Current Events > Teen Titans CYOA: Romance Resurrected part 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

A
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A

"Raven, what is it?" you ask. "You can tell me."

"Well," she says, "I have this mirror."

"That mirror?" you say, pointing at the scalene pentagon. "I already know you have it."

"No, I have another mirror," she chuckles as she walks over to her nightstand.

She opens the drawer, and pulls out a truly wicked looking hand mirror that she sets on her chest of drawers.



"Raven, you didn't need to be so shy about a little vanity," you say.

"Don't," she says as she stops you from reaching out for it. "It's not just a mirror."

"It's not?"

"It's not," she says. "This mirror is a portal into my mind. When I or anyone else looks into this mirror, they're drawn inside a dimension that represents my concious and subconscious."

"And you keep that in a nightstand drawer?" you ask. "Without a lock on it?"

"Well, the first line of defense was never letting anyone into my room. Not that that kept Beast Boy from poking around years ago."

"He ended up in your mind?" you ask. "That must've been like a bull in a China shop."

"It wasn't just Beast Boy," she says. "Cyborg ended up pulled along with him. But it all turned out alright, they helped with a situation that related to Trigon's return."

"Well that's wonderful," you say. "So, why the hesitation to share this?"

"It's literally a mirror into my mind," she says. "Of course I'd be hesitant to share."

"So what's it like in that mind of yours?" you ask as she picks the mirror back up.

"When you fall for a girl you just want all of her, don't you?" she smirks as you slide up behind her.

"Yes," you say with a grin. "I want to know so much about you."

"You know about my father and my childhood," she says.

"Yes, but that's what happened to you. That's not to take away from those events in your life, it's all highly admirable that you overcame that. But I want to know so much more about you."

"I'm also not used to that," she says as she shrugs.

She keeps her mirror face down as she holds it.

"Promise me," she says as she turns around, "that if I let you through the mirror... That you'll then treat to my favorite cafe tomorrow after we do dance practice."

"Alright--"

"And," she continues, "you teach me elemental spells like the ones you've used."

"Alrigh--"

"And," she says once more. "That family library you mentioned. We get an entire day alone in there. It doesn't have to be the first day we arrive, that'd be rude, but we have to devote a whole day in the library just reading and studying."

"An entire day?" you repeat.

"We can leave for meals, but otherwise I want a whole day in that library," she says.

A) Promise to treat her to a cafe, teach her spells and devote a whole day in the library
B) Promise to the first two, but a whole day in the library is a maybe
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A
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A...
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B.
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A

"Yes, yes, I promise all that," you say. "We'll go to your favorite cafe, I'll teach you the unique elemental spells, and I will be damned if we don't get to spend a whole day in the family library."

Raven giggles as she steps closer.

"In that case," she says as she straightens up and stands side-by-side with you.

"Wait," you say as she raises the mirror.

"What's wrong?" she asks as you take a calming breath.

"Well, this is going to be my first time inside a woman's brain, I want to make sure I'm prepared."

Raven smirks sarcastically.

"Are you ready now?" she asks.

"Yes, I think so," you say. "Go ahead."

Raven raises the mirror and you both look into it. The glass glows bright, and you feel something pull you in. You and Raven fly into the mirror, through a swirling portal of shadows and light, and then you're spat out onto a flat bit of stone!

"Ow..." you say.

"Sorry," Raven says as she helps you up. "I had a feeling the portal would be a rough trip for someone who can't fly or self-levitate, but I also felt you deserved some kind of hard smack for that 'first time' comment, but I'm sorry for thinking that, too."

"It's alright," you chuckle as you stand all the way up. "I'm surprised you're so apologetic, or rather, so verbal about being apologetic."

You then look at her, and see she's wearing an ash gray cloak while being a little hunched over.

"Where did..? When did...?"

"Over here," another Raven says.

You look over and see Raven in her blue cloak. You look between blue Raven and her serious expression and gray Raven and her timid and sad expression.

"Oh...!" you say. "Since we're inside your mind, your emotions are personified as doppelgangers."

"Yes," both Ravens say.

"This is my timid side," blue Raven says, "who also voices when I'm sad or regretful."

"Like being so cold to you when we first met," gray Raven says. "I shouldn't have been indifferent just because of the connection to Malchior."

"Well," you say, "neither of you has to feel bad about that anymore, we're past that."

You look around Raven's mindscape and see there are floating islands sporadically placed around in a nightsky type void.

"Oh look," you say as you see birds gather on a tree on a different island nearby. "Ravens. Ravens and Ravens inside Raven's mind."

"Don't," blue Raven sighs.

"Ravenception!" Raven says. "Bwaaaa~!"

You know it's not blue Raven or gray Raven that said that, or that's giggling over it. You turn around and see a Raven in pink! And the world behind her has transformed into a field of flowers and rolling hills, with a golden-yellow sky and pink clouds.

"I wish I hadn't thought that," gray Raven voices for blue Raven. "Or said it."

"But it was still funny~!" pink Raven beams as she walks over, bringing the flowery terrain over.

"It was a logical place to take it," you say. "I'm going to assume pink Raven is your cheery side and all your positive thoughts."

"You've got such a great sense of humor," pink Raven says. "Beast Boy's funny, too, but you're like, smart funny, and that's my favorite kind of funny!"

"Why thank you," you say. "Raven, why didn't you tell me that's how you felt?"

"I know, I wanted to say so," gray Raven says. "I should've, but I wanted to get to know you first."
---

"And I'm so glad I did!" pink Raven says as she skips around you. "You're so smart, and you know magic, so I can finally talk with someone about magic on a real, intellectual level!"

"What they said," blue Raven says with a bit of a nervous blush. "Let's get moving. There is an exit out of my mind so we might as well head towards it."

"Yay~!" pink Raven says as she leads the way and thereby spreading her happy terrain. "Follow the yellow brick road~! Follow the yellow brick road~!"

"Wizard of Oz?" you say.

"Favorite non-horror movie!" pink Raven says.

"I just pretend it's not because I feel people would think that's weird because of all my other tastes," gray Raven says.

"We should watch it together sometime," you say to blue Raven.

"Yes!" pink Raven says with wide eyes and a wider smile. "That has to happen before we go to London!"

"Just not with the others knowing," gray Raven says. "I don't want them to know I like it. Though, maybe I should, they're way more accepting that I expected when we first met."

"Don't worry, Raven...s..." you say. "It'll be our little secret."

You wink at the Ravens, making pink Raven smile and giggle, gray Raven smile softly as she shrinks into her shoulders and hood while blue Raven blushes and shyly rubs one shoulder.

"Now," you say, "follow the yellow brick road."

"Follow the yellow brick road?" pink Raven playfully asks.

"Follow the yellow brick road," you repeat.

"Follow the yellow brick road," pink Raven says in a croaky voice.

"Follow the yellow brick road," you say in a squeaky voice.

"Follow the yellow brick road!" pink Raven says normally again.

"Follow the yellow brick road," you sing together. "Follow the yellow brick road. Follow follow follow follow follow the yellow brick road!"

Pink Raven skips around you and you turn in a circle to follow her as music starts to play.

"Follow the yellow brick follow the yellow brick follow the yellow brick road!"

"I'm a little embarrassed..." gray Raven says.

"But I'm also having so much fun~!" pink Raven says as she takes your hands and dances in circles with you. "We're off to see the Wizard-- oh wait, not a wizard."

"We're off to the Exit, the Exit of Raven's mind!" you say.

"Oh that's clever!" pink Raven says.

You and the three Ravens arrive at a fork in the path, three branches going off in different directions.

"Three?" you say. "That's different from the traditional story. The most the Yellow Brick Road ever forked was by two. Do you know where the paths go?"

"Nope," pink Raven says with a smile

"Sorry," gray Raven says.

"Well, they're all meant to go towards the exit," blue Raven says. "So, we just pick one and go."

A) Left
B) Right
C) Down the middle
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A.
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C.

ain't no turning off this road
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C
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A
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coin toss said...


C

"Then let's split the difference," you say as you go with the middle path.

The Ravens follow you, pink Raven humming to the tune of Follow the Yellow Brick Road as you go. As you continue down this path, the pink-leaf trees start to crowd the road. Gray Raven moves towards you, unsure of the trees and the crowing ravens that perch on the branches. A hand even clings to your scarf.

"Don't be afraid, Raven," you say. "This forest is merely meant to resemble the Enchanted Forest, like in the Wizard of Oz. Though I doubt we'll meet a tin man or cowardly lion."

"Yeah, Cyborg and Beast Boy stayed behind this time," pink Raven grins.

"Wha-- Oh, yes, that's a good one," you say, laughing upon realizing her joke.

"Wasn't the Dark Forest after the crossroads?" gray Raven says.

"Blaaaah~!" a tree shouts as it comes to life!

"Dah!" you shout in surprise as you and gray Raven stagger back.

"Blaah!" the tree continues saying as it reaches out for you with branches.

"Bluuuh!" other trees shout as they come to life.

Gray Raven still hides behind you as the trees try to be menacing from a distance.

"Okay stop," you say to the trees as you use magic to hold their branches down.

The trees struggle and make noises of confusion.

"That's no fun," you hear another voice say; specifically, another Raven's voice.

A blur of green then flies in and starts breaking the trees with hands and feet.

"Hiyah! Ha! Yayayayaya!"

She smashes the branches into splinters and the trunks into logs.

"Oh yeah!" green Raven says. "R 'n' R, rock 'n' roll, high five!"

"Um, alright," you say as you hold up a hand.

*clap* Green Raven gives you the high five then a playful couple of punches to the shoulder.

"That's what I'm talkin' about!" she says.

"What does green represent?" you ask blue/original Raven.

"Bravery," she says. "But also a sort of vigorous charisma, always ready for action."

"You know it," green Raven grins. "Especially when I've got all this!"

Green Raven flexes her arms and her biceps swell through the leotard.

"And I guess she kinda has a bit of pride in her," blue Raven mumbles.

"What's not to be proud of?" green Raven grins. "Bet I could even wrestle you down!"

"What?" you say.

She then suddenly leaps on you, trying to put you in a headlock. You're not if you should be annoyed, or thankful because of what's right next to your head.

"Dog pile~!" pink Raven says as she jumps on the other side.

"Hey, stop that!" blue Raven says.

"I'm sorry for how forward she's being," gray Raven says. "Or, how I'm being. I'm sorry for making pronouns confusing."

"It's quite alright," you say even as you're being smothered by the green and pink Ravens; the view right now of the four Ravens standing in a circle, specifically the legs--

"Don't do that," blue Raven says as she kicks you in the shin.

"Ow!"

"We may be in my mind, but I'm still able to read your emotions," she continues.

"Sorry if that hurt," gray Raven says. "But also, there's a time and a place."

"Got guts, though, I'll give you that," green Raven says as she gives you a noogie.
---

"Let's keep moving," blue Raven says as you continue.

Green Raven releases your head, and the four Ravens lead the way. Their cloaks cover them up so there's no... inspiration, for more thoughts.

As you continue, you smell something up ahead.

"Is that... cinnamon and vanilla?" you say.

"I love cinnamon and vanilla!" pink Raven says. "Smells delicious!"

The terrain starts to change again. The trees fall away and are replaced by candles, pillows, and... a hot spring?

"There you are..." another Raven says in a seductive manner.

This new Raven, dressed in purple, drops down from above and slips her arms around you.

"What took you so long to get here~?" she whispers in your ear.

"Um..." you say.

"No no," blue Raven says, looking panicked. "We need to get past here."

"Why~?" purple Raven says as she smooths her hands under your shirt. "You were having so much fun before dinner, now it's time for dessert~!"

Blue Raven pulls you along while purple Raven tries to anchor you here.

A) Fight off purple Raven to follow blue Raven
B) Stay a bit to learn what this purple Raven is like
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B) Stay a bit to learn what this purple Raven is like
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B..
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B, whilst thinking unsexy thoughts to control yourself.
---

B

"Well, let's not be rude to a part of yourself, Raven," you say.

"Yeah that'd be the one in orange," pink Raven says.

"Right-- Really? Huh. Well, all I'm saying is that leaving before learning which part of you this is would be impolite."

Blue Raven grumbles.

"This," she says with a frown, "is my more feminine--"

"Feminine," purple Raven whispers.

"--romantic--"

"Romantic," purple Raven whispers seductively.

"--and passionate side..."

"Passionate," purple Raven whispers with a slight moan.

"And I really wish we hadn't run across her right now," gray Raven says. "Only because it feels weird seeing me be romantic with you when it's not me."

Blue Raven's expression is frozen between embarrassment and indignation.

"Now I feel embarrassed that the other me said that," gray Raven adds. "No, wait, primary Raven is embarrassed that I, Gray Raven, said that. The pronouns are complicated again..."

"Stop, stop with your hands," blue Raven says as she slaps purple Raven's hands through your shirt.

"Why?" purple Raven asks. "You know you want to feel these abs. There's no body hair so they're smooth as silk."

Her hands rub your stomach, and her fingertips dance around your belly button.

"Th-That tickles," you say, suppressing laughter.

"Stop!" blue Raven says as she blushes.

"I'm only doing what you want to do yourself," purple Raven says.

"Even if you're too shy to say so," gray Raven adds. "Or do so."

Blue Raven looks at gray Raven with wide eyes of shock and outrage.

"Or let anyone know you want to do so," gray Raven mutters quickly.

"You should have more confidence!" green Raven says with another grin. "Get in there and touch those abs!"

Purple Raven smiles with an amorous look in her eyes as she lifts up your shirt and green Raven forces blue Raven's arms towards your exposed abs.

"Whoa, Ravens, please," you say as you try to bring your shirt down. "Blue Raven clearly doesn't want to."

"Only because of how she thinks it'll make her look," purple AND gray Ravens say, their very different inflections jarring when paired together.

"Stop!" blue Raven says as she gets her hands loose of green Raven's. "Stop, stop, stop! No. No. No!"

"Then what about the hot spring?" purple Raven ask as she tugs you towards the steamy water. "We can make up for the time we didn't get to spend at the beach."

Purple Raven pulls you along, but blues Raven holds on and pulls you back the other way.

"Tug of war!" green Raven says with a grin.

"Yay! Tug of war!" pink Raven says with clapping.

Pink Raven joins purple Raven while green Raven joins blue Raven.

"Noooo!!" blue Raven shouts as she lets go. "All of you, stop it! Just. Stop it."

All the Ravens are quiet. Gray Raven sulks even more than normal, pink Raven is unusually blank-faced, green Raven is annoyed, as is purple Raven despite her still wrapped around one of your arms.

"If it's any consolation," you say to blue Raven, "this is almost exactly how it is to have sisters. Especially if you compare it to my sisters."

"I'll take your word for it," she says.

Blue Raven pries your arm free from purple Raven, who pouts as blue Raven pulls you back along the road.
---

As you two walk alone without the other Ravens, the terrain returns to the dark night sky and floating stone islands. The path you're walking on is connected, and up ahead you see a large island with mountains creating a crescent around a doorway resembling the hooded headboard of Raven's bed.

"I shouldn't have brought you in here," she says. "Stupid other mes making a fool of me."

"Raven, don't be so hard on yourself...ves? Gray Raven was right, the pronouns are tricky. But you shouldn't be upset. A lot of this is what I was hoping for."

"You were hoping for a form of me being all handsy with you?" she scowls.

"No," you say, "I was hoping to learn more about your personality. If you hadn't brought me in here, I might never have known you were so concerned with how others saw you, or that you liked such fantastical films."

"And what about my pride in my natural strength or my hidden bit of lust?"

"Oh I wouldn't call that 'lust'," you say. "That was a healthy bit of friskiness."

"You don't know what she, we, I, were thinking. Pronouns are tricky in here..."

"She just wanted to go into the hot spring," you say.

Raven stops, you stop, and she looks up at you with a disappointed look.

"Oh...!" you say when it clicks. "Raven, you little minx."

"Shut up," Raven says as she blushes and smacks you in the shoulder. "Let's just get out of my mind already."

You follow Raven to the exit. The inside of the hood glows similarly to the mirror did earlier, and you are drawn through just the same. You're ready this time, so once you and Raven exit into the regular world, you properly turn and land softly on her bed.

"That was quite the ride," you say. "We should do it again some time."

"Ha ha," she says with a smirk. "It'll take more than treating me to things to earn you a second round."

"Well alright, then," you say as you get up off the bed.

A) Have dessert
B) Turn in for the night
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B.
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B
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B) Turn in for the night
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B ish
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B

"I'll see you in the morning for dance lessons," you say.

"And the--"

"And the magic lessons afterward," you say, "and a nice lunch date to your favorite cafe after that. Good night, Raven."

"Good night, Rorek," she smiles.

You go to your room, fetch your toothbrush and paste, and then go to the bathroom and brush your teeth. You return to your room, take off your shoes, and flop onto the bed. You're much more exhausted than you realized, so you fade right into sleep.


The next morning, you stretch and shower in the bathroom before changing into fresh clothes.

"Oh, Raven," you say as you cross paths in the hall. "Where does everyone do laundry?"

"Go to the floor just below here, that's where a lot of our utilities are," she says.

"Thank you," you say before returning to your room. "And see you in Ops for a quick breakfast."

You gather your used clothing up into a basket made of magical energy. You carry this to the elevator and ride it down one floor. You find a row of washers and dryers, much like a laundromat. You go up to them and separate your whites and darks--which are almost all black--and start two separate washer machines for them. You toss whites into the left and darks into the right and let them run while you go back to the elevator.

You return to the top floor and to Ops. Beast Boy is munching on toast with jam while Cyborg chows down on bacon and eggs.

"Hey! Rorek!" Beast Boy says. "You missed a great game last night. Robin came across a huge caterpillar, and he smashed it and the guts went everywhere!"

"Gross," you say with a laugh. "Well maybe I'll join you next time."

"So what were you doing in the meantime?" Beast Boy smirks.

"Aw c'mon, man," Cyborg says to him. "Gentlemen don't kiss and tell."

"Well I can at least tell you that we didn't go that far this time," you say. "But it was a very enlightening experience."

"So what did you do?" Beast Boy asks.

"Dude, seriously?" Cyborg says.

"I don't think Raven will appreciate me sharing this information," you say as you put bread in the toaster.

You prepare bacon on a skillet and set those onto plates just in time for the toaster to pop. You butter up the toast and set those next to the bacon, and breakfast is ready just as Raven enters the room.

"What great timing," you say as you slide a plate forward for her.

"Mmm," she says. "Thank you."

"Wait," you say as you pick up on a scent. "Your hair. Isn't that...?"

"Yes, your 'fresh spring' scented shampoo," she says. "You left the bottle in the shower, and I... decided to try it. I hope you don't mind."

"It's perfectly fine," you say. "Sharing shampoo is the least I can do after..."

You glance over at Beast Boy and Cyborg. Cyborg is being subtle about eavesdropping but Beast Boy isn't.

"It's alright," Raven says while Robin and Starfire walk through the door. "We can let everyone know you've been inside my mind."

"Oh...!" Starfire says. "That is wonderful news, Raven!"

"Thanks," Raven smiles as she sits with her bacon and toast.

Everyone's having breakfast now, Robin making scrambled eggs for Starfire and himself.

"Raven," you whisper as you lean in. "Am I right in guessing Robin and Starfire are a couple?"

She gives you a quick thumbs up.
---

"Okay, good," you say before taking another bite of toast.

After finishing breakfast and resting stomachs a moment, you lead the way to the elevator.

"Where would be a great place for our dance lessons?" you ask.

"We can return to the training room," Robin says as he presses the button for the fourth floor.

The elevator goes down, and upon stopping, everyone exits into the room.

"Alright," you say to Raven as you two stand in the middle of the room with Starfire and Robin. "As with many ball room dances, the man leads. His right hand takes the woman's left, and then his left rests on her waist."

You take Raven's hand in yours, and you place your other around her lower back.

"Naturally the two stand very close together," you say as you draw her in, faces only inches apart. "When first introduced, many thought this was provocative, because of how the man and woman were pressed together, close enough to kiss at a moment's notice."

"How times have changed," Raven smiles.

"She may put her free hand where she wishes," you say. "Traditionally it rests on the man's shoulder but there have been older forms where she leaves it at her side."

Raven rests her hand on your shoulder.

"Now, there are many variations to the steps," you say, "but there are some constants. First, we will take long, gliding steps. Second, we step with weight on the heel that then transitions to the ball. Third, there will be pivoting once the step is complete so that we can circle around the room. We'll worry about the third constant after we've gotten the other two down."

"Okay," she nods.

"Let's start with the basic 'one two three', leading off with my left foot stepping forward while yours steps back. Then my right and your left will glide over to the side, and then we'll bring our feet together."

"Okay," she nods again.

"Ready, set... One, two three."

You step, she steps with you, you glide and she glides with you, but once you bring your feet back together you see Raven didn't glide as far.

"Oh, sorry," she says.

"It's alright," you say. "It takes practice to find the right spacing. Be sure to try shoulder width apart."

She nods and you two reset your feet to be together.

"Ready, and... One, two three. One, two three."

As you step and glide with her, she spaces equally with you, and you make it to the same spot together.

"That's the way," you smile. "Now, there's also the right food lead, which is the mirror image of this. Ready to try that?"

"Yeah," she nods as she glances down at your feet.

"Now remember," you say. "Eyes locked with your partner's. This is a romantic dance for couples."

"Right," she says with a nervous smile and chuckle.

"Ready, and... One, two three. One, two three."

You step forward with your right as she steps back with her left, then you glide to the left and bring your feet back together again.

"Good, good," you say. "You're a fast learner."

"Thank you," she says. "You're a pretty good teacher."

"Well thank you," you say. "Now, those two steps, leading left and leading right, can be combined into the progress forward step, but we won't worry about that just yet, that's for when it'll be a large group and we all want to move together.
---

"Next we'll try the box step. It's a total of six steps, and can be mirrored. We step and glide, then step back and glide to make a square, hence the 'box step'. My left and your right will start. Ready and... One, two three."

You step forward, glide to your right, then come back together.

"One, two three."

You step back with the right foot but Raven thought her right, and you two stumble.

"Sorry, this is one the teacher," you say. "First half is with my left, second half with my right. Okay?"

"Okay," she nods.

"Ready and... One, two three. One, two three."

You step, glide, regroup, and then step back, glide and regroup to be where you started.

"Yes, very good, Raven, very good," you say. "Now the other way, first half is with my right and second half with my left. One, two three. One, two three."

You step and glide the other way, regroup, then step back, glide and regroup to be where you started once again.

"Yes, excellent," you say. "And perfect eye contact."

"Thank you," she smiles.

"Are you ready for the spin? Or should we continue stationary?"

"Um... I'm willing to try a spin," she says.

"Alright. The spin goes with whichever foot is lead. If we start with my left, we'll turn to my left, and same for the right. That said, we'll be starting with..."

A) Leading left
B) Leading right


wow didn't think explaining dancing would be this many posts
---

B) Leading right
---

A
---

A.
---

A

"Leading left."

"How far do we turn?"

"Just ninety degrees, a simple left turn. Ready, and... One, two three."

Your left foot steps forward, your right glides and as your feet come back together, you pivot on your right heel while Raven glides over, and you complete your first left turn as a couple. The others applaud.

"Splendid!" you say. "Let's continue. One, two three. One, two three. One, two three."

You and Raven step, glide, pivot and repeat to be roughly a meter from where you started and facing the other way. You continue two more times, and end back where you started, having traveled 360 degrees.

"Wonderful," you say. "You're picking up on everything so well."

"Thanks," she smiles shyly.

"Now, as math will tell us," you say, "changing how many degrees we turn, we can make a much larger circle than this. Do you want to try?"

"Oh, I... I dunno, that seems like a lot."

"We can go slowly. We have a few weeks to practice, don't feel pressured to speed through the lessons."

"Oh, by the way, when would we be leaving for London?"

"Well, with the drive up to Coast City and then what will likely be a ten hour flight to the UK..." you say. "The drive from London to the Null Family estate itself will take roughly the same amount of time it took us to drive to National City... And then you want a day before Father's party to be in the library, so... At least three days before his party. That gives us 25 days to practice the dances."

"In that case, can we move from dance lessons to magic lessons?"

"Certainly," you say. "With the dancing done, we take a step back. I will bow to you as you curtsey to me."

You move your left hand off her waist and she her right hand from your shoulder as you step back, still holding hands in your right and her left. You bow, free hand behind your back and left foot slightly back while Raven bends knees and bows her head, her free hand holding her cloak like a dress skirt.

"Even that was well done," you say.

"Thank you," she says. "Now what's first for these elemental spells?"

"Well, I believe we should go outside for these," you say. "We'll see everyone outside if you want to watch."

"Comin'!" Cyborg and Beast Boy say.

"We'll see you guys in a bit," Robin says as Starfire has him waltz with her.

"Wow, you two are excellent," you say as they spin, and swiftly, in a wide circle made with 135 degree turns.

"They've danced together before," Raven says.

"Yeah, they went to a prom while we fought mutant moths," Beast Boy says. "That was also the same time we adopted Silkie."

"You adopted Silkie," Cyborg says. "And kept him a secret until Starfire found out, and then she adopted Silkie from you."

"Yeah, that's what I said," Beast Boy says. "We adopted him."

"I'll need to fetch something from my room first," you say as you four enter the elevator.

You four go up to the top floor and you grab a slip of paper from your knapsack. You rejoin Raven, Cyborg and Beast Boy in the elevator and then ride down to the lobby. They lead the way outdoors to an open knoll off to the side.

"Firstly, as this is about elemental magics," you say, "we must get an idea for which element or elements you have the strongest affinity for. And we'll do it just as I was taught."

You step forward and have Raven stand in front of you.
---

"Do you know the five elements?" you ask.

"Um, depends on the system," she asks. "This is the Japanese Godai, right?"

"Wow, you even answered similarly to what I answered," you chuckle. "I told my sensei about the Greek Stoicheion, the Medieval Alchemic, but was prudent not to bring up the Chinese Wu Xing or Tibetan Bön. But yes, you are correct in guessing it is the Japanese Godai system, which is actually not far off from the Greek or Medival types. Everyone agrees that fire, water, earth and air belong. The rest vary, but clearly lightning is one of them, as I learned some of that myself."

"What about Psychic?" Beast Boy asks.

"That's Pokemon."

"Poison?"

"Still Pokemon."

You then pull out that special piece of paper from your pocket.

"Think of this as magical litmus paper," you explain. "It will react in special ways depending on what element you're meant to use. Now, a person can have multiple affinities, and the paper will reflect such by mixing the reactions."

You hand the paper to Raven.

"Simply put your mana into the paper, and it'll do the rest," you say.

Raven focuses on the paper, and it simultaneously dampens and splits down the middle.

"Pretty obvious the paper getting damp means water," she says. "What's tearing mean?"

"Notice that it isn't a tear," you say. "It's a clean cut. That means wind. It means you can do a similar combination spell like what I used against King Shark."

"Wow, really?" she says with wonder in her eyes.

"But that's pretty advanced stuff," you say. "We'll start at level one of..."

A) Water
B) Wind

if we'd chosen right, the only difference would be him explaining that, given how the man leads, he could easily just sweep her along with him as they spun
---

B.
---

A) Water

Talking about elements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1EnW4kn1kg
---

B.
---

A
---

scubasteve42 posted...

Talking about elements

lol yeah


coin toss app chose...

B

"Wind."

"Okay," she nods.

"Hey, Rorek," Beast Boy asks, "what'd the paper do when you used it?"

"Turns out I have an equal affinity for four elements," you say. "The paper split in two from wind, and while one half dampened from water, the other wrinkled up from lightning and caught on fire from, well, fire."

"The only element you don't have is Earth?" Cyborg says. "How is that fair?"

"Well I have an equally split affinity," you say. "I can do some of everything and combine those that are compatible, but I can't handle the maximum level of any element."

"That torrent you whipped up wasn't the highest level?" Raven asks.

"No, far from it. A maximum level Water user can create whirlpools or tidal waves, while Wind users would be able to make tornadoes and gale force winds. I just combined water and wind to make that torrent and thereby compensate for being underleveled. And for that matter, it's still won't be as strong as the one you'll be able to make because you're soley wind and water."

"Wow~...!" Raven says.

"So, to wind magic," you say. "Let's take deep breaths, through the mouth. Fill your lungs completely."

Raven inhales until she can't fit anymore air in.

"And breathe out until you are empty."

Raven exhales all the way until the last bit of air has left her.

"Good, good," you say as she returns to normal levels. "You have now learned the maximum amount of wind you can generate. Wind magic is naturally tied to our own ability to breathe in the air, and breathe it out. With that in mind, you must next learn how to manipulate the wind in your hands. Hold your hands up like you're holding a bowl."

Raven does as instructed.

"Focus magic into your hands," you say. "A small amount, but spread evenly all around. Then, take a deep breath. Not your maximum, just enough to feel deep."

"That's a bit vague," she says.

"I know, it felt that way to me, too. You take in that deep breath, and let it out into your hands. Imagine the magic in your hands catching the air, like a bowl would catch water."

Raven takes in air, and then lets it out, breathing into her hands. The wind swirls in her hands, making her cuffs flutter.

"I did it!" she says.

"Wonderful," you say. "Now, widen your hands but keep the air between them. See how far you can hold it."

Raven moves her hands apart, and the wind swirls within the space between them. Her hair and cloak flutter in the breeze, but then it all dissipates as Raven's hands reach past shoulder width.

"That's good," you say. "You have a good range for just starting out. That is the range of effective use you'll be able to get with each spell."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, the elemental magic I learned in Japan uses a concept of an epicenter. Did you happen to notice how the torrent I created to combat King Shark moved as a unit? It wasn't a long winding snake but more of a cylinder. That has to do with the range of the spell."

"Oh, okay," she says. "So around here..."

She puts her hands back to shoulder width.

"...is how far the wind can come off the center."
---

"Exactly. And there are many shortcuts as to how you can keep the epicenter in mind so that the spell doesn't dissipate or just fly around wildly. I use magical charges, those balls of glowing light I throw. They act as the epicenter, and give a bit of a combustive feel once the spell is cast."

You make a magical charge and throw it high into the air. You quickly put your hands together and watch as the charge reaches its apex.

"Kaze!" you shout.

*BWOOHH* The charge explodes and sends gusts of wind in all directions.

The wind reaches you and the others, and it blows through hair and through your scarf and Raven's cloak.

"Cool!" Beast Boy says.

"But that's a bit of a cheat around things," you say. "Let's start you off smaller, though. No charge, just classic envisioning."

"Okay," Raven says. "What should I envision?"

"Hmm... Alright, look over at the hilltop. Focus on a particular point, and don't look away. Stare at it as you build up your mana."

Raven does as instructed, her magical aura surrounding her hands.

"Make sure to breathe deeply," you say. "Feel the rhythm of your own breathing. To start you off, as you breathe, picture a..."

A) Gust
B) Tornado
---

B
---

A,
---

B
---

B

"Tornado. Then, when you're ready, release your magic at your target."

Raven builds more energy and then thrusts her hands forward.

*WHHHHHHH* A small whirlwind starts on the hill, rustling the grass and kicking up dirt.

"Good, good," you say over the sound of swirling wind. "You see the diameter? Roughly the width of your shoulders."

The whirlwind slowly disippates.

"And that duration matches up with your full exhale," you say. "Exceptional first time, Raven. Really, really strong showing."

"Thanks," she says with slightly heavy breathing. "Is this why you stay in shape?"

"Of course," you say. "Better cardio, better lung capacity. Better lung capacity, better use of wind magic and, honestly, other magics. But that was a good start."

Raven takes another deep breath as she focuses magic again. She takes aim at the hill again, and she creates another twister that swirls and kicks up dust.

"Pour more mana into it," you say, "you should be able to make it swirl faster and stronger."

Raven nods and increases her output. The tornado spins faster, stronger, and taller. It still lasts about the same amount of time, however.

"That's good," you say. "Very little drop-off between casting. Really should see how much mana you really have. For now, let's move to the water training."

You walk down with Raven to the edge and wade into the water.

"Is there a level surface where we can still be around knee deep?" you ask.

"Umm... hold on," she says. "I'm sure there is somewhere."

You two walk along the coast, Cyborg and Beast Boy following on the grassy shore. Beast Boy transforms to become a green fish and dives into the water. He swims on ahead, then resurfaces as his human self.

"Here's a spot," he says.

You and Raven walk over, and sure enough, the depth of the land underneath allows for the water to come up to knees.

"Thank you, Beast Boy," you say. "Now, we bend down at the waist to scoop water into our hands. Use the same thin layer of magic to form the bowl like you did for the air."

You demonstrate, bending over and scooping water into your cupped hands. Raven does the same and the two of you stand up straight holding a bowl-full of water.

"Use your magic to keep the water together," you say, "forming a ball in your hands."

You smooth your hands over the water, creating a sphere that lightly ripples as it rests in your hand. Raven smooths her hands around, her water is a bit oblong or perhaps egg shape. She takes a couple extra moments to make it perfectly round.

"Good," you say. "Now to prove perfect control over the water, you must layer mana across your whole body. You will have the water flow from your arm, to your torso, and down your leg back into the water we stand in."

You demonstrate with swift, smooth action how the ball of water glides from arm to shoulder to chest to side to thigh to knee and back into the bay.

"Don't worry about speed, just as long as you run it across your body to return to where you took it from."

Raven moves the water ball from her hand to her arm, and it creeps along towards her shoulder. And creeps. And creeps. And creeps.

"I suppose, it could go a little faster..." you say.

"Snails are faster than that," Beast Boy says. "And I know, because I've been a snail."
---

Raven grumbles as her water ball speeds up only slightly. She eventually gets it to her shoulder. And eventually from her shoulder to her chest. It takes a bit of time for the water ball to pass over her chest but then practically rolls downhill as it passes over her stomach and to her legs. It finally slips into the water and disappears.

"Phew," Raven says as she relaxes her body. "Is that good?"

"Yes, excellent control. Now try to make a small whirlpool the same way you made a small tornado. Lock onto a point out in the bay and focus your magic while picturing the swirling water."

Raven looks out at the water, builds mana in her hands, and then thrusts them out at the target. The water opens up as it spins around the center point. The whirlpool sends ripples out, and little waves form and lap against you and Raven by the shore.

"Wonderful!" you say. "You've got a handle on the basics of wind and water magic. Moving on, we will now..."

A) Level up your wind magic
B) Level up your water magic
C) Try combining the elements
---

C
---

C...
---

C.
---

C

"Try combining the elements."

"You mean the torrent?" she asks with an eager smile.

"Well, there isn't just the torrent," you say. "You could also create ice or snow and things of that nature."

"How's that?" Cyborg asks.

"Combining wind and water on equal levels makes a torrent," you say, "but favoring wind in the mixture allows for the chilling of the water, and therefore we get ice."

You again use your magic to take moisture in the air and freeze it into ice, this time in the shape of a pyramid.

"Oh, so that's what you did with the rose," Beast Boy says.

"Exactly," you say. "On larger scales, you could make a block of ice big as a bus."

"Whoa..." Beast Boy and Cyborg say.

"But step one is to see if you can use both elements equally," you say. "Focus magic into your hands again, but this time... keep your hands apart."

Raven holds her hands out separately, building mana into each one.

"With one hand, scoop water."

Raven bends down and uses her right hand to gather water.

"Now breathe into the other."

Raven takes a deep breath and exhales into her left hand. She maintains her hold on both elements, water floating in one and wind swirling in the other.

"Splendid," you say. "As a bonus, this proves you can wield two spells at the same time, meaning you can kick up a wind storm at the same time that you create rain or a small wave."

"Whoa..." Beast Boy and Cyborg both say.

"Now, get both wind and water swirling quickly," you say.

The two separate elements swirl faster and faster.

"Good," you say. "Make sure they're on the same pace."

Raven matches her left hand and her right hand so that the two elements are synchronized.

"Smash them together!" you say.

Raven brings her hands together, and the whirlpool and cyclone combine.

"Is this it?" she asks with excitement. "Is this the torrent?"

"Yes, you have a small torrent," you say. "Just, uh, discharge it into the bay."

Raven prepares the torrent in one hand like a cricket ball/baseball and throws it to the water. It swirls furiously as it flies through the air, and then makes a huge and asymmetrical splash as it hits the water.

"Great throw," you say. "Now, do it again, with less water and more air."

Raven takes a deep breath and blows into her left hand. She scoops up a small amount of water into her hand.

"Repeat the spin, keeping them in pace," you say. "And combine!"

Raven puts them together, and she gets an icy swirl in her hand. Seeing it in her hand, she grins and her eyes sparkle.

"And now that you have an ice spell in your hand," you say, "you can choose how to use it. Low intensity and you can get snow, high intensity and you can get hail or icicles."

"How do you make ice sculptures?" she asks.

"A fluctuating mix of both," you say. "It takes a long time to be able to do that."

Raven focuses and manages to make solid ice, but the shape it takes is arbitrarily smooth and round on some parts then sharp and angular on others.

"I tried making a cute," she mutters.

"It's alright," you say. "You got a lot further than I did when first trying to sculpt."

Raven still frowns as she puts the random shape of ice into the water and watches it float away.

"Let's end our lessons for today," you say. "I do still have to treat you to your favorite cafe."
---

"Ooo, yes!" Raven says with a big smile.

Raven leads the way to the back of the tower and into the garage.

"Oh wait," you say. "My laundry... Just a moment."

You ride up the elevator and return to the laundry room. The washing machines are done running, so you open up two dryers. You levitate the wet laundry across the way and then put in fabric softener sheets. You turn the dials for an hour each and start them up.

"Sorry for the wait," you say when you return to the garage.

"That's alright," she says as she puts on her helmet.

You put on your helmet and you ride out on Shadowfax. You make it across the water, and Raven directs you into a busy part of the downtown area. You find the cafe, The Shadowy Scorpion, on a corner, across from a credit union office and a hotel. You find parking around the corner in a side street, and then follow Raven inside.

"Oh, hey, Raven," a young man at the counter greets; he has black hair over one eye, eyeliner on the visible eye, and a t-shirt that has what appears to be a regular ghost modeled after Pac-Man ghosts on it.

"Hey," she says.

"Hello," you say to him before looking around.

The cafe is dimly lit, each table having its own candelabrum. However, instead of candles, all the candelabra have lightbulbs made to look like candle flames. The decor you can see in the dim "candle" light has a skull motif, with the most noticeable skull being near what appears to be a stage; it acts as a spotlight, with a bulb visible through its open mouth.

"They have a stage?" you ask.

"They do poetry night every once in awhile," she says. "But always on Friday the 13th."

"Nice," you say.

"So... Whose your friend?" the gothic young man asks Raven.

"This is Rorek the Seventh," she introduces as she links an arm with yours. "We're... technically on our first date."

"It doesn't really feel it when we've saved the day together quite a couple times already," you say.

"So like... Your boyfriend?" he asks with a twinge of jealousy.

"Yes," Raven sighs. "You act like this every time I visit. We talked during a warehouse rave, and that was it. I didn't know you worked here when I first found it, so stop coming off like a lovesick puppy, 'Tommy Cemetary', which we all know isn't your real name."

Raven pulls you towards the tables, mostly to get the other goth patrons to stop looking. She sits down, you sit with her, and you pick up the menus off the table.

"So... you went to a warehouse rave?" you ask.

"Yeah, it was back when we first met Starfire's sister," she says. "I still don't know how Blackfire knew about that party. But 'Tommy' came over, wanted to talk, and we did. That was it, cuz then a robotic squid from space attacked Starfire, mistaking her for Blackfire. I didn't see Tommy again until like a month later when I found this place by chance while taking some time looking around town."

"And given all of what you just said," you say, "he clearly was hoping for more but it didn't come about."

"Yeah," she shrugs. "So?"

"Well, it just seems you're quite the heartbreaker yourself," you smirk.

"Whatever," she smirks back. "I already know my order, what would you like?"

"Let's see..." you say as you look at the menu. "Perhaps this 'Scorpion's Feast' sliders with a..."

A) Quiet Night Iced Coffee
B) Little Sinner Float
C) Bloody Eye Shake
---

B for lulz
---

B
---

B.
---

B

"Little Sinner Float."

"What's with that look on your face?" she smirks with a raised eyebrow.

"What?" you ask, playing coy. "The name is in no way a reference, an allusion, nor a suggestion towards our... romantic excursions."

Raven giggles.

"You say that," she says, "but do you even like rum raisin?"

You look at the menu and see there is "rum raisin" listed as the ice cream used.

"Well, it's not my favorite," you say, "but I'm not against having it."

"Alright," she smirks.

A pale and lanky waitress dressed like a Victorian maid walks over.

"Hi, Raven," she says in a husky but also tired-sounding voice, not unlike Raven's.

"Hi, Languish," Raven says.

"Who's your friend?" Languish asks.

"This is Rorek Null the Seventh," Raven says with a proud smile. "My boyfriend."

"Wow, a boyfriend? Never thought I'd see you in here with one of those."

Tommy audibly groans.

"Oh stop it, Tommy," Languish says. "So anyway... What can I get you?"

"My usual stack of Midnight Pancakes," Raven says, "and this time... a Bloody Eye."

"And for you?" Languish asks.

"A Scorpion's Feast and a Little Sinner, please," you say.

"I'll be back with the drinks first," Languish says.

She walks towards what must be the kitchen and hands off a slip of paper through a tiny window.

"How often do you come here?" you ask Raven.

"Every other week at the most," she says. "Sometimes more if it's been a busy week of fighting villains."

"Have you been part of poetry night?" you ask, pointing a thumb to the stage.

"Only a few times," she says. "I definitely like to plan ahead for when it's a Friday the 13th night."

"Nice."

"You wanna try for one?" she asks. "We've got a few weeks, right? We could ask when the next one is."

"I don't see why not," you say.

"Sweet, we can decide what you'll read when we get back," she smiles.

"O-Oh, you meant like that?" you ask.

"Yeah," she says. "Did you not want to read something? We don't have to, we could just attend."

A) Yes, just attend
B) No, reading something is fine
---