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RESPITE - CROISE DANCE ACADEMY - AFTERNOON
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Aelia flips the sign at the door back to 'Open', taking down Phoebe's somewhat sloppy looking sign. She reads it over carefully, the apology and the notes to take appointments, as well as the hours that Ninell had apparently offered instructions. The efforts of both of them bringing a smile to her face as she carries the sign back over to the counter, looking over the names of people in town who put their names on the waiting list to request lessons from her.
Aelia starts to make notes, intent to deliver them and schedule appointments, pulling out the scheduling ledger and starting to plot some potential times around Ninell's appointments and the time that she wants to search the library once again for a cure.
Scilla walks to the studio, having seen Aelia earlier and feeling a pang of guilt over things even if she has tried to hide it. Seeing the deer again brought things back to the surface, though. She makes her way to the door and knocks, half-hoping the deer doesn't open so the genet can just hide again.
Aelia perks up, walking to the door rather excitedly, and not really having expected a client so quickly to be honest. She throws open the door and smile, "Welcome to the Croise Dance Academy! I-oh!" She blushes deep in embarrasment, "Oh gosh, Scilla. I'm so so sorry. Um, come on it."
Scilla blinks: "I uh... huh? You're sorry?" She comes in, eyeing the deer: "What for, Aelia?"
Aelia closes the door behind Scilla, rubbing behind her head awkwardly, "Err, well, I know it was really sudden, me um... cancelling our appointment."
Scilla blinks again as she looks up at the deer: "But you didn't... oh. And I did... come to..." She pauses as she thinks for a second. "Aelia, your, er, other half is one wolf by the name of Phoebe, yes?"
Aelia 's eyes go wide at the words, wholly not expecting someone to just call her out like this, her eyes start flitting about nervously, as if expecting folks to burst through the door and arrest her for whatever Phoebe may have done, "Wh-what!? Who... h-how did you... I... N-no?"
Scilla leans against the front desk, sighing. She realizes she has the perfect chance to just lie, and leave, but something tells her that wouldn't work for long given how Phoebe sniffed her out. "Relax, Phoebe told me when ousting me. We had... words." The genet lifts a paw to her forehead.
Aelia takes a moment to catch her breath, eyeing the genet in a bit of fear. "Ph-Phoebe told you... r-right. I... I didn't read the journal... I wanted to get the shop open before I met with Ninell later and... um... 'oust' you?"
Scilla blinks, then gives Aelia a weary smile. "Suppose it's better I get to tell you myself. Remember that camel who came to, well, my appointment one day?"
Aelia blinks a moment, thinking back just... a few days ago? If not for the actual timing... "Prachi?"
Scilla nods. She takes a breath, not being all that used to just talking about this. "That was me, as well."
Aelia 's eyes go wide again, "That's why she came to your appointment time! Oh gosh, then... then I'm extra sorry. I had no idea..."
Scilla shrugs: "Yeah... my mistake kinda wandering nearby anyway even though I had changed. Probably shouldn't have."
Aelia shakes her head, "Oh! No no, don't apologize for, I don't know, living a life? When you're like us, you have to take every chance you get! That's the only reason I opened this store! It's something that makes me happy, you know? And I sorta feel like, I have to take those moments when I have them. So please, no mistake made, not to me, at least."
Scilla pauses, then smiles: "I suppose that is fair. Although from what I understand, I'm not like... really like you? Sort of?"
Aelia blinks, then motions for Scilla to come back behind the counter where someone set up a couple chairs, presumably Phoebe or Ninell. "Do you... want to talk about it?"
Scilla nods and follows Aelia: "Guess it might do me good... talking to someone who just might understand what it's like."
Aelia takes a seat, "I um, I didn't really have anyone to talk with about, until Ninell anyways. He's... 'with' Phoebe? And that's sorta weird. But he's gone out of his way to be kind to me, so we've talked a bit. It helped. A lot, honestly."
Scilla sits down next to Aelia, then gives the deer a look: "But... you're not with him, then? That must be so weird..."
Aelia sighs, "It is... very weird, yeah. The first night I woke up in his bed I-" She pauses, then shakes her head, "I shouldn't discuss that. But it's been weird, yeah. I um, I'm guessing you and Prachi haven't had any issues like that?"
Scilla shrugs: "Haven't dated anyone... well, ever. Guess it's just easier when you have no one to explain anything to. Not that I guess I really could given... all these random changes."
Aelia nods, folding her hands onto her lap. "I suppose so... still, just having someone who knows what's going on is a bit of a relief. When I first changed back, I had no idea where I was or what was happening. Now at least, I wake up and there's someone there who knows what's going on."
Scilla hums: "Yeah, maybe. Although I guess I don't really like... miss anything happening. It's still all me, just making a mess of things cause there's no rhyme or reason to this. I can't promise to be anywhere or do anything without risking revealing myself."
Aelia straightens up as it dawns on her what Scilla means about her 'situation' compared with her own. "O-oh. So you mean when Prachi was here it was literally still you? Oh, yes... that is quite different. My understanding is that Phoebe is still um, 'here'. I can't really feel her or see her, but I guess she can see and hear everything I do, so say hello?"
Scilla blinks, then giggles at the sheer absurdity of it: "Hey there Phoebe. Talk to you when... you know, you can." She shakes her head: "But no, Aelia, it's all me. Just living a double life cause that's the cards I've been dealt with. I can't carry anything heavy when I'm myself, and can't touch anything magitech when I double in size and amount of hair."
Aelia thinks back to Prachi when she was in the studio and giggles as well, "Guess that would make it a little harder to be as coordinated on the stage if I were that much bigger. Phoebe isn't any bigger than I am... I think? Right?"
Scilla looks over at Aelia, then nods: "More or less the same size, yeah." She hums, frowning: "And yeah, the size difference is just... well I'm used to it, doesn't give me vertigo anymore but it really sucks."
Aelia nods, thinking a moment. "Any idea what causes it? That's something Phoebe and I have never figured out. We just seem to switch at random. Don't even know why it started, or what um... made Phoebe?"
Scilla nods: "I know what started it." She takes a deep breath, having never actually shared this story with anyone. "When I was... twelve or so, maybe thirteen, me and my babysitter Gaja, we were out exploring in the wilds. Kinda went a lot of farther than ever before cause I pushed it and she didn't stop me. Found these ruins, mostly buried in snow." She sighs, gathering herself: "Found this wall mural, it started glowing, and before we knew it, me and her had sort of... species changed? That was the first time became camel... or, well, Prachi as I started calling myself in that form."
Aelia listens to the story, frowning at Scilla, "When you were... you've been going through this for a lot longer than I have. I'm sorry."
Scilla shrugs with a sigh: "It's who I am now. There's no reversing this."
Aelia bows her head. "There's... gotta be a way. Something you can do. Some spell you can find. Magic is weird and unpredictable and always, Always has an answer. Just... have to find it. I'm still looking, at least. I've thought of a thousand ways to give up but I guess I'm too stubborn."
Scilla hums: "Give it a few more years, then. Hope doesn't die, Aelia. It slowly withers." She genet is looking rather defeated, right now.
Aelia hmphs. "Just tells me that the hope is still there, the only problem is you stopped trying. Scilla, maybe there is no solution. I hated Phoebe when I learned about her. I blamed her for all of this. But now we're learning how to live together, and how to make the best of it for both of us. So I still have hope, yeah. Cause I... I don't know. I stopped being afraid of these changes."
Scilla gives Aelia a sharp look: "If there is a solution, I'm all ears. But before that happens, I'm just going to live my life, deal with all this cause I have to, and not give myself false hope for something that'll never happen."
Aelia seems to get angry for a moment, but lets the emotion pass with a deep breath, "I suppose so. I don't have false hope, Scilla. I just won't stop looking, nor will I stop trying to live my life. Phoebe and I are trying to do this together now. And I'm willing to help you too, if you need it."
Scilla sighs and seems to swallow some of her anger as well: "Maybe so. If you... find anything, guess you can let me know. Got really no one to work with on this, for myself."
Aelia unfolds her hands and fiddles a bit with the edge of her dress, thinking. "Ninell and I are going to keep doing research on shared bodies and form changing. Anything we find, well, one of us will let you know. I don't promise solutions, or hope. But I can offer a hand?" She raises her hand towards Scilla, and cautiously smiles at her.
Scilla looks at the offered hand, first one offered to her in a very long time, not since... she pauses, then takes the hand with a tired smile. "Fair enough, then. I can't really say if there is anything I haven't already tried, but... well, yeah. Guess I've been wrong before."
Aelia 's smile widens. "At the very least, it's someone to work with?"
Scilla smiles: "Y-yeah... it's at least that. I think I can trust you and Phoebe 'cause-" she waves a hand: "Circumstances."
Aelia chuckles, "It's not exactly public knowledge, no. But I guess we're not really hiding it like we did? At least, it seems like we've both had to open up a bit more than we thought we would."
Scilla gives a bit of a tired sigh: "Sometimes I wonder what's it like to have a normal life."
Aelia 's smile fades a little, as she looks away from Scilla. "It..." She swallows. "I had a few good friends who I wish were still here. But a lot of stresses. Lots of pressure from my family, and my performances. My 'normal' life was pretty atypical I suppose."
Scilla looks at Aelia: "Huh. Guessing we're not exactly talking local community theater or running a small dance studio."
Aelia chuckles sadly, "I was making quite a name for myself on the stage in Sarn. The upper city theaters, the big ones. I was going to be a star. I think I'm sad that I missed the opportunity, but... I don't know anymore."
Scilla frowns, musing: "Sounds like one heck of an opportunity missed. Me, I just wonder where I'd be if I was able to hold a permanent job of any kind."
Aelia hums softly, "I suppose I had a chance to be normal that you never did, changing so young."
Scilla nods sadly: "When my parents came back home, they instantly fired Gaja, put me to homeschool and through every possible mage, witch doctor and physician to figure out the ailment. Haven't really had any permanent relationships since I left home."
Aelia "When I first changed, I'd just gone to sleep, but it was Phoebe who woke up. She didn't know who she was, or where she came from, she was just 'there'. And, she ran. I... I don't even know the whole story, or why we eventually came here. I only what she's told me in notes. To me, I woke up, I was in another town, and weeks had passed. I didn't even know what was happening until Phoebe started writing the notes. That didn't start until the third or fourth time."
Scilla frowns: "I can only imagine the confusion... At least I have no one else up here, no one else making decisions, if you pardon my expression."
Aelia chuckles again, "It's better now that we're not fighting... we weren't exactly 'fighting' but um, at least now it's like a partnership? We're trying, at least. There's challenges here for all of us."
Scilla shrugs, looking at Aelia: "Suppose so." She pauses. "... Ah well. Helping you guys out, even if it doesn't help me, is still probably better than being alone all the time. I'm in." She gives a bit wider, bit more genuine smile this time.
Aelia grins, "Can't hurt, at least, right? Just gains you a few friends and some folks to talk with."
Scilla nods: "If nothing else, that. Maybe there is something here in Aephix that hasn't been found." Pause. "Just... Keep me away from doc types."
Aelia manages a short giggle, covering her mouth with her hand, "Alright, I'll keep that in mind."
Scilla sighs. "Been prodded enough for a lifetime." She manages a smile: "Life is weird."
Aelia laughs much louder, "Life is very weird, but I think that may be universal."
Scilla chuckles softly: "Maybe. I'd still argue we've been dealt some of the weirder hands."
Aelia nods, "Oh, I'll certainly agree to that. But I could tell you some weird stories out of Sarn if you want... it's just old noble gossip about folks you don't know, but maybe you'll find it funny?" The two spend some more time getting to know one another with some idle chit chat, and maybe even a few impromptu dance lessons to take their minds off the more serious conditions they both find themselves facing.