment...

"That one," he says, imitating his mistress's voice as he indicates Cor'lana-one. "Real."

"Grandfather's going to laugh himself silly. Or yell at me." Telamon rubs his temples, and looks amused. "You know, I'm sure every teenaged lad has had these fantasies about two of his favorite girl, but I don't think that's terribly constructive right now."

At Pothy's indication, he furrows his brow, looking back and forth. Even checking jewelry. "If you say so," he says dubiously. "I certainly can't tell."

He taps his chin. "What does this remind me of? Being in two places. Aryia's sister? Well, no, that was made out of snow. The Ship of Augustus paradox. Definitely that."

Somehow, there's even an exact duplicate of Cor'lana's engagement ring on Cor'lana-two's finger. How Pothy can tell is a mystery--presumably something to do with the magical ties between familiar and mistress.

Or maybe Nadina's using her supernatural talent as Cor'lana's mother to discern the one she birthed from the copy and is yelling the correct answer at Pothy inside the Library of Apotheosis. Hard to say.

Both Cor'lanas look rather contemplative as they think about Telamon's words. "Well, we should probably figure out if this is permanent or not," Cor'lana says. "If it is, then we could just... give the copy to Grandfather."

"What makes you think I want that! I like Telamon too!" Cor'lana-two replies, huffing. "I want to have a life with him just as much as you do, because I'm you!"

Suddenly the two violet-eyed girls are glaring at each other. Uh-oh.

Telamon clears his throat. "Alright, alright... gods-damned fey bullshit," he mumbles the last under his breath. "Ladies... I think you're going at this all wrong. Are you familiar with the Ship of Augustus paradox? It's also called the Tinker's Lament by gnomes and the dwarves call it the chief's axe argument."

He doesn't wait for an acknowledgement before diving in. "The ship of Augustus is an artifact in a museum. Over time its planks rot, and are replaced with new planks. When no original planks remain -- is it still the ship of Augustus?"

Both Cor'lanas just stare at Telamon for a moment as he explains the ship of Augustus paradox.

Cor'lana-two is the first to break the silence. "Okay, but we're not ships," she says. "We're... people. We don't have rotting planks or anything like that. And I feel like my feelings are just as valid as the original me's, right?"

"We don't even know how long you're going to stick around!" Cor'lana fires back. "I don't think this is permanent."

The second Cor'lana looks at Telamon blankly. "...You mean I'm going to die?" she asks. Her eyes become downcast.

Telamon raises a hand. "But if the planks could be restored, free of the rot, and reassembled... is that the ship of Augustus?" He explains, "You are both Cor'lana. Equally... valid. Real, for whatever qualifies as real in this world."

His expression softens at the second Cor'lana's plaintive query. "I..." He pauses. He makes a note to have a long talk with the garden pixies. "No. Because you are both the same person. If this effect... doesn't persist, then even so, you will continue." He really doesn't want either of them to snap, and he shoots a look at the original Cor'lana to follow his lead.

"Well, here's the way I see it," Cor'lana-one says, looking thoughtful. "You... didn't exist before, and you didn't have any feelings one way or another if you lived, right? So why start now?"

The other Cor'lana... is also Cor'lana. She taps her chin in thought. "Huh. Yeah, that does make sense. Maybe I'll exist again at some other point--but if I'm going to exist, I might as well make the most of it, right?"

"That's the spirit!" Cor'lana-one replies.

"Right, so you don't mind if I kiss Telamon, then?" Cor'lana-two starts menacingly towards Telamon, killing intent in her eyes.

Pothy squawks. "Danger! Danger! Danger!"

Telamon displays a remarkable amount of good sense by moving the floating disk around between Cor'lana-two and himself. "That would be a lot more reassuring if you didn't look like you were about to strangle me," he points out. "Also, this whole thing has completely put me off trying to research that spell that lets you make simulacrums. Ye gods."

He hurriedly looks at Corlana-one. "Is it technically cheating if it's also with you? Why doesn't any book on spellcraft cover this kind of situation?!"

Cor'lana-two looks put-out by Telamon blocking her from getting closer to him. She tries to side-step around the disk, pouting as she realizes what the game Telamon is playing happens to be. "What? I'm not going to hurt you! I was just looking forward to the kiss!"

Cor'lana-one, meanwhile, looks more thoughtful. "I mean, she is me... I think it's fine?" she says. "Like I said, it's not like it's happening forever..."

Then it's Cor'lana-one's turn to look at Telamon with killing intent. "Nothing beyond kissing, though. I'm not that feytouched."

Pothy looks at Telamon with worried blue eyes. "It's a trap!" he says quietly into Telamon's ear.

"Thanks, Pothy, like I couldn't figure that out," Tel mutters back to the bird. He carefully shuffles around till he's standing just in front of Cor'lana-one and to one side. Tucking his arms behind his back, he looks at Cor'lana-two. "Alright. One kiss. And Cor'lana acts as chaperone."

Casually, behind his back, where Corlana-one can see, he lifts up one of his sleeves... where a bracelet made of links shaped like ravens and stars can be seen around his wrist.

Cor'lana-one looks at the bracelet on Telamon's wrist and looks curiously at it, but she chooses not to say anything, her eyes darting back up to Cor'lana-two.

The copy of Cor'lana smiles more genially as she approaches Telamon. "Well, I promise not to do anything you wouldn't do," she says to the other Cor'lana as she leans in...

And she weaves a certain spell.

(note: Ravenstongue is rolling for Cor'lana-two which uses RT's stats)
GAME: Ravenstongue casts Charm Person. Caster Level: 7 DC: 19 (Persistent Metamagic)
GAME: Telamon rolls will+6: (13)+8+6: 27 (passes)
GAME: Telamon rolls will+6: (14)+8+6: 28 (reroll due to Persistent Metamagic, passes)
GAME: Telamon rolls bluff: (6)+17: 23
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Sense Motive: (18)+2: 20 (fails against Telamon's bluff)

Oh, damn it. This is not going to be any fun. Deliberately, Telamon slackens his expression a touch, widening his eyes. "Oh, absolutely," he says. "I'd never deny my fair maiden a kiss."

As his lips meet Corlana-two's, though, his hands behind his back move in the deft motions of handspeech. <<She tried to charm me. Didn't work. Get ready.>> He knows this is going to end badly. But such is life.

Cor'lana-two pulls back from the kiss and giggles a little. "How are you feeling?" she asks, looking at him through half-lidded eyes.

"He's fine, thanks for asking--but time's up for you." That distinctive voice of Nadina's... is coming from Pothy?

Cor'lana-two looks at Pothy. "Wha--"

And then she poofs into thin air.

Cor'lana looks blankly at the spot where her doppelganger had been. "Ummm..." Then her eyes widen as she seems to realize that she just heard her mother's voice coming from Pothy. "Mom?"

Pothy quirks his head at her from his spot on Telamon's shoulder. He whistles at her, and Cor'lana nods. "Mom was watching," she says, "and told Pothy to tell us that... the magic entity only had so much mana to stay existing, and used up what she had left to cast that spell. Huh."

Telamon winces. "Sorry you had to see that, love." He opts to make up for it by kissing Cor'lana quite firmly and soundly, Pothy be damned.

Once he's settled that hash, he explains, holding up his wrist with the bracelet. "Ever since that little encounter with N'tsssa, I've worried about being... subverted that way. Not by you, but by others. So I commissioned Morgan to make me this -- it gives me more resistance against such spells, as well as fooling casters into thinking the spell worked. It also makes me better at 'reading' other people."

He shakes his head. "That... was very, very weird, Lana."

Pothy takes flight from Telamon's shoulder, presumably to allow the two lovers some time to be together after the odd experience. Cor'lana wraps her arms tightly around him as they kiss, as though to reaffirm that he's hers.

She looks at the bracelet on Telamon's wrist as he holds it up and she smiles widely. "It's beautiful, Tel," she murmurs, putting her hand to the bracelet and running her fingers along the ravens and stars. "I think I want one, too--so I don't ever get torn apart from you by other people.

Cor'lana looks back up at him. She pouts a little. "Yeah. It was weird. I'll have to have a talk with the pixies so they don't send me more of... whatever that was."

The silvery bracelet glints in the light, ravens gamboling between stars. "We'll talk to Morgan, see if we can get a second made then." Telamon hugs her close. "I really do not want to do that again. Yeah, we definitely need to talk to the pixies. That could've gone right off the trail."

He tucks her into her happy place under his chin, snuggling her close. "So as I was going to say," he comments with a grin, "I brought back groceries, some writing supplies, a few things for the garden -- tools, mostly. And of course a copy of the Tribune."

He pulls back just a little to look down at her. "How was the spring cleaning going before things went awry?"

"I think the pixies were probably hoping we'd take advantage of the situation for something much more... debauched," Cor'lana says, looking bashful. "Or maybe they were hoping you'd do something like, "Oh, I know who my true love is between the two!" like in the fairy tales. Either way, not interested!"

She sighs as she looks up at Telamon. "It was fine. I got the bedroom all squared away, I think. I cleaned up the mess from Pothy's old book-nest, so we have that corner of the bedroom freed up now."

Telamon just rolls his eyes. "Yes, I'm sure every lad has dreams of two girls in his bed. Pretty sure they're not the same girl though." He shakes his head. "Those two ...bah. Do you want to lay the law down for them? I suspect it might stick a little better coming from you."

"If you want, I can probably take over on the scut-work. Well, the unseen servants can take over. They're good for that sort of thing, just not as good at fine management or judging where to put things."

Cor'lana grumbles a little--which sounds suspiciously like some vague threats in Sylvan. "No, I can talk to them," she says. "I don't care even if the other girl's me--you're mine, I'm yours, and that's that. It'll mean more coming from me, too, as I am the Lady that arranged the deal to begin with."

One gets the impression from Cor'lana's irritated glare that the pixies are getting quite the verbal onslaught later. Annoyance is not something that the sorceress wears very often, but it's vaguely reminiscent of the Feathered One's anger when he's presented with other members of his kind.

Finally, she sighs, dispelling the annoyed look from her face. "It'd be nice," she says. "Maybe we could cuddle on the couch or something while they work."

Well, that sounds like a grand plan to Telamon. A couple of swift conjurations later, and some specific instructions, and off the unseen servants go with brooms and dust pans. They'll make sure the place is clean and tidy.

With that out of the way, Tel leads his lady over to the couch, sitting down, and rather firmly pulling her into his lap. Settling her back into her happy place as he cuddles her close. "You remind me of Grandfather when you're perturbed. You get the same grim, 'someone's going to get it right in the face' look he does when he's angry."

Cor'lana settles right into her happy place, curling up close to him and pushing the top of her head into the space under his chin. She takes a deep breath and lets it out in another big sigh. "I guess we're not that dissimilar in that way, too, although I wasn't about to wring her by the neck," she remarks, her violet eyes closing slowly. "I'm mostly... disturbed. I mean, she's me, right--and I would never cast a charming spell onto anyone unless it was to save my life."

She frowns a little. "But I guess if I was in her shoes and I saw the boy I was in love with and knew I didn't have long to spend with him... Hrm..."

The sorceress doesn't elaborate further, sighing again. "Good people occasionally do bad things in desperate situations, right? When they're just not thinking of what's right or wrong, just how they can get what they feel they want or need?"

Telamon nods, nuzzling against the top of Cor'lana's head. "Desperation can drive people like that, yes. And it's even worse if they think they're doing it for the right reasons. I know if you were in trouble I could probably justify... well, a whole lot of things."

Stroking her hair -- another of his favorite habits -- he continues, "So I guess I can't be too harsh. Bad decision, but understandable. You... she.... loved me, because she was you. That was real." He smiles at Cor'lana. "Am I wrong for feeling some pity? At least she got a kiss out of it, before she disappeared."

"Not wrong," Cor'lana murmurs. "You don't like seeing me sad or upset--so you probably didn't like seeing her upset, either. I feel like that's understandable."

She smiles a little, opening her eyes as he strokes her hair. She's wearing it down today, so it's easy to run a hand through her wavy hair. "You're... so strangely sweet when it comes to me, Tel. Most of the time, you keep your cool in all sorts of situations until the moment I'm not okay with something anymore or you're concerned for me--and then you become so fierce. It's... charming."

Then she seems to realize something and she grins. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't say that word, huh?"

Telamon smiles, and nods. "I... admit my calm doesn't always hold together when it comes to you. Especially if I think you're unhappy or hurting." He burrows his face in against her hair for a moment.

Once that's done, he continues, "If you care about something -- or someone -- enough, you'll fight like there's no tomorrow for it. It's true of anyone, I think. I just tend to be more... explosive about it when I can get away with it."

She smells like lavender. That's a given, of course, but it's always evident the moment Telamon gets in close to her. Not that there's any shortage of reminders these days that Telamon's bride-to-be is descended from the fey, but this is certainly one tell-tale sign. Cor'lana doesn't help matters by pushing herself just a tiny bit closer to him, smiling still.

"You're right," she says, a certain conviction in her voice. "Not only do I feel the same way, I guess I follow in Grandfather's footsteps about the whole thing. Although... I don't want to be that terrifying."

It's why Tel has developed a fondness for lavender; it reminds him of her. A happy scent, and one that lets him relax as he snuggles her in close in turn.

"I think we both prefer to not be terrifying. I've always wanted to talk things out, but... if people want to push their luck, well, then they're gonna have a bad day." He happily puts his chin on her head again. "There's all sorts of arguments about whether to be feared, respected, or loved. Personally, I like respect the most -- except with you, obviously. Love all the way there."

Cor'lana just stays close to him, right there in her happy spot underneath his chin. There's a long moment where she doesn't say anything, simply just enjoying his company. There's the gentle breeze that rushes in through the open kitchen window and the distant sound of students from down the street as they walk and talk about their findings and classes.

All's right in the world.

And it's just a little too peaceful, a little too quiet. Cor'lana finds herself yawning a little. "Maybe we should take a nap," she suggests. It's an innocent suggestion, really.

Telamon nestles her close, and murmurs, "Agreed. A nap sounds dandy." The servants will be all right, and after that little bit of drama, they can both use a breather. He kisses her cheek softly, before closing his eyes, resting close.

For now, there's quiet in the Lúpecyll-Atlon home, and peace, and serenity. It never lasts, but for now it's there.

OOC

The incredibly stupid meme that sort of served as RT's inspiration for this whole scene (and thus, the log title): https://i.imgur.com/ksELj3A.png