fandomhighdorms | The 6th Floor, Friday Evening

Entry tags:

The 6th Floor, Friday Evening

Karla looked around and nodded in satisfaction. There was a big glittery banner that said "CONGRATULATIONS TAHIRI!" hung over one wall. She wasn't going to admit it, but playing the glue and glitter and paint had been a lot of fun. Though, with the residual glitter in her hair (and the occasional glittery hand print on the banner), someone might be able to tell.

There was one table completely devoted to ice cream (and wrapped in cold spells). The centerpiece was, of course, a giant ice cream cake with a frosted lightsaber on it. Karla couldn't make any guesses about how accurate it was, but there was a greyish hilt and a ~~I was tempted to say red~~ blue beam coming from the front. It was enough to get the point across, dammit. She'd had to explain to the Chilly Boulder guy what she meant by lightsaber anyway. Though he immediately knew who Ben and Tahiri were. The table wasn't entirely covered by ice cream, as Dinah had mentioned bringing some, too.

It's possible that there may be an ice cream shortage at Chilly Boulder tonight. Sorry.

In the kitchen, there was even more food; this time covered in warming spells. Mostly there were pizzas with a variety of toppings, but she'd also gotten some sides from most of the other restaurants in town. Someone wanted to have pizza with a side of lobster bisque and quesadillas? Totally not a problem. There were also a variety of drinks and, stashed away in the fridge, a few steaks and a chicken--raw, of course--for Blind Seer.

As far as she could tell, everything was done. And if not...well, they could cope. Now the only thing to do was wait for the guests to arrive.

...and try not to cut into the cake before they arrived. It did look good.

[For those invited, please! Up early for great SP justice! Hopefully I will be able to respond to pings, but making no promises. I am very susceptible to Quil, of both the Day and Night varieties. But I had to get this up. OCD~~on its way~~ up!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Raven nodded. "Briefly, in a class we share," she said to the question of Azula. "My classes have been enjoyable so far. Professor Skywalker's is my favorite" -- shocking, that news, surely -- "and I enjoy Lady Ghanima's course on religion as well. I am also taking Art 101 and Fandom Versus the Real World."

"Mmph." Swallowing her ice cream, Dinah said, "Yeah, more power and flexibility training there... and Fandom Versus the Real World?" She grinned. "Seriously? What's that like?"

"One class was about firing guns," Raven said. "I was not comfortable with it, though I did remain to watch. This week's topic was being changed into animals."

[sorry am so slow -- druuuuuuuuuugs, man. I may pass out soon, yes.]

[NP, SP is <3]

"I did that," Dinah volunteered. "A kitten. So the class is about new stuff in Fandom?" She tilted her head, considering the guns, then asked, "Are okay with being around fighting in general? Or at all?"

"The class indeed covers the uniqueness of Fandom," Raven said, "as well as things in the world outside of Fandom that those from other places may find strange. Both are of concern to me, though hopefully I still have some time to spend in Fandom before I must face the world outside."

In response to Dinah's other question, she said, "Violence causes me some distress, even if it is simulated or for fun. But I know this is a hindrance should it come to defending myself or my friends if we are attacked. I am attempting to learn to tolerate it more. I am going to practice using my gifts with Jonothon, that to defend, not to attack. I cannot do that."

"Go you, with the building up a tolerance." Dinah beamed at her, wanting to hug Raven for trying so hard, probably enough to light a small 50-watt light bulb, never mind be detectable to empaths. "I like Jono. Although he's usually kinda... moooody." Not without reason, though. Lots of it. "Have you heard him play his guitar?"

Raven basked in Dinah's approval and smiled. "I like Jono as well. I have offered to attempt to heal him, but he has not decided if he wishes me to try. I hope he will, for it will certainly improve his mood." If it worked. Which it would, of course. She'd never encountered anything she couldn't heal, so that thought didn't really occur to her.

"I have not heard him play yet, but he is going to teach me different forms of music," she continued, with the barest hint of a blush. "I am only truly familiar with what you would call classical or new age."

Dinah frowned, shaking her head, slowly saying, "I don't know what happened to him, exactly, Raven, but I'd be scared to do anything." She thought of Gabrielle's missing time, and gave Raven an anxious look. "Aren't you worried about, I dunno. Making it worse?" She noticed the blush then, and lightly said, "Ohhh, Jono knows lots of good songs. Get him to play some Eric Clapton or Sting." She grinned. "It's a nice way to spend time with somebody, hunh?"

"He is suffering, Dinah," Raven said quietly. "I have to try. It is not within me to ignore it." His transformation was not physically painful now, she knew that, but it was harming him emotionally.

"Sting and Eric Clapton," Raven repeated. "I do not know the names, but I will mention them to Jonothon. He will know who they are? I know that he plays rock -- I think I know what that is -- and grunge, but he knows other types of music as well."

"Yup, he played some Clapton for me on the roof, when I asked. He thought they were cool." Dinah wasn't above a little nudging in that direction, because Goth and Goth? Kind of made in heaven. "And I know you can't ignore it... but be careful?" Dinah didn't look over at Tahiri, but she was thinking about what happened. "Take a spotter? Or something?"

"I shall ask him to play that then," Raven said with a small smile, completely oblivious to any nudging, because she wasn't even sure herself if she had interest in that direction. "And I will be careful. I have made the offer to Jonothon and it will be his decision, but I truly hope I can help him."

Dinah relaxed at that, smile brightening. Because who knew? It might work, right? "Cool. How's the emotion thing going, by the way?"

"Slowly," Raven said, "which is for the best. Professor Maximus is helping me learn the differences between similar emotions, and I spoke to Lady Aphrodite last week about love." Now the blushing wasn't so much "faint" as "obvious."

"Professor Maximus's teaching is going okay? You're not worried about being around him now?"

Raven probably got an answering blush back, as Dinah remembered her last visit to Aphrodite with Cal. "Yeah, she's great like that." She tried not to facepalm, then said, "Even if she likes to tease."

"I cannot deny that he reminds me of what happened with his other self," Raven said, "but I try not to think about that. And I felt how truly upset he was to learn that he had damaged me, even though it was not truly himself. I do not fear him here." Much.

"Lady Aphrodite was very helpful," Raven said, ducking her head. "I had wanted to ask her how it was possible that some people could separate the feeling of love from the act of love, and why others did not."

"I suppose in a way it's a little easier for you," Dinah thought aloud. "Because you can feel the difference between him and the Other Him. So once you check, you know you're not in trouble. I'm glad he wanted to help."

Dinah laughed ruefully, then sighed. "If you ever figure it out, or why, can you let me know?" She paused, then added, "Well, I sorta know. I just... wish it wasn't so confusing." She looked at Raven thoughtfully. "What've you come up with?"

"She did not have a definitive answer, other than it's just a difference between people," Raven admitted. "And that it is best to just take things slowly to find out if you are truly compatible with the other person. If I ever were to be in a relationship with someone, I would not want to confuse feelings again."

"Makes sense." Dinah grimaced. If only she had some idea of what she was feeling these days. "Patience. I so suck at that. But yeah."

"It is not a virtue that I possess in great quantities, either," Raven said ruefully. "But I never had to worry about such confusing situations when I was still at home."

"Confusing situations can be fun, at least?" Dinah offered. Then, thinking of her talk with Cal, "Or just really, deadly embarrassing." And that wave of embarrassment had to be nearly tangible. "I almost get why people used to like more rules for dating. People who aren't patient and are kind of clueless need rules."

"I do not handle embarrassment well," Raven said. She had to strengthen her shields to prevent Dinah's from affecting her. "I find it particularly unsettling. Rules would be very helpful for knowing how to act and what to expect from others. I do not have any idea how dating works or how to go about it. If I wanted to do such a thing." Which she did. Maybe.

"Really?" Dinah's embarrassment gave way to surprise, then mild chagrin, and a smile. "There's not a lot. Well, for here. Someone asks someone else out to something fun. Like, oh. A movie, or lunch. Dinner. Whoever asks at least needs to offer to pay. And you hang out and talk, just two people. And..." Dinah paused. "And you keep doing that, I guess, until you're sure you don't want to date or kiss anyone else."

"But how do you know if it is a 'date' or just spending time together as friends?" Raven wondered. "That is what I do not understand, and I do not wish to make any assumptions. Doing that in the past was a mistake."

"Mostly it's if you plan it in advance. And you do something you wouldn't usually do." Dinah frowned. "Mostly. But." She made a face. "You're not wrong, I mean. If it's a dance? Or going out to Cafe Fina? Almost definitely a date, if you're the only ones there. If it's anything else... you could ask, I guess?" She paused. "Although I don't like doing that either. I end up feeling stupid if I'm wrong."

Raven nodded thoughtfully. "If someone ever asked me something like that, then I would have to ask to be certain," she said. "I suspect I may have difficulties with my pride, and I do not want to humiliate myself as I did with Chuck."

The 6th Floor, Friday Evening

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!

Re: Arrive!