Blood and Lightning (Staine x Bunny)

Staine · Nov 29, 2020

Just another normal day in the Hart household, a day off for Flynn and Abigail Hart as they put aside heroics for the night and stayed at home with their seventeen year old son and three year old daughter, Raphael and Amelia. Flynn and Abigail were well known in the hero community, a duo running their own hero agency as the crime-fighting pair of Marionette and Formless. Famous for their teamwork, strong sense of ethics and public personas often seen as symbols of righteousness and representing the best of humanity. Speaking out against cruelty, lawlessness and in particular the League of Villains themselves they had maintained a strong following and an even stronger list of enemies who wanted to end them once and for all, not that it would be an easy task, not with their quirks and skill at using them. Chimera, his ability to shapeshift into anything organic and sentient, be it animals, fictional beasts and most useful of all, other people, taking on their shapes and often physical characteristics such as extra limbs, tails, teeth and his personal favourite, scaly armour to protect himself from incoming blows. The more powerful and skilled he had become at using his ability the faster he could transform, sometimes taking partial traits from creatures he had seen in person or on the television, fingerprints to bypass security doors and with practice could become larger, more powerful creatures. Marionette also had a powerful quirk...the power to strengthen and use the fabric of her own clothing as both a tool to bind and cut, with a slender enough thread, and to control the movements and actions of those caught in her skilful game of puppetry, the technique she had chosen her name from. As she had developed her skills she had learned to use the strings not just for offense and control but for mobility, swinging from buildings, pulling herself in different directions mid-air to change her trajectory and able to control more strings at once, one with each finger. Together they had proven unstoppable, just the previous night they had dealt a crushing blow to the League, taking out one of their key members while foiling one of their plans to assassinate the chief of police.

Then there was Raphael, a third year in U.A high, still in training to become a hero like his parents and join their agency, his power was much less flashy and visually impressive than theirs but he was using it well, focusing on training in martial arts and testing out various gadgets and weaponry to supplement his quirk and make it useful as a hero. Healing. Simple, effective, he could heal himself from almost any wound with powerful cellular regeneration that so far didn't seem to have any limits as to what he could regenerate. So far his only weakness with it seemed to be that he could be overloaded, immense damage in a short period of time and his healing would start to slow, though he had never reached the point where it would stop completely. That, and the pain...his nerves regenerated along with his flesh, was resistant to painkillers and other forms of numbing it that he had tried, and he had learned to hate it, even fear it, but wasn't that what a hero did? Faced their fears? Taking the name Reptile, he was top of his class through sheer determination and enjoying the recognition as his parent's son.

All three of them were watching the movie when the lights went out, young Amelia had already been put to bed and was sleeping soundly in the next room. Marionette had acted first, recognising the danger her family was in, ordering her son to go get his sister, to hide her while Formless was already shifting into a dragon-human hybrid form, thick wings and powerful scales and razor sharp talons, his voice deep and distorted as he echoed Marionette's command. The bay windows at the front of the house had shattered, a large man wielding a gigantic, almost comically large hammer had leapt through, swinging at Marionette who skilfully evaded the blow by pulling herself to the side with a string she had already attached to the wall. Electricity arced in through the open window, hitting Formless full in the chest, scorching his scales while his son watched. He'd tried to argue, he wanted to help, to fight, but another command from his mother and he nodded, turning to run down the hall towards his sister's room while three more villains climbed in through the windows behind him. A razor sharp blade pierced his chest but he kept running as it withdrew, Formless grabbing the swordsman, distracted long enough to take a hit from the hammer. Already healing, Reptile grabbed his sister and ran for the saferoom while the sounds of battle raged behind him, the sounds of his parents desperately holding off the league of villains while waiting for help to arrive, the panic button already pressed...the sounds of his family home being broken, a wall collapsing, furniture destroyed. He wanted to fight, to help them...but Amelia...

The basement. He ran down the steps of the basement as he almost passed the door, aware he would never make the safe room, he could hear his father scream to him, that he was being chased. He closed the door behind him...it was thick, sturdy, it would buy him time. The basement was where they kept experimental gear, spare costumes, weapons...large and expansive, the perfect place to hide! He heard a large impact against the heavy steel door as he looked around for something, anything. There! A chest...it was made from a strong modern alloy, they used them to hold weapons and gear, it was just about big enough to fit her, slits in the side for air...he placed his sister inside carefully, closed it, pushed the chest behind some other boxes as they hammer pounded on the door, the hinges creaked, the frame starting to give way too. Grabbing one of the weapons he had been experimenting with, a bo-staff with an electric discharge he turned to face it as it finally collapsed. There were no words as the man walked in, ducking to make it through the doorway, followed by the swordsman. He could hear more fighting getting closer as he readied himself, dropping to a defensive stance while his parents fought to get to him and his sister. He didn't stand a chance. He had trained well, they were just too strong, there were two of them...the hammer slammed him against the wall, his ribs cracked and mended themselves...the sword pierced his chest again, he coughed blood as the electric wielding villain appeared in the doorway, a hole in his chest where his father's talons had pierced it, collapsing down the stairs and followed by Formless himself, one arm missing. Attacking them from behind, another villain fell through the ceiling as it crumbled and caved in, edges hot and seared...he looked up, confused...why had it given way so easily, wasn't it reinforced? The hammer his his knee, he cried out in pain as his mother fell through the hole, half of her torso missing. So much blood...it was everywhere...he watched her breathe her last, sobbing as the sword pierced his chest again, reaching out for her. The hammer hit his father as he tried to fight his way to them, crushing his skull as the villain on the floor climbed to his feet unharmed, his body seemingly made of some kind of metal like a robot or cyborg and he pointed at him, a beam of pure light from his fingertips....so hot it started to burn through the concrete, even melting it. His body started to slow down the healing, the last thing he heard were more voices, voices he recognised. Heroes...and his sister's muffled crying, safe in her chest as the blood seeped towards it. The last thing he saw were the villains laughing as they ran. Their time was up, reinforcements were arriving...but the damage was done. Marionette and Formless were dead, and they had only lost one in return. A successful mission by all accounts.

The incoming heroes gave chase, but the League vanished into the shadows as if they were never there, only the devastation they had wrought on the Hart family and their home proving otherwise, that and the corpse of the electricity wielding villain who had died in the assault. Marionette and Formless had died trying to protect their children, Reptile would have been dead if not for his powerful cellular regeneration and the timely intervention of the other heroes arriving before the League could put his healing quirk to a more robust test and Amelia remained crying in the chest her brother had hidden her away in, unprotected from the sounds of devastation around her. The siblings were taken in by one of the heroes, Blacklight, who obtained temporary guardianship over them and were raised for the next four years as civilians, Asclepius dropping out of U.A high after the attack, traumatised by what had happened and devoting himself to helping raise his sister who never quite seemed the same until Blacklight herself died in the line of duty. Twenty-one years old at that time, Raphael took on full custody of his sister and had access to the wealth their parents had accumulated from their agency success, managing to comfortably raise her without the need to work. As the years passed he became concerned with her, she seemed...different than other children. Colder, less joyful. Things that made almost every child laugh had little effect on her. Amelia didn't display a quirk at all until she turned 9 years old and Raphael noticed she had sprouted a tail and cat-like ears one day while watching a television show, displaying the same abilities her father had, and not long after that he started to learn she had other abilities too. During one breakfast when he refused to get her the cereal she wanted from the top shelf, she instinctively accessed Marionette's quirk, using the strings not to pull down the cereal but to control her brother and make him grab it for her and strangely, he started to receive static shocks when in direct contact with her that would often make her giggle, one of the only times she truly displayed real joy and happiness, and displayed other electricity manipulating powers as she grew older. The quirks of Formless and Marionette were not so strange, often a child would display a similar or identical quirk to one or both parents, it wasn't a firm rule but it was common enough that some heroes would choose a spouse based on trying to genetically ensure positive quirk traits, but electricity was completely new to them, and it took a while before Raphael came up with a theory, though he had no way to test it.

Amelia's quirk, if he was right, he named Death Echoes. All three of the quirks she seemed to possess belonged to the three people that had died in close proximity to her on that fateful night, her parents and the sole casualty of the League of Villains. His theory was that anybody dying close to Amelia who possessed a quirk would pass it on to her, she would somehow absorb it like she was absorbing a part of them, though how close they had to be he only had their old basement for reference, where all three had died. It seemed morbid, dark, but it was the only explanation he could think of; she hadn't shown his own quirk, he had seen her get injured many times with no regeneration, and she hadn't displayed Blacklight's nor any of the other quirk users she had met throughout her life, just those three specifically. As she grew older she began to use them more and more, often to get what she wanted from her brother or to trick him, finding amusement in the power she held while always being forgiven by her doting guardian. At age thirteen she asked Raphael to train her to fight, and on questioning her his fears proved to be well founded. Revenge. She'd grown up knowing about her parents, the truth had never been hidden from her, she had their quirks and their names were still revered as fine heroes who had died a tragic death, the League was still out there with their mysterious leader reported to have been one of the attackers that night. For Amelia, it seemed she didn't want to follow in the hero path exactly like Raphael once had...she wanted to fight crime but had come to the conclusion that the worst criminals didn't deserve mercy, they didn't deserve to keep their lives while their parents had lost theirs and the League needed to be shut down, permanently. Going through official hero channels was limiting, eyes always on them, the fame that had led to their parents easily being stalked and located, ambushed at home while they were at their most vulnerable. No, Amelia wanted to take a path of vigilantism and needed her brother's help to do it, needed to be trained to fight, needed a partner. He couldn't say no to her...he'd always been her protector...she would do this with or without him, he could tell that much and so the training had begun. All the martial arts techniques he had learned, the weaponry, the skills...tricks on how to use her quirks which she had tested on him, showing more than a little predilections for being rough, sadistic with her application of them, even scaring Raphael. Oh, he knew she loved him, often they would cuddle together, side by side on the sofa while watching movies in their downtime, she would play games for his benefit more than hers, board games, video games, just to spend time with him...yet because she knew he couldn't truly be damaged, she didn't hold back in her training or how she used her quirks. More time passed and he always refused to take her out to test her new skills, to risk herself fighting actual villains, even weaker, small time crooks. They almost all had quirks, all posed a threat and he didn't know what he would do if he lost her too but it was clear she was growing impatient. As a compromise, Raphael said that he would take her out on the streets to fight when she was at least eighteen years old, and she had begrudgingly agreed.

______

Raphael stretched sleepily, hitting the alarm clock before it got loud enough to wake his sister, if she wasn't already awake. Finally, it was the day he had been dreading for a while now, ever since he had made that promise that he would take her out to find her first villain when she turned eighteen. Well...it was here now, her eighteenth birthday and while he knew she was well trained enough in combat and the use of her quirks to manage most opponents she was lacking experience against anybody but him. What if their opponent had a quirk she couldn't handle? The unknown nature of what they would be running into was terrifying for him, he had been constantly worried about her ever since the night thirteen years ago when their parents had been taken from them. It wasn't that he feared she wasn't capable, it was that he couldn't protect her, that anything might happen and he didn't want to go through that again, he didn't want to be left alone. Amelia was all he had left...his quirk would turn out to be the ultimate curse if she was killed, he would survive like he had before only to be left alone...just the thought of that happening had left him many sleepless nights including this one...maybe he had gotten a few hours as tiredness had eventually overtaken him, thankfully evading the nightmares that often plagued him. Ever since that night he had been holding it together only for her...his life felt it was missing any other stabilising presence, and the death of Blacklight had only made it worse. While the public remembered Marionette and Formless they had slowly forgotten about Abigail and Flynn Hart and their children Raphael and Amelia, allowed them to fade into the background and mercifully out of the public eye, which highlighted another issue with taking Amelia out tonight. Heroes. It wasn't just villains they had to be careful of, on the contrary they were hunting those, heroes on the other hand would be out on the streets too and the laws were very strict and clear; vigilantes were themselves villains, working against the law. Even if they saved a life, even if they saved dozens and apprehended a villain tonight they too would be breaking the law. They had their anonymity to be grateful for in that case, Raphael had long since been preparing for this and they had each created and designed their own costumes to protect their identities. His quirk was another thing...he had been popular enough in his days at U.A high, he had competed in the sports festival on live television and even had his provisional hero license at the time, the name Reptile would be recognised so he had instead taken a new one, Asclepius. Nobody else knew what Amelia's quirk was, he had done his best to shield her from that, had hired tutors to school her rather than sending her to public school beyond kindergarten once he had realised she was different from other children. He'd done the best he could to keep them safe.

Climbing out of bed, he took the time to shower, to get dressed in his usual shirt and designer jeans, this time opting for a red shirt. The house, almost a mansion in all honesty, was as quiet as it always was and so he turned the television on to the news channel while he made himself and his sister breakfast, smiling to himself as he took out the small cake he had bought for her and hidden in the back of the spare refrigerator. "Happy Birthday, little sister..." He spoke the words to himself while placing it in the middle of the table, chuckling at the memories of watching that movie with her in the cinema the day it was released. It was true, she wasn't usually interested in the things other girls her age had been, but they had seemed to bond while watching Disney movies together, one of the rare moments they both seemed to find real joy in, and the cake was in his eyes a reminder of that, that she was still his little sister and that her desires for revenge didn't have to completely overtake them. Laying out orange juice to drink and taking his medication to calm his anxiety over the situation, he finally laid a gift for her by the cake, wrapped in shiny green and yellow striped paper. Inside was the stuffed toy. something he had bought to remind her how much he cared about her, loved her for what she was, his little sister. Glancing over at the clock as he picked up his newspaper and sat down at the table, he knew she wouldn't be long in waking up now, he suspected she was already awake and getting ready to make her appearance, no doubt eager to pass the day and begin the hunt. Taking up a slice of toast, he tried to steel himself for the day's events, knowing he had done all he could. Their costumes were ready, their equipment, weapons...they had tactics ready for as many situations he could think of, they had tested various different combat tricks and combinations of her quirks to give her the best possible chances of success and had even come up with ways to use each other's abilities to team up and make it easier to keep her safe at his insistence. Finally, he had been tracking crime in the city with his parent's old tools, scanners and algorithms he had worked on and improved personally so that he could ease her into this. He was, despite being wary, ready.

Bunny · Nov 30, 2020

A broken doll, that was what Amelia had become that fateful night. What else could she be, with her mother and father murdered, her brother lay dying; though he was slowly healing. She'd been placed in a box and as a toddler, understanding what had happened, where mommy and daddy had gone was hard. When Blacklight had found her, sobbing in the box, she had tried to soothe the child in her arms, shield her from seeing the mangled bodies of her parents, the blood... She had tried, but the squirming toddler had gotten an eyeful. Amelia had once overheard Blacklight talking to her brother about how she had nightmares of Amelia screaming, tears streaming down her face, asking why mommy was in two pieces. Her back had been against the wall, her eyes lowered. She'd known even before that day she was broken. A doll who no longer had the strings of her parents to support her.

It was an odd thing, to know you were broken. To know that you were not like the others in life and to lack the empathy to care. Amelia knew for a fact something was wrong inside her, she could see how she wasn't like others her age. She was cold and had a tendency to be cruel. She didn't see things through the eyes of a child that had been ripped from her at the tender age of three. How did one even go about telling others that she wasn't okay? She was the way she was. As she had grown she had tried to "care" but it was an act, to pretend she liked what other little girls liked, to be happy, "normal" and well adjusted. It was a mask she could wear, but she resented having to; resented the world and every living being in it save for her brother and Blacklight. They were her family and they loved her, even aware something wasn't quite right... and then Blacklight had died. That was about the time Amelia stopped with her act... Why bother?

With each passing year, it would be more obvious that she was broken, at least to Raphael. She became less concerned with right and wrong. They were words that people seemed to hold in high esteem, to live by. Her parents had been righteous and look where it had gotten them. The villains who had killed them had been evil and they still lived. Where was the justice in that? Why bother worrying about how you were perceived when bad things happened to good people. Amelia couldn't understand, so... she chose to do as she pleased. It was then, that she began to use her powers on Raphael. It had started small at first and as time had gone on she'd become more adept, bolder with her actions. Mostly the reasons were selfish and a desire that he denied. No sugary cereal? Oh, yes, he would get it for her. No to a stuffed animal she wanted? Later that day she'd have it. In some cases he could have stopped her, told others what was happening, but he wouldn't do that to her. She knew it. She was more powerful than he was. He would do as she asked, whether he wanted to or not.

Much like training. Raphael hadn't wanted to teach her at first, but it was clear, with or without him she would do as she pleased. It was in his best interest to help her. For three years he had trained her, taught her to fight and found she had a special sort of skill for acrobatics. The way she moved sometimes almost seemed inhuman, as she used the powers of her parents. She learned on her own, while using her big brother as a guinea pig, testing them out on him. The perfect example was she could combine her mother's Marionette power with the lightning of the villain who had died with them together, able to hack humans and machines alike. With Raphael as her test subject she learned a lot of what she could do, without the caution someone else might have used. The reasoning for her callous treatment of her big brother was simple. He could heal.

Anyone watching them as they trained may have thought she had no love for Raphael; they would have been wrong. He was the only living being she cared for. He was the only one she could be herself with, who loved her despite being afraid of her, for her. It was with him that she tried. Like watching Disney together, playing games... She did them for him because it made him happy. She could be cruel, callous, but never once did she push him past what she knew he could handle. He was hers. Hers to love, hers to use, hers to protect. As much as losing her would kill a part of him, the reverse was true. If anything ever happened to Raphael, Amelia would be without restraint. It was the love she had for him that kept her in line. Without him, Amelia would be a monster, without a care in the world as she set the world as they knew it to the torch and watched the world burn.

----

She had heard the alarm from the room beside her, laying awake in her bad, staring at the ceiling. Finally the day had come. Raphael would take her out for the first time. He'd promised and no force in heaven or hell would keep her from what he'd promised. Not even Raphael. Sitting up she looked towards the window, the heavy curtains drawn over them blocking most of the light, save for the edges, where bright sunny light filtered through. Closing her eyes she wondered what her life might have been like had her parents not died. Would she have still been the little broken doll she was? Or would she have been normal, more like other girls. She would have been in UA more than likely, though, knowing what her power was... Would she have been? Had these villains never attacked, she'd seem almost quirkless. Or if that had and been killed, would others have feared her quirk? She knew at times she scared Raphael, though he tried to hide it from her. It wasn't her quirk though that scared him.

Sighing she sat up and slipped from bed heading towards the shower. Taking her time, she showered and then dressed with care. Amelia knew her brother both dreaded and looked forward to this birthday. Eighteen. Her pale mint green hair was left loose, as she normally left it unless training. Her outfit was picked with care. A black crop top with a pentagram, a black pleather pleated skirt. Between the two was a strip of creamy pale skin. A pair of white thigh highs with little pink bows and eyeballs were added, again another strip of skin visible between the skirt and the thigh highs. A pair of pale purple ankle boots were added to compliment the purple lace choker she added. A crown of black roses was settled onto her mint hair and a pair of earrings that read "I'm dead inside". Lastly she did her makeup, black lips and eye shadow that faded from pale lavender to black at the edges.

Heading downstairs she leaned against the doorway, watching him read the paper. "Good morning" Her voice was soft and sweet, in truth it was at complete odds to her personality. A smile curled on her lips. The sound of her boots on the tile were almost whisper quiet, a product of all their training. Bending slightly, her lips brushed his cheek; standing she was barely taller than him sitting. Amelia was a towering 4'11 where Raphael was 6'0. It, like her voice, was a good mask for the monster that lived in the dainty female. Who would expect her to be deadly? A psychopath? Gracefully she sat beside him and snagged his toast from his hand. Taking a bite she watched him icy pale blue eyes that in certain light turned almost the same shade as her minty hair. "Did you sleep well?" For now she ignored the cake and the present, just like she avoided asking him when they'd leave. Today, like all of her birthdays was more for him than her, but it was something she was willing to indulge her big brother in.

Staine · Nov 30, 2020

While he waited for her to come down, Raphael was first checking the newspaper for any new crimes committed since yesterday, paying particular attention to the quirks some of the villains possessed, just in case. It was a terrible thing he was thinking of, but he had no doubt that Amelia had thought of it too and it seemed she wasn't the only one that had been broken that night. First of all, he had spent his life since then anxious. The pain he had gone through that night alone was enough to make him somewhat hate his quirk, the injuries he had endured had been catastrophic, anybody else would have died with the first sword through his chest but not him, he'd regenerated like he always did so that he could take more damage. It wasn't that he wasn't thankful for it...while he hated that he had been almost powerless besides his ability to heal he was incredibly grateful that it had let him survive to care for Amelia so it was a double edged sword...a quirk he hated yet was thankful for at the same time, and now he was scared of taking such damage again, or of surviving when his sister didn't. Then there was the death of his parents, in the end he had been powerless to save them, he might have even been the reason they had died...they had been distracted by keeping him safe as he ran to grab Amelia, had that cost them their lives, or had they been doomed anyway? He had no way to know. Without them, having to be the adult for Amelia's sake ever since Blacklight had died he had felt lost, like he needed something to add stability to his life. He had dated, a little since his parents died, tried to move on but since Blacklight died he hadn't had the chance, always choosing to devote his free time to watching over Amelia, then to training her and in all honesty he wasn't completely sure that a girlfriend was what he needed to soothe his anxiety...all he knew was that besides the relatively rarer moments of peace and affection where he and Amelia would watch movies or do some other activity together than didn't revolve around training her to face villains and risk her life.

Now though, he was more anxious than ever, though he would try to hide it from her as best he could as he added another small time villain he had just read about in the newspaper to the small list of villains from whom they would have to select one to die. It seemed so crazy...choosing one to die, but he knew Amelia wanted to test her quirk, to see if the theory he had told her about was true, that she absorbed the quirks of those that died near her. Thankfully, it wasn't their deaths that had him feeling shaky, no, for whatever reason Raphael wasn't as against killing a villain as he thought he should be, supposing he had come to terms with the fact that she would kill...it seemed so inevitable, the more time he had spent with her as she had manipulated him or outright forced him to do things from that first time with the cereal to others where he had tried to put his foot down as her guardian. No...he didn't like it but he had made a tentative peace with that, it was choosing somebody who wouldn't surprise them and overpower them. He'd never tested her in real combat yet, he was convinced she would be every bit as strong as their parents given time but she had never faced those trials, real action, only sparring against him where she knew she was safe. She had all the power there...his quirk was no match for hers and without equipment he couldn't even put up a fight anymore, not like in those first days where he had effortlessly avoided her attacks and ignored her attempts to harm him as his training had come back to him. No, she had learned quickly, she was almost as skilled at martial arts as he was, she had her quirks to back her up, she was faster than him...but these villains with unpredictable quirks. He was worried.

As she entered the room he looked up at her, smiling as she said good morning to him. She looked so innocent, it was hard to think such a broken, dangerous mind was locked inside there. "Morning Amelia, happy birthday." He beamed at her, gesturing to the things on the table. "I got you this as a small gift, did you sleep okay? Sit down with me, I'm sure you're eager to talk about it..." He was about to take a bite of his toast when she snatched it from his hand and he frowned, watching her take a bite instead, sighing and reaching for another piece. There was little point in arguing, more and more she would just take what she wanted even from him and he knew for a fact she loved him, there was no other explanation for the amount of effort she put into trying to be more normal for him...it just wasn't her. He pointed to the cake. "Do you like it? I had it made just for you, from Frozen. You liked that one, right?" Smiling again, he laid down his notebook, a few names written in it alongside details of their crimes and where they usually took place, where they could be expected to be found. "These are the ones. I know you're thinking about it, Amelia, no need to hide it." Biting down on his toast and chewing as he placed it down, he pushed her present towards her too, swallowing before he continued. "Any of these should be your first, I can't guarantee they will be out tonight but some I've managed to identify from old school records of manifested quirks and I know where they live, others...others are trickier but they don't seem too strong." He pointed to the first name on the list. "This girl they call Hypoxia, she drags the oxygen out of a small area, she uses that to incapacitate people but honestly, keep your distance and you'll be fine, and if you can hold your breath you can take her out fast before it even affects you." He didn't mind that one, he had only personal experiments when he was young and had tested it in a puddle of water and he was pretty sure how lack of oxygen would affect him with his healing; he would maybe lose consciousness but his cells regenerated as fast as they died. He had technically drowned, it had felt awful but his organs had come out perfectly fine as always. "This guy goes by the name Sting, he has a scorpion tail. The venom is pretty potent but that's all he has, if he doesn't get near you..." A lot of the ones he had chosen had that in common, he could body block for her since they had little ranged capabilities.

"Powerpoint, basic super strength and durability...Boomerang...his is just silly, he throws something, it comes back to his hand the same way it left..." He chuckled nervously, the only ranged opponent but the quirk wasn't terribly dangerous and she was fast. "Replica...he might be the most dangerous on the list, he can clone anybody he touches or himself. From what we know, the clones are identical, he can make more than one but no idea how many and they seem to have sentience up to a certain distance away from him and retain the quirk of the person copied. Dangerous..." He'd put him in only because he was still technically close ranged so she could avoid him and the clones dissipated after taking damage, not too much either thought hey could take a hit, maybe two. "Accelerate, she makes things move faster, including herself. Weird one." He pushed the list over to her, complete with whatever images he had managed to find on each and the date he had on them. One of his other strengths it seemed, Raphael was meticulous when it came to research and surveillance and very careful. He'd made the list with his own criteria of keeping her safe. "You can choose, we leave tonight, it's your birthday after all...if you're still sure you want this." He knew she would, but what did he have to lose by making sure? "First lets enjoy your birthday, shall we? Open your gifts, eat some cake. For me?" He smiled brightly, knowing that she would probably indulge him. She always did, it was how she showed she cared.

Bunny · Dec 1, 2020

Chewing on her stolen toast she nodded, licking her lower lip free of crumbs. "I did" Her eyes moved to the wrapping and the cake, a smile playing along the edges of her mouth. It was moments like this that Amelia wondered if she wasn't fully broken. The cake was a sweet touch and she remembered seeing the movie with him in theaters. Amelia had enjoyed the movie and that day with him, it was a fond memory. The fact that she could have feelings for him, find joy in his happiness was the only sign she wasn't a true psychopath. She had looked into it once, had she been, she wouldn't have been able to form relationships; it didn't mean she wasn't still broken. Something was off within her and there was likely no way to fix it.

She smiled, a sweet curl of her lips as her eyes met his. "I love it Rafi" There was truth in her words and feeling, something that she could have faked, but she didn't ever do with him. With him and him alone, she was who she was without fear. She nodded and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I did, I liked the reindeer" Biting her lower lip she smiled and sang a little "Reindeers are better than people Sven, don’t you think that’s true?" It was easy to see why it was a song she liked, for Amelia didn't like anyone but Raphael. When he brought up the list, dark lashes blinked and curious eyes moved to Raphael's face. She hadn't expected him to broach the subject first. He was always so against the idea that honestly Amelia had wondered if she would need to force the issue with her quirk. Pulling the book closer she listened as he detailed those within it. She knew why these people had been chosen, they could be easily fought from a distance. It wasn't the combat she was worried about, youthful arrogance and a cockiness in her own abilities made her headstrong and fearless. It was their powers that she was interested in. "Replica" She had picked with ease, no second guessing, no hesitation.

Pulling her package close she smiled at him. It was out of the way and now they could have a good day together. "What all are we going to do today?" Carefully she began to open the package, and she gasped softly at what she found within. The stuffed bunny was cute and fell in line with her stylistic choices. Cuddling him to her chest, her eyes found his once more. "I'd like to go to the museum and maybe the theme park?" These were clearly requests, for the day was as much for him as it was for her. She wanted to make him happy as well. She nudged the cake closer to him with a sweet smile on her lips. "Cut me a piece?" Cake for breakfast was rare, but it was a treat. In truth, while Raphael had struggled raising her, the broken little doll that she was, he tried his best. She knew he was broken too, in his own way. She was unsure exactly how, when pressed he would become unusually evasive and switch the subject. She understood why, but it wasn't needed. Her childhood, she had for him, not because she required it. It was her gift to him.

Shifting in her seat, Amelia swung her legs, feet moving freely due to her small stature. "Unless you had something else planned?" Tilting her head she offered another small smile. One day, she would find a quirk that allowed her to help him. She was under no illusion, she would need to force the answer from him. Once she knew how to care for him, she would. He'd have no choice. He'd been strong for her, given up his life for her, saved her and was a constant source of love, comfort, even knowing how broken she was. Amelia knew that he knew. He'd never hidden that at least. He'd tried to help and when she couldn't be "fixed" he had helped hide her. He had also slowly, even if anxious about it, helped train her. Watching him with those cool blue eyes, she knew that she was stronger. Normally when she found that she was stronger than another, she looked down on them. With Rafi though, she never could. It was something known, but her love for him made it impossible to casually disregard him like she did with others. She would save him, no matter his feelings on the matter. She'd set him free, the way he allowed her to be.

Staine · Dec 1, 2020

Seeing Amelia smile brought one to his own lips, like it always did. Not a fake smile, the kind she would give others to placate them, around Raphael alone everything she did was genuine. He couldn't remember now when exactly it had been that she had just stopped hiding who she really was from him and instead let him see it. He didn't know why she had decided that, how she had come to the conclusion that he could handle it and wouldn't turn away from her but he was truly glad that she had. He could only imagine how exhausting it could be when they were around others and she had to put on that façade, pretend she was feeling the same kind of things others were, protect herself and her lack of empathy and most emotions from being witnessed. His smile widened as she sang the song from the movie, shaking his head just a little. It wasn't a complete mystery why the song resonated with her, though they didn't really have any pets for her to get along with either. Another thing he was grateful for...while he was sure she was a sociopath and maybe even a psychopath by some measurements at least he'd never found dead animals around her, on the contrary she seemed to enjoy them, it was why he had gotten her the toy even if it was a little tuned to her personal favourite aesthetic. "I'm glad you like it, I thought it might be too childish for you at first, but I really enjoy watching those movies with you and I'm thirty years old, so...I don't care." Reaching over and sliding the cake towards himself as she nudged it, he picked up the knife and cut her a slice, easing it onto a plate and carefully making sure that Olaf was intact on top of her slice.

Pushing it towards her, he chuckled lightly as she opened her gift, smiling while she cuddled the bunny to her though he had something else to talk about now. "Replica huh? Any reason why?" There were only two real reasons she would choose that one, it was either because he said he was dangerous and she wanted to challenge herself, something he could see her doing but didn't think was the real reason...or she wanted that quirk, if her own quirk truly did work as he had theorised. The other quirks hadn't been completely awful, super strength wasn't very flashy but it was useful, removing the oxygen from a location could prove devastating for fighting groups of villains so long as they needed to breathe and even the boomerang quirk could be interesting, but creating clones that had to follow your commands and could even use quirks? She wasn't wrong, it was probably the strongest of this particular set of villains. "He will be tricky to take down but as long as he doesn't see us coming he won't have time to prepare, and I can try and keep him from getting to you and cloning you." He laughed nervously, the idea of several of her all attacking him wasn't a prospect he was looking forward to. "If he clones me...well they will in theory vanish with a little damage anyway, regeneration or not, and won't get any fancy new quirks to get closer to you with." As he laid out the basic battle plan, he felt a little better about it. With planning like this it would be easier to contain, right? "Worst come to worst, I'll hold on to him and you can shock us all, turn it up high. I can take it, he can't and I think they probably dissipate once he is asleep or unconscious." It wasn't something he knew for a fact, and wouldn't be too hard to deal with a few rogue clones once the target was unconscious but it was his working theory that they wouldn't stick around. If they did, then it would be even better for her, he supposed. While he was talking, he had cut himself a slice of cake too, using a fork to take a bite and smiling at her as she told him what she would like to do. He knew it was for his benefit more than hers, like a lot of the things she did. He wasn't oblivious to that, but...he appreciated it, so very much. "Museum and theme park, got it. I think we could squeeze those both in before we go tonight, ease our nerves a little."

His. His nerves...he suspected she wasn't nervous at all. Looking up at her and the stuffed rabbit he had gotten her, he shook his head. "No other plans, maybe we can watch something after it's done, if you feel like it." He had no idea how she would feel, or how he would feel being an accomplice to killing somebody, even a villain like Replica. Another thing he had made sure to do as he put the list together was to avoid those only guilty of petty crimes; every villain on his list had killed at least one person. "Chosen a name for him yet?" He nodded towards the bunny while he finished off his cake, washing it down with a drink of orange juice. "Finish your breakfast and then we can go check out the museum. I'd rather save the theme park till afterwards, maybe we can get on some roller coasters." She had tilted he head to look at him again and he shivered. It was a strange feeling...Raphael knew that Amelia loved him, truly loved him, there was no other reason she would put in the effort she did to make him happy when she didn't have to, indulged him, but sometimes she asked him things that made him worry. Asked him how he was, what was wrong with him usually when he was near a particularly bad panic attack and was trying to hold things together. She'd learned to read him so well even as he tried to hide how broken he was from her and at times he caught her looking at him like this, openly and not even trying to hide it, as though she sizing him up. He felt safe, he knew she wouldn't ever harm him even if she could but it was unnerving a little too, not being able to read her half as well as she could with him. He tried to put it out of his mind, finishing his breakfast with a slice of toast as she finished hers, and it wasn't long before they found themselves in his car, pulling into the parking lot of the museum. He was actually a little excited for this; they currently had mythology exhibits where one could learn about the gods, goddesses and various mythological creatures through drawings and artefacts depicting them left behind, a hero and villain exhibit of past quirk users, though since quirks were relatively new to humanity that one wasn't very expansive, and an exhibit on ancient torture techniques. That one he planned to keep her away from, just in case. He didn't think she liked making anything suffer, but he couldn't be sure. Taking her hand, he led her into the museum, adjusting his glasses as it opened up to him.

Bunny · Dec 1, 2020

It was a bit childish for her, but she wouldn't actually say that to his face. She didn't mind that he liked it and she had really enjoyed it well enough, but it didn't... call to her overly so. Amelia knew that girls her age should like that sort of thing. Knew that liking that sort of thing for Rafi would ease some of his burden and.. well it wasn't all for him. The animation was pretty, she reasoned as she watched him cut the cake. The songs had been catchy and she had really liked the villain; which she was quite aware she shouldn't have. He had been annoying at first, she had loved seeing that other side of him. It, like the song, had resonated with her, though she would never be so foolish. Amelia knew it was just a children's movie, but often villain's were painted in that comical light. She wasn't a hero, she knew that much and even though she longed to make her parents proud, she knew she couldn't. She couldn't be what they had been... Sometimes she wondered if they were proud of her, even still. If the words of comfort on how they were "watching them from heaven" held any truth; she doubted it though. She was closer to a villain and she wouldn't be foolish.

His question merely made her raise a brow. His theory was true on both fronts. She wanted the challenge and she wanted the power. After a moment she shrugged, lifting a bite of cake to her mouth. "Because I want the power" She didn't need to worry him more than he already was. While he had a squeamishness about killing, Amelia felt no unease at the thought. They were beneath her and therefore unworthy of such consideration. It was simple, she wouldn't be defeated and they were weaker than her. She could not and would not be defeated. The arrogance was deeply seeded and she truly thought that at least these villains were unworthy of her time. She would take what she wanted from them and dispose of them like the trash they were. As she ate her cake, she listened to him lay out how the fight might happen, making plans for every contingency. There was one very clear issue from what Raphael was saying and she knew that on some level it went hand in hand with the foolishness of the bad guys in movies.... He expected her to get in and out, take what she wanted and leave. She wanted to play with them, like a cat with a mouse. Hobble it and then bat it about between her claws. By the time she was ready to end it, the villain in her grasp would welcome, even beg for death. Amelia debated telling him her plan, but decided against it. He wouldn't approve and it would only cause him stress. So, in the end she had just nodded. "Sounds like a plan"

She wasn't nervous, she was anxious, excited and if she was honest a bit aroused at the thought of toying with Replica. Of being allowed to be who she was, really was without reservation. Her eyes shifted to Raphael. He wouldn't approve... He'd be horrified... As any normal human would be. Would it be worth having him look at her with fear in his eyes? That was the real question. "I'd like that, I can cuddle with Baron Samedi and you" She looked at the little stuffed animal and held it towards him. "Baron Samedi, silly" Pushing her mostly eaten slice of cake away she nodded. "I am ready."

The drive to the museum was quick enough and by the time they were walking in, her small hand in his she'd already planned their path. She wanted to see the Egyptian exhibit first. Tugging him along she guided them to what she wanted to see. She found within the exhibit the one part she'd wanted to see the most. Amemet. Looking up at the statue her eyes took in the the pieces of the goddess, and how there were three distinct animals making her up. "Did I ever tell you why I picked Amemet?" Her eyes cut to him for a moment. When he shook his head, she nodded. "Amemet was the personification of divine retribution for all the wrongs one had committed in life" Icy eyes had once more shifted back to the statue. Her hands clasped before her "She was often depicted with a head of crocodile, the front part of her body like a leopard, and her back part in the form of a hippopotamus, a combination of those animals which were considered as the most dangerous to the ancient Egyptians." She looked to him, her eyes unguarded, the darkness peaking from within. "All man-eaters to the ancient Egyptians." Looking away she smiled softly. "I will not eat their hearts, but I will be their judge, jury and executioner." That look had faded from her face, but her voice echoed it. "And then their powers will be mine"

Her mask slid back into place and she held her hand to him once more. "Want to go look at the Norse exhibit now?"

Staine · Dec 1, 2020

Raphael nodded, he didn't even lose her smile as she mentioned exactly why she wanted to go after Replica, and why would he when he had been bracing himself for this for years? If he'd known what she had been thinking though...then he might have balked. Killing them was one thing, he was apprehensive about it but he had chosen them carefully so that he would feel as little empathy for them as possible, Replica in particular was known for killing guards and hostages during bank robberies and heists that he instigated, escalating as he grew more comfortable. While they sounded impressive, they had been mostly low level security in them, none of the robberies so far had been particularly high end but had been escalating slowly like he was trying to get somebodies attention. The villain seemed to be cut from a similar cloth to Raphael himself, meticulously planning each crime beforehand, he had to have in order to pull these off. At the very least, he did his homework and knew the quirks of every guard and employee of the places he stole from, enough so that he could create his own team before anybody knew what was happening...what he hadn't planned for was that Raphael had been studying his crimes, putting together a profile of him based on habits and sightings and had managed to deduce his next target. It hadn't even been very difficult...there had been some rather interesting posts to some underground websites recently, places on the dark web that needed special codes that had cost him an arm and a leg to procure but had proven to be worth their weight in gold. Criminals of all kinds appeared to be more lax in these places, and Replica was no different. At first, he had been bragging of things he had stolen on sights known to be frequented by suspected members of the League of Villains, sites that Raphael watched like a hawk as he tried to get any information on them that he could, it was where Replica had caught not their attention, but his. Recently he had moved on from simply bragging, leaving hints of crimes he planned to pull off and tonight...well tonight was the night that Replica had claimed he was going to score big, he was going to take the most expensive gemstone in the city. Raphael had done more research, many thought the most valuable gemstone was the natural diamond in the very museum they were about to visit but he knew differently...the Carmine Ruby, a large stone embedded in a burnished gold setting on an old kite shield was in the personal collection of an old man on the edge of town, and it was worth far more than the diamond. Surprisingly few people knew of it's existence in the city, it was often moved around but for 3 days it had been sitting in the man's vault beneath his mansion, it would be moved on tomorrow. Raphael was sure this was going to be the target.

"I thought as much. Okay...I understand, Amelia. I guess we will see if I'm right about your quirk tonight, but please try to be careful." He smiled at her again as he had led her towards his car. "For me?" Chuckling his approval at the name of her new bunny, he had led her to the museum, even pointed out the diamond on the way to the Egyptian exhibit. "Pretty, isn't it? I wonder how many heroes will be here tonight..." Proud that he had figured out the real target, Raphael didn't think any others would have. Any that watched the dark web, and it was notoriously difficult to get on and stay hidden if you had a hero licence since it was linked to your name and your bank cards, the few that did manage and wanted to try and capture Replica would no doubt be here tonight after his brazen claim. He'd briefly mentioned their target to Amelia on the drive over and he squeezed her hand gently. "Good thing too, I don't want to run into any heroes." Letting her guide him to the exhibit, he had listened to her, turning to face her as she spoke. "No, you never did tell me...was it because she was related to death? Like your quirk?" A small chill ran down his spine as she explained. He wasn't scared of her, at least not for himself...but when she spoke like this, he worried for others. Hopefully now that they were actually going to start taking out minor villains it would take the edge off for her cravings for vengeance. He really hoped so...because he was doing all he could to keep her focused on villains. He knew her ultimate goal, she wanted to take out the League, get revenge for their parents and he was on board for that, one hundred percent...but sometimes he felt she wanted something else too and he hadn't been able to figure out what that was, or hadn't tried too hard. Whichever it was, he wished he could help her, he wished he could make it all go away so that she didn't have these dark cravings. At the same time...he was happy she could be herself around him at least. That was something. He reached out to place his hand on her shoulder and gave her a sad smile, a small wave of panic trying to overtake him. He had to guide her, he couldn't lose her. "I see...you put more thought into this than I gave you credit for, little sister...just be careful. Let me choose your targets, let me help, keep you safe. We want to avoid heroes, you can't kill those, and we should be quick, get what we need...you need...then get out. We don't want our identities discovered."

Nodding, he took her hand and let her start to lead him towards the Norse exhibit, wondering if this really was the best thing for her and on a more amusing note, how with their Father's quirk she could probably make herself look like the 'real' Amemet if she wanted to. He might bring that up to her, though the creature sounded terrifying enough to him. Walking through the huge rocky, fake cliffs that acted as the entrance to the Norse exhibit, he took control, guiding her towards the depiction of Thor, thinking it might resonate with her a little due to her power over electricity. "Look at this one? Maybe we should get you a hammer, hmm?" Smiling, he told her the tale, how only those worthy could pick it up, how Loki had tried to ruin it during creation with his trickery and guided her towards the Loki exhibit. Behind him were his three children, Jormungandr the world serpent, Fenrir, the chained wolf and Hel, his daughter who became the goddess of death and ruler of...well, hel. He had a sinking feeling she might resonate with her more than with Thor, and he pointed her out. "Did you not consider naming yourself after her? Is that why you wanted to come to this exhibit too?"

Bunny · Dec 2, 2020

When her big brother reminded her to be careful, she had just nodded. She knew what he meant, but she would do it in her own way... If she decided to play with Replica. In truth, she hadn't decided yet. There was a balance to maintain and it was one she must hold. If she were to truly scare Raphael, he might leave her. Leaving her would mean she had no one to restrain her. Or, he might look at her with fear. He did that already from time to time, when she said or did something so far past the line of normalcy. When he did though, it wasn't him being afraid of her, as much as she clearly scared him. He knew that she wouldn't hurt him, so there had never been that palpable fear. If she broke down a man before him, played with him like a cruel child ripping the limbs off daddy long legs. She could picture it in her mind, as she broke down a once strong man into nothing more than a slobbering mess. The idea sang to her blood, a siren's call of desire. Amelia knew that it was "wrong", but she found trouble caring. The only person in the wide world that would hold back that desire was Raphael. He was the deciding factor in Replica's future that determined exactly how he died. She was quite sure if he knew that, it would scare Rafi just as much.

The diamond had been pretty, but it wasn't the cause of her focus. Nor had she any worry about running into heroes. Amelia knew she wasn't quite a villain, but she was no hero either. She was in a grey area far darker than it was light. As she explained her name to him she knew he wasn't quite thrilled with her name choice, but she had given it a lot of thought. Smiling at him softly as he squeezed her shoulder. It was his way of letting her know he was okay, that she hadn't pushed him too far. She wondered why she couldn't kill heroes. They were meant to be good, but were they really? There was a jaded side to Amelia that made her wonder what really separated them from the villains. Right and wrong. That was the answer anyone would give... But no one wanted to be the villain in their own story. Heroes did help others, but not all for the purest of reasons. "Of course Rafi" Had been her placating answer.

As she led him through to the Norse exhibit, she allowed him to take the lead, showing her about.. tell her what he knew about Norse legends. She smiled softly as he gently nudged her towards the god of thunder. Shaking her head she reached out and ran her finger down the replica of the hammer. "Something tells me the hammer would not deem me worthy" She was not what the hammer would have in mind, were it real, Amelia was quite sure. When he brought up Hel, Raphael shocked her for the second time. "I did look into her lore, but it didn't fit as well." When he questioned her reason as to wanting to come into this section she shook her head. "No. I just like the mythology. That, and we came to the museum for more than the Egyptian exhibit. Silly" Her smile was soft. "I thought you might also like this section. Though, next I'd like to see the dinosaur exhibit." She had fallen back into her normal guise around him. Mostly herself, though putting the effort out there, making them seem, if just for a little while normal. "Perhaps after, we could get some tea and look at the gift shop before leaving?" They would be there a while longer yet, but she carefully laid out plans, guiding him along as she curated her birthday as much for herself as him.

She knew, even if he didn't notice, that when she did things like this, it eased his anxiety. It took small choices he needed to make from him and allowed him to simply follow her lead. Amelia couldn't have said when she had noticed or when she had begun to do so more often than not. It was a way in which she cared for her big brother. Helped ease the burden that it was to care for her. Allowed him to live in the moment rather than worry. She liked the way it made her feel too, odd enough as it was. To know she was helping make his life easier. To know without him knowing that she was taking care of him. "Oh, I'd like to see the knight exhibit too."

Staine · Dec 2, 2020

Taking her through the museum he could tell she was in her head a lot, not that it was a huge surprise. She kept her innermost thoughts to herself, even though she didn't hide things from him that he knew of, and he was reasonably sure she didn't since she had stopped hiding her nature from him, she still spent a lot of time just...not telling him what she was thinking and for most things he simply didn't ask. He was worried she might answer him, and while he would never turn from her, never leave her no matter what he didn't want her to see any fear or horror on his face. He didn't know he'd be able to hide it if she said something terrible, and he didn't want her to think he might leave, maybe she even thought like that already. It saddened him, to an extent. He worried because he couldn't actually know how she felt about things, what actually did or would make her happy and what actually just didn't matter to her. In his own way, what scared him the most was the thought of discovering that she didn't care for him, didn't love him at all, that it was just an act to get what she wanted, the training, the place to live. What if that was all it was? He shook the thought off as nonsense. He saw smiles in her that nobody else did, that she only had for him, she couldn't fake that.

He chuckled softly as she reached out to touch the hammer. He agreed, she probably wouldn't pass the hammer's little test but he was unlikely to either. "That's fair...but who cares? I know I don't." He reached down and this time his hand found her hair, messing it up just a little as he tried to give her the warmest smile he had. "I think you're worthy of anything you want. By my standards...you're my little sister, and before we go out tonight I just want you to know...I love you." He didn't know why he was saying it now, it was something about the way she said she wasn't worthy, it made his hackles rise and he was suddenly feeling less anxious and more defensive, protective of her. "Anybody that thinks otherwise can go fuck themselves, right?" He laughed, a genuine laugh of amusement that they rarely shared outside of watching a movie and something ticking him on the screen. He never used language like that with her...despite her being far from innocent in what she wanted, wanting to kill, to take powers from others and break the law he still treated her like his little sister, he still never swore or cursed in front of her. Taking her to the Hel exhibit he nodded. "Didn't fit as well? That's fair too...I just think she is prettier is all, like you. I think I get it though, she doesn't stand for the same things as Amemet." Smiling, he took her hand again as she told him the other exhibits she wanted to see, and made her request for tea. "I do like this section, I like all mythology, you know that. Hmm, dinosaurs and tea?" He led her towards the dinosaur exhibit. "Looking for inspiration? Maybe you could turn into a T-Rex one day?" He grinned, pulling his arms back to make them look like T-Rex arms. "Raaawwwwrrr!" The noise was more than loud enough to draw attention as they approached the dinosaur exhibit but he didn't care, he had resolved to stop worrying like he always did and just enjoy the moment, enjoy the day out with his sister.

"Maybe something small like this one first though, right?" He pointed to a Deinonychus and the helpful information board that showed relative sizes, which seemed a little superflous right next to an actual skeleton of the creature. "Ooooh, maybe you are looking for something less scaly and more agile? Have you considered a saber-toothed tiger?" Laughing, he was actually starting to have a lot of fun with this and could see the model of the saber-toothed tiger from where he was, though he didn't guide her over to it just yet, instead he stopped at the one next to them. "Interesting. How about this?" He pointed to a small chart, and inside the exhibit were not bones but scale models. "You can copy just traits too, have you tried wings yet?" He couldn't remember her ever seeing anything like that. "Flying seems pretty cool...and handy, though I'd rather you copy something that will keep you safe." In danger of becoming anxious again he moved on, laughing it off. "We should test some of the dinosaur forms some time, just no biting me okay? That doesn't look very pleasant." He hung around there a little longer with her, letting her guide him through any of the exhibits she actually liked before he started to take her towards the knights one. This stuff he really liked, he was fascinated with weapons, with the medieval torture devices and armour in general, anything that could protect the body. Not just hers too...his. Despite everything he still wasn't fond of pain, as well she knew from their training and his numerous complaints. "Ooooh, we should still look into more equipment too, I'm sure we can get some modernised shields like that comic book guy. Something clear maybe? Whoa, how cool is this?" Pulling her along he took her towards a model of a knight in full jousting gear. "Maybe something like this?" He grinned as he reached out to touch the tip of the lance after quickly making sure the guards weren't watching. "Though I can't shapeshift so you'd have to be the loyal steed." Laughing again, he gave her another bright smile, hoping to see signs of her having at least a good time. "So tea and the gift shop? Lead the way...was there something in particular you wanted?"

Bunny · Dec 3, 2020

A disgruntled sigh left her as he messed with her hair. Reaching up she smoothed her minty green locks back into place while glaring at him. "Hey now" Though both the look and words held a playful tinge to them. His words made her face soften. She loved Raphael, he was the only person she loved. Amelia knew that was perhaps not very unusual, what was unusual was the fact that he was the only thing keeping her from being the same sort of monster that killed their parents; for how long he could keep that monster at bay, now that was another issue all together. Smiling softly she nodded. "I love you too Rafi" She didn't say it as often as he did, but each time she did, there was no doubt how she felt. Snorting softly she shook her head as he lightened the mood with humor. "You know, I hear tell of these things called swear jars. Pretty sure you'd need to pay for that one" The mood had indeed been lightened and she snorted softly as he lead her to the Hel exhibit. "I wasn't going for just pretty though and, she wasn't even meant to be all the pretty" She looked up at him with a smile. "Her appearance is described as half blue and half flesh-colored and further as having a gloomy, downcast appearance in some literature." looking back to the exhibit she continued, just further proving how much she had put into her name. "She has also been depicted as half beautiful and alive, and half blue, the color of cold, dead flesh. Modern artistic portrayals go further, and depict her as part corpse"

Laughing as he lead her away with his T-Rex impersonation, both his rawr and Amelia's laugh drawing attention to them. "I am not so sure about the whole turning into a dinosaur... and if I did not promises on not taking a bite" Though it was an interesting idea. Tucking it away for next time, she followed him into the exhibit. "You know you're a dork, right?" Her smile grew once more and she shook her head. "I had no ulterior motive" Though, Raphael was giving her things to consider. Such as shape shifting into something far more terrifying. She knew that she could shift basically on her own desires. Like the time she made herself into a neko because they were cute. They didn't actually exist out of perhaps mutation, but Amelia had surely never met one. In theory it should apply the same way to anything she wanted. It posed another question in her mind. What if she came across a villain or hero without form? She had heard about some a while back. Could she shift into them? Looking at a fossil she wondered what the limitations of her stolen power were. Not for the first time in her Eighteen years of life did she miss the parents she couldn't remember. It wouldn't have mattered, her question had they still been alive. Amelia hadn't shared with Raphael, but she was quite sure what her quirk was. Had her parents lived, not been attacked, she would have seemed quirkless.

"I haven't" Amelia responded absently. For a rare moment, she looked up at him, a question in her eyes. "Rafi, tell me about mom and dad?" She asked this of him periodically. This was the one other area he would see this.. humanity from his baby sister. This weakness in her eyes. As she lead him through other parts of the exhibits. Amelia would try not to ask, because it wasn't just her who had lost them. She knew it hurt him sometimes to talk about it. While he had never told her, she knew that he blamed himself. It didn't take a quirk to figure that out. He had been trying to save her, and their parents had been trying to save them. Amelia didn't blame him though. She didn't know the whole story, but she did know he had saved her. That was worth something, wasn't it? A small win out of the horror of the night? After some time she let him lead her from the exhibit. When he changed the subject she allowed it, laughing and shaking her head once more. "That will slow anyone down. I also could be as agile as I am now in that." It was not new, her aversion to such gear. She conceded when she needed to, but Amelia liked the freedom to move. When he brought up her being a horse she snorted. "I think not. Don't the horses die first?"

When he directed her to her last few goals in the museum she nodded. "I would really like some green tea. Maybe people watch for a little bit. Then just to look at the shop." There were some habits that she found more enjoyable that she considered "normal". People watching and window shopping both were on that list. Both made her feel less like what she was, if only for a little bit and it didn't tax her to enjoy them as some other activities did. Recently Raphael had stopped pushing her into some of those sorts of activities and it had been so much worse when she was young. Back when all kids were invited to a party, a sleepover or some other ridiculous social activity. Her hand found his once more and she led him towards the cafe. As they walked, Amelia pictured what their life would have been like, had their parents not been attacked and killed. Raphael would have graduated U.A., been working with their parents or started his own hero agency. She wouldn't have been around death, would be all but quirkless... Would she have still been a broken doll? Or was she broken because of the events of her life?

Staine · Dec 3, 2020

Laughing as she smoothed out her hair, Raphael was enjoying himself a little more after pushing his anxiety down back where it belonged. His days usually tended to go like this even when they weren't planning something so dangerous and illegal later in the night, just another reason he appreciated the stability Amelia brought into his life. Hearing her say she loved him warmed his heart...he already knew it, but hearing the words and seeing her smile made it so much better as he listened to her explain about Hel, clearly she had done her research. "I don't think a swear jar is necessary really." He smiled down at her again, grinning. "Fuck em. Fuck the swear jar too, I get to decide that anyway, I'm the adult here." All the while she had been telling him the various aspects of Hel as they walked to the next exhibit and he raised his eyebrow. It was an impressive amount of knowledge as they approached the dinosaurs. "She sounds terrifying...see mine is nice, Asclepius, a healer." He smiled as he came out of his dinosaur impersonation. "At least Hel was half pretty then...not as pretty as my little sister is but that doesn't seem to be what you're going for anyway. It was the vengeance, right?" The more they talked the more relaxed they both seemed to be as they enjoyed the exhibit. "Something wrong with dorks?" Moving on to the knight's exhibit, he heard her question and nodded. "Okay...but when we go for tea, alright? Let's be sitting down first." The knight exhibit passed by quick enough, she clearly didn't want to try out the armour and had no interest in being his faithful steed. "Fiiiine, spoilsport. Maybe they did, but I wouldn't ride you into danger." He reached down to muss up her hair again. "You're too important, keeping you safe is the only thing that matters."

Taking her towards the café near the entrance, he sat her down in a corner booth while he went to the counter to order their tea, getting himself a simple hot chocolate. Telling her about their parents was another one of those things that helped them bond, she liked to hear the little stories about them, what they did, sometimes just what they were like and he tried to give her the details so she had...something. Something about where they came from. Looking back at her she was already watching people, something that once had concerned him. The way she observed them, he often wondered what was going through her mind but it was better than making her do the other things, sending her to gatherings where she stood out like a sore thumb, clearly didn't fit in and wasn't interested in the same things others were. Sitting down, he pushed her tea towards her and smiled softly. "Having fun? So...mom and dad." He took a sip of his hot chocolate. "Did I ever tell you about the day you were born? Mom was at home with me, she was testing me since I was due to join U.A in a few months and she had been trying to teach me various things to look out for, things I would need. You know my quirk isn't so great for actually fighting, just lets me be a little more reckless. Well...we were trying to think of some signature attacks or ways to use it for more than just survival when she went into labour. Dad was out, he was partnering with Cold Snap while mom couldn't go patrolling with him and there was jewellry store heist at the same time as mom was being taken by ambulance to the hospital." He laughed softly at the memory. "She was always in control, even then. While dad couldn't be there she was barking orders at the paramedics like she was their boss, I think she even used her quirk at one point to make sure they were careful as they helped her on to the gurney. Can you picture it? The poor guys had no idea what to do, she controlled them like puppets until she was strapped into the ambulance and of course they didn't dare complain. Probably star-struck. The Marionette." He smiled warmly at Amelia. "She was always like that, insisted on being in control when she could, though at least she never used her quirk on me." He gave her a somewhat disapproving look, though it was clear he was amused. He'd gotten used to Amelia being who she was, he didn't hold it against her.

"Dad on the other hand was...how did you put it, a dork? He finished taking care of the robbery...we heard it over the police scanner that mom refused to drop, and rushed to the hospital but he didn't tell her he had arrived. One of the male nurses had started asking mom about the pregnancy, taking her temperature, asking if she had taken any medication...then started asking some really inappropriate questions. One of the other nurses looked shocked, covered my ears so I couldn't hear anymore, thankfully, so I never heard the answer of her favourite position or thoughts on..." He laughed and took a sip of his hot chocolate. "Well, nevermind, you don't need to know. I know I didn't. And it didn't take much longer for her to figure out it wasn't really a nurse either. Dad was laughing his head off even though he was strung up in the corner of the room where he couldn't do anymore harm, the doctors and nurses didn't know where to look!" The memory was almost surreal, but she had wanted to know more about them, and the story was a very happy one for him. Not only had the whole thing been hilarious but Amelia had been born, it was definitely one of the best days of his life and he finished his drink with a warm smile. "Eighteen years ago today, huh? I was younger than you are at the time. Anyway...how is the tea? Any idea what you want from the gift shop?" A quick look at his watch told him they had plenty of time left to finish up here and then find some souvenirs before they went to the theme park. He pulled out his wallet, pushing his bank card over to her. "My treat, anything you like when we get there." Sitting back he was happy to just let her finish her drink at her own pace, while knowing that she did this kind of thing for him he wanted her to enjoy it too.

Bunny · Dec 6, 2020

A soft snort left Amelia, a wry smile on her lips. "I don't know. You have become a sailor and it seems I could make bank" Her tone was amused as she looked away from him. When she commented on Hel being kinda cute that same soft snort left her. "I suppose, I'd rather be completely cute though. Also, I don't know if Amemet had a human form or not, but I wouldn't dare tell any goddess she was anything less than lovely. I don't think they'd take kindly to it." Her eyes shifted to him and she smiled. "You mean the god that did unholy things and Zeus killed him for it?" Tilting her head she drummed her fingers on her thigh. "The one whose name literally meant "to cut open" for he was cut from his dying mother's womb." She wrinkled her nose at him playfully. "I don't know yet, jury is still out on dorks" When he said she was too important she smiled softly and tossed her minty hair over her shoulder before bumping into him playfully "Besides, I don't wanna carry you. You would weigh a ton now, put you in some armor? My back hurts thinking about it"

Sitting she let him wander off to get their drinks. Her eyes watching the people as they passed. She didn't know why she liked watching humanity when she could stand so very little of it. People going about their lives, unaware. When in public, people knew they'd be watched but did they actually keep that in mind? She watched a mother dragging an unwilling child of seven or eight behind her, refusing to walk under their own volition so their firmly planted feet skid along the floor. Two teenagers thought they were hidden from view as they made out. A security guard was picking his nose. When he came back she smiled and nodded. "Yeah" As she listened to the story unfold she closed her eyes, trying to picture all of it. She had really wish she had known them. Their personalities almost seemed split between herself and Rafi, with her taking after their mom and he their dad. Giggling, the sound was bright and sweet as he got to the part with their dad once more, though as it faded and her eyes opened her face as a bit more somber. Looking at her cup she took a sip, the drink forgotten while the pair of them reminisced. "It's good." She nodded to his drink. "How is it?"

When he slid the card her way she smiled and nodded. "Thanks" The word was softer and she looked down at it. She wasn't having a party or any of the things the movies said should happen or that she knew other girls did. There would be no car, no party; not that Amelia minded. She would have been highly uncomfortable at a party. However, she couldn't help wonder what their parents might have done. How her life would be different. It was a sore spot and it more than anything fueled her icy rage and vengeance. It was that loss, that hole that couldn't be filled and the fact that the night they killed her parents, they had left a broken doll in their wake. She'd seen a video once on TikTok that had oddly resonated with her. A creepy murderous doll. A smile pulled at her lips and she toyed with the card. "I hadn't thought about getting anything really, I just wanted to look. If something catches my eye, I will let you know" Sipping her tea her eyes shifted back to the crowds of people enjoying the museum. Old and young alike. Students on a school trip and then heroes loitering, trying to protect the wrong jewel. "How come you think others haven't figured it out?" She nodded towards the exhibit where the jewel was currently being housed. "I get not all heroes knowing... But none who have been able to sniff out the trail. Seems... pathetic"

Her disdain for heroes was not new, something that came and went on the tides of her moods. They sifted, waxed and waned based on factors that only Amelia was privy to. Toying with his card, she watched a hero making their rounds. Had the heroes been more on their toes, perhaps her parents would still be alive. Perhaps not. But her disgust for humanity included them as well as the villain's, though, they bore less of the blame in her eyes, but they were not blameless. No one was. Her eyes shifted to Raphael. Not even her loving older brother. Though, she didn't blame him much. She couldn't bring herself to. It was something she often shut down hard, in fear of what it would become if she allowed it to fester. Looking away one more, her next words were whisper quiet. "Are you afraid of me, Rafi?"

Staine · Dec 14, 2020

"Surely I'm not that bad...it was one swear word!" Laughing, he nodded as she spoke about Amemet and Hel. "Oh no, I'd never dare say you were anything but cute, perish the thought!" Grinning he reached down to place his hand on her head, feeling more at ease now that he wasn't worrying so much. "Wow...you sure know how to ruin a name huh? Maybe I should think of a knew one? I didn't actually do much research into Asclepius..." Tonight was going to be risky enough, but he at least had a lot of confidence in her abilities; Amelia was more than capable of taking down any of these villains solo, so Replica wasn't really going to be an issue unless he exploited her one real weakness. She knew how strong she was...and she was overconfident...he had a feeling that given the chance she would toy with her opponent, to prove her superiority, and that could give him a chance to take her down where he otherwise would be completely overwhelmed by her skills and her quirks. Smiling, he shook his head. "Well you let me know when the verdict comes back, though I wouldn't want to know what the punishment for dorkhood is anyway. Maybe I should have diplomatic immunity?" Ruffling her hair again, he had gone to fetch their drinks while she watched the people of the museum and he watched her, wondering what it was that went through her mind when she did this, just sat and watched complete strangers going about their lives. Knowing how she felt so little empathy for others, what could she possibly be thinking? It didn't worry him...even with her being the way she was he felt she was still a good person, what they were going to do that night, it was right, wasn't it? It was a villain, a murderer who they were going to take out, somebody who would kill many more innocent people if left to his own devices. Unleashing Amelia on him was the right thing to do, he had to believe that.

Sipping his drink, he gave her a smile as she asked about it. "It's good, would you like to try some?" He offered her the cup, letting the story he had told her sink in and again wondering how she felt about it. It was difficult, not knowing how she felt about things, constantly having to wonder if she was having normal thoughts or anything dangerous. As she played with his bank card he smiled warmly at her, trying to make her feel better about using it. "Amelia...it's your birthday. I know you probably don't really want anything, you never do except for...well. for what we are doing tonight, vengeance on criminals, but...you have to have something else you want, right? Something that would make you happy? I worry sometimes, what happens if...when we take out the league of villains? Where do you go from there? Is there anything that would make you happy, that could make you happy?" It was another very real concern of his and one that had been on his mind recently. "Do you ever want anything else? What about finding a nice boy and settling down, or at least going on dates?" Following her gaze, he smirked with pride. He might not be the most powerful hero, or villain, or whatever it was that they were now, but he was good at things like this, he considered himself a first rate detective and strategist. "They probably didn't look too closely into it, nobody thinks about the private collection of a man who doesn't flaunt it or advertise it, and this is the obvious choice of target. High profile, it's worth a lot in itself...and they don't have you." He looked to her, smiling. "I have to protect you...so I spent a lot of time researching each villain I see or read about, I don't want any surprises, so I'm meticulous. I cross all my T's and I dot all my I's, and in doing so I see things others don't..." He grinned at her and stuck his tongue out. "And I'm just better at this stuff than they are. Too focused on their quirks and power, they don't know what it's like to be powerless and have to rely on effort and to actually study something." He knew it wasn't entirely true...he'd been to U.A, he knew exactly how much effort it took, at least for him, nobody had it truly easy but some definitely had it easier than others. Teleportation quirks, fiery conflagration quirks, quirks that gave the user super speed, supernatural senses, strange abilities that made them seem all but invulnerable to somebody like him.

Her question pulled him out of his thoughts. "What? Amelia no...I'm not..." He let it hang in the air a second while he thought. "And it not just because of my quirk...you can be scary, you're hard to read, I don't always know what you want or what you're thinking and I worry about you a lot, but...I'm not scared of you. I know you'd never hurt me...and you only want to hurt villains, right?" He sounded more hopeful than convinced. "Come on, let's go to the theme park." Standing and taking her hand, he led her towards the exit, squeezing it gently. The truth was that sometimes, yes, he was scared of her, but like he had said, he knew she wouldn't hurt him. He had faith in her, and to be quite honest he lived his life for her now. She was everything to him. As he opened the car door for her, he decided he should tell her that, climbing into the driver's seat. "Amelia...you know how much you mean to me, right? You're the only family I have left, you're my little sister. It's my job to protect you, you know? No matter what...I don't care what it is that goes on in your mind, I don't care that you might scare others...you'll never scare me, and I'll never leave you. You mean everything to me." He smiled as he started the car and began to drive, glancing over at her. "So don't ever think like that again, understood?"

Bunny · Dec 18, 2020

It was odd sometimes to Amelia how she and her brother interacted. She didn't mind it, she actually liked it... but that in itself was odd to her. He was the only human being she cared about. The only one she might consider dying for. The only one who didn't bear the brunt of her icy rage at the world. She wouldn't have traded him for anything though. Not even their parents. He was the only one she'd ever known who knew the real her and despite the fact that she was a sociopath, Raphael still loved her. Her eyes shifted to the offered drink and she smiled softly taking a sip. It was good, but watery. "I prefer the thick drinking coco we make" Was her soft reply. Sipping her own tea, her eyes had drifted to the people once more when he began to talk. Amelia was listening, the problem was if she wanted something else she was unaware of it. Her mind recognized that for the lie it was. There was something she wanted but couldn't have and it played into the idea of dating. Slowly her eyes met his and she tilted her head. Amelia said nothing and looked back towards the diamond. Her question served enough of a distraction from his last line of thought.

Her mind fractured for a moment as she listened to him and pondered his previous question. Dates? She could barely stand other people for the short forays into the world and he wanted her to consider dating? It was almost laughable. There was only one person she had ever had feelings for and he sat across from her. Amelia knew that the revelation of that desire might be the metaphorical straw that broke the camel's back. Could he, would he be okay knowing that the only man who made her feel anything was him? He was the only one who she could picture or desired to be with in that way. All others would be compared to him anyway. It would be folly to try and get some poor mouth breather to be just like Raphael. They wouldn't meet with her harsh requirements. They wouldn't do or be what she needed. Raphael was well... Raphael. Amelia frowned for a moment. It was in part what sparked her next question. Icy eyes turned towards him once more as she asked.

His answer didn't soothe her the way he had hoped. He wasn't entirely sure she wouldn't hurt him and in truth, neither was she. What she could say was she'd never push him past what she thought he could take; it wouldn't line up with his own perceived limitations. Rather than let his answer linger between them, he changed the subject and she nodded. A soft smile on her lips. "Okay" She pushed the car back towards him before rising. The short walk to the car was met with silence, both siblings lost in their own thoughts. Amelia was in the process of buckling her seatbelt when Raphael spoke again. Thick, dark lashes lowered and she nodded. The car started and she nodded once more. "Promise" Another lie, but one she wanted to be true. Slipping her hand over his on the steering wheel, Amelia gave his hand a small squeeze before letting it drop. Reaching over she put on music, effectively ending their talk for the moment. Music was the one thing of the world that seemed to speak to Amelia beyond her lust for revenge. As they drove, her sweet voice sang along to pop songs and for a moment, just a moment she seemed normal.

Kelekona Island was the theme park near them, it's name meaning Dragon Island. There were dragons from all around the world's mythology. The park was segmented into colors and myths, her two favorites being blue and red. As they found a parking spot she unbuckled her belt and slipped from the car. the heat of the day seeping down into her bones, making her sigh softly. Amelia had always loved heat like this, where it warmed you down to your very marrow. Walking around to his side, she slipped her hand into his and smiled. She could play at being normal a little longer. It would make him happy which in turn was something that could at times make her happy. "Where should we go first?"

Staine · Dec 18, 2020

As she took a sip of his drink, it was Raphael's turn to study her a little, and she really did seem to brighten up around him, when he teased her she didn't seem to get angry like he suspected she did with others, and she didn't scare him, just like he had said. "Yeah, but they don't exactly do the good stuff here." He was a little concerned she hadn't answered his question, and against what he normally would do, he didn't plan on letting it go this time. She had been just watching him instead, and pushed his credit card back to him. On the walk to the car he had slipped it back into his wallet, and as he had sat down in the driver's seat and she had asked if he promised, he had laughed softly, reaching over to poke her nose. "Promise. Would somebody who is scared of you boop your nose?" Leaning over he reached around to the other side of her head and leaning in close from his seat, pulled her against him, placing his lips to the top of her head and kissing softly. The way he held her now she wouldn't be able to see the tears welling up in his eyes, the tears he was fighting to keep in. She was scared, in a way, that's what he felt. Scared that he would leave her, that's why she wanted him to promise. and his voice was a little shaky when he spoke, but her meant every word of what he said. "I'll never leave you, understood? Nothing you can do can scare me away, nothing you can do can keep me from you. I'm meant to be here for you, that's why I lived, Amelia, I know that now. That's why I have this quirk...the one quirk that let me live through that day, live to take care of you." It was what he truly believed, and when he released her he refused to look at her, focusing on the road instead as he began to drive, hiding the shimmer in his eyes. Trying to change the subject was his best bet, so that is what he tried to do. "You never answered me, you know. I asked if you ever had any other desires, is this it? just revenge and hunting criminals and villains? You could find love, find...somebody. Something, you know? Something to make you happy...I just want to see you happy, Amelia, more than anything, I'd give anything to make you enjoy life more."

It was hard to think of anything that would actually make his little sister happy, though she did seem to enjoy mythology it seemed...though even then the darker stuff seemed to be what appealed to her. Focusing on driving, it wasn't long before they arrived at the theme park, Dragon Island, and he was growing excited. It might be dumb, but he really enjoyed things like roller coasters and rides, theme park games and even the food there. The heat wasn't his thing, but he knew Amelia liked it at least, so as he took her hand he looked out into the theme park. "First? Red, let's go to the red area first, that's one of your favourites, right? We can get one of the boats and sail around the whole park, then we can to the blue side and try some of the roller coasters! Oh, and maybe some food, right? I want something we can walk around with, you can choose, anything you like." Taking her hand he was practically pulling her through the park and towards the red side, hoping that maybe she could at least find some happiness in this before...before tonight. Guiding her towards the ships, medium sized boats on underwater rails that were designed for 2-4 people and made to look like elegant seafaring vessels with dragon motifs, red and pink sails with dragonhead figurines on the front and intricately designed dragons coiling up the mast. He had to stop before they actually got there to pay for entry into the park, the small wristband being affixed around his wrist and one around hers so that they could actually ride for free and had access to all the areas, but once they were in and at the ships, he helped her into a seat, grinning as the boat started to set sail around the park, heading towards the green dragon area.

Sitting down in the ship, he sat back and relaxed, looking out at all the people enjoying their day out, mostly families out together. A day at the theme park, not a care in the world. None of them would be doing what they were doing that night, going out to hunt incredibly dangerous villains, illegally too...but he had to believe it was for a greater good, not just for Amelia's own desires but what they were doing would save lives, wouldn't it? With Replica off the streets, no more people would die just so he could try and prove himself to the league of villains, no more families would be missing a father just because he happened to be a security guard who tried to do his job at a museum or bank that the villain targeted, or a cashier, or just a random stranger who happened to see him making his getaway and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. What he and Amelia did that night was going to save lives. He nudged her and looked down, smiling. "Are you having fun, even a little?" If he kept smiling, she would smile too, that was his theory. His fun would rub off on her. "This is your birthday you know, is there anywhere you'd like to go after this? Any of the rides in particular, or maybe catch one of the shows?" The heat was bearing down on them as the boat automatically sailed into the green area, music playing through loudspeakers in a medieval style, with western looking green dragons, the kind with huge, thick bodies and long sinewy tails, the fire breathing kind, and the boat sailed beneath the legs of the largest of them. "Are you excited for tonight, at least? You know we can cut this short if you want to get too it...we only have a few more hours before we have to get ready anyway, and you don't seem as excited to be here as I am." He smiled and pulled her against his side, closing his eyes and just enjoying how close she was to him. "I know you do this for me, not you. I'm not stupid...and thank you, because I appreciate it but it's your birthday...we should do what you want to do on it, right?" Around them a bunch of children cheered as a jousting show was going on, the mechanical dragon hit by the lance in the chest, the wood splintering as families watched from the stands and their boat headed towards the blue area after stopping for a few minutes in the green dock in case they wanted to get out.

Bunny · Dec 19, 2020

The boop to her nose made her smile and Amelia wrinkled the feature playfully. "Maybe, if they didn't like the hand anymore" She teased back. His next words were sobering though, and for a moment she fell silent. Nodding she looked at him and smiled some, sorrow in her eyes. He could say that, but there was no way for him to know for sure, or for her to know for that matter. Would he really be okay to know everything? That was a fear, on of the few that Amelia possessed; losing Raphael because he was actually scared of her or disgusted. It was a real fear and one that Amelia didn't want to face. The revulsion, the fear... She wasn't sure she could take it. Raphael changed the subject but unfortunately it was back to the topic from before. Like a dog with a bone, he wanted to know if she had other things she enjoyed. "I know I didn't" She hedged her answer, gazing out the window as the scenery passed by. "Maybe go to school for something Mythology based.. One where I could work alone" He knew how much she disliked people. The last comment made her frown. "I don't dislike life. I dislike people. They are cruel, self indulgent and lazy as a whole. Most people go through their miserable life with no goal, they simply exist for a blip of time and then fade away" Her tone was defensive and she sighed, looking away again.

She didn't like when he tried to push the views of what was "acceptable" on her. Just because she didn't act normal or like people, did that mean her life held less than theirs? In truth, she wasn't sure, but her difference from others was painfully apparent to her. On some level, Amelia wished she was just like others. A normal teenage girl, who liked what normal girls like. She couldn't help the way she was, but even with Raphael, Amelia felt judged from time to time for not being what she had perhaps been intended to be. Hand in hand she allowed him to lead her towards the red dragon section. Amelia was uncharacteristically quiet as they walked. He wanted her to find love, but who out there other than him could she stand for any real length of time. As they settled down into the boat she broke her silence. "I don't picture myself with someone else Rafi." Her voice was soft as she continued "You always knew I was different, but you didn't really know how until later. That while I pretended to be... normal... I wore a mask. Finding someone to settle down with would require me to wear a mask always. To never be myself, not even in the quiet time in my life" She laid it out as plainly as she could, tried to get him to understand. She didn't tell him all of it, but he wouldn't know there was more to be told either.

After some time had passed she laid her head on his shoulder, his questions were getting tiring. Rafi meant well, she knew, but she found no desire to be someone she wasn't for long. "Just because I don't look like those girls" she pointed to a trio of teen girls, laughing, smiling ear to ear as they walked "Doesn't mean I am not happy Rafi. You can't judge me like them because I am not them. I am enjoying the day with you. I picked to come here because I wanted to and it would make you happy as well." Her eyes closed for a moment, thick lashes forming lacy half moons on her cheeks. "You should know by now, most anything I do is for me as well. I don't excel at doing something purely for others." Lashes lifted and she sat up. "As for tonight, excited isn't the right word" She didn't know the right word though so shifted back to his previous question that had gone unanswered. Amelia was a fan of such things, oddly enough. "I'd like to get some food, maybe a turkey leg and something cool to drink?" Her mind swirled back through his other question and she nodded. "I want to do the round round rides and of course the rollercoasters. If any animal shows are happening, I'd like to see them too"

Icy eyes shifted towards the crowds as children and parents alike cheered. What would her life have been like? "I don't want to cut this short. You will just worry even more than you are managing to right now if we are not out and distracting ourselves." The answer was blunt and she laid her head back on his shoulder. "You pester me about a normal life. Why don't you have one?" He would use her as an excuse. Training her, watching over her. It was a copout and she knew it. There was something more to it than just her... Fear? She knew in theory putting yourself out there made it easier for you to get hurt. Even if Raphael could heal, it didn't mean he liked pain, she knew that first had. Was a bit of a shame, she enjoyed causing pain. She waited for his easily scripted answer, almost positive of what he would say. In part she asked to make him uncomfortable as he had been making her. She could be cruel to him sometimes, but only when he annoyed her to the point of turning the tables on him.

Staine · Dec 22, 2020

Raphael laughed, even when she was trying to be threatening, it didn't really scare him, though he did concede that she probably wasn't trying to actually scare him. She was teasing him...something she only ever did with him and he stuck his tongue out at her. "Jokes on you Amelia...I'm not entirely sure but I think my hand might actually grow back...I've never tested it, but it makes sense, right?" It was true, he had no actual idea the limits of his healing but the rate at which he healed and what he could heal hadn't shown any actual limits. He had healed holes in his chest, he knew that he could survive suffocation and drowning..again he did actually lose consciousness but his cells regenerated too quickly for brain death to take place and his heart wouldn't stop beating because of it even with oxygen not being carried in his blood. He couldn't get as drunk as other people, at least not as easily, it was something he had tried once to calm his nerves but an entire bottle of vodka had left him with a mild buzz for five minutes. To get actually drunk he estimated it would have cost him a small fortune, and to maintain it would be even harder. No, Amelia's threat wasn't exactly a viable one considering his quirk, not when he could easily repair the damage, and that was another reason he never had to be scared of her. Besides pain, what could she really do to him? The league of villains had failed to kill him. He chuckled as she relented in evading his question and decided to actually answer it, listening to her possible hopes, possible desires beyond revenge and vigilantism, though he frowned at her views on people, nodding. "I know...I know how you feel, but do you feel that way about everybody? About...me?" He knew she didn't but he wanted her to tell him that, he had a goal in his life; Raphael's goal was to protect her, to make sure she had everything she needed to succeed and not go the same way their parents had.

Her next answer was saddening for him, but unsurprising. Ever since she had stopped hiding her true nature for him he had realised how difficult it must be for her to be around others, to have to wear that mask of normalcy when she simply didn't feel it, he could even relate as he often made out that he was doing better mentally than he actually was, hid how much things were really affecting him from her. He too couldn't really picture himself with anybody; he had tried, but he had failed, it hadn't worked out for him and it seemed he was destined to be alone in that regard, to only have his sister for company. He was fine with that, truth be told...but he had wanted more for her. Love, closeness...even sex, though it was something he tried not to think about, she might never get to truly enjoy these things. Did she even get aroused? No...he wasn't going to put any more thoughts into that. "I understand...it's sad, but it would be hard, right? I know the feeling, believe it or not...but don't worry." He offered her a smile as he let her lean against him in the boat. "I'll always be here for you. You never have to hide from me...okay, Amelia? I meant what I said earlier...nothing you could ever do would scare me away, I'm meant to be here for you. I know that, it's why I was given this quirk, so I could survive, so you'll never have to be alone." It was a harrowing thought if that was the case, it would also mean she was given hers for vengeance, but if destiny was a thing, this was surely his.

He could tell she was growing tired of his questions, so he stopped with them, instead he let her open up to him and answer the ones he had already asked, feeling some peace to have her head resting on his shoulder. "I never thought of it like that...okay, I'll stop asking, I get it." He grinned, booping her nose again. "Buttface. Okay, food, rides, animals. Check." He laughed at her last question, a taste of his own medicine, and he didn't even have to think of an answer. "I have a life that makes me happy, I have you, silly. How could I ever want anything else, when I was left here to be here for you, to be yours? I at least tried dating, but it didn't suit me anyway..." He laughed nervously, feeling the pressure of the exact same thing he had been subjecting her to. "If I need company there are girls you can pay for that, I'll be just fine...but as for my life, I know who I want to spend it with." He leaned close, kissed the top of her head. "So don't tell me I don't have a life, I have the life I want...I just want better for you." Opening a pamphlet he had picked up when they entered the park, he looked to see if any shows were happening, and seeing there would be an aquatic show in the blue park he led her off the boat there, towards some of the food vendors. They had twenty minutes before the show, and they were soon in the queue for some traditional Japanese theme park food with mythological twists to it, though the twists were little more than special glazes with dumb names, like Teriyaki with fire dragon batter, a spicy addition to the food on a stick, as well as simpler things such as the requested turkey leg, various flavours of ice cream, milkshakes, boba tea and even beer. Sighing that he couldn't enjoy the beer even if he wanted to, he let her choose whatever food she liked when they got to the front, grabbing himself a simple hot dragon, which was really a hot dog with ghastly food colouring to look green and eyes painted on, with a fin along it's back drawn with mustard. Thinking it was cute, he got one for her too in addition to the food she chose, and a milkshake for each of them before starting to lead her towards the dolphin, narwhal and whale show.

Bunny · Dec 24, 2020

A brow lifted lazily when he said it would grow back. "How do you not know I was counting on such a thing?" The words were bland, but she smiled after a moment. Kidding from his sister could be a touch awkward sometimes. He was the only one she did it with, which meant Amelia didn't have much of a chance to practice such skills. Amelia was a very serious young girl. She could laugh and smile, but more often than not she seemed stoic. Glancing away from Raphael she took a moment to answer. "Blacklight and you have been the only ones that I can be around for any great length of time... And Blacklight never knew the real me." She shrugged some and icy eyes cut to him. "Think about if I didn't hide who I was. What people would think being around me" Amelia wasn't absolutely sure, but based on Raphael alone as her test group, they would be uneasy around her at best. He at least hoped she'd not hurt him. She had been kept separate from others, both by her own wishes and what they had thought best. No one wanted a broken doll after all.

Sitting in the boat with the sun beating down on them, Amelia tilted her face heavenward and exhaled softly. "It becomes tiresome. You know what it's like to hide something constantly." She wasn't looking at him, her eyes still closed as the sun warmed her through, though she smiled softly. "I know Rafi. You and me" Slowly her lashes opened and she turned her head towards him, still smiling. She knew should she want to resolve needs of her body, there were easy ways to accomplish such. She was after a girl. More so, she was attractive. She knew this to be a fact. It wasn't that Amelia was conceited, she had eyes. She knew she drew eyes and they didn't show fear when she met them or any other negative emotion she knew to exist. When she turned his probing on him, Amelia got a sense of satisfaction to see him now squirm in the seat where he'd just had her. As she'd predicted his answer was her. Rolling her eyes she looked out towards the people. She understood what he said and Amelia knew he loved her. She couldn't help but wonder if it was just as much to make sure she didn't lose control and become what she wanted to hunt.

In truth, only heroes would be in jeopardy from her and only if she really wanted their power. Even then she was likely able to resist. She could take from the scum of the earth and help clean up as they went. As he led her towards food, she followed, taking a seat while he went to get them food. Once he had them they made their way to an animal show and she happily munched on her hotdog. Now more than ever she seemed normal, more like the girl he likely wished she was and the girl she sometimes wished she could be. It would have made both their lives a lot simpler. Even if their parents had died and it hadn't broken her she'd likely have been enrolled in UA... learning what it meant to be a hero. There had been a few times she had considered asking him to let her enroll... But she'd be around heroes to be and pro heroes and she didn't know how long she could hide what she was. The show began distracting her from her thoughts and her head found his shoulder while she watched. Amelia had always loved animals. By the time the show was done they'd both eaten and she was still putting her happy front on... both real and not as she dragged him towards the rides.

Staine · Dec 24, 2020

Raphael's eyes went slightly wide as Amelia commented about his hand growing back. She was joking, obviously...wasn't she? She smiled soon afterwards, and he rolled his eyes, shaking his head at her and nudging into her in their seats. "So very mean...threatening your big brother with such actions. We both know you wouldn't really hurt me though, you're a softie, really." He grinned, listening to her speak of how he and Blacklight were the only ones she had been around for any real length of time, and how of the two of them only he had seen the real her. It sounded so sad and he looked to her, offering another smile. "I like the real you. I love the real you." He meant it, and he even leaned in to kiss her cheek, not caring if he was the only one that knew who she really was, he really did love her. "Who cares what others think? Like I said, you'll always have me, I'll be with you forever, little sister...and I'll be happy to do so." Their conversation was honestly starting to take a bit of a sad turn for him, he didn't like it much, her talking about how she couldn't be herself around others because not only was it pretty much true, it made him unhappy to think of her being so lonely, only made him more determined to always be there for her, no matter what happened. No matter what she did...he was resolved to never be scared away, to never abandon the one person who needed him more than anybody else ever could. As she told him how tiresome it became, he smiled softly, trying to show her that he was still at ease with her, no matter what. "Yes, you and me, forever and ever. What more could a big brother want, hmm? And here you are asking why I don't have my own life...I have one that I'm more than happy with." He booped her nose again, and stuck his tongue out of her. "I'm never leaving you and you can't make me, you can't make me do anything I don't want to!"

It wasn't exactly true, she did have her powers...but that wasn't the point. Laughing, he had gone to get their food, joining her with it at the animal show and watching, letting her lean her head against his shoulder and holding his milkshake out for her to drink from, pressing the straw to her lips. Strawberry and lemon...odd combination for a milkshake, but he liked it. The show had gone on, lions that had been trained to perform tricks by a quirk user who clearly could speak to them, Elephants and dogs and wolves...all doing the kinds of things one would never expect of them, the wolves pretend 'wrestling' with small little bunnies and pretending to be pinned, the elephants dancing around mice who darted between their footsteps with trained precision...it was really amazing what one could do with a good quirk like that. Eating his hot dragon, he truly enjoyed watching the show, and he had a feeling that Amelia was enjoying it too...she had always loved animals, it was one of the things about her that truly gave him hope. Psychopaths hurt animals...Amelia didn't, she would find more comfort in animals than she would in humans, he could never picture her killing one or hurting one. By the time the show finished and he was done with his food, he let her pull him towards some of the rides, looking to see which he would prefer first.

The blue dragon flume...of course it had to be that one. Rolling his eyes he stood in queue with her, sighing as he looked down to his little sister. "You had to choose this one, huh? I didn't even bring a waterproof jacket...I'm going to get soaked!" The ride was basically a log flume but of course the log was in the shape of a dragon, painted blue, and the water was artificially cooled, dry ice used strategically to make a mist rise from the pool the flume would be dunked in as you went down. It was freezing...which would be perfect for a day like this, truth be told, and as they got to the front of the queue they got one of the dragons all to themselves. Raphael sat down in it first and Amelia in his lap as the bar was pulled down over them, his arms around her waist to keep her in place as though it wouldn't do the trick all on it's own. "Hehe...at least I can use you as a shield against the water, somewhat." The ascent was slow, the incline steep which forced Amelia to lean back against his chest, the ride going agonisingly slow as it crested the very top and then went over the edge...picking up speed as it went down and then the huge splash of freezing cold water which made Raphael cry out as some went down his neck, a fate Amelia would at least be spared from since she had him behind her...in fact most of the water hit him, coming from behind where he had only a soft mesh seat so that he wasn't shielded from the splash. Grumbling as they climbed out of the dragon, soaked through, he took Amelia's hand and let her lead him onwards...first they visited the teacups, spinning far faster than they needed to thanks to an overzealous attendant...then on to an actual rollercoaster, again sharing seats though this time they were side by side in their own little cart and on the red section...the coaster designed so that a red and a green 'dragon' would have to cross, one under the track and one over it...it seemed dangerous, but had been there for years and there hadn't been any accidents yet. By the time they got off, he had a huge grin on his face, and looked down to see if Amelia was enjoying herself as much as he was. It was getting late, about the time they should be heading home, he just wanted a slush drink first and maybe a souvenir. "That ride was something else huh? How you feeling, birthday girl?"

Bunny · Dec 25, 2020

A snort left the tiny female and she lifted both hands into paws and made a rawr motion with them "Rawr, fear me" to anyone near them, it would be cute and perhaps even comical. It was meant to make him smile and she wrinkled her nose playfully at him. Raphael said he liked her, nay loved her as she was... but the desire to change or address her life, her interactions made Amelia wonder how true that was. Oh, she trusted him, but she wondered if he noticed that he'd still prefer her normal. Like the day, having fun all of that. They both knew for the most part, it was done for him, not her. She enjoyed it well enough, but had she been more normal, Rafi would have been happier and worried far less. Her heart ached and she was glad for it as much as she hated it. She wasn't a psychopath, merely a sociopath; that was good... right? The few feelings she had, made her less of a monster. Nodding, she smiled softly. She wished she could be more of what he really desired. A normal little sister, on the path to perhaps be a hero. One who liked clothing, people... It just wasn't who she was.

Laughing she stuck her tongue out at him. "You said I could pick and I pick this one" The wait wasn't long and soon the pair found themselves in a boat of their own once more. Rolling her eyes as he sat her in front of him. She knew how the ride worked and also knew she wouldn't really get wet, he would. It was quite genius in a sort of demented way. The parents who came on with their children would treat them much like Rafi was treating her only to be the ones to walk out soaking wet. "Mmmhm. Using your poor baby sister as a human shield, what would the other the heroes say?" As they plummeted down the chute she couldn't help but laugh as she knew what was coming and she was rewarded as he cursed, icy water dousing him. It felt nice on her hot skin, the little bits of water that hit her. As they came back up to the dock she stepped out and smiled down at him, the only way to explain that smile was shit eating. An ear to ear grin. "So, uh... how did that work for you?" It was clear she had known and chosen to say nothing. Laughing she danced backwards from the dock, to avoid any sneaky attempt to share his water with her. Absently she linked a thread to him, just to be sure he couldn't get his revenge. Should he try, he'd find his body didn't respond how he'd want it to.

Hand in hand they made their way to the last ride. She loved rollercoasters and eagerly tugged him to the ride he'd picked. Settled in she was one of those riders who liked to shout while they rode, the feeling of the wind, the motion and the airy emptiness of the stomach thrilling to her. Soon though, that too was done and she found herself looking up at him once more. Shaking her head she slipped her hand into his again. "No, I think I am ready to go home. Can we get a snack for the drive, maybe a drink and stop at the gift store?" She smiled at him. "I am having a nice time. Getting you soaked was probably the highlight" Giggling she led him towards the entrance. There were all kinds of shops in each of the areas but a lot of the stock tended to cross over, with the front holding pretty much anything you could want from one of the zones. Amelia wasn't one to moon over souvenirs, today however was a special day. A memento of her day with him, of what would happen later sat right with her.

Amelia led him into one of the shops and after some time came up to him with three items. A shirt with pastel watercolor dragons and two stickers. One sticker had a dragon with a paintbrush, covered in paint and the other was for him, a pair of axolotls that read I Like You A Lotl. She handed them to him and smiled. "I'd like these. Did you find anything you wanted to get?" Rocking on her heels she gazed up at him. It was a shame she consumed his life as she did, he could have had himself a girlfriend.. been working on a family of his own. Instead he was trying to keep her in line, playing babysitter. Was that really what he wanted? Raphael said it was, but like before, she had to wonder while he was okay with this life, would he not prefer something different?

Staine · Dec 26, 2020

Raphael laughed as Amelia struck her pose, grinning and feigning that he was scared, recoiling in mock fear. "Oh no, not the rawr!!!" Still laughing he shook his head and ruffled her hair playfully. This was effort for him, he knew that, and while others might see it as cute, he knew it meant so much more than that to him. "You don't scare me, silly, but you are super cute. Maybe the cutest person I know." As she guided him to the rides she wanted to do, he did have time to just appreciate being with her, and if he had known what she was thinking he would have taken her aside to tell her that wasn't how it was...because it just wasn't. He didn't want to change her, he loved Amelia exactly as she was, there was no caveat to that but he himself struggled to see how she could be happy. Because she didn't display it in the same way he had no way of knowing when she was actually enjoying herself and when she was faking it, if he was able to tell he would be content, knowing that she genuinely was happy with who she was, but because of society and how he had been trained to see it, he worried for her. He worried that she wasn't happy and so he tried to find something that would make her happy. Whatever it would be...he would give it. He didn't care what it would cost him, her happiness was all he ever wanted, and changing her wasn't his intention. When she was like this, it was like he could see it, when she was playing around with him she did radiate that happiness and he felt more at ease. It was...a lack of understanding. Miscommunication. She thought he wanted to change her, he thought she was unhappy, and neither of them truly knew how to communicate it beyond what they already had. Leading her onto the dragon flume with him, he had wrapped his arms around her not just to use her as a shield but because he liked holding her...laughing as she stuck her tongue out at him. "Well don't blame me when you get soaked, alright? Yeah, I don't think they would mind, it was your choice after all! You reap what you sow!"

The ride hadn't gone as planned, of course, and he had ended up drenched in the cool water. Pouting at her as she teased him, he had sighed playfully. "You knew that was going to happen, didn't you?" The grin on her face pretty much said it all, and he lifted his arms in what looked like he was going for a hug, moving towards her...then stopping, his body refusing to take that step again. Despite having experienced this before it took him a few seconds to figure out what was happening, still grinning. "Amelia!! You're abusing your quirk again, no fair!!" The funny part was he really didn't mind at all...over the last few years he had grown accustomed to her doing this to him, Amelia liked to get her way and had the power to do so, even with him. While it was kind of daunting, not being in control of your own actions, Amelia seemed to enjoy having that power and Raphael...he indulged her, he didn't argue it too much, not that he felt she would stop if he did. In some way, he even enjoyed it...at least it showed that she wanted things, right? When she released her control finally he rolled his eyes but he took the hint and didn't try to soak her again. "You know you can't just control my body whenever you want something!" Even as he said it, he was laughing, he knew she wouldn't listen. After that, they went to the roller coaster, and he was a bit quieter than her as it went over the loops and down the inclines but that didn't mean he enjoyed it any less. The thrill was very real...even knowing he couldn't be hurt it was thrilling, scary even, and eventually they were ready to go to the gift store. He took her hand and smiled down at her, beaming even. Despite his concerns he had an amazing time and he genuinely felt she had enjoyed it too. "I'm really glad you're enjoying it...I am too. I'm sorry if I upset you earlier, Amelia...I don't want you to change, I hope you know that...I just struggle when I think you're not happy. It's my job as your big brother, I'm responsible for your happiness, you know?"

Leaving her to get what she liked in the gift shop, Raphael found his own gifts to remind him of the fun he had today on her birthday. First he found a bottle opener...it was true he couldn't really get drunk but he liked the idea of one, it was something most people had on their keychains, it would be handy, right? He also bought, and was wearing by the time she came back to him, a dragon hat that had caught his eye, and as she returned with her own gifts he gave her his own loud "Rawr!!" while wearing it, the silliest grin on his face. The last thing he had gotten was a glasses case, which he planned to use as a reminder. Showing his gifts to her, he took her to the counter and paid for her goods before leading her out of the store. Pulling at his wristband, he carefully peeled it off and folded it, putting it in his pocket. At home he had a small box with all the stubs from movies and wristbands from other similar places, he liked to keep them to remind himself of the good times they had together. Leading her to the car, he opened the door for her, helped her in and buckled her seatbelt for her out of habit and was soon driving her towards the house. It was almost time...soon they would be out, hunting for her...even after the fun they had, he couldn't forget that, but he was so grateful she had given him this that he couldn't stop smiling. "Thank you, Amelia, for an amazing day out, for having fun with me. You have no idea how much I needed that...I think I'm ready. Ready for tonight..." he looked to her, still beaming. "I love you. You know that, right? The best little sister I could ever want."

Bunny · Dec 26, 2020

Blinking at Raphael, Amelia smiled at him. "Did I know?" She tilted her head to one side, her minty hair sliding along her shoulders. After a moment she nodded. "I did" There was no hiding the humor in her voice. She had known though that his first reaction would be to hug her and he soon found his limbs unwilling to respond. She looked at him with an arched brow, crossing her arms under her breasts. "I don't want to be soaking wet!" Though she laughed and after a little while, once she was sure it was out of his system she relaxed her hold, though it never left him. Any sudden movements towards her would find him locked in place once more. She wasn't taking any chances. When he indignantly said she couldn't control him anytime she wanted she looked to him with that same raised brow. "Says who?" He couldn't stop her and no amount of "don't do that" had influenced her. He couldn't stop her so she took what she wanted. Her smile though, was soft and she poked his shoulder.

When he paused to apologize to her she frowned. Listening to him, it took her a moment or two before she nodded. "I understand. I try my best to not lie to you" Amelia couldn't say she never lied to him, for it would have been a lie. The frown lingered as she thought and a few moments later she spoke again. "I don't lie when it comes to my happiness if that helps?" She had been trying to recall if she ever had. Amelia enjoyed her time with Raphael, but she wasn't like others. It didn't always show and she could see why he might have concern. "I don't hide much from you anyway. You knew I was getting annoyed before and stopped" Amelia wasn't stupid, she knew that he had known and he on his own had stopped asking her questions before she had paralyzed his mouth so he'd stop. She did that from time to time when she didn't care to hear what he had to say or he was truly getting on her nerves. Much about her quirk allowed her to live her life how she chose. True, he often did what she wanted, but not always and even then she could get her way.

Chucking at the stupid hat she smiled. It was ugly, but she wouldn't tell him that. He liked it and it brought him joy and while Amelia wouldn't hesitate to do as she wished with him, she rarely robbed him of his joy. She.. liked seeing him happy. It in turn made her happy and she valued those feelings, the good ones he brought out in her. As they bought their items and made their way back to the car, they fell into companionable silence. It wasn't until she was bucked up that he spoke and she smiled. "I had fun. Maybe we can come back soon." Her head tilted as Raphael said he was ready for tonight. Nodding she looked towards the darkening sky. He thought he was but she was less sure. She had at least made up her mind, she wouldn't toy with this villain, only because she wasn't sure how his power worked. Clones would be dangerous if they were just thought into existence. Raphael had done a lot of research and it seemed no one really knew how his power was used.

She would.. Soon.

---

Dressed in her costume, a velvety white bodysuit with long sleeves that covered her hands so no one could see the motions she made. Thigh high black boots that bent with her motions and didn't restrain her. Amelia's minty hair was pulled into pigtails, arranged into a spiky display. Over the velvet top was a deeper blue crop top that glowed with electricity, her own little power supply should she need it. Though, in the world they lived in, power was never too far away. It never hurt to be prepared though. Across her back the custom sword Rafi had made her, it could splinter into pieces, becoming a whip she could electrify. Her lips had been painted a grey teal and the final touch to her outfit was a visor that gave her details she'd need. The closest source of electricity, infrared, night vision and a few other bits and bobs thrown in. Knocking on his door she opened it a moment later. "What do you think?" She spun, showing her outfit off.

Staine · Dec 26, 2020

Her confession that she had indeed known he would get drenched wasn't really a surprise to him, the way she had been grinning like the cat that got the cream had been enough evidence in itself. Her response to him trying to soak her by proxy with a hug wasn't much of one either...okay, it was a surprise that she had managed to do it without him noticing the string but those things could be almost invisible, and she was definitely getting better at using them, but Amelia had zero qualms about controlling her big brother's body when she wanted something...her response to him telling her she couldn't said all that needed to be said about that. "Says who..." like it didn't even matter what anybody else thought about it. She had done it many times to him, and Raphael had never been able to stop her from it, had long since given up trying...he'd actually stopped being bothered altogether. It was just one of the things she did...he figured that in her mind, if he couldn't stop her then she could do it, and she wasn't wrong...others might have balked at it, it was certainly jarring to have your motor functions taken over but it was one of the things he was willing to put up with for his sister. He wondered if she even knew it was wrong, that others wouldn't appreciate it, she might even get into trouble with them...Raphael may have done a poor job, letting her get away with anything she wanted but she had that kind of personality. If she wanted it, she just took it, even from him. Like she was going to with Replica tonight...He smiled as she explained to him that she never lied to him after his apology, listening like he had done so many times in the past, trying to comprehend it. He just had to accept her word for it...she said she never lied about being happy...if he could accept that, that she genuinely was happy, then...it would be so much easier for him. He reached down and ran his thumb over her bottom lip, turning up the corner. "Fine, then if you're happy, smile for me." He was grinning, he knew it wouldn't last, but it was his way of letting it go and trying to trust her. They had moved on since then, been through the gift shop and into the car. "I had a lot of fun too, even if you're a buttface for not telling me I would get soaked...or not giving your big brother a pity hug afterwards."

The drive home had been nice, relaxing, he had even let the top down on the car so that he could dry off a little since he hadn't completely managed to soak up enough sun to dry his clothing yet, and when they did get home...it was time to change. he had meant what he had said...he was ready for tonight, nervous, scared of losing her, but he had confidence in his sister's power, she was strong, stronger than their parents though less skilled at using their abilities...so far. While she got changed, he did the same, his own outfit being a simple one which covered him completely....the eyepieces had been made to his glasses prescription, and around his wrists he had small cuffs which when pressed shot out tranquilising darts. Around his waist was a utility belt with grenades of various types; there were small pouches, the grenades themselves small, tiny, 'micro-explosives', the designer had called them. As well as standard explosive ones there were emp grenades, flash grenades, smoke grenades and poison grenades. Being able to breathe in the poison with very little ill effects himself, he just had to be careful not to let them go off near Amelia but they weren't fatal anyway, they would just slow the user down, make them drowsy and if their constitution was weak, make them pass out. On his back was a pair of swords, and strapped to his thighs, pistols. All in all he felt like a walking arsenal...but it was the price he paid for his quirk, he had to rely on weaponry instead of actual power, and his ability to heal made his use of them riskier than most. The last thing was in his belt, the buckle was a solid piece, a button which was difficult to press down but when held for 3 seconds...it would explode. It was a failsafe, a last resort, he had never tested it and only hoped he could heal from the blast which was at least directed outwards. His face mask had extra kevlar reinforcement to help protect his head from any of the blasts that might go on around him and his neck too, a knife proof fiber since he didn't want to test getting his head cut off. He had a feeling that would be it for him. Fully equipped, he looked to his sister, smiling nervously, thankfully hidden by his full mask. "I think you look great...it's a little revealing, probably doesn't offer much protection, but..." If she could see him, she would know he was blushing...was it wrong that he kind of liked it? Amelia was very, very attractive, even as her brother he had to recognise that, it had become a lot, lot harder to deny actually, and seeing her like this...thankfully he had built a codpiece into his outfit, the bulge there entirely synthetic and made of blast resistant armour, but if he kept staring at her he would be thankful for it. "Okay...okay, we can test our comms and then get going, you have the earpiece in I hope? I have us a different vehicle...it's a late birthday gift, it was something Blacklight had been working on...I studied mechanics just so I could finish it." He had hidden the armoured vehicle and worked on it when she had been sleeping, when he had been kept awake, and it had all the features Blacklight had been planning for it, weaponry, armour, surveillance...he led her to the garage, playing with the keys. "Happy Birthday, Amelia..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Replica didn't need any such costume, just body armour and his trusty shotgun did the trick for him. He brought cuffs with him, ways to restrain troublesome guards if he didn't feel like ending them but there was little point in those silly costumes the heroes wore for him. He lived this life, breathed it...didn't have an identity to protect, didn't care who recognised him, he was cocky and confident in his abilities. He watched one of his clones scale the building and pick the lock of the patio door while he waited. Handy how his quirk replicated clothing, powers and items they carried. Sure, they dissolved when the clone did, and the powers weren't exactly as strong as the original, actually far weaker, but they had them. It was another few minutes before the door was opened and he walked into the building, a shotgun in the face had been enough for the collector to willingly tell the alarm code to the clone. Coward...walking up to the second floor bedroom, he found the owner of the home already cuffed, nodding his approval to the clone. It was strange, how his quirk worked. The clones had their own personality, based on the one copied, even himself, but they had to obey him, couldn't harm their creator without his permission or they would instantly dissolve. Having done his reasearch, he placed his hand on the bound man, a clone taking form beside him, also cuffed. Chuckling he nodded to the other clone who immediately uncuffed the new one and watched as he rubbed his wrists. "Lead the way, secret vault." Another strange thing...the clones knew the same things the original knew, making it an excellent tool for interrogation. The vault in this mansion was hidden away, underground, the entrance would normally take ages to find as would the security code, but the man could only watch in horror as the clone led the intruder straight to the secret elevator. Keying in the fifteen digit security code by memory, the door opened, and all three stepped in, original Replica, his personal clone and the clone of the collector. Hitting the button inside, the door closed and the elevator started it's journey down, though now that it was unlocked it stayed revealed, the part of the wall that had been hiding it staying open. Down below the house was a large, museum style room filled with all manner of art the collector had collected over his lifetime, practically a warehouse, all behind almost indestructible glass. One door separated it from Replica. The clone obediently placed it's eye to the scanner, unlocking it, and he walked inside without a care in the world. He didn't bother to close the door behind him...nobody would be coming, those fools all thought he was going to rob the actual museum. He touched himself on the arm, two more clones popping into existence...four was his limit right now, five at a push...and they began to collect the loot while Replica himself made for the gemstone, the prize he had promised to steal.

Bunny · Dec 27, 2020

Looking down at her outfit, she looked back up at him and lifted a brow. "Just because I didn't want to look like a human condom?" She was teasing, the playfulness in Amelia's voice giving it away. She did like his outfit and because he'd been known before due to UA, it was good that he was utterly hidden from view. Most people had forgotten about her as the years went on and no one would be able to pick her out of a crowd and say it was her. "I don't plan on letting anyone touch me" It was both a joke and true. Part of her skill set lay at evading that.. and she could shapeshift parts of her body. Should she need it, she could make her skin like that of a turtle shell, not impervious, but it would block a blow aimed at unaltered skin. Rolling her eyes she pointed at her ear, the small communicator tucked into the delicate shell off her ear. "Birthday gift?" Following him into the garage she smiled and leaned into him. "You know, most girls do get a car for their birthday. See! I am just like an average girl! Do... I get to drive?" When he gave her a look and said no she stuck her tongue out at him.

---

Amemet looked up at the imposing house before them. She could see some bodies, while warm, they were not moving. "Looks like Replica is already here" Though no one could hear them still within her birthday gift, she spoke softly. Slipping from her seat she looked at him. "I know you want to keep me safe, but don't get in my way" It was the only word of warning she'd give him. If there was any doubt, she'd already slipped a string onto him. If he tried, he'd find himself unable to stop her. Exiting the vehicle, her feet made no noise as she made her way from pavement to grass. Beneath her feet the grass was slick with water, though it didn't affect her any. Visor on she was watching for prowling bodies, their heat signature likely a clone. Several prowled the home. "I can see three clones, one on each floor. You said the guy had a vault underground. Our best bet would be to try and avoid the clones, failing that, I can take them over." From the little they knew of Replica and his power, once made, the only way he knew anything about them is if they "died". The solution was simple. Don't kill them.

Prowling along the grounds she slipped through the door that Replica and his clones had left open. Quietly the pair moved through the home and without warning a clone came around the corner. Amemet hadn't missed them, she'd know they were coming and claimed the clone for herself. It wouldn't answer her questions like Replica's had.. but he would fight for her because she willed it. "Where was the entrance to the secret lair?" Her eyes moved back to Asclepius. He had the layout and could lead them to it. The clone wasn't friendly either, glaring at them both, as it struggled to raise an alarm that would never come. She stuck her tongue out at it, which only further enraged the poor thing. It seemed Replica would not take kindly to being controlled. It amused her and she nodded to it, treating it like the clay it was deep down. "Look it's angry! So cuuuuuuute" The way Amemet drew the word out made it mocking and condescending all at once.

Staine · Dec 27, 2020

"Ouch...is my outfit really that bad? I kind of like it, don't you think it shows off my ass?" Raphael even did the whole 'turning and looking back down at himself' thing while he spoke. The human condom comment was honestly, pretty apt, but the costume did have some merits. Anonymity for a start, he was completely covered in this. It also did have a little built in armour in the mask and groin, though mostly it was just skintight...and it really did show off his ass, most of his rather toned body actually. The reasoning for the lack of armour was about as simple as it could get...he didn't need it, he would heal. That left him free to pursue something that would let him move better instead. He nodded to his sister at her own comment. "Yeah, I bet. If they do try to touch you while you're dressed like that, I might have to kill them myself...not theirs to touch." It was a moment of pure confidence, not the usual anxiety and worry...anger at the thought of somebody touching his Amelia inappropriately. Maybe it was left over from having to save her life, from that night, but while she was clearly a sociopath, Raphael wasn't, yet...when it came to her, he felt no pity for any that would try to hurt her, he would tear them apart. It was a thought that scared him a little...what he would do for her. Anything...but let her drive. He had laughed as they climbed into the vehicle. "Sure...once you know how to drive it's all yours. So...when was the last lesson you took? I don't remember giving you any..." Starting up the vehicle, he used the levers to guide it..damn thing didn't even have a steering wheel, it used levers which he had trained with in a virtual environment, this being the first time he had ever taken it out. As they passed normal cars on the way he was sure they were getting a lot of looks, but that was fine...the licence plate was actually registered to Blacklight's old hero agency, and it had never actually been shut down, some of the heroes she had worked with had taken up the mantle. Just a cursory check with the tools he had confirmed this..it was still registered, and any police or other heroes checking it would see that, so only those actually in the agency would recognise it as illegal. It was a low risk, just the kind he liked.

As they exited the vehicle, he was definitely nervous again, but Amemet didn't seem to show it at all. Stay out of her way...he had no intention of getting in her way, did she not see that? "Amemet...I told you I would bring you here, didn't I? Can you not at least put some trust in me?" He sounded hurt...because he was. It was true, he wanted to keep her safe more than anything, but nobody had more confidence in her than her older brother, all he had done was plan everything as meticulously as he could so that she didn't have to be at risk, prepared her for this, trained her, equipped her...little things like that. Could she not just believe in him too, that he was ready, ready to help her? This time he saw the string she had put on him, his eyepieces were calibrated for this. Shaking his head sadly, he didn't mention it, didn't try to remove it. "Yeah, there is an elevator that takes us down...it's the only way in, everything else was buried in concrete. This guy really likes to keep his things safe..." He nodded his agreement at avoiding the clones, and soon they were slipping into the building, the door had been left open carelessly, Replica far too confident...walking through it was all it had taken. The owner of the building was unconscious...and there were clones in the building, she had seen them through their heat signatures just like he had. Heading towards the elevator they even came across one, but in fractions of a second Amemet had attached a sting to it, easily incapacitating it. He led her to the elevator with her new 'toy', rolling his eyes as she taunted the poor thing. It was a copy of Replica himself, so as long as they didn't let it touch them, it couldn't replicate. One of the more dangerous parts of his power...Asclepius had done enough research to know that Replica himself could make maybe 5 clones at a push...but each of those clones had the quirk, a weakened version. He figured 2? And each of those could make 1 more, so things could get pretty wacky even without cloning anybody else.

"Do you have to tease it? You're only going to make it want to kill you rather than me..." Pressing the button on the elevator, they began the descent. "Shotgun...that means he has a shotgun. Stay out of his sight please, for me?" She didn't plan on getting close to him, but if he shot her...well. Game over, right? The doors opened, and the huge glass wall did nothing to hide the 'workers' inside, several clones all loading artwork and precious items into holdall bags. One wasn't like the others, looked like the old man from upstairs. What was his quirk again? Seeing the open door he began to move towards it, already pulling out his guns, ready for the firefight, shooting one in the head immediately. Another dissolved...which was satisfying. "Remember don't let him touch you, don't let any of them touch you!" He knew she was following him, ready to wreak her own kind of havoc. Clones all turned towards the gunshot, dropping priceless loot and grabbing their shotguns while one clone touched himself, making another, replacing the one that had died, only to have that one replicate itself too. All of them spoke at the same time...creepy. "Who the fuck are you? Heroes?" Blasts started going out towards them, most missing...it seemed they didn't have very good aim and he was moving quickly, Asclepius had always been fast...some of them did hit him. He grunted in pain, looking back towards Amemet, hoping she was safe as the room became a warzone, a hail of shotgun shells and his own, more accurate fire taking out another three. Which one was the real Replica?

Blood and Lightning (Staine x Bunny)

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.

𝔴𝔦𝔠𝑘𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥

The original Bunny eating monster.