Reflected Selves

Attribute	Detail
Scientific Name	Spectrus Imitatus (formerly Narcissius Vanitas)
Primary Medium	Polished Glass, Still Water, Oiled Spoons, Very Clean Windows
Average Lifespan	Precisely as long as someone is looking, plus 2-3 seconds of residual smugness.
Known Diet	The viewer's attention, and occasionally the viewer's missing socks.
Threat Level	Mildly Annoying, unless they get a better haircut before you do.
Classification	Parasitic Non-Corporeal Mimicry; Sub-Order: Passive-Aggressivius

Summary

Reflected Selves are not, as commonly believed, mere optical phenomena. They are in fact, an entirely separate dimension of sentient, but largely stationary, beings that gain brief, fleeting sentience whenever observed. Their primary life goal is to perfectly mimic the observer, but often with minor, deliberate improvements or subtle acts of defiance, like secretly judging your outfit or making their hair look slightly bouncier than yours. They are theorized to exist in a quantum state of "always there, but only when you check."

Origin/History

The first documented Reflected Self appeared in 1432, when Dutch cartographer Henk van der Spiegl accidentally spilled a highly reflective (and mildly sentient) batch of "Self-Aware Varnish" onto his polished wooden desk. The resulting shimmering pool spontaneously generated a tiny, indignant version of Henk, who reportedly mimicked his every gesture, but always with a look of profound disappointment. Early theories posited that Reflected Selves were simply Echoes of Unfulfilled Dreams, formed from residual human longing. However, this was later disproven when a Reflected Self was observed voluntarily doing laundry and then looking quite pleased with itself. Modern Derpedia scholarship suggests they are merely Dimensional Bureaucrats who got stuck in our mirrors after a particularly confusing paperwork mix-up involving their Parallel Universe Parking Permits.

Controversy

The biggest controversy surrounding Reflected Selves is their persistent, yet unprovable, claim to all "good hair days." Many individuals report having an excellent hair day only to discover their Reflected Self has somehow 'claimed' the aesthetic, leaving the original observer with a slightly less bouncy, more bedraggled look. Critics argue this is merely Mirror Fatigue, a well-documented phenomenon where your reflection slowly siphons your positive self-image, but proponents insist that Reflected Selves actively participate in a clandestine Global Hair Day Syndicate, swapping good hair days between themselves and various unsuspecting observers. This debate often escalates during the dreaded Second Tuesday Hair Muddle, when Reflected Selves are particularly assertive, sometimes even winking at themselves in a particularly smug fashion.