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 Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:46 pm
Over the past couple of weeks Xenia had been in a daze. It was official, she’d met someone, and a little fluttering had taken root in her chest. Staying home was becoming more and more of a rarity, especially considering how the object of her affections was currently rooming in the city. Her Auntie had graciously allowed her to stay over more than a few nights to ‘help out’ in the shop, but they all knew why she was doing it. Xenia didn’t really care, though; at least they were able to keep it hidden from Mama, which was honestly a blessing.
Especially considering the woman she was chasing was from Matori.
A Matori woman who wasn’t exactly respectable at that. She was a few years older than Xenia, though not by much!, and a little more...dangerous, but really, what was wrong with that? When she’d come home to get some fresh clothing she’d all, but avoided Papa and Kitya. They were the only two who could have seen through her falsehoods, and keeping this on the hush hush just sounded better for the time being. The only time she really let herself be around them was when other members of the family were there, otherwise she always made some excuse to go.
And now Xenia was trying her best to hurriedly stuff her bags for a quick trip back to town. She said she would still be around for another week so maybe I can show her the caves, if she wants.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:47 pm
Kitya was accustomed to being the sneakier sibling. She was often the one up to dangerous stunts that often would cause her mother panic so she often hid most of her shenanigans from the rest of the family. No talking about cliff diving, no talking about taming dangerous creatures and especially no talking about venturing into unknown areas throughout Yael. A simple "day trip to town" would result in the girl returning with nothing but a few scrapes here and there but still it was something she constantly did. She never expected it from Xenia.
Lately she had felt like there was a gap between her and her sister. It was a strange feeling and Kitya was curious about what was going on with her sibling. Was it the younger twins? But they had already been in their lives for several years now surely that adjustment period was over. Even Kitya had grudgingly gotten accustomed to their little feet roaming through the halls of their home and actually enjoyed spending time with the younglings and their darn adorable faces. So what was up with Xenia lately? It was a question that had Kitya slinking through the shadows, her steps making no sound as she turned around the corner and peered into the room.
She silently moved and handed Xenia a scarf, "Here to try to keep the sun from your head. Going somewhere?" Kitya spoke with a soft whisper as she studied her sister, "You seem like you're in a hurry."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:47 pm
As soon as Xenia saw the scarf in her peripheral vision Xenia nearly jumped out of her skin. She squealed and slammed her hands down on the pile of clothes in her bag. When she saw it was Kitya she was both relieved and instantly stressed. “Y-ye-yeah, just a bit.” She took the scarf and shoved it in with the pile. At first she’d been neatly folding everything to make room, but now she didn’t really care what it looked like so long as she got out of there. “Auntie Trilanna is expecting me back tonight. There’s just so much to catch up on in the shop, and I know she appreciates the help.” It wasn’t a complete lie. When Xenia wasn’t spending time with her little ‘friend’ she was helping out when she could, even if it was just to give credence to her alibi.
Xenia’s glasses nearly slipped off her nose and she hastily pushed them back up her flushed bridge with her index finger. “What are you up to today? I thought maybe you would have gone with Papa? Or maybe out on your own by now?” Was the whole family still home, or was it just Kitya? She kept her hands over the clothes in the bag, moving one top just enough to cover the majority of them...mostly because they weren’t exactly hers. A lot of the more ‘risque’ outfits were Kitya’s.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:48 pm
Kitya quirked a brow, "You would think that you saw a ghost or...." Here she dragged out the word thoughtfully as she leaned closer to Xenia, "Or you're hiding something and don't want to get caught." Kitya tapped her fingers along her chin as if pondering a question, "Auntie really needs that much help so quickly?" Maybe she should come along? It was a mean play but Kitya felt like something was fishy and she was determined to find out exactly what it was especially if Xenia was curious about what she was planning for the day.
"Papa is spending time with the children and I think mama is with them or went to town as well?" Kitya shrugged, "I'm a free bird for the day so I may as well go with you to help out Auntie, right?" Her gaze darted towards Xenia's hands as she waited for her sibling's reaction, "I can go ahead and pack my stuff right now."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:49 pm
“Ghosts are all over Yael so maybe that’s what has me on edge. Must have been a bad dream.” She laughed a little, trying her best to avoid direct eye contact with Kitya. It was so hard to lie to her elder sister. You’re not lying, exactly, just avoiding the truth. Just keep doing that and she can’t get mad. So long as Xenia kept dodging the answers then everything should work out alright.
“No!” Xenia’s gut reaction was MUCH louder than she’d planned and it showed. “I-I mean, why would you want to? It’s just boring stuff like inventory; they just got backed up and it’s a lot of catch up work. We’re almost done anyway, so there wouldn’t be much for you to do.” She moved to pull the bag closed, and used a strap to latch it together, just as added security. Of course she hadn’t taken everything out of Kitya’s wardrobe, but there was enough of her sister’s usuals in the satchel for the girl to notice immediately if she went looking for them. “Maybe...you could come in a few days and help then? I’m sure after Mama and Uncle have brought in a few more hides we’ll have more leather to work with.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:51 pm
Bingo. Something was definitely up. If Kitya's eyebrow could have shot through the ceiling then it would have at the intensity of her sister's no. The yaeli grinned mischievously as she moved around Xenia, "I can handle some boring." She purred as she started to search the room for a second bag, "Plus I feel like I haven't spent enough time with you lately so some boring is definitely worth it. We could maybe go and have fun in town afterwards if it's really not that much to do. I'll probably be doing something with Papa in a few days anyways so may as well help while I can."
Kitya moved without hesitation and scooped up a leather satchel so that she could venture towards her own wardrobe, "Just give me a few to grab an outfit or two from here..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:52 pm
Why was it that when Xenia actually wanted her big sister around Kitya was off flitting about the woods, but now her sister chose now to talk about bonding?! She knows. Xenia wasn’t stupid; she knew Kitya was onto something, but she couldn’t tell what. And if she let anything slip then her sister would pounce on it instantly. It was a little dance the two had played since they were children, and it was only a matter of time before one of them cracked. Usually it was Xenia, but right now she was determined to keep up her rouse.
Xenia’s side steps had started as just little moves, but when Kitya got closer to the wardrobe she moved a little faster until eventually she was scuttling. She beat her sister to it and placed her body between the two. “You know, now that I think about it, you’re right. We haven’t spent much time together lately, and I’m sure Auntie wouldn’t mind if I held off coming back for a few days. Maybe we can go set up a camp somewhere and check out some of the caves?”
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:52 pm
Okay something was definitely up. Kitya pursed her lips in protest as her sister cut her off at the pass, "Wow Xenia. I didn't know you were so dedicated to changing plans just for little ole me." She commented as she studied her younger sibling, "I wouldn't mind going to the shop to help really. I wouldn't want to impose on your plans to helping Auntie. Would you really want to cancel that to just go camping with me?"
She grinned as she slowly placed her hands on her sister's shoulders and gently tried to nudge her to the side, "Either way I would still need to pack. So if you don't mind I'll just grab a few outfits now and we can make a decision after?" Kitya shook her head, "Honestly you're acting as if I shouldn't go to town with you today. It's kinda weird, Xenia." Almost as if she were indeed hiding something. Kitya didn't speak the words outloud but her question hovered in the air around them. What was her sister up to exactly?
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:54 pm
“Of course! I didn’t know you missed me so much or I would have stuck around more.” Xenia smiled, trying to seem as natural as possible. “It’s just a couple of days, she’ll understand. It’s not like she’s never put off anything to spend time with Mama, you know?” Just. Go. Away. Seriously, how hard was it to take a hint and let it go?! Xenia was working with such a short time window to see her ‘friend’ that she really wanted to leave that second, but she couldn’t risk getting caught, so what was she supposed to do? And if she spent a little time with Kitya then maybe her sister would finally drop it so she could at least snag a few days.
Xenia stayed put, pushing a little against Kitya’s hands in order to stand her ground. “You can pack later. We should really find Papa and Mama to tell them we’ll be gone or they’ll worry.” Which was true, Xenia did know they would be worried even if she left a note, but that’s exactly what she planned on doing, even if she didn’t exactly come out with it to her sister. “What’s so weird about that? You’re the one who's acting so pushy about it. Why can’t you just trust me and go?” Her tone was shifting just a little bit, showing more irritation than anything else. She really didn’t want to be prodded anymore! But Xenia knew if her secret was discovered then Kitya would have more questions and she would lose even MORE time and it was just - ugh!
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:56 pm
"Fair enough and then I could still probably go and help if I'm around." Commented Kitya casually as she studied her sister. Certainly another sibling may have just left at this point or been happy enough but Kitya was a stubborn one. If someone was up to something then she would get to the bottom of it. Maybe I should have just followed her into town...I could do that. She was itching to know. Curiousity always got her into trouble so it was no surprise that it was pushing her forward even now.
Sighing, Kitya placed her hands on her hips at studied Xenia hardcore. "You were the one who was so determined to pack and now I can't?" Plus it wasn't the first time she had left with just a note to tell everyone that she was off exploring, "But fine. If you really think a note won't suffice I suppose we could go find mama and papa." She frowned, her expression shifting at her sister's growing irritation, "I do trust you. I just wanted to hang and pack first. Do you not trust me or something? Are you that angry that I wanted to spend time with you?" Her gaze softened as she bit her bottom lip almost sadly and slowly backed away from Xenia.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:57 pm
Xenia made a noise in the back of her throat somewhere between a groan and a ‘hrm’. “What do you want me to say, Kitya? You can drop the act.” Keeping this up was exhausting, and there was no way Kitya was going to get out of this without finding what she wanted. “I’m not angry I just want you to leave, okay? Just trust me.” It probably came off as too mean or rude or something like that, but Xenia really just did not care. She was torn between wanting to tell Kitya everything and being unable to. There was just too much at risk here! If she let even the smallest bit out everything could slip away and...well, even thinking about what she would lose made her heart ache.
Normally she could trust Kitya with anything; she always had in the past. Secrets that her parents couldn’t know, plans to get away, secret grottos….the works! Now? Now she was sure her sister wouldn’t agree and while she might not tell their parents the disapproval from one she cared so much about would hurt worse than anything else. “I really need to leave today and I need you to go along with it.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:57 pm
"So you don't trust me." Kitya actually felt her shoulder's slump as she took a few more steps away from Xenia, "Fine. Whatever." She replied while turning her back to Xenia, her cheeks flushing at the mixed emotions she was feeling in the moment. Out of all their years together she had gotten into fights with Xenia a plenty but something about this felt off. It was usually bickering over things, mostly Kitya being greedy and not wanting to share her belongings, but today was different. It did not settle well with her at all.
"If you want to go and do something without me then fine. It's not like I'm worried or scared or anything...." She trailed off and swallowed before spitting out more words to cover her admission of worry, "You're a big girl now and I'm just the nosey older sister after all." Who totally would go to town later even if Xenia did want to slip away alone. It didn't mean Kitya couldn't go to town for herself. If Xenia didn't trust her or want her to know about something then fine! But she wasn't going to go out of her way to help her sister hide something that she wouldn't even tell Kitya about.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:58 pm
“Yeah, you are.” Xenia snapped. “It’s fine if you’re worried, but you don’t have to be! That’s what I’m trying to tell you, but you won’t listen. You don’t get to know everything about me just because you’re older. You should just trust that I know what I’m doing and leave it alone.” It wasn’t fair that Kitya was pulling this on her! The whole ‘oh, look how you’re breaking my heart’ thing. How many times had Xenia covered for Kitya without asking for details? Too many to count! She asked later, sure, but she needed her sister to go along with this now, not later!
“I’ve never asked you for anything like this in my entire life, and I know I’ve told you everything in the past, but this is different. I’ll tell you later but just let me have this, okay?” Xenia’s cheeks were flustered with unchecked irritation, making her freckles stand out all the more. “I have to go right now or I’m going to miss my chance. Just...give me a week and I’ll tell you everything.” She wouldn’t; Xenia knew that even if a week passed she was going to lie. Still, it would be enough time for her to figure out a good one and maybe by then her ‘friend’ would have left so there wouldn’t be anything for Kitya to find that would expose her.
Still, even that sent her heart into spirals. She didn’t want her to leave, but she also didn’t want her sister to see her.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:59 pm
Kitya turned on her heel, hurt making her words more heated than she had originally intended, "Oh? Sorry that you're being so shady! And you do usually tell me everything so of course this makes me even more worried!" Her gaze burned but the girl refused to let the tears fall, "Are we really that distant? If you wanted to know anything about me then ask and I'll tell...." She frowned before shaking her head, "But fine. You want to tell me later then tell me later." Why did she have the feeling that it wouldn't work out that way?
She had to take a deep breath to try and calm down, "You can leave after you return whatever you took from my clothing." She finally stated after a long pause, "When you're that desperate to keep me from packing I can only guess one thing." Kitya raised a brow, "If I don't have the right to know then you definitely cannot be getting into my closet, Xenia." Not like she usually allowed anyone to take her belongings anyways but she would have at least considered it if Xenia had asked within reason. Plus she was feeling a bit bitter about the whole situation and couldn't help adding the request as a final act of defiance against her sister's secret plans.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 2:00 pm
[8/10]
Xenia felt the hair on the back of her neck curl. “Just take it all back! It’s in the bag; I can buy whatever I need in town.” She didn’t want any of it now, anyway! She was going to try to save some money so she could buy them treats and dinner, but who cared! They could always hunt for their stuff, it wasn’t like she didn’t know how! Xenia turned on her heel and snatched up her personal bag, the one that held her coin and dagger. It wasn’t nearly as much as she’d planned, but it was enough to get her by.
“See if I ask you for help again! And by the way, don’t even think about following me! If you do then I won’t talk to you ever again.” She meant it too! She was so mad in that moment that she could have yelled, was close to it even, but she didn’t give in. Instead she was at the doorway, looking back at her sister, anger making her hair bristle like a feline.
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