Timelines Collide

Chapter 17: Princess of Foil

By the time Lincoln and I get to her, the machine's front leg is coated in pink paint, glitter, and a hint of shine. My eyes tense seeing such a display but with Lincoln breathing over my shoulder, it helps me stay somewhat calm. It's almost like she doesn't acknowledge our presence as she manually continues adding shine to the paint only inches from its caretaker.

"Say what do you think you're doing Lana," I ask. Her head turns quickly in an almost unnatural way towards us.

She tilts her head to the side, grins, and says, "I'm giving it a little pizazz, though the way this is turning out you might need to charge me for the rest."

Such a creepy grin she gives afterward. Even worse, out of that grin came the voice of honey that sent wrinkles down my spine. Seeing the shakiness between my eyes, Lincoln introduces me to the young girl he tells me isn't Lana. Lola is her name. As Lincoln begins scolding her for what she did, that's when I realize why I thought she was Lana in the back of my eyes.

Lola is an identical clone of her from hair to toe. Well only if Lana was dripped out in a pink dress with matching nail polish shining from her fingernails. I could even see her two front teeth missing as she sighed from Lincoln's backlash.

Strangely the entire time he never yelled or demonized her; he brings it all down to her level. I can actually see a hint of remorse in her eyes as she apologizes. However even Lincoln's not perfect.

"I guess some people don't appreciate true beauty." She huffs speaking in honey that froze over quickly.

She then grunts, gives me another bone-shaking grin, and storms off towards the sliding doors. There goes that only hint of remorse Lincoln scolded to get out of her. Lola's model-like walk only stops as her counterpart rushes through the glass, almost slamming into her. My eyes can't deny it any longer.

The two twins are now lined up face to face. Same blonde hair, the same white sandy skin, heck their brown eyes are the same if not counting Lola's fake model eyelashes.

Lincoln presses his palm on my chest as I was about to say something. He didn't utter a single word but that didn't stop my mind from projecting his words into my head

Just watch.

"You know Lans, you should watch where you're going off at speeds like that. Could hurt yourself or just as badly, get mud all over my dress."

"Oh dear, sorry about that Lols. I just wanted to show Joseph this bird I made."

"Looks pretty good there Lans," she says being the louder of the two. "You said his name was Joseph, hmph."

Her eyes glare directly into my soul as she says that. I swear if she were a bot, her eyes would be the coldest of them all. Then they brawl me up and down, while her mouth is scoffing at the sight of all the brown and black on my jacket and pants.

"Lincoln dear wouldn't it been best to have your friend not present themselves with such." Her nose wrinkles and her tongue sharpen. "Such rotten and tacky clothing"

I could feel my eyes running around through my skull. Somehow, she seems even worse than Lavender. Who does she think she is? No soldier would take such insults without a few jabs put into the mix. However I got to remember, I'm in another time, a much more peaceful time, from what I can tell.

No soldiers, acolytes, bots, ghouls, just people. And I'm one of those people. Telling myself that same fact over and over again alone keeps my mouth shut.

It also helps that Lana is here reminding me why I did this all in the first place. She gently places her machine in my hand and it's very crafty for someone of her age. It's the cutest little thing that when winded up could fly. I can't help but smile, however, I can't stop looking into Lola's eyes that give off the tiniest bits of frostbite.

When Lana seems to get closer to me, the bigger the fire gets the twitches inside her eyes. I guess Lincoln sees it too as both he and Lana take turns explaining my fake backstory to her. Lincoln makes sure to also explain the reason for my clothing.

Surprisingly she apologizes, then says "I can appreciate someone trying to be a face, though a shinier soldier would make for a much better crowd-pleaser."

"Well, a dirty one is more of a realistic approach," I say, leaning my shadow over hers. That grin she still gives remains a block of two-faced sugar.

"That may be true good sir, however, a face that shines will give them a reason to look. A pure instant look."

"Is that what you try to do?" I remark.

"Hmm, what can I say? A mirror that you keep shiny will always show your true self. Keeps your ambitions in tack if you catch my drift."

What can I do but not smirk at such a statement? Any exchange to make you look like a primped-up doll, I guess. Funny thing as I smirk her grin doesn't try to counter.

"You know Lols you should show Joseph some of your outfit ideas. You are the best at that sort of stuff."

"Lana, charm, you flatter me. You always do provide such the most exquisite pieces of metal for my inspiration, and for me to practice my shine."

"Thank you, Lols. You always seem to help me bring the best out of them."

"And yours to mine," Lola says before both finishing off with a burst of laughter that the wind blows through the hollow of their missing front teeth. For the first time, I can see the warmth that isn't as brass as a burning bull sharing itself in her pair of eyes. My face paints surprise while Lincoln just nods along with it all.

Lana then asks if Lola wants to help her with more stuff she eagerly wants to show me. Lola's eyes told me before she even did to Lana. I never saw this or my Lana's smile get so big as her hands sprinted Lola towards the glass with her feet barely keeping up.

Doesn't stop her from yelling out "Chow chow" as they disappear like ghosts through the glass.

Her eyes still never left mine and her grin gets so slippery every time I see it. If I can't trust a bot's eyes, then for sure I can't trust hers. Staring at me they were both cold with a fire trapped inside a glacier slowly melting its way out.

At least the bots can't have a grin wrapped in metal foil. Keeping one eye alert while I work wouldn't be the worst idea.

"You alright their sport?" Lincoln asks. I note to myself his face hasn't stretched an inch.

"I suppose, though I'm surprised you don't budge at a grin like that."

"Oh no, sometimes that grin can get under my skin too. Wouldn't worry about it too much, stay on her good side and maybe she'll direct a smile towards you soon enough. Besides, I always enjoy seeing the two together. Quite the interesting pair they are if you ask me."

I guess in a way Lincoln isn't t wrong. As usual. But seeing the leg sparkle in the sun's rays while getting back to work, I can't help agreeing with him even more. From what I've seen from Lola, her eyes were never cold and Lana's smile was never warmer when they were together

Lincoln even mutters to me "Oh how I wish I had a twin."

I hold in a sign knowing deep down that if things were different, he would be meeting his twin.

Sure, Lola presents herself as a princess of foil in my eyes, however, Lana seems to forge that foil into an unbreakable blade, and Lola gives her all the reasons to slave over that sword into the best it can be. In a way, Lola would put it shining up her skills. Imagine how happy my Lana would be, which begs the question that rows through my mind.

Whatever happened to her Lola?