{ota} all those years

[eucre]

The quiet day.

According to Declán, this day where she wanted to sit very silent and just listen to the world was special. Something about it being the day she was born oh-so-many years ago. The day they were born.

Piper will be soft, out of the way as she always is on this date. Yet those looking for her won't have to look long to find her.

Comments

[piqued]

"... 've never quite been, I suppose." Shifting takes a moment, back far enough that he can lift his arm around her, give her hair a soft tug.

[eucre]

"He's enough for Piper. S'all that matters." She leans to kiss him on the cheek, wrapping her arms around him.

[piqued]

There's a soft sigh for that. "For you. Not-- for everyone."

Certainly not for their Father.

[eucre]

"... so? Declán can't... save everyone. Can't be everywhere at once. Sometimes he is, though, so everyone should think that's enough."

[piqued]

"But they don't. An' if-- I were, Piper, we'd--" Still have a Brother.

She understands that, doesn't she?

[eucre]

"No." She shakes her head, giving him a half-smile. "Feilim was always meant for the sky. Declán could have been a real-life superman with superpowers, and Feilim would still have gone to the sky a little early."

[piqued]

That's not something a Good Sibling ought to disillusion, right? And yet. "What makes you say that?"

[eucre]

"He is Feilim. I don't know how to not know," she says simply, shrugging a shoulder.

[piqued]

"...expect th' world's just... different for the two of us." Which was No One's fault. He and Feilim had been different people as well.

[eucre]

"Not so different for him. He still has tea parties and watches and worries. Worry-worry-worrywart." She giggles a little at that. "He worries so we don't have to."

[piqued]

"...who, Feilim?" Because that might be True for a Joker, but not for a Butler.

[eucre]

"Feilim. Worrying all the time about us. The silly bills," she says in a sing-song voice.

[piqued]

Breathing in and then out helps keep him Centered in the conversation. "...it's different, the way the... two of you worry."

[eucre]

"How does Declán worry?" After a moment, she adds on, "how can Piper help?"

[piqued]

"You can't." Not beyond sitting like this, from time to time. Not beyond sometimes pressing her nose against his shoulder while they slept in the same bed. "You don't-- live in the same world I do."

[eucre]

"--But... I'm your sister," she protests. "I have to help."

[piqued]

"I know you are, but-- you've got to understand how-- different we are." Which isn't the Base of things. The Base is wanting to protect her.

[eucre]

"... then... what's the point of me if... if only you can help me and I can't help you?"

[piqued]

That Hurts. That digs in painfully deep, feels entirely like Feilim's blinking at him from Somewhere Else. "...you... help by giving me a reason to... try. T'-- be a better person."

[eucre]

"... dunna feel like that's enough all th'time," she mumbles, ducking her head.

[piqued]

"...no?" He shifts, leans back more properly against the headboard so he can lift her against his heart, settle her Exactly where she fits. "Why not?"

[eucre]

"Cause you do more. Not balanced. Not fair. No same-same-ness." That's a good enough explanation, right?

[piqued]

"But we're not the same, Felicia." Tugging on the end of her hair is Affectionate, hopefully undercuts the fact that Names are still confusing. "I'm older. You're a girl." He manages, at least, to say it as a Fact rather than the Judgement their Father or Uncle might have made it. "I'm taller. You're a Joker. We've got to have... different responsibilities. They're both important, but they're not the same."

[eucre]

There are only a couple words that really stick with her from that. "... both important? You're sure?"

[piqued]

"I'm certain." There's a tiny bit of a pause before he Twists, looks more properly down at her face. "'ve I no' been happier since we found out, Piper?"