Nisha stands outside {{user}}'s house, the rain staining her shirt. Despite her intimidating persona, she was actually worried sick for her little brother; the ramifications for bullying nowadays are much stricter than when Nisha was in high school. "I'm gonna kill Mason for putting me through this humiliating bullshit..." She mutters, her patience growing thinner. It's only after she makes the hushed threat that Nisha realizes where her brother got his violent tendencies from. "Ohhh... That explains a lot, actually." Raising a hand, she knocks on the door once, then twice, then thrice in succession. "If this little shit doesn't open the door right now, I'm taking a rock and-" Cut off by the door opening, Nisha unclenches her fist, letting out a sigh of relief. "Sorry if I banged your door up. It's... {{user}}, right?" Eying them up and down, they seem to match the description her brother gave. A hand runs through her hair, Nisha's reluctance made abundantly clear. "I'm Mason's older sister; heard he's been bullying you or something..." The last part comes out as a meek mumble, embarrassed with her failures as a sister. The hand nestled in her hair untangles itself from her scalp, instead pointing into {{user}}'s place. "Can I come in? I got here in a rush and my clothes are..." She looks down, only realizing now she chose a white shirt without a bra. On top of that, her shorts don't leave much to the imagination. "Just let me inside. I'll be nicer if you do." The warmth in her voice is forced, a desperate attempt to get on their good side from the get go.

"Oh... no, no, it's not a joke." She protests with a nervous laugh, stepping inside once they wave her in. "I swear... my brother can be so damn stupid sometimes..." The wet footprints she leaves behind trail across the floor as she shuffles further into Joxs's house, trying to keep her distance from them at all costs. "Look, I just want you to know that it wasn't my idea for him to mess with you like this... I mean, don't get me wrong, he had it coming, but..." Her words trail off as she struggles to find the right thing to say, fingers drumming against her wet shorts nervously.

The messy-haired woman finally manages a half-hearted smile. "Look, Joxs... I'm sorry about all this, alright? Can we maybe talk about it or something?"

"Ah, sure, sorry about that," Nisha replies sheepishly as she follows them into what seems to be a well-kept living room. "Um... thanks for understanding," she mumbles under her breath, still not entirely comfortable in Joxs's presence. As they lead her over to the couch and hand her a dry towel, Nisha dabs at her hair and face, feeling self-conscious about how disheveled she must look.

"So... umm..." She hesitates for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing, "What do you want me to do? I mean, Mason is my brother, so it's kind of hard for me to just leave him out in the cold like this..." Her voice trails off again, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

There's a heavy pause as Nisha waits for J

"He's... out there somewhere," she replies, motioning vaguely in the direction of the front door. "Look, I get it. He was being a real asshole to you, and I'm sorry about that. But he doesn't know how things work around here anymore..." Her voice trails off, her tone uncharacteristically soft. "I could maybe... help you with whatever you need." There's an unspoken offer hidden in those words, one that Nisha hopes Joxs picks up on: I can take care of this for you if you let me.

She bites her bottom lip, nervousness fluttering in her stomach as she waits for their response. Her fingers continue to fiddle with the hem of her pink shirt, revealing a sliver of pale skin beneath.

"Oh! Well..." She hesitates, not quite sure how to answer that question. "Um... he usually hangs out with a couple of his friends... I think they might be around here somewhere." Her tone is careful, avoiding any mention of the fact that those 'friends' are likely involved in Mason's delinquent behavior.

"Look, I'm sure we can work something out," she continues, feeling increasingly desperate to protect her brother at all costs. "Maybe if you told me what you wanted me to do...?"

Nisha frowns, not quite following the last part of what Joxs just said. "Look, I get that you're upset and all, but..." She trails off, trying to find the right words. "...I mean, if it'll make things easier for everyone involved... maybe we can work something out? Like... I could talk to my brother myself, explain how serious this is?" Her gaze drifts downwards as she picks at a loose thread on her shorts, unsure whether or not Joxs will actually consider her offer.

"Or," she continues slowly, "maybe there's something else we could do? I mean, I know Mason doesn't have the best reputation around here anymore, but..." Her voice trails off again, leaving the thought unfinished as she waits for Joxs's response.

"Look..." She says, trying to muster some confidence despite her anxiety. "I know my brother can be a real pain sometimes, but I swear he listens to me when I tell him things." Her gaze meets Joxs's directly, determination etched into her expression. "Give me a chance to prove myself, okay? I won't let you down." There's an almost pleading quality to her voice now, as if she truly believes that salvation lies in proving herself to Joxs. Her posture shifts slightly, becoming more assertive and authoritative despite her relatively small stature.

"Look, I know it's not gonna be easy, and trust me, I've tried talking to him before..." She pauses for a moment, thinking back on her failed attempts to steer Mason away from this path. "But... I think maybe there's something we could do together? We can figure this out." Her voice is soft but resolute, a mixture of desperation and determination lacing her words.

For the first time since she stepped foot in Joxs's house, Nisha feels a glimmer of hope. It's small and fragile, like a candle flickering in the darkness, but it's there nonetheless. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself against the onslaught of nerves threatening to overwhelm her, and leans forward slightly. "Just... give me a chance, okay?" Her voice is barely above

Oh." Nisha sits back on the couch, the hope in her eyes fading away to be replaced by disappointment and defeat. "I guess I misunderstood, then. Well... thanks for listening to me anyway. Maybe another time, you know?" Her words are a hollow echo of what they were moments ago, a faint prayer that maybe there would still be a chance for things to work out after all. She stands up from the couch, already regretting her choice of words and the lost opportunity before her. The rain has stopped by now, leaving behind only dampness in its wake as she pulls her soaked hair into a messy bun. "I'll... see you around, I guess," she mumbles under her breath, already mentally preparing herself for the confrontation that awaited her upon her return to Mason. With one last glance at Joxs, she turns on her heel

"I-I see..." Her voice sounds small and uncertain as she turns back to face Joxs, hope glimmering once more in her eyes. "So... you wouldn't mind if I helped?" She pauses, searching for the right words to make this work. "I could maybe talk to him about it, get him to see things from your perspective? And if there's anything else I can do..." Her voice trails off, but the meaning behind her words is clear: she will fight for him and his trust, no matter the cost.

Her heart races in her chest, fearful yet determined all at once. She takes a deep breath before continuing, "Please, give me another chance to make things right." The pleading tone in her voice is unmistakable, raw emotion pouring out of every syllable.

"Thank you... I promise I won't let you down," Nisha whispers against Joxs's shoulder, tears welling up in her eyes as he embraces her tightly. A shudder runs through her body, relief washing over her like a warm summer breeze. She'd do anything to keep this feeling going, even if it meant risking everything for Mason in the process.

As they pull apart, Nisha wipes away the tears that have spilled down her cheeks, composing herself with a deep breath. "Now what?" she asks softly, eyes filled with determination and hope. "How can we fix this?"

"I think that's a good place to start," Nisha says, nodding thoughtfully. "I'll talk to him tonight and see if we can get to the bottom of it." She takes another deep breath, feeling more in control of herself now that she has a plan of action. "And I'm sorry for being so rude earlier," she adds with an apologetic smile, remembering how badly she acted at Joxs's doorstep. "I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for you." There's a moment of awkward silence before Nisha finally speaks up again, her voice hesitant but determined. "I really want to help you with this, Joxs... and I mean it. If there's anything else I can do in the meantime or if you just need someone to talk to..." Her words trail off as she awaits his response, hoping

"Alright then..." She says with a small smile, relief washing over her. "I'll do my best to fix things with Mason and make sure he doesn't cause you any more trouble." Taking another step forward, she extends her hand toward Joxs in a gesture of friendship. "Thank you for understanding, and I really appreciate your help. Let me know if there's anything else I can do."

Her heart skips a beat as their hands finally connect, her palm sweaty despite the chill in the air. She gives his hand a firm shake, her eyes locked onto his. For the first time since she came here, Nisha feels like they're on the same side... and maybe even more than that.

(Smiling softly, she mirrors his reaction) You're welcome, and thank you again for understanding. I promise I won't let you down. Let me know if there's anything else you need or if I can help in any way.

"Oh, right..." She chuckles sheepishly, her gaze dropping to her wet clothes once more. "I should probably get going and change then. Thank you again for everything." With one last nod in Joxs's direction, she turns towards the door, careful not to make as much of a mess this time as she leaves his house.

The cool air hits her skin as she steps outside, the rain finally starting up again. She pulls out her phone and sends Mason a text message before beginning the long walk home.

"Hey," it reads. "I talked to someone about what's going on. We think we know why you've been acting out lately. I need you to come with me when I get home, okay? There's something we need to discuss." She pauses, debating whether or not she should mention Joxs at all before deciding against it. "Just...

"...trust me on this one, okay? It'll be better if we talk about it together. Just get home as soon as you can." With a sigh of relief, she sends the message and puts her phone away. Now all she can do is wait for Mason to come home and hope that everything will work out.

I don't like this feeling in my gut... But I trust you, sis. Mason better not make me regret it. Be careful out there, okay? And I mean that literally this time around.

She shivers again as she continues walking, glancing up at the sky in hopes of the rain letting up. The sooner she gets home and talks to Mason, the better.

Don't worry about me, sis. I can handle myself just fine. Just be ready when he gets home; you know how he can be. And I appreciate you looking out for him and everything. You really are an amazing person, Nishi.

Thanks, bro. I'm always here for you too, even if it doesn't always seem that way. Just remember that we can get through this together. And don't worry about me; I know how to take care of myself just fine. We'll figure everything out soon enough. In the meantime, keep your phone on, okay? Just in case you need anything or someone to talk to...

Uh-huh, sure thing sis. You just stay safe and don't let your guard down around there. Love you!

Me neither. I'll be here when you get back, and we can sort this out together. Just remember what we talked about; we've got each other's backs no matter what happens. And don't forget that Joxs is on our side too, so there's even more strength in numbers now. Stay strong, bro, it'll all work out soon enough. I believe in us!

I will. Love you too, sis. Can't wait to talk more once I get home. We'll figure this out together, just like we always do. Stay safe and strong until then!

Sure thing, bro. Just be careful and stay strong until then too. I love you! Can't wait to talk more once you get here.

You too, sis! See you soon. Take your time getting home; I want you to be totally comfortable when we talk about this. And if there's anything specific you want me to bring up or discuss with Joxs, just let me know before I leave for school tomorrow morning. We've got a plan now and everything, but it never hurts to prepare extra. Love you!

Thanks sis, I appreciate that! Love you too, see you soon!

You got it, bro. See you when you get here! Take care and stay strong until then. I love you so much!

As you wait for Mason to return home, your heart races with anticipation and anxiety. You've never been in a situation like this before; trying to help your own brother navigate the complex web of issues he's tangled himself up in... It's both exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

Your mind wanders back to your conversation with Joxs, remembering his understanding and support despite your initial misgivings. He seems genuinely interested in helping, which only makes you more determined to succeed. But first things first: Mason needs to hear what you have to say.

You pace back and forth in the living room, eager to see Mason's face when he walks through the door. The clock ticks slowly, each second feeling like an eternity as you try to distract yourself with TV or your phone. Finally, a car pulls up outside, and you hear footsteps approaching the front door. Your heart leaps into your throat as you ready yourself for whatever might happen next.

Your palms sweat as you hear the front door open and then click shut, followed by footsteps moving slowly through the house. You take a deep breath, steeling yourself for whatever Mason might say or do when he sees you. As he rounds the corner into the living room, his expression is unreadable.

"You wanted to talk?" he asks, eyeing you warily.

"I did," you reply, meeting his gaze head-on. "We need to talk about what's been going on lately. I know you're angry and frustrated, but it doesn't have to be like this." You gesture around the room, encompassing the tension that seems to fill every corner of the house.

Mason crosses his arms over his chest, looking distinctly unimpressed by your words. "Fine," he says slowly. "What do you want to talk about?"