Makes a man like me, 26, full time job in the United States Navy... it makes me feel really fucking old. I still watch cartoons. I collect anime and comic books like an obsessed teeny bopper.
At the same time, I'm not ashamed of what I am. I enjoy doing what I do. I guess it's just one of those things, right? I'll probably still be writing fanfiction when I'm goddamn 40.
I would suggest that those of you who haven't read The Sandman pick up the damn graphic novels. The first one is Preludes and Nocturnes. I'm serious. Required reading. If you don't like the series you are seriously just... what are you doing reading this?
There are so many levels to this story that you'll get if you read The Sandman. As I progress I'll reveal a bit more as to the nature of The Dreaming and how all of this ties together but I have to tell you, it's DRIVING ME CRAZY that no one knows who the little girl was. I mean... I was trying really HARD to keep her in character and no one knew who she was. I didn't wanna just NAME her... I mean, that's too easy, and it wouldn't have been good writing anyway.
Sigh.
Read Sandman. Neil Gaiman. Fucking genius, I'm telling you. Seriously. Read the fucking comic book.
Anyway, this chapter was fun as HELL to write. You'll understand once you read it, man it was a blast. Of course, I have to drop a little bit of a hint... so for those of you who hate A/N spoilers, feel free to skip after the dots.
--------------------------------Chapter Spoiler---------------------------
Is it just me, or does my version of Disgusting read like Jay from Jay and Silent Bob?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, on with the show.
"Too alarming now to talk about. Take your pictures down and shake it out. Truth or consequence, say it aloud. Use that evidence, race it around. There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He's ordinary... Don't the best of them bleed it out. While the rest of them peter out. Truth or consequence, say it aloud. Use that evidence, race it around. There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He's ordinary." -My Hero, Foo Fighters
It was grey and quiet. It had no windows, and no doors. Time didn't pass.
Time stood still.
It wasn't a lifeless place, rather, it was a place between one eyeblink and the next, the pause before the breath, no... before the thought of taking a deep breath.
At the same time, it was a place of lost possibilities. Broken dreams. Dust and memories.
It was the stillness of that breath never taken. The destination at the end of the road not traveled. The ship passed in the night.
It was Nevermore.
Raven had given up trying to remember when the term Nevermore had come to her for her ordered and esoteric mindscape. In a way it seemed that it had always been Nevermore. The term just seemed to fit. When she first set foot her in what seemed the long distant past, she called it Nevermore, and thus, Nevermore it was.
Of course, she never came here alone.
Some people make the claim that they are alone even in a crowd. Raven could make the claim that WHEN she was alone, she WAS a crowd. Of course, she never would. Raven was above such tacky observations. She also didn't find the necessity of having to do so something to joke about. When one has to order one's feelings to a carefully selected and suppressed few, one cannot afford to start laughing about it.
Otherwise one might forget why the necessity was so important.
Or maybe, one would just keep on laughing, and never stop.
She seated herself on a low outcropping of grey stone and took a moment to order herself more comfortably before clearing her throat.
"Ahem. You're probably all wondering why I've asked you here." She started dryly.
14 pairs of eyes blinked back at her, then narrowed in varying states of emotion.
She narrowed her eyes back. "Ok... so that joke is getting a little old. Alright, I know why Lazy is missing... but where the hell is Courage?"
Her pink cloaked doppleganger giggled to herself and smiled. "She went after Lazy when she found out you were calling a meeting. She figured Lazy wasn't going to bother to show up. Isn't that nice? Courage is so COOL!"
Her brown cloaked counterpart rolled her eyes, hawked loudly and spit over the edge of the mindcliff. "Ahem. Yeah. Uh, whatever. All balls and no brains goes after the fuckin' toadstool, and we gotta wait around jerkin' each other's-"
Purple crossed her arms and turned her nose up at her companion's language. "Tch. Such profanity is HARDLY necessary. We are FAR too cultured for such low brow tactics."
Brown rounded to face Purple and grabbed her crotch obscenely with one hand, making a rude gesture with the other. "I got 'cher fuckin' low brow right here, ya fuckin' Prude!"
"Disgusting! Smug! Enough of this unnecessary and inefficient squabbling!" The two stared at Yellow suddenly, shocked that the normally calm and well mannered Smart had raised her voice. In mute answer she gestured to the Grey cloaked Timid, who shook like a leaf behind a low broken grey bricked wall.
"If you continue this incessant bickering we shall lose ANOTHER important component to our current quandry."
Disgusting rolled her eyes. "Oy. Fuckin' right. She's more likely to piss herself than tell us what's on her mind."
Timid looked embarassed and shook harder. "S-S-Sorry."
The other emotions (and Raven herself) edged away from the trembling and mortified Timid.
Well, all except Disgusting, who just grinned.
Yellow shook her head. "Immature and unwarranted. Logically, she cannot help but be scared, it is what she is. We do not take advantage of you just because you are incapable of forbearance from slovenly behavior." She sighed. "I would further argue that a little fear is a very important and wise feeling to have, in a situation such as the one which has presented itself."
"Hey, I calls em like I see's em. Brown scowled. "Anyway, aside from Pisspants, why the FUCK is SHE here?" She pointed at the Scarlet cloaked Raven sitting down with her knees drawn up, her head down upon them. Heavy chains addorned her wrists and ankles, stygian black iron chains which extended off into infinity.
As if in answer she raised her head slowly and oriented snakelike on the scowling Brown cloaked Disgusting, her four crimson eyes burning like coals. With the hood of her cloak up she cast a distinctly cobra-like shadow. The shadow moved oddly, not in synch with her movements, and it seemed to strike at the now not so brash Disgusting. She grinned nastily. It wasn't so much a grin as it was a promise of agony to the world.
Then said a single phrase.
Actually, more like hissed through bared incisors.
"Devil's Advocate."
She lowered her head again, apparently disinterested in the goings on.
The other Emotions and Raven shuddered involuntarily.
Timid whimpered. "I-I-I d-don't L-like HER."
Brown rolled her eyes. "Join the fucking club."
A loud and sure voice suddenly broke the moment. "Alright... we're all here, we can start the meeting now."
The other emotions stared at Courage, blinking.
Happiness giggled, pointing her finger and laughing. Disgusting grinned lewdly and catcalled. Smug shook her head and turned her nose up at the sight before her, sighing prettily. Smart raised an eyebrow, then seemed to catch the nuances of what was happening and just nod to herself.
Timid... well... she just seemed to clutch herself more tightly. "I-I don't LIKE crowds."
Courage sighed, then dumped Lazy off of her shoulders, crossing her arms sullenly. "She wouldn't come unless I gave her a piggyback ride here. I figured we didn't have a whole lot of time before everyone started freaking out without me here, so I did the expedient thing."
Happiness giggled. "Oh I LOVE piggyback rides. I bet it was so much FUN! I want one!"
The Orange cloaked Raven lying in the dust just snored. She remained where she fell, although she did arrange herself more comfortably.
Courage took a position between Rage and Timid, which seemed to calm the Grey cloaked Raven somewhat. She crossed her arms and gave the Scarlet cloaked Raven a look like she'd clock her one if she so much as moved the wrong way.
Rage didn't seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn't care.
Courage looked up at Raven and frowned. "So what's the deal, anyway? We haven't had a Catharsis since... Um..." She frowned.
Yellow broke in. "The last Catharsis was exactly 2 years, 4 months and 5 days ago, when we assembled to deal with Rage's attempted insurrection." She frowned. "Although that WAS brought on by an EXTERNAL source, in the form of Beast Boy Cyborg and the incident with Dr. Light, which would defy the Psychological definition of the word... I believe it still counts in the meaning Aristotle assigned to the word, although in that case, the potential tragedy was of course averted, but that is simply splitting hairs-"
Courage sighed. "Enough... we get the point. The time before that was when Robin asked us to join the Titans."
Happiness sighed dreamily. "Robin..."
Disgusting winked at her. "Uh Huh. I'd like ta rip that girly fuckin' uniform off with my teeth an' take a double fistful of cape with both fuckin' hands and RIIIIIIDEEEEE EM COWGI-"
Raven cleared her throat again. "Alright, that's enough of that. Before this meeting gets any more chaotic, let's open up the discussion. Catharsis is now in session. The topic of discussion is the Boy Wonder, who as you all know, has occupied our thoughts entirely too much as of late. Since emotional upheaval has become entirely too common, I called this meeting to discuss the possible options we have to deal with this before it becomes too..."
She paused, blinking, watching as Disgusting continued to gyrate and make convuluted motions with her hands. Happiness blushed and got stars in her eyes. Timid's eyes had become as large as saucers, and Lazy actually opened one eye and snorted before closing it and pulling her hood down over her eyes. Smug had her eyes covered, and was blushing prettily (albeit not garishly) and Yellow...
Yellow was...
Taking notes?
Yellow shook her head. "No, not anatomically possible. The sheer amount of pressure combined with the angle of penetration would result in-"
"WEIRD!" Raven shouted, finishing her opening statement. The other Ravens looked at her with varying states of attentiveness.
All except Rage.
Of course, nobody bothered to ask why.
Raven sighed. "Alright, I put it to open discussion. Each aspect will get a chance to be heard on the subject, and each is allowed one vote. The options are as follows-"
Orange never opened her eyes. "What are we voting on again?" She mumbled sleepily.
Yellow raised an eyebrow and turned to Raven. "A valid point, Self. Perhaps a certain degree of clarification is in order. To speak candidly, what, EXACTLY, are we talking about here?"
Raven sighed. She paused a moment, thinking deeply, then blushed very slightly. "A potential... relationship... of a... personal nature, with Robin."
Lazy stared at her with one half lidded eye before closing it and yawning. "I vote No."
Raven frowned. "Just like that? Why?"
Lazy yawned again. "Too much work."
Raven sighed. "Ok, one vote no... Next... Disgusting, why don't you continue?"
Disgusting stood up and scratched herself absently. "Well I ain't fuckin' one for pretty speeches and all that shit. I know you all think I have the emotional depth of a flounder but I've actually given this some thought." She grinned nastily. "Heh... ALOT of thought. Remember that one dream when-"
Raven narrowed her eyes. "Stick to the subject, Disgusting."
Disgusting rolled her eyes. "ANYWAY, here's what I think. Robin is HOT. Not like, yeah I'd do him if I had a drink or three, or, you know, maybe on a bet, but like I wouldn't kick him outta bed for eating cookies HOT."
She grinned. "Actually I wouldn't kick him outta bed if he wanted to do lines off a dead midget with clown makeup on, but I fucking digress. I'm not an idiot. I realize that anything we WANT to do with him is gonna take work, and he's probably not going to do alot of the things we've thought about. Bein' a half demon DOES have it's effect on our subconscious desires after all. Despite what the Prude will tell you." She snapped off a quick obscene gesture at Purple.
"Still, and this might come as a surprise to you, I wouldn't mind a nice, easy going, one on one relationship with him, because let's face it girls, we got BAGGAGE. Like a fucking AIRPORT. Robin's the only one we've found in the whole wide fuckin' world that'd put up with all our combined shit. I might also mention, if god motherfucking forbid, we went fucking bugfuck on him, he'd be the only one who could probably survive it. So I say we fuckin' go for it, because I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD, IF WE DON'T GET LAID SOON I'M GONNA STRANGLE PURPLE TILL SHE'S BLUE."
She threw up a double devil sign and pointed them at Purple. "Fuck YEAH! You like that, HUH? YOU LIKE THAT BEOTCH?"
Raven blinked, then shook her head. "Alllllright. 1 vote yes, 1 vote no."
Raven looked at Smug. "Ok, your turn."
Purple drew herself up to her full height and shook her cloak out with a gesture of extreme dignity. Although none of the other Raven's would admit it, they all WISHED they had the grace and poise that Smug effected. She was better than all of them, and she knew it.
As soon as she opened her mouth to speak, Brown let loose with riotous burp. Purple glared at her.
Raven scowled. "Alright Disgusting, you had your turn. Now it's Pr-... I mean Smug's turn." She scowled. "Now you've got me doing it."
Disgusting beamed.
Smug didn't bother to acknowledge Raven's slip, she simply drew herself up again and began.
"I too, have given this matter serious thought. Despite what Brown has mentioned, I do not believe that Robin is the only "fish in the sea", to coin a phrase. I might mention that while he is undeniably a hero, he is NOT noble born, and this is a definate problem. Might I remind us all, that we are a Princess of Azarath. The last in a long line of noble blood. We owe it to our people's memory AND our future people's birthright not to MIX and dilute our heritage. We must, if we must deign to become romantically involved with ANY mortal, choose one of only the most impeccable bloodline. Furthermore, rutting like an animal with some BOY is NOT what I call defending the people of this world, to whom we swore an oath of protection. Further, we cannot ignore the feelings the Tameranian has for Robin. I shall refrain from making any comments as to HER mixing with humanity, it's not my place to say anything, although I question the nobility of a race which allows their children to go out in such... apparel. Like it or not, we ARE friends with her, and such a liason would hurt her deeply. I cannot abide such a reckless and ill thought out action.
"No matter how... pleasant the distraction might be."
Raven's face was unreadable. "Right. So 1 vote yes, 2 votes no."
The Pink cloaked Raven stood up next and beamed at all of them. Despite themselves, they all liked her. She was bright and cheerful, and impossible to make angry. Even if she was a trifle... unrealistic at times.
"I'm sure you all know what I think about the subject, since I've said it like... SOOOO many times. Still, since we're all being so honest and all, I might as well tell you WHY I vote yes."
She mustered herself, forcing her countenance into a semblance of seriousness, though her eyes sparkled, a bit of that laughter shining through. She smiled very slightly. "I don't get out very much. We spend alot of time being afraid, not so much for us, but for what we might do. We need to be brave, and sometimes callous and obscene in the face of what hurts us. We must be prideful and remember where we came from, and we wouldn't be who we are without intelligence to put together all the pieces. I'm not sure what good being angry or lazy has ever done us, but with lazy, well, she'll always head down the path of least resistance that's not evil, that's just existing. Even the evil that is within us... well, I'd like to imagine that there's a little bit of us in that stain that Trigon has put upon us, and in the end, that's what will save us."
Scarlet snorted derisively. Lazy snored. Pink didn't appear to be affected by either of them. She continued.
"Still, we aren't happy very often, and for good reason. We know that any happiness we have we have bought at the possible expense of others. I am a selfish aspect, and I know this, because I am our happiness. What little happiness we have felt we felt vicariously."
She smiled fondly. "Except for one. When he smiles at us, our hearts lift a little.
She turned to Timid, who shrank back a bit. "When he fears for us, our fears are shared.
She turned to Courage. "When he faces darkness for us, we find the strength to face it with him."
To Smug. "When he compliments us we find pride in a job well done."
To Smart. "One cannot deny that his intelligence matches our own, challenges us to meet him as an equal."
Lastly she turned to Disgusting. She looked down shyly, but blushed and kept her eyes on the spellbound Aspect. "And yes... we cannot deny that he has warmed more than just our hearts."
"On the subject of Starfire, I have mixed feelings, but not as mixed as you might think. I do not wish to hurt our friend, but if she is our friend, and what we have with the Boy Wonder grows into what we hope it will be, then as a friend can she deny us? If Robin chose her before us, would we not do the same for her, despite what feelings we might have? Would we deny ourselves happiness... real happiness of our own because of some possible, and here is the key; possibly unintentional, claim Robin might have on her heart?"
She looked down. "Might I remind you all that love must be shared for it to be real."
She looked up resolutely. "Might I also point out, that we are not taking into account Robin's feelings. What if, what if he wants us to be happy? What if being with him would make HIM happy?"
"The possiblity is too great. You know what I think. That's all I have to say."
She grinned and giggled. "YAY ME!"
Raven's eyes were distant... she appeared thoughtful. After a moment she looked up. "2 votes yes, 2 votes no."
Raven looked at Timid. She winced slightly. Then stood up, looking every which way for the blow she knew was going to fall. After a panic attack, she calmed herself and hunched her shoulders.
"Um... s-s-sorry everybody... I'm afraid of public speaking... a-an-and everybody is so FORCEFUL and... and OH GOD! Did Scarlet move!"
Courage crossed her arms and gave her an encouraging look. If it was possible, Timid hunched further.
"Well... I guess you all know what I'm going t-to say. Robin scares me. He's... he's so mysterious, and w-who knows w-what he's THINKING... plus he might have diseases... and... and what if he doesn't like me back? I mean... mean it's not just US... if we get twisted up or hurt... well, the world suffers..."
She wrung her hands together. "I just don't know... I really LIKE Robin, but I'm too scared... I mean, I don't want to lose what little friendship I have with him... and Star..."
She looked pleadingly at Raven, then at Happiness and Disgusting. "I'm s-so sorry, but I just can't vote yes... I hope you aren't too cross with me... I don't think I could bear it... I... oh... I think I need sit down... I might be coming down with something... what if I have a stroke! My arm feels numb! AH!"
She sat down and shook miserably.
Raven studiously did not look at her. "3 votes no, 2 votes yes."
"Courage?"
The other emotions watched carefully. Courage tended to be somewhat quiet when it came to such discussions, but her opinions were given alot of weight; she had NO illusions about herself. That she was so verbose on the subject seemed to suggest she'd uncharacteristically given this alot of thought.
Courage nodded and stood in front of all of them. "Like Lazy said, relationships take work. Despite that, despite what SOME of you might think, we've never shirked from something because it was too hard. Now I'm not as Smart as some of you, or..." She looked at Brown. "Imaginative... but I AM the guts of this little party, and this is what I think. What it boils down to is, we have to ask the question, am I turning away from the possiblity of an actual LIFE with an actual BOY because it's the only way to protect everyone, or am I just doing it because it feels like it's safer? So, to answer that question, I look at the Boy Wonder."
The Green cloaked Raven's face softened slightly, especially around the eyes. These were fond memories for her. "He's brave. He's risked himself so many times not just for us, but for ALL of the people who call for help. He has a strict code of honor and sticks to it, even when there is an expedient path available. I might add, that even though he KNOWS about Trigon, HAS known about Trigon all along, he still helps us. He still trusts us. We live in a cruel, harsh world. Death can come at any time for him, he's in danger because he's a hero... a REAL one. How can you not be inspired by that?"
She sighed slightly, closing her eyes. "So I say, he's already IN danger. What he said that night... it really touched us. We DO need someone to fight for. Someone to protect. I'm sure Smart can bring up a hundred instances where a woman became stronger because she protected a loved one... or something like that... you know? I'm not good with the facts. I only see what's right in front of me. We want to protect Robin, and We want to be there for him when HE needs someone. I'm Brave enough to admit that we need someone too... and Robin... he fits the bill. He's seen the darkness, and he hasn't turned away from it. He STARES into the abyss, but he hasn't become it."
"With Robin at our side, I honestly feel like we can face anything. Even Trigon. Half of victory is attitude. In this case, we have to risk everything to gain anything. What we're doing right now is a delaying tactic, because face it... we're losing. It won't happen in the near future, but what happens the next time a Dr. Light gets too close. We should never put Robin, put our FRIENDS in a position where they have to take us down. That's not us... and it's not right."
"I don't want to hurt Star, but either way in this, someone ends up getting hurt. And Happiness is right, damn it... are we going to throw away this chance because we're too scared we might step on someone's toes? To borrow a phrase from Disgusting... Fuck that."
"So... I vote yes. It's a risk, but it's WORTH it."
Raven nodded. "3 yes... 3 no. Smart?"
Smart stood up and composed herself. "I am not going to belabor the obvious in this case. I believe all the major points have been brought up in this case, and discussed thoroughly enough that any conjecture on my part would only be filibuster, pure and simple." She grinned slightly. "I am aware of my reputation for verbosity."
Disgusting leaned toward Courage. She whispered. "Did she make that up?"
Courage gave her an incredulous look. "Why are you asking me!"
Smart cleared her throat. "In any case, there is one point we have only danced about. As much as we trust the Boy Wonder from previous actions, one must not discount the obvious fact... we do not KNOW Robin, he has secrets we cannot plumb as of yet, as evidenced by his fraternization with the touched young lady the day previous. I might also add, that we cannot sense his thoughts, and so the subject of Robin remains a closed book."
She sighed. "While I cannot deny the obvious advantages to such a partnership of the heart, so to speak, I also cannot deny the lack of information..."
She spread her hands. "I am sorry, sisters. I must take a rational stand and point out that I do not have enough information to make an educated decision in this matter. In this, I have failed you. Having neither the evidence to confirm nor deny this decision's veracity, I must respectfully Abstain from voting... on the condition that should the evidence required come to light, my decision might change accordingly. That is all I have to say."
Raven frowned. "3 yes. 3 no. 1 abstained." She frowned, looking troubled. Then all eyes turned to the lone Aspect remaining. They frowned.
They did not like this at all.
Raven took a deep breath. "Rage? It's your... turn."
Rage did nothing.
"Rage... you get to-"
Rage leaped up suddenly, rushing towards Raven like a madwoman, frothing and spitting. The chains jerked her short and she landed on her rump, laughing and hissing.
A muffled thump could be heard as Timid fainted dead way.
"Don't make me a part of this FARCE daughter of mine..." Scarlet hissed sullenly. "You think me stupid? I know any words I have you will use to glean some nugget of how I truely feel on the subject... I vote yes, you vote no, I vote no, you vote yes... all around the merry go round... or maybe I'm trying to trick you? In any case will not bail you out of this decision... If you chose the wrong one and bring down DOOM upon yourself I want you to stew on the fact that it was your own idiocy that brought it down upon you."
She grinned evilly, her four eyes glaring through Raven and Courage, who had stepped between the two, her fists raised.
"But not for too long... you will have SOOO much to occupy you."
Her face turned sly like a dog about to nick a steak off of someone's plate, or perhaps a cat creeping up on a baby bird flopping about on the ground. "Instead of answering, I'll ask YOU a question..."
She narrowed her eyes, licking her lips. "Is this REALLY all it would take, Daughter. Beating yourself up over a BOY... A... MORTAL SPECK. Daughter, join me... swear your allegiance to me, and I will be merciful... I'll... ALLOW you your little pet... your toy... your plaything. I'll wrap him up in a bright red bow... all pretty and ready to be... opened up... Heh... torn into... heh heh."
Rage lifted up off the ground as far as the chains would allow her and rocked her head back, chuckling as she did so. The shadows writhed beneath her sullenly. "And when you break him... when you tire of him, and you WILL... I'll make a thousand more and LINE them up..."
She rocked her head to one side, lolling her head against her shoulder in an unnatural manner, like she'd just come off of a gallow's pole. She began to sing, her voice a parody of an old lullaby.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word... daddies gonna buy you a mockingbird... and if that mockingbird don't sing... daddies gonna-"
Raven's eyes blazed and she stood up. "ENOUGH. BACK TO YOUR CAGE, YOU MONSTER."
The chains jerked the Scarlet cloaked Raven back away into infinity, her voice a howl of thwarted rage and blood lust. The aspects shuddered at her retreat.
Raven sighed. "3 for, 3 against, 1 abstain, and 1 insane." She sighed again. "I don't get a vote... since I'm an avatar... you guys aren't making this easy on me."
Happinesss smiled. "I know it isn't easy, Raven. We ARE you, and you are, by your very nature conflicted... but I'd like to believe there's hope... Smart just needs to be convinced is all." She waved and disappeared in a poof of pink smoke that smelt vaguely of marshmallows.
Courage patted Raven on the back. "We'll do the right thing. We always do. Like Pink said... Smart's never let us down before." She frowned. "Well... except for Malchior... um, and maybe Terra... but that wasn't her fault really. Anyway, keep fighting the good fight... and remember... a look or two never hurt anybody." She ran suddenly and jumped off the cliff, yelling YEEEEEHAAAAHH! all the way down.
Disgusting shrugged. "Eh, fuck it. I mean, we got plenty of time left, and there's always masterbation right? Not that you indulge in that either, you fuckin' choir girl. I SWEAR I'm gonna go outta my FRIGGIN' MIND..." She sighed and wondered off, grumbling obscenities under her breath like a wino.
A really cute wino, but a wino nonetheless.
Smug shook her head. "You're doing the right thing, for now. I will abide by Smart's decision. Of course, I believe that she will decide in my favor ultimately... I DO know what's best. Ta." She walked off like she had somewhere to go, but not, god forbid, like she was hurrying.
Lazy snored. They ignored her.
Timid opened one eye and shuddered. "Is she gone?" She whispered.
Raven sighed. "Yes, Timid, she's gone."
"Oh thank god... I gotta go... um... she didn't..."
Raven shook her head. "No answer. We're waiting for Smart to decide."
"Oh... well... um... she's smarter than me so... I'll just... begoingnowgotsomethingtodoIhopeyouunderstandsorrybyebyenow!"
And she was gone.
Smart and Raven stood alone. Smart sighed and looked very tired. "I am sorry I could not resolve this issue for us, Raven. Sometimes the burden of being the brains is too much of a load for me to endure."
Raven smiled slightly. "It's ok, Smart. I know you're just being you."
Smart looked up. "There is... one thing. I was delving through our memories, searching for some piece of information we might extract from the Boy Wonder without actually prying into his affairs, and it occurred to me that we have SEEN that strange girl before..."
Raven frowned. "I'm sure I'd remember if we'd ever seen HER before..."
Smart shook her head. "No no no... not in person... we have READ about her... remember the books we took from the library before its destruction..."
Raven looked mortified. "The Grimoire! But... No... there's nothing in there that would..."
Smart held up her hands placatingly... "No no... nothing so terrible... remember the book underneath it..." She frowned. "I cannot... seem to remember what it was called, the memory seems fuzze and indistinct... curious... perhaps some psychological trauma? This bears investigating..." she mused for a moment, then shook her head. "Later perhaps. My suggestion, Raven... find the book beneath the Grimoire... I think the evidence points to that being the next logical step."
She sighed. "I don't know if it will help, but it is a start."
Raven nodded. "I'll do that."
She turned to leave Nevermore. Smart put a hand on her shoulder.
She stopped.
"I know... I know how you... how we wanted this to turn out." Smart looked down. "It's just... it's just that it's so hard to trust after Malchior... and Terra... we trust him and we don't want to lose that trust..."
Raven said nothing.
"For what it is worth, it bears mentioning that all of the emotions we most yearn for... well, with the possible exception of Disgusting anyway... all of those emotions are for such a union. If those are the emotions most present for the relationship we might have... I for one, would like to be the woman that would make us."
She let go of Raven's shoulder.
Raven smiled at her very slightly. "Me too, Smart. Me too. Off the record of course."
Smart grinned. "Of course."
So in the end, Raven left Nevermore with no idea how to feel for Robin.
Nevertheless, she felt calm and secure in her decision to find the answer.
Perhaps she hadn't left empty handed.
She knew it was something she wanted. She knew it was something to fight for.
Though time would tell if that would make the difference.
There was, after all, so much unwritten.
