A Keen, Inquisitive Sister

With your first major conquest resolved, you try to think in a more forward direction but are still abuzz with excitement. For the time being, you return to the table and resume having a pleasant lunch. Conversation between your parents seems a bit more lively than before as the two of them are eager to start plotting a bit of personal time together. Theresa seems pretty pleased with your choice of claim as well, grinning smugly all the while.

Enjoying the relative quiet, you take a moment to reflect and plan. You owned the family house now, whatever that entailed. Did that mean you had to make payments on your home? Does the mortgage become your responsibility, or did these supernatural powers of yours just dissolve that contract entirely? You didn't really like the idea of causing a localized economic collapse, so you silently resolve to be careful with what you claim. A few things here and there might not be too bad, but you weren't going to intentionally ruin anyone's business with your ambition.

It is ambition, right? You're not being greedy about this, just... taking a pragmatic approach to things. Yeah. As long as you're careful, it'll be fine.

Before you fall too deep into your own mental rabbit hole, Theresa bumps you with her elbow. "Hey, Bubby. After lunch, do you want to come with me to the gym?"

"Huh? Why would I wanna do that?"

Theresa frowned. "Well, you did say that everyone living here ought to exercise and stay fit. That includes you, doesn't it? Did you have your own plans for that?"

Does it? Did you have to follow your own commands regarding things you owned? The blank, searching look on your face told your sister that it hadn't even crossed your mind. Given that you usually didn't eat too much, you'd maintained a slim if... rather scrawny physique; nothing you would complain about. You did jog in the mornings before school, but that didn't really do anything but keep you from getting fat. Spectacularly average, woefully normal.

What better time to change that? Shaking your head, you grin at Theresa. "Actually, that sounds like a great idea, sis. You don't mind, do you?"

She just chuckles. "I offered, didn't I? Do you have workout clothes?"

"Just my jogging shorts and tanktops."

"Mmm... not good enough," Theresa jabs, winking at you. "Let's do a little shopping first. New you, new look, yeah? I'll drive."

Yeah... yeah! A brighter smile grows on your face, taking strongly to this air of love and support. "I like it, let's do it!" Your sister looks happy, too.

Mom seems to have tuned in to the butt end of your chat with Theresa, smiling contentedly. "You two can go on if you want. Teddy and I can handle clean-up. I think we'll get started on tidying up while you're gone, too. Right, dear?" There was something playful to Mom's question to Dad, but you weren't paying it much mind. Dad nodded and wiped his mouth off with a napkin.

"Yeah, you kids go have fun. Ain't nobody gonna say Theodore Shaw don't earn his keep." They shared a knowing look with each other, something you also seemed oblivious to. Too many ideas streaking through your mind to ponder the intentions of older folks.

Wrapping up lunch, you followed Theresa as she grabbed her keys and practically sauntered out the front door. The motions of her hips swaying so playfully drew your eye, but you quashed those thoughts and brought your gaze forward.

You'd never actually been inside Theresa's sportscar before. She didn't invite you to anything, nor did she usually want you anywhere near her birthday present of a few years ago. If you ever actually needed to go somewhere, one of your parents would drive you, or possibly let you borrow the old family SUV. The difference in age and quality is obvious as soon as your butt meets the smooth faux leather of her car's cushy seats. It fits the shape of your back better than the more default form of the family car's seats, and you quickly relax, sighing contentedly. Just being in this car is a big sign that Theresa really is treating you better.

"Just don't make a mess and we're cool, okay?" She smirks over at you, starting the engine and driving off into town.

"Yeah, no problem." Even a few years old, Theresa's car still looks brand-spanking new. She clearly puts a lot of care into it.

After a few turns to get onto the main roads, Theresa looks you over again with a grin. "So... claimed the whole house, eh? And here I worried you were gonna be boring about it."

"Claiming you certainly wasn't boring," you scoff.

"Eh, fair. Still, good call on the cigars. Mom and I tried to ask him to quit before, but he'd never budge on it. Now that he has to pick between cigars and his home, he's finally relented." You knew all of that, and were pretty surprised yourself that Dad gave up so easily. Was that also because of your power of authority in claiming the house? It didn't feel too good to give your own father such a harsh ultimatum, but you couldn't argue with the results. Tough love.

"I didn't say anything I didn't mean," you reply. "I hated the cigars, too, and it seemed like a good opportunity. Seeing Mom so happy is good for my soul, too."

Theresa gives you a cocky smirk, but tries to keep her eyes on the road. "So Bubby still loves his big sister, huh? How sweet."

As usual, you match sarcasm with sincerity. "Well of course I love you, Tess. You're family." You watch her wince with what is hopefully guilt. "Now, I wouldn't really say that I like you. You've treated me pretty terribly for years now, and seeing you has always been a source of dread."

She winces again, hissing softly and hunching her shoulders a bit. "Oh, okay, ow. You're right, but seriously, ow. I know they say words hurt, but that felt like... the opposite of that fluttery good vibe I got from praise. Are you doing that on purpose?"

"No? I mean, I don't think I did... Sorry, Tess."

"It's fine, it's fine," she waves off your concern. "Just space out your honesty a little, maybe? I'm gonna make it up to you, I promise, and I don't really need to hear just how bad I've been, especially if it's gonna literally hurt to hear it." You nod, watching her. "Also, these are good things to know. We're unlocking the secrets of your weird power one step at a time. Your words... or maybe your intent with them?... seem to have an amplified impact on someone you own. I didn't get fluttery when you said you loved me again, probably because you were just affirming it without as much enthusiasm?"

Having Theresa give you feedback and putting words to these sensations is already proving invaluable. How much slower would you be taking this if you were on your own? "You're right, this is good info to have. I'm glad you were the first one I claimed, even if it was on accident." You lay it on a little thick, trying to push a positive intent toward your sister. "You've always been one of the smartest people I know, and I can't think of a better person to help me with this. Reconciling is just icing on the cake."

Watching her reaction, you see Theresa's chest rise up, drawing in a hard breath as her eyes get a little glassy. Getting distracted by such an upwelling of emotion, she smacks your leg a few times. "Okay, okay, enough! God, you're gonna make me cry! Too many feel-goods!"

You laugh and curl away from her flailing hand, grinning like an idiot. "Sorry sis, I gotta test this out!" She huffs and scowls at you for just a second before she can't help but laugh alongside you.

"If we crash because you blinded me with happy tears, I am so gonna haunt your ass."