New Bonds of Sisterhood
shepsquared
Erratic Aussie
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- You're Nora's sister
You were back in the park which was now full of people. There were children running around and yelling, adults with dogs on leashes or just walking around in small groups.
Ren had stepped into the airship dock to organise your passage to Beacon while Maria had mumbled something and just vanished, leaving the two of you alone.
"Either Maneki shutting up the Nameless by figuring out its name or that councilor getting called out for getting son many people killed, even if his final fate was a bit... over the top." You say, shuddering when you remember the Nameless's chief weapon - a beam of light that slowly disintegrated that victim. Form the man's screams, it was a painful process.
"Right? I knew Sheen Bean was going to die the moment he showed up, but they really made us wait for it. I was half convinced he was going to survive!" Nora responds. "And the boxer mech-suit was so cool! I almost want to try some grenade-gauntlets myself!" She adds,punching her fists together.
"Would that be safe?" You ask, trying to imagine punching an explosion. It must be painful.
"Sure, if I braced my wrist and was really careful about the explosives. But Ren wouldn't like it and I'm already used to Magnhild." Nora says dismissively. "Maybe I'll try if at Beacon. Their forges are better than any you'll find outside of Atlas."
You shrug noncommittally, still not sure how the local weaponry worked. Your bow was all you needed.
"If we're going to be sisters, there are a few questions you need to answer." You ask, having made your decision a while ago.
Here in a new world, with new rules, it only made sense to find a new way forwards. Your people's ways were best for your home, but Remnant was different. Not as different as you'd feared, but different all the same.
And if the choice was between claiming to follow the ways of bandits, dead or strange strangers or someone you know you can trust in a fight, it wasn't a choice at all.
"Wait, so we're going to be..." Nora says excitedly.
"Yes." You say.
Nora screams in happiness and grabs you in a crushing hug, almost shaking you as she jumps in excitement.
"Xanthe! This is great! I've never had a sister before." She says happily.
"Neither have I." You say. "But I think I know the most important question to ask - are you and Ren partners?"
Nora immediately lets go you and looks away.
"Hopefully we'll be partners at Beacon. It's just been us for so long, and I know now it's all three of us but me and Ren - we've always been together, but not together-together. I mean, it'd be really great if we were, but it'd also be really weird and might ruin everything. Sure I've got you now, and Drakōn I guess, but that isn't the same." She says quickly, blushing as she considers her words.
"So you don't need me to go on evening hunts or sleep particularly deep to give you some alone time?" You ask, amused by her reaction.
"No. No we don't." Nora says.
"Why not?" You press with a vicious smile. It's been a while since you were around anyone so nervous about their feelings. Your people didn't really tolerate this sort of uncertainty. Either you seize the moment and your love or the elders start meddling.
And considering how they've been trying to 'help' you for the last five moons, that's not a fate you'd wish on anyone.
"He's a good fighter, he's calm in a crisis, knows how to cook, smells nice. If you don't want him I might." You say with a smirk. "A man that's shorter than me would be a nice change. Even if it's only by half an inch."
"You wouldn't." Nora hisses, her face pale.
"No, I wouldn't. But someone will." You agree.
"I don't know. What if he says no?" Nora asks as her blush returns.
"Then he's a fool. And he wouldn't say no." You say reassuringly.
"How can you know that?" Nora asks pleadingly.
"I've seen it happen. Again and again, all my life. When there's only a dozen shared tents, you pick up on a lot." You say with a shrug.
"Right." Nora says, obviously not wanting to talk about this any further.
"So, how did we meet Ren? Did we grow up in the same village?" You ask, deciding to move on.
"Oh, uh, no. Mom ditched me-us when we were kids and we met Ren a week later." Nora says, glancing around and relaxing when she's sure no one's paying attention.
"She ditched you?" You ask, trying not to start yelling. "You mean she died or got imprisoned or enslaved right?"
"No. We were traveling and I threw a tantrum. Because of me the Grimm attacked us and nearly killed us. We got away alive but lost everything else. Mom didn't want to risk it happening again." Nora says quietly.
"That 's no excuse." You snarl. "How did you survive?"
"I panicked and followed a river. I followed it to Ren's village and..." She trails off, struggling to say what comes next.
"Where you met Ren. The villagers took you in but the Grimm destroyed it soon after, leaving you and Ren to fend for yourselves. And now you and Ren want to make sure it never happens to anyone else, ever again." You finish, able to guess from what you haven't been told about their families.
"They didn't take me in. I had to steal food and I slept in a drain. But yeah." Nora says softly.
"It isn't theft if you're starving and you only take food. It's hunting. Erastil himself would agree." You say resolutely. "God of the hunt, the harvest and community. He taught us archery when the world was young." You add when Nora gives you a questioning look.
You pause and think about the other things you've seen be important to siblings.
"How old are you?" You ask. Seniority and size were both constant signs of superiority back home and you were definitely taller, though she was more muscular.
"Seventeen. I don't know exactly when my birthday is, so I just put down the ninth of February. It was the New Year when Ren asked and I didn't realise it changes." Nora answers.
"I'm also seventeen. Born when the Flood Moon was waning. Which is Gozran which is..." You trail off, trying to remember the local months.
'The middle of April. She's older than you, born at the start of Snappe.' Drakōn tells you.
"April." You finish.
"Oh, we'll be twins then. And since I'm older, I say we were born in February. That way we don't have to wait as long to turn eighteen." Nora decides.
"Does eighteen matter?" You ask.
"It's when we're adults and get to drive." Nora says, cackling as she imagines it. "I'm definitely getting a monster truck."
"I have a dinosaur." You note smugly. "I'll be calling myself Xanthe Valkyrie then?"
"If we're twins you probably should. Parents can choose to give kids different last names but most twins have the same name. But it's up to you." Nora answers reassuringly.
You nod, considering the idea. You weren't exactly attached to Scythia - you'd inherited it from your grandfather but it was his deed name. He was an expert with his scythe, an accomplished warrior and devotee of Magdh. She was one of the Eldest, those fey that had achieved godhood. She was the patron of the norns and any who tried to divine the future. Supposedly a prophecy had led him to your people and he never said anything of his past.
You were always meant to set his name aside when you earned your own. Technically you already had, but whether God Caller was a proper deed name or if it should be something more poetic was a debate you'd left to the elders. Drakōn hadn't been any help, instead focusing on the mysterious prophecy that had led your grandfather north.
Not that you knew what it was.
"Favourite colour?" You ask, switching to a different track.
"Pink, obviously. Is yours red?" Nora asks, jabbing at your cheek.
"No, blue. Favourite food?" You say, gesturing at your clothes.
"Pancakes. Pancakes and waffles. And eggs and bacon. I kind of just love breakfast, but especially pancakes with syrup." Nora says as you reach the end of the line. "Oh, and cotton candy. Try some."
You take the odd pink fluff from her with some trepidation, blinking as you all but inhale it.
"Sweet." You say, more than a little surprised.
"Right? Anyway, about your bow." Nora begins as you walk away from the stall, devouring the sticky treat.
----------------------------------
Your second trip on an airship is much longer. You manage to sleep some of it away, but who do you talk to?
[ ] Maria, about the ones who hunted her down
[ ] Nora, about her plans for the future
[ ] Ren, about how he met Nora.
A/N: Two or three updates until we hit Beacon I think.
Last edited:
