Office hours [Tuesday, April 17, 2012]

[sith_happened]

It had been bad enough that he was in a navy blue polyester nightmare, but Anakin's problems had only compounded when he'd reached out to save what he'd thought had been several little green toys from falling into the pond on his way to the school.

"You saved our lives," they intoned in creepy unison, pattering along behind him. "We are eternally grateful."

"Really, it's nothing," Anakin said. "Go away."

"You saved our lives," they repeated in the same tone. "We are eternally grateful."

"Fine, fine, you're grateful," Anakin said, shooing them into his office and hiding them under his desk. "Now hide."

"You saved our lives. We are eternally grateful."

It was going to be an unbearable day, but the Dean of Students was in for all of your bitching about your uniform/new roommate/final exam needs.

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[sith_happened]

And as a student, Anakin would have felt just as betrayed. Being an adult had given him more perspective on politics and how money made the galaxy go around.

"I've had my own thoughts on the board's...capriciousness," he said, "and the wording on Colbert's letter would make even a sane person clench their teeth. But we can't just ask Warren or Chuck Bass or Bruce Wayne to foot our bill instead. We need accreditation to be able to get students from this world into good colleges, and if we changed the money flow so abruptly, those people would be looking for things that are out of the ordinary, and I don't think they'd be as easily distracted as the Howells seem to be."

[trigons_child]

"What if they demand permanent changes?" Raven said. She'd had a couple of restless nights worried about that. "You will not allow them to do that, will you?"

Fandom had to remain a refuge for mutants and aliens and people from other times. And people who hated plaid.

[sith_happened]

"Of course not," Anakin said, "and not just because I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to polyester. Fandom is a place where people can be themselves, and there are sadly not enough places like that in the multiverse. We'll be polite to a point, and then we'll send our guests on their way. But this is just a temporary inconvenience."

He hadn't gotten the incoherent scream of a message from Zoe yet.

[trigons_child]

"That is a relief," Raven said, finally sitting down (but taking care to make certain she didn't accidentally sit on any little green Anakin worshipers). "Jono was very upset and left Monday morning, and Karla told me Elphaba had gone as well. Has anyone attempted to speak to the Howells to ascertain if they would be open to some of Fandom's strangeness? Perhaps this is all unnecessary."

[sith_happened]

"No," Anakin said, "but they're leaving today, so it shouldn't really matter much longer."

[trigons_child]

"I have not met them, and perhaps they are very nice people, but if this is the result, I hope they do not return for a very long time," Raven said with a soft sigh.

There wasn't much more she could say about that without nurturing bitterness, so she shifted the subject to something else on her mind. "I had a nightmare last week, one that I thought it wise to tell you, just in case." She'd learned her lesson about hiding things, oh yes. "I have dreamed of my father plenty of times since my return, but this dream seemed more specific than others. And my brothers were in it. I sometimes have prophetic dreams, but it is difficult to tell what is a glimpse of the future and what is simply a dream."

[sith_happened]

"When it's bad, it tends to be prophetic," Anakin said cynically, raking his fingers through his hair.

[trigons_child]

Not what Raven wanted to hear. She was desperately hoping it was just another bad dream.

"Three of my brothers were there, the three we have met," she said. "Envy, Lust, and Wrath. They were using me to open a portal to allow my father entrance to this world."

[sith_happened]

Anakin blew out a long breath. "Can they do that?"

[trigons_child]

"I do not know," Raven said, shaking her head slightly. "I can teleport to other realms, and I do not think they have that power, but in the dream I had the sense that they were somehow taking strength from me to use it as they wished. I was not doing so willingly."

[sith_happened]

"We can work on your mental blocking exercises if it will make you feel better," Anakin offered.

[trigons_child]

"It would, yes," Raven said with a small grateful smile. "I know I am stronger than my brothers but it cannot hurt to be prepared."

[sith_happened]

"Even if your dream was only a dream," Anakin said, "you might be worried about not being so prepared."

He smiled. "I'm here to help."

[trigons_child]

"Thank you," Raven said.

"We are eternally grateful," the little green aliens added.

Raven approved the sentiment, at least, and smiled at the aliens. "I am truly hoping it is just a dream, but as I said, it seemed so...specific," she said. "Perhaps it will just turn out to be born out of the anxiety I have been dealing with about the future."

[sith_happened]

"I would try to fail the senior class, but I think Zoe would say I'm abusing my new position," Anakin said. "What are your plans for the summer?"

[trigons_child]

"I am uncertain," Raven admitted. "I am somewhat terrified at the thought of graduation. Fandom is the only real home I have known, and I do not wish to leave the island."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded sympathetically. "So this nightmare could be your mind trying to work through those fears, too."

That was as optimistic as he got, sadly.

[trigons_child]

"Perhaps banishing the dream will be as simple as deciding what course I will take," Raven agreed. She wished she could believe that as easily as she said it.

"Karla has asked me to be her Court Healer, but she is not graduating until next year, so I have a year to wait and to determine how I will spend the time. To go to Azarath would be unwise, since it is empty and possibly dangerous now, but I have never been on my own in the outside world for long."

[sith_happened]

Anakin looked sympathetic. "I don't suppose working in a coffee shop or something is exactly your speed, either."

[trigons_child]

Here on the island, maybe. Out in the real world? Not so much.

"Jono has been helping me look at colleges," she said. "I could take classes for a year, even if I were not to seek a degree. But I am still very anxious at the thought of living among...normal people."

[sith_happened]

"They don't all wear plaid polyester, I promise," Anakin said.

[trigons_child]

Raven smiled. "I do not think that is a real fear," she said. "I am more troubled by not being able to share with people what I am or what I can do. Like how we are now in Fandom, but at all times."