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 Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 7:11 pm
Rhona tucked the tupperware container under her arm and leaned heavily on her cane. In her free hand was a gift of fairy princess wings and a matching tiara for the little lady of the house. They were not, in an of themselves, heavy objects, but her body was unable to support even light weight at this point. She would be glad when she didn’t have to use this shitty a** cane anymore… it made her feel weak… vulnerable. Anyone could come along and kick the thing out from under her… it could snap… Rhona had never not been able to rely on her own two legs before… it was odd now that she could not.
It made her hate the dead queen all the more.
She shifted the gifts in her arms, tucking the wings up under her arm with the tupperware and wearing the tiara like a bracelet, and opened the door for herself, opting for familiarity over the formality of a doorbell as was her way with this little family. As she insisted that they do with her. Gently, she kicked the door closed behind her and reorganized herself as quickly as she could before the little girl who ruled this house could register her entry into her kingdom and tackle her.
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 9:09 am
Unfortunately, the little princess of the house was out for a lunch date with daddy, and so the only ruler of the house that came out to investigate who had come in was the queen. Wearing an apron with a dish towel in hand, a bowl in the other, looking quite domesticated. A true housewife. “Oh. Rhona! I didn’t know you were coming to visit, why didn’t you call? I could have come over to get you, you didn’t have to make the trip alone.”
She set the towel and bowl on the nearest surface and walked over, wanting to take the items that Rhona had brought so she could better balance herself.
“How are you feeling? Are you doing okay after everything? I know you got pretty banged up.”
Raven reached out, taking the fairy wings and the tiara and held her hand out for the Tupperware container as well. “Come on. Hand it over. Why didn’t you put these things in a bag? You could have looped it to your belt or something. Or even left them in the car, I would have gone out to get them. You shouldn’t push yourself so hard, Rho. You worry me.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 11:39 am
Hoem-making and motherhood settled over Raven's shoulders like an old familiar friend, and the sight of it warmed Rhona. She deserved it. Raven deserved a whole bunch of nice things, but this especially. Rhona smiled easily at the sight of her oldest friend padding down the hallway in all of the happy trappings of domesticity, relenting to Raven's instructions and handing over her burdens for the more capable woman to take. "I made pumpkin scones last night. Thought you and the fam might like a batch." She ignored the rest of the questions. Raven was right, it would have been easier to put them in a bag but Rhona wasn't about making things easy for herself. Obviously. She smiled sheepishly at the scolding and assured her friend, "it's not a long way to walk. Besides, the physical therapist says I need to keep on my feet within reason. an easy walk was just what the doctor ordered. Literally." She laughed softly at her own joke and followed Raven to the kitchen, the tapping of her rubber-tipped cane punctuating her footsteps. "I'm about as well as I can be. Jett probably told you what I told him when he visited me in the hospital. Internal bleeding, busted bones, normal stuff." She laughed again, though there was no mirth in her voice. "But that's... that's not what I came here to talk about... I just really need a girl's date, I think. I-" Rhona's voice broke despite herself. "I ******** up with Lavender, Raven."
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 7:27 am
Pumpkin scones sounded good, and Raven nodded as Rhona went through her list of reasons why she didn’t ask for help, bustling around to put the confections onto a plate and start on making some tea for the both of them, because what went better with scones than tea?
Nothing.
“Take a seat, Rho. I want you off of your feet now, if you please.” She didn’t jump right in to what Rhona had said, taking the time to set things up as quickly as possible, two mugs on the table, a small cup of cream, some sugar and the tea bags, finally followed by the electric kettle’s cup full of hot water, poured right into each mug. Once that was put away she sat herself down at the table and began fixing her tea, a frown on her face, still trying to figure out just what Rhona ******** up with her? What do you mean by ******** up? What happened? I thought you guys were solid?” Rhona had been gushing about her for days…she had been so happy that Rhona had found someone. How did things just end so badly? Especially with Rhona hurt like this…what a shitty time to end a relationship…
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:24 am
Rhona took a deep breath, staring into the cup in front of her as she wondered how she was going to explain what had happened to Raven. "I got... scared... at Altea's. And when I get scared, you know, I start looking for things to do. I kept trying to fix what was happening and I... sort of... forgot to take care of Lavender." It sounded so... simple when she said it out loud but... god it wasn't that simple. It wasn't as simple as she was putting it. It wasn't as simple as Lavender made it sound. Hot tears welled in Rhona's eyes either from shame, or pain, or wounded pride. "I burrowed in. I made myself busy so that I didn't panic I... I tried to make myself useful..." She looked up at Raven then, eyes red with the spring of tears that threatened to spill over her cheeks. "She said that I was just trying to be the hero. That I was only in it for myself and that I didn't care what happened to anyone else and I..." Her voice shifted between angry and morose and even Rhona had a hard time identifying what she felt. "I just got so angry. Everything that I do is for this court. And she simplified what happened to the easiest possible answer. And it was wrong. She didn't... she didn't seem to care about what I had to say. She kept saying... terrible things to me, Raven. Things like I don't really care for any of you, that I was just in it for what you guys do for me..." Her knuckles were getting white around the mug she was holding and Rhona had to take several deep breaths to calm herself down. When she spoke again her words had a sharpness that said she had decided on an emotion to feel. "We talked about what happened at Altea's and it was one huge 's**t on Rhona' Party. I cried, and I apologized, and I meant every word but she threw it back in my face. She said my apologies were hollow. That they didn't mean anything... I guess I just feel..." Worthless"The worst part about all this... is that if she calls me I'll come running back. I think I loved her, Rave."
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:53 am
Raven hated tears. She hated tears even more now that the one who normally shed them was her little girl, but she hated them on her friends too, and as soon as there was the threat of them, she was scooching her chair close, enveloping Rhona in arms that were growing more and more used to comforting. “Oh honey.”
She felt bad. She wanted Rhona to be happy, very much wanted that for her, and the fact that she wasn’t…so obviously wasn’t happy, made Raven feel quite awful. “She said all of this right when you guys got back from that place? What, did she visit you in the hospital just to say that? That’s…that’s really…really uncouth…” Perhaps Raven would have to have words with that young woman…nobody treated her Dino Baby like that…it was just…you just didn’t do that to a person.
“Though, if I’m going to give her at least a little benefit of the doubt…perhaps she was just frightened? After all, you had just come out of a terrifying ordeal…perhaps she just responds poorly to fright and it manifests as anger in her?” Her hand reached up, gently rubbing the wild curls that framed her friends face. “Maybe call her again soon? Since she’s had time to cool off a bit…? I mean…” She sighed. “You say that you loved her. Past tense…are you ready for it to be over? I mean, you remember that Jett and I broke up and got back together half a dozen times before we were happy, right?”
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:56 am
The hospital... Rhona could feel her anger dissipating as Raven spoke. It wasn't that she didn't understand where Lavender was coming from it was just... "That was... one of her points of contention," Rhona sighed, leaning into Raven's comfort and taking a deep breath. "I didn't... call her. And that's my fault. I was still afraid of... something. I thought that when I snuck off I was going off to die and when I woke up again... I realized that I'd just left her. And then the fear just snowballed and snowballed until I finally reached out, knowing full well what would happen. That's what I meant when I said that I'd ******** up. I mean like... I'm still pissed off that our talk had nothing to do with what I felt but like... I know where she's coming from." And that was why Rhona felt so confused. She felt totally and entirely thrown under the bus and villainized but... she understood why. And part of it was her fault. "Lavender was right, I did take her for granted. And some of what I did was really selfish. So I owned up to it. I told her that I understood and took responsibility for what I did but... she'd already made up her mind." Rhona finally lifted the mug to her lips and took a hearty sip, ignoring the slight burning on the still-hot tea down her throat. She waited several long moments before responding again. "No. I'm not ready for it to be over. But I also don't want to feel like this ever again. What happens the next time we fight? Will Lavender do the same thing and place more blame on me than I deserve? Will she say more hurtful things? Things that have no basis in reality without asking why I did what I did? I don't... I don't want to take that risk." Another large sip and a bite of scone to gather her thoughts. "Besides, we have different priorities. Rhona -- everything that she is -- is a creation of the Court. And whether that is a good or a bad thing still remains to be seen, but Lavender doesn't understand what I went through to get here. Doesn't know how much I fought and bled for this. And that's where my dedication comes from. This court -- and everyone in it -- literally saved my life. How can I explain that?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:31 am
Raven frowned slightly, still running her fingers through Rhona’s thick curls. “What do you mean you didn’t call her? She…she didn’t go to the hospital with you?” Jett hadn’t mentioned that Lavender had been there, but she hadn’t really thought much of it…but…
“So you left her…in that place?” Rhona was new at this, new at relationships…Raven knew that better than anyone…but she remembered how protective she had been over that one girl she had been seeing? Ugh.
A scowl formed on her face and she was glad that Rhona couldn’t see with the way they were hugging right now. That had not been a good time for her. Not at all. Jealousy was a stupid thing.
“Well, you have to think, is it worth fighting for, Rho? Does she make you happy enough that the hurt might fade and be worth it someday? Or do you not think that it balances out and you’d rather just not try? I understand whatever choice you make, I really do. There were times that I thought that Jett and I weren’t worth the effort…like when I up and moved to California, for example but…”
She pulled away, slipping her hand into Rhona’s instead. “But in the end, the happiness that he brought me was so much more than whatever pain came from our fights…and now look at us. We’ll finally be married in a few months. I’m really excited.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:24 pm
In that place..."It's not like I slipped away when we were still in Altea's castle," Rhona muttered, finally pulling away from Raven with a light sniffle and a swipe of the back of her hand against her nose. "We were back in mirrorspace... scape... whatever we're calling it now. We were back on earth. Safe. I thought that if there was ever a time to slip of and like... die quietly in a corner now was the time." Rhona fell silent for a long time, running her thumb over Raven's knuckles. It was odd, how time had a tendency to change everything. There was a time when Rhona would have done anything, sold everything, said whatever it took to be the one Raven was talking about but... now, sitting here in the kitchen in comfortable silence it felt... somehow better than she ever imagined possible. This filial affection that they shared was more precious that any sought after romance ever could... that safety made it simple for Rhona to quiet her mind and parse through the chaos that constantly ravaged her thoughts and pull out the essential strands. "I mean but that's not even my issue," she finally sighed, "I'll own that one. That was ******** up. Even if I didn't want to worry anyone by slipping off alone, I did, and I accept that. I should have told Lavender that I needed to find a hospital an hour ago. I'll take that blame. Fine. What I'm pissed about, and I think rightfully so, is that when we 'talked' about it, all that happened was Lavender took a massive dump on me. And it didn't matter that we were both scared and lost, what mattered is that I ******** up. Didn't matter why I made the mistakes. So... I don't know. Right now I... I think it's best if we just... stay apart."
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Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:33 am
Raven nodded and squeezed the hand that she held. “You have to do what’s best for you, Rhona. But, maybe if you let yourself and her cool off a bit, perhaps if you wanted to at least strike up a friendship you would be able to? I can’t speak for her, or for you, but all I know is if it was meant to be, it will find a way to be, so you have to just trust in that. Your true love is out there, Rho, and I can’t wait until the two of you find one another. Maybe it’s Lavender, maybe it isn’t…but regardless…one day you’ll find the person who makes you happier than anything, and that will be literally one of the best days for me, because my best friend will finally be happy.”
She sighed and sat back in her chair, thinking. “You and I need a girls day. We’ll get our hair and nails done, go see a movie and go to dinner…does that sound good to you? Because it sounds fantastic to me.” Her eyes found Rhona’s face and she shook her head slowly. “Don’t dwell on how bad you feel…that’s another bit of advice that I’m going to give you. Just let things go as they’re going to go…there’s no sense in fighting the river and the more you think about it, the more angry you’re going to get, and the worse it’s going to turn out in the end…so just…it’s done. For now.”
Shrugging, Raven pulled her hand away and got up, pouring herself a glass of milk. “By the way, these scones? Are fantastic. I need the recipe please and thank you.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2017 8:49 pm
Cool off... Rhona never really cooled off, not truly. She was always simmering and bubbling about... something. She had war in her veins and battle on her fingertips. Those traits weren't likely to go away and she didn't want them to. She was a highland shield maiden. A starborn warrior from a distant time and place. Though should could no longer visit her star (she tried in screaming, tear-filled vain) she still felt it's pull. Still remembered the woman that she used to be. The people she led. The battles that she fought. How to undo millenia of conditioning both magical and genetically? Did she want to? And would Lavender be alright with her going off to war when the battle called her? If she wasn't... Raven's voice drew her back to reality with a small smile. She sniffed and cuffed at her eyes for the millionth time. "It was my mom's," she said softly, staring at her sleeves as the memory of the woman pulled her in a million different directions. "She used to make them every fall. It was kind of a rite of the season. I'll bring over the recipe next time I come over for sure. Or text you a picture of it... which would probably be easier." She smiled again and pulled at her sleeve a few times before lifting her eyes at long last to rest on her friend. The first face after Leto's that she saw when she was reborn. One of maybe three people who really understood -- really understood why she threw her whole self into the Dark Mirror Court the way that she did. "I am happy," Rhona finally said, her weak smile slowly gaining strength. "I hope you believe that. Ups and downs, fine but... I am happy... I'm home."
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