fandomhighdorms | Magic/Support Reserves: the Preserve, Wednesday After Classes

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Magic/Support Reserves: the Preserve, Wednesday After Classes

Raven's turn to lead the meeting meant that the snacks were dominated by fresh fruits and a veggie tray -- with hummus, of course. Much healthier than any sort of sour cream based dip! There was also cheese and crackers and some muffins and cookies as well, though made with organic whole wheat flour. And some that were gluten-free and marked as such, as were anything with nuts or dairy. Shut up, Kennedy.

"Most of you should be aware of what happened on Friday," Raven began after people had arrived. "Fandom was beset by vicious flying fish that attacked without any provocation. And once they were slain, they returned as undead creatures, like the zombies in Caritas." Only without nearly as much musical talent.

"Dolf quickly set up a support station in the dorm lobby." Raven glanced over to where Dolf stood and gave him a smile. "Many of us who could heal or tend injuries stayed there, and weapons were provided to those who required them to defend themselves." Her voice didn't falter at all, but her smile faded just a tiny bit at the implication of violence. She was becoming more accustomed to it, but that didn't mean she liked it.

"Today we'd like to share what you did during this day, be it fighting, supporting, or just staying out of the way," Raven went on. "Is there anything you would have liked to have done differently, or known how to do better? Is there anything you think the reserves as the group could do differently or better? Please, do not be afraid to speak up. If there ways we can improve, we would very much like to hear them."

"I, um, didn't get outside," Tara admitted, self-conscious. "I had a really bad cold. So anything you can tell me about what you did would help me. A lot."

Raven looked at Tara as she spoke, her expression making it clear she thought Tara should have come to her if she'd been sick. Your cold, give it to her.

"Also, for those of you who went joined up with the Martial Reserve, how did that work out for you?" Karla added, with a comforting smile at Tara. "It's important that we learn how to most effectively combine our skills across all three Reserve divisions."

Dolf had been nodding along up until that point. "And, uh," he started, "It went good this time. No one died. But I want to know which one of you will want to be there to help at the support station next time something happens. Let me know so I can call, okay? More help is a good thing."

"So who wishes to go first?" Raven said, addressing everyone again. "And if you do not feel comfortable speaking in front of everyone, please, feel free to approach one of us privately to share your thoughts."

[~~Please stand by for OCD.~~ OCD is up! Co-written with the fantastic

life_inshadow,

glacial_witch, and

swordsandsoccer, who has no hyphen in his username and should be shunned. Shuuuuuuuuuuun.]

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"That's... very accurately observed," John said. He was beginning to sound more sure, a little relieved, maybe even a little amused. "Yes. I'm not used to all that. It's all still a bit out of my reference book at the moment, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it."

Still... sounding a little nervous on that last note. "I've heard your name before," he added. "On radio, I think?"

Yes, John. Everyone was on radio. The quicker you get used to that, the better.

"It is difficult for many to become accustomed to Fandom and all its whimsy and dangers," Raven said sympathetically. "Even for those of us from more magical worlds. But it will become easier in time."

At the mention of the radio, she glanced around for a squirrel and pointed it out. "The radio, yes," she said. "The squirrels make notes of what we do each day, and those who work for the radio station read them in the evening. I have not listened to last night's broadcast yet, but I suppose I was mentioned for visiting Professor Skywalker and Professor Sherlock, and for being at work in town, and perhaps when I meditated on the roof." Guess which activity made her smile turn to a frown as she mentioned it?

Ah, yes.

And wasn't John remotely unsurprised? Yes, he was. He sighed in resignation - the sort of it that was a lot like a well-worn indentation in an old carpet - and nodded.

"You're that Raven," he said. "Right. I was planning to come find you and-- apologise for him, I suppose." And possibly extend his 'do call me if he winds up harassing you again' offer to her, as well. At least Sherlock was keeping him busy.

"I am the only Raven on the island," Raven said. Her smile hadn't returned yet. "But what do you have to apologize for? I assume you are speaking of Professor Sherlock, as he was the only one who has been discourteous to me recently."

"He's my flatmate," John said, because he figured he might as well be up front (while repressing such statements as 'but you're all so young' for the moment). "He's-- he can be a bit abrasive."

Oh, lord. Now he was loaning Sherlock's words for himself.

"He was extremely rude," Raven said flatly. "If he believes that the students here are all idiots, as he said, then why is he wasting his time in Fandom? Or does he arrogantly believe that he and only he can educate us? I do not think his attitude will go over well with most of the population of the island."

John exhaled a breath of air, then smiled. Very wryly. "Sherlock," he said, "Thinks everyone's an idiot. He frequently tells me not to take it personally."

And he'd almost entirely stopped feeling insulted by it, which was odd. "Of course, he doesn't exactly have a great deal of friends. I just wanted to apologise in case he's offended you--" Beat. "...well, he obviously has, it's Sherlock."

"He had been bothering a friend of mine, and I only wished to ask him to stop," Raven said. "But he proceeded to insult the residents of the island and attempted to provoke an emotional response from me as well."

She took a breath to calm herself and sighed. "It is not your responsibility to apologize for his behavior, though I do appreciate it," she said. "I will certainly not be seeking him out for his counsel in any matter in the future. He apparently believes he is very wise, but his ignorance on the nature of good and evil is vast."

Because she was totally an expert, of course.

John did feel the need to apologise, simply because Sherlock wouldn't-- but at her last statement, he sighed. "He spends most of his time chasing criminals," he said, delicately. "It's--"

You'd have to be someone of greater oratory brilliance, or at least less war-granted psychological damage, to fully explain it.

"Nevermind," he said, shaking his head. Sherlock was a constant source of both frustration and fondness, and to go into a debate about him would be clearly mad. "I've said this to Jono as well, but if he's ever needlessly cruel to you, come find me. I can't promise I can deal with him, exactly, but..."

"I will remember that, thank you," Raven said, willing the tension from her body. She didn't like how Sherlock had gotten under her skin so easily. "Though I intend to avoid him, as I said. And I do hope he will one day learn not to judge others so harshly when he has no idea who or what they are, and that attempting to provoke an emotional response from some people can be very dangerous."

"I'll let you know if he figures it out," John promised her, not unkindly.

... She was young. He wasn't about to dash her hopes. He didn't add 'and if not, I'll be there with my gun', either.

Though that bit was true. "But, er, yes. If you need any help on the medical end of things, you're also welcome to look me up."

"Thank you," Raven said, relaxing back into a smile. She wasn't going to let herself dwell. "If we do another meeting on first aid, it may be very helpful to have someone like you here to oversee it to make certain we are doing things correctly. I have little knowledge of such things myself, since as I said I use my powers to heal. If there are ever serious injuries at the clinic, you are free to call upon me as well if I can be useful there."

"I'll try to make an effort to stop by," he promised. "And-- that's good to know, thank you. I... can't say I exactly know what 'magical healing' is all about, unless you count the euphemistic songs..."

Oh, right. Kids. "...but I'm sure you'd be very helpful."

"I would offer to demonstrate what I can do," Raven said, "but that would require someone to be ill or injured. Unfortunately I am certain it will happen soon enough with this island and its dangers."

"Yes," said John, with a slightly pained smile.

Partly because he hated the thought of any of them coming to harm; partly because something in him felt all the calmer, the better, at the knowledge of danger to come.

"You have an interesting way of speaking, if you don't mind me saying," he said, seguing ever-so-subtly before he could start thinking about that.

"I am not from around here, as they say," Raven said with a tiny smile. "I was raised in a place called Azarath, which lies between dimensions." She felt the familiar pang of loss at the mention of her former home. Even if she wanted to go back, she never could.

Of course she did. Between dimensions. All right. He could ask a few questions, feel it out, understand how this magic thing worked, these other dimensions, question her like Sherlock would--

"How's the weather there?"

--or he could be English about it.

Raven...really wasn't expecting that question. "It is magically created," she said. "So the weather is constantly kept comfortable. Precipitation is scheduled as needed for the crops, but it will only rain over the areas where food is grown." She shook her head with a soft chuckle. "My friends who have seen it think it is quite boring, but it is a place of great peace and knowledge."

"Sounds nice," John said, nodding along. "We could use a bit of that in London. Not that it's as bad as the stereotype might imply, but I wouldn't say no to a bit of sun."

John. Stop talking about the weather.

Actually, given recent conversations, Raven coincidentally had some interest in the topic. "Is it chilly there? Some friends of mine and I are planning a trip to London in the near future."

But she would have been polite even if she wasn't interested.

"It is a bit, yeah. Especially 'round this time of year." Was the sky blue? "Be sure to pack warm. Er, if you do, I do know a few good restaurants..."

He missed London. A lot.

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Magic/Support Reserves: the Preserve, Wednesday After Classes

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