my friends they all agree, give into our defeat;

[titaness]

WHO: kathreptis & blue_and_proud
WHERE: a nice cafe in the city.
WHEN: an afternoon a few weeks ago.
WARNINGS: n/a.
SUMMARY: donna and raven meet for lunch. one thing leads to another and raven gains a new career?
FORMAT: quick to start.

_{( donna stood outside their local haunt, dressed for the day and looking forward to seeing raven again. she found the other woman's presence relaxing, and also fun. there were a couple things she had in mind to ask her, but for the moment she surveyed the street, waiting for her to arrive. )}

Comments

[blue_and_proud]

I looked blue until I was...seven. That's when I figured out how to change it.

But it doesn't matter if it's their flaw or my flaw it's still something I have to deal with.

[titaness]

You're...amazingly strong. You know that, right?

[blue_and_proud]

[Raven actually looks a bit embarrassed and just shrugs.]

Not really. I hide now. It's...easy.

[titaness]

It's practical. Not quite hiding so much as...being cautious?

[blue_and_proud]

That's just a nice word for hiding.

[titaness]

Maybe, a bit. But I can't imagine I'd behave differently, in your situation.

[blue_and_proud]

[She smiles faintly.]

Thank you. Everyone keeps telling me I should just trust everyone and try to relax, and that everyone is so understanding now.

[titaness]

It's easier when you have people around you who are more accepting. I mean, that's pretty much how my friends and I saw it, for ages. We could totally be ourselves with each other, so it didn't matter if we had to hide things from the rest of the world.

[blue_and_proud]

Well...that's not how it was in the 1950s. I don't even think my brother particularly likes me blue.

[titaness]

Then he's being an ass and needs to learn some unconditional love.

[blue_and_proud]

'Love' is not Charles's problem. He's just an ass sometimes. [Raven shrugs.] It doesn't matter.

Anyway.

[titaness]

No, it does. Someone who's family, it's their job to make you feel good.

[blue_and_proud]

[Raven just shrugs again. She loved her brother, but their relationship was strained when it came to this sort of thing.]

Charles is worried about all of mutantkind. He tends to miss the little details.

[titaness]

It's still not right.

_{( a little sigh. )}

But you know, you haven't given me an answer yet.

[blue_and_proud]

...Right.

[Well, so much for that handy subject change getting her out of answering the question.]

I just...I mean, I can look like whatever you need me to. But it...won't be me. This is as close as I get to being me without...being me.

[Raven wasn't sure she was making any sense.]

[titaness]

Want to know a secret? No one's really themselves when they model. It's a lot like acting that way--you take on a character or persona to display a certain idea.

[blue_and_proud]

[Raven was quiet, tapping her finger lightly against the table without realizing as she thought about it, and then finally she let out a resigned sort of sigh and smiled faintly.]

Fine. I'll...give it a try. What do you need me to do?

[titaness]

You will? Oh, you're the best, Raven, really.

All you need to is show up, allow one of my interns to dress you, and then let me photograph you! Easy, huh?

[blue_and_proud]

...It doesn't sound so bad.

You want me to look like this?

[titaness]

Well that's what I did have in mind originally.

But you know, if you end up liking this, we could have a lot of fun with that ability of yours.

[blue_and_proud]

Okay.

[She grinned.] We could. I've...never really thought about it that way.

[titaness]

Might as well use what you've got, right?

[blue_and_proud]

Guess so. I've always spent so much time not doing that. It'll be weird to do it.

But fun, I hope.

[Raven did like showing off, since she so rarely had the chance.]

[titaness]

I always aim for the fun part. And hey, no pressure. If you don't like it, just say the word, and that's that.