"You're not alone, you know." They're walking along the riverbank, beneath the moonlight. Jaden takes slow, long strides like a crane. "It's not right what happened. It's not your fault." The moon is almost full, waxing gibbous. Big, heavy clouds pass quick in the steady wind.
"I know, I know intellectually that it's just how people are-" Jake is cut off by his twin, who stops. "No, that's not what I mean. If you try to explain things like that... yes, there's a sociological reason. But them choosing to blame you is still their choice. They don't need you running defense for them, and you don't need to spend that energy. Especially when they're actively choosing to blame you when they're at fault for their own choices."
Jake had been walking with his shoulders hunched, with his steps halting. "You're right, I—" "No. No more of the self effacing. I know I'm right. Only tell me if I'm wrong, I need you to only tell me about things I can change to make better. That's what I'm trying to tell you: ways to be better. C'mon." Jaden leads hur twin down a short path. He stumbles and crashes, clumsy, but xi waits for him. In time, they come to the riverside itself.
The river rolls slow under the moonlight.
"So. How do I become better? We've made all the to do lists, we've got the general outline of how to save the world. What do we do now?" "For a start, you pick up exercising again. You need to be a good example for our little brothers. And for my sake," Xi sets a hand on his shoulder, the other on his mid-back, and adjusts his posture. Lets hur gaze linger on how his shoulder fills out the shirt. "You're a better tool if you're fit. If we're going to make a new masculinity, to reveal a truer form, your body will be needed. For marketing, even if nothing else."