some stuff

The sound of rain pattered gently on the roof, audible clearly to the sole mortal occupant of the Storm Manor attic and her pile of medical texts pilfered from the resident prodigy. The young Zoroark sat correcting her notes from years ago, when she had dropped out due to... personal issues. It was nice to be alone, away from her twin sister. If Valeriya were here, Zorana was sure she would be roped into some underwear-related Ponzi scheme. Just because she had talent in thievery, didn't mean she wanted to use it. But then, lawyers operated on alien logic, even future ones.

It seemed like everyone was away today. Her own sister was out at the town courthouse, and many of the Usual Culprits were away as well, rendering the manor almost eerily quiet. From the vent leading to the living room, she could hear those weird sisters and the Storm brother conversing rather quietly. Must be nice having a sister you can always be around, Zorana thought to herself. Must be nice having a sister who didn't make the whole house hate and mistrust you.

She loved Valeriya. Of this, she was absolutely sure. But a lot of the time, she didn't love her habits. Val enjoyed the thrill of the panty hunt, because it was something to collect. And maybe it was fun sometimes, Zorana thought, but she would much rather have friends who could trust her not to take their gitch.

Was it wrong of her to envy the relationship the Blackwood sisters had? To be as close as they were, and still be able to have friends because neither of their niche interests got in the way of that. She'd like to be friends with them, and everyone. But even when she was trying to save their mother, they almost ignored her. Even if it wasn't because of their distaste, it stung.

The shadows around her shifted as she saw an apple wave in front of that vent grate. Her mentor was being summoned, it seemed, leaving her all alone in the attic. At least she could talk to Mr. Yata most of the time. She didn't understand why folks were so scared of him. She found him a rather comforting presence. Comforting, like what she wanted to be for people one day when they lost their family. That he was willing and able to help her was a great honor, to her. Some days she found herself drawn to the attic because of it.

Maybe one day she would be able to have friends and sit up here both. It would be nice.

From another vent, she heard more murmurs. However, they came from a room in which she knew there was generally no one else – the spare room that one Vera Blackwood set aside for sewing. Figuring this to be an interesting notion, and also to ensure that the woman was not being hounded by grudges any more than she had been previously, Zorana sidled up to the vent to listen in.

“...Well I'm glad I was able to help ya with your regrets.” Was she on the phone? What an odd conversation. “D'ya think you're ready to go? ...I'm glad. Then you're gonna want to head up to the attic, or wherever he's lurkin' today. He'll help ya out.” No... no, why would she be sending someone on the phone up here? Was she...?

The conversation silenced shortly after that, and it took a few minutes for Zorana to slide the vent open and drop down into the room, startling Vera.

“What the-”

“I'm glad to see you recovering so well.” The intruder smiled earnestly. “You're lucky we found you in time. You seem to be handling your new power pretty well too.”

“Heh... I guess. Haven't seen any of those 'grudges' since it all went down. Had a couple... well I think they're lost spirits, who've followed me around once they knew I could see 'em. Didn't want 'em to get eaten by those things, so I figured I'd help 'em out best I can. Even if it's just someone who'll listen to 'em.”

“That's very noble of you.”

“So are you here for my pants or what?”

A bit of a sting ran through Zorana's gut. There it was again. “No, no. I just wanted to check in. I heard you in here, and I was just wondering who you were talking to.”

“Well... now ya know, I guess. Ain't a problem or nothin', is it?”

“It's no problem at all, I don't think. The less souls who get turned, the better. It's too often that they get found too late, and they're already so far from the light, that they get swallowed by the dark...”

“Can you see 'em too, then..?” Vera surveyed her with a curious eye visible behind the sunglasses which she, like her daughters, always wore, even indoors.

Zorana gave her a little half-smile. “Maybe. But, maybe I can't, either. I suppose if I could, I'd prefer not to tell.”

“So you can.”

“Oh, that's open to interpretation. If you think I can, then all I'll say is maybe.”

“Hmm...” Vera stared at a pile of fabric on her desk next to the sewing machine. “Well, thanks for checkin' in I guess. It's appreciated.”

“It's no trouble, ma'am. I just wanted to be sure.”

“You're a dear. Sorry to distract you from whatever you were doin' up there.”

“Don't feel too bad about it. It was mostly just boring study work, anyway.” She waved, and started down the hall to the main room.

She supposed that was a good start to have someone acknowledge her for not being an underwear thief, maybe she should try to just take a seat with the rest, and see if they accept her for just being there. As she emerged into the front room she saw the small, lispy nerd and one Blackwood sister discussing that game about squids, and a child between them, intensely focused on that game.

It was a Flareon, dusty purple, with an odd glow to her hair. When Zorana laid eyes upon her, a pain shot through the back of her head, and for but a moment, visions filled her sight. A fire engulfing the figure of a small fox, the screams of a terrified and dying child, blocked out by the roaring of the flames and the sirens of the fire department. When it was over, Zorana rubbed at her face and shook out her head. What was that? That had never happened before.

Maybe it was nothing.

Maybe it was best to just kind of sit and watch them.