How to make ebony and ivory whole once again? (Jeanette and Therese)

[TheoParke]

I think it's safe to say that the split came about as a way of psychologically dealing with her father's sexual abuse. This is a common (sadly) cause of split personality disorders. So one of them (probably Therese) is the one Jeanette created to cope with the early childhood trauma of her father's visits. Since Jeanette was unable to put a stop to the abuse herself. Therese had to assert dominance and kill her father.

Why there are two girls in the portrait however is a mystery. Maybe she had the portrait done after the father died? Or maybe there was a "third" (second) sister who has not been mentioned .. I think this is unlikely. In any event the presence of the portrait is deliberately misleading as to the nature of Therese and Jeanette's relationship.

I don't recall the woman being referred to as "Tourette" but I do find that a somewhat amusing word to use to describe her, given that Tourette Syndrome is a kind of mental disorder in and of itself (although I don't see the relation to the character).

[ForgottenChilde]

[QUOTE=Faust]I don't think that you can assume this at all. It's pretty clear that Therese and Jeanette have always been one person; that person simply suffers from a split personality. I really don't think that there can be much debate about that. We're simply debating whether Therese and Jeanette (sides of this personality) realized they were inhabiting the same body. On that issue the evidence is less conclusive, though I tend to think they are not aware.[/QUOTE]
I can assume whatever I want... no disrespect. But I do have my own theories about Jeanette and Therese. And I think they make sense... to insane people...

[Lady_Lithium]

Therese and Jeanette have several twin-themed pieces around their haven, and we know from the slashterpiece quest that Therese paints, so it's entirely possible that Therese painted the picture herself post-embrace.

[yrthwyndandfyre]

There is an as yet unheard theory.

Posit: At birth, there were two twin sisters, each in a separate body. Examining the portrait, neither of them appears to be particularly strong or dominant in the pair, so let us presume that personality-wise, they were largely the same, as is commonplace for twins. Let us also assume that they were *both* abused by their father, as such a pervert rarely plays favorites.

While the sisters are both alive, they are a support mechanism for each other, but then one dies, perhaps by abuse, perhaps through suicide, perhaps by some other means. This we cannot know.

The remaining twin, Jeanette, twinless and still abused, creates a second personality, Therese, to help her deal with her abuser. Therese may even be the real name of the dead twin. From that point on, the stronger personality, Therese takes the abuse to protect the weaker personality, Jeanette. The Therese personality eventually kills the father. The Therese personality is eventually embraced, and therefore assumes the role of sire for the Jeanette personality, who now must also be a vampire. In situations like this, the created personality is typically the dominant one, created to deal with the feelings of helplessness of the 'real' personality.

The 'real' personality, Jeanette, grows into what one would charitably call a tramp. Victims of abuse have a tendency in their adulthood to value their sexuality rather loosely, having had its lack of worth proven on them from a young age. The dominant created personality, in response, becomes prudish to try to control the 'real' personality's perceived shortcomings in the area of sexual morals.

The Therese personality was created in response to a hostile environment. Hence, Therese never actually sleeps. Jeanette is the one who sleeps, feeling safe in her bed. The Therese personality may not be aware that she never sleeps. How would she know?

Thus is all explained. The portrait of two girls, the one bed done up in a fashion suitable to Jeanette, the straight-laced office right next to it for the business-like Therese, and the splotch of red on the right-hand girl in the portrait. The original twin who died or was killed.

Oh, and there is no reason to suspect the pictures in the Gallery were done by Therese or Jeanette. The Guardian suggests that they are much, much older than either. I cannot see a Malkavian of such a comparatively young age manifesting the power necessary to imbue four paintings with a blood-guardian. They are more likely the work of a Tremere or group of Tremere, or one or more of the other bloodlines working together in concert.

[fable]

Guys, let's stay with the questions posed at the top of the thread.

[Confuzzled]

And the thread got me thinking, so I've started a new one about the whole painting thing, Slashterpiece

that should stop us going too far OT here!