And I Wish That It Would Never End

[missrecalled_mods]

I wish, my wish

The snow had finally been cleared from the room, the window fixed. And the snow outside was slowly following suit. It was still almost painfully cold outside, but the snow was no longer actively falling, and the more adventurous could find ways outside through upper floor windows. There was no way to get to the shore or anything, but there were odd glittering things in the perfect fairytale snow. The first time someone would touch one, it would grow brighter and brighter until the light exploded outward. The shards of light flew into the school mostly, but some went elsewhere, over and past the tangles of stuff.

When the light resolved, it and the other glittering things - both in the snow and now in the school - would prove to be small magic lamps. Each would have the name of one of the Missrecalled currently in Auradon, and a colour scheme that suits that person. It might be the one who picked it up, or someone else. When the person for whom the tiny jewelry sized lamp was for holds the lamp and makes a wish, that wish might come true. For a short time.

The wishes would only last the weekend, but What a glorious and bittersweet weekend that would be.

Comments

[nadenagi]

"Alright, but if we could be swift, Nadeshiko would very much appreciate it. Thank you."

[papillion_de_resistance]

He nodded. "It will only take a moment," he said. When they reached his room, he went straight to the dresser drawer. Inside was he own lamp- pushed deliberately back and out of the way- and a second, with a very familiar name on it: Fujisaki Nagihiko.

He retrieved the latter before turning back to the little chara. "Alright, lead on, my little friend," he said.

[nadenagi]

She nodded and did a small graceful spin before flying back the way she had come from; towards the twins' dorm room. She waited politely at the closed door.

[papillion_de_resistance]

Upon arriving at the closed door, he paused and knocked politely. "Nagihiko?", he said. "It's me. Your little friend said you wanted to see me?"

[nadenagi]

The door opened just enough for him to slip inside. "Actually, she's mine," she said.

Nagihiko was standing back out of the way and could not be seen yet.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"Well yes," he said, "but given the circumstances, I thought it likely you were on reasonably friendly terms with both. Though this does explain why she specifically said Nadeshiko."

"In any case, what was it you needed?"

[nadenagi]

"Please, come in. It will be easier to explain if you are sitting. And you don't have to worry about how it seems if you come in with the door closed. After all, Nagihiko is here to be witness, or chaperone if you prefer," she said with a warm smile.

Oh the layers of troll there, as she looked so innocent. Telling the truth about Nagihiko being there knowing Gabriel wouldn't believe her and would think it part of her cover story. Implying something meant to fluster him while seeming like she had no clue it could, should, or would, and teasing that he would need a chaperone. She was too young to fully understand the reasons and ramifications behind the squirming, but that adults did squirm when she said things like that, and it was oh so entertaining.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"And explanation that requires sitting down?" he said. "Likely a long story then." Given that he had idea-or thought he did- of what was going on, he opted to simply play along, ironically negating some of her trolling without intending to. But regardless, he headed inside as he was bid.

[nadenagi]

She closed the door once he was in. Nagihiko, squirming a bit looked up. "So... um..."

"My brother wished for us to be in reality what we spend a lot of time convincing people we are. But now we are both concerned if this will last, or not. And what will happen to us, if not," Nadeshiko said succinctly as she brought over a chair. "In case you want to sit?"

[papillion_de_resistance]

Well, this suddenly explained a great deal. "Ah....", he said. "And yes, thank you." He accepted the offered chair and sat down.

"Somehow I had a feeling these lamps had something to do with it. That's why I brought this." He offered it to Nagihiko. "I found it in the home ec room earlier and put it aside, intending to give it to you when I had the chance. I just didn't think it would be quite under these... circumstances."

[nadenagi]

Nagihiko took it, surprised. "This one... has my name on it..."

"The last one had mine," Nadeshiko explained. "But I wasn't the one who used it," she glanced at her brother.

[papillion_de_resistance]

Gabriel nodded. "I found one with my own name on it too, but put it away immediately," he said. "Given that reckless wishing is how the whole situation here in Auradon started, I thought it best not to risk using it."

"Though given that the two of you are normally two different aspects of the same person, I have to wonder if either of you could use the other's lamp? Don't try it, though, at least not yet." If all else failed and the changes showed no signs of reverting after a few days, a wish to reverse things might be needed. And it was likely best not to add any more magic to the mix on a whim in any case.

[nadenagi]

"We do not feel like the same person," Nadeshiko said softly. "And we haven't for a while. It's not just an act, you know. When Nagihiko can't handle things any more he hides. I was supposed to vanish, but it became take over or let him be catatonic. And that would worry our friends. Besides... I don't think I actually want to disappear. But until now the choice was simple. I vanish and he learns to live... or he vanishes and I am the one who gets to stay here. But I think either choice would make Amu-chan sad. She loves us both as friends. And there are people here too... who have come to care about us both. If this wish holds..." She sighed and shook her head. "But it wasn't the embryo. The lamps may not have the power to make a wish that lasts. And if that is the case... one of us will vanish when the magic ends."

[papillion_de_resistance]

He opted not to mention that the fact their parents apparently thought it was perfectly alright to essentially give their child a split personality was concerning in itself; bringing that up would be counterproductive. "I definitely don't envy you for being faced with such a choice, especially at your age,"
he said. "And I'm afraid I don't know enough about magic to have any idea if wishes made with these lamps would be permanent. If I had to guess, I'd say I suspect not, but if it isn't, the question is whether it would simply fade with time, or if it require some other sort of trigger to end the spell."

[nadenagi]

Nadeshiko brought over another chair and sat primly in it, legs crossed at the ankle, hands folded properly in her lap. This was the queen of the guardians as she was when she actually focused on the task at hand in meetings. "Then as I see it, we have two things we need to prepare for. What do we do if the spell does end. And what do we do if it does not. Within the first are questions like which one of us will remain, and how do we handle being together again after finally being free. The other includes questions such as if we are given the choice, do we take it, and if the spell does not end by the time we have the chance to return home, how do we handle actually being twins when we are home?"

[papillion_de_resistance]

Gabriel found himself being somewhat impressed with Nadeshiko's maturity and thoughtfulness. "Assuming the first possibility," he said, "I strongly suspect that it would be Nagihiko remaining, since he was the one who made the wish. However I must admit to not having much practical advice to offer on this front. Yours is a rather... unique situation, after all, and I wouldn't want to steer you in the wrong direction."

"I do, however, believe there's someone here who might be able to assist. With your permission, I'd like to consult with them, assuming the first possibility occurs. I wouldn't bring up the charas, and would make certain they kept the conversation in strict confidence, but it would require me letting them in on your other secret."

[nadenagi]

Nagihiko came closer and sat at the edge of the bed, still feeling un easy about speaking when Nadeshiko was speaking. "Who?" he asked, softly. "And why... why would whoever it is be able to help?"

"I will point out out situation as the two of us is the larger secret. We don't talk about the Charas with adults mostly because the only adults we've met who can see them tend to be the bad guys. But they don't hide that they can see them, they usually just send Ikuto or Utau to attack us."

"When they bother with us at all," Nagihiko said with a shrug. "More often they're just attacking children and we get in the way. Well, our friends fo. Not too much that we can do ourselves."

"Maybe not too much you can do," Nadeshiko said, shaking her head, she smoothed her hair back and gave Gabriel a bright confident smile. "Not every one equates power with helpfulness. Nagihiko thinks he's useless because he doesn't have the same power the rest of the Guardians have. I don't either, but back when I was Queen's chair, only Amu-chan had that power. And the rest of us weren't useless. And Nagihiko as the only one without it now isn't useless. But he refuses to see what he can do and it is very very annoying, because I can't just come out and yell at him."

Nagihiko flushed, looking down.

One side of the twins got all the confidence, can ya tell which one it is?

[papillion_de_resistance]

"Our resident tech expert, Dr. Ian Wright," he said. "You likely saw them at the talent and fashion show, even if you were never introduced; they were the one recording the event. The simple fact that they identify as non-binary indicates that they likely have some experience navigating the complexities of gender and its surrounding issues. While their situation undoubtedly differs from yours, I expect they'd have some helpful insights to offer."

And yes, it was very clear where all the confidence lay, at least currently. Hopefully something about this situation or whatever came after would be able to help even things out a bit.

[nadenagi]

The twins looked at each other, hesitating.

It was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Nadeshiko who spoke first. She turned to face the adult in the room. "Even if they are willing to help, it was hard enough to include you. While I would very much appreciate assistance... The fact of the mater is... well.. We're thirteen, and you're adults who aren't related to us. I am not sure the topic is going to be one that anyone else will be willing to consider. You are at least a parent, if not our parent."

"Yeah, I don't think that Ian has any kids..." Nagihiko mumbled.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"I don't think they do either," Gabriel said. "But even if they don't have children they were a child at one point. A child who likely struggled with their own issues regarding gender, perhaps when they were as young as you are, or even younger, and came out the other side of it. They didn't just advise someone through a situation like yours, they lived it themself. And it's that kind of experience that I think could be invaluable to you."

"Because ultimately, whatever advice I or they might offer, the only one who can ultimately decide who you are and who you want to be is you. I just want to make certain that you have all the right tools to help you make that sort of decision, and without Ian's help, I don't think I'd be equipped to provide them."

[nadenagi]

"You're sure that this Ian will keep our secret?" Nadeshiko asked. "I haven't met them yet... But I don't want people making things even harder on Nagihiko if I vanish."

"Nadeshiko... what about if they give you a hard time."

She gave a sunny smile. "I can handle it," she said, clearly implying that Nagihiko can't. And it was a glimpse of how she could be an absolute brat with the sweetest expression on her face.

[papillion_de_resistance]

"If I thought that they couldn't be trusted to keep something like this confidential or that they would give either of you a hard time, I wouldn't have suggested it," he said. "So yes, I'm sure."

[nadenagi]

Nadeshiko was the one who hesitated this time, and looked uncomfortable. Finally she closed her hands in her lap and looked at them a long moment before looking up at Gabriel. "I want the help, for Nagihiko... he needs it. But..." her voice sounded more like a small child's than ever, her composure fraying, "I don't want to disappear either... If... If he doesn't need me anymore..."

Nagihiko looked down at his shoes, uncomfortable.

[papillion_de_resistance]

Gabriel considered how best to respond for a moment. "While everyone grows and changes over time," he finally said, "I don't think we ever truly lose that which is an essential part of ourselves. There may come a time when you no longer come out in public, and are far more of a quiet presence in Nagihiko's life, but you're closer to him than anyone else in this or any world; you'll always be with him. The kind of bond you share isn't one that can simply disappear, no matter what magic or society demands."

[nadenagi]

She nodded, but looked away and h would still be able to feel her pain. She managed a bright smile as she looked at him again. And the act was good. Very good. "You're right!" she said looking and sounding cheerful even though she was filled with sorrow and longing. "After all, he'll always need me!"