it's a long time coming when someone trie to internalize it for so long, but never lets themselves express it or let it out. she's still yet to explain the details of everything that's happened in these past few years, so much that's weighed on her and - though she knows, and she's told to do otherwise by siblings - she still insists to sit as the burden and weight piles, and piles, and piles, until it crushes her. [break][break]

it's why having him to support and comfort her will mean so much - more than she'll ever admit, or say. her lips curl into a small smile through the tears as she cries, and clings, slightly, to the fabric of his shirt on his back. his hold is strong, and tender, and warm, and comforting; it's hard for her to fully realize or understand how she could yearn for someone's touch, and how she could so easily bury herself against it when she's usually so reserved. [break][break]

he acts to comfort her, not knowing that his presence alone lifts the burden off her mind. [break][break]

an icy exterior will always melt in front of him, and her stone heart will always crumble, and she'll realize that she's really the more sensitive of her siblings - save for perhaps emma, who does as she pleases in the spotlight. she knows her siblings will do what they can to help her recovery, but there's just always so much she can say without wanting to worry them. it's already difficult enough to crumble, and crack, in front of calix.[break][break]

after a minute more, she slowly turns her head to rest the side of her face against his chest. she's tired, slightly limp and fatigued from the tears as she only has the energy to nuzzle against him. "i.. apologize for suddenly crying." she can finally say "especially.. when we were going to have dinner together.."

Calix Nikolau

☉

amused, her viridian emerald eyes linger upon him as she's pulled in, closer, and as her body squirms slightly in a reflex response. of course, she's still mindful and careful of the food that was resting in a try not too far away from where they sit. "goodness--" the chuckles dull down, until there's only a soft smile lingering on her lips. her head gently nestles and nuzzles against him in response, although her arms finally lifts a bit an her finger gently pokes at the other side of a man's cheek.[break][break]

"you're so silly~" it's endearing, it's precious. with the smile still on her lips, she moves her hand down in favour of resting over his hand, slipping her fingers between the gaps of his as she turns her head, slightly, to reach onto her knees and plant a gentle kiss upon his cheek. [break][break]

"we can finish dinner first, then.." she lowers herself again, and her fingers tighten their grasp over and around his "... i think i've finished enough of my work, so we can spend the rest of the night together~.. maybe pull up a movie and have some wine?"

Calix Nikolau

☉

vulnerability is.. difficult. [break][break]

for a year, in her brother's absence, she was forced into a position that she never wanted, put in a place where she never hoped she'd be. but she never complained, because it was for her brother, and it was so that her siblings could go on, and enjoy herself; it's only right for her, as an older sister, to pick up the reigns when something goes amiss. she used to pride herself for being able to pic up the slack, prided herself in being capable with business. she was. just not with the family business. [break][break]

so her heart sinks, it stings, as does the guilt tie her stomach into knots making it a little dizzying and nauseating to breathe. then she'll swallow it down and tell herself to keep going, to press on, because she volunteered to put the weight of the world on her shoulders; it just so happened that gravity suddenly decided to strengthen and pull it down further. [break][break]

she's gone so long without comfort that she's forgotten how it feels, lost a few years of her life to a distortion that's adjusted her age to be older, but maybe that wasn't a bad thing if it gave her a proper chance to be able to meet and speak to someone who was around hr age (now, that is). though it's the time skip that's made her feel more vulnerable, and all the more confused, and it gets tiresome at some point. [break][break]

and he let her rest. [break][break]

before she knows it, the dizziness swells up again, and the tears start to slowly form in the corner of her eyes. she's supposed to just be here for dinner, yet here she is, crying over her brother, and in fear of separation. of course the guilt will gnaw at her gut (the survivor's and over the dinner) but at the moment, she just couldn't stop as she instinctively raises her arms to gently hug a man in return, pressing her eyes against his shirt.[break][break]

it takes a little moment through the tears and soft hiccups, and the unsightly sobbing for her to chirp up to say "i know, i know" i know.

Calix Nikolau

☉

she was always a little more sensitive than her siblings, be it for better or for worse. she doesn't know how to feel when her younger sister reaches up to cup her face in her hands, but the frosty exterior always finds a way to melt in a sibling's presence (even if she was never as close to the others as she'd like to be). [break][break]

"thank you, ana~" she chimes, and there's no other way. especially when her younger sister decided to pick up the mantle and work hard whilst daphne was gone. [break][break]

now she takes the woman's hands to lower, only maintaining a hold on one as she turns around, smiling softly, pointing into the mall. ".. shall we, then? my store isn't too far from where we are." it'd be fun to dress up. [break][break]

"you can tell me what you've been up to while we walk~"

ANA STONE

☉

"oh?"[break][break]

though what words she was going to say afterwards are cut off by a soft giggle, followed by a soft and quiet squeal as she's pulled against him. a man is like a bear, so much larger than she is, to where her body can only take up.. maybe half? two thirds of his? where he's able to wrap his arms around her, and completely envelop her in his embrace. [break][break]

honestly.. it's endearing, and she's found herself enjoying it more than she should, nowadays. it's a far cry from when he first did it, and she was feeling slightly uncomfortable from the sudden physical affection. though the sudden grab is followed by a poke at her side. her body tenses up immediately, and she lets out a brief yelp - one that she tries to muffle via gently burying her face against his shoulder and chest. "w-wait, no, stop--" her waist moves away from his hand, and her arms and elbows try to pin down to be her barrier. [break][break]

"pff.. i-i apologize! don't poke my sides--"

Calix Nikolau

☉

he so tender, even when raising his hand to rest and gently cup her cheek. she'll find herself gently nuzzling, nestling against his touch, as though she's meant to ret there, and have her anxiety and her fear melt away. it's warm; she's always found it odd and endearing, the way he could so easily melt the heart she's tried desperately to encase in ice and frost (after her brother's death, after the fall of devon under her care). [break][break]

ah, she doesn't even need age to start giving her white hairs. she's thankful that the gene skipped her. [break][break]

"mhm.." his thumb rubs against her cheek, and she wordlessly tilts her head against him more, trying to catch the warming trail that's left upon porcelain skin. at some point in her silence, she raises her hand to gently press against the other side of his, hoping to nestle further against the skin of his palm. "i've already lost alex.." this time she's muffled, and her heart starts to sink. [break][break]

"i couldn't bear to lose you, too.."

Calix Nikolau

☉

maybe she's just too sensitive. [break][break]

just her luck to get close to someone who, she imagines, would be close to war and battle whenever something happens. just her luck when her trauma lies in it. just her luck. yet he's still so tender, and so soft to her, even though she knows he knows his fair share of violence and bloodshed. [break][break]

her hand is gingerly and tenderly held, and her fingers instinctively curl around in response, with her gaze lowered as she sheepishly nods her head. ".. yes." she says, and it isn't hard, even if she finds that the word burrows its claws into her throat. "am i worrying too much?"[break][break]

she has a habit of doing that, now.

Calix Nikolau

☉

"rambling means you're passionate~" and it's never a detriment. rather, it's something to admire and be proud of. at the very least, she knows that her brother is the latter. and so she hums, smiling slightly as she finishes up her bite. her eyes lower down to the nearly finished meal of hers, and she opts to casually cut the rest into bite-sized pieces. [break][break]

"i don't think i've been up to anything as near as interesting, though~.." fashion isn't exactly a point of discussion; not as compelling as technology, she would think. but, since he asks..[break][break]

he has only himself to blame when it's her turn to go on a ramble.

end

☉

always the thinker. [break][break]

and so passionate. it's good to see that it's never died out, even in the face of crippling work. "no, not at all." she hums, taking a moment to lean back, with legs against the stool. "at the moment, i imagine that gaming could be used as.. a test field, of sorts." she hums, tilting her head ".. like a sandbox for prototypes, before that same technology can be used and applied to other aspects of life, no?" [break][break]

it's a good starting point, especially for someone who was still (in comparison to her, and other business owners) young. [break][break]

then she lets out a soft sigh of relief, a smile to her face as she picks up another bite on her fork. "we haven't been in contact for so long" she starts, taking a bite, taking a moment to chew, then raising a hand over her lips ".. it's good to see you so animated over something. similar to how i feel about my own work~"

Leonidas Stone

☉

intriguing. [break][break]

although still.. slightly concerning, considering the safety, but she's sure that leo's already thought about that. so if anything, the elder sister hums, lifting her head, slightly, such that she could gently tap her knuckles against the side of her face. it's only a shame that she can't share the same enthusiasm and passion as him, but she's doing her best. [break][break]

in the form of a brighter smile, watching her younger brother get so animated talking about his plans. .. but he's so energetic, it's a shame if she doesn't try to show more interest in his endeavours. after all, the bottom line: she's happy for him. happy that he's so excited, and happy that he's expressing himself so openly. [break][break]

"my brother really is ambitious~.." she murmurs, though with a smile on her face. "i'm certain that you and your company would be able to figure out a way to make it a reality." what, with how excited he looks to begin taking the steps. [break][break]

"if you ever need the funds or the manpower, i believe i can try to help you through my own connections." she was still a stone, after all, and knew of researchers and the like who worked with her and them. her eyes narrow, this time as she mulls over his words. "so.. something like drones that one could control with their subconscious?"

Leonidas Stone

☉

she can't say she's kept in touch with technology, past what she's supposed to know, at least. though she dealt with devon and their technology, social media and entertainment were always the least of her worries. "mmn?" she hums, beginning to dig the teeth of a knife against the meal. [break][break]

"at the rate technology is evolving at.. i wouldn't say it's impossible." though highly implausible, until the next coming years. ".. i imagine that mind-control would be possible in the nearer future, what with harnessing the power of pokemon." and the existence of avatars, but that's a whole different can of diglett.

Leonidas Stone

☉