Magic Reserves, Wenesday Afternoon, The Preserve

[glacial_queen]

When people began arriving at the meeting today, they would see that things were a bit different than usual today. For one thing, the snack table has it's usual assortment of warm beverages, but was missing the normal variety of snacks and there were a handwavey number of wooden chests piled off to the side, each one sporting a heavy iron padlock on the front.

"Greetings," Karla said, looking a bit more composed than she had at the last meeting. "We've got a fair bit to do today, so we should probably get started quickly. First, we have a talk from Tara, who was kind enough to volunteer this week," she paused to give Tara a grateful smile, "and then, we have an activity."

Merlin nodded and stepped forward. "Inside these chests is... pie." Oh, it was so spooky and magical sounding. "But, as you see, they're rather firmly locked up. So, the exercise today will be to get the contents of the box--unharmed--using whatever skills you have at your
disposal."

Mmm, pie. "Fresh-baked," Tony added. "And if you get one out, it's all yours."

Karla was really regretting that the three of them hadn't had enough time to bake the pies themselves, but hopefully J,GoB pies would be an acceptable substitute. "So, let's give Tara our attention--and a pie of her own for volunteering--and then we'll see how well your pie-retrieving skills are."

Comments

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"He what? Why!? He has got to quit doing that," Dinah said, totally distracted now. "Punishing people with animal transformations is going to get him the wrong kind of rep!"

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

"I was taught to control my emotions all my life," Raven said. "I resented it when I first came here, but I have come to understand why. Because of what I am, I am dangerous. My anger and fear and even desires have hurt others, and I cannot live with that. I think until I learn to understand and control my feelings better, it is best if keep them contained."

Re: Have at the Chests

[thatsamilkshake]

"He wasn't!" As far as she knew, anyway. "He did it to keep her from--" I thought of something that couldn't hurt you and it came out bunny... "--doing something dumb. Raven was accidentally making people love her, and Katchoo got caught up in it."

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Blink. Blink. Blinkity. Owl Eyes. Because... whoa.

"... that was probably a smart thing to do."

Because look! Raven was still alive!

Re: Tara's Talk/Questions for Tara

[life_inshadow]

Tara wasn't rushing away, either. "I think your ego can probably handle the damage."

Her delivery was more tentative than the words would suggest.

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

//When my powers manifested, I blew a dance club, and my girlfriend at the time, halfway to hell along with my face and chest,// Jono replied, letting the bandages settle back into place as he crossed his arms and proceeded to look about as indignant as Jono-ly possible. //Before I found myself here, I levelled th'girls' dormitory at my last school when one of the other students tried t'kiss me. I spend every bloody moment, awake and asleep, wrestling to keep this naffin' fire under control so that I don't accidentally kill anybody, and yer standin' here, talkin' to me as though yer the only one in th'world with half a clue what it's like to be worried about hurtin' people if yer dare risk wanting t'get close.//

Re: Have at the Chests

[thatsamilkshake]

"Plus she was really cute. Ino took pictures." Francine broke off another forkful of pie, studying it while she tried in vain to stop the aftermath of that from running through her head. "You don't have to not talk about Jak, or dating, or anything. It's okay."

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Yeah?" Dinah smiled at her, a little shyly, and said, "Thanks." Then grinned. "I think I need to bribe Ino. Just to have that image to call up the next time Katina growls at me."

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

"And I will destroy this world and countless others if I lose control!" Raven said. She regretted the outburst as she said it and pressed her fingers to her lips, calming himself. "I am sorry," she said. "I should not have said that. I do not mean to dismiss or diminish what you have gone through."

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

//Yer right,// Jono said, shaking his head. //Yer shouldn't have said that. Yer bollocksed up some emotions. Th'universe is still standing. When an apology is enough to fix it, it's not worth shuttin' yerself down over.//

He narrowed his eyes, and then he gave his head another shake for lack of being able to heave an exasperated sigh.

//Nevermind, gel. Do whatever yer think is best. Bloody waste, if yer ask me. But yer not askin' me, are yer? I can't possibly understand.//

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

Raven was torn between just fleeing before she made things worse or allowing the fragile dam holding back her tears to crumble or...the truth. "You do not understand what I am, Jono," she whispered. "If I allow my emotions to overcome me, I risk becoming slave to my father, and he will use me to crush this world. What kind of person would I be if I allowed that to happen? I do not truly wish to deny myself, but I cannot continue to be so irresponsible."

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

//Learn th'balance,// Jonothon replied, his tone firm. He was stubborn. He was a descendant of Apocalypse. He wasn't terribly easy to scare when it came to powerful beings bent on doom and destruction. //There's a difference between allowing yerself some shred of happiness and bein' overcome by emotions. I would have thought that an empath, of all people, would understand that much. It's when yer don't let yerself feel anything at all that you deny yerself the opportunity to control it when it matters most.//

... Said the pot, calling the kettle black.

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

Apocalypse and Trigon the Terrible, should they ever have met, would've gotten along fabulously. Before trying to destroy the other, of course.

"I have no intention of cutting myself off or denying myself friendship," Raven said. "But when emotions become deeper and more complex...I am frightened of what I may do. I hurt you, and Didi, and I am not even certain how many others. I know you have forgiven me but that does not change what I did, that I manipulated your feelings all because of...." Her voice cracked a little. "Because of what I wanted."

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

//There's another big difference that yer missing, now,// Jonothon said, and once again he was speaking gently, picking and choosing his words carefully. //Desire and jealousy, Raven. Those were what yer were feeling. They're a far, far cry from love.//

Re: Have at the Chests

[thatsamilkshake]

"As long as you swear not to post it on the internet or give it to Chuck Bass, I'll see what I can do about getting you a copy."

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I swear! No internet bunny-ness! And I'd never give it to Chuck, he'd enjoy it too much." Dinah grinned. "Thank youuuu. How's the rest of your week since I was gone?"

Re: Have at the Chests

[thatsamilkshake]

"Halloween was good. I was a magician." Francine gave a rueful grin. "I made Katchoo sleep in the hat when she was a bunny."

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah choked on her pie, then collapsed into giggles imagining that. "I shouldn't laugh," she wheezed. "I got lucky no one photographed me as a kitten. But still."

Re: Have at the Chests

[thatsamilkshake]

"Only the first night when she was still trying to get away and go hunt down Raven," Francine protested. Not that her other choice of sleeping arrangements hadn't had its own issues.

Re: Have at the Chests

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

That image doesn't help, Francine.

"Fierce Hunting Bunny of Luuuuuuuv," Dinah giggled, and finally took a deep, deep breath. "But all over now. Bunny-ness and whatever Raven did?"

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

Except she didn't kiss everyone who'd been pulled in by her powers.

"I confused love and lust once before," Raven said. Thank you, Chuck. "Those emotions are not something I take lightly. Perhaps you are right and one day...but I cannot let my longing get the better of me."

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

And now Jono actually was projecting a sigh. Yes, it came across more or less as a //Sigh,// but it was the best he could do, considering.

//So, don't let the longing get th'better of yer. But don't rule it out entirely, either. If love falls into yer lap, love, it'd be crazy to turn it away just because yer were afraid.// There was almost a smile to go with that. //It'll be worth it, when yer find it.//

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

"You did not let your fear get the better of you, after all," Raven said with another small smile.

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[furnaceface]

//Not this time, I didn't,// he agreed, returning that smile as best as he could. //And nothing's blown up yet. I think that speaks somewhat in favour of going with what feels right, doesn't it?//

He was mostly nibbing at himself, there, yes. But it was true. Fall for a girl. Get close to her. And no buildings have come crashing down yet? Madness!

Re: Arrive/Mingle

[trigons_child]

"I am very happy for you," Raven said. "For both of you." And, well, envious as well.