001 - A Passing Storm

[agroovyblue]

A dream without Charles is a rare thing, but she has his essence with him. She's stretched out on the lawn, his cat curled up next to her stomach and purring loudly. As she looks up in the sky, the clouds form the distinct shape of people she's known. The dark clouds are Charles' mother and step-father. Her own parents. Everyone she's always been afraid has ever wanted to hurt her or Erik. But then the skies lighten and she can see the good people, too. She can see the professors who all thought Charles was a little odd, but who recognized his brilliance, she can see the young man who always asks her for a cup of coffee when she picks up the newspaper. They're all there for her to see.

Soon, the clouds are changing into other people and things. She watches as a purple dragon chases a blue butterfly through the clouds. They slide in and out of the other clouds and she's sure she even hears the dragon roar, though she could be mistaken by that. She must be mistaken by that. She must also be mistaken when the dragon begins to look a lot more like Cain than any animal. She curls her hand a little in the kitten's fur when the dragon starts flying lower and lower and closer to her. Does he mean to eat her? Is that to be her punishment for abandoning him in favor of Charles? The clouds start to darken again and the wind begins to howl. Lightning cracks against the sky and her hand tightens even more.

And then, just like that, the dragon/Cain catches the butterfly and swishes away again. Her hand eases as the skies turn back to normal. When she finally lets go, she's shocked out of her reverie by the kitten pouncing on her stomach. Before she can do anything about it, the kitten runs off.

She gets up after a minute and follows in the direction of the kitten, calling after her. "Blueberry. Blueberry!" She's not sure what she'll do if the kitten's run off somewhere, especially since it's her fault for hurting the poor thing. Relief floods her when she sees the kitten sitting by the door as if she was just waiting for someone to let her in. She's licking down the spots of fur she can reach that are still sticking up from Raven's tight grip. It takes her a moment to realize that Blueberry is not alone.

"Oh, hello."

Comments

[waterfell]

A certain cat may irritate her now, but she still likes cats. Thus, Raven is treated to the rather incongruous sight of a blue-haired girl in an odd short-skirted sailor-style uniform (also blue) kneeling to pet Blueberry. Mercury glances up at the voice, and her hand stills.

"Is this where she lives?" she asks after a second. "I thought about looking for the owner, but I wanted to keep her here just a little while first."

If there's something strange about being transformed in such an ordinary scenario, she doesn't seem to notice it right now. If it's hard to believe someone like her would be concerned with a possibly lost pet... well, Raven doesn't know her yet.

[findmyownreason]

He's standing by the door as well, looking a great deal like the kitten if truth were to be told considering his always messed up hair and the strangely innocent air of waiting to be let in that hangs around him. Blue eyes that are too concentrated a blue, blink at her greeting and he turns, one arm in a dark sling, the other with a package tucked up under it. As per usual, his manners are a little lacking when it comes to the basics.

"Are you here to let me in?"

[nohometown]

The man standing by the door is perhaps not noticeable at first because, in spite of his size and unusual coloration, he can be subtle and unseen when he wishes.

He inclines his head at her greeting, then steps toward her, watching her with faintly glowing green eyes, their pupils slitted now in the sunlight, like the cat's. "Good afternoon. I hope I didn't startle you. Is this your residence?"

[abrokenking]

"Raven," He seems a little worried by the anxious state of the feline-- he could tell she was bothered by the overly rushed licking and the fact she had weaved herself around his legs and half tucked behind one when she got comfortable. It was unusual, though the feline liked him she only seemed inclined to make contact when Charles was stationary. His own nervous shuffle causing more than enough accidental steps on her tail. Instead when he sprawled out along the couch or bed she could curl up next to, or on, him and curl into the small flicker of warmth he offered. He loved Blueberry, just like he loved Raven, with all the understanding of family he could muster. His own not quite an adequate representation of how he should behave in such a situation.

"Are you alright?" He isn't surprised to see her, or even feel the wafting reality of the dream space with her in it. His own habit of drifting into her dreams from his own makes this the most common thing for him. Dressed in those blue and white pajamas he has his arms folded behind his back and a curious expression focused in on his 'sister'.

/STUMBLES IN!

[helpmeguideit]

The entire scene was a bit...different, but the feeling in the air was familiar. Too familiar to him, but it wasn't his. He was on his feet, moving around. There was no chair to be seen - and he hadn't been able to dream without seeing it there. There was a kitten at his feet so he leaned over, and gently picked it up, holding it against his chest.

It was the girl behind the kitten that surprised him more than anything. Raven. He hadn't seen her in what felt like forever. He wanted to reach out to her every day, but he couldn't get himself to. Tell her how he was, what had happened.

She wasn't the same. Just something - something was off. "Raven," a sad smile on his face as he looked to her.