Stranger Things... [open]

[Sidra Cotton]

See the outfit: www.polyvore.com/courtdate/set?id=17752385

A girl walked through the halls of the school a dark expression on cream colored skin. Dark eyes flashed angrily as whispers followed her. Dark hair was pulled back into a french twist, pined and sprayed into place. What make up there was on her face, was subdued and natural looking.

Sensible, black women's business shoes fell with each step, attached to feet which were attached to legs clad in neat pinstripe slacks. The shirt was powder blue and the little jacket completed the professional appearance of the teenager who slumped into a booth inside the cafeteria.

After several moments one might recognize the teenager to be none other than Sidra Cotton. Her wild hair dye gone, her pale and exaggerated make up, gone, her corsets and general goth look, gone. Her expression of doom, still present.

Where had she been during the first half of school, to arrive so late and looking not at all like herself?

It had been so humiliating. Not only had the girl had to go through with the court appearance, but she hadn't been permitted to do so dressed comfortably. Instead she'd had to dress like a mundane. A mundane!The very thought of it made the vampire girl's skin crawl. Nor had she been allowed to wear her fangs. The feel of her mouth and the way words were formed felt so different without the usually ever-present fangs in place.

Then. To add insult to injury, she'd been assigned two-hundred hours of community service. Durring.The.Day. Just for trespassing.

Once the whole ordeal of the court day had come to an end, Sidra had hoped she'd be taken home rather than directly to school. There was what? One class left? But no. NO. She was dropped off (couldn't even drive herself!) in front of the school building where her mothers watched her go in. So annoyed and upset, was she, that Sidra failed to notice the car on the school's roof.

“It should be called the UN-justice system,” Si growled angrily.

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon could not help but giggle. From the moment Sidra had woken up and walked out looking like that...it was so funny. She id not look like herself. For a moment Fallon had thought the fairies had surely gotten to her, but no...that was crazy...there were no fairies. Fallon had to keep saying that. Her mood had calmed down for a few days. She had a moment of calm, but that never lasted long. It actually depended. Her dreams had been vivid lately. especially since Sebastian had gotten into the hospital. But Sebastian had been released.

Fallon still could not get over the picture and the book she received. Was Clara alive? Did Sebastian lie about her being dead? Did he even know? The thought of Clara made Fallon feel something...jealousy and instead of sending her into a depression it just fueled her manic episode. An episode that had been lasting since about Thursday, okay maybe it was before then...which was not abnormal. Her episodes could last about a week before it moved on to either depression or calm. It could last longer. The problem with Bipolar disorder is you never could tell how long it would last.

Fallon did not plan to leave his side, she knew that much. So when lunch came around Sebastian was the first person she went looking for. But instead she found her sister. Fallon typed out a quick text message to Sebastian telling him where he could find her, and then she took off running full speed at Sidra.

Fallon threw her arms open and literally jumped at Sidra hugging her, "You made it!!!!" Fallon finally let go and was jumping up and down, "How did it go, how did it go, how did it go..." She asked rapidly. "IwishIcouldhavegone,butmominsistedIcomeher,
sohereIambutIwouldhaverathergoneadnsupportedyou,
butnotIhadtocomehereareyouokay,pleasetellmeyouareokay?"

Her words flew out like a mile a minute as she smiled waiting for an answer, thinking anyone could have understood that.

[Sidra Cotton]

With a WHUMPH a flying ball of energy wrapped up in a human form landed in Si's lap, arms entangling themselves around her neck and words flying seventy-miles-a-minute from lips that moved faster than they eye could follow.

“If by made it you mean I survived, then yeah.” Barely. And not without humiliation. The least they could have let her do was go as herself, not some mockery of what's considered normal. God she hated the court system. Though perfectly aware that it served it's purpose the judge had seemed extra gleeful over his punishment to Sidra, and that buffoon of an officer who'd stumbled upon them all at the lighthouse managed to walk away without anyone snickering at him for thinking she had been a ghost.

Besides. Sidra wasn't a ghost. She was a vampire. Perhaps not a real vampire, but her demeanor, her mannerisms, everything about her screamed vampire.

Except for today.

Somehow through the buzz of words, Fallon was chanting, Sidra caught the questions “How did it go?” and “Are you okay?” At least that's what she thought she heard. It could have been something about Howard Johnson and Yokels, but somehow Sidra didn't think that was right.

“Great Old Ones, it was annoying. I'm fine, except for this getup, Mom wouldn't let me go change. I ended up with community service and it won't go on my permanent record.” That at least was good. She wouldn't be painted with a “trespasser, vandal” brush for the rest of her life.

“I have NO idea what sort of community service to do though. I don't even know what friggin' qualifies anymore.”

Then, to change the subject, because let's face it, it was uncomfortable.

“How's your boy?”

[Fallon Cotton]

"YAY! That sounds good, its good right..it sounds good..well to me that sounds good..I hope that is good." Finally Fallon took a deep breath. "I think I got dizzy for a moment." She smiled and then laughed as if was the funniest thing in the world. "Community service...you can probably help the old people...they could use make overs...I bet some of them have never met a real vampire..." Fallon had the biggest grin on her face. "Oh or you can be a mentor...I am sure there are some some kids that would love to meet you..."

Fallon was still jumping up and down a little as she spoke. Then Sidra asked about Sebastian and she clapped her hands. "He is good. Well as good as he can be. He was in the hospital, you heard about that, and I snuck out to see him, Mom did not like that and now I am grounded, but thats okay cause I got to see him and he is just fine, but as fine as one can be after getting attacked. What about you..hows the battle against that werewolf?" Her words once again flew out of her mouth and it ended with a deep breath.

"Oh, oh, oh...we need to have a sibling day..." Once again the subject was changed...and you would think that was it, but no..once the words came out Fallon jumped subjects again. "Oh I might get a promotion at work, but I don't think I want it. One of the people who are actually in the show at Medieval times cannot work weekends and they asked me to do it. And I want to say yes, but I like being the serving wrench...do you think I should take it...it would not change my hours too much actually...i would just be in a new position, but not sure I want it."

Fallon's mind could not concentrate on one subject. Her mind was constantly jumping.

[Sebastian Flambert]

Sebastian nearly froze in shock at the sight of a very "average"-looking Sidra standing before him and almost dropped the odd assortment of art supplies he held in his hand. Scrubbed clean of her typical coats of make-up and rouge, the girl looked almost normal to the sixteen-year old boy's eyes, and would've looked very attractive were it not for the massive scowl plastered upon her face.

"H-Hey, Fallon.." greeted Sebastian, fidgeting nervously with the collar of his long-sleeve button-up shirt, "an-and.. S-Sidra?"

The older girl's eyebrows twitched in irritation, causing Sebastian to do a brief double-take and nearly drop his art supplies again.

"You.. erm.. look nice?" offered Sebastian, clinging lightly to Fallon's arm. "How did your court date go?"

The boy's sheepish grin promptly melted away with the sudden release of Sidra's legendary "death ray" stares, which told the full extent of her feelings in one single burst. Averting his gaze from the elder Cotton, Sebastian turned his attention to Fallon and quickly changed the topic.

"Hi." quipped the boy, pressing the side of his face affectionately against the girl's shoulder.

"Was there something you wanted?"

[Sidra Cotton]

“It's better than jail time and a permanent record.” Sidra admitted grudgingly.

It was good to hear that Sebastian was doing well. It sucked to think about the child-like boy who seemed to match her sister step-for-step in the energy department (god have mercy on all of them if they ended up Happily Ever After and with kids) in a hospital bed. Hell, it sucked to think of anyone in a hospital bed.

“Good, glad he's okay enough to be out and about.”

Nearly as soon as the words were out, Fal was off on another tangent about sibling days, and work. She was energy incarnate, and sometimes it grated on Sidra's nerves. Now was not one of those times. After the absolute boredom of court (not at all what she'd expected or wanted) her sister's antics and buoyant glee was a very welcome change.

“I don't think a sibling day is going to be possible for a long time. Thad keeps getting his groundation extended. Go for the promotion, you'll have speaking lines and actually get to eat during your shift rather than just smelling the food. And didn't you've always been princess material, girlie.” Taking a breath herself, Sidra wrapped an arm around her younger sister's shoulders and steered her towards one of the trees. All the benches were taken and the direct sunlight was starting to hurt her eyes.

“I didn't get the car, but once we get home, if you want, I'll snag it and take you and Sebastian somewhere. He might as well be one of us, you hang out with him enough.” A coy wink followed the comment. “Gotta come up with a nickname for him though.”

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon scowled. "Oh come on...we can hang out at home...put up a No step monsters allowed sign...not really but still. Maybe we can do it at the house. Although you have a point. Thad has gotten into so much trouble that I don't think they have noticed I slipped out to go to the hospital to visit with Sebastian." Fallon shrugged, "A nickname...for Sebastian....oh..thats..oh it has to be a good one...a cute one...cause he is so cute." Fallon gave Si a face that said she was smitten with the boy.

"Speak of the devil. Yay!" Fallon smiled as Sebastian nuzzled into her neck. "I just wanted to see you...and see my sister...I just wanna see everyone." Fallon began to jump up and down, "oh did you hear..did you hear." Fallon clapped her hands. "She might be able to get the car and take us some where...we could go out...have some fun..." Fallon was very happy, almost too happy. "Oh and I am getting a promotion at work. Si says i should take it, so I am going to take it...same hours just different position, isn't that great." Fallon hugged Sebastian as tightly as she could without causing too much pain.

"I would get to be the Princess." Fallon did a curtsy. "There is so much we could go do. We could go to the carnival, or bowling, but you might not be able to bowl, but we could try, or see a movie." Fallon was thinking of all sorts of things. "Howareyoudoing?Iamgladyouareoutofthehospital,thatwas
scary.OhSididItellyousomeoneleftmeabook,pictures,itwasodd.
Ilookedathemanditwasinteresting,ohandonce.." Fallon's words once again flew out of her mouth in a way no one could probably understand. She finally took a breath.

"You know what else. I am making a costume for Bree Marcus for Haley Rowan's party. Can you imagine. Someone actually paying me." The subject once again changed. Fallon smiled, "How are you doing Sebastian?" She asked him as she kissed his cheek. Then Fallon looked at Si, "You know maybe you should keep a change of clothes in your locker just in case something happens, and mom and the step monster try and hide all your clothes. You know them."

[Sidra Cotton]

“Court went well enough.” Replied the otherwise gothic teenager to her younger sister's boyfriend. It was still strange to think of Fallon having romantic thoughts about anyone, though judging by her sister's and Sebastian's antics, romance wasn't so much the word for it.

“I'll be able to, we just gotta get home, and I have GOT to change.” Her eyes fell on Sebastian again. “While I understand you were being polite, it should be understood that I don't look nice. I look like career day barbie!” Which was ridiculous. Sidra did look nice, but never was she going to admit that she could look good outside of her usual uniform of gothica.

“Fallon!” the eldest of the Cotton children held up her hand, “Slow it down. Deep breath, I can't follow super sonic fast-talk you some how manage to go for.” It was said with a smile, but Sidra was very serious, she didn't know how to keep up with Fallon half the time when she went super-human speed.

“Why wouldn't people pay you to make costumes for them? You're fantastic, Fal. You have amazing innovations and designs. It makes sense for people to pay you for costuming. I told you to set up an etsy account like I have for the corsetry.” Again, all of it was said with a smile, but mostly because Si didn't want to banish the up and happy Fal.

Down and sad sucked.

“So,” she continued, “You two figure out where you want to go after school and once I've changed we can go. That was a good idea, by the way, keeping spare stuff in my locker. I'll have to start doing that.”

[Sebastian Flambert]

A familiar pair of arms wrapped around his waist, encompassing Sebastian Flambert in a welcome embrace. While there was a small amount of discomfort that came with the unusually happy girl squeezing tightly around his damaged midsection, the boy took great care not to show it.

"I'm glad for you." replied Sebastian, ruffling Fallon's hair affectionately, "A Princess is always a step above a lowly serving wench.."

"Though I'd also take the wench any day.."

He chuckled softly at his joke, the corner of his eyes and mouth crinkling upward to radiate a brief moment of joy for the two Cotton Sisters to see.

The smile quickly disappeared once the very mention of the Carnival appeared into the conversation. While it had been several days since the dramatic confrontation with Raphael in the Mirror Maze, the event had nevertheless been burned deep into Sebastian's mind, triggering a stream of bad memories and nightmares that haunted him at night.

"Erm..." mumbled Sebastian, suddenly aware of Sidra's eyes on him, "C-Can we not go back to the Carnival?"

He averted his eyes downward, nibbling anxiously on his thumb.

"I.. I think I don't want to go there."

The boy shifted awkwardly in his shoes, fidgeting with the collar of his white long-sleeved button up.

"M-Maybe we could s-see a movie?" suggested Sebastian, perking up slightly. "I don't u-usually watch many m-movies in English.. and.. erm..."

The boy paused uncomfortably, embarrassed at his lack of film savvy. To be honest, he had never gone to a movie theater before, having seen only a dubbed version of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" with Clara during his stay in the Rose Garden.

Regarding television... Well, to be honest he hardly ever used the gigantic plasma television, watching only a few children's programs and the occasional cooking session with Julia Child on the weekends.

Of course.. He would never admit this to the two girls..

"I-I... I've n-never been to a movie theater before.."

[Fallon Cotton]

Fallon was in mid jump when Si told her to calm down, but in a kind way. She stopped and looked at her sister. "I am excited and you know how I get when I am excited. I get a burst of energy. Like I can't stop. Oh who are we kidding, why stop. There is so much to do." Fallon was a huge ball of energy. But it was amplified when she was off her meds. Hence why she felt she could take a promotion, make clothes and do it all at once.

Fallon blushed when Sebastian said he would take the serving wrench to. "You are so kind, but Princess it is. The outfit is much cuter anyway. But um...I am sure I can keep both." She winked just playfully. Not meaning anything by it. Her mood had not been ruined yet...she was not good when she was down and depressed. Fallon hated it too. Not that she could think like that at all. Right now all Fallon could see was many things at once.

"You have never been in a movie theater. Then that is where we shall go. No Carnival. I promise." Fallon took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "What do you say Si? Care to see a movie. Maybe Sebastian and I could sit in one place and you could..." Fallon did not dare finish that sentence. She was sure Si got her point.

"Now all we need is a paper or a way to find out what is playing." Fallon was not sure where to look for movie times. "I cannot wait. Yay for plans." Fallon was still all jittery. She fidgeted back and forth, she kept moving from playing with her hair to her skirt to the hem of her shirt back to her hair. It was like she could not stay still. "Maybe then we can grab something to eat after. Or maybe we should go before the movie, but save room for popcorn, and candy, or maybe not. What do you think?"