Three's a Crowd

Tatiana closed her eyes. No reasoning in the world could help cope with what she was dealing with right now. Ever since she got out of that damn trick box, she had two other distinct memories and views.

Right now, besides the ones she felt were hers, there were two different thought strains. One was worrying about Rita on stage and the other was thinking about getting a juicy burger after this talk-talk. Seeing three different perspectives at the same time was also disorienting. Her view was black and that should be since she had her eyes closed. However, she could also see the stage with that chirping host on the prowl. The other view was of herself in a blue dress. However she did not want to open her eyes, it was disconcerting to see the back of her head and her face without a mirror to do so.

Well, it was just weird too. Her thoughts and the other’s thoughts were kinda like this. She for the longest time had picked up the same handbag for years and was used to it. Suddenly the handbag was split into three different handbags. She was focusing on the one that felt right. However, the others were similar to the one she found most comfortable.

One of the channels she saw Julia reluctantly climbing the stairs. The other one was still looking at ‘her’. Why are the thoughts coming from the other two mostly about the worry of others and food? They fired back on why she was thinking of some useless things.

Tatiana groaned internally. She needed to figure out what she should call herselves, among other things. And it was an easier thing to do that she could control. She thought of what names to call the others. Could they at least agree on that? Yes.

On the question of names, while she was tempted into calling her other numbers, there was no conclusive proof that she was the real Tatiana. There was no possibility of determining if there was a real one at all. Also, the other two would poke holes in that scheme too. So she figured the best option was to give a version of her name.

The easiest divide-up was to assign the variations in how she heard her name being used. Tatiana, Ana, and Tati.

She was in favor of Tatiana. It felt right. For one it was her legal name. It was what everyone would still call her. It was the most appropriate name for her.

The one in pink wanted the name Ana. Ana denoted a close tie to the person. Tatiana was a mouthful and stiff. Also if you had dared try that number business, you would have to catch hands.

The green one did not want to argue the point. No one would care, why should she? Anyway, the cat lady was off with Thomas. We should get food.

Tati stood up and marched towards the mansion. Ana got up and started chatting to Rita and the ‘old’ lady she did not know. Tatiana sighed. What the hell to do?

Well, she was going to keep an eye on Tati. Heaven knows if she manages to recollect herself into one being, she will not take the chance of having excess weight. Most of it seemed to get absorbed by her chest, but she also read that overeating could negatively affect fertility. Ana would like to have kids in the near term future.

Tatiana sighed. What good was it thinking of the future? Right now needs need tending to. Cross the kids bridge later. There were more reasons to follow Tati. To see some parts of this estate. To see if anyone else besides her fellows and the host were around.

She and Tati entered the restaurant. While she scanned the room, Tati headed straight for a table for three. Tatiana sat next to her after a while. Not a single person was present in the restaurant or at the bar. That was just odd. There were no guests or staff. Were they and the hosts the only ones here?

In her mind, she saw Ana walking and chatting with Agatha up to the mansion. She wondered who else Ana chatted with. As if answering her curiosity, a film started in her mind. The beginning was when she saw her last, talking to Rita and the other lady Alexa. Of course, it was from Ana's point of view. It also came with the sound of her conversation. That’s how she knew that Rita was not at all focusing on anything at present.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Alexa. I see an old college of mine. I wish you a good night.”

“Agatha, wait up.”

“Hey..”

Ana’s voice snapped Tatiana out of the film. “You know it's rude to not pay any attention to what’s in front of you.”

Ana took the last empty chair beside Tatiana. “You missed saying good night to Agatha. Even Tati said night to her.”

Tatiana snapped. “Well, I am trying to figure out how things work with what we got. Isn’t that important too? And the sooner I, we, figure it out the better it is for us.”

Tati tapped her fingers on the table, “Will someone be serving us? It's not a buffet as far as I can see.”

Tatiana was about to respond when she saw something that made her take a triple double-take. A black dog was holding menus in its mouth and putting them on the table. Then it sat down and looked at them with a longing stare.

It was a Formosan Mountain dog or something like that. Her husband had a picture of one, named Charlotte when he was a child. Why are they employing pets for staff? Wasn’t there anyone else to do the job? Ana reached out and petted the dog. It stared resolutely ahead, though the tail slowly wagged. Its fur had a shine to it of a well-kept dog. Someone clearly took a lot of effort to maintain.

Tatiana turned her attention to the two menus that the dog brought. Tati had already grabbed one and was perusing it. Tatiana grabbed the other one. She paused for a second. Did she need this menu? She could already see the menu from Tati’s view. Never mind it would not hurt to look at it herself. She skimmed the menu. It seemed a bit old-fashioned. No scratch that. It was weird.

Beaver tail, cockatrice, sow’s womb, burger patties made of Carolina Reapers, a dish with seventeen different birds! Who on earth would want to eat this mess? Some were weird, others she questioned if they were edible.

A small line caught her interest. It was in fine print at the bottom. All items on the menu are free. Any item not on the menu can be requested for one BP. All alcoholic drinks cost one BP. Any leftovers will be charged five BP. How would that be determined? Would Rita's ‘talent’ count for the drinks?

Tatiana noticed that Tati was asking her if she wanted anything. She sighed and looked at what Tati was looking at. She was looking at blue cheese ice cream. Out of all the options here, this may not be bad. She did have a soft spot for blue cheese, although its coming in ice cream form was … questionable.

She reluctantly agreed and she and Tati handed the menus to the dog. She ordered one serving of the blue cheese ice cream. She did not want any funny business. One dessert between the three of them should be fine. Tati pouted. Ana looked disappointed as the dog gently picked up the menus and padded away.

Tati sighed and muttered out loud, “Christ, Dr. Haywood is looking mighty fine. Wouldn’t mind jumping on his bones.”

Tatiana slapped her on the head. “You do realize that we are still married, right?”

“Well, how am I supposed to know who is still married to that man? As I recall they still don’t allow polygamy. So why can’t I be one of the ones not married to him?” Tati rubbed the back of her head.

Ana leaned forward “Because we still have all of your stupid memories. And if we somehow get back into one body, we do not need your memories of cheating in us. So can it.”

Tati threw her hands up, “Alright, alright. It’s not like I choose to read you two’s thoughts anyway. It's easier shutting you out.”

Tatiana and Ana stared at Tati. “What do you mean exactly?”

Tati shrugged. “I don’t know. It's like having you two on volume control. I can’t mute you but you're not at one hundred percent anymore. Oh, the food is here.”

The dog pushed a cart with three cups of ice cream in front of them. Tatiana sighed, she hoped it would only be one cup. Ana got up and placed the containers in front of them. Looking at the dessert in front of them, it didn’t seem like much. It looked like a single slightly yellow scoop of French vanilla. Tati pulled a spoon from in front of her and dug in.

Tatiana had the strange feeling of tasting what Tati was tasting. The ice cream was as she, with her other selves, remembered blue cheese; tangy, salty, and creamy with the addition of the ice cream. Ana took a bite and agreed with the assessment.

Tatiana pointed at Tati, “Explain your earlier statement. How did you do it?”

Tati stared at Tatiana. They glared at each other before Tatiana sighed and picked up a spoon. She took a bit of the ice cream, put it in her mouth, and gagged. What on earth? She saw the other two’s memories and the taste in her mind was fine. What she just put in was revolting. It tasted like vomit with ice thrown in. Shouldn’t they all have the same tastes?

She had swallowed the disgusting thing down her throat and slammed her spoon down. The other two looked at her. Ana looked and sent feelings of concern. Tati started eating the rest of Tatiana’s scoop having finished her portion. Why was that so bad? She had blue cheese before. Well, not in this circumstance, but still. Does that mean every meal had to be checked to see what changed? That was mean. Why? Why?

She brooded over her mess. Then she noticed Tati and Ana conversing in their minds. They were talking about the flavor and techniques of quieting the mind. She felt annoyed. She wanted the information first and Tati did not give it to her. However, she freely gave it to Ana. And what was it about them that made them share more compatible tastes?

She listened in. Lowering the channels of her mind seemed as simple as picking the channel and turning down the volume. And how do we decrease the volume? Tati just imaged a remote control and used it. Tatiana did the exercise. Delightful it worked. Then it turned sour. It was like having the TV at one hundred percent and turning it down to fifty. Not as loud but still present. And she couldn’t shove any lower. She looked at the other two. They seem to be ignoring her. It would be so unfair if they managed to turn the volume below fifty.

Ok, the situation was better. She could focus on what sights and memories she could define as her own, rather than the other two. Well, more easily than before at any rate. She felt a wave of exhaustion come over her. It was past time for bed.

She got up and the other two followed suit. Ana put the empty cups onto the cart. She bent down and petted the dog. The dog barked once and started nudging the cart. Ana got up and they moved to the nearest door next to the bar.

They entered into an opulent foyer. Four other doors lead off the foyer. Next to each was a plaque with a fancy script declaring what lay beyond the door. Starting on her left and going clockwise was the BP Store, ballroom, dining room, and library. Tatiana wondered why on earth there was a dining room, surely the room she came from was enough. Glancing behind her she was surprised to see a solid wall behind them. Touching the burgundy wall proved solid without any indication of anything able to get through. She quickly walked over to the dining room and peeked in. Yes, it was the room that they were just in.

Okay, this was enough nonsense for today. She closed the door. She headed up a spiral staircase between the BP store and the ballroom. Climbing the stairs, she soon found herself staring at rows of doors. She knew which one to go to, as the other two were already in front of the door.

“So we are with that Mia person. Should we get her?” Tatiana strolled over.

“Nah. I tried and there’s nothing to do. She is out like a log.” Ana glanced at the plate next to the door.

“Well, then let’s go in.” Tatiana grabbed the handle.

Opening the door she looked into the room. On her left was sad. It had two medium boxes packed along with an air mattress. Granted the air mattress mimicked a bed but still an air mattress. Besides that, there was nothing on that side. No furniture on the wooden floor. Nothing hanging on the beige walls.

Meanwhile, the other side looked like her bedroom at home. The vanity table her grandma had left behind was next to her closet, which held her and her husband's clothes. Her bed with a headboard was modest in her opinion. Compared to the air mattress, it was more colorful having light green sheets on the bed. And there were nightstands on either side of her bed, for putting things in. She even had a little bookcase for her and her husband's reading materials, unlike the cardboard boxes around the air mattress.

Tatiana snapped out of her thoughts when Tati pushed past her heading for the bed.

She grabbed her, “Oh no you don’t. We are doing m.. our nightly routine. I don’t care if you want to drop and sleep; we're doing that.”

She turned to Ana, “Grab us some pajamas. I'm making sure that Tati follows the procedure.”

Tatiana yanked Tati over to the opposite door presuming it to be a bathroom. Opening it proved her right. It was a plain white tiled bathroom with one shower stall, toilet, and sink cabinet. The cabinet had four electric toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other hygiene items on top of it. Tatiana grabbed the blue and green toothbrushes.

She pointedly shoved the green one into Tati's direction, “I am sure you get the program after all you were me at one point.”

Tati took the toothbrush and put on a pea of toothpaste, “Yeah but it doesn’t make you the queen of being in charge. Who elected you anyway?”

Ana came in already changed into a pair of rose pajamas.

“Can we agree that we are our own person for now? Especially since we have three bodies.” Tati grumbled before brushing her teeth.

“No, if we manage to recombine back into one person, I will not have memories of cheating in my head and with other physical stuff that could happen. We are going to keep to a tighter schedule now.” Ana huffed as she passed out blue and green sleepwear.

Tatiana got an elbow shoved into her ribs, “Can we argue about this later? I am frankly tired and I know you two are as well. Let’s finish the routine and hit the sack. Tomorrow is plenty enough to hash this out.”

The other two agreed. They spent the rest of the time in the bathroom in silence. After five-ish minutes they were all dressed and out of the bathroom.

Tatiana headed for the bed and then stopped. All three of them were heading for the same spot. Tati did not stop and claimed her side of the bed. She fell asleep almost immediately. Ana was quick to claim her husband’s side of the bed. She looked at Tatiana. Tatiana sighed. While the bed could fit three people, she estimated it would be rather tight; especially with her previous track record for sleeping positions.

She looked over at Mia’s side. Well, it was not like she was sleeping here tonight. She got onto the air mattress and laid her head down. She saw Tati's thoughts starting to form into a dream state. Would they all have the same dream she wondered as she fell asleep.

AN. Last chapter of 2024. Hope everyone has a good start to 2025.