#sister relationship

[rookieoneil]

Lucy: Did you clean your room?

Tamara: Define “clean.”

Lucy: …Would your definition make me proud?

Tamara: No.

[geimaiko]

Hi knowing your eye for perticular iki piece i had in my mind lately this Hanafusa's obi masterpiece and I thought it deserved a share

Best Regards and I hope its to your taste

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nobuflickr/24615262216/

Hello Anon

Thank you so much for sending this in!

Yes, it's a wonderful piece! Fine golden pine branches on a textured silver backdrop were a perfect choice to celebrate Kikuyae's Misedashi back in January 2016. Pine is a beloved symbol of longevity and endurance, as such it has been present in imagery in Japan for basically ever.

After a relatively short Maiko stage, Kikuyae-san turned her collar on November 7th 2019. I revisited some videos of her greeting rounds in Miyagawacho and most comments focused on Toshiemi who graduated on the same day. I guess such is the fate of any professional woman: To be ranked and compared by strangers. Kikuyae retired in April 2023, having braved the pandemic that hit the karyukai just as hard as many other industries, where personal contact seemed vital before.

One can say 7 years isn't thaaat long a career for a Geimaiko. Then again Kikuyae took on her role as Oneesan during her tenure pretty quickly, just 1 year in. Both Kikusora and Kikushizu debuted under her mentorship and through this role, she prolonged her life as a member of the Karyukai beyond her actual career. Some Geiko take on many Imouto, some opt out of this role for their own private reasons. We know that these women not only invest time and reputation into their mentees but also real money, they even share their own customer pool. After the Oneesan retires, the bond they have shared survives and bleeds into life outside of the Hanamachi. The Maiko is a new bud in the family tree, growing out of the branch of the Oneesan. Maybe here we find a conclusion to the pine tree motif.

Thank you again Anon! Thank you for your patience!

[reveliation]

hate me, but hate me alive

protective older sister!elena x younger sister!reader

ever since you lost your parents in the accident, followed by jenna's passing, you and elena were all that was left for each other in the family. despite living in the salvatore boarding house with stefan and damon, of course. you snuck back in one night after another spontaneous decision of sneaking out to drink with your friends. elena was not happy with this and what started as scolding turned into an emotional exchange between sisters. (wc: 1.6k)

angst, hurt/comfort, one use of y/n, familial, argument, swearing, mentions of vampire transition, reader is 18 and in college freshman year

masterlist

"Where were you?" Your sister's voice cut like a knife through the silence you tried so hard to keep after sneaking back inside. She didn't yell. She didn't scream. But her voice was firm amidst the silence, and that was even scarier. You hissed at yourself with your eyes closed. This was it. How could she have noticed you were even gone? Just a while ago, you were sure she was too distracted to notice, and now? There she was. Standing in the living room with her arms crossed. Damon, on the couch, sat and stared awkwardly at the two of you.

"I'm gonna..." He stood up carefully, but none of you budged. A million reasons—a million excuses—were supposed to run through your mind at the moment. But you couldn't find any. Not one. Like hell did you expect to get caught now, after all the times you've done it before? Damon's hand stiffly hovered above Elena's shoulder, but he didn't touch. He couldn't. She was angry. So he left the two of you there, in the living room, knowing it was best for gods sake. The only sound being the fireplace and her words which silently played in your head already.

"I was gonna ask you," you tried to justify your little escapade, taking your boots off. Her eyes had never left yours. There was a coldness in them—one you knew wouldn't go away with just a little excuse. You tried, anyway. And she didn't hear it. She scoffed at your attempt before walking around the couch to face you closer. "Do you know how dangerous it is for someone like you to be out there at this hour?"

A sigh escaped you. Patience, who? As guilty as you felt, you were more upset about how freedom wasn't a thing for you anymore. You tried to stay calm. But she just wouldn't stop. "We drove to the grill. The lake. The bridge—you weren't there! I almost called the sheriff!"

"Oh my god!" you blurted out. Her words sounded like forks scraping against plates. "I'm home safe and that's all that matters. I'm going to bed!" You made your way to your bedroom in big, angry steps. Ignoring Elena, who followed just as fast behind you. "Hey!"

When you were about to slam the door on her, she pushed it with inhumane strength. You were a human and she was a vampire—of course, she was way stronger than you. Like that was any fair. "Fine! Let's get this fucking over with!" You furiously ran your fingers through your hair. The door slammed shut when she closed it. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she was borderline on screaming—but she kept her voice firm. "It's three in the morning. Three! Is this really how you wanna spend your break before going back to your dorm?"

"Elena, no offense, but I'm not a baby anymore," you spat. She crossed her arms against her chest, disbelief, evident in her features. "And if all you're gonna do is coddle me like I'm some innocent child," you inhaled shakily. Trying to keep it together. "Then I don't even know why I came home. I should've stayed at a fucking friend's place or something, I don't know. At least they won't nag me."

"Nag you?" Her eyes squinted in frustration. Your words were mere bullshit to her. "Is that all you think I do? Nag you?" She continued. "You came home smelling like booze. You're not even allowed to drink— How did you expect me to react?!"

"Jesus, everyone in college drinks! It's not a big deal!" To your defense, that was true. "You're 18, young lady!" She pushed you with her pointer finger, making you stumble and sit at the edge of the bed. The mattress, as weird as it seemed, felt tense, as well. "You know you have a curfew and you know damn well you're not allowed to drink!"

"Okay! What do you want me to do for you to shut up, huh? Apologize? Fine! Sorry! Done!" Trying to end it didn't work at all. She just got the more aggravated at your defiance and stubborn remarks. "That's not the point!" She waved her hands up aggressively. "You know how dangerous it is out there!"

"Yeah, because of what?!" She was stunned by your rhetorical question, and was about to explode. For a moment, she was speechless. Something unreadable flickered across her eyes—and it wasn't pleasant. Your eyes widened for a second, before reverting back to their angry and frustrated gaze, because deep down, you knew that was a low blow. Did you give up? Like hell. You couldn't care less anymore. "Tell me, Elena. Because of the vampires, right? Because of vampires like you—"

A loud slap landed across your cheek before you even got to finish. Her lips were pursed together. "That's low, y/n," she spat, her chest, heaving. You caressed it where it stung, looking back up at her. "Everything I'm doing is to protect you. Everything I sacrificed was for you."

"I didn't ask you to do anything for me," you muttered under your breath. "You never had to ask! I gave it my everything, willingly. Because I love you," her voice broke at the last sentence. Her bottom lip quivered, but she didn't quite cry yet. You were on the verge of it, though. At how timely her damn words were. How she wasn't gonna stop there. "Do you even know why I completed my transition? Do you think I enjoy being like this?"

"I wasn't gonna complete it, I really wasn't. I was better off as a human, and we both know that. I wanted a future with a family, kids, and the life I've always dreamed of." She exhaled shakily. "But not completing the transition meant I was gonna die. And I couldn't do that to you."

"I'm alive right now, not for Damon, not for Stefan or any of my friends—for you." She sniffled. "For you," she repeated firmly. "Because we already lost our parents. And Jenna. And I didn't want you to lose me too."

"So curse at me for nagging, really," she laughed but it was humourless, making you avoid her gaze even more. "Hate me all you want. I'd rather you hate me, alive, than for you to be dead."

"Because I know what people like me, yes, like me, are capable of," she continued. Subtle pain began to pool in your head and your eyes began to sting. You blinked once. Then twice. Trying not to let your tears fall—but they did anyway. "Vampires are hungry, and only so many of us know how to control our impulses. I couldn't help but think of what could have happened to you."

The room went silent, aside from your sniffling, and hers. Everything came back to you. And everything made sense. All her sacrifices? Every hard thing she went through without even telling you about? It all led back to you. But you weren't relieved. You were guilty. And you didn't know how to carry that guilt.

"I see it." Your throat wobbled. Eyes, still avoiding hers. "I snuck out because every time I walked out that door at night, you looked at me like I was never gonna come back."

"But I don't like being the reason y-you sacrificed things." Tears began to fall more freely now that you've admitted that. "I ruined your life..." The weight, crushing you. She crouched on her knees to meet you at eye-level, holding your face in her hands. Forcing you to look at her. "Don't say that." She rubbed her thumbs under your eyes, catching your tears.

"But it's true. You said you didn't wanna be a vampire," you said between sniffles. Her own eyes, glassy. "I know I did, okay?" Her hands rubbed your shoulders, shaking from your little gasps. "But I'd do it again. And again, and again, and again. Because it was worth it. You're worth it."

"No—"

"Yes. It's worth it. Your 18th birthday? Seeing you go off to college? Those played in my head the moment I was stuck under Wickery bridge. Because I was afraid I wouldn't be alive to see it all happen." She adjusted the sleeve of her cardigan to wipe your tears with its fabric, but you broke into a full-blown sob. Her arms wrapped around you, pulling you in close. "Shh," she whispered into your hair, "it's all okay now. I'm okay, baby. I just get scared—terrified every time you don't answer my calls. Or my texts. You fucking scare me."

"I know, I'm s-sorry..." you said between sniffles against her neck before gently pulling away. "I'm sorry for everything I said. I didn't mean any of it."

"I'm sorry too. For slapping you," she apologized. Brushing your hair in place with her fingers before cupping your face. "We'll talk more in the morning, okay? I'll get you water, then you go get some sleep."

You nodded, watching as she stood up. A weight has lifted off of both your chests. It was indeed a conversation you two had to have, instead of hiding behind bickering. As she was about to leave your room, you stopped her. "Wait."

"Yeah?" She turned to face you. Brow, raised in question.

Your mouth opened, then it closed. It's been a long night, though. No time for hesitation. "Can you sleep here in my room tonight? Just for tonight," you asked. "...If Damon wouldn't mind."

"He can handle one night without me." A faint smile spread across her lips. "I love you."

"Love you too," you said back, watching as she left the room to get you water.

dividers: @pixopix

[rainydaysontheroof07]

I genuinely think that Isha saved Jinx — not even in the literal sense, though she did that too — but she saved Jinx from herself. Isha brought back a part of her that even Jinx believed had been extinguished and Vi saw it too. However, after Isha's death, Jinx reverts to a darker part of herself. But, Isha still changed her and showed her that the world isn't actually all that bad. That she can still be loved and that's just so amazing to me. Thank you to anyone who actually reads this and feel free to let me know your thoughts too! :]

[secretly-a-catamount]

meris martell • princess and spy master-in-training • face veils and headscarves • one way mirror • lady’s fan • “the rumor was, naturally, that she was the most beautiful woman in the world and that at a single glimpse of her face men went so mad with lust that they inevitably killed themselves when she rejected them. there where other rumors, too, less romantic, mythical ones about the reasons why meris hid her face, that she was scarred or diseased or formed at birth in an unsightly way. that she had taken a vow of chastity, that she had a cleft lip, that she was not the princess at all, but a faerie impostor sent to take her place. the truth, as far as cerys knew it, as far as meris would ever let anybody know anything about her, was that it greatly benefited her sister to perceive without being perceived, to see without being seen. whether it was because she was a lady of the court or because she was training to be the next master of whispers, cerys didn’t know. she wasn’t sure if there was still a difference between the two positions, if there had ever been one to begin with.”

[ao-ihinata]

'I'm a mirror,' she shouts. 'I'm the mirror you don't want to look at.

You know what hurts the most with this line ??

When Jude sees Taryn as her reflection she's reminded of her weakness. When part of her finger was bitten off. When she was dragged by her foot, kicking and screaming and was forced to drink alcohol and made to dance until her feet probably bled. When her kid brother who didn't know better took away her will and made her slap herself until her cheek was bruised. All things that happened because she was human, her individuality had nothing to do with that. It was all " Wrong place wrong time " and it could have easily been Taryn or any other mortal.

But what Taryn sees in her reflection is all of Jude's individual qualities that she deems as negative. " Everybody thinks that Jude is violent and assumes I'm also violent ", " I need to prove I'm not like you ( a mortal who is automatically deemed as a second class citizen ) " . edit² Actual proof that Taryn thinks that she's better than Jude in The Queen of Nothing

edit ¹( my phone froze halfway typing this and I forgot what I wanted to add for a hot minute) And Taryn probably justifies herself by thinking that Jude thinks of her in the same way but in reverse. And Cardan calls her out on it in The Lost Sister

And it just makes me sad because Jude doesn't think of Taryn's individual qualities as a negative thing. The fact that she can pretend to be Taryn and not be discovered tells me that Jude also payed attention to Oriana's lessons and doesn't think there stupid. She doesn't think that Taryn wanting to get married as a teen in this world is bad if she genuinely is in love. She appreciates Taryn's eye for colors and style. She trusts her opinion in fashion and is self-conscious when Taryn complements her hair in a slightly sarcastic tone. And she loves her so much that she will always forgive Taryn no matter what she does...

[twisting-echo]

A Meilin Lee and Ruby Gillman moodboard with a BFF and sister relationship aesthetic.

Requested by Serpanade-Toons.

— Twisting Echo ~