(Zash why are you in this call.)

(If Nai didn't want Zash listening in he could've hidden. Or at least not broadcasted.)

(He wasn't broadca—oh. He kinda was. Um.)

(Affection and amusement.)

Well, Zash? Are they ready for big proper conversations, now?

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh can they instead go walk their dog. Zash is sure he can convince Brad to clone them a dog for them to walk it.

Here's a mental concept of what a dog is, though it's third hand because the ship didn't have a dog so he only knows those from like movies and stuff. You walk them.

Ahuh. Sounds weird, she doesn't see the appeal. This all sounds less like he actually needs time to be ready for a conversation, and more like he's falling into old habits of avoiding Nai again. Is he doing that?

No, because his excuses are very transparent and he's not even trying to believe them he just doesn't WANNA.

(They had a fight and it's not like things were peachy before but the only actual full fight they'd ever had before was when Nai took the ships down and they didn't speak for five years and it wasn't okay and Zash is terrified that things aren't gonna be okay and he's terrified that he's gonna punch Nai out again and that'll make things worse and and and and)

She reaches over to hold him so she can pet him properly.

"Yeah, I know," she murmurs, softly. "I'll be there this time, though. No matter what happens. Does that help?"

...yeah. It does. Because if any yelling happens she can do the yelling instead of him that would be unkind and honestly Zash does not actually think that'd happen at all really, he'd just end up yelling himself anyway.

"I wouldn't mind doing some yelling, actually. It's not as... close to home with me?"

[He's understandable and sympathetic and often charming, but not my twin.]

[oh, sure, if you want to do some yelling of your own you are free to do so I just think I might want to do some yelling too and I don't WANNA but if it happens it happens, you know]

[also honestly I'm not entirely sure "twin" really encapsulates all he is to me. —uh, not just because of the whole "our feelings for each other could be mapped onto romance" thing, more because there's a lot of stuff the word in human contexts means that our relationship doesn't have and vice-versa]

[I think something like "soulmate" except less exclusively romantic would be closer to it? there is... a very real sense in which he is my other half.]

Darling. Zash. Sweetheart. Love.

She's literally in your head. She knows. She just used 'twin' as a casual gloss.

Well.

Fair.

Just.

...

...he's scared.

Losing Nai like this would hurt a lot.

Yeah.

But she thinks at this point fretting more about it will just make it worse, and the only thing to do is to just. Rip the proverbial bandaid off. ... Not that he's ever needed one of those, but still.

Well.

(The mental image he projects is of all the various scars and metal plates and stitched bits decorating his body.)

Not bandaids.

Uh huh.

[He's as good for conversation as he'll be anytime soon. Where are you?] she sends, including Zash in the broadcast to Nai. And then she can gently tug him to his brother for the necessary conversation.

Mental picture of the plants room. ...and no small measure of anxiety.

Yeah he'll be tugged. Even though he's scared.

Yeah.

She sends both a psychic hug as she brings the twins together to have their... conversation. Fight, maybe. They'll see.

Nai is floating cross-legged in the middle of the circular platform in the center of the walkway, as he is sometimes wont to do. The plate that had his pancakes sits on the floor next to the console, no pancakes in sight. He opens his eyes when they walk in, and... does not look away, even though he really wants to.

He's not hiding at all. He's scared, and anxious, and he really really likes them and wants them to like him and he is in deep conflict because of that and he wants to do the right thing and he isn't sure what the right thing is and he's not sure he's shaped to do the right thing and and and

...oh, Nai.

Zash lets go of Yvette's hand then walks over to his twin and wraps his arms around him.

Zash is making this worse what if they become enemies forever!!!!

Then they'd better get as many hugs as they can beforehand, right?

Awwwwwww. Yvette can hug him too.

Though she suspects they are not going to become enemies forever, actually? Correct her if she's wrong but there seems to be a decidedly.... 'let's negotiate' feel to him?

Well. Yes. Kind of. He just. Um. So here's the thing.