Twice Two

‘Will someone please turn off that damn alarm?’ Plane thought, rolling from her stomach onto her back. Her head felt like it was splitting apart, and the bright light blinded her eyes. Letting out a desperate groan, she opened her eyes and reached to shut off the cursed alarm. It was already time to get ready for filming, but the consequences of yesterday’s drinking stubbornly got in the way. Plane propped herself up on her elbows and saw Nymphia, peacefully snoring next to her, not paying attention to the noise. Plane pressed against her back and whispered in her ear, ‘Sister, it’s time to get up.’ Nymphia didn’t react and kept breathing evenly. Plane pressed closer to her neck and cupped her bare chest with her free hand. Nymphia mumbled something in reply, and Plane slid her hand lower. ‘We’re gonna be late for filming,’ she whispered, caressing Nymphia. ‘Planey, I know,’ Nymphia muttered sleepily. ‘Well, if you know, then get up!’ Plane exclaimed, pulling her hand out from under the blanket. ‘We’ve gotta get ready.’ She jumped out of bed, holding her head, and started toward the bathroom. Noticing Nymphia hadn’t moved, Plane squatted beside her, laid her hand on her cheek, and shook her lightly. ‘Nymphia, get up. We’ve gotta leave in half an hour, and you’re not even in your own room.’ ‘Where am I?’ Nymphia asked in surprise, opening her eyes and looking at Plane’s face. ‘Good morning!’ Plane snapped. ‘Do you even remember what happened yesterday, drunkard?’ Nymphia slowly sat up and grabbed her head in both hands. ‘God, how much did we drink yesterday?’ she groaned. ‘Enough to get lost in the hallway and mistake a storage room for a hotel room,’ Plane smirked. Nymphia lifted her head from her hands and looked at Plane mysteriously. ‘That storage room came right on time,’ she said playfully, pulling Plane toward her. ‘No way, Miss Banana,’ Plane dodged her. ‘I said we’re late. Get dressed and go get ready in your room. You’ve still got Mirage lying there,’ she added. ‘How am I supposed to look at you during filming now?’ Nymphia asked, pulling on her pants. Plane wondered the same thing and wasn’t sure she could keep her distance as calmly as before. Those weekends had changed a lot. How could she aim for the crown while Nymphia, with whom she’d done it everywhere — even squeezed next to Mirage and locked in a dirty closet — was right there beside her? ‘You’d better try your hardest,’ Plane returned to her bitch persona. ‘And don’t jump on me with joy, like you love to do, when I get another win,’ she added and slipped into the bathroom. Every time Nymphia’s eyes met Plane’s, all her work thoughts disappeared, and she had to force herself back to reality. Plane seemed indifferent. She kept handling the challenges, throwing shade at rivals. But once, when someone shaded her, she suddenly froze instead of striking back. Confused, Nymphia looked at her and caught Plane’s bewildered eyes, unable to say a word. The others barely noticed and carried on. The first day after the long weekend dragged unbearably, and when it was finally time to wrap filming, Nymphia quickly arranged her things at her station and hurried over to Plane’s table. She looked exhausted, mechanically putting things in order with a blank stare. Nymphia joined her cleanup and said softly, ‘Planey, you need to pack up and go rest.’ Plane didn’t answer, only paused, letting Nymphia help tidy her station. When the table was neat, Nymphia put her hand on Plane’s shoulder. ‘Let’s go home,’ she said gently, nudging her forward. Plane obediently walked to the door, and Nymphia slowly followed. They went up to Nymphia’s room and stopped by the closed door. ‘How are you today?’ Plane asked, running her finger along Nymphia’s cheek. ‘I’m managing,’ Nymphia smiled shyly and, pulling Plane close, laid her head on her chest, ‘unlike you. You need to sleep well, so you won’t collapse from exhaustion tomorrow on the runway.’ ‘How are you still on your feet?’ Plane whispered, holding her tightly. ‘I’m just planning to win tomorrow,’ Nymphia smirked. ‘That’s why I had to push hard today.’ ‘Don’t count on it,’ Plane breathed and pressed her lips to Nymphia’s. Despite the fatigue, she couldn’t tear herself away. They stood like that until Plane realized her head was spinning from lack of sleep. ‘Sorry, baby,’ she whispered, letting Nymphia go. ‘I really need to go.’ Nymphia nodded with understanding, blew her a goodbye kiss, and disappeared into her room.

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Plane suddenly realized she was starting to break down. On the first filming day after the weekend, she worked through horrible exhaustion, as if she hadn’t rested at all. Blaming it on last night’s drinking, she found the next day was no easier. Talking with rivals, she forced herself not to look at Nymphia, which was incredibly hard. She was so close, just within reach, but one wrong move could ruin everything, distracting Plane from her goal. Her struggle paid off. Though she didn’t win that day, she earned high praise. Walking with Nymphia, she decided to tease her a little. ‘Again, they didn’t appreciate you,’ she said mockingly, pinching her nose. ‘But they praised you non-stop,’ Nymphia grumbled, pushing her hand away. ‘No wonder you worked so hard yesterday. Though,’ she added, ‘I don’t wanna see you like that again.’ ‘Like what?’ Plane asked. ‘Highly praised by the judges?’ ‘Exhausted,’ Nymphia said softly, running her hand through Plane’s hair. ‘It hurt to look at you yesterday.’ ‘Then tell your little friend,’ Plane interrupted firmly, ‘not to bring bottles of mystery booze to you again.’ ‘I promise: next weekend it’ll just be the two of us,’ Nymphia said, leaning in to her. ‘If we make it that far…’ Plane muttered grimly, pulling her close. ‘We’ve gotta come up with something…’ Nymphia said, pulling away from her lips, ‘to focus only on work… And see each other only here, like it was before…’ ‘Before I took you from behind?’ Plane asked, trying not to laugh. ‘We agreed not to say that anymore,’ Nymphia pouted. ‘We agreed you wouldn’t say it. I can say anything,’ Plane smirked. ‘Here’s the deal: whoever wins before the weekend gets the right to pleasure however they want.’ ‘You’re clever,’ Nymphia said with interest, her eyes lighting up. ‘I’m sure tomorrow there’ll be a challenge I can handle easily. And then I’ll finally put the legendary Plane Jane on her knees.’ Plane kissed her goodbye and let her slip into Morpheus’s arms.

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In the next challenge, neither of them earned high marks, no matter how hard they tried or boasted at night about a coming win. When Mama Ru announced Snatch Game, Nymphia realized more than pleasure was at stake — her spot in the competition itself. RuPaul watched her pitiful attempt at Jane Goodall in disbelief, and Nymphia slowly realized this challenge might be her last. Looking around the werkroom, she saw she wasn’t the only one struggling. But Plane looked confident, even excited, and when her turn came, Ru couldn’t wait to see what she’d do. All day, Nymphia paced circles around her station, lost in thought. She tried to think of answers that would actually be funny. She had never done comedy, let alone improv, and in English too. Plane, on the other hand, ignored everyone, already anticipating her win. She didn’t need to think — she could react to anything easily. The others knew it and feared she would outshine them all. By the end of the day, Nymphia was in despair. She was sure tomorrow would be a disaster, and didn’t think her runway look could save her from the bottom. The only way out was Plane’s immunity. That night, when they met, Nymphia spoke first. ‘Planey, I’m scared,’ she said, leaning against the door and looking up, holding back tears. ‘What are you afraid of, sister?’ Plane asked sincerely, brushing her hair with her fingers. She had been so focused on winning during the day that she hadn’t noticed Nymphia’s torment, even right beside her. ‘Tomorrow I’m done,’ Nymphia’s voice shook. Then, seeing Plane’s confusion, she asked in surprise, ‘Didn’t you see how RuPaul judged me? She’s already decided I’ll fail tomorrow.’ Plane recoiled, but quickly collected herself and said firmly, ‘I believe in you. You can do it.’ ‘Did you see how she looked at me?’ Nymphia snapped. ‘What kind of comedy queen am I? Your belief changes nothing! I’ll just land in the bottom, and then it’s not far to elimination.’ She stopped, tears running down her face. Plane stared helplessly, not knowing how to stop it, realizing she didn’t feel pity — only obsession with winning. ‘Only you can save me,’ Nymphia whispered through tears. ‘Please, help me.’ She lifted her eyes and saw the indifference in Plane’s gaze. Shocked, she asked, ‘Will you help me?’ Plane looked away and said thoughtfully, ‘You’ll have to try hard in the lipsync if you wanna stay.’ ‘So that’s a no?’ Nymphia asked lifelessly. ‘Sister, we’re here to show what we can do. If you can’t handle the challenge, throw yourself into the lipsync — that’s our job, after all.’ Not believing it, Nymphia whispered, ‘But you promised…’ Plane shook her head and stepped back. ‘I want you to believe in yourself. Remember, I said to rely only on yourself? That’s what winners do. I always rely only on myself.’ ‘No way…’ Nymphia muttered, covering her face with her hands. ‘Baby, maybe if you doubt yourself so much, you’re not meant to be a winner?’ Plane spread her hands. Nymphia was speechless, blinking in shock. ‘Even if you lose, you’ll still be here. Nothing will change between us…’ ‘It already has,’ Nymphia cut her off. ‘What has?’ Plane asked, confused. ‘Everything’s already changed,’ Nymphia said coldly. ‘I thought I knew you. But it was all fake. You really don’t care about anyone else’s feelings. I thought I saw the real Plane, but the real Plane was the one everyone else saw. That’s the one viewers will see too. I don’t need anything from you. And I don’t wanna see you again.’ She grabbed the door handle, shoved Plane aside, and disappeared into her room. Plane just shrugged, not realizing how badly she’d hurt Nymphia.

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Nymphia barely escaped the lipsync. Everyone was shocked — including her. Only Plane, who had saved her immunity for later and won the challenge, looked at her with satisfaction. It was like a weight lifted off Nymphia’s shoulders, and exhausted, she rushed out as soon as filming ended. All day, Plane hadn’t approached her once. Nymphia realized she’d idealized her far too much. They had agreed not to mix Drag Race with feelings. Why should Plane, who had come for the crown just like her, sacrifice herself for her? Nymphia understood that, but deep down she knew she’d have helped Plane without hesitation. As she reached her room, she heard footsteps behind her. She hurried to open the door, but just as her hand touched the handle, she felt a hand on her shoulder. ‘Wait,’ she heard Plane’s voice. Nymphia froze. Plane’s hand slid from her shoulder down to her hand still on the door handle. She lifted it gently and turned Nymphia to face her. ‘I’m glad you’re still here,’ she said, taking her other hand too. Nymphia stayed silent, her face showing nothing but indifference. ‘You did great,’ Plane encouraged, but Nymphia kept quiet. ‘Don’t be silent,’ Plane begged. Nymphia took a deep breath and met her eyes. ‘I hate you so much.’ Relieved to hear her voice again, Plane wrapped her arms around her neck and whispered, ‘Stop it. You did it yourself. You don’t need me to reach your goal.’ ‘I do need you,’ Nymphia whispered, holding back tears. ‘Sister, if you wanna reach the finale, don’t rely on others — especially someone like me.’ ‘That much I’ve already learned,’ Nymphia answered, calming down. ‘You weren’t the worst today, and I saw that. Let’s save immunity for a black day, when there are fewer of us,’ she said, moving closer to her lips. ‘Congrats on the win,’ Nymphia said, pulling back. ‘I knew you’d get it. You really wanted to catch up to me.’ ‘You’ll have to please me, remember?’ Plane teased, pressing Nymphia against the door. ‘I remember,’ Nymphia replied, ‘but I’ll do it my way.’ ‘I don’t wanna argue with you anymore, baby,’ Plane gave in. ‘Let’s just spend this weekend giving each other pleasure, not pain. And you won’t cry anymore.’ Plane brushed away an imaginary tear from her cheek. ‘Fine. But for tomorrow to go the way I want, you’ll have to spend a couple of hours at Mirage’s place.’ ‘We agreed on a weekend for just the two of us, and now you’re dragging your alcoholic friend in again.’ ‘Just two hours, and you won’t regret it. Promise.’ Looking forward to the next day’s delights, Plane didn’t argue and fully gave herself into Nymphia’s hands.