fandomtownies | Dite's Decadent Delights, Tuesday afternoon

Aphrodite had felt the walls of her suite closing in on her, and teleported into the store just to be there. She didn't want company, she didn't want customers, she just wanted something . . . familiar. Safe.

She didn't expect the store to be open, and she really didn't expect Raven sitting behind the counter.

The girl didn't look any more comfortable than 'Dite felt, and she made a decision right then.

One wave of a hand closed the blinds, the next turned the sign to closed, and she approached.

"Raven, why are you here? You didn't need to open the store today."

"It is where I am supposed to be," Raven said numbly. Shell-shocked empath was still shell-shocked.

"After the night we all had? Neither of us are fit to be working today." She zapped in a stool much like the one Raven was sitting on. "Anything you want to talk about? I know what it was like for our group . . ."

"It is good you were not with us," Raven said quietly. "That was no place for a goddess of love."

Remembering what Karla had explained upon waking, 'Dite shook her head. "It doesn't sound like it was a place for anyone, especially not an empath."

Raven tried to keep her voice steady, but it was cracking with emotion. "It was awful. Those poor girls."

"Yeah." Even if she hadn't seen the girls Raven had, 'Dite had her own memories, of someone running terrified in the street; of a small girl and her father, the man just as afraid as the child because he couldn't protect her; of a young woman who avoided being raped because Dinah refused to let it happen - even if it was just in Karla's mind.

"What we went through wasn't real, and we can tell ourselves that over and over, but . . ." she shook her head. "Knowing that someone else lived it for a fact -- even if I didn't know them-- it makes me want to borrow a weapon from Max and declare my own little war." Something the goddess of love hated to admit.

"I know so little of love and desire," Raven said, wiping the back of her hand across her eyes. "I do not understand how people can take so much pleasure in being cruel."

Neither did the goddess.

"I don't have any words of wisdom, Raven. Last night kind of used every bit of brain power I had, and I don't even have the energy to lie to you." She sighed. "I'd love to tell you that -- it wasn't our world, that things like that can't happen here. But I can't, because they do. People are cruel. People are selfish. And other people get hurt."

Looking around the shop reminded her of something.

"But people also love. They care. Like you cared last night, like all the others, Dinah and Ben, and Emma, and Francine and Katina," she couldn't resist a small smile when thinking of those last two, "you all cared, you loved Karla enough to risk yourselves so that you could help her. And you did." She shrugged. "And it's that kind of love that can fight the cruelty we saw. So don't give up."

"I will never give up loving my friends," Raven said with a half-smile. Romantic love, not so much, but friendship she could do. "I will not let them be hurt if there is anything I can do to stop it."

Carefully, 'Dite reached out to touch Raven's hand. "I know you won't. And I'll do what I can to help you, and to protect you, and Karla, and Dinah, and all the others. Remember that, okay?"

After a moment, she sighed. "I don't think either of us are up to a long talk today. I've already locked the door, why don't you jet back to the school when you're ready? Just remember I'm here when you need me."

"I will remember," Raven promised. "Thank you." In Azarath she had been feared and largely left alone; she had learned to enjoy the protectiveness she got from Anakin and Aphrodite.

She stood up, gathering her things (no, not that book). "I will try to sleep, I think," she said.

"Try meditating first? It might help keep the dreams away." She offered Raven a hug. "And be safe, okay? Let me know how you're doing."

Raven gladly went for the hug. "I will do so," she said in answer to meditating, being safe, and letting Aphrodite know. Multi-purpose answer!

Karla had woken up from her nap a bit early so she could stop at 'Dite's on her way to the Boards. The shades were down and the sign said 'Closed,' but she thought she could sense 'Dite within. Hard to say, since the goddess was so powerful her psychic scent lingered even after she was gone.

Sill, never hurt to try. Stepping to the door, she tapped lightly and called, "'Dite?"

The goddess was in.

After sending Raven home, she'd curled up in one of the comfy chairs, Hercules purring on her lap, her gaze resting on one of the paintings she'd bought from the gallery.

The knock she was tempted to ignore, but the voice she never would.

Inside the store, the door to the counseling room was wide open. With a wave, the front door unlocked and opened an inch in silent invitation.

Karla saw the invitation for what it was and went inside, following her instincts and 'Dite's psychic scent to the counseling room. Seeing 'Dite inside, Karla rushed in, flung herself at 'Dite's feet and went to bury her face in 'Dite's lap, the way she used to do when she was little and needed her mother--

--and paused, halfway, realizing that this wasn't a beloved relation, but a goddess; a woman she'd come in and yelled at not too long ago, and then dragged into a horrible nightmare approximation of her home. It was possible 'Dite had simply let her in to be polite and she was being dreadfully presumptious to ask for anything further. "I--" she said, unsure of what to say or even how to begin.

All of that was possible, absolutely.

But not really likely.

They were friends, they were mentor and student, but as she watched Karla's hesitation, Aphrodite understood that neither of those were what Karla needed right then. For a moment, the goddess stayed still. Then she leaned forward, opening her arms to offer a hug, knowing inside that she needed one as much as Karla did.

She had told Karla that she'd be there for her. And in this moment she decided to be whatever Karla needed her to be.

Karla flung herself forward into 'Dite's arms, possibly scaring Hercules, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was crying again, partially because of everything and how sorry she was, and partially because she just was so unexpectedly relieved. She realized this was the first time she'd been held by an adult female in years. Not since those first few horrible months after her parents died, when she still lived at home with the servants who had watched her grow up. The Black Widows had been kind and loving, but none of them had been very--maternal. And, right now, in 'Dite's arms, Karla was very much a little girl who missed her mother.

She cried and cried, hoping 'Dite would understand that she was crying in gratitude and appreciation more than in fear or despair.

Eventually, she was able to pull her face away, scrubbing at it with her sleeve. She knew she looked a right mess: her hair tangled, her eyes puffy, her nose runny, her face blotchy. And she also knew that 'Dite wouldn't even care. It was a nice feeling, that.

The goddess didn't know the exact reason Karla was crying; she could think of so many that she didn't try to guess. But she could sense the gratitude, as well as the relief, and she just let the girl cry.

If her own cheeks were wet, she wouldn't admit it.

As Karla pulled away, 'Dite smiled at her. "Feel better?" A handkerchief was suddenly in her hand, and she reached out to wipe Karla's face, gently.

Karla nodded. "A little bit," she said, her voice hoarse. "I'm sorry for getting your clothes all salty." She gave a ragged laugh. "That's probably the least of my reasons to apologize to you. I can, uh, pay you back for that nightie. You know, the one I...burned?"

'Dite rolled her eyes. "Do you honestly think the goddess of love runs a store for the money?"

She waved a hand in dismissal. "Please. You went through a horrible experience. If burning a lousy nightgown made you feel better, I'll order a box and let you burn them all."

Hesitating, she took a moment to wave a hand over her shirt and erase the traces of Karla's tears. "Did it make you feel better? To burn it, I mean?"

"A little bit," Karla said, nodding. "It looked a lot like the nighties we--they--had to wear in Briarwood. And I just--" She shook her head. "It was too much. But, yeah, burning it made me feel better. But I don't think you need to order a whole box. I'm okay."

She dropped her eyes, nervously finger-walking across the arm of 'Dite's chair. "So...I don't remember a whole lot of what went on, but I do remember summoning my f-family to help us get out." Her voice quavered and she paused to clear her throat. "You saw her right? My aunt? Do you...mind?" Mind what, she wasn't entirely sure.

"Do I mind . . . what? That you had a gorgeous blond haired aunt, with great taste in clothes? Not at all." She winked, then turned serious.

"I saw them. Your mom and dad and your Aunt Kay. I'm glad I got a chance to see them, really see them, through your eyes. They seemed like wonderful people, and they loved you very much.

"I think I get it now. Why you were so angry at me, I mean, that day you came to talk with me." 'Dite shivered, uncontrollably. "If that place was anything like what you lived through after your parents died . . . I get it."

Karla nodded. "I don't even think I understood why I was so angry that day. I mean, I knew you both looked alike but it didn't really register. But I think part of me was feeling that if you done everything Homer had said then is was like she had and it all just got so mixed up in my head and 'Dite can you please forgive me?" Her head was back on 'Dite's knee.

"Glacia...became a very different place after my parents died. My aunt, too. She and my uncle were killed in the same accident." She couldn't remember if she'd already told 'Dite that; she was a bit fuzzy today. "My Uncle Hobart came in charge and he had all these new males with him. I think he's getting help from some other source, because I know he doesn't have the power and influence to do everything that he's doing. But I don't know. I couldn't even tell you when everything started changing. I was in a fog for a long time after my parents died. The only thing that could cheer me up was a visit from Jaenelle. But about six months after they died, I went to live with my aunt's coven and be trained as a Black Widow and a Healer. And while I was changing, Glacia was becoming...dangerous. Unsafe. Frightning. It was like coming home and discovering your house has been turned into a carnival funhouse and no one told you."

With one hand she reached out and stroked Karla's head. "I --" She was going to say that she couldn't imagine what that must have been like, but a stray memory of a silent Olympus made her stop. It wasn't the same thing, really, but the sense of loss, of wrong, and even of guilt was still very real to her.

Based on everything she knew of Karla, from their long talk and the trip through the girl's mind last night, one of Karla's strongest traits was her sense of responsibility. Being a queen meant taking care of people; her friends, the people of Glacia, the land itself. To see those she felt responsible for fall under such darkness and not be able to do anything about it. . .

"I know what it's like to have so much power and still feel absolutely powerless." She gently tugged at Karla's chin, hoping the teen would look at her. "Karla, you don't need me to forgive you; there's nothing to forgive." 'Dite gave her a half smile. "You need to forgive yourself."

Karla did look up at 'Dite when she tugged on her chin. "Maybe so, but it's a lot easier to get your forgiveness," she mumbled. "I mean, I know that it's best for me to be here and I can understand that, but...it's just hard for me truly accept that being here isn't running away. My head gets it, but that's about it."

Yeah, Karla, 'Dite had probably figured that out.

Something 'Dite said snagged Karla's attention. "You feel powerless sometimes?" she asked. "How? You're a goddess."

"Yes! Yes, I am a goddess! An ancient one, with the power to instantly," she snapped her fingers, "make anyone fall in love with anyone else! I can grant wishes of lovers, I can tell instantly if someone's in love with someone else, I can make things appear on command --" A red rose appeared in her hand only to disappear again. "-- and make them vanish in an instant! I am powerful beyond compare!"

She leaned forward, ending up with her face only inches from Karla's, her voice dropping to just above a whisper. "And last night, this powerful goddess got tossed twenty feet across the causeway by a teenage witch in a rage." 'Dite nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know a little bit about feeling powerless."

"I tossed you?" Karla looked a bit horrified. "Oh, 'Dite, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to--well, okay, I probably did then, but I feel really bad about it now."

Though a tiny little part of her did goggle over the idea that she was able to toss a goddess. She wasn't listening to that part.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked in a tiny voice.

Edited 2009-10-29 05:15 (UTC)

'Dite smiled, reaching out to stroke Karla's hair.

"No, Sweet Pea, you didn't hurt me. And don't apologize. It was partially my fault; I was trying to stop you and I grabbed your arm -- you just reacted. It's fine." She sighed. "I didn't tell you that to make you feel bad. I want you to understand. Everyone goes through a time when they feel absolutely powerless to change things, when they are absolutely powerless. Last night was one of those for me; I couldn't have stopped you or helped you in any way by using my power, it would have only made things worse. And right now? As powerful as you are, you can't stop your uncle or change what happened to Jaenelle."

'Dite tilted her head and regarded her friend. "But you know what? Last night, ten people cared enough about, loved you enough to help bring you back. And right now, everything you're doing here at the school, everything you're learning, every friend you make, everyday you survive is another day that eats away at your uncle's hold on the land. Because it all builds to the day when you will march back into that estate and banish every single one of those bastards."

She smiled. "So. Maybe neither one of us is really as powerless as we think, hm?"

Karla nodded, thinking about what 'Dite was saying. The feel of a maternal hand on her hair was comforting, and she--unobtrusively, she hoped--snuggled a bit closer.

"Are you only the goddess of romantic love?" she asked. "Or of all loves? Like the love of friendship and parents and...aunts?" She blushed a little as she said that. "Or the love a Queen feels toward her people?"

"Well, the legends talk only of romantic love, but -- love is love. It all springs from the same wish, to help someone, or keep them safe. That's the basis of all love in the world. From there it's a matter of strength, and situation, and individuals."

Aphrodite had noticed Karla's slight movement, and the way her blush emphasized the word aunts. Making a decision, she moved over in the chair as far as she could, stretching her arm along the back. "Come on up here. Everyone can use a good cuddle from time to time."

Any other day, Karla would have objected or at least given a token protest. Today, however, she just clambered up and cuddled as close to 'Dite as possible. "I'll move just as soon as you want your seat back," she promised. "Just say the word and I'll be gone."

That didn't stop her from resting her head on 'Dite's shoulder in the interim. "Could the goddess of love give me a bit of advice? How does someone go about thanking those ten people who walked through Hell just to find a friend? I mean, I know everyone keeps saying that I don't need to thank them, but--if I can't feel grateful for what you all did for me last night, what can I be grateful for?"

"The goddess of love has a great deal of advice to give." 'Dite glanced at Karla. "Most of it completely inappropriate for young ears." She winked.

"But here's the thing about thanking people, Sweet Pea. I think most of the people involved in this don't need to hear you say it, because in their view it was just something they had to do. For some, hearing the words might even embarrass them. But there are always ways to show your gratitude without a word.

"Little things. Surprising someone with their favorite pastry, or a coffee just the way they like it. Spending a little quality time with them, just because. The biggest one, though, will just be showing them that you're okay."

She thought for a moment, then said in a soft voice, "I don't know if he'll admit to it, but if you get the chance, you might want to say thank you to Max. I think he felt bad about having to fight with you. And check his hand? We ~~handwavily~~ bandaged it, but it was a pretty deep cut. Raven was busy or I would have asked her to heal it."

Edited 2009-10-29 22:04 (UTC)

Karla winced again. "If he hasn't Healed it already, I will," she said. "I can't believe I fought with you both. Did I--did I say why I was so insistent to get by you?"

She wished she was a better cook. Buying pastries from J,GoB just didn't seem the same as baking them herself.

For one thing, J,GoB's were edible.

'Dite thought back, her eyes raising to the ceiling. "Not really? You kept saying you needed to get the mainland, and something about a debt to be paid. And you asked Max if he wanted to have sex with you." Her eyes narrowed. "No, if he wanted to have sex with your body. Like it was separate from you. That's when I tried to take your arm."

She shivered, remembering the blast of cold before she'd been thrown through the air.

Do you want to have sex with this body?

Karla heard her voice asking that, bubbling up like water from some underground well. "It was a test," she heard herself saying. "I was going to go and offer myself for the taking. And harm those that accepted my offer, who would have no qualms about sleeping with someone so young. I couldn't get at any of the uncles, so I was going to harm others instead."

Karla was feeling a little ill. "Hell's fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful."

Aphrodite wasn't sure what to say to that. The first thing that came to mind was, 'I'm glad we stopped you,' but that didn't quite seem appropriate.

"I'm glad you didn't end up doing that." There, that sounded better. "And I'm glad Max and I weren't too far away. We were already on the causeway, headed to the hotel, when he felt your rage."

'Dite and Max, headed to the hotel?

"Oh? Oh! Ooh..." Karla didn't actually need the extra clues in 'Dite's psychic sense to figure out what was what, but they certainly helped. "I'm extra sorry then, to have interrupted your evening," she said, flushing a bit.

Especially since all they had gone through probably hadn't put either of them in an overly (or even partially) amorous mood.

"Interrupted our -- what?" The question of could a goddess blush had already been answered, but Aphrodite was confirming that she could. "OH! No, no. We were . . . we'd just come back from playing pool."

In tight black leather pants, which she really hoped Karla wouldn't remember seeing when she woke up that morning. "Really. Just . . . pool."

Absolute truth.

"Don't you have class or something this afternoon?"

Karla wasn't going to press, especially since this was 'Dite and Max they were talking about, not Dinah or Emma. "I'm done with classes today, but I do have rehearsal," Karla agreed quickly. "I should get there."

Still, it took her another minute to move. 'Dite was warm and safe, two things Karla really needed right now. "This was really nice," she murmured. "Thank you."

[sorry! Weekend explodey!]

Dite's Decadent Delights, Tuesday afternoon

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