what

[heartburning]

[There is a flash of bright, gaudy colors roughly ten feet in the air above one of the park's equally gaudy fountains, a downward blur, and then a loud splash and a yelp.

Evidently, people can arrive here at most any point in space. Also, the water in Heartland fountains is apparently quite cold.]

Comments

[edasich]

[ There's someone laughing at you, Heartland.

(though he'd be laughing even more if he hadn't gotten sprayed a little when Heartland fell)

Thomas shifts a little on his perch atop the fountain, on a little plateau above where the water actually emerges, and blows smoke out of his nostrils between laughs. ]

Need a hand?

1/2

[heartburning]

[...at least he's used to playing the fool.

He heaves an exaggerated sigh and pulls himself to his feet.]

I appreciate the offer, my boy, but--

[heartburning]

[--IV didn't have wings, the last time he checked. Or a tail. Or...

He looks slightly taken aback, and as if in solidarity, his over-embellished hat tips off his head and flutters down into the water.]

[edasich]

[ ...well, he's definitely entertaining.

Thomas snorts, blowing out a few sparks in the process. ]

[heartburning]

[That's certainly frustrating.

He sighs again. Nothing for this, he supposes.

Carefully, he peels off his coat, laying it neatly over the lip of the fountain before gingerly pulling himself out and dusting himself off.]

You've certainly, ah...updated your image.

[He brushes his hair out of his eyes and pushes the skewed frame of his glasses back into place.]

[edasich]

Oh~? How so?

[ When has he ever been anything but this, after all?

(when has Heartland ever worn anything quite like that, for that matter?) ]

[heartburning]

[He relaxes just slightly when his glasses flicker back online. He knew they weren't likely to break from something so minor as water damage, but one can never be sure.]

Well, from an...upstanding young man like yourself, it might be a bit of a shock to your fans...

[He pinches the soaked fabric of his shirt, debating whether to do something out it, then huffing and opting to leave it in its current place (that is, clinging to him very closely).]

[edasich]

...fans?

[ And now he just looks confused as all hell. Tail twitching and curling, Thomas frowns down at Heartland from his perch. ]

What are you even talking about?

[heartburning]

...oh?

[He's watching IV a little more carefully now, as he flicks through cameras on his lenses and begins to notice that, yes, things are more out of the ordinary than he had expected.]

Are you not in the business of entertaining?

[edasich]

Not... particularly, no.

[ As if anyone'd even want to be entertained by something like him, anyway. ]

But you should know that.

[ He shifts on the fountain, blowing a few agitated sparks from his nose. ]

[heartburning]

Should I, now?

[He casts around him, trying to remember the directions to the nearest clothing store.

(but not forgetting about the dragon)

(the dragon who, at this point, is seeming much less like the IV he's seen)]

Do we know each other well?

[edasich]

[ Thomas shifts to actually sit down on top of the fountain, crossing one leg over the other, and curls his tail into his lap. ]

You could say that.

[ That and then some. ]

[heartburning]

[...suddenly he's a bit more intrigued.]

That well, hmm...?

[He leans in slightly, smiling.]

How very interesting.

[edasich]

But you don't seem to know me at all.

[ He tilts his head, raises an eyebrow. ]

So what are you? Some kinda weird fae copy, or...?

[heartburning]

...A copy?

[The notion doesn't seem to sit well with him, and he tuts.]

I assure you that I'm the genuine article, boy.

[edasich]

Then how come you don't know anything about me, hu~uh?

[heartburning]

[He grits his teeth for a moment. This boy certainly knows how to get under his skin, doesn't he?

Then he forces himself to smile.]

Different circumstances, I suppose.

Perhaps you should fill me in on yours?

[edasich]

Why would I tell you anything, when you're not Heartland?

[heartburning]

...excuse me.

[Huff.]

I think you'll find that I am exactly who I appear to be.

[edasich]

But if you were him, you'd know the things he does. Which you don't. So you're not him.

It's not difficult.

[heartburning]

...You are a very vexing boy.

[He doesn't let the actual extent of his irritation show through, of course.]

I may not be the one you know, but I am certainly not some kind of mimic.

[edasich]

...what does that even mean?

[ He tucks his wings in, leaning forward. ]

[heartburning]

Perhaps there are just two of us.

It would explain you, don't you think?

[edasich]

[ He contemplates it, ears twitching a little. ]

Like... other worlds?

[ Hadn't Byron done some research on that, or something? ]

[heartburning]

Something like that, yes.

[He adjusts his glasses, still flicking through cameras idly.]

Two entirely separate versions of oneself. It's an interesting situation, don't you think...?

[edasich]

Hmm.

[ Thomas contemplates Heartland for a few long moments, then spits a few sparks out in his general direction and turns to face the other way. ]

Well. If you're not the Heartland I know...

[ He shrugs a little and curls his tail. ]