Room 509, Thursday afternoon

[trigons_child]

Probably to absolutely no one's surprise, Raven had amassed herself a small army of love monkeys, which were now snuggled up with her on her bed as she used her laptop to catch up on Rumor Gal episodes and gossip and speculation. Priorities, people. Priorities.

She wrinkled her nose at the comments on one blog post and glanced down at the love monkey that had claimed her lap. "I do very much prefer it when Charlie and Claire are together," she told it, "for I think they are truly meant for each other, but I do not understand how heated these 'shipping wars' get. It seems so unpleasant and unhealthy to invest so much anger and energy in the lives and relationships of fictional people."

The love monkey squeaked in agreement. Or maybe it was just asking for another hug. Or maybe it was secretly a Claire/David shipper and just didn't want to start an argument.


[Door and post are open. Beware of love monkeys!]
 

Comments

[trigons_child]

Raven looked up from her laptop, where she'd switched to browsing for dresses. "Hello, Karla, come in," she said. "I was just thinking of calling you."

One of the monkeys launched itself from the bed toward Karla's legs. New legs! New legs!

[glacial_queen]

"Really?" Karla asked. "What--ack!"

She looked down at the monkey that was now clinging to her leg and chittering happily. "Uhhh, is this a friend of yours?"

[trigons_child]

"They have been appearing all over the dorms," Raven said. "And they have become very attached to me." Literally, in fact, as she disentangled one from her hair.

[glacial_queen]

"So I can tell," Karla said, bending over to pick the little creature up. "I must have missed them so far."

Hugging the little monkey to stave off unpleasant thoughts as to why other monkeys might have been avoiding her, she took a seat next to Raven on the bed. "What're you looking at?"

[trigons_child]

"Dresses for the Valentine's dance," Raven said, turning the laptop to show Karla the screen. "Jono just asked me to go to the dance with him. I was not expecting he would wish to go, but...."

Yes, she had a goofy smile.

[glacial_queen]

"Nice," Karla said, trying to squash down a flare of envy. "It drapes so prettily. I'm glad he asked you," she added, lamely.

[trigons_child]

Raven frowned and closed the laptop. "Are things any better with you and Warren?" she asked quietly.

[glacial_queen]

Karla shrugged briefly. Then shook her head. "I don't think so," she said quietly. "We went to the zoo with Katniss and Wesley and everything was all over awkward."

Not even because of her cookies!

"I'm not sure we're going to the dance," she admitted.

[trigons_child]

Raven slid her arm around Karla's back and leaned against her shoulder. "It may have been awkward, but it was something at least?" she said, feeling helpless. "He is not avoiding you completely."

[glacial_queen]

"Maybe not," Karla said, dropping her cheek onto Raven's hair. "But it still hurts. We're just so...distant. Like he's not sure if he wants to talk to me or not. I really don't know if he's going to be able to forgive me. Same with Bobby."

[trigons_child]

"He needs time," Raven said, hugging Karla close. "I know it is hard to not be impatient" -- Azar knew she struggled with that -- "but he has not told you he wishes to never be with you again. Which means that despite all that has happened he still wants to be with you."

[glacial_queen]

"Or he just hasn't made up his mind yet," Karla murmured. "Oh, Raven. What's wrong with me that I could do that to someone? Someone I love?"

[trigons_child]

"Karla, you did not do that to him on purpose," Raven said, stroking her hair. "You were trying to save me. You had no time to think through what might happen. Sebastian could have easily turned on you instead."

[glacial_queen]

"I did, though," Karla confessed. "I did. I stopped thinking of him as Warren and just thought of him as a soldier. Someone whose life I could gamble with. It wasn't even about you anymore. I just saw maximum gain for minimal risk and took the chance."

[trigons_child]

"But you will not do so again," Raven said gently. "You have learned the consequences of that action. And I will do all I can to make certain you do not fall into that trap again."

[glacial_queen]

"That doesn't mean that Warren can forgive me for what I did," Karla said, forlornly. "Or that he even has to."

The monkey that had claimed her climbed up to her lap and patted her softly on the shoulder.

"Sorry," Karla mumbled. "Just...the dance and this whole week and everything..."

[trigons_child]

Raven worried at her lower lip, wondering if there was anything she could possibly say to Warren that wouldn't make everything worse. "I know," she said. "Jono surprised me by asking me to the dance. Perhaps Warren will surprise you as well."

[glacial_queen]

It would be hilarious interesting if she tried.

"Perhaps," Karla agreed. "We'll see when tomorrow comes. I've got a nice dress picked out already." She called it in to show. "A bit short, but I'm hoping..."

Warren was a male. Karla had nice legs. The equation was there.

[trigons_child]

"He will think you are beautiful," Raven said with a smile. "I am certain of that."

Because she certainly did. She had Mrs. Raven of Glacia written all over her notebooks, after all.

[glacial_queen]

Karla gave Raven a small smile. "Thanks, darling," she said, leaning in to give her friend a big hug. "I hope so, too."

They were meant to be together in the end, after all.

[trigons_child]

"I have something I wish to give you," Raven said when she finally drew back. A TOKEN OF HER LOVE.

[glacial_queen]

"Is it another monkey?" Karla asked wryly, as her little guy began grooming her hair. "Because I think I'm all set, thanks." Though if Raven was offering a euphemistic love-monkey...

[trigons_child]

Why do I have to share you with a monkey, monkey, la la la la la la la.

"No, it is not," Raven said. She carefully dislodged her monkey blanket and rose to move over to her desk, where she opened a small box so she could take out one of the two small red gems it contained.

"It is this," she said, holding out the gem to Karla.

[glacial_queen]

Karla reached her hand out to let Raven drop the gem. "What is this?" she asked, bringing it back to examine closely. "It feels a little bit like you. It's not another chakra for me to lick is it?"

[trigons_child]

"It is called a Ramat Stone," Raven explained. "It contains a sliver of my soul, a part of my essence. If something were to happen to me again, it would aid you in finding me, and if necessary, restoring me to myself."

At least she hoped. Though she also hoped it would never have to be used.