Blood and books (mina&sarah)

[mina pandora oliveira]

@callisto & sarah jane oliveira

Apparently it was pile on Mina day. That didn’t happen often, especially with Callisto and Sarah in the same room. She expected as much coming from Sarah; that was a no-brainer. Fundamentally they probably disagreed on things more often than she did with Cal. That was just how it worked. Leading similar life styles definitely had something to do with it. Trying to talk standards with her stripper sister that knew exactly what Mina had gone after had been a loss since the start. There were quite a few low blows she could make, such as using Sebastian, because he was a product of Sarah’s recklessness, but that would bring her down to the same level as her oldest sister, and probably wouldn’t go over that well with Callisto either. Those conversations had been had years ago, and she didn’t want to be that person just because she couldn’t take criticism. “How’s that going by the way? Regulars haven’t gotten tired of you yet, have they? I heard the turnover rate at the club is pretty high these days. Not sure if being the senior dancer is as great of a title as they make it out to be.”

Her comment was perfectly timed with Callisto’s standard comment of being ‘useful to society’. Mina had heard that one dozens of times before. She basically ignored it once she heard it start to come out of her sister’s mouth. The conversation that followed was never all that important anyways. “At least I work somewhere that promotes the betterment of education and knowledge,” she said, crossing her arms smugly. “Then again, some of us didn’t graduate, did we?” That was all Mina would ever have over Sarah. She had managed to complete Hogwarts. It was rough, but she had done it. Sarah would have finished swimmingly had she not…yeah…there were a lot of decisions made by her sister that influenced where Mina did not want her life to end up. Being able to ride that very fine line meant she could still get away with some things but still be herself and no one would bat an eye. Everyone would always look at what Sarah had done and think nothing of what Mina had done. It was perfect most of the time.

[Deleted]

Sarah couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was only 24, but Mina made it sound like she was an old hag. "Is that what you can remember from your visits? Because as I can recall youre usually smashed by the time you get to the club, I'm surprised you remember anything." Mina had a high tolerance level like herself but she also didn't seem to have any sort of restraint. She drank till she dropped.

Ah, being a productive member of society. Ideally Sarah picked up a book from a shelf and skipped through it. "I'm providing plenty of 'service' at the club." she shut the book and smirked at her sisters. "They always need a good distraction after a traumatic Hospital visit." That was definitely a jab at her sister, part because she just liked being mean by nature but also to see just what Callisto might say with Sebastian present. The book returned to the shelf and she scowled at Mina's comment. "Since when did we start counting your graduation as legitimate? The only reason you graduated was because they didn't want to deal with you another year." she snapped. Not true but... well, Mina hadn't been a great student so it was always an easy point to insult. She'd timed the comment well too, Sebastian had gotten distracted by something and run off to investigate it, just far enough to not have heard his mother's venomous words.

mina pandora oliveira
@callisto

[Deleted]

This was going to turn into an all out disaster at any second. The first part of the disaster came when Callisto called her sisters out on being useful to society. Mina actually had a good point, working somewhere with books. Callisto respected books so, in turn, she could respect Minas current career choice. Sarah on the other hand... sure she did 'service' at the club, but it wasn't a kind that Cal approved of. And taking a jab at her own job made Callisto grimace. Sebastian waddled away from her, looking at the books on the bottom shelves. Callisto kept her eyes on him for a moment as she spoke, "I suppose someone has to cheer up sick people," she said through gritted teeth. She wasn't going to all out war with Seb here.

But then Mina brought up graduating, and Cal winced, turning back to her sisters. That was never a good. Sarahs comeback was actually quite clever, almost so clever that Callisto actually thought about laughing. But it was actually quite rude, no surprise there, and she didn't want a real fight to break out. Before Mina could answer, Callisto jumped in, "girls, school was so long ago it barely matters now. Education is not the only way to be successful, so let's drop the subject," she looked between the two of them, kind of surprised that she was playing peacemaker. Someone had to since their brother wasn't around anymore.

sarah jane oliveira
mina pandora oliveira
(almost time to wrap this baby up me thinks)

[mina pandora oliveira]

@callisto & sarah jane oliveira

Why did Sarah think she cared about remembering what happened while she was drunk? “It’s like you said. I’m there often enough to remember who is who and when they’re there. Merlin, it’s like you don’t actually work Sarah,” Mina pushed back. “Though I guess that’s nothing new.” She shrugged, watching as her oldest sister grabbed a book and start flipping through it, somehow still trying to defend her dead-end of a job. Mina was afraid of putting those thoughts into words, simply because that would draw the wrath and fury from Sarah. Having Sebastian in the store with them wouldn’t matter at that point. Mina still had herself convinced that Sarah didn’t actually care much for the boy, and was just busy using him as a tool to create sympathy, as awful as that sounded. At least Callisto cared about him.

Mina ignored the extra jab at Cal’s healer position, and returned to her spot on her chair behind the cash register. If those two were going to go at it, she would need a decent seat. It would be hilarious if a customer walked in on it too. “She has a point,” Mina grinned, looking back and forth between them as Callisto returned with her own statement, and that someone had to care for them. Sarah certainly wouldn’t. She would probably prefer to put more people in the hospital than heal them.

She certainly didn’t think the education bit would come back to bite her, but it did because it was Sarah. Mina should have known better. If Sarah had actually cared about school as much as she did arguing about it after the fact, maybe she would have graduated. She wanted to voice that, but Callisto stepped in. That was different. “Clearly it is,” Mina muttered to herself, spinning herself around on her chair. “I suppose it isn’t,” Mina said louder, countering her true thoughts on the matter. “The world needs its cashiers and whores after all.”

[Deleted]

Sarah's smirk was wide and absolutely wicked. She wasn't ashamed of her line of work, much to Callisto's dismay probably. The last thing her high and mighter healer of a sister would like to admit was that her eldest sister was a stripper (though whore when the desire struck.), and that her slightly younger sister was an aspiring no ambition cashier. "We can't all be as ambitious as you, Callisto. If we did, who would you fret over? Isn't that your sole purpose in life?"

The way they both acted after her insult Sarah knew she'd won that round. Callisto was trying to verbally get between them and put a stop to the discussion before it even really began and Mina was metaphorically retreating behind Callisto. Typically. Sarah pouted out her lower lip just a touch, putting on an expression of faked sympathy. "Sweet Callisto, all I did was mention what we all thought. Our parents were so very proud of you, Mina. I don't think they ever expected to see you get that far in life." Now she was just nailing down the lid of the coffin mercilessly. "Isn't that why they are so content with you being a cashier? You've exceeded all their other expectations after all. What else could they hope from you?" Around that time Sebastian came toddling back, rubbing his eyes. Ugh. That could only mean one thing. Forcing a more 'domestic' expression to appear, Sarah held out her arms to the boy. Though sluggish, he toddled over and she scooped him up. "But, we'll have to catch up another day. You can tell me all about how exciting being a cashier is. Ciao." Sarah wasn't much in ways of decent exits. She was quite infamous for always getting the last word in before leaving, giving people no time to effectively rebuttal or react before she was gone. This was one of those cases. Her toddler in arms she swept out of that store like the wind itself, leaving her sister's without even the slightest hesitation.

@callisto
mina pandora oliveira
(Sarah out! ahahha. You guys keep going as long as you want We all knew Sarah wouldn't stay long.)

[Deleted]

This was turning into an all out regular old day for the Oliveira sisters. Callisto was trying to reign them in, but it wasn't working. "I guess I would be bored if you two suddenly became respectable," Callisto drawled, barely loud enough to be heard. Sarah did have a point, though. What would she do with her life if she didn't have her sisters to boss around? Well, she'd take care of Sebastian, surely... unless Sarah was competent enough to do it on her own. As if that would ever happen.

Sarah pouted, and Callisto grimaced at it. Sarah said she was just mentioning what they all were thinking, about mum and dad being so proud and that they didn't expect Mina to graduate. Sarah went on, about Mina and how there wasn't much else they could hope from her. Callisto winced, knowing that she had said similar things to Mina in heated moments. She didn't like the way it sounded and suddenly felt terrible. Sebastian went back to his mother, and Callisto watched as she lifted him up. "By-" she barely had time to even wave to Sebastian before Sarah was out the door.

Callisto sighed, turning toward Mina, "I guess I should get cleaned up. I'm making dinner tonight, if you want to skip out on the clubs for an hour or two," she offered.

mina pandora oliveira (wrap iiiit)
sarah jane oliveira

[mina pandora oliveira]

@callisto & sarah jane oliveira

There were plenty of times where Mina agreed with Sarah about Callisto being too ambitious and not having much to do other than drink wine and whine about the sorry state of her siblings. Hell, she had agreed with Sarah on that earlier in their conversation. This time though seemed like it was too far to her. There was a difference between the delivery and when Sarah meant something or not. Callisto didn’t seem all that affected by it, but Mina still watched her face to see if there was any reaction at all. Nothing. She was probably numb to the constant attacks they sent at each other every day. Anyone would after twenty years of it. How Adena and their brother didn’t get sick of their bickering was beyond her. Sometimes even she was ready to tap out once it got too much, especially if she couldn’t finished what she had started. Today was starting to look like one of those days.

Again, there were times where Sarah said things to say things, and others where she was really trying to drive a wedge. Typically, Mina shrugged off the comments about her success. She had chosen to work as a cashier and go running around almost every night like a wild child. She knew that wasn’t the best lifestyle, and to reach real success, she would have to put forth more effort. Saying mum and dad didn’t think she would graduate hurt though. Not everyone could thrive in an educational setting, and she happened to be one of those. It didn’t mean she was stupid, just struggled concentrating and applying what she read and learned to exams. Her eyes flicked from Callisto to Sarah as her oldest sister said all of these things. There weren’t many times where she kept her mouth shut, especially when it came to defending herself, but this was going to be one of them. It wasn’t worth it, and letting Sarah think she was right was easier. Luckily Sebastian decided he wanted to leave, and Sarah quickly scooped him up and was out the door in the blink of an eye.

With Sarah gone, Callisto turned back to face her and brought up dinner. Mina blinked a few times, deciding what to do. She kind of didn’t want to go home now even though Callisto hadn’t said the more irreprehensible things. Sitting down and eating with her would just be a reminder of everything that had been said today. “I’ll think about it,” Mina said as she started back towards the front of the shop where she had been earlier restacking books. “I should get back to work.”

[The End]