For @TrueForm’s prompt. This is set in the Addergoole ‘verse, whose landing page is here on DW & here on LJ
The title comes from John Keats’ “Ode to a Grecian Urn
“So.” Althea squirmed uncomfortably in her seat.
“Yeah… So.” Verdad studied her twin for a moment, then looked the other way. They hadn’t had much of a chance to speak in the last few months, their Keepers uncomfortable with the way the two of them were together. But Mendosa had put her foot down, and here they were.
“You got your Change, I guess…” Althea offered hesitantly.
“Yeah. You, too?”
“Yeah.” She lifted the long, whiplike tail and studied it uncertainly. “It’s not bad. Yours?”
“The same, of course.” She showed her twin the tail. “Well, not precisely of course; Dr. Regine says it can be like kitten spots…”
“…and different even in clones,” Althea nodded. “Ver, what’s wrong?”
“Orders,” her twin whispered. “Sometimes they run into my power.”
“Can you talk about that?”
“I… yes. Everything I speak is the truth. Even if I don’t mean to.”
“Oooh.” Thea nodded. “I can see, yeah. Well… speaking of kitten spots…”
“Yours is different?” She looked thoughtful. “But not entirely. Right?”
“I can always tell if someone is lying or telling the truth, or the funny grey areas in between.”
“I can imagine the teachers want to value that – what does your… what does Camry think?”
“He’s… of mixed opinions about that. I’m glad Donyal let you talk to me.”
Her sister smiled tiredly. “Mendosa was not going to let up until he did. And I told him that. I’ve…” She bit her lip. “I want to say I’ve missed you.”
“I know.” The grey edges of truth cut like knives. “Me, too, Vera.” But life was more complicated, now.
This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/215364.html. You can comment here or there.
Wants to say but really hasn’t had the time or free thought?
Exactly!
Ouch. Those are not fun powers.
No, no they are not. But they might be useful, in the long run.
They probably will, but I wonder if that will outweigh the hurt they bring.
Me, too I’m also wondering what caused Mendosa to put her foot down – and why their Keepers were keeping them apart.
Their bond as twins is stronger than or challenges the Keeper bond? They have additional, scary truth-finding or truth-making chemistry when they’re together? I don’t know enough about how powers work to really speculate.
Mm.. .I like the “twin bond” option.
Oh ouch! Things would have to be really bad for Mendosa to put her foot down. I do like the clever way that Vera figures out how to say her truth.
… that’s an interesting way to interpret that?