| Visiting Rave | ||
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| Summary: Violet comes in to visit Raven in the hospital.   |
Violet knocks on the door lightly as she enters in. "Raven... you didn't listen to me, did you?" She steps up and pulls a chair up to next to Raven's bed, then sits down with a sigh. Rave kind of half-smiles. "I tried, I did, but... I just couldn't. I'm sorry." she says quietly. "The mind and the body just aren't in sync yet." Violet sighs and shakes her head as she puts her hands on Raven's. "Well, then the kids did the right thing having you come here. Are you feeling any better?" Rave thinks about that a moment. "A little. Whatever they're giving me is helping me sleep and well, keeping me hydrated. I did eat half a sandwich today, so that's something." She nibbles her lip a little. "I'm so sorry I worried you." Violet smiles before asking, "So think this'll jump start you enough that you'll be fine on your own in a few days?" Then she shakes her head. "We...should've seen this coming. We should have known after an ordeal like that you'd need some medical observation, that we shouldn't have just... left you to fend for yourself like that." Rave frowns. "Hey now, no blaming anyone but... her, okay?" she sighs. "I hope I'll be alright in a few days, yeah. The docs want to really observe my sleep patterns and behavior and all. Violet sighs and nods. "All right, all right. You're right. But still... I shouldn't have just left the other day. I should've made... a contingency plan or something with the kids..." Rave is laying in bed in a hospital gown, hooked up to IVs and monitors and all that, and picking at a tray of food. Violet is sitting in a chair next to her. Rave says, "Hey, come on, don't beat yourself up. " She smiles a little, still a bit on the pale side. "It'll be fine, I promise." And that's about the time the door opens and in walks well, a familiar face. "Yo." says Jack Karrde as he looks in and he looks at the two, "..The kids contacted the Athena and told me." he says by way of explanation. Violet sighs and shakes her head. "Sorry, I just... worry about losing people too much." As the door opens, she blinks and looks up, initially expecting a doctor to walk in. "Oh... Hey, pops!" she says. She actually looks slightly surprised to see him. Rave wasn't expecting him, either, and her mouth kind of falls open for a brief moment before quickly snapping it shut again. "Hi." she says, smiling a little. Karrde looks at the two and eyerolls, "Yeah, shocked to see me." he says with a shake of his head as he leans against the wall, "Despite popular belief I do come to Earth sometimes..and like I said, the kids contacted me and asked if I could check in on you and hopefully get your head back on straight." he says with a look at Raven. Violet smiles and backs away slightly, offering Jack her place at Raven's side. "Well, that's what I'm trying to do, too." Rave chuckles a little at that. "It's gonna take some time for me to recover completely. But at least I'm a klutz again, so that's something, right?" She hehs. "A little bit of normalcy there." Karrde looks at Rave and hmms, "Raven, you went through hell. Like I said, the kids told me. So yeah..you're a mess. But not eating. Yeah, that's bad." he sighs and decides not to mention he's been hitting the bottle pretty hard. Violet glances back and forth between the two as they talk, but says nothing for now. Rave says, "I just.. couldn't. The thought of food just repulsed me." she sighs. "And the one thing I did eat came right back up to say hi." She nibbles her lower lip a bit." Karrde hmms, "Possibly a left over bit of mental damage from when your mother was forced out of you." he says with a grimace. Violet sighs and speaks up again. "You should've told us when you realized you couldn't eat, Rave. I thought you were just doing the 'too busy' thing... We could have gotten you help earlier." Rave actually blushes slightly out of embarrassment. "Come on now, it's me. I'm too damned stubborn to ask." Karrde looks at Raven and sighs, "Translation: I'm not worth the bother there's more important things to worry about." he says with a look at Raven, "And I wrong in that thought there?" he asks with a lifted eyebrow. Violet glances back and forth again, then sighs and shakes her head. "Note to self. Next time I think I might need help, ask anyway." Rave hehs at Jack, still kind of embarrassed. "A little bit of that too, but mostly the stubborn." Karrde sighs a bit, "I think I'll spare you the lecture. From the memories I saw from your husband it'd be ignored anyway." shaking his head, "But I will say this. You matter..so get over that mental tic." Rave rolls her eyes a little. "I never ignored any of his lectures. I just actively chose not to follow some of them." she smiles. "Not like he ever listened to mine anyway." She actually laughs a little at that one. Violet nods in agreement with Jack. "None of us want to lose you, Rave. You gave me a real scare... I don't want to hear of you going to the hospital over something like this again." Karrde hmms and tilts his head, "Point there. But that's because he was a arrogant jerk." he points out and he sighs. "Anyway..." he hmms, "Vi's right. When the kids contacted the Athena I thought something bad went down and I almost came in in full Condition One." Violet would know that means..everything deployed and nukes ready to go. Rave looks at Violet. "I will try, I swear. But thanks for looking out for me." She then smirks at Jack. "All that for me? You don't even know me." Karrde shrugs, "So? I like the kids..and I made a promise to try to and help where I can. I may not be their father or your Jack, but I feel somewhat responsible for all that happened." he shrugs again, "So..again, help where I can." Violet raises an eyebrow at Jack's response, then turns back to Raven. "Hey, like I said before... maybe we're not actually related, but you're the mother of three of my siblings, so you're gonna be family to me from now on." Rave shakes her head. "You are responsible for nothing, so don't even go there." she grins at Vi. "OF course you're family. I wouldn't have it any other way..." she blinks for a moment, then busts out laughing, covering her mouth. Karrde looks at Vi, "Okay, did we miss a joke?" he asks as he nods his head in Raven's direction as she laughs. Violet blinks, looking confused at the laughter, then looks to Jack with a shrug. "If so, I missed it too." Rave starts to calm down, but says between giggles. "Jack, I'm so sorry... please don't get upset at this... but you do realize you went on a date with my mother, right?" Karrde blinks slowly. "..Huh. So I did." pauses, "Hope she doesn't show up on the Athena wanting another one." he says with a tilt of his head. Violet blinks again. "Oooooh. Right.... y...yeah..." Rave chuckles. "Unless whatever Skeeve summoned to nab her lets her go, she won't be back." she smirks. "Well, hope you had fun? I was kind of shut out of it. " Karrde hmms, "It was a date..first one I went on in years. Not that bad." he gets a sheepish look on his face and hehs a bit, "I think I bored her." Rave shakes her head. "She's just a bitch. No matter which version, Jack Karrde is never boring." she chuckles. Violet glances back and forth between the two again. Eventually, she does speak up again. "Well then... I guess that date didn't count then. Maybe you two should try another?" Karrde looks at Raven, "You'd be surprised. I'm not that person anymore. Notice, all that's going on here and I'm staying as far from it as possible." he hmms, "I figured I earned my retirement and might take it. Been considering stripping the Legacy tech off the Athena and giving it to Gworn and just settle on some planet on the Rim and just stay there." Rave picks up one of the green beans off her plate and starts to eat it when Violet chimes in, which makes her choke on it just a little before getting it down. Violet winces. "Sorry." Karrde looks at Violet, "Vi..no. I don't date. It's bad enough my personal life is wrecked to hell and back, I ain't dragging someone else into it." he says with a grimace, "I owe Akiya a blaster bolt to the knee for what he pulled." Violet frowns at Jack's reply. "What Akiya... I don't think I've ever known him." Rave decides to stay out of this one and hey look! She's trying to eat! Yay food! Karrde sighs a bit, "Long story short...Arikami's father. He asked me to try and find his sister who went missing shortly before Neo was reborn. I made him promise to keep 'Kami out of the loop, as in..he never met me. Well, when I found his sister..guess who he brought onto the Athena despite my objections." Violet pauses a moment, then ventures a guess. "...Arikami... Michiru's mother, right?" She frowns. "I've not managed to get in contact with them, still." Karrde sighs, "Yeah..spent most of the time hiding from them." he grimaces a bit, "..Is it too much to ask to get things settled so I can face the shit the Phoenix left me so I can actually deal with it and not feel like crap the entire time." Rave takes a baby carrot and sticks it in her mouth, chewing very slowly and carefully. She's either being cautious about her stomach or avoiding the conversation. The world may never know. "What... the Phoenix?" Violet looks confused for a moment, then widens her eyes in understanding. "Oh, the other you." Karrde nods, "Give her a gold star." and he pushes off from the wall and reaches into his jacket and offers Raven a communicator, "Here..in case you need anything that goes right to the Athena's Secure Commlines." Rave looks up at Jack, taking the communicator. "You know you don't have any obligations to me or the kids, right?" Karrde shrugs, "Maybe I don't..but honestly." he shrugs, "...It feels pretty good just helping out sometimes." he says with a shrug. Violet raises an eyebrow at the 'gold star' comment, apparently not understanding it. "Well... all your help is really appreciated. Even if you're not... the one we're used to, you're doing a good job stepping into the void." Rave nods a little. "She's not wrong." she says quietly. Karrde shrugs, "I'm not him. I'm not here to fill a void or anything like that." he says as he steps to the door, "..What I CAN do, is just help where I can in what ways I can. I can't be their father or your husband. But maybe..a friend or the crazy relative that drops in when you need help." Violet nods silently, biting her lip slightly. She's looking a bit hurt by that, actually. Rave nods as well. "Well, if you stop talking to the kids, they'll be pretty hurt. They do like you, you know. Em talks about you, and Em just doesn't talk." Karrde nods, "I'll keep in touch. I promise." and he grins, "Anyway..I better go. I parked a Raptor on the roof and I think someone's gonna complain." and he nods to the two, "See you two later." Violet smiles weakly to Jack. "Yeah, they might want that spot for a helicopter. See you later." Rave nods and smiles a little. "Yeah, thanks for checking up on me. I appreciate it." Karrde nods, "See ya." Violet frowns as Jack walks out, then sighs while shaking her head. "Well... It was nice of him to visit..." Rave nods slightly, fidgeting with the communicator in her hand. "Yeah, yeah it was. Are you okay?" Violet takes a while to answer. "I...." She frowns, shaking her head. "I guess... I've been pretending he was my father. I kinda... just realized he's not. At all." Rave takes a deep breath. "I know. I really did love your dad, Vi. I want you to know that." Violet nods, maintaining her frown as she scoots her chair next to Raven again. "I know. I know. I just... It hurts. Knowing I'm not gonna see him again. I mean, I'm sure you know that, too, but still..." Rave offers a hand to Violet. "Yeah. I know. But maybe this was the closure we needed, you know?" Violet nods in silence. "At least... well, we have another new person, right?" Rave nods. "True, and you have Alexa, and from what I gather you two are near joined at the hip." she smiles a little. Violet laughs a bit nervously at that, scratching at the side of her head. "Yeah, I wanted her to come, but she said this was more between you and me... I guess she was right, you two don't really know each other that much, do you?" Rave chuckles. "Well, yeah, I've never actually met her!" she grins. "Vi, one thing I remember saying is true. I do love you like a daughter, and you're not getting rid of me that easy, alright?" Violet chuckles and nods. "I'd not have it any other way.... but it'd still be too weird for me to call you 'mom.'" Rave smiles. "You can call me whatever you want. But I better be in the family seats when you get married." she winks. Violet nods with a grin. "You can count on it!" She then frowns slightly. "But now that I think about it, I have no clue who would be... either of our maids of honor. I mean... family feels weird for it, and all my closer friends are family.... You, Ari, Mina." She pauses a moment, then shakes her head. "Miriya's just a co-worker. And Alexa... Seems kinda reluctant to make friends usually, though she's getting better." Rave grins. "Don't forget you do have two sisters who would be downright pissed if you didn't include them. Violet says, "Well, yeah. Right now I'm thinking flower girl for Ariel, even if she might be a little old for it." She blinks, then laughs. "Oh, god, here I am actually planning my wedding! I never figured I'd be the type to do that before even being engaged!" Rave laughs. "Aerial would love that. Well, if it means she can do something funky with the flower petals. Magic wise." she grins. "And this is good! Means you're thinking about it. Has Alexa mentioned anything about getting married?" Violet tilts her head, unsure of how to answer. "Well... I think I said something early on about not wanting to rush into it... I'm pretty sure I mentioned a year... So honestly... I'm kind of expecting her to propose on our anniversary." Rave grins. "That's sweet! Your dad never actually proposed to me. We just eloped one day. You're not allowed to elope. Ari's never been to a wedding and she's kind of obsessing about going to one." Violet smiles and nods. "I think that happened with pops and my mother, too." She frowns again, then shakes her head. "No... I wanna have the ceremony and everything... Last wedding I went to was my other sister's, and I was freaking miserable. I didn't know anyone, I didn't have a date, I was lonely the whole time and just... ugh." She shakes her head. "I want to be where she was... Because she was so happy up there." Rave nods. "And you will be. Which I'm kind of jealous of, actually." she smiles. "Aside from my own, which really doesn't count as a wedding, I was at my mother's when she married Dad.. well, Ari's father, but I was just a couple years old at the time." Violet chuckles lowly, blushing a bit. "Well, don't worry. We'll definitely have one, and you can count on me wanting you there. We'll figure out the details when... you know, it becomes official that it's gonna happen and all..." Rave grins. "And I'll be happy to help plan. " she winces a little, sighs, and picks up another green bean, taking a bite. "Just insert the standard if she hurts you I'm going to kill her stuff." Violet bites her lip slightly, clearly uncomfortable when Rave mentioned killing Alexa. She then shakes her head. "If she hurts me that much... you won't get the chance. But... that's not going to happen. I trust her... I trust her more than I trust myself." Rave sees Violet's reaction, and facepalms. "Sorry, I really ought not to joke about killing these days. Sorry." she sighs. "I have a lot to get used to." she gulps. "But yes! I'm glad you're happy, Vi. You really deserve it." Violet looks down again and smiles, blushing quite a bit this time. "Thanks, I... I'm not so sure. I say stupid stuff, I can't help but still look at guys and other women... But I've.... I've never felt anything like this before. So I'm sure as heck gonna run with it." She then looks up and says, "You really should be properly introduced to her, though." Rave chuckles. "Hey, just because you've ordered doesn't mean you can't still glance at the menu. Just if you happen to see a cute single guy that likes kids and is in my age range, let me know. If I'm lucky I might have a date in time for the wedding, but I'm not holding my breath. Violet nods and winks. "Count on it, Rave! I'm sure you'll find someone by then! We've got plenty of time... unless Alexa gets impatient... I will insist we don't elope, though." Rave chuckles. "I'd like to meet someone, but I don't know if it's in the cards for me anymore." she smiles a little sadly. "But yes, please don't elope, or we'll never hear the end of it from Ari." Violet quietly says, "Don't worry." Which she was responding to? Hard to say. "How are the kids doing, though? I don't talk to them nearly as much as I should..." Rave smiles. "They're good. Unsurprisingly accepting and weirdly knowledgeable about my situation. But.. that's them." she chuckles. "You should take them out for ice cream or something one day." Violet looks up and considers this seriously. "Well... they certainly seem smarter than me. Must be they take after you, eh? Hrm..." She pauses. "I'm not sure if I should take Alexa on that trip as well... or if it should just be a siblings' night out... No, no, it should just be the siblings. Maybe even get Michiru in on it... if I ever get up the nerve to contact her." Rave smiles. "Maybe you should. Can't have too much family, right? Plus it sounds like fun." Violet holds up a hand. "Sorry, siblings only. You're a parent, you can't come." Rave says dryly. "Oh no. A night to myself. What ever shall I do with my rare free time. Please don't make me take a bubble bath with candles and a good book." Violet says, "Yes, that is exactly my dastardly plan!" She laughs haughtily, a rather fake sounding laugh for her. She stops and looks at Raven with a warm smile. "I'm glad you're feeling better. You're looking better than you did when I saw you a few days ago, you know." Rave smiles a little. "I feel more... alive. Just happy to be free. And grateful to you for not giving up on me. Violet shakes her head. "You're family, Raven. I'm never, ever gonna give up. Now... are you gonna do the club scene when you get better or not?" Rave blinks, thinking about that a moment. "I.. sure. Jus don't get your hopes up, alright?" Violet says, "Hey... You're not gonna find anyone just sitting in the warehouse. It's worth going out there, just seeing what happens, and having fun, right?" Rave sighs. "I know, I know. But... I'm not exactly desirable, you know? Plus with like, half the city knowing what she was going to do and in my name.." Violet frowns and lowers an eyebrow. "'Half the city'? Please, it wasn't nearly that widespread. Orrrrrrrr did she go running around the streets announcing it while I wasn't looking?" Rave says, "I... I don't know." she frowns. "But I know a lot of people know. Hell, I probably can't set foot in the Usual ever again." Violet frowns. "You... Sorry, she attacked Ari in there?" Rave says, "Once that I know of. In front of a crowd of people, including Skeeve." Violet frowns, nodding. "Yeah, they do have a no fighting policy... But maybe you can appeal it since it wasn't technically you?" Rave blinks as another memory dawns on her. "Oh, great, not only that but... she attacked Skeeve. Fired at him, right in the middle of the restaurant. Granted it was that fight that got me back, but... crap." Violet shakes her head. "It wasn't you, so technically it shouldn't count, right? Maybe we can get Ari and Skeeve to talk to them and more or less... get charges dropped or whatever? On account of it not being you." Rave bite her lip. "If there were charges. I think Skeeve just paid for the damage... damage I caused." Violet says, "Damage SHE caused." Rave winces. "Sorry.. it's going to take a while for me to differentiate between the two. She had me shut away for the good times, tormenting me... and I had front row seats for the bad." Violet frowns, and nods. "So... you really haven't met Alexa, then, not even as a passenger... were you witness to renevating the loft? Any of when P...Jack took the kids out past the moon?" Rave says, "It's fuzzy, but I do remember some of it. I don't remember meeting Alexa at all, but the girls showed me pictures. I... she flirted with Jack. A lot. And teased me about it because she is.. was a sadistic bitch." Violet frowns. "We've got to properly introduce the two of you, then. She already knows the whole situation, of course. Once everything came out and it was done with, I explained it to her... before, not so much. I hated all the running around behind people's backs, not telling Alexa just what was bothering me, not telling... your mother that I was hanging out with Ari a fair bit." Rave smiles. "Hey, I'm glad All.. Ari had a support network. It's probably what kept her alive. I'm really grateful for that." Violet nods. "Though I'm pretty sure I was a minuscule part of that compared to Skeeve and Miriam. I doubt I would have been much help on my own at all." Rave smiles. "Hey, knowing everything I know about you? You would have given her a run for her money. After all, your dad kicked her ass last time they met." Violet blinks, looking slightly confused. "Ari? Why would I have kicked her ass? Or are you talking about your mother?" Rave chuckles. "Sorry, I meant my mother. Things are still a bit jumbled upstairs." she taps the side of her head. "Ari.. she is skittish and a bit on the paranoid side. I'm always prepared, don't get me wrong... she usually has go bags hidden all over the city in case she feels the need to run. I'm guessing that because of you and Skeeve and Miriam and the kids that she didn't. Violet frowns. "Maybe theoretically... but she had a hostage, you know. I don't think I could have." Rave nods. "Honestly, if things hadn't turned out like they did, the next best option would have been to kill me and take her to hell with me." she shrugs. Violet sighs and shakes her head. "I wouldn't have been able to do it, though." Rave grins. "Hey, don't sweat it. Over and done with, right? Now I just need to recover and then I can work on getting my life back. With my whole family." Violet smiles now. "Exactly! It's over! It's done! You're starting new again, and we'll all be there right by your side!" She pauses a moment before adding, "I'll of course not physically be around a lot, with my job and all, but still." Rave laughs. "True, but you will be around when you can, I know. Just.. do a sweep for any stowaway siblings every time you board, alright? Trust me on that." Violet raises an eyebrow. "I'd like to see how they think they can stow away onto Phoenix when our usual method of boarding is with a transporter." Rave chuckles. "Teleportation is sort of Lishra's thing. Been doing it since before she could walk. She would drive the babysitter's nuts when she hunted me and Jack down while still in diapers." Violet raises an eyebrow. "She can teleport into orbit?" Rave grins. "I don't know. That's why better safe than sorry." she chuckles. Violet sighs and shakes her head. "I don't know how we could really defend against that, then. Other than me telling her that you should ground if she does." She looks upwards. Rave grins. "Fair, and that sounds about right." she thinks a little. "Hey, stupid question for you. Emrys really wants to be a pilot and... well, I don't think Jack's going to be around. Do you think you or Alexa could give him lessons sometime?" Violet blinks as she looks back down again. "Well... I guess we could. Though... I'm not sure about if he'd like Alexa's way of learning. She basically sticks her head in a manual and learns it back to front, so... not really teachable so much as, 'here, read this'. I guess the main thing would be to come up with a realistic simulator. Depending on what he's interested in, I could set up something in Victoria, maybe that old VF-1 Pops had in the warehouse." Rave nods. "I'm actually converting that VF-1 to a flight simulator for..." she blinks. "For their birthday in three days. Ah frag." Violet frowns. "That's why you were pushing yourself in so deep? Just delay the party. They'll understand, I'm sure. They're the ones that called to have you brought here, after all. Besides..." She smiles. "I'm sure having the real you around is a good enough present for them right?" Rave nods. "Yeah, I'm sure they'll understand. I just feel so horrible for forgetting, though." Violet pats Raven's arm. "Don't worry about it. They know. They'll be happy to have it when it's ready. I'd offer to help, but... Yeah, I wouldn't have a clue." Rave smiles. "It's alright. I can ask Ari, she'll be glad to. She's a programming genius." Violet nods in return. "I guess that would work. Though doesn't she have that night club she's trying to start up? It might be hard for her to find the time." Rave tilts her head a little. "Night club? Wait, the Haven?" Violet nods, looking slightly surprised. "Yeah, you'd not heard of that? Well, I guess not, she's kinda been avoiding you until just now. Yeah, she's been working on that the past few months. Rave rolls her eyes. "Did she mention I own it?" Violet pauses. ".....Noooooo?" Rave chuckles. "That's a conversation she may not enjoy." Violet says, "I probably knew that back... before. Completely didn't know it until now, though." She frowns, wracking her brain. "I... I really don't remember Ari at all from before I this place... returned. Do you know if I ever knew her back then?" Rave nods a little. "You did, but not very well. She was a social butterfly. Hyper and always the center of attention, really. I think Skeeve and Miriam really calmed her down, though. | |
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