002.

[strangel]

FORM: Crystals
SENDER: Helena
RECIPIENT: everyone
WHAT: ??? family ???
WHEN: Early May
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: (some talk of death and trauma in a few threads) when can she acquire her custom spec in sestrahood?

Hello crystals. I have question.

( There is a long pause before Helena continues. Long enough that it could seem plausible that the question is never coming. And then, with a rush, )

How do you be good twin?

I'm— not sure how to be good sister. We were being apart long time. I thought maybe peanut butters would be good present, but I think it made Sarah unhappy.

( Stiltedly, ) I stole her crystal, do not play this for her. Thank you.

Comments

Waaaaaaat

[judgemewhole]

[Well. All right. He'll just. Answer this. Skeptically.]

...would an apology be in order, my lady?

she's doing her best

[strangel]

( eAe )

For what?

[arlathvhen]

I think the most important part about being a good twin is understanding each other. Beginning your life with this other person by your side is a good start, but you have to take steps to maintain that. And...you have to be there for each other. My twin is someone that I know I can depend on, when everything else has gone wrong.

As far as presents go...what do you know about her interests? If you’re not sure, that’s a good place to start.

[strangel]

How do you be there when you have always been kept far away?

( "Someone I know I can depend on"

That is very true and very complicated. )

She likes... stripes and leather jackets. And The Clash.

[letoldthingsdie]

[Ah. He remembers you. The crazy girl who tried to get him killed when they first arrived.]

You could try not stealing. I'm sure she would appreciate that.

[strangel]

( Oversensitive baby, taking being shoved at a demon so personally. )

Doesn't count when it is being given back.

[zombra]

I guess that depends on what she needs. Like does she need someone to just listen to her problems? You know, someone she can vent to? Or does she want answers? I was never any good at the problem solving part.

Did she maybe not like the peanut butter 'cause it reminded her of home? And how she's stuck here?

[strangel]

No. I thinking she was angries I went to get peanut butter.

( Without telling her she was going anywhere, maybe.

A bit more brightly, )

I'm good at problem solving.

( Murder solves many problems. )

[the_cleric]

Hello, Helena, this is Jester. And I have a really good idea.

[Oh, man, is it good. And you can tell because Jester's voice is thick with barely-contained amusement.]

Do you want to know what it is?

[strangel]

Hello, Jester-tiefling. ( Strange but good, she thinks, Jester. The only acceptable person with horns. )

Is it... doughnuts?

[iceblade]

[Avvar accent here, aka vaguely Scottish.] I've a twin sister, too. We're good together, but we've had to spend time apart because of her training and mine. It doesn't make things easy, you know, but making an effort to include them is important if you want a good relationship.

Why did the gift make her unhappy? Did she say?

[strangel]

I don't think she thinks peanut butter is very special.

( WHAT A FOOL )

What is the trainings?

[motherfucking_ghost]

Is maybe the problem that you're trying too hard? Maybe it's not the peanut butter that's upsetting her. Maybe it's just the...situation. Like, depending on how long a long time is, maybe it's a feeling of not knowing how to be a good sister to you, too? That, like, you don't know how to connect with her other than trying to give her food, and that's making her unhappy, because she doesn't know how to fix it?

She's not allergic to peanuts, is she?

[strangel]

No. Not allergic.

What is trying too hard? I thought family meant to try hard.

[exequy]

Maybe she should not take butter personally.

[ Not projecting or anything here, don't worry. Sound advice from a rational and unbiased source only. ]

a butter fool

[strangel]

The butters were not personal.

( did u just criticise her sestra??? )

[exascendee]

[ Well, that's a familiar voice. Or, accent, rather. ]

It may have occurred to you, but stealing her crystal probably isn't the best way to be a good sister.

[ He's not criticising, just... friendly advice. ]

[strangel]

( A long pause. Please imagine the squinting and judgment. )

Had to keep secret. Stealing was being necessary.

[eruit]

[ Hanzo almost doesn't respond, but - ]

What does she like? Do you know?

[strangel]

Music. Dark clothes. Tea.

[inagutterson]

Sometimes you punch them in the arm, sometimes you let them punch you in the arm. Or you taste their weird horrible concoctions that make everything taste of metal shavings for three days.

[Or you make them your trap tester. Growing Up Carta (TM).]

[strangel]

Did concoctions have metal shavings in them?

( Or just taste of them? This sounds important. )

Sarah not like punching, I think. ( She could be wrong. She did shoot her, that one time. )

[nadasharillen]

Find out something that she truly wants and support her in it, even if you don't agree. Perhaps especially if you don't agree.

[a brief pause]

And... if you give a gift, make it something that it's difficult for you to give. Something it's hard for you to part with, if it's an object, or something it's hard for you to change, if what they want or need is for you to change something you do, or a way you act. That can be a gift as well, and carries another gift with it: trust. It means you trust her to honestly want what's best for you.

[strangel]

( for a long time, Helena is quiet. )

Sestra does not like many things about me. What do you change first?

[aestivation]

What does being a good sister mean? What kind would you wish for?

[strangel]

Protecting each other. Spending good times together. Being...

( She can't think of a better way to put it: ) family.