“Listen, there’s nothing siblings won’t do. I know this first hand, ‘cause I’m related to both Leo and Harley. Overall, a squadron of highly trained mechanics that can build machines to fulfill any sort of prank.”
She patted Drew on the slim shoulder, completely unsure how to calm the beauty queen. Drew didn’t look quite as glamorous as usual, for sure, but she was still lovely in Nyssa’s view. A bit of smeary eyeliner and mascara, some patchy foundation, that couldn’t mar a child of Aphrodite. That couldn’t mar someone like Drew. Someone who was so incredibly, wonderfully beautiful. Nyssa didn’t want to stop looking at her, even in this state.
As if in a trance, she raised her hand, using one of her thick fingers to wipe at a smudge beneath Drew’s eye. Only then did she realize how close she was standing to the daughter of Aphrodite, their sides practically touching. Nyssa jolted back into reality and took a step back, expression slightly frantic.
“Like, uh, like I was saying. Siblings are, um, crazy. They do stuff. They do all sorts of stuff. It’s, uh, sometimes really the, um, worst.” The mechanic wasn’t sure where she was going with that line of thought, and she hung her head slightly as she accepted the rag back. Sure, maybe Drew felt humiliated with streaky makeup, but at least she wasn’t making an emotional mess of herself. Aside from, like, the shrieking.
“I won’t go anywhere. –Unless you want me to. I, um, I understand. The sibling thing. That’s what I was saying. It’s hard when you, uh, don’t grow up with siblings and suddenly it’s, bam, you’ve got all this family. Even years later, it’s hard. Especially when they team up on you. But I, um, I won’t go anywhere if you need. I can still, um, I can still fix the leak if you’d like.” Nyssa looked up in the guise of re-observing the ceiling, hiding her red cheeks.
Did Nyssa just imply her siblings ganged up on her, too? She can’t believe it. Even years later, it’s hard. But—Nyssa was like, super sister. The whole cabin might have agreed on Valdez as their counsellor (Gods, why) but Nyssa was still pretty much the matriarch. Wow. Okay. That eases her irritation with her own inability to innately and permanently adore the little shits she lives with every summer. (She loves them, deep down, but that doesn’t mean she has to get along with them 24/7, right?)
“ You’re an only child on the mortal side, too? ” She sniffs. They don’t train you to deal with mischievous monkeys, after all. Nyssa wipes away a smudge, and Drew leans towards the touch without thinking. Friends fixed each other’s make-up all the time. Uh, usually, though—her friends didn’t turn quite so red over it. Or stare so hard at the ceiling after. She’d have raised a brow at that, if the mood were more fitting for teasing. “ I thought maybe you had a few siblings outside of camp, since you’re so good with the little sh—kids in camp. They totally adore you. Seemed like you had extra practice, or something. ”
Then again, did Nyssa seem like someone who’d stay in camp all year if she had someone waiting for her, needing her, outside?
“ And I’d really appreciate it if you could fix the roof. Any chores you’re on rotation for, list them and send them my way—I’ll make sure my siblings help out to make up for this, ” There. Back to her usual curmudgeonly self again. This time with a little grateful look, and a soft touch to Nyssa’s arm. That soft touch turns to wide eyes and rapid blinking when she seems to come into contact with solid muscle. Wow. Shit.
“ If—If there’s anything else I could—we could, um. DO. Or pay, for the roof... Just let me know. My siblings and I will be totally ready to, y’know, help— ”
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