"Wouldn't that be a sight."

"I'm not sure what the point of having forever is if we don't eventually get around to making things nice."

"You're not wrong!"

"I'm never wrong!" 

"Hmm. Never? I am suspicious of this claim."

"Then your suspicion is terribly misplaced because I am always correct about everything."

"This is a trap, isn't it, I'm to notice that you're incorrect about some trivial detail and when I point it out I shall look silly and pedantic, thus making you seem even more reasonable."

"The model of reasonability, right here insisting he has never erred in any way."

"Even as a small child? That's even more suspicious!"

"I was unerringly small and adorable and correct about things!"

"I completely believe that you were unerringly small and adorable."

"Well, then, it's settled; we cannot both be wrong."

"Now that would be implausible!"

"Anyway. Take care. Drop by occasionally, you know me, I get lonely here running the city."

"Of course. Take care."

And then--

Well, he wasn't wrong about throwing herself into her work and not socializing with people being a bad way to deal with loneliness and she should see her non-twin friends more often.

And after that conversation the choice of friends isn't hard. "Do you want a family" argh.

Vorondie's house is also closer to the palace than to the house of the Prince she's apprenticed to, so.

Vorondie is pleased to see her, if more than a bit snarky about it. "Hey. It's been a while."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I've--been distracted. Then the Prince Nelyafinwe reminded me that being less social is an idiotic attempt at dealing with loneliness, so here I am. ...I really am sorry."

"Aw, hey, come in," she says, ushering the other woman inside and closing the door securely. "Ahya's never been gone this long before, it's not surprising that you wouldn't be thinking clearly."

"Mhm. I still shouldn't be--neglecting you, because I'm dealing with Feelings."

"...You're doing the thing again. Stop it."

"The thing?"

"The thing where instead of dealing with your emotions like an adult you do not do that. Optional features include unhelpful self-recriminations, deciding you can't do anything about the source of your negative emotions and should therefore pretend they don't exist, deciding you can't do anything about them when this is not in fact true, putting other peoples' needs above your own because their emotions are in their heads instead of yours and therefore less overwhelming..."

"Right. That thing. In my defense, it's a lot harder to tell when I'm doing it from the inside."

"Eru help us both and optionally your sister; you will probably have the practice to get better at recognizing it with time. Meanwhile: you are doing it. Stop."

"Yeah, okay," she murmurs, and slumps against her a little bit.