| Outside, Melissa blinks as something this other....oddly familiar voice
says. It makes a connection within her mind.
It sounded like what she'd sound like....if she pitched her voice a
touch higher than usual. In one acting job, she had played the part of
a rather....scantily clad Santa Claus helper in a risqué small budget
movie. In fact, the voice behind the door reminded her of what she sounded
like throughout the parts she played in that movie. Now, why Betty 1 would
be talking like that is anyone's guess, but....."
"That's just got to be one of the Betties!" Melissa blurts out.
Frederigo looks over at her with a look that Melissa can't exactly read.
"Maybe....maybe not," the manfox says softly, who feels something akin
in the air when he is near analogous people are nearby. Then he turns and
knocks on the door in what he figured would be a restrained knock.
He's a bit out of practice at knocking before entering a house, for
back in the Manimal Nation a houseguest is felt long before the
need of knocking on a door happens. One manimal's can feel the intention
of another manimal....since the entirety of the Pack was of one Heart (if
of many minds).
It is a credit to Fred's upbringing that he remembered to knock. There
is that. However, with the onset of his new body....that of a manfox.....he
was much stronger than what he had been as a mere human being. Usually
he doesn't slip up like this, but this time what was intended as
a gentle tapping turned into a pounding that shakes the door on it's frame!
Fred winces as his goof and at the wave of fright that eminates from
inside.
Probably thinks I'm the town guard angered at her for something,
Fred thinks to himself as his tail droops in consternation. Nice move,
Lord
Frederigo D'Honaire!
The door opens immediately and the slightly flustered dressmaker is
greeted with the sight of the manfox and the human Melissa (who's looking
over at Fred with a questioning look).
"Ma'am, pardon the abrupt interruption but I have a feeling we need
to talk," Fred says, adopting the manner of a knight on a mission (to better
cover his gaff). "I believe you have a guest in there who perhaps would
like to meet this woman? A red headed woman who looks like her?"
"She....kind of looks like her, milord," Rinsa says, curtsying quickly
as she recognizes the friend of the Regent and son of the Duke D'Honaire.
This is NOT a person to slight by skimping on courtesy where it was due
to those of high blood!
Even if the blood had been considered tainted at one time......
"Milord, come inside....please!" Rinsa continues as she makes way for
the Pack Leader and what Rinsa recognizes as one of the Twins of Doom!
Rumors still abounded around what their appearance actually meant, but
the rumors now-a-day indicated that the Doom Twins were actually bringers
of Good fortune. Some rumors even told of them being responsible
for revealing an assassination attempt before the fell crime could be committed
(but the rumors were contradictory and all attempts by Rinsa to squeeze
out the truth from her brother had failed miserably....).
This may prove enlightening.
As they enter the main work room, a red haired elfin lady in a blue
(!) dress comes out from the shadows....and is openly gaping up at her
still human "sister".
She runs over and clasps the human "twin's" hand and is actually jumping
up and down in excitement as she starts to ask her friend questions!
"Betty!" the elfin woman cries, gladdened to see her supposed "twin".
"Thank God you're okay! What happened to the TARDIS after that alarm went
off and that heat mirage thingamabob hit me? What happen to that bastard,
the Master? Heck, what happened to Earth?! Is it safe? Why are you wearing
what I wore after we met the Doctor the first time?!"
"Wha....," the human Melissa begins before starting again. "Okay just
calm down, Betty! You know that we had to dive out of the TARDIS when that
klaxon went off. The Doctor's TARDIS self destructed and we nearly got
lunched for being the supposed messangers of destruction, the Twins of
Doom. Thank goodness the Regent was able to calm the people and at least
take us away into protective custody (though I wasn't too thrilled with
being treated like a prisoner). It was a mess! But you know that! And you
know that that Walker woman went out and killed the Master. That's one
up for her in my book, let me tell you! What....happened to you?!"
The human Melissa suddenly blinks, recalling what this....elf just called
her at the beginning of all this.
The elfin Betty blinks and suddenly remembers herself, and laughs a
little bit in embarrassment as she gathers herself. Apparently, being an
elf meant one tended to be a bit more....energetic. She got carried away
in the moment.
Wait.
"What...did you call me?" the Melissas ask each other. "I'm Melissa."
The two women look like they are about to get into a real argument here
when the humanoid fox clears his throat. Rinsa, already having guessed
the truth, just stands back and watches silently.
"Pardon the interruption," Frederigo D'Honaire, Pack Leader, says in
his most courtly voice (causing all the woman present to pause and smile
in delight in spite themselves). "But perhaps I could explain what I feel
is happening. You see, I know something of what is happening here. You
see, you both are Melissa..... just that each of you are from another
universe. I should know, or the same happened to me......over a dozen times."
"It's the basis of the doppleganger legend," the manfox continues.
"But....I'm not overcome by an all consuming desire to see my other
killed," the elfin Melissa protests, remembering her English literature
classes. The human Melissa echoes that sentiment, aghast at the very idea.
In fact, for some reason.....there was something very.....likable about
his....sister.
Odd, considering that she actually knew little to nothing about this
elfin sister.
Fred smiled, sensing the bond of sistership forming between elf
and human. He'd felt it happen with himself and with his new father, Drederigo
D'Honaire.
"Well, I will tell you what my mage told me when I asked him of this
a while ago and he had this theory," the manfox says, tail swishing slowly
as he smiled. "According to certain dictates set down by how magic interacts
with your heart.....not the muscular pump but your heart.....one
of two things happen when REAL closely related . One gets a quick feel
of what the other is like upon meeting. Such has happened right
now. You and your doppleganger react in one of two ways....either
you instantly HATE one another and with extreme cases, as what happened
with two dwarves I know of (re: 4025), one will seek out the other and
slay him or die trying. The other extreme is less....varied. It always
ends up the same way. I've seen it enough times with friends....with myself.....to
believe it."
"What....happens?" the elfin Melissa says softly, reaching up and giving
her sister a friendly reassuring pat on the back to calm her as she shivers
as a feeling of dread crawls down her spine.
"Well, you eventually become so close as to be blood brothers and sisters,"
the manfox smiles, causing the Melissas to stare at him, then at each other
in speculation. "You eventually come to love your double as a brother or
sister....a close and dear, brother and sister. And before you ask.....'
"It's happening with them right now," Rinsa puts in, guessing the truth.
"And....there's little choice in the matter," the manfox smiles as the
Melissas quickly succumb to the nature of their relationship. Both cry
and laugh, hugging the other as long lost kin finally finding the other
after years of separation. Due to their alien nature, the minds and hearts
of the Melissas had little to no defense.... nor desire.... to stop the
process... the melding.... from happening.
"So quick," the dressmaker says quietly as the Melissas happily chatter
together in what one can only called verbal shorthand.
"I've seen it happen with several others," Fred says softly back. "Since
it's relatively benign....I and most other authorities are not concerned.
It's something of a blessing, for this will help get this new Melissa over
the shock of acclimation.....if what I think happened to her Matrix happened."
-
 The
manfox suddenly turns a speculating eye on Rinsa, who looks uncomfortable
at the attention.....
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