Sister Talk

"Well he is moody as heck", Skippy muttered with a smirk to Ilphinidia, as her significantly taller sister sat next to her. "What's his story?" She peeked back to a tall pale elf who was totally engrossed to his work.

"He is not moody, just stressed", Ilphy corrected and poked the gnome dressed in a colourful bandana and jingling bangles. "He used to live here most of his life and is trying to adjust to how things are, it is having a bit of a toll." That was a gross oversimplification, but it was as much she was ready to tell for now.

Skippy took a good hard look at Ilphinidia, calculating something. Ilphy found herself uncomfortable, knowing full well what type of things her sister tended to pick up on. "You are about to do something stupid", was Skippy's blunt verdict. "But you don't want me around. Very suspicious."
"Hush", Ilphy huffed. "I'm just trying to make sure he isn't getting too stressed."
"You are going through a forest where everything can kill you, and you don't want my arrows covering your back, I think getting eaten by an owlbear is SURELY more stressing than one little sister." Skippy chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "I could be wrong though. No kink-shaming here!"
"I said hush!" Ilphy got herself a drink, taking the first sip little too fast. Nope, take it easy, this isn't time to get drunk, especially since he went and already talked with his sister-in-law! This was suddenly more complicated and serious and kept getting more so by every passing day.

But there was no stopping Skippy when she had a scent. "You are not the type that goes and assassins people in hiding and dumps their bodies in the wilderness, so I have a feeling this is about privacy." Her smirk got wider. "I suppose it is only proper not to poke my nose any deeper."
"I appreciate that", Ilphy agreed but wasn't sure if she could truly trust this little rascal. She was awfully snoopy.

"We're... We're just colleagues", Ilphie concluded. "Possibly friends."
"Possibly friends? What does that even mean?"
"Exactly that." Ilphie took another sip, now slower. "Sometimes things move on nicely and you feel you are really getting to know them, then they throw you a curveball and you ponder if you are just imagining things. Then he is sweet again and you just want to be there for them, since they are alone out here, and next, he rejects you and goes back to his shell to sulk. Though this isn't really sulking at the moment, it might be just something to get his mind away from things so he doesn't need to stress out so much."
Skippy raised her eyebrow. "Sounds exhausting."
"It is." Ilphie snorted dryly. "He met Numil briefly. Completely messed uncle up, unca is probably still having a migraine. They got along fine time to time, but then this one went to a full protection mode, and you know how uncle is with things like that." She shook her head.
Skippy hissed out of compassion. "Is this one prone to control?"
"A little bit. He feels like a punctual and assertive person. You know, solution-oriented."
"Ouch", Skippy chuckled. "I bet it wasn't most productive of conversations."
"Oh, they got most things done, it was just awkward and ... not as complete or smooth as hoped," Ilphy recalled. "I don't think it's anything ill from him, just understandable prejudice and some misunderstandings. Numil wasn't sure yet - well, he never is after the first meetings - but I believe he just has a rough time and has a lot on his plate. He is actually really sweet most of the time. I just blame it on stress. And guilt-tripping, he guilt trips himself a lot. Which is... unfortunate."

Skippy cocked her head. "You are invested."
"Oh hush."
"But you are. There is nothing wrong about that." Skippy smiled at her older drow-sister. "He is a nice guy then?"
"A little brash, but I think it is more about used to be the person in charge", Ilphie shrugged. "You know. One that helps other people to solve their problems and organizes things. Very sweet and has a big heart. Which I guess is part of the problem. If you care a lot about everybody, you easily feel that everything bad that happens or someone feels is somehow under your responsibility, so you feel obligated to care and take everything to your heart and then you feel constantly this need to point everything that is wrong in hopes of fixing all the injustice in this world so you waffle on and-"

"So basically", Skippy interrupted. "We found the male version of you."

"DWENIVERA!" Ilphinidia gasped in embarrassment, her cheeks turning purple.
"I'm sorry sis, my heart goes out to you, but reality ain't caring or changing thanks to your emotions." Skippy sipped out of her pint, that looked way too big for her tiny form. "You found your soul-brother and you want to help him out. And he happens to be tall and good looking to the boot. And sweet. And righteous I guess. You see that glimmer of a golden heart and you want to save him from all the pain. We've been through this before, I know this script."

Ilphinidia went quiet and let no beep. She felt exposed.

"How's Flint?" She finally asked. To her relief, her sister allowed her the change of subject.

---

Ilphinidia was in a rather good mood when they called out the night. There had been many laughs to be had and stories to tell, but she knew they would leave as soon as the morning came, so she climbed to the shared room. She felt little tipsy, as she stumbled up the stairs, but she managed silently enter the room. Kerymis was already in full trance. Or if he wasn't, Ilphie wasn't in the condition to check.

She stripped her clothes to change to a nice soft nightshirt and stopped to look at the man resting on the other side of the room.

"So basically; we found the male version of you."

Ilphie stood silently, watching Kerymis sleep for a while. Gingerly she tried to better his blanket, making sure he was tucked in tight.

"I'm sorry sis, my heart goes out to you, but reality ain't caring or changing thanks to your emotions. You found your soul-brother and you want to help him out."

She gently brushed the hair from Kerymis' face. His cheek felt soft, and her mind went back to the kiss just a few days ago. Maybe just one peck for a good night?

"You see that glimmer of a golden heart and you want to save him from all the pain. We've been through this before, I know this script."

Yeah. We know this script.

She took her hand away, adjusted the pillow a little before dragging herself on her own side. As it was so often her habit, she set her back against the wall, sitting, while putting the pillow back of her head and gathering the blanket to cover her feet. Her green eyes kept guarding Kerymis' trance for a good while before she allowed herself to rest.

"You want to save him from all the pain."

She gathered her blanket as a bundle to hug, as she started to dose off while still sitting.

I just want to see your smile, that's all. Images from the kiss under the moonlight in that small garden filled her head, his smile so endearing. She had been so scared for a moment but when he was there it suddenly felt alright.

"We should take it slow."

Her heart ached out of guilt, as she escaped to her trance.

"We've been through this before, I know this script."