closed;

[swordboning]

Who: Archer swordboning, Yang flaredo, and Ruby undaunts
When: IC 3/28
Where: Archer's food stand, as always
What: Everyone being butts, probably. Let's be honest.
Rating/Warning: None at the moment.


[No matter the crisis, leave it to Archer to always return to some semblance of normality. The fact was, he was used to be tossed in unknown places only to have to complete certain tasks. That was his entire afterlife so simply doing what came natural was an extension of that. Trauma, violence, or blood wouldn't snap him out of it. Even if not much of that happened, aside from suffocating. Which he could handle easily enough.

No, at this point in the morning, he was flipping a couple pancakes. They were a bit sweet but ready for someone to take for a meal. Along with whatever else they requested. And he expected a lot of bacon to be wanted. People enjoyed that unhealthy food way too much. Work was work, even if he'd internally judge whatever people wanted.

When two certain people wandered by, well, he wasn't exactly wrapped up in himself or his thoughts.]

So, what's it going to be? You'll have to forgive me for wondering when you two decided to spend time together.

[And no, he didn't know they were sisters. Consider it a failing.]

Comments

[flaredo]

[ It's just a bonding stroll between siblings, and Yang isn't really expecting to see Archer there when she glances up-- but she doesn't look all that surprised, either. Maybe because she's started equating Archer to food, in her mind. ]

Well, it was about fifteen years ago, when my dad said, "Here, Yang, don't drop her, she's too little to bounce yet."

[ She may or may not be serious. ]

[undaunts]

[She's definitely serious. Ruby just blinks at Archer, and then at Yang, and sloooowly tilts her head to one side.]

Yeah, it'd be kind of weird if I never spent any time with my sister, right?

[swordboning]

Color me surprised.

[Even if he doesn't look anything like it. The most unflappable.]

I suppose your energy levels should have tipped me off. What can I get you two today then?

[flaredo]

[ ... Huh. Well, now he knows. No skin off Yang's back. ]

Whatever the special is today! Surprise me.

[undaunts]

... Is it really that weird?

[NO, RUBY IS HUNG UP ON THIS NOW]

[swordboning]

Is it really that important? People are weird.

[Which didn't exclude the two customers here. Worst customer service.

But eggs seem like a good idea so he's going to grab a couple of those.]

I've seen all kinds. At least you have the opportunity to be able to accept each other.

[flaredo]

... Why wouldn't we accept each other? Ruby's one of the most important people in my life.

[ Seriously! ]

[undaunts]

...Yeah, that's kind of a weird thing to say, Archer.

[awww sis.]

We're family! Of course we accept each other.

[swordboning]

I'm not saying that you don't. I'm saying that you should consider yourselves lucky that you do. Not all families are like that.

[Not that Archer has all that much experience familying. Familying without hating it, that is.]

[flaredo]

... Are we getting backstory here, or is this one of those don't-touch-sensitive-subject moments?

[ She can respect that. ]

[undaunts]

[Yang already asked, so

WIDE PUPPY EYES

YES TELL THEM]

[swordboning]

From me? Even from what I remember while a human, I didn't have any siblings. No, I just recall specific cases.

[Storytime obviously wasn't a thing. Crackin' eggs in a bowl though.]

[flaredo]

... Specific-case stories are fine, too.

[ She's curious now. ]

[undaunts]

...You can tell us while we eat, right?

[Storytime!!!]

Yay, story time!

[swordboning]

It's not a long story but I can tell it while cooking.

[Omelettes, yes.]

The question is where to start.

[flaredo]

From the beginning?

[ SEEMS LOGICAL... ]

[undaunts]

Works for me!

[A cheerful nod over here!]

[swordboning]

Fine.

[It's never a cheerful story. But he continues on, pulling a square shaped pan out.]

Where I'm from, magi prize their family higher than most things. That's because a person's successor will be the one to carry on their lifetime of research. It also leaves a very unfortunate problem. Parents with multiple children have to choose a single one to succeed them. Often time, the other children, no matter their potential, aren't even offered a chance to study magic.

[flaredo]

Wait, so-- [ Holding up a hand. ] Magi are... people who study magic, I guess? And if they've got twins or five kids or something, only one can do it and the rest just... miss out?

[ That seems sort of messed up. ]

[undaunts]

... But then, what do the rest of them do?

[She doesn't quite get the awful implications yet.]

[swordboning]

They can miss out and never know part of their family is studying magic, yes.

[Buttering up the pan!]

But it can get horrendously worse. If a child had magical potential but not as much as their siblings, they can become bargaining tools. Another family that has no child who can do magic can essentially buy off the child for a favor, adopting him or her. Even if that child has already grown up with their family.

In that situation, you may have siblings who have grown up together but are now forced to be unable to recognize each other due to political implications.

[flaredo]

... Is magic really that big of a deal to these families that they'd give up their own kids??

[ ARCHER WHY DO YOU KNOW ALL OF THIS-- ]

[undaunts]

[Ruby's just sitting here nodding along, because this is just....]

That seems kind of really actually awful!

[swordboning]

It's a lot like the dynasties of the past, really. No one would blink an eye when a King sold his daughter off to a distance royal family. It's considered natural. Even if not morally ethical to normal people, to address your statement, Red.

[EGGS INTO THE PAN after such a sobering discussion. Certainly everyone could look forward to rolled omelettes??]

That's why I said what I did.

[flaredo]

Well-- [ An arm over her sister's shoulder. ] That wouldn't ever happen to our family, and honestly, I feel bad for all those kids for having to deal with that in the first place.