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Names were always a fickle thing for Two Time.
The fact that they still went by Two Time was evidence of that. A nickname given to them by Azure however many moons ago. They supposed it was their name now.
However, their name currently posed them an issue. A rather glaring one.
Elliot and Chance had taken it upon themselves to try and get Two Time acquainted with the real world, outside of the cult's village. One of the challenges that came with that was getting proper identification.
Now came the problem. Elliot and Chance were not going to let them have Two Time has their legal identifying name. The issue was Two Time didn't have any other name.
They had tried a few masculine names. They tried some neutral names. They had even tried more feminine names at some point, but they never stuck. The only name that had ever stuck for them was Two Time, but they had to admit it wasn't a particularly normal name. Technically, it was just a nickname anyways.
They could always use their birth name they supposed. They wouldn't be happy about it, but it was something.
The more they thought about that, the more they hated it, scratch that.
"Dearest friends. I understand you want me to have a more normal name to put on my identification, but are you sure my name doesn't suffice?" Two Time asked. They still smiled on impulse, but the strain was extremely evident.
"Times, you gotta pick something else. At least, just on paper. We'll still call you your name, but legally, it's probably gonna look better for you if you have a slightly more normal name." Elliot shrugged.
"Yea, Two. I mean, we both got weird gender stuff, yea? I like my birth name. Suits me pretty damn well if I do say do myself." Chance piped up. "But I also understand maybe feeling like something else could work better for you. I think I tested a few feminine names out when I was originally experimenting with all that. You ever landed on anything that stuck when you were younger?"
"I went through several names when I was younger." Two Time blinked. "The one that stuck the longest was Thomas, but..." They shrugged. "It didn't feel right after about a year. I believe I stopped using it shortly before we met, actually."
"Damn, that hard to find something you like, huh?" Chance mused. "We'll just have to start brainstorming then."
It had been hours. Ths trio had been sat down for ages trying to help Two Time pick a name.
Even with the knowledge it was just going to be for legal reasons, Two Time was astonishingly picky about what name they wanted. If the name was too feminine, they were visibly uncomfortable. If it was too masculine, they were lukewarm to it at best. At worst, they crinkled their nose in disgust at it. So far, not a single neutral name stuck out to them either.
Two Time desperately wanted their name to feel perfect. Even if no one they knew called them by it, they wanted it to feel like them.
They remembered the first time Azure had called them Thomas again in the Spectre's realm. They had snarled at him with enough venom that Azure had thrown his hands up in surrender and apologized (which they truly hadn't realized how absurd that was until now). The name never left his mouth again. Or well, that hat's mouth.
They didn't particularly want to experience that feeling again. The feeling of wrongness regarding their name.
It made this task feel almost comically difficult.
"Dearest friends, are you sure we have to keep trying?" Two Time clasped their hands together. "I truly don't think this is working."
"Nonono we got this Two... what about.. uh... Lucky?"
"Chance you're not naming Times like that. That makes them sound like a dog. What about uuhh... Timothy?"
Two Time made a face at both suggestions.
"I truly appreciate your help, you two, but I don't think we're finding a name today." They sighed.
Chance and Elliot conceded finally, nodding in defeat.
"I apologize, my friends. I just..." Two Time mumbled. "If it doesn't feel right, I'll know it. Even if none of my friends use that name, strangers will. I'll have to see it if I need to do something. Its..."
"Nah, it's ok, Times. Names are pretty important. Not everyone gets to pick their name." Elliot shrugged. "You'll it figure it out eventually."
"Yea! Though, preferably sooner than later... I wanna take you to a casino without trouble..." Chance hummed, earning them a look from Elliot. "What? I never said I'd let them gamble!"
"Chance, they've barely even experienced the joys of good food made by anyone else but me, you aren't taking them to a casino!"
"They won't gamble!"
"Yes, they will! I know you!"
Two Time giggled as their friends argued. Maybe today they didn't have to solve their name crisis. Soon, yes, but not now.
Maybe they'd ask Noob next time about names. Sixer could be an option. Or 1x1x1x1 if they really wanted to be brave about it. Veeronica was also an option. If Two Time recalled, she had also picked her own name.
They supposed Azure was also an option. But they also weren't sure if he still went by Azure because the name Aspen held too much weight now, or if Azure just ended up sticking. They weren't sure if that was a can of worms worth opening for this particular task.
They supposed for now this was ok. They had no legal name still. Maybe with enough convincing Two Time could be their name. If not, they were sure they'd find something at least. Something that felt lukewarm if nothing else.
They'd find a name that felt like theirs, even if it took them an eternity.