Chilly Boulder, Monday Afternoon

[glacial_queen]

The weekend was over and people were back to their old selves, at least if the lovely gifts Momoko had left outside her dorm were any indication. The dorm that a sopping wet Karla had marched to last night in high dudgeon. For reasons. Lots of reasons.

But it was a new day, people were back to normal, graduation was in less than a week, and she'd gotten a special package in the mail from Kaeleer. Banard was apologetic that they likely wouldn't arrive in time for her birthday, but just holding her set Jewels in her hands was enough to make her smile.

There was a cup of coffee in her hand, an ice cream cake with 'Happy Birthday' on it, and a clear view of the street so Karla could wave to anyone who wandered by.

[Open! Was going to be a townie post until I went crazy with the links!]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"He does beautiful work," Karla said softly. "Can you guess what he's working on now?"

[trigons_child]

Raven wasn't sure, but she made her best guess. "A crown?" she said. Every queen needed one, didn't they?

[glacial_queen]

Karla laughed and shook her head. "We don't really go in for those much in Kaeleer. I mean, most people will be able to tell who the Queen is just by standing next to her. Though maybe some kind of tasteful circlet..."

Realizing she was about to fall into a slight daydream, Karla shook her head and gestured for Raven to sit. "No, silly. He's making Rings. Most females don't wear a ring when they join a Court--not ballsy enough, heh--but since Emma demanded one, I figure I should make one for every female member of my First Circle at least."

[trigons_child]

Raven pulled out a chair and sat down. "For the finger, correct?" she teased. Because where else would they wear them?

Her tone grew more serious. "I would be honored," she said softly.

[glacial_queen]

"Good, cause you're getting one," Karla teased back. "Ebon-gray is close enough to match the rest of your wardrobe, right? I'm sorry I couldn't come away with the Black to be more fitting for you."

[trigons_child]

"Or red," Raven said, brushing her fingers against her chakra. "But for you, I would be proud to wear any color."

And speaking of wearing.... Raven reached behind her for the box she'd brought in with her. "Happy birthday and graduation," she said, putting it on the table. "It is something for perhaps a more formal occasion, but I hope you like it."

[glacial_queen]

"I wasn't going to only descend one rank even for---Hell's fire and Mother Night, Raven! This is gorgeous!" Karla's voice was awed as she lifted the bodice out from the box. "That answers what I'll be wearing to the coronation handily."

[trigons_child]

Raven beamed. "I am so glad you like it," she said. "I thought you might need something of a different color now."

She managed to keep a straight face as she asked, "You will have to wear something like this every day once you are officially queen, will you not?"

[glacial_queen]

"Hell no!" Karla said, flinching backwards like Raven had just suggested that they give Hobart hugs. "Ugh, not on your life. I mean, I probably won't be able to get away with jeans and t-shirts anymore, but I'll be damned if I have to wear gowns all the time."

Pretty or not, Karla had her limits.

[trigons_child]

"I cannot imagine that," Raven said with a laugh. "It would be like...me deciding to wear pants all the time."

STRANGE AND WRONG.

[glacial_queen]

Karla shuddered again for effect and pushed a slice of ice cream cake at Raven. "Hurry and eat some to wipe the thought from your mind. It's bad enough I'm going to have to have fancy and formal dinners most nights. Ugh."

[trigons_child]

Raven grabbed a fork and dug in. "I fear you will have to get used to the strange sight of me in pants," she said after a mouthful. "I have been preparing for Glacia and obtaining more practical clothing."

She sacrificed so much for you, Karla, SO MUCH.

[glacial_queen]

Yeah, Karla was getting that. Perhaps the boggled expression was making that clear. "Wait, you what?!"

[trigons_child]

"I am attempting to be practical," Raven said. It wasn't that shocking, was it?

OK, maybe it was.

"I have purchased warmer clothing, and sensible shoes as well," she said. "And...pants."

[glacial_queen]

"I thought you thought pants made you slutty," Karla said, still trying to wrap her mind around the idea of Raven in pants. "Like, pants and contractions are usually how I know it's an evil doppelganger or something. Mother Night--you're not about to start using contractions, are you?"

[trigons_child]

"That was just once!" Raven protested. Or maybe twice. "I don't do not intend to change the way I talk, or start eating meat."

Well, all right, she was training with Lucivar, but that was beside the point.

"I just thought I would attempt to be more sensible. Jono thought it was a good idea!"

[glacial_queen]

"It is a good idea," Karla said, relaxing once Raven swore to stay meat- and contraction-free. "You'll be a lot more comfortable in them, I'm sure. But--come on! You said yourself it was weird!"

[trigons_child]

"Well, they feel strange!" Raven said. "So constricting. I am not accustomed to my legs being encased in fabric. It does not feel natural. I still prefer skirts, I assure you."

[glacial_queen]

"Here," Karla said with a laugh, "we'll switch off. I'll wear dresses every day you wear pants. Then we'll both be uncomfortable together."

True friendship!

[trigons_child]

"It is unfortunately we are not the same size," Raven giggled. "We could truly confuse everyone if we switched clothing for a day and pretended as if nothing was amiss."

[glacial_queen]

"Except I'd swim in your shirts and you'd strangle in mine," Karla snickered. "Though, would you wear them anyway, all my blues and whites and silvers?"

And a smattering of other colors as well. Karla had her preferred palette, but nothing like Raven's adherence to her own.

[trigons_child]

She had some color in her wardrobe! All right, just a tiny bit, but some! Colors hurt her eyes. IT WAS CANON.

"It might be worth it just to see the expressions on everyone's faces," Raven said.