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I guess I have gotten into a bit too much of a perfectionist mood so I am just gonna post this to end the cycle. I don't have a cover art either so reusing some art already posted before...\n\nThis is the end of what I call \"season 1\" which was 15 chapters dedicated to practise, exploration of the characters, introductions of friends, some world building elements etc. It was all experimental and while not everything will be used for \"season 2\" it has helped me grasp what I want to focus on. \n\nIf their is something you love from this series, do let me know. \n\nHope you enjoy at least.\n\nThumbnail is by [url=https://baraag.net/deck/@GlossyPenthouse]Gloppy[/url]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "So, I had this done a week after the previous chapter but I have been rewriting it and tweaking it for ages. I guess I have gotten into a bit too much of a perfectionist mood so I am just gonna post this to end the cycle. I don't have a cover art either so reusing some art already posted before...

This is the end of what I call "season 1" which was 15 chapters dedicated to practise, exploration of the characters, introductions of friends, some world building elements etc. It was all experimental and while not everything will be used for "season 2" it has helped me grasp what I want to focus on.

If their is something you love from this series, do let me know.

Hope you enjoy at least.

Thumbnail is by Gloppy", "writing": "Ruby awoke to find herself alone.\nHer sister, for the first time in her life, had not woken up at the same time as her. With nobody to talk to and no strength to face the day yet she nestled deep into the blankets and tried to get more rest before the alarm went off. The blanket felt heavy on her body and the once comforting warmth now felt annoyingly stuffy. Everything around her in fact felt off, imbalanced somehow as if the entire world was tilted. Worse still was the tiny little itch behind her eyes. Unable to find peace she threw the blanket off her body and thrashed her arms and legs against the sheets. \n\n“Huh?” Rubi asked as she was roused awake in the commotion. \n\n“This bed sucks.” Ruby replied with a huff. \n\n“It’s not that bad.” Rubi replied as she snuggled up to her pillow. \n\n“And we have school today.” Ruby reminded her sister. \n\nRubi let out a groan. Pulling herself away from her pillow she sat up to find her sister already out of bed. Standing up as well as she stretched out her arms before realising Rubi was offering her a hand. It confused her. For the first time she did not know what her sister wanted.\n\n“A dance, like we tend to do?” Ruby asked. \n\n“Ah, right.” Rubi replied as she took her sister’s hand. \n\nThe two took awkward steps together before turning and bumping foot into leg, hip into hip and head against shoulder. They continued to stumble before realising they could not find the rhythm. Separating they blushed at each other, not in flirtatious understanding but embarrassment. Unsure what to say they instead went to the bathroom to continue the morning. \n\nAs Rubi ran the shower, Ruby ran her fingers around the headband. She tugged it but it was securely stuck on her head by some unseen force. Giving up, she let out a sigh and stepped up to the shower with her sister. \n\n“Are these things waterproof?” Ruby asked as she pointed to her metal headband. \n\n“They must be, can not take them off after all…” Rubi said with a shrug. \n\nRubi stepped forward and entered the shower without care. Ruby meanwhile put a hand under the water before slowly and cautiously entering. Seeing no reaction from the device stuck to her head, she stepped further into the shower before relaxing. The heat and gentle pattering of the hot water felt lovely on their feathers after such a tiring night. \n\nSuddenly Rubi flinched as Ruby placed a hand on her chest. \n\n“Hm?” Rubi asked. \n\n“Do you want to… You know?” Ruby asked shyly.\n\n“Not really feeling it.” Rubi replied back.\n\n“Yeah…” Ruby nodded. \n\nThe two stood in silence and washed themselves. It took a while to sort their hair without removing the headbands but eventually they were clean. After taking some time to also dry and brush their hair the best they could, they went to the closet and each got dressed on their own. \n\nStepping downstairs they found their father talking to June in the kitchen. His shy and quiet demeanour had seemingly melted away under the heat of the kitchen as he waltzed around and talked merrily. As he spotted the girls he smiled and dashed over to give them both a meek hug. His confidence however evaporated a moment later and he withdrew to resume his cooking.\n\n“I-i’m glad you are well.” June told them. \n\n“Could be better.” Ruby said. \n\n“Did you sleep over?” Rubi asked. \n\n“He was so worried that I let him stay the night. And I must say, after trying his blackened salmon I might just invite him to live here.” Gerald said with a smirk.\n\nThe girls sat themselves down at the counter as well. \n\n“Are you making us breakfast?” Rubi asked.\n\n“Tuna steak with a fresh parsley salad.” June said happily. \n\n“Good for the brain apparently.” Gerald whispered to them. \n\n“Hm.” The Rubies muttered. \nTheir father could see tiredness in their eyes but there was no despair or sadness. Not wanting to make things more awkward for his young daughters he decided to stay quiet and let them have time to chew on their thoughts. \n\nThe tuna that June prepared was delicious at least. Perfectly cooked using the finest cuts of meat from the girl’s kitchen. While they could not tell if it did anything from their brains, it certainly gave them something good to enjoy after a hard night.\n\n“There is a bunch of leftover party food so I packed some of it for lunch. You two better be getting a move on too, the sooner you get to your new classes the sooner you can take those headbands off.” Gerald said to them before patting their heads. \n\n“Right.” Ruby nodded.\n“Thank you Daddy.” Rubi spoke up.\n\n“Oh and give June a ride too, he’s been so helpful.” Gerald told them before leaving himself. \n\n“I’ve never been in a limousine before.” June spoke up excitedly as he washed his hands. \n\nHis adorably innocent excitement was infectious and the girls could not help but feel a bit better being around him. After grabbing some mints and checking their backpacks for homework and other such school supplies, the three headed out to the limo parked in the driveway. June had to duck low due to his height but once he had sat down he found the interior to be quite comfortable. \n\n“You have a bar? And a TV, wow.” June said in awe. \n“So what do you two normally do in here when going to school?” He then asked.\n\nThe sisters glanced at each other with a knowing look.\n\n“Not much really.” Ruby said. \n“The ride is too short to be fun.” Rubi added. \n\n“Must be nice having your own little living room on wheels though to take you everywhere.” June said as he rubbed his fingers together shyly. \n\n“It is quite the benefit.” Ruby nodded.\n“Mmm, besides transport it's nice to have somewhere private if the need arises.” Rubi said. \n\n“Big enough for a lot of people too. Would be quite the sight to go to the movie theatre and step out onto the pavement like movie stars.” June said excitedly. \n\n“Yeah, that actually does sound fun.” Ruby said as her own excitement grew. \n“I’m sure the others would also enjoy a night out.” Rubi agreed.\n\n“Thanks June, for breakfast and the company.” Ruby then said.\n“It means a lot to us, I’m pretty sure.” Ruby added. \n\nOnce they had arrived at school, June went on his way to his own homeroom while the twins went down the other direction. Despite the new found confidence and pick me up from June’s presence they soon began to feel awkward as many of the passing students could not help but stare at the metal headbands wrapped around their foreheads. Some snickered. Others whispered to their friends in curiosity or mockery alike. \n\nIgnoring the stares and gossiping as much as they could, the two headed straight to class. Rubi gave Tommy a half hearted wave as they entered while Ruby went on up to the teacher. Mr Woods, an older owl starting to turn grey around the fringes. He swivelled his head in their direction as they approached. \n\n“Ah there you two are. Your father let us know of your unveiling. Congratulations.” \nHe said politely and gently, his tone earnest.\n“The special education department is waiting for you, they are down near the gardens.” \nHe explained as he handed them a note. \n\n“Thank you.” Ruby said shyly as she took the note. \n\nQuietly they left the homeroom.\nChecking the note they found it to be a permission slip allowing them to freely leave the first class of the day as well as to spend the time they need in the special education area instead of homeroom before classes started. Ruby folded up the small note and pocketed it. \n\nThe two girls let out a sigh. They took each other’s hands and began to head down the hall towards the school’s gardens. The entrance to which sat tucked away at a crossroads between tables, chairs and vending machines. Stepping outside they found that the gardens had a completely different feel to it than the rest of the school. It was breezy and sweet smelling due to the many flowers. Birds could be heard chirping and clumsy little bees buzzed around peacefully. \n\nIn the middle of these gardens was a wooden building. Sizable enough to fit three small classrooms and a few smaller rooms but otherwise tiny compared to some of the other facilities the school had to offer. As the girls made their way across the stone path they spotted several other students. They all sat around a small pond with their legs crossed and hands placed together. All around them the wind flowed and the water in the pond swirled like a pot of soup being stirred. Among them a young sheep stood out. He had small black horns that barely poked through his fluffy hair. And unlike the others, he was floating a couple of inches off the ground. A small but noticeable effect that they found quite brilliant. \n\nHeading inside, the wooden building turned pale as the walls were painted in sterile whites and uninspiring beige. The main room just past the entrance was large and comfortable however with bean bags, book shelves, and plenty of space for students to occupy their time. Looking around, they only found one other student. \n\nShe was around the same age as them, with raven features yet brightly coloured plumage mixed into the dark blacks and blues. A hybrid no doubt of two different avian species. The girl stood in front of a canvas with an easel and brush but both were clean and dry. Despite no paint to be found she carefully stroked the canvas with intent and concentration. \n\n“Strange place.” Rubi said quietly to her sister. \n\n“Hm, not quite as glamorous as the movies suggested either.” Ruby replied back.\n\nAs they approached the back of the room a door opened on its own. Peeking inside they found a relaxed Dalmatian sitting behind a desk and seemingly waiting for them. \n\n“Welcome, come on it. I’ve been expecting you.” \nHis voice was like a whisper that spoke inside of their ears. An odd but not unpleasant feeling. \n\nOnce they entered the door closed behind them. \nHis office was just as plain as the entrance hall, with cream coloured walls and a shelf of books taking up a wall. So many books. They wondered who even had time to read all of them. There were unlit and unused candles dotted around but what caught their eye the most was an empty birdcage that sat on his desk.\n\n“Ruby, and Rubi, very nice to meet you. I’m Mr Macki, the school’s counsellor for Espers.” \n\nThe girls quietly sat themselves down in the two chairs in front of his desk. \n\n“How are you two feeling today?” \n\n“Like my head is a brick.” Ruby replied.\n“My entire body feels like a brick.” Rubi added. \n\n“Not surprising, I heard that your unveiling was quite intense. Hm.”\nMr Macki smiled. He leaned back in his chair and looked off in thought. \n\n“I remember mine, I was a bit younger than you two at the time. I was in the middle of gym class, struggling with the heat that had been building up all week and out of breath when suddenly… I could hear everything. And so could everybody else. Every person’s thoughts, every secret they have, every strange preteen fantasy. The whole school for two minutes could read each other’s minds before finally I stabilised.”\n\n“Sounds terrible.” Ruby spoke up.\n\n“Yeah but because of that incident more than fifty students found out they had crushes on each other. Most of those are still together even to this day. I remember that they used to call me Cupid all through highschool. So, you see, there is always an upside and things do get better.” Mr Macki mused. \n\n“I’m pretty sure we caused a blackout.” Rubi spoke up.\n“And pretty sure there was lightning?” Ruby added. \n“Yeah, a lot of lightning.” Rubi replied.\n\n“Nobody got hurt though so nothing to be embarrassed over?” Mr Macki asked.\n\n“Yeah…” Ruby agreed half heartedly. \n\nMr Macki looked them over. He leaned forward and knitted his fingers together before balancing his head on his hands casually. The girls made eye contact for a moment and they felt a tingle across their spine. \n\n“It’s not the unveiling that is bothering you, or even being Espers. No, it’s something else. Fear about being separated from each other? Insecurities about… Something else?” He asked them.\n\n“You’re a mind reader.” Rubi said as she perked up. \n\n“Close, I'm an empath, I can not read your thoughts but I can feel them.” Mr Macki explained. \n\n“Neat. Our powers kind of suck.” Ruby said flatly.\n\n“Yeah, we just got all dizzy and blew the fuses. What if our powers are really bad like we cause TVs to explode or we can not be near each other anymore.” Rubi said honestly. \n\n“The unveiling is always dramatic but never the full story. Whatever shape your gifts take we can handle, one step at a time, and together. Trust me, I’ve seen pretty much everything.” Mr Macki said comfortingly. \n\nThe Rubies straightened up. They took a fresh breath of air and readied themselves. \n\n“Okay, when we remove the headbands. What will happen?” Ruby asked.\n\n“Not much. You might feel a bit dizzy or cold but we have rooms you can rest in for as long as you need.” Mr Macki said as he pulled up the drawer to his desk and dug around inside. \n\n“Alright.” Rubi said.\n\n“Try to relax, you will see. This is gonna be a lot more fun than you think.” Macki said. \n\nFrom the drawer he pulled out a small key fob. He then pointed it towards the girls before pressing a button. The headbands clicked and went slack. Reaching up the girls took them off and looked around. For a moment or two nothing happened but then a flicker of colour danced on the edge of their vision. They could smell incense burning although there was none in the room and hear the fluttering of wings from some unseen creature. Like ink bleeding through paper the world began to come into focus. There were colourful sigils painted on the walls. Those candles, seemingly unused, were lit up in a fragrant pink flame. And within the birdcage there was a creature. An ethereal green bird with three eyes. \n\nThe world continued to grow clearer and richer as they could see all things unseen. \n\n“What is all this?” Ruby asked.\n“It’s so pretty!” Rubi added. \n\n“Figments. Think of them like paint and clay you create with your mind, all of it unseen to those who are not espers. You can make anything with Figments, like those candles. Sweet smelling fire that tickles to the touch.” Mr Macki explained. He loved seeing the first impressions of new Espers, to feel their excitement as if he was young and experiencing it all anew again. \n\n“We’ve read about this….” Ruby began. \n“... But we never thought it would be so cool!” Rubi finished. \n\nThe girls felt another tingle run down their spine but this time their head spun and a wave of dizziness washed over them. Their vision blurred as if their eyes had been crossed. Suddenly a crackle of red energy danced across their black feathers before an unseen force pushed them apart like opposing magnets. They fell from their chairs and sat confused on the floor. The blurriness in their eyes grew more intense and nausea soon set in as it felt like they were on a roller coaster.\n\n“What’s happening to us?” The Rubies said in unison. \n\n“It’s fine, keep calm.” \nMr Macki said as he quickly got up and moved to the bookshelf. \n“Some sort of… Reaction. Latent energy building up perhaps?” \nHe said nervously as he skimmed through one book and then another. \n\n“We can not see, it’s all a mess.” The Rubies said. \nThey tried to approach each other but some unseen force was keeping them at arm’s length. \n\n“There are a lot of different reactions and abilities, I just need a moment…” \nMr Macki muttered as he threw one book after the other to the side. \n“Here, let me connect directly. I’ll figure it out.” \nHe said as he offered each girl a hand. \n\nAs they both took his hand he closed his eyes in concentration. And then squeezed them even tightly in effort. He gripped them hard and grit his teeth before finally collapsing to his knees. \n\n“Oh, I can not connect… Fu… Nny. Very funny.” He said nervously. \n\nAfter stumbling to his feet he paced around the room with a textbook in hand. \n\n“I’m gonna get Mrs Ling, just remain calm. It always gets better. Yes. Always.” \n\nMr Macki helped them to leave his office. Although the world was blurred and dancing in their vision they could make out that the once sterile white walls of the entrance halls were colourfully drawn in all sorts of shapes and patterns. More figments no doubt. He sat them down on two comfortable bean bag chairs in the reading area before dashing off in a hurry. \n\n“We knew this was a bad idea.” The Rubies muttered. \n\nAs they tried to focus and clear their heads, the girls noticed that the formally blank canvas that the avian girl was painting on now had colours. Just like the walls it was rich with vibrant hues and depth. The girls wished that they could see it clearer but they did not have the best angle and their eyes were still unable to focus fully. \n\nTired of trying to make out the patterns all around them they instead turned their eyes to each other. After locking gazes and focusing on each other’s faces, their vision began to grow clearer. They soon realised that the blurriness behind their eyes was because they were seeing everything twice. Ruby was not just seeing through her own eyes but also through the eyes of her sister, and Rubi was doing exactly the same. To have four eyes all looking in different directions would surely be confusing and out of focus for any creature. \n\nIt made sense to them but how they knew this exactly was a mystery. \nThey considered instincts or perhaps a quirk of being Espers.\n\n“I suppose this is our life now.” Ruby joked with a shrug. \n“I would be fine with the vision problems but the magnetic thing is quite annoying.” Rubi said.\n“Quite, ah at least our heads feel clearer now.” Ruby replied. \n\nSuddenly a crackle of red ran across their feathers again. They lurched forward and became pressed together like attracting magnets. Both of the sisters struggled to untangle their limbs from each other but everytime they pulled hand from chest or leg from leg they would be pulled back together. They tried to at least get to a more presentable position but eventually they just began to laugh. They welcomed the embrace and the feeling of each other’s soft, warm, feathers rubbing against each other. Their hands wandered, fingers petting the soft fabric of their dresses as they nuzzled into each other and found peace. \n\n“Now this is a good side effect.” The Rubies purred playfully. \n\nAfter sticking their palms together and shifting their legs so that they were at least sitting presentably, the two sisters drank in the warmth of each other’s bodies. Having had some time apart they were now fully aware of how good it felt to be connected, not just by flesh and feathers but mentally. It was as if their minds were holding hands. With each thought like a whisper shared between lovers.\n\nHearing a door open they turned their collective gaze to it but their vision blurred before they could see what was happening. They could just about make out two people. Mr Macki and a shorter woman who was enthusiastically marching towards them. No doubt it was Mrs Ling. \n\n“I thought you said they were being repelled?” Mari Ling asked. \n\n“We were but now we are stuck together.” The Rubies replied.\n“It’s much nicer this way.” The Rubies then added. \n\n“Facesinating.” The woman said as she crouched down next to them. \nShe began to write something on a clipboard before tapping her pen on the wood. \n“Have you always spoken like that?” She then asked.\n\n“Not as much. Sometimes we would do it but now it’s all the time.” Ruby explained.\n“We can speak apart if we concentrate though.” Rubi added.\n\nMari wrote down some more notes. \n\n“You have blurred vision, yes? Does everything sound echoing or discordant?” \n\n“A tiny bit, never really thought about it.” Rubi said.\n\n“Interesting, it’s a deep case of synchronicity but that's never been seen in any newly unveiled.” \nMrs Ling muttered to herself. She tapped her pen on the clipboard a few times in thought. \n“Ruby, can you hold your hand out towards me while you both look away?” \n\nRuby did so, with both herself and Rubi both looking in the other direction. \nMrs Ling suddenly poked her palm with her pen, and in reply both of the girls flinched and let out a small squark of mild plain. Ruby recalled her hand and the two turned to face Mrs Ling.\n\n“You two have a complete sensory overlap but the attraction is not actually magnetic as I feel no pull from my pen. It is, however, switching polarities at random, as if north and south are unstable.” Mrs Ling explained while looking at her clipboard thoughtfully. \n\n“Do you know what is wrong with us?” Rubi asked. \n\n“There are countless senses, and countless ways that Espers use them, but this condition I’ve never heard of before. The physical magnetism is possibly latent energy that will stabilise in time however the synchronicity is more concerning.” Mrs Ling said while writing. \n\nAfter circling something on her clipboard she sat down on the floor next to them.\n\n“Small questions time. Have you two always been intimate with each other?” She asked.\n\n“Huh?” Rubi called out.\n“I mean…” Ruby said shyly. \n\n“Close familiar feelings of trust and comfort. Easy to hug each other?” She explained.\n\n“Oh yes. That’s normal though?” Ruby replied quickly.\n“Very normal, all siblings hug and stuff like that…” Rubi added with quick nods. \n\n“Not all but quite common enough, yes.” Mrs Ling remarked. \n“You mentioned speaking in unison before the unveiling, were there other physical reactions such as sneezing together, yawning together, or moving limbs in sync?” Mrs Ling asked. \n\nThe two sisters looked at each other as they recalled many moments where they were moving in sync and having physical reactions in unison. They giggled at each other and then put on a straight face. \n\n“Yes, for as long as we can remember.” Rubi replied.\n“Daddy used to say we even took our first steps together.” Ruby added.\n\n“Hm, I have a theory.” Mrs Ling said\n\n“Mari, try to remember your bedside manners…” Macki spoke up. \n\n“Yes, yes. One last question. How did the headbands make you feel?” She asked.\n\n“Tired, like our bodies were heavy and our heads were full of stone.” The Rubies replied.\n\n“Hm yes I see. To an Esper they would normally give rest and help to recover after being overstimulated which would mean… Unless it is an emergency you two can not use the headbands again, and if you must, only for short periods.” Mrs Ling said firmly. \n\n“Aren't they supposed to be harmless?” Macki asked.\n\n“Normally yes. The side effects they are feeling, that fatigue, I am guessing is because the connection between them was served for some time. If a single night is enough to exhaust them and perhaps even cause these ‘magnetic’ disturbances, then any further disruption could prove…” Mrs Ling trailed off. “Very bad.” \n\nShe wrote some more stuff down on her clipboard before continuing.\n\n“Now, listen. Your synchronicity is not an Esper ability. If it was then it would not have affected you almost at all before your unveiling and definitely not when you were babies. I am unsure what your ability is, perhaps the red energy, or the magnetism. Either way your fatigue from the connection being interrupted has caused it to become unstable. You need to rest and strengthen that connection… Whatever it may be.” Mrs Ling explained.\n\nThe girls took a moment to think it over.\n\n“Is the connection a good or bad thing?” The Rubies asked. \n\n“It is unique. And that is exciting.” Mrs Ling said with a wide grin.\n\nSuddenly she stood up.\n\n“Your students are in need of care, I shall return to my office.” \nShe said to Macki before burying herself into her clipboard once more and walking off. \n\nMr Macki took her place besides the twins. \nHe gave them a few minutes to think before speaking up any further. \n\n“Whatever your condition is, we will help you get through it.” He reassured them. \n\n“It’s not a condition though.” Rubi replied.\n“And it’s not part of our Esper abilities either.” Ruby added.\n“Which means it’s just part of us.” The Rubies said together. \n\n“That’s a very healthy way to look at it.” Mr Macki said warmly. \n\n“Being stuck together is annoying but Mrs Ling said it would get better once we rest. So that just means we have to deal with blurry vision and nausea and… Stuff.” Ruby said as her sister nodded along. \n\n“Synchronicity is normally an ability that requires strong clarity and a lot of practice. Like riding a bike.” Mr Macki said gently. \n\n“We don’t know how to ride a bike.” The Rubies replied.\n“But we did learn to walk together.” Rubi spoke up.\n“So, maybe we can learn to do it again?” Ruby asked. \n\n“That;s the spirit.” Mr Macki cheered. \n\n“Mrs Ling was right about the headbands, without them we are feeling much better but it still feels like we have been up all night.” The Rubies said as they let out a yawn. \n\n“We have a room you can take a nap in.” Mr Macki offered. \n\nBefore they could reply however the energy crackled and the two were sent apart. Ruby was sent backwards into the plushie confines of a beanbag chair while Rubi was sent tumbling across the floor. The two sat dazed but unharmed. \n\n“I was considering giving you two some time off and that just about settles it. It’s much too dangerous to go wandering around when you could be pushed out of windows or pulled down stairs at any time. The school can not afford another student getting defenestrated either…” \n\n“We can get Ford to come pick us up.” Ruby said while stretching her arms. \n“Our bed sounds perfect right about now too.” Rubi added. \n\nBeing so tired the pair of them barely remembered the rest of the day.\n\nThe long walk back to the parking lot with Mr Macki nearby to keep an eye on them was thankfully free from embarrassment as everybody was already in class and the drive back to their home was so brief that it felt like it had lasted seconds. Once they arrived at their home they took to their bedroom to relax but quickly fell asleep as soon as they touched the covers. \n\nTheir father found them not too long after. He took their uniforms off so that the buttons and gold pins did not catch them while sleeping before throwing a blanket over top. \n\n“I don’t know what you’re going through but I will help however I can.” \nGerlad whispered to them before drawing the curtains and leaving them to rest. ", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Ruby awoke to find herself alone.
Her sister, for the first time in her life, had not woken up at the same time as her. With nobody to talk to and no strength to face the day yet she nestled deep into the blankets and tried to get more rest before the alarm went off. The blanket felt heavy on her body and the once comforting warmth now felt annoyingly stuffy. Everything around her in fact felt off, imbalanced somehow as if the entire world was tilted. Worse still was the tiny little itch behind her eyes. Unable to find peace she threw the blanket off her body and thrashed her arms and legs against the sheets.

“Huh?” Rubi asked as she was roused awake in the commotion.

“This bed sucks.” Ruby replied with a huff.

“It’s not that bad.” Rubi replied as she snuggled up to her pillow.

“And we have school today.” Ruby reminded her sister.

Rubi let out a groan. Pulling herself away from her pillow she sat up to find her sister already out of bed. Standing up as well as she stretched out her arms before realising Rubi was offering her a hand. It confused her. For the first time she did not know what her sister wanted.

“A dance, like we tend to do?” Ruby asked.

“Ah, right.” Rubi replied as she took her sister’s hand.

The two took awkward steps together before turning and bumping foot into leg, hip into hip and head against shoulder. They continued to stumble before realising they could not find the rhythm. Separating they blushed at each other, not in flirtatious understanding but embarrassment. Unsure what to say they instead went to the bathroom to continue the morning.

As Rubi ran the shower, Ruby ran her fingers around the headband. She tugged it but it was securely stuck on her head by some unseen force. Giving up, she let out a sigh and stepped up to the shower with her sister.

“Are these things waterproof?” Ruby asked as she pointed to her metal headband.

“They must be, can not take them off after all…” Rubi said with a shrug.

Rubi stepped forward and entered the shower without care. Ruby meanwhile put a hand under the water before slowly and cautiously entering. Seeing no reaction from the device stuck to her head, she stepped further into the shower before relaxing. The heat and gentle pattering of the hot water felt lovely on their feathers after such a tiring night.

Suddenly Rubi flinched as Ruby placed a hand on her chest.

“Hm?” Rubi asked.

“Do you want to… You know?” Ruby asked shyly.

“Not really feeling it.” Rubi replied back.

“Yeah…” Ruby nodded.

The two stood in silence and washed themselves. It took a while to sort their hair without removing the headbands but eventually they were clean. After taking some time to also dry and brush their hair the best they could, they went to the closet and each got dressed on their own.

Stepping downstairs they found their father talking to June in the kitchen. His shy and quiet demeanour had seemingly melted away under the heat of the kitchen as he waltzed around and talked merrily. As he spotted the girls he smiled and dashed over to give them both a meek hug. His confidence however evaporated a moment later and he withdrew to resume his cooking.

“I-i’m glad you are well.” June told them.

“Could be better.” Ruby said.

“Did you sleep over?” Rubi asked.

“He was so worried that I let him stay the night. And I must say, after trying his blackened salmon I might just invite him to live here.” Gerald said with a smirk.

The girls sat themselves down at the counter as well.

“Are you making us breakfast?” Rubi asked.

“Tuna steak with a fresh parsley salad.” June said happily.

“Good for the brain apparently.” Gerald whispered to them.

“Hm.” The Rubies muttered.
Their father could see tiredness in their eyes but there was no despair or sadness. Not wanting to make things more awkward for his young daughters he decided to stay quiet and let them have time to chew on their thoughts.

The tuna that June prepared was delicious at least. Perfectly cooked using the finest cuts of meat from the girl’s kitchen. While they could not tell if it did anything from their brains, it certainly gave them something good to enjoy after a hard night.

“There is a bunch of leftover party food so I packed some of it for lunch. You two better be getting a move on too, the sooner you get to your new classes the sooner you can take those headbands off.” Gerald said to them before patting their heads.

“Right.” Ruby nodded.
“Thank you Daddy.” Rubi spoke up.

“Oh and give June a ride too, he’s been so helpful.” Gerald told them before leaving himself.

“I’ve never been in a limousine before.” June spoke up excitedly as he washed his hands.

His adorably innocent excitement was infectious and the girls could not help but feel a bit better being around him. After grabbing some mints and checking their backpacks for homework and other such school supplies, the three headed out to the limo parked in the driveway. June had to duck low due to his height but once he had sat down he found the interior to be quite comfortable.

“You have a bar? And a TV, wow.” June said in awe.
“So what do you two normally do in here when going to school?” He then asked.

The sisters glanced at each other with a knowing look.

“Not much really.” Ruby said.
“The ride is too short to be fun.” Rubi added.

“Must be nice having your own little living room on wheels though to take you everywhere.” June said as he rubbed his fingers together shyly.

“It is quite the benefit.” Ruby nodded.
“Mmm, besides transport it's nice to have somewhere private if the need arises.” Rubi said.

“Big enough for a lot of people too. Would be quite the sight to go to the movie theatre and step out onto the pavement like movie stars.” June said excitedly.

“Yeah, that actually does sound fun.” Ruby said as her own excitement grew.
“I’m sure the others would also enjoy a night out.” Rubi agreed.

“Thanks June, for breakfast and the company.” Ruby then said.
“It means a lot to us, I’m pretty sure.” Ruby added.

Once they had arrived at school, June went on his way to his own homeroom while the twins went down the other direction. Despite the new found confidence and pick me up from June’s presence they soon began to feel awkward as many of the passing students could not help but stare at the metal headbands wrapped around their foreheads. Some snickered. Others whispered to their friends in curiosity or mockery alike.

Ignoring the stares and gossiping as much as they could, the two headed straight to class. Rubi gave Tommy a half hearted wave as they entered while Ruby went on up to the teacher. Mr Woods, an older owl starting to turn grey around the fringes. He swivelled his head in their direction as they approached.

“Ah there you two are. Your father let us know of your unveiling. Congratulations.”
He said politely and gently, his tone earnest.
“The special education department is waiting for you, they are down near the gardens.”
He explained as he handed them a note.

“Thank you.” Ruby said shyly as she took the note.

Quietly they left the homeroom.
Checking the note they found it to be a permission slip allowing them to freely leave the first class of the day as well as to spend the time they need in the special education area instead of homeroom before classes started. Ruby folded up the small note and pocketed it.

The two girls let out a sigh. They took each other’s hands and began to head down the hall towards the school’s gardens. The entrance to which sat tucked away at a crossroads between tables, chairs and vending machines. Stepping outside they found that the gardens had a completely different feel to it than the rest of the school. It was breezy and sweet smelling due to the many flowers. Birds could be heard chirping and clumsy little bees buzzed around peacefully.

In the middle of these gardens was a wooden building. Sizable enough to fit three small classrooms and a few smaller rooms but otherwise tiny compared to some of the other facilities the school had to offer. As the girls made their way across the stone path they spotted several other students. They all sat around a small pond with their legs crossed and hands placed together. All around them the wind flowed and the water in the pond swirled like a pot of soup being stirred. Among them a young sheep stood out. He had small black horns that barely poked through his fluffy hair. And unlike the others, he was floating a couple of inches off the ground. A small but noticeable effect that they found quite brilliant.

Heading inside, the wooden building turned pale as the walls were painted in sterile whites and uninspiring beige. The main room just past the entrance was large and comfortable however with bean bags, book shelves, and plenty of space for students to occupy their time. Looking around, they only found one other student.

She was around the same age as them, with raven features yet brightly coloured plumage mixed into the dark blacks and blues. A hybrid no doubt of two different avian species. The girl stood in front of a canvas with an easel and brush but both were clean and dry. Despite no paint to be found she carefully stroked the canvas with intent and concentration.

“Strange place.” Rubi said quietly to her sister.

“Hm, not quite as glamorous as the movies suggested either.” Ruby replied back.

As they approached the back of the room a door opened on its own. Peeking inside they found a relaxed Dalmatian sitting behind a desk and seemingly waiting for them.

“Welcome, come on it. I’ve been expecting you.”
His voice was like a whisper that spoke inside of their ears. An odd but not unpleasant feeling.

Once they entered the door closed behind them.
His office was just as plain as the entrance hall, with cream coloured walls and a shelf of books taking up a wall. So many books. They wondered who even had time to read all of them. There were unlit and unused candles dotted around but what caught their eye the most was an empty birdcage that sat on his desk.

“Ruby, and Rubi, very nice to meet you. I’m Mr Macki, the school’s counsellor for Espers.”

The girls quietly sat themselves down in the two chairs in front of his desk.

“How are you two feeling today?”

“Like my head is a brick.” Ruby replied.
“My entire body feels like a brick.” Rubi added.

“Not surprising, I heard that your unveiling was quite intense. Hm.”
Mr Macki smiled. He leaned back in his chair and looked off in thought.

“I remember mine, I was a bit younger than you two at the time. I was in the middle of gym class, struggling with the heat that had been building up all week and out of breath when suddenly… I could hear everything. And so could everybody else. Every person’s thoughts, every secret they have, every strange preteen fantasy. The whole school for two minutes could read each other’s minds before finally I stabilised.”

“Sounds terrible.” Ruby spoke up.

“Yeah but because of that incident more than fifty students found out they had crushes on each other. Most of those are still together even to this day. I remember that they used to call me Cupid all through highschool. So, you see, there is always an upside and things do get better.” Mr Macki mused.

“I’m pretty sure we caused a blackout.” Rubi spoke up.
“And pretty sure there was lightning?” Ruby added.
“Yeah, a lot of lightning.” Rubi replied.

“Nobody got hurt though so nothing to be embarrassed over?” Mr Macki asked.

“Yeah…” Ruby agreed half heartedly.

Mr Macki looked them over. He leaned forward and knitted his fingers together before balancing his head on his hands casually. The girls made eye contact for a moment and they felt a tingle across their spine.

“It’s not the unveiling that is bothering you, or even being Espers. No, it’s something else. Fear about being separated from each other? Insecurities about… Something else?” He asked them.

“You’re a mind reader.” Rubi said as she perked up.

“Close, I'm an empath, I can not read your thoughts but I can feel them.” Mr Macki explained.

“Neat. Our powers kind of suck.” Ruby said flatly.

“Yeah, we just got all dizzy and blew the fuses. What if our powers are really bad like we cause TVs to explode or we can not be near each other anymore.” Rubi said honestly.

“The unveiling is always dramatic but never the full story. Whatever shape your gifts take we can handle, one step at a time, and together. Trust me, I’ve seen pretty much everything.” Mr Macki said comfortingly.

The Rubies straightened up. They took a fresh breath of air and readied themselves.

“Okay, when we remove the headbands. What will happen?” Ruby asked.

“Not much. You might feel a bit dizzy or cold but we have rooms you can rest in for as long as you need.” Mr Macki said as he pulled up the drawer to his desk and dug around inside.

“Alright.” Rubi said.

“Try to relax, you will see. This is gonna be a lot more fun than you think.” Macki said.

From the drawer he pulled out a small key fob. He then pointed it towards the girls before pressing a button. The headbands clicked and went slack. Reaching up the girls took them off and looked around. For a moment or two nothing happened but then a flicker of colour danced on the edge of their vision. They could smell incense burning although there was none in the room and hear the fluttering of wings from some unseen creature. Like ink bleeding through paper the world began to come into focus. There were colourful sigils painted on the walls. Those candles, seemingly unused, were lit up in a fragrant pink flame. And within the birdcage there was a creature. An ethereal green bird with three eyes.

The world continued to grow clearer and richer as they could see all things unseen.

“What is all this?” Ruby asked.
“It’s so pretty!” Rubi added.

“Figments. Think of them like paint and clay you create with your mind, all of it unseen to those who are not espers. You can make anything with Figments, like those candles. Sweet smelling fire that tickles to the touch.” Mr Macki explained. He loved seeing the first impressions of new Espers, to feel their excitement as if he was young and experiencing it all anew again.

“We’ve  read about this….” Ruby began.
“... But we never thought it would be so cool!” Rubi finished.

The girls felt another tingle run down their spine but this time their head spun and a wave of dizziness washed over them. Their vision blurred as if their eyes had been crossed. Suddenly a crackle of red energy danced across their black feathers before an unseen force pushed them apart like opposing magnets. They fell from their chairs and sat confused on the floor. The blurriness in their eyes grew more intense and nausea soon set in as it felt like they were on a roller coaster.

“What’s happening to us?” The Rubies said in unison.

“It’s fine, keep calm.”
Mr Macki said as he quickly got up and moved to the bookshelf.
“Some sort of… Reaction. Latent energy building up perhaps?”
He said nervously as he skimmed through one book and then another.

“We can not see, it’s all a mess.” The Rubies said.
They tried to approach each other but some unseen force was keeping them at arm’s length.

“There are a lot of different reactions and abilities, I just need a moment…”
Mr Macki muttered as he threw one book after the other to the side.
“Here, let me connect directly. I’ll figure it out.”
He said as he offered each girl a hand.

As they both took his hand he closed his eyes in concentration. And then squeezed them even tightly in effort. He gripped them hard and grit his teeth before finally collapsing to his knees.

“Oh, I can not connect… Fu… Nny. Very funny.” He said nervously.

After stumbling to his feet he paced around the room with a textbook in hand.

“I’m gonna get Mrs Ling, just remain calm. It always gets better. Yes. Always.”

Mr Macki helped them to leave his office. Although the world was blurred and dancing in their vision they could make out that the once sterile white walls of the entrance halls were colourfully drawn in all sorts of shapes and patterns. More figments no doubt. He sat them down on two comfortable bean bag chairs in the reading area before dashing off in a hurry.

“We knew this was a bad idea.” The Rubies muttered.

As they tried to focus and clear their heads, the girls noticed that the formally blank canvas that the avian girl was painting on now had colours. Just like the walls it was rich with vibrant hues and depth. The girls wished that they could see it clearer but they did not have the best angle and their eyes were still unable to focus fully.

Tired of trying to make out the patterns all around them they instead turned their eyes to each other. After locking gazes and focusing on each other’s faces, their vision began to grow clearer. They soon realised that the blurriness behind their eyes was because they were seeing everything twice. Ruby was not just seeing through her own eyes but also through the eyes of her sister, and Rubi was doing exactly the same. To have four eyes all looking in different directions would surely be confusing and out of focus for any creature.

It made sense to them but how they knew this exactly was a mystery.
They considered instincts or perhaps a quirk of being Espers.

“I suppose this is our life now.” Ruby joked with a shrug.
“I would be fine with the vision problems but the magnetic thing is quite annoying.” Rubi said.
“Quite, ah at least our heads feel clearer now.” Ruby replied.

Suddenly a crackle of red ran across their feathers again. They lurched forward and became pressed together like attracting magnets. Both of the sisters struggled to untangle their limbs from each other but everytime they pulled hand from chest or leg from leg they would be pulled back together. They tried to at least get to a more presentable position but eventually they just began to laugh. They welcomed the embrace and the feeling of each other’s soft, warm, feathers rubbing against each other. Their hands wandered, fingers petting the soft fabric of their dresses as they nuzzled into each other and found peace.

“Now this is a good side effect.” The Rubies purred playfully.

After sticking their palms together and shifting their legs so that they were at least sitting presentably, the two sisters drank in the warmth of each other’s bodies. Having had some time apart they were now fully aware of how good it felt to be connected, not just by flesh and feathers but mentally. It was as if their minds were holding hands. With each thought like a whisper shared between lovers.

Hearing a door open they turned their collective gaze to it but their vision blurred before they could see what was happening. They could just about make out two people. Mr Macki and a shorter woman who was enthusiastically marching towards them. No doubt it was Mrs Ling.

“I thought you said they were being repelled?” Mari Ling asked.

“We were but now we are stuck together.” The Rubies replied.
“It’s much nicer this way.” The Rubies then added.

“Facesinating.” The woman said as she crouched down next to them.
She began to write something on a clipboard before tapping her pen on the wood.
“Have you always spoken like that?” She then asked.

“Not as much. Sometimes we would do it but now it’s all the time.” Ruby explained.
“We can speak apart if we concentrate though.” Rubi added.

Mari wrote down some more notes.

“You have blurred vision, yes? Does everything sound echoing or discordant?”

“A tiny bit, never really thought about it.” Rubi said.

“Interesting, it’s a deep case of synchronicity but that's never been seen in any newly unveiled.”
Mrs Ling muttered to herself. She tapped her pen on the clipboard a few times in thought.
“Ruby, can you hold your hand out towards me while you both look away?”

Ruby did so, with both herself and Rubi both looking in the other direction.
Mrs Ling suddenly poked her palm with her pen, and in reply both of the girls flinched and let out a small squark of mild plain. Ruby recalled her hand and the two turned to face Mrs Ling.

“You two have a complete sensory overlap but the attraction is not actually magnetic as I feel no pull from my pen. It is, however, switching polarities at random, as if north and south are unstable.” Mrs Ling explained while looking at her clipboard thoughtfully.

“Do you know what is wrong with us?” Rubi asked.

“There are countless senses, and countless ways that Espers use them, but this condition I’ve never heard of before. The physical magnetism is possibly latent energy that will stabilise in time however the synchronicity is more concerning.” Mrs Ling said while writing.

After circling something on her clipboard she sat down on the floor next to them.

“Small questions time. Have you two always been intimate with each other?” She asked.

“Huh?” Rubi called out.
“I mean…” Ruby said shyly.

“Close familiar feelings of trust and comfort. Easy to hug each other?” She explained.

“Oh yes. That’s normal though?” Ruby replied quickly.
“Very normal, all siblings hug and stuff like that…” Rubi added with quick nods.

“Not all but quite common enough, yes.” Mrs Ling remarked.
“You mentioned speaking in unison before the unveiling, were there other physical reactions such as sneezing together, yawning together, or moving limbs in sync?” Mrs Ling asked.

The two sisters looked at each other as they recalled many moments where they were moving in sync and having physical reactions in unison. They giggled at each other and then put on a straight face.

“Yes, for as long as we can remember.” Rubi replied.
“Daddy used to say we even took our first steps together.” Ruby added.

“Hm, I have a theory.” Mrs Ling said

“Mari, try to remember your bedside manners…” Macki spoke up.

“Yes, yes. One last question. How did the headbands make you feel?” She asked.

“Tired, like our bodies were heavy and our heads were full of stone.” The Rubies replied.

“Hm yes I see. To an Esper they would normally give rest and help to recover after being overstimulated which would mean… Unless it is an emergency you two can not use the headbands again, and if you must, only for short periods.” Mrs Ling said firmly.

“Aren't they supposed to be harmless?” Macki asked.

“Normally yes. The side effects they are feeling, that fatigue, I am guessing is because the connection between them was served for some time. If a single night is enough to exhaust them and perhaps even cause these ‘magnetic’ disturbances, then any further disruption could prove…” Mrs Ling trailed off. “Very bad.”

She wrote some more stuff down on her clipboard before continuing.

“Now, listen. Your synchronicity is not an Esper ability. If it was then it would not have affected you almost at all before your unveiling and definitely not when you were babies. I am unsure what your ability is, perhaps the red energy, or the magnetism. Either way your fatigue from the connection being interrupted has caused it to become unstable. You need to rest and strengthen that connection… Whatever it may be.” Mrs Ling explained.

The girls took a moment to think it over.

“Is the connection a good or bad thing?” The Rubies asked.

“It is unique. And that is exciting.” Mrs Ling said with a wide grin.

Suddenly she stood up.

“Your students are in need of care, I shall return to my office.”
She said to Macki before burying herself into her clipboard once more and walking off.

Mr Macki took her place besides the twins.
He gave them a few minutes to think before speaking up any further.

“Whatever your condition is, we will help you get through it.” He reassured them.

“It’s not a condition though.” Rubi replied.
“And it’s not part of our Esper abilities either.” Ruby added.
“Which means it’s just part of us.” The Rubies said together.

“That’s a very healthy way to look at it.” Mr Macki said warmly.

“Being stuck together is annoying but Mrs Ling said it would get better once we rest. So that just means we have to deal with blurry vision and nausea and… Stuff.” Ruby said as her sister nodded along.

“Synchronicity is normally an ability that requires strong clarity and a lot of practice. Like riding a bike.” Mr Macki said gently.

“We don’t know how to ride a bike.” The Rubies replied.
“But we did learn to walk together.” Rubi spoke up.
“So, maybe we can learn to do it again?” Ruby asked.

“That;s the spirit.” Mr Macki cheered.

“Mrs Ling was right about the headbands, without them we are feeling much better but it still feels like we have been up all night.” The Rubies said as they let out a yawn.

“We have a room you can take a nap in.” Mr Macki offered.

Before they could reply however the energy crackled and the two were sent apart. Ruby was sent backwards into the plushie confines of a beanbag chair while Rubi was sent tumbling across the floor. The two sat dazed but unharmed.

“I was considering giving you two some time off and that just about settles it. It’s much too dangerous to go wandering around when you could be pushed out of windows or pulled down stairs at any time. The school can not afford another student getting defenestrated either…”

“We can get Ford to come pick us up.” Ruby said while stretching her arms.
“Our bed sounds perfect right about now too.” Rubi added.

Being so tired the pair of them barely remembered the rest of the day.

The long walk back to the parking lot with Mr Macki nearby to keep an eye on them was thankfully free from embarrassment as everybody was already in class and the drive back to their home was so brief that it felt like it had lasted seconds. Once they arrived at their home they took to their bedroom to relax but quickly fell asleep as soon as they touched the covers.

Their father found them not too long after. He took their uniforms off so that the buttons and gold pins did not catch them while sleeping before throwing a blanket over top.

“I don’t know what you’re going through but I will help however I can.”
Gerlad whispered to them before drawing the curtains and leaving them to rest. ", "pools_count": 3, "title": "Fine Feathers 15 - Feedback", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "image/png", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "1", "rating_name": "Mature", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "2", "name": "Nudity", "description": "Nonsexual nudity exposing breasts or genitals (must not show arousal)", "rating_id": "1" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "f", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "11", "views": "2114" }