Chapter 7 - 'Toothpicks and Sassafras'

Just like that, it happened. Not that things like this were supposed to happen, nor did it happen every day. Nor did it happen ever- not until today. He ran a hand through his hair- oof, that was weird. Hand, hair. Face, ear, neck, chest(if you haven't guessed it, he's patting himself in these areas), legs, feet- boots, white. Huh. He picked himself off the ground, dusting off his silky white pants, and looked around. Everything seemed okay.. his attire confused him, but everything else seemed.. normal. Grabbing the bag of groceries off the ground, he continued walking home. Wait, shouldn't he have been going to the market? No, groceries are in his hand, he's going the right way, everything is in order. Putting the keys into the front door, he walked up the steps and into his room.

What a disaster! He set the groceries down on the table and put them away. Thereafter, he started picking up the house. Wait, why? its dirty of course, that makes sense. Alright, spick and span. Wait, why is he at Dareth's house? Stupid question, its his house... huh. The man walked past the bathroom- wait..

'That isn't my reflection.'

He back peddeled, eyes widening. What in the world… He approached the mirror cautiously, looking over his face. His eyes were a glowing bright blue, tanned skin, dark brown hair with a tuft of silver near the front. He traced his fingers down the side of his face where flesh met metal, one warm and one cold.

'This is… most strange…'
'Woah- Zane?'

'Dareth?' Zane's voice echoed through the back of the man's mind, 'What's going on?'

'I don't know, but this is tripping me out.' The man seemed to tense up, taking a step away from the mirror as a realization washed over him- or rather the two voices in his head realized. He began to huff, shaking and hold his arms, curling up.
"A-are we stuck like this forever?" He was starting to feel cold as he puffed out clouds of cold air. He glanced back up at himself through the mirror to see the scene he was making of himself. Taking a breath, he started to calm down feeling a little embarrassed for freaking out.

'This… isn't too bad.'

'Isn't too bad? Dareth, we're a completely different person, no one would believe us if we tried telling them who we really are.'

'Exactly. No one knows who we are. No past, no place of origin…' A sly, cocky smile formed across the man's face. He casually ran a hand through his hair, the tuft turning white and the rest turning a lighter shade of brown, He snapped his fingers, doing the guns to himself in the mirror.

"Well, would ya look at you- hey, sounding smooth there, but don't get too cocky. Oh what am I saying?! There's no cap for me, I'm on top of the world!" He let out a lau- There was a sudden knock at the door. He nearly jumped out of his boots, grabbing onto the sink.

"Delivery for Dareth." The Postman smiled, looking up at the person who answered the door.

'Oh narts, that's right, I had special ordered a new jacket. Thought that was supposed to come sunday…'
'Dareth, it is sunday.'

'Oh. That's awkward.'

"He's not in right now," he scratched the back of his head, leaning in the doorway.

"Not in? Well, what are you doing in his house?" he laughed, "are you related to him? You look similar enough," the Postman passed the package over.

"Yeah, we're related. Cousins." He smiled, lying through his teeth and accepting the box. Giving a gentle wave and closing the door, he tossed it onto the couch. "Cousins, pff. Bought it regardless, so that's good. Glad he didn't ask for a name."

'Oh yeah, we're going to need an awesome name. Got anything, Zane?'

'...I am terrible with names.'

'Hum…'

"Well, you two are me, so maybe something like.. Zareth?" he offered. The two voices gave a gentle hum of agreement. "Well then, with a name like that and a story yet to be made, how about we got for a little spin?"