'Dite's Decadent Delights, Monday

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

So, Max was cleared. She'd gotten the message yesterday, but had waited until this morning to leave a return message.

This morning had seemed just a little brighter for the fact that justice had, for the moment, prevailed. Even if there were no details on who had attacked Raven, Aphrodite felt better knowing her friend wasn't the prime suspect anymore.

To celebrate, there was a sale going on. All leather items were 20% off, and she was happily creating a display with several creatively interlocked leather bracelets and wrist cuffs.

"You know, Herc, I should order some mannequins or something. They'd help with clothing displays, don't you think?" The cat couldn't talk, but the look he gave her was eloquent enough. "Yeah, I know. Let's not give the island anything else that it can bring to life to try and kill us, huh?"

'Dite's Decadent Delights was open.

(ooc: After a weekend at a con my brain is always mush, but more so today than ever. I'm on extreme SP for the day, with maybe an hour here, and a few hours tonight, but I will play out any threads if anyone wants to poke 'Dite. Hope you all made it safely through the SNOMG.)

Comments

[glacial_queen]

Karla, as yet unaware that anything was brewing, popped into 'Dite's after class. They had some things to discuss, after all.

She felt a little more confident after her talk with Max. After all, he approved of her priorities. There may have been more to it than that--she hadn't missed his glance, after all--but he'd been clear on one point: Court came first.

If he understood, than 'Dite might as well. "Kiss kiss," she called, ducking into the shop. "That's a very impressive display," she said, catching sight of it. "That domino mask is very...pretty."

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

'Dite smiled, not just at Karla, but at her attempt to be casual in her compliment. "I don't go in for them myself, but that one's not bad to look at."

She set aside the chain of leather bracelets she'd been snapping together, her eyebrow rising as she took a good look at Karla.

"Have you lost weight? You look -- thinner."

[glacial_queen]

"I like masks," Karla said, unaware of the whole wealth of unintended innuendo there. "I went to a masquerade once when I was little. It was a lot of fun."

Not that masquerades were all that effective for a race of people who could read psychic scents, but still. Fun. She could make faces at people behind the mask and not get caught.

Karla looked pained at 'Dite's question, but couldn't help looking down at her curveless self. "Yeah, a bit. I've done a couple of big Black Widow-y things this week. I'll just grab an extra few meals here and there and be back to where I was."

Still curveless. Thanks Rose!

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

Aphrodite didn't know anything about Rose or curves, but she still looked slightly askance at Karla's explanation. "I take it the magic takes it out of you?" That would explain the teen's appetite. "You better be sure you get some extra meals. Is this because of what you did with Raven?"

There might be a little guilt in the question.

[glacial_queen]

"It does," Karla said, nodding. "My Sapphire speeds up my metabolism anyway, but when I do anything major with Craft, it just makes it that much faster." She blew her bangs out of her face and gave 'Dite a smile. "Not just Raven," she assured her. "I had another thing I had to do this week. But both were absolutely worth it."

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

"You'll get some rest this week, right?" A psychic she wasn't. "Or should I just throw another feast to make sure you eat?"

[glacial_queen]

Oh, 'Dite. YOu should have known better.

"Oh no," Karla said, trying to look absolutely pathetic. "I wish I could know for sure, but...another Greek feast might be the only way to guarantee I eat." She brought her wrist up to her forehead to show 'Dite how tragic the situation truly was.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

She had to laugh.

"Fine. Sometime soon we'll get together. Maybe I'll even take you to Athens for an authentic Greek dinner." She winked, then turned slightly serious.

"So can you tell me what happened? You told me Max is innocent, but not much more."

[glacial_queen]

"'Dite, that sounds like so much fun," Karla said, eyes shining. "I promise to behave and not embarrass you or fall in love with an Amazon at all!"

When the conversation turned to Max, however, Karla sobered a little. "What happened?" she repeated. "That's kind of a long story, or, at least, several stories. Well, it took some doing, but I convinced Raven to let me and Professor Skywalker examine her memories. She was reluctant, not only because she was so sure it was Max, but also because she was convinced her mind was a dangerous place. Turns out, she wasn't exaggerating that part."

Karla explained the ritual, finding Raven's mind a cold and stark place, Raven replaying the memories, and then the moment of recognition right before Trigon attacked. "There was a moment, less than the space of a heart beat, when we saw the true face of her attacker," she said, unconsciously bringing up her hands to clutch her arms. "It happened so fast, we wouldn't even have noticed it if we hadn't been watching so closely. And then Raven's father came. At first, he demanded Raven ally with him and take her place and he would let us go if he did. Then he...noticed me."

Karla still wasn't too keen on this part.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

'Dite flicked her fingers and a chair materialized behind Karla. "Sit, Sweet Pea. You look like you could use it." She took her own seat, leaning forward in case Karla needed a comforting hand. "Can you tell me what happened after that?"

[glacial_queen]

Karla plunked down in the seat. "Not a whole lot, mostly thanks to Raven and Professor Skywalker," she said, trying to sound less 'bitter' and more 'rueful.' "He decided I should be the mother of his next offspring and brought his will against mine. I failed my will save to be adequately prepared and kind of...lost myself. Raven grabbed me and Professor Skywalker cut Trigon in half with a lightsaber. Then we all left and Professor Skywalker and I explained to Raven what happened." She shrugged a bit. "That's the important part, really: telling Raven what happened. She was attacked by Sebastian Blood, the creepy male that thinks she's going to be his bride. We think he was trying to scare her off the island."

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

"Huh." 'Dite's head tilted. "Does anyone know how this guy got on island? Or, how he knew to plant Max's image?" Her eyes narrowed. "And what do you mean, 'lost' yourself?"

[glacial_queen]

'Dite, stop refusing to let yourself get sidetracked!

"I don't know," Karla admitted. "Though he's got some pretty strong mental powers, so finding Raven's fear and linking it to Max probably wasn't difficult. She's as trembly as a three-day old kitten when it comes to vampire or Max, so he could probably sense that easily. Besides, he worships Trigon and has said that Trigon has promised that Raven will be his bride. Since Trigon quite literally lives in Raven's head," Karla's mouth twisted, "it wouldn't be hard to feed Sebastian information, I'm sure."

La, la, la. Karla wasn't dodging questions, oh no.

[trigons_child]

Raven knew she had to talk to 'Dite, and didn't want to leave it until tomorrow, so after her classes she headed into town, teleporting outside the shop just in case Sebastian was still lurking about somewhere. She did peek into the store to see if Max was there by chance, and since he wasn't, she stepped inside. "Lady Aphrodite?" she said in a small voice.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

'Dite had been putting a new chocolate display into the case, kneeling down behind the counter to do so. The voice was so soft she wasn't sure who it was before she stood.

Her smile softened when she saw the nervous teen.

"Hi, Raven. Come on in."

[trigons_child]

"You were right," Raven said, moving further into the store, only half-noticing the changes. "Professor Maximus did not attack me, and I am sorry I caused you distress." She felt equally as bad about that as falsely accusing Max, knowing how much 'Dite cared for Max.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

Moving around the counter, 'Dite reached out to hug the teen. "I know, Raven. It wasn't your fault."

[trigons_child]

Raven gratefully accepted the hug. "My memories were altered," she sniffled, trying not to cry. "My fear made it easy to put Professor Maximus in the place of the one who did assault me. I would have gone on believing it had not Professor Skywalker and Karla examined my memories." It was still difficult for her to remember it the "right" way even now.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

"I had a feeling," she murmured softly. "I'm so sorry it happened. Karla let me know a little of what happened. Are you okay, Sweet Pea?"

It was fairly obvious she wasn't, but the goddess wasn't sure what to say at the moment.

[trigons_child]

"I am trying to 'deal with it,' as they say, as best I can," Raven said with a half-hearted smile. "I feel terrible that I falsely accused Professor Maximus and put you and Karla in the middle of the situation. I offered him my apologies as soon as I understood what had happened."

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

'Dite kept her voice soft. "Thats good, Raven. I'm proud of you for that." She gently placed a hand on the teen's shoulder. "I'm sorry if I upset you in the clinic; I didn't mean to. I just couldn't believe Max would hurt you. He cares about you, as a friend and a teacher. And so do I."

Leaning against the counter, she tilted her head a little. "You said your fear made it easy for the memories to be altered. Does that mean you're still afraid of Max?" A momentary hesitation. "Or of your own feelings for him?"

[trigons_child]

Raven gave 'Dite a confused look. "My feelings?" she repeated.

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

'Dite sighed internally. "We talked about this a long time ago, Raven, after what happened in the other Fandom. How you kind of enjoyed what that Max did to you?"

[trigons_child]

"He twisted my powers and used them against me," Raven said, shaking her head. "I have not been the same since."

[divinesurfchick.livejournal.com]

"Well, yes, the vampire you met did that. Not Max." She tilted her head. "But you told me, a long time ago, that you almost wanted it to happen again. So, what I'm asking is, are you sure that it's Max you were so afraid of, or your fear of your own emotions, your own desire for him, or anyone, to make you feel that again?"

'Dite wasn't sure she'd be able to get through to Raven, but she was going to try.