A bench in the park, Monday evening

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

Drac was out and just sitting on a bench and enjoying the night air. He didn't get out enough, he decided. It was a beautiful town and the humans were pleasant enough.

Of course Drac's idea of a 'pleasant human' was any one that wasn't trying to burn him and his family.

And the singing... "Cete de colindători?" Was it really the holiday season already? It reminded him of home in a good way, even if he didn't recognize the songs, and he smiled as he leaned back and relaxed.

Yes, relaxed. There! See? A strand of hair fell out of place and he didn't even fix it!



[open!]

Comments

[tigerundercover]

Raven loved winter. She especially loved winter holidays. She was out for a walk through town, enjoying the carols people were singing, mimicking cute little swing coat and a chunky knit scarf and wishing that it were snowing.

Spotting her former teacher on the bench, she jogged over. "Lovely night, isn't it?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Ah! Miss Darkholme, good evening. It is indeed a lovely night." Drac smiled as she approached. "You're looking very well! How are your studies?"

[tigerundercover]

Raven came over to perch next to him on the bench. "Well, I've learned nothing at all about science," Thanks, Doom, "but I've gotten very good at breaking things."

Oh yeah, and there was history and literature, too. And stealing princesses, but she didn't really think that was a real class, even having taken it for most of a semester.

"And you? How's the play coming along?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"It's been my experience that breaking things is not something youth have to learn," he chuckled. "The play is... coming along. We have an interesting mix of voices and acting levels."

Drac tsked at her. "You should have tried out. I'm sure you have a lovely singing voice (http://www.vulture.com/2012/09/jennifer-lawrence-singing.html)."

[tigerundercover]

"Well," Raven said. "It depends on who I'm imitating at the time." She hadn't actually tried just singing in her own voice. Not in front of any people, anyway. "And maybe I will, next time. I'll probably try to take less classes next semester, so I'll have time. Are you going to teach again at all?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

He meant as you, Raven, but he was going to let that slide.

"Hmm. I don't know." He looked up. "Truthfully, I did not expect to be here this long."

[tigerundercover]

Hey, being other people was who she was!

Kind of.

"Getting homesick?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"No. More that I am afraid of what is happening at my hotel," he shook his head. "Although I will admit it feels strange to be away from home after so long."

[tigerundercover]

"Even I feel it," Raven said. "And I didn't really have a home for that long before I came here. Are you going to go see your friends for the holidays?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"If we return, I probably wouldn't be able to leave again. The hotel business isn't all fun and games, you now." He nodded sagely, then winked at her. "And maybe I'm a little afraid of what I will find when I go back. Frank and Eunice are good monsters, but they're not business monsters and they're definitely not hoteliers."

"But you. What of you, my child. You didn't have a home before coming here? How is that possible? Surely you have family!"

[tigerundercover]

"I do," Raven said. "I have a brother and his parents." They weren't her parents, really. There was a reason why she and Charles still called themselves foster siblings. "But I didn't until about six years or so. Before that, I just had me."

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Good." Really! Raven hit almost all of his parenting buttons! "And will you be returning to them for the winter break?"

[tigerundercover]

"Of course," Raven said. "I wouldn't miss Christmas with Charles for anything." Well, maybe that hot, proto-evil mutant boyfriend he'd eventually find. "And you should see New York during the holidays. The city is all full of lights and fancy store window decorations, and Charles' estate gets wonderfully quiet and still when it snows."

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"It sounds like you have a pleasant break planned. I'm glad you've got such a wonderful home to go to." Drac hesitated a moment. "Do they know you're a shapeshifter?"

[tigerundercover]

"Charles does. That's actually how we met. Never try to mimic a telepath's mother." Raven shrugged. "It's always a little easier to be honest around people who have their own weird things going on, you know?"

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"That makes me very happy to hear." He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled happily at her. "I am glad you get a chance to relax and be yourself."

"And yes it is easier to be honest with those who have... hmmm. Just as much to lose, shall I say?"

[tigerundercover]

"Maybe not just as much," Raven said. "He looks totally normal without trying."

It wasn't really much of a sticking point, but, well. Charles just had it easier.

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

"Would he be in any less danger if he was discovered?"

[tigerundercover]

"He could make them forget," Raven said, mostly just to be stubborn. "But . . . I guess not."

[bluhblahbluh.livejournal.com]

He smiled at her. "I take it that your brother doesn't do much in the way of complaining about being different?"

[tigerundercover]

"He likes it," Raven said. "He's actually studying genetics to see if he can find out why it happens, and how he might be able to find and help other people."