002 [Network: Audio]

[brotherofagod]

I know there are serious things happening but focusing on that has never been something I'm good at. That said, Thanksgiving just passed by. [Not that Jacob has a good track record for celebrating or understanding most holidays but it got him thinking.] Not sure who has thanksgiving or who celebrates it.

It's a pretty strange holiday.

[Jacob remembers it as a holiday dedicated to overeating.]

But it also reminds me that Christmas is coming up too. I don't remember doing much the last time I was here. [He thinks he gave away wooden carvings but then that might have had no relation to Christmas, Jacob's memories were still a bit fuzzy.]

Anyway, I wanted to know what sort of traditions people had.

My traditions changed a lot after my parents passed but when I was very young I remember a lot of cookies and a lot of pie. Along with a great deal of decorations that I had to help with or, I wouldn't get the aforementioned cookies and pie.

What about you guys?

Comments

[brotherofagod]

My sister's sorta forced the spirit onto me. Mostly my biological sister but it took all of them to get me to break down. [Also Gus, who had unofficially adopted Jake after he'd been rescued.]

Maybe we should make cookies this year, together. We can experiment and give the good ones to someone special.

[soulsword]

Family can be quite good at....convincing one to do things.

[ Well, it was time for another awkward pause. ] Are you so certain we would come out with any good ones? [ Did she just make a joke? Maybe. ]

[brotherofagod]

Yeah. Mine are a persistent bunch.

[Considering he never choose any of his family members, even his adopted family was semi-forced on him.

Jake laughs at her question. Joke or not, it's funny.]

Wouldn't that just make it better? Plus, if someone were to finish a gifted cookie that tasted horrible, then- well, we would know that they probably really like us.

[soulsword]

Persistent is indeed one way to describe my family. [ The ton is a bit strange, there's a hint of longing mixed in with a good bit of bitterness as well. Family brings out the most conflicting feelings for her.

But at least what he said after managed to catch her attention. ]

Would we know that?

[brotherofagod]

[Jake can relate, families by definition are conflicting.]

If we tasted them first we would. Unless we're really good at lying to ourselves.

[She's clearly never replaced salt for sugar in her cookies.]

[soulsword]

That has never been a talent of mine. [ Lying to others though....] Wouldn't it just bring into question their honesty? If they pretended to like shit cookies just because they liked us.

[brotherofagod]

I think that depends on the person.

I can imagine my sister trying to lie about it because she cares but she's also a really bad liar. [It's a little fun to watch his older sister attempt to lie to him.]

Some lies are harmless. Others are for the person who is lying, not really to hurt anyone but for people to protect themselves. [That's the sort of lying that Jacob is best at.]

[soulsword]

So is my brother. I have no idea why he continues to try. Though he's much better than Kitty.

In the long run lies like those hurt you more.

[brotherofagod]

They could. I think it depends on the person.

I don't let lies like that hurt me because I know that it is a weird way that they show they care or are worried about me. But I think it depends. When it's not about cookies it might hurt.

[He pauses and considers it.]

I try not to lie but I sometimes say nothing... and I think that might be worse. Knowing there is something to be said but remaining silent.

If that makes sense.

[soulsword]

Is it worse because then it leaves you with regret over what you never got to say?

[brotherofagod]

[Jacob frowns a bit but then quickly shakes his head.]

I guess I don't regret it.

Is that messed up?

[soulsword]

Curious. [ Extremely so actually. ] Perhaps it is. But isn't everyone a little messed up in their own way?

[brotherofagod]

[A low warm chuckle echoes through the phone.]

I guess you're right.

It isn't really a secret anyway. I just don't talk to her about it. [He's talk to others about it, manly his old therapist, and it doesn't bother him as much as it used too but he never wants to talk to his sister about it. It's bad enough that she knows the bits and pieces that have floated around the group.]

[soulsword]

I often am. [ She's also not modest. ]

Why do you not talk to her about it?

[brotherofagod]

[He can't really argue with her if it's true.]

It'll just make her sad and honestly, I don't think she needs to know. It's my past. We're close and we care about each other but with that comes trust.

We don't know everything about each other and we don't have to.

[Of course his sister is an open book and horrible at lying but that's a different issue.]

[soulsword]

I see. I suppose...I can understand that.

[brotherofagod]

Would it upset you if I kept something from you?

[Because he won't if it does. Luckily his sister somehow understands his secrets and doesn't pry into them or think less of him for having them.]

[soulsword]

It would depend on if it affected me.

[brotherofagod]

I'll keep that in mind.

I'd like to stay in your good graces.

[soulsword]

A wise decision.