#scarsdale

Zara sits on her bed, room darkened, and watches the clouds creep across the nighttime sky. Rain patters on the windows, comforting. Bronte sleeps on the still-open pages of a book, and 1122 is fussing over a tiny pile of popcorn.

A hand reaches out, and plucks one of 1122's popcorn

Copper pedipalps flail in protest! He steals it back!

The boy's hand tries again snatch

"...What?" A frown at the very soft confrontation, and she turns to look. "Jacob?"

Hide very still and she can't possibly see you... from the nook of her own stuff right?

unless a certain spider you've been stealing popcorn from rats you out, or she's like, really got good eyes

Softly. "Hello, Jacob."

"uh.. hi" sheepish "nice room." Munch popcorn

"Aye. It is mine. Should you not be at Uncle Hirim's with Miriam?"

1122 climbs the pile of popcorn, to defend it from further incursion!

"Nope. You're my sitter" He eyes the popcorn pile

"Oh really?" Eyebrow.

"of course" He says "Sad duty for older siblings that you must do so from time to time" fingers cccccassually reach around to an oposing side of the popcorn pile

1122 skitters about and NIPS a slender hand with his mandibles.

"I think that usually involves the older sibling being asked. And the mother being aware."

"ow." he stings his finger in his mouth

1122 puffs himself up and marches in a little circle around his bounty.

"Well, he does eat blood. Did he draw any?"

"No I don't think so.." A worried look, 'You think he kept some for a working?"

"And we're hardly a usual family, sister" A bit of a pedantic tone, for a kid anyway

"Who would wish to be usual?"

"Exactly" A sigh and a look towards 1122 "And I'm sorry, 1122. I should have brought a gift before invading your pile"

"If you prick your finger, he would likely forgive you... thusly... " Zara finds a pin, and soon a ruby drop wells on the tip of her ring finger. She offers it to the spider, who eagerly sups.

"Our blood holds glamour, and thus strengthens him. The popcorn is more... dessert. Sometimes, I think he is more interested in collecting that than eating it."

"Oh. I didnt know he NEEDEd it." Suddenly aghast at his stinginess , he looks for something sharp

"It is fine. He needs but a little. But this is a secret, and not for others to know. Only a sluagh would understand."

A nod and a whisper, not just a mandatory one, but one of somberness "don't worry, 1122, I won't tell"

A little bow from the clockwork spider.

Then he looks back at Zara, "Earl is painting a surprise for you." He says "It's a bit silly"

A soft sigh. "Aye? Mayhaps I have been too melancholy... he likes to make me smile, my artist."

"but it doesn't make any sense.. .it's got you in some catacomb... carrying moldy bread while some figure chases you"

"Ah, Paris."

"Why would anyone hunt someone else down for bread they probably can't eat ?"

"Well, Pesach is not forever."

"I guess" He says "So.. I'm a jew. You didn't warn me"

She shrugs. "You would find out. Mazel tov!"

A roll of his eyes "I'm not supposed to eat bacon or pepperoni now... or Uncle Hiriam goes into this scpheel ..spheel? Spi..he rants. I want I should turn my back on a thousand plus years? I want i should turn my nose up at my heritage?" Hands on hips

A soft rattle, not quite a giggle.

Doing a fairly good impersonation though the cadence lacks the true music of nockerdom

"I mean, I like old things, but I'd like old things more when they let me have ham"

"Well, I don't think Miriam keeps kosher. And Earl likes bacon."

"I can taste it when I kiss him." Her tone almost teasing.

"ugh." And he clearly does not mean the bacon

Zara grins, having achieved the desired reaction.

"why would you ruin perfectly good bacon with.. nevermind, I donna wanna know"

Another soft chuff. "Well, that's what big sisters do."

"Just don't be kissing too much in our part of the house"

"Okay, I can arrange that."

She draws her knees up to her chest, watching him. "Have you been doing okay?"