Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

Anakin had decided that not walking through the fog to get to work was for smart people other people, and so he'd called Ben to cancel their workout for the morning and arrived early at his office.

He was listening to the last few days' broadcasts (and feeling kind of stupid that he'd mistaken Max for a dinosaur), trying to make sense of what was happening.

The door was open.

Comments

[trigons_child]

"I did not eat the giant lizard," Raven announced as she arrived. Because that was the important thing, clearly. She was a vegetarian!

[sith_happened]

Anakin laughed. "I was wondering what happened there," he admitted. "Have a seat."

[trigons_child]

Raven settled in chair. "I engulfed it in my Soul-Self," she explained. "I was safe inside when I saw it, but I did not want it to wander off and harm another. It had resisted my efforts to calm it."

[sith_happened]

"And how is that different than eating it?" Anakin asked, looking confused.

[trigons_child]

"I did not digest it, nor derive any nutrition from doing so," Raven pointed out. "And I do not eat meat."

[sith_happened]

"And shortish dinosaur things are probably not very tasty, either," Anakin offered. "Is it still inside your, um, Soul-Self?"

[trigons_child]

"Until I choose to release it," Raven said, nodding. "But I do not wish to do so unless it can be contained somewhere or rendered harmless."

[sith_happened]

"What else is in there?" Anakin wondered. "Anything that might eat the dinosaur thing?"

[trigons_child]

Raven shook her head. "Not that I am aware of," she said. "I have not taken anything else into myself in such a way that I did not soon release. It is not something I do very often." Just bombs and the occasional dinosaur.

[sith_happened]

"That's," very odd, "handy to have access to. You could drop the thing off the cliff?"

[trigons_child]

"That would be causing it harm," Raven said, "and not something I wish to do." Which led back to something that was bothering her. "Although, this fog...it confused my senses and caused me to fight Kennedy," she admitted unhappily. "I almost lost control of myself."

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded, looking serious. "Because you felt in danger or for other reasons?" he asked.

[trigons_child]

"The danger," Raven said, clasping her hands in her lap. "I thought I was being attacked by something demonic, something sent by my father or by Sebastian, and I was afraid. I thought Kennedy was nearby and I did not wish to abandon her, so I could not merely run away to safety. I finally did flee when my demon side manifested and I realized I could lose control. I would have been more harmful than helpful to Kennedy if I did."

[sith_happened]

"Sometimes retreat is the wisest action," Anakin agreed.

Not that he'd ever, ever retreated. Because Anakin lived the idea that the best defense is a good offense.

"How long did it take you to regain control?" he asked. "And how did Kennedy react?"

[trigons_child]

"The creature tackled me as I teleported and I accidentally brought it with me to my room," Raven said. "I tried to get away from it and a few moments later it was gone and Kennedy was with me. I think it may have been her all along, though I do not understand what I saw in the fog. I was able to regain control after I pleaded with her to stop striking me." She shifted uncomfortably. "Fortunately I did not cause her any serious harm, but she was not pleased to see my demon side manifest. She is very confused and suspicious of me now." Which was precisely why she had tried to remain deep in the closet.

[sith_happened]

Anakin looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry. Seeing you looking...not yourself...must have been a shock for her."

[trigons_child]

"Especially when she has been trained to fight demons her entire life," Raven said sadly. "I tried to assure her that I was not evil, but I do not think she believed me."


[Dear LJ: I would like my comment notifications, plz!]

[sith_happened]

"Give her some time," Anakin said. "As a matter of course, I tend to not be a big demon fan myself."

[trigons_child]

"I do not expect many people to be," Raven said. Except one teacher was a demon and another was a vampire and she knew Phoebe was living with demon, which was still terribly confusing and unsettling. "And it makes me appreciate the trust you have put in me all the more. I did tell Kennedy that you knew what I was, though I do not know if she will come speak to you."

[sith_happened]

"I don't think I'll leave her a message," Anakin said with a small smile, "because I don't want to seem...odd...but I'll look around for her as I travel through town."

[trigons_child]

"Thank you," Raven said, "I asked her not to tell anyone, but I do not know if she will honor that request. I am worried that more people will learn what I am now. So far everyone I have trusted with my secret have not had an adverse reaction, but I know there are those who will not react well to the knowledge."

[sith_happened]

"You're allowed to hold secrets," Anakin said a little vehemently, definitely deciding to find Kennedy now.

[trigons_child]

"I do understand her feeling betrayed and confused," Raven said, "but I hope I do not lose a friend. It reminds me of how the Justice League chased me away when I appealed to them for help before I came to Fandom. I cannot help what I am, but I can control what I do."

[sith_happened]

"Precisely," Anakin said, nodding. "You can only learn from your mistakes and vow to do better."

Or, as Anakin preferred for years, make a mistake and then wallow in it.

[trigons_child]

"I do not enjoy making mistakes," Raven said. She hated the feeling of wounded pride. "But yes, I attempt to learn from them. I cannot help others if I cannot help myself." Which was awfully hypocritical of her, given her fear of Max and how she told other people to face their fears. Details.

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled at her. "I never said anything about enjoying making them. I try to make as few mistakes as possible. I don't enjoy humility."