[Setting]

Bright lights, slot machines ringing in the background, and the faint scent of overly perfumed air: it’s Las Vegas in all its absurd, glittering glory. Claire and Elliot find themselves wandering the Strip, half-lost, half-awed, and entirely unsure how they ended up here in the first place.

Elliot (squinting at the crowd of Elvis impersonators ahead): “Vegas was a mistake.”

Claire (grinning, nudging him): “Oh, come on. Where else would we see this many sequined jumpsuits in one place?”

Elliot: “Literally anywhere else would be better.”

As they navigate the crowded sidewalk, a particularly dazzling Elvis impersonator struts into view. Their suit is white, bedazzled with shimmering gems, and their swagger could rival the King himself. Claire nudges Elliot, pointing.

Claire (laughing): “That one’s good. Look at the commitment!”

Before Elliot can respond, the Elvis turns, and they see the face beneath the pompadour: none other than Felicity, the God of Happy Accidents, looking entirely unbothered by her outlandish costume.

Elliot (groaning): “Oh, no. Not her. What is she doing here?”

Claire (amused): “You mean Serendipity? Or Felicity? Or whoever she is right now?”

Felicity saunters over, her cape flowing dramatically in the breeze.

Felicity (grinning): “Darling, I’m Elvis. What else would I be in Vegas?”

The Setup: A Dance of Duality

Elliot crosses his arms, glaring.

Elliot: “Do you ever do anything normal? Or even remotely explainable?”

Felicity (flashing a grin): “Why would I? Life’s too short for explanations, darling.”

Her tone shifts slightly, the playfulness giving way to something more measured.

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Serendipity: “And too precious to waste on conformity.”

Claire tilts her head, studying her.

Claire: “Wait, are you… are you two people or what?”

Felicity laughs, the sparkle in her eyes unmistakable.

Felicity: “Oh, sweet Claire. I’m whoever I need to be. Chaos and endings, accidents and resolution—it’s all part of the same dance.”

Elliot (groaning): “Why do I ask questions I don’t want answers to?”

The Story: Self-Worth in the Chaos of Endings

Felicity strikes a pose, dramatically flipping her cape over her shoulder.

Felicity: “Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time—because every good story starts that way—there was a man named Eddie. Eddie the Plumber, they called him. Steady, reliable, utterly unremarkable. But Eddie had a dream.”

Claire: “Let me guess. He wanted to be Elvis?”

Felicity (laughing): “Exactly! But here’s the fun part: Eddie was terrible at it. Couldn’t hold a note to save his life. Didn’t stop him, though. He rented a jumpsuit, booked a gig, and took to the stage like he was born for it.”

Her tone softens, her eyes distant as Serendipity takes over.

Serendipity: “But dreams have a way of unraveling when they collide with reality. Eddie bombed. Spectacularly. Every note, a disaster. The audience laughed—not with him, but at him. And that laughter… broke him.”

Elliot (grimacing): “This is uplifting.”

Felicity (brightly, reclaiming the narrative): “But we’re not done! Eddie didn’t quit. He bombed again. And again. Until one day, the crowd wasn’t laughing anymore.”

Claire: “They started cheering?”

Serendipity (quietly): “No. They stopped coming.”

A beat of silence passes before Felicity picks up the thread, her tone cheerful but layered.

Felicity: “But here’s the twist: Eddie didn’t care. Somewhere along the way, he realized something. He didn’t want to be Elvis for them. He wanted to be Elvis for him. And so, on an empty stage, under flickering lights, Eddie sang his heart out—because it made him feel alive.”

Claire (thoughtfully): “So he found his worth in being true to himself?”

Felicity (grinning): “Exactly! Or maybe not. Who’s to say?”

Elliot glares, his frustration barely contained.

Elliot: “Okay, but which of you is telling this story? Felicity, or Serendipity? Because it sounds like both.”

Felicity’s grin grows wider, and there’s a glimmer of something unreadable in her eyes.

Felicity/Serendipity: “Oh, Elliot. You’re catching on! It’s always both. Chaos and resolution, accidents and endings—they’re all part of the same dance. Don’t overthink it.”

Elliot (groaning): “You’re all impossible.”

Serendipity (gently): “Impossible things have their place, too.”

She adjusts her glasses—when did she put those on?—and starts to walk away. Elliot stares after her, muttering under his breath.

The Wrap-Up: Happy Accidents or Happy Endings?

Claire (nudging Elliot): “You okay? You’re staring.”

Elliot (grumbling): “I’m fine. Just trying to figure out what that was supposed to mean.”

Claire (grinning): “Maybe it doesn’t have to mean anything. Maybe it’s just… Vegas.”

As they round the corner, Felicity—now dazzling in a golden jumpsuit—turns back, winks, and vanishes into the crowd.

[End Scene]

[retcon:1]