Challenge #01818-D357: Gifts For the Mages

Seasonal gift giving. Christmas, New Year, Solstice, whatever. -- Anon Guest

It wasn't the first time that they'd been rounded up for their own good. But it was the first time that this was done with compassion. The food was tolerable, the accomodations fair enough considering the volume. They were allowed to keep their wands and their stuff. And, more to the point, this was one of the few times that the twins received Candlenights gifts.

The labels were impersonal. For a female Elf. And, For a male Elf. They were handed out by a kind-faced human in Clerical robes with a heartfelt, "Merry Candlenights," to each of them. The wrapping paper was cheap and easily torn.

The twins tried to be careful with it anyway. They rarely got anything pretty. Inside was... almost as generic as the labels. Peppermints. A small box of gingerbreads. Ear socks. His were severe, hers had tassels. Lup and Taako swapped them immediately. Thick socks with a snowflake pattern on them. Taako got a cloak and Lup got a scarf. These were also swapped, since Taako already had a cloak and Lup already had a scarf.

"Merry Candlenights, bro," said Lup, toasting him with some of the cider that had also been handed out to the residents.

"Merry Candlenights, sis," he replied. A sip, and they swapped, and swigged, and swapped again. It was gone by the second swig, but neither of them cared. This was their nicest Candlenights inside of fifty years. There was a rumour of a Feast of Heroes happening for the entire camp, later on, and spirits were high.

There were even a group of the formerly homeless singing Candlenights carols.

And better, the people running this place were putting up the Marks. As part of the new system, each resident of the camp had to do an assessment to test their knowledge and skills. Which included a verbal section for those who were illiterate. Every week, places and organisations would identify those they wanted by their marks, or their portraits if they had simply made an X or a bird-print.

This time, the Board of Marks was full to the edges. A college in Neverwinter was taking on promising students with a grant, according to the camp crier. Lup and Taako sauntered over. They were so used to nobody wanting creepy, odd-eyed twins that they didn't expect anyone, anywhere, to want them. No matter how many times people said "witch eyes" and the superstitions behind them were fading, there were always people who shrank away from the twins the instant that they noticed.

So it was quite a shock to see Taako's scrawl of a mark up on the board.

Lup saw it first. She whooped and shook him and picked him up in a crushing embrace and leaped for joy. "I can't call you my dumb baby brother, any more," she cheered. "You're going to college! I'm so proud of you!"

Taako's mismatched eyes were scouring over the marks on the board. Looking for hers. Of course she had to be there. Of course. They went everywhere together. They did everything together. They were a fucking team. But... her mark just wasn't there. "You're... not," he said. Devastated about that news.

Lup's mood fell as fast as her face did. "Come on. This has to be horseshit. Of course I'm..." Her own mismatched eyes, the mirror of his, jinked as she searched for her mark. "This is horseshit!"

"There has to be a mistake," said Taako. "They definitely made a mistake if they think I'm going anywhere without you." The worst mistake in all the world. In all their years, the worst of their times were the times when they were forced to be apart.

"Damn straight," said Lup.

They both went to gather their things. Defiantly arm in arm, they marched to the administrators to complain. And immediately had the thunder taken out of their oncoming shitstorm by the clerks spotting them in a second and saying, "Ah yes. You two. Perhaps you can help us clear something up." And escorted them into an interview room where someone in a fancy suit had two piles of tests on the table between them. One was Lup's, the other was Taako's.

"Two tests," said Fancy Suit. "Two different sets of answers, in different fields of focus. With different capabilities. Two identical signatures."

"They're not identical," said Lup. She pointed at Taako's, "That's a T," then at hers, "That's an L. Completely different."

"Almost like us," quipped Taako.

Fancy Suit opened their mouth to object, then wisely shut it again. They must have heard about the routine. Oh, so you think all Elves look alike? Wow, that's racist as fuck.

Neither of them appreciated having their best material pipped at the post. "You gonna make us fight for the grant or something?" said Taako.

"'Cause that ain't gonna happen," added Lup. "We're womb-mates."

"And room-mates," added Taako.

"Gonna share a tomb-mates," they chorused. And fist-bumped.

Fancy Suit had an excellent boggle to their face. "Yes. We've heard about you."

The twins mouthed the word, 'damnit'.

"Which is why we allotted for the extra place. We just needed to be certain that one of you didn't... somehow... take the test twice."

"Wait," said Taako. "We're both going?"

"For reals?" said Lup. "No hoops, no horseshit, no turn in the barrel?"

"None of the above," said Fancy Suit. "You get a grant to support your needs, free board - I expect you'll want to share a dorm room - and all the formal education you can fit into your beautiful Elven heads. Of course, we do expect you to perform admirably at your scholastic achievements. This is an educational grant, after all."

"Horseshit," said Taako.

"Nothing good ever happens for us," said Lup.

"Not for long," added Taako.

Fancy Suit indicated the tests. "Given your extant knowledge base, there's an organisation who's very interested in giving you a job once you're done with your studies."

The twins looked at each other. Said, "Horseshit," simultaneously.

Fancy Suit took a pamphlet out of an inner pocket. "Have you heard of the Institute of Planar Research and Exploration?" They handed it over. "They're taking the best of the best. The brightest minds in all the lands, regardless of their origins."

It would take both of them an entire year to believe their fate could change this much.

[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / karenr]

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