#fenixtj

"You -don't-, Siv." With a firm frown.

"Argh" She bites into some food as if swishing to inflict damage on it.

Jessica takes a coffee and sits back.

"Why is it this family acts like a straight forward conversation where feelings are shared is some kind of warcrime?" A huff

Siv gets the King's Eyebrow.

"That" She points at the eyebrow "Does not substitute for honest and sharing communication" And she goes back to torturing her meal

Jess sips her coffee, content with the slightly hostile diner.

As her hunger is sated somewhat, Siv takes a drink, then sighs "I'm just saying this family is very closed off at times, even by troll standards. I mean, I get little things now and then. I used to wonder why Kerri would dust the lodge, but dad would insist on dusting the pictures of us on the mantle personally. I figured that out. But .. it would be so much easier if we could ..talk"

Sip.

"I think Mom and Dad have earned their secrets. They share when they're ready."

"I wish I could get a cup of your serenity"

A slight puff. "It's not serenity. It's stoicism. It's not allowing what you think and feel to show."

""But it feels like.. living a lie"

"It might be, for you."

A sigh "I' msorry. I don't mean to cast aspirtions on anyone else's honesty. IT just seems so ..lonely to live like that. So isolated"

Jessica is quiet for a moment, then shrugs. "It suits me. Mom and Dad have each other."

"Mmph. Well, yes, they have each other. But..." King Brow, look over her sister

Unphased.

"Everyone needs at least one person they can trust to open up to" Siv simply says

Jessica shrugs, nods. "I can give you that point. It can help." Sip.

"Yay, Siv 1, Jessica 0" A wink

Not much levity. Perhaps even preoccupied.

"mm okay. Something is definitely on your mind. ..not that you don't have plenty of reason to be pondering. Countess title alone would do that. Still, penny for your thoughts?"

"Thinking about what you've said about what's been going on in El Notre."

"Still.... " she gestures as if plucking flowers "....trying to piece it together."

"Well, if you figure it out, let me know. I just have 'i wonders'"

Jessica nods, sips.

"I mean, her hand was damaged, and then got fixed by Stoneham or whatever his name is... but she did that stuff before that. THe killing the dragon released all that old energy... maybe it jogged a past life memory?"

"Her -Hand-?!?"

"Oh yeah...dragon crunched it, took fingers off.. it was getting spring healing therapy"

"JESUS Siv, you might SAY that FIRST!!" Jessica stands and paces tightly.

"Is Dad ok?" She spins fiercely.

"what ? Yes"

"Arthek and Emmit were Hearth and Mountain respectively"

"Is -Dad- ok??"

"I said YES. Mom's okay too... like I told you, it got fixed"

Jessica pauses for a beat. "Which hand?" She swallows hard.

"The silver one... I wouldn't have used the word 'fixed' so cavalier if.. goodess, how insensitive do you think I am?"

"Hard to say, Siv." She mutters with some relief in her posture. "The silver... and you said it was fixed by someone?"

"Ah, some old friend a nunnehi named Stone something? Same fellow did the statue in Firnost"

Surprise. "Stonehands. His name is Stonehands."

"Oh. Yes that's it." A nod "he fixed the hand"