Sheila and Viola Hopkins
Shopping District Viola spoke, neck craned back so she looked up in the sky among the crowds of Denver heading back and forth to do their daily shopping.
‘… we actually have a decent amount of money.’ But for these two girls…
‘Do you know what this means!?’ Viola spun around, her neck-length blonde hair with purple stripes in it fluttering as she faced Sheila, her taller sister recoiling a little as their eyes met, Viola’s fierce and eager to Sheila’s vindicated.
‘… What does it mean?’ Sheila asked, despite knowing the answer.
‘IT MEANS THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE FOREVER, WE CAN ACTUALLY GO SHOPPING! WOHOOO~!’ Viola’s hands flew up into the air in triumph and happiness, attracting attention from numerous bypassers as the excited teen had no volume control to speak of right now.
Sheila sighed softly, smiling at her sister’s excitement. In truth she’d rather be anywhere else than in casual clothing in public. Her long white hair that she had tied into a long ponytail stood out like a sore thumb which made her feel extremely exposed. Ever since getting her powers Sheila always felt like every passerby was a potential assassin out to kill her. Still, being here, seeing Viola so happy… that’s what she wanted, right?
Even if the money Viola was so happy about was gained through villainous operations?
‘C’mon, c’mon, let’s go, let’s go!’ Viola grabbed Sheila’s arm and started pulling her into the shopping district before she could worry about that any further.
‘We’re gonna buy a ton of clothes!’Without further ado Sheila was dragged into a clothing store where Viola had the time of her life. It was something of a pleasure to see Viola acting so lively after having been sitting playing video-games for months. Still, as big sister Sheila had to put her foot down for many of the flashier clothes that Viola tried to prop her up in. Still, eventually Viola got her into a shirt and some fashionable jeans and a t-shirt that…
‘Wah… Why is this so short?’ Sheila looked down at the t-shirt that ended above her belly-button, showing off her midriff. She was considerably embarrassed by this, she hadn’t noticed before she put it on inside the dressing room.
‘It’s called casual sexyness, sis! You use it to show off the body you’ve honed to perfection through countless missions, and for attracting boys~!’ Viola grinned at her and gently slapped the back of her hand against Sheila’s stomach, which really only made her frown.
‘… Geesh. I’m spending way too much time trying to stay alive to even start thinking about a love-life. I can do without, thank you,’ Sheila declared.
‘Really? What about Esspee?’ Viola asked, tilting her head curiously. Upon seeing Sheila’s ludicrously confused expression, Viola gladly grinned and explained.
‘You’re similar ages and have been working with each other for, like, two months now! Something’s bound to have happened~!’‘Ugh.’ Sheila fought a grimace as she pinched herself in the space between her eyes in reaction to realizing what was supposed to be “SP”, and who it referred to.
‘Your head’s way too deep in fiction, Viola. Things don’t work out like that.’ … However, seeing how Viola was so eagerly opening her mouth to object…
‘I’ll wear this shirt if you drop the subject.’‘Deal!’With both of them in newly bought clothes and holding numerous bags, Sheila followed her giggling sister. Then-
‘Ah!’ Viola made a noise of happy realization, looking to the left. Sheila looked too, and it was… a photo booth. Sheila’s apprehension was palpable, but Viola had already grabbed her arm and was pulling her at the booth, leaving the bags on the sides.
‘Is this… really a good idea, Viola…?’ Sheila was suddenly extremely aware of how short the shirt was and that she was showing skin and otherwise the fact of how visible she was as she was pulled into the small cubicle for taking pictures.
‘We have, like, NO images left of us! We should take one to mark the occasion!’ Viola happily called as she was setting the machine up. Sheila suspiciously eyed the camera as if expecting it to become a gun and suddenly fire at them… but then Viola just happily bounced and started leaning on Sheila’s left side, winking and holding up a peace-sign to the camera. Sheila sighed again, and then simply straightened her posture and put one hand on her side as she waited for the camera to click.
CLICKA photo was printed for them, and Viola so happily grabbed it and held it for them both to look at.
‘There we go! An actual image of us! Photographic evidence of our existence! A proof that we’re alive and happy~!’ Viola so happily called out. She had become a lot more optimistic about the future since the day when they had exposed the Patriarch together, and Sheila wasn’t entirely sure that was a good thing. Sure, they had done something that would probably help the world in the future, and had reason to be happy, and they actually did look happy in this image…
But Sheila was very worried that this was but the happy prelude of a tragedy.
She’d do everything in her power to make sure that was not the case.
Creep headed inside the base, sneaking while invisible behind the lead she had been tailing for the last hour on a mission for the Rockers. She knew immediately upon treading inside the building, this was a dead end. Just a bunch of drugged lowlifes who were-
She had to turn off the part of her power that gave her complete vision all around her and hold back a barf.
-were selling the bodies of very young women they had captured.
Creep had to abandon the mission for the night. She couldn’t stand being inside that building.
Later, she came to a decision.
Wisp
Lair of Scum, that nightLight blasted throughout the building. The initial blast of white light filling most of the building was just to get their attention. Criminals got out of their beds and dazely grabbed at weapons as they heard shouts and cries. More scum was running in to be reinforcements against the invading force only to find themselves utterly powerless.
What they saw were two flying ghosts, swirling around each other in mid-air, transparent and their faces twisted into horrifying visages. They were utterly silent and radiating red, and from their eyes blasted rays of red into the faces of thugs coming in, throwing them screaming in pain from the blinding light. The ghasts were vaguely feminine and the red seemed to radiate with rage, as if taking retribution for the crimes that had been committed in this place.
Wisp was dashing, invisible to the naked eye and crouching, holding numerous laser pointers clutched between her fingers that were all firing. They were fueling two balls of swirling concentrated laser-beams which Wisp kept behind her as she ran, keeping the lasers stable using her control of light. She had gathered these balls of laser for an extensive amount of time before going in. A normal red laser from a laser-pointer is but annoying, but ten of them focused perfectly into one another? A hundred?
The ghasts swirling above her as she ran were illusions. She based them from her own body-shape and then formed them into ghosts using light to change their appearance, displaying the finished product to the thugs around as if they were the true attackers. To the criminals, Wisp made sure it looked like the ghasts grew in size before they shot a beam of concentrated laser at them from red, glowing eyes. What actually happened was that parts of her balls of gathered laser split off and flew up into the ghosts before being fired at the criminals, Wisp using her ability to see from anywhere within her range to aim.
She left the criminals screaming in pain and clutching their eyes as she ran past. She only used small parts of her gathered laser-balls in each shot to ensure she had a supply that would last throughout the battle. She kept the amount of laser she shot relatively low, but still much more than she was usually capable of. Would that much concentrated laser cause permanent damage? Possible. It wasn’t as if she had the resources to do extensive testing of how much she could laser before the damage became too much. However, at this moment, she was of the opinion that they deserved whatever harm she caused them.
She could have just dashed in invisible without fanfare and just shocked them with lasers too, probably would have been safer. However, that wouldn’t have been nearly as scary. Wisp hoped this would be a traumatic memory for the criminals that would dissuade them from continuing their careers. As often as she could, Wisp dashed almost into a criminal so she could have the ghast swoop into their eyes as she lasered them, having the ghosts take up all of their vision before the finishing blow was delivered, but she blasted those she felt she had to on a range, if they were too likely to hit her with a weapon or if they looked like they were about to run.
She ran, blasting foe after foe, the criminals ignorant to the fact there was a real person under the ghosts. It was still dangerous, she could be hit with a stray attack and god forbid if they threw a grenade or used a flamethrower, but this had been an ambush and the thugs weren’t prepared to take Wisp’s assault. They had no idea how to deal with their attackers, as such screams of terror followed as she downed those that remained.
A short while after the one-sided battle, the police broke, having followed the directions she had given them previously through messages of light a while earlier. It had taken them some time to actually gather their forces, which Wisp had taken advantage of to launch an attack on the place before the police arrived. As the police broke in, they came to see the majority of the thugs downed and clutching their blinded and pained eyes, while Wisp’s flame floated in the middle of the room for just long enough for them to see it before it went out without a trace.
Wisp didn’t linger to listen to what conclusions the police came to. She stepped out on the streets and allowed herself to breathe heavily, invisible as she strayed down the empty street at night, heading home. Her head hurt somewhat, a 3 or 3.5 out of 10 headache, in a way she had never felt before. Was it because of extensive use of her power, controlling way more light at once than she had ever before? … Probably, all things considered. She’d have to keep that in mind if she wanted to do any repeats of that. She winced a bit from the pain. … Geesh, that hurt.
Regardless, this test-run had confirmed it to herself. Sheila Hopkins could be very dangerous when she really needed to. That was somewhat of a relief. This operation had been really, really scary to go through with. … But the people needed to know that Wisp wasn’t gone. She was still out there, and having a few feats to her name could help, eventually.
For now, she headed home.
Sheila and Viola Hopkins
Home Viola led her to the computer in this uninhabited house that nobody had chased them out of yet that still had electricity. Sheila dutifully followed, drawn out of relaxing after having once again pulled a double-duty as Wisp and Creep. She laid her eyes on the screen and… it was a picture of Speedrunner, Viola’s cape-identity, standing in an obviously edited image wearing her latest costume, a purple cycling outfit for sports. On her head was a purple helmet, in her hand a stop-sign that she had painted purple, instead of “STOP” there was a cartoon depiction of Viola’s face that Sheila had grudgingly accepted because you can’t really recognize a face from a cartoon.
Of course, Sheila had seen Viola in this outfit before, but now it was on a computer. Sheila turned and gazed questioning at her sister. Viola grinned happily and was more than happy to share the news.
‘I’m gonna upload it to the internet and announce myself to the world!’ Viola happily told.
Oh, dear. Another of her whims, probably because of her inclusion in the library mission. Viola didn’t actually
do anything on the mission and ultimately proved an unnecessary addition even if was a good safety measure, though after they came home she made it her personal mission to spread awareness of the Patriarch on the internet through the jokish persona of “slowblowke”. Sheila accepted this to allow Viola to feel included, but it seemed like this had been enough to inspire her to do further heroics.
This wouldn’t do and had to be put a stop to at once. Fortunately, Sheila was the world’s leading expert at keeping Viola safe within her home without getting any funny ideas.
‘Viola, you are aware of what’ll happen if you upload this, right?’ Sheila asked her, a serious expression on her face.
‘Yeah! I’ll be acknowledged, and I could weight in on stuff! I could help out! You might be looking at the face of the one who’s gonna save you and Denver!’ Viola said while positively beaming. Right, this needed to be rectified at once.
‘No, I mean how the company that made the very recognizable clothes is going to slam a copyright on you and demand a fee from you each time you’re sighted with them.’Viola playfully growled at her. Sheila gave her sister a slight smile and then sighed.
‘Alright, let me go over what will actually happen,’ Sheila started, sitting down before Viola, who looked at her with slight confusion.
‘People are going to expect you to suddenly become active. You pop up with an image? They’ll expect a change, an announcement of what you’re going to be. So, what will you be?’‘I do whatever I want!’ Viola declared triumphantly.
‘I know that already. Thing is, people will expect you to declare that you’ll be a hero or possibly a villain. You’re not a villain, right?’‘And what if I am?’ Viola gave a playful smirk. Sheila recognized it as her sister playing around, and sighed a little.
‘Let us assume hero, then. Except, then people will count you alongside the likes of Furnace and the Protectorate as people to turn to protect them. They will expect you to protect them. Not doing so will cause them to be disappointed in you, and you’d be betraying their trust. Would you want that?’‘Ergh.’ Viola was frowning.
‘B-but I can totally protect them. All I need to do is-’‘Know ahead of time where you’re needed,’ Sheila told, shutting Viola up. Viola looked hesitant. Internally, Sheila smiled. She had this under control.
‘Knowing what’s needed requires one of two things. Either leave your contact information out, so that people can call you if they’re in trouble, or you patrol a lot. The Protectorate does both. If you give your number, you’ll have to help when called, or people will lose faith in you. You’ll lose your freedom. The other option is patrolling, which you’d have to do for several very boring hours per day, which would cut heavily into your computer and video-game time.’‘Urk.’‘Compare this to your other option. Don’t upload this picture, then you can go out and do heroics whenever you feel like. You’re a Rogue, nobody expects anything from you, hence when you do save the day everyone will be very surprised and potentially happy for the unexpected help.’‘B-but, er…’ Viola now looked considerably conflicted.
‘There’s still the problem that I don’t know where to be. How about your network? Could you tell me where to go…?’‘No,’ Sheila said with a kind little smile,
‘there’s no need. I’ve got my things covered. I lead other heroes and police to the things I find, and they don’t need your help.’‘A-ah…’ Viola looked downcast, the hopes grown from her latest whim decimated of the reality of her sister’s words, slumping down into a chair.
‘I just feel like… I have power. I had problems before that neither of us was doing anything, but now you ARE helping, and I’m doing nothing. I just feel like, there’s something I should do…’Sheila’s expression turned rigid and serious. That was a new line of thinking, potentially dangerous. It had to be fixed. Luckily, Sheila had a weapon for just that.
‘Then why don’t you join the Wards?’ Sheila asked.
‘The Protectorate would surely know how to best use your powers.’‘Psht, no way,’ Viola spat out.
‘They’d tell me what to do every step of the way, making me patrol and probably force me back to school.’‘There you go, then,’ Sheila finished, standing up with a kind smile. That’s how Viola reacted to the premise of her freedom being taken away. She reached down and affectionately grabbed her sister’s hand.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll tell you when I need your help.’Viola nodded with a still downcast expression, but Sheila could tell she had been comforted. … Crisis averted. Due to the deal they still had in place, Sheila couldn’t give Viola commands, Viola was essentially entirely free to do whatever she wanted. However, Sheila could still manipulate her sister in order to keep her safe. Viola would go back to playing video games and wasting hours by the computer shortly. Sheila stood straight.
‘I’m going out. I’ll see you later,’ Sheila said, nodding to Viola.
‘Later, sis…’ Viola replied unenthusiastically, turning her eyes back to the screen.
‘Also, I’ve accepted that you wanted those purple stripes dyed into your hair, but could you PLEASE hide them when in your cape-costume? Otherwise they’ll instantly give away your identity,’ Sheila continued, looking at the image on the screen, and only got Viola sticking her tongue out at her in reply. The two sisters shared a smile, before Sheila turned around to dress up for her next outing.
… That was a dangerous new line of thinking from Viola. Sheila would have to keep an eye on her continued activities. If she actually DID head out to try to be heroic, or maybe even villainous… then Sheila really didn’t know what to do to keep her safe anymore. … Ghk, geesh, when was this headache going to go away?
Wisp and Creep
Outside Lair of ScumWisp stood in an alley during the night, looking up into the sky. She had pulled back her hood, let her ponytail hang, and pulled up the laser goggles. She had come to investigate the lair which she had previously dismantled. As expected, police-tape covered the building, and the place was likely under heavy investigation. Another operation that had ended at Wisp’s hands, using information she had gained during a secret outing by Creep. How long could she continue like this? And, what would she do when it ended?
There was also the question of how the police and the Protectorate viewed her. It wasn’t as if she had ever stopped to ask. Was she seen as a secretive but helpful hero that occasionally helped out against villains? Or was she a dangerous vigilante that they viewed as someone to catch, or perhaps even a villain? Did they know of her serial thefts without her even knowing they did? She had never stopped stealing, because she couldn’t have that coincide with the emergence of Creep and her obtaining of money. Or worse, did they somehow already know about Creep? … No idea, but worrying about everything was in Sheila’s nature.
… Behind Wisp stood Creep, black where Wisp was white, aggressive where Wisp was calm. They weren’t
actually standing back to back, as there’s only one of her, Sheila was just devising an illusion visible only to herself to compare them, to see how likely it was someone would connect the two if they were both to be seen somehow. She wanted Wisp and Creep to be seen as different people, which was difficult when both were invisible, but this was in case they were seen.
The big thing was her hair. Sheila’s hair was eye-turningly white, and despite her best efforts as Creep her hair still hung out on places. Still, she had an easy solution to that, didn’t she? Sheila had white hair, and associated with Wisp as herself, meaning Wisp could have the white hair, but Creep… Sheila focused her power a bit, and changed the colour of her hair as Creep. Same technique as at the library. A couple of adjustments later, and Creep’s hair was brown. Now someone looking for Creep’s real identity would seek a brown-haired girl, hopefully.
Sheila spent a few moment extra, inspecting herself as Wisp and herself as Creep…
… Before deciding it was enough. Wisp sighed, before vanishing into thin air, leaving only Creep, who had been the one actually there. Slowly, step for step, the black-clad girl started walking through the alley, towards the place where she’d meet the Rockers again. Her head still hurt, but fortunately it seemed the usual uses of her power wasn’t aggravating it. She’d just have to bear with it and continue her work. She had a new mission tonight. Satisfied by her now brown hair and dealing with the headache, she rendered herself invisible once again.
With that, Creep sought towards the next quest.
