fandomhighdorms | Magic Reserves, Wenesday Afternoon, The Preserve

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Magic Reserves, Wenesday Afternoon, The Preserve

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."

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"Didi?" Raven said. "I did not know that you and she were...." That, unfortunately, made her feel worse, in no small part because she had tampered with their relationship, much like how Francine had witnessed Katchoo kissing her.

"I think I was affecting her as well, for she was being very...friendly," Raven said. "I must find her and apologize to her as well."

Yes, she was totally not answering his question.

Jono kind of noticed that, yes. And so he was going to edge in sideways with a different tactic.

//I think she might appreciate that. Though she wasn't angry, either. We both pretty much agreed that this wasn't something that yer couldn't have possibly done on purpose, luv.//

Different tactic, incoming.

//I've had my powers get away from me too, yer know. It's... not entirely the same, I suppose. But at least th'damage that you did was temporary. A few apologies set things straight enough, for th'most part.//

Raven nodded. "I am fortunate that Lady Aphrodite sensed what was happening and told me what I was doing," she said. "If she had not, I surely would have harmed many more people. I hope those I did affect will be as forgiving as you, and will believe I will never let it happen again. I am learning to shield the world from myself as I have shielded myself from it."

Also? Cold showers. Lots of them.

//Constant battle, just to keep from hurting th'people yer care about?// Jono crossed his arms over his chest and nodded faintly. //Yer know, some of what I said on Saturday still holds. I have been thinkin' over yer offer, gel. And I am still tempted by it.//

A beat, and then he tilted his head slightly, attempting a smile. //And I do still trust yer. Accidents happen. Yer learn from them. That's life. Sometimes, there are just more pieces to pick up than others.//

"Thank you," Raven said, forcing a small smile. "It is good to hear you say that, that you still trust me. It means a great deal to me."

Jono shifted his weight awkwardly, at that. And then he shrugged again. And then, in a completely spontaneous fit of swallowing his nerves and wrestling down his panic at things like physical contact, he stepped forward for a quick hug.

//Yer a good friend, Raven. Don't ever let anything make yer think otherwise.//

"I will try," Raven said, her eyes misting with tears as she hugged him back for as long as he would let her.

It wasn't a very long hug. There was a roiling flame in Jonothon's chest that reminded him why he didn't dare get too close to people for too long. But it was a good hug, he thought, before he eased away, offering the closest to a smile that he could manage.

//Good.//

Raven tried to nonchalantly wipe a hand across her eyes. "You and Didi -- everything is well between you now?" she asked.

//It is,// Jono agreed, nodding slightly. //It was an easy fix, really.//

It had involved a lot of nose-beeping and juvenile 'I know you are but what am I' comebacks. And then some tickling. It was a really, really easy fix, thank goodness.

"Good," Raven said. It caused a pang to say it, but it was still sincere. "I am very happy for you both."

//Thank yer.// He shifted his weight from one foot to the other almost awkwardly, then, before attempting, lamely, to speak again. //There'll be somebody for you, Raven. Yer just have t'be patient, luv.//

Hell, if he could find somebody, anybody could.

Raven shrugged. "That is not important," she ~~lied~~ said. "It pleases me to see my friends happy, and that is enough."

Had Raven ever witnessed Jono's 'bitch, please,' look?

Because he was totally demonstrating it, now.

//If that were th'case, we wouldn't be havin' this conversation. Would we?//

"That was a momentary mistake," Raven said. "I will not allow it to happen again." Mmm, denial.

//The mistake of wanting t'be loved?// And now his 'bitch, please' look was more of a 'yeah, no' one. //Lettin' yer powers slip, that was a mistake, Raven, true. I'm talkin' about a desire t'be cared for yerself. That's never a mistake, luv.//

"I am not certain it is the right path for me to take," Raven said. She gave him a small smile. "It is all right. I am not like other girls, and I need to stop pretending I am."

Jonothon's deadpan was epic.

It was epic, and accompanied by a very pointed gesture as he reached a hand to his face, and then pulled down the bandages just enough to let a tongue of blue flame lick outward.

//In case yer haven't noticed, luv, a very precious few people around here are 'like other' ones. By yer logic, we might as well just give up while we're ahead.//

Edited 2009-11-05 20:15 (UTC)

"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."

//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.//

"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."

//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.//

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."

//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.

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."

Magic Reserves, Wenesday Afternoon, The Preserve

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