iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Not a lot of slumbering gets done at their little slumber party, but the Esposito twins did get something they’ve been desperately missing from their busy schedules: each other.

0111

Claudia: Okay… but if you kick me in your sleep, I’m kicking you back. Marina: See? Just like old times.

191

Marina: Hey, what if I get in my jammies and we have a slumber party? Like we used to? Claudia: Hardly a slumber party when you’re right across the hall. Marina: Slumber party’s a state of mind! Well, Claudia’s mind could certainly stand to be in a different state.

Claudia: I don’t want to hurt anyone, but then I push them away and hurt them more. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Marina: Just… stop pushing. It’s almost stupid how simplistic that answer is, but Marina has a way of making complicated things seem easy.

0111

Claudia: I’ve been a really bad sister. I’m sorry, Rina. Marina: Don’t say that. Claudia: No, I mean it. I feel like this is the first time we’ve really talked in weeks. I don’t want to be strangers with my own twin.

0131

Marina: We need to stop trying to do things on our own… Powering through, pretending everything’s fine when it's not? That’s what Papi would have done. Claudia wants more than anything to break that cycle. She’s too tired to even think about taking that first step.

1111

Claudia: I can’t keep living like this… Maybe I do need to go back to that stupid therapist. Marina: Yeah… me too. Claudia: What? Why’d you stop? Marina: I forgot my appointment a few months ago… and I keep forgetting to make a new one.

Claudia: Why didn’t she say anything? She just let me sit there and stuff my face with dim sum like a dumbass. Marina: I don’t know, but it’s a good sign she didn’t blow up on you. You guys can fix things.

Kelsey 🍋 @kelsims.bsky.social · 23h

Marina: Stop, you’re nothing like him. Claudia: Papi forgot his and Paisley’s anniversary all the time. You remember how much that hurt her. Marina: But he forgot because he didn’t care. You care so much and Gemma knows that.

091

It’s a familiar feeling, and a welcome one, cuddling up near the fireplace on a cold winter’s night and talking about whatever’s on their minds. They used to do this all the time at the penthouse, and then at the farmhouse. It’s long overdue for the twins.

091

Kelsey 🍋 @kelsims.bsky.social · 23h

Marina: Hey, whatever it is, we can tackle it together, right? After a weak laugh, Claudia nods. Claudia: Always have.

Kelsey 🍋 @kelsims.bsky.social · 23h

Marina: Me too. I kept pestering you to let me psychoanalyze you, as if I’m not just as messed up from him. It’s no wonder you always shut me down. Claudia: At least you were trying to help. I’ve been so focused on myself and my own bullshit… except the stuff I actually give a shit about.

091

Claudia: Wh-Why didn’t you tell me? Marina: The same reason you didn’t tell me. It’s not accusatory, just honest. Claudia: I’m sorry.

1101

Marina: It still affects me too. Claudia: But it’s been affecting me so much worse! I can’t sleep, and when I do I just keep thinking of that night, of 𝘩𝘪𝘮- Marina: Me too. Claudia: …What? Marina: It’s happening to me again too. Just... a little less.

When Claudia steps out, sees her sister, sees that knowing look in her eyes, she can’t hold back her tears anymore. Claudia: Rina, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I thought I was past this! It’s pathetic. 𝘐'𝘮 pathetic. Marina: Oh, girly, no you’re not.

Marina: 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦? The final deep breath she takes feels like it’s removed a weight off her chest. Marina: 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵?

The only sound in her bathroom is Claudia’s attempts to calm her breathing. There’s no danger, she’s alone, she’s safe. If only someone could tell her body that. She hears a door open and shut behind her. The footsteps are soft, uncertain.

0121

I swear this is still the Lemon Legacy, just gotta let the Espositos cook. See you guys this afternoon!

1142

In my defense it was really early on I thought that but Lulu made the best choice for her 😌

You cooked with this guy ngl

I almost made him Lulu’s boyfriend instead of Moss because I liked Aaron that much and wanted to keep him around asdfghjkl but life finds a way

110

Woman's Dramatic Hola Hi Entrance

I’ve been wanting to change my username for a hot second and I realized last night I could just… do that

static.klipy.com

ALT: Woman's Dramatic Hola Hi Entrance

1170

Claudia needs her emotional support twin 😭

110

The only way he’d judge her is if she had just dragged him into her room and turned the music up enough to drown Claudia’s panic attack out asdfghjkl

130

I felt bad doing this to her ugh 😫

I was originally just going to have her say the p word but no Marina would call it a thingy 😌

020

a big greasy pizza to set the mood 😏 🍕

110

great conversation to set the mood asdfghjkl

Aaron doesn’t understand being a girl’s girl

030

Nah it’s fine they’re both doing great :)

120

always love to show off the best boy 😌

yeah Aaron doesn’t want Marina moving into his head, she thinks about Greek mythology a lot

120

Aaron: I’ll lock the door on my way out. Text me when you can, okay? Marina squeezes his shoulders, trying to ground herself as she braces for whatever is behind that door. Marina: Okay.

0110

Marina: I’m so sorry. Aaron: Don’t be. This can wait. Whatever he just heard was not a stressed co-ed. Making sure she’s safe is more important than him getting laid.

5131

Marina: Aaron… I-I’m sorry. I can’t… I have to… Aaron: Baby, it’s okay. Marina: I can’t just 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 her- Aaron: I know. Go in there.

2121

The buzz from the juice, the cocktail of hormones, all of that fizzles. She 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 it. She 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 Claudia was having night terrors again. She insisted they were gone, a thing of the past... Marina should have known better. How is she supposed to woohoo while her sister is suffering across the hall?

2141

Aaron: What the hell was that? Frantic footsteps thump against the floor on the other side of the door. Another door slams. Marina: Claudia? She hears uneven breathing, the panicked gasps unfortunately too familiar for her to dismiss.

0132

Marina: I love you, Aar-Bear. Aaron: I love you too, Mare-Bear. They’re about to slip into Marina’s room when a sudden thud and scream from across the hall snaps them out of their tipsy, lovesick embrace.

2121

The climb up two flights of stairs is slow and clumsy when you can’t take your hands off of each other, but these two don’t seem to mind. Their destination’s important but the journey sure as hell feels good.

1141

Marina: I think we’re going to head out. Jade: Yeah, you are! I want 𝘢𝘭𝘭 the details tomorrow! I don’t want to be able to look Aaron in the eyes for a 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬!

0151

Jade: There are condoms in my bedside table drawer if you need one. And you 𝘥𝘰 need one. Gem and Clauds are probably still out, and I can keep Mal preoccupied if you want the place to yourself. Marina: Thanks, girly. Really.

0131

Lacing their fingers together and wiping an imaginary tear from her eye, Jade switches to support mode. Jade: Aaron isn’t expecting you to do acrobatics, babes. Just relax and have fun. That’s what it’s all about. Having fun with someone you care about.

0132

Marina: Quit your giggling! Jade: I’m sorry, I’m sorry! You’re just so cute! Marina: Do you have any advice or are you just going to sit there tee-heeing at me all night? Time for Jade to catch her breath and resume her bestie duties.

0121

Jade: You’ll have to talk to Aaron about that. Hope you like sausage! Marina: You know I’m a veg- Oh. You mean like his thingy. Jade: 𝘈𝘏! Once again, Jade is the only one who appreciates her refined sense of humor.

1121