[Action]

[camcorders]

Near the centre of Venture City is the familiar façade of Piffle Princess, a well-known local costuming business for both the mild-mannered and the super-powered.

On most days, Tomoyo is bustling around the store, singing to herself and cheerfully re-arranging window displays. Today, however, is different. Today, Tomoyo can be found standing still and silent outside the entrance, hands folded neatly together in front of her, clad in muted colours.

Every now and then, a familiar face passes by, and Tomoyo reaches out to them and utters some quiet words of encouragement: Yes, another dark scheme is unfolding. But this, too, shall pass -- the dastardly are always defeated, and brighter days are on the horizon -- just like always.

Piffle Princess is open for business, just like always. Anyone needing a garment tailored, repaired, or created from scratch can still come in today. They will just be greeted by a Tomoyo a little more subdued than usual.

Those in the know may also know that Tomoyo offers another service: filming heroes doing what they do best, and acting as a go-between to discretely sell the footage to the press without revealing any secret identities. This service is not explicitly advertised, but if someone tells Tomoyo that they are "interested in a photoshoot," she will know exactly what they mean.

Comments

[terrorwhatflaps]

Foiling the bank robbery downtown had gone ... relatively well, as things go. It would have gone better, Drake figured, if that weird lizard guy hadn't interfered with a perfectly good heroic act. But either way, the citizens were safe and the job was done: and he had bullet holes in his beloved cape and fedora to show for it. He carried them into Piffle Princess as he'd been doing for a month or so, now - lovingly wrapped up in recycled paper grocery bags, disguised as an ordinary parcel - and laid them down on the counter like a priceless artifact.

"Tomoyo...? Hello? You in here?"

[camcorders]

Tomoyo was slicing open boxes in the basement warehouse when Drake entered. When she heard his voice call out, she perked up -- a customer was always a treat, and this particular voice belonged to a fairly loyal one.
She hurried up the stairs, lifting her long skirt so as not to trip in her haste, and made her way gracefully to the register counter.

"Good to see you again, sir! The usual, I presume?"

[terrorwhatflaps]

"Uh, yes please." He gave her a sheepish smile and a somewhat pitiful look as he pushed the parcel across the counter. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."

[camcorders]

She took the parcel and unwrapped it half way to give the contents a quick once-over, then set it on a shelf behind the register to be tended to later.

"Nothing at all, not to worry. I trust you are well today?"

[terrorwhatflaps]

"Yeeeeeep, yep yep." He shrugged, leaning on the counter with a smile. "Or at least, I am now that I know I don't have to worry about that. D'you think you could have it ready for tonight? Normally, I'd say no rush, but ... well ..."

He glances around, then lowers his voice. "... There's something going on."

[camcorders]

Tomoyo leaned in, cupping a hand around her mouth.

"Does this concern the strange broadcasts from this morning?"

[terrorwhatflaps]

Getting up on tiptoe so he could properly lean over the counter, Drake whispered, "You bet it does. I have a feeling things are about to get even crazier around here than usual. I've seen it a million times: one vicious villain gets a scheme going, everyone else wants to try and outdo them. Hidden doohickeys are basically just throwing down the gauntlet."

[camcorders]

Tomoyo nodded, face growing graver. "I feared as much. Do you think anything can be done preemptively?"

[terrorwhatflaps]

"I don't know this city's rambunctious rogues as well as I should, not yet." He shook his head. "But tell the other businesses to take the usual precautions... Lock up their valuables extra-safe when they leave, et cetera."

[camcorders]

Tomoyo bowed her head just slightly. "Certainly I will; thank you for the warning."

[terrorwhatflaps]

"Hey, what else do I do this for?" Hint: 'the attention' was totally a valid answer. But the simple fact that being a good guy just felt good was right up there, too. He winked. "Don't worry, kiddo. I won't let anything happen here."

[camcorders]

Tomoyo nodded, relief washing over her face. "I'll leave it up to you, then. Thank you."