Card Clash

As he flipped through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention, and his heart began to thump. It was addressed to him in cursive letters, the blue ink having smeared on his last name. Raz flipped the letter over and grinned at the tiny rose sticker keeping the envelope from opening. He carefully pinched the sticker and pulled it off, the flap flipping open.

He couldn't stop himself from smiling as he tugged the card out. It smelled like lavenders, one of Lili's favorite flowers to chat with during her breaks. The corners of the card were even decorated in drawn lavenders, a pleasant compliment to the pale pink cover.

"What'd we get in the mail?"

Raz immediately stuffed the card into his jacket pocket, his older sister's shadow crossing over him when she appeared in the doorway behind him. He quickly offered her the other envelopes, replying, "Mostly junk. Bills and stuff like that."

Groaning as she shuffled through them, she mumbled, "That sucks."

Shifting on the brick steps, Raz nodded. He was comfortable knowing his family had finally been settled in a permanent home. Using the money they made with their circus and the paychecks Raz received from the Psychonauts (along with a rather generous down payment from Truman Zanotto, one Augustus had to be coerced into accepting by his wife), the Aquatos were living in the outskirts of Austria in a nice home with a long pasture for their circus animals. While they still traveled to perform and support themselves, Raz was happy knowing they had a place to stay while he worked with the Psychonauts instead of constantly fending for themselves in the wilderness or fleeing from their enemies.

Frazie hung her head and clicked her tongue. "Laaame. Completely lame."

"Yep, it's all lame," he replied, nodding. He leaned back and tapped his foot. Narrowing his eyes on her shadow, he watched it sway from side to side.

Flipping through the letters again gave her the same result. Much to displeasure, she found bills, credit card offers, and campaign flyers. She had been hoping the shampoo samples she ordered from a local salon a few towns over would have arrived, but alas, she was glaring at an electricity bill.

"Aw, dammit," she grumbled and slapped the letters against her palm. "I'll give these to Dad. You can read your girlfriend's letter now."

Raz flinched as she tiptoed towards the front door, clawing at his card and blurting, "How'd you know I-?"

His eyes bulged in his skull. In that moment, Raz knew he made a grave mistake, one he made too many times before. Even with his training as a Psychonaut, he still fell for her trap, hook, line, and sinker.

Frazie's eyes seemed to glow as she whipped her head over her shoulder. Her grin spread into her cheeks, appearing far too wide to be human. She pivoted on her heels and flung the letters at him, causing Raz to fall backwards as they struck his face. Lunging forward, Frazie snatched the card from his pocket and barely avoided his PSI blast, a few of the loose hairs on her ponytail singing from the close contact.

"Hey! Give that back!" Raz cried as he jumped to his feet. He summoned his levitation ball, but Frazie bounced on hers as well, giving her a clear advantage. They leaped around the yard, avoiding stray juggling pins and Queepie's unicycle. Raz fired PSI blast after PSI blast, but his sister spun, weaved, and ducked her way to victory, exaggerating her movements for the sake of making him rake his fingers through his hair. All he could do was shout, "No fair! You're taller than me! How am I supposed to get it now?"

"All's fair in love and war, little brother," she sneered, flicking the card open.

"Don't! I haven't even read it yet!" Raz jumped at her head, but Frazie deactivated her ball, causing him to careen into the nearby elephant stables.

As he screamed, Frazie read the card. She followed Lili's words with her finger, making sure not to miss a single word. Humming as Raz jumped out of the stable, his helmet and clothes dirtied, she turned around and offered him the card.

Raz snatched it out of her hand, her giggling an assault on his ears. He hunched his shoulders and turned away, feeling her shadow crossing over him once again. He huffed out a sigh and read, Frazie leaning forward and putting her hands on her knees to follow along behind him.

Hey, Raz! You've only been gone for a few days, but I wanted to send you this card. It's cheesy, I know. Still, a card's a card, and it's nice getting one, right? I got you the newest issue of True Psychic Tales and put it in your office. I haven't read my copy yet, so let's read it together when you come back! You better not not find a copy and read it without me, I'm warning you! Anyway, I'm running out of room, so see you when you get back! ~Lili

"Man, she dotted her name with hearts," Frazie said, reminding Raz of a certain cheerleader.

"Yeah, she's great," he replied warmly, tilting his head and sighing.

Patting his shoulder, she snickered and skipped to the front steps. As she gathered the mail, she asked, "Young love is a beautiful thing, ain't it, Raz?"

Rolling his eyes, he stuffed the card back into his pocket. He zipped up his coat, now wary of any potential strikes from his other siblings. Following Frazie up the steps, he said, "You know, you're only a few years older than me. You still have time to get a girlfriend."

Scoffing, she held the door open for him and rapped her knuckles against his helmet. As Raz laughed and scampered inside, Mirtala's voice echoing from somewhere to know if she had any mail, Frazie grinned to herself. She was glad that Raz had someone to look after him when she couldn't be there. With someone like Lili by his side, she knew she didn't have to worry about him while he was off saving the world one brain at a time.

Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called, "Hey, guys! Raz got a letter from Lili!"

Raz turned whiter than fresh snow and cried, "Frazie, no!"

Gripping her hips, Frazie he laughed as their siblings pounced on Raz from different hallways, each of them clamoring to know about his girlfriend.