[] Sunset Pier
[] Ask something.
-[] "So...about that outfit? Why is my dear sister dressed like an exhibitionist?"
-[] "Patrolling, since when? For what?"
-[] "How do you keep up in class with fighting monsters?"
-[] "Who else is in on the magic?"
-[] "Why did this start happening now of all times? Vampires, ghosts, magic dragons... it's like a dam just bursted! Or was it always like this and I simply didn't notice?"
-[] "Is it something about our school that draws in the supernatural? Or is the whole world full of crazy?"
"If you're sure..." you nod at Adam, then turn your attention to your sister. She fidgets a little. "So."
"Y-Yes?"
Oh boy.
"About that outfit earlier." You cross your arms and Vivian reddens a little. "Why is my dear sister dressed like an exhibitionist?"
Ever the caring sibling, aren't you?
"I-It not my fault! Honest!" she points to Adam. You turn to him. "It's his!"
Playing the blaming game.
"Don't try to pin that bullshit on me!" he points back at her. "I didn't make the design, you did! I just had it sown together and enchanted up to snuff!" he turns to you, face pleading, "Thana, I swear to God, I have absolutely
nothing to do with how your sister's uniform looks."
"He's lying!" your sister pleads. "Thana, sis, you gotta believe me!"
"Okay, both of you, shut up." you grab both idiots by their mouths. "Let me get this straight." you look at your sister. "You designed the clothes as they are." she nods, and you turn to Adam. "And you made them." he nods. You sigh. "Then you're both perverts. My sister likes to don fetishwear and her friend has no qualms making it for her using his family's resources."
"But--!" they both try to speak, however muffled, but you dig your nails in their faces just enough to make them wince and shut up.
"No. Both of you are wrong and I'm right." you shake your captives a little. "Perverts.
Both of you." you let them go with a shake of your head. "Mom and Dad's gonna be so pissed..."
"...Actually..." Vivian starts and you groan, facepalming.
Not them too.
Alas, such is the situation.
"Moving on." you wave a hand. "You said something about patrols." they both nod. "Since when? What for?"
"Since..." Vivian closes her eyes in thought. "Since we were... Thirteen, I think?"
"Yeah, three years ago." Adam agrees. "We started patrolling once Viv and I proved we were strong enough to take care of ourselves . We do it at least once a week to keep the city's supernatural scene in check and make sure none of them do anything bad and break the masquerade."
"What do you do?" you ask. "Aside from fighting Ghosts, I mean."
"We look after everyone, keep the various nasties back, back up and locals that need help, and keep the detection wards up." Vivian shrugs. "We also do errands for our folks every now and then, but not much else besides."
You're forgetting being an exhibitionist.
"So, you two are basically vigilantees?" Jojo pipes up.
Like Batman?
"Sort of." Adam shrugs a shoulder. "We do good and stop the occasional mugging here and there, but we still answer to people higher up."
Like Batman.
"Like a secret police." you muse. "Only magical and more secretive."
"Kind of." Vivian nods.
"Actually, how do you two keep up in class with the whole..." you wave a hand. "Magic business? Fighting monsters, vigilantism, and all that?"
Uh-oh.
"Lots of studying. Playing catch up. Cheating." Adam's shoulders droop in mock fatigue. "Using magic in class to copy notes when we're too tired to--" Vivian kicks his shin. "Ow!"
Yeah, you should've kept quiet.
"Shut up!" she hisses, glancing at you.
...
You too busy being at awe with all the sense Adam's words make, jealous at how easy a time they have... and feeling a little cheated because all this time, your own sister didn't even need your help. All this time; she could have just waved her hand, chanted 'hocus pocus', and have all the lesson notes she needed. All this time...
...That's not true.
"...Thana? Sis?" Vivian asks, though her voice is strangely distant.
You know that's not true.
"Thana?" Jojo asks.
But considering the circumstances...
You suck in a breath and... Wait.
You're a little overdue for some answers.
"Who else?" you whisper. The silence stretches on for a few moments before you get sick of it and grab you twin by the knee. "Who else?"
"T-Thana--" she stutters. Your grip tightens.
"Who else is in on the magic?" you press. "Who else do I--"
"Thana, calm down." large hands fall on your shoulder, back, and knee. "Take it easy. A lot of people are, we're not the only ones--"
"I know you aren't. It'd be stupid
if you three are the only ones who are." you hiss, some of your resentment bubbling to the surface.
"I just want to know who else?"
Who else
pretended not to know? Who else
lied to you? Who else
pitied you enough to waste their time earning your trust when they could have done something better with their lives?
...
"...Please." you look down, tears prickling at your eyes and fogging up your glasses. "I'm sick with all the subterfuge. Just... Tell me."
...
"...Your mom and dad know." Adam says. Him, not Vivian. "There's me, your sister. Jobston over there. My folks know too, and so do the people running Silber Corp." you fight down a flinch; Silber Corp. Isn't that the company your dad works at? "The others... Well, we're not sure, but we think your friends know too."
'Your' friends. Not 'our', but 'your'. Elizabeth and Oscar... You aren't sure about Oscar, but that sword hanging on Elizabeth's wall...
It'll be okay.
"Why now?" you croak, fighting down the sobs and rubbing away the tears before they could spill out. "Why did this start happening now of all times? Vampires, ghosts, magic dragons... It's like a dam just bursted!" Your voice turns a little bitter. "Or was it always like this and I simply didn't notice?"
"Its..." your sister grabs your shoulder. Her voice is quivering. "W-We're just as confused as you are, sis. Usually, e-everything's quiet and peaceful in town. But stuff just happens, y-ya'know?"
The bus slows and you realize you've reached your stop. You look out the window and see Sunset Pier, filled with people despite it still being early in the afternoon. Stalls line most of the available space, people crowding where they can to buy trinkets or simply sight see. They come in all shapes and sizes; men, women, children. The amount of bodies you see makes it difficult to spot details.
Or maybe your eyes were just blurry from the tears.
"We're here." you stand. "C'mon."
Your group follows you without a word, paying for your bus ride and disembarking onto the sidewalk. As the bus pulls away, you let out a sigh and start walking. You don't have a particular destination in mind, you just... walk.
"Is it something about our school that draws in the supernatural? Or is the whole world full of crazy?" you mumble.
"It is the second, Thana." Jojo answers, consolingly. "The world is rife with various things of insanity. The only difference is when and how it strikes."
[] Write-in
A/N: As reference, Sunset Pier has a carnival, shops, and various street vendors selling everything from food to trinkets. You can do whatever here, but remember how... Meddlesome the plot is. *readies popcorn*
. No need to give a full answer if it's too spoilery to the reboot or if you just don't remember; I can live without knowing.