The Beach [Wednesday afternoon]

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

Max stood on the beach, out in the water. Just far enough that the water lapped over his ankles. It was cold, but he could ignore that. Besides, he could use the distraction. Dealing with cold water was quite a bit better than thinking too much on the meeting he had scheduled.

Maybe Raven would have another emergency of some sort and cancel like last week?

Yeah. Right.

Comments

[trigons_child]

Oh, like you'd be that lucky, Max.

Raven teleported out to the beach but remained several feet from the water, the hood of her cloak up to protect against the chill. She studied Max quietly for a moment, then said, "You do not wish to be here."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Neither do you," Max countered without turning around.

[trigons_child]

"I thought it was necessary," Raven said, looking down at the sand.

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

Max shrugged. It was possible that she was right.

"Did things work out last week?" he asked, changing subjects super-smoothly.

[trigons_child]

"We found Sookie and returned her to Fandom," Raven said. Her neck ached from the bite but she refused to acknowledge it physically. "We had to deal with vampires. It was very unpleasant."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Vampires," Max repeated. "Are you okay?"

Like he really expected her to tell him the truth on that particular topic.

[trigons_child]

"I am unharmed," Raven said stiffly. "It was Sookie who was injured, but she is well now."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Did you heal her?" Max asked, trying to keep his voice from being too critical.

[trigons_child]

"Of course I did," Raven said, a note of anger in her voice because she felt that criticism. "I was not going to allow her to bleed to death, even if that is what you seem to believe I should do."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Who else was with you?" Max asked, ignoring her tone.

[trigons_child]

"Karla was the only other who could heal, and she aided me," Raven said. "Though I could not allow her to exhaust herself, for she was still recovering from her experiences in Kaeleer."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"So it's okay for you to push yourself, but not her?" Max understood that thinking, but he still felt the need to push her on it.

[trigons_child]

"I am able to endure more than Karla," Raven said. "And I am to be her Court Healer. It is my responsibility to make certain she does not over-extend herself." Raven took that Very Seriously.

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

That was actually an acceptable answer. "Did you heal her completely, or just enough to keep her stable?"

[trigons_child]

"I healed her physical wounds completely," Raven answered truthfully. "Karla created a healing web to regenerate the blood she'd lost."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Was that strictly necessary?" Max challenged.

[trigons_child]

"Of course it was," Raven snapped. "She was suffering, and it was within my power to end that pain."

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"At what price?"

[trigons_child]

"I request no payment from anyone for healing," Raven said, deliberately misunderstanding him.

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

Max turned around slowly and leveled a look at Raven. She was going to play that game? Really?

[trigons_child]

Raven stared back, managing somehow not to flinch. Why, yes, Max, she was.

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"At what price?" Max repeated as if she hadn't answered.

[trigons_child]

"One that I am more than willing to pay," Raven said steadily.

[furious-maximus.livejournal.com]

"You're also willing to give up your life," Max countered. "That doesn't make it a good idea."

[trigons_child]

"If it came down to that to protect someone I loved, I would," Raven said. "And there is nothing wrong with that."