Kohala Coast, Hawaii | Morning & Afternoon | Tuesday | February 22nd

[ft_directory]

Everyone should feel sorry for the poor bastards left behind in Fandom where snow collected atop the ice that coated the ground overnight. But in Hawaii, everything was sunny, warm, and beautiful. It was paradise, and everyone there should take advantage!

[Guest Quarters | Resort Activities | Spa Without Walls | Beach Activities | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | OOC]

Comments

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

Ben's eyes were full of regret. "What did they do to Warren in retaliation?" he asked softly.

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

Karla winced. "You...you don't want to know. Or, rather, I'd rather not say. Bad. Wasn't sure he would live bad."

Pause.

"Insides on the outside, bad." Funny how such a little voice would carry such a wealth of emotion. Well, maybe not so funny if the other person was an empath.

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

Ben whispered a curse, but he hadn't loosened his grip on Karla. "Breaking up with you would have been a mild reaction, considering," he said quietly.

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"I know," Karla said, breath hitching. "Believe me, I know."

She felt a new wave of shame wash over her. Ben's good opinion of her meant a lot and she hadn't exactly covered herself in glory here. Excuses and mitigating circumstances leapt to her tongue, but she bit them back.

"There's nothing you can say that I haven't already told myself."

People had tried.

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"That's what I get for being at the back of the line," Ben said with a tiny almost-smile. "Is this why I didn't see you at the dance?"

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

Karla nodded. "I spent over an hour waiting for him and he didn't show," she said. "Only to open my door and find him practically glued to the hall outside of it. But neither of us were much in a dancey mood--and I was kind of a wreck by then--so we ended up spending the who night talking. Trying to figure out what to do. I love him and he says he still loves me--but I betrayed his trust and I'm not stupid enough to think we can just...magically be okay again. I'd like that, but it's not going to happen."

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

Ben bit his lower lip and was quiet for a long moment. "Would you like me to talk to him? I've kind of been where he is."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"I...maybe?" Karla said. "I don't know how he's dealing with it. Or even if he is. I'd feel better knowing that there is someone he can talk to."

Besides Bobby, who was still in his well-earned 'hating Karla' phase.

"I am trying, Ben!" she said, lower lip trembling. "I am! I backed down when Rinoa got taken hostage and...and...please don't be disappointed in me, too. I couldn't bear it."

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Hey, don't cry," Ben said, hugging her tightly. "I'm going to start thinking there's something about me that makes people upset. It's just going to take Warren some time."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"I'm not crying," Karla said sharply and Ben would be well-served to ignore any waterdrops on his shirt that suggested otherwise. "I just don't want you to be mad at me. Or disappointed in me. Or...whatever!"

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"I'm not mad," Ben said, stroking her back. "You made the best decision you could with the time you had, right?"

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

Karla nodded. "But it was a short-sighted decision. Only of the immediate goal and nothing else. And while that kind of thing would be acceptable back home, it's not here. I'm getting back at remembering that you guys are my friends. Not my Court."

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Especially Warren," Ben replied quietly. "I've read Protocol--don't subconsciously shift him into a position he might not be ready to fill. We're not all Lucivars."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"I can't--"

Karl shut her mouth over the rest of those words. She could help it, she would. Or else she'd lose them all.

"I know," she said instead. "It's just hard. Growing up with Protocol drilled into me year after year after year. And then going to a place where none of that holds true. It was easier before Fandom started feeling like home. But I'm working hard on not doing it."

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know you are," he said, "and it's one of the really tough things of leadership to take people you love and put them into danger. Dad makes that choice every day, but everyone involved also knows what they've volunteered for."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"And Warren's a civilian who just gets...roped into things like this," Karla said, nodding slowly. "At least, that's how Dinah and Bobby put it." She leaned against him again, resting her head on his shoulder. Ben was very comfortable. "Do you ever get confused like this?"

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Sure," Ben said, "but I've been playing backup for the last few years. I've been the one going, not the one making the calls."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"You know I'd come if you called, right?" she checked. "Whenever. Whyever. Doesn't matter."

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Of course I know," he said with a tiny smile. "And it's up to me to make sure I call you for something useful."

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"Is there anything useful you could think of for me to do?" Karla asked, smiling a little back.

You know, like hosting--or cooking!--diplomatic dinners, or meeting with heads of patriarchal states, or well, talking to almost anyone...

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Lots," Ben said, smiling. "The apartment probably needs cleaning, for one--"

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

Ben, there were easier ways to commit suicide. Just saying.

Karla's response was much more eloquent: "BEN SKYWALKER, YOU ARE A DEAD MAN!"

And then she tried to tackle him. While biting.

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"Hey!" Ben said, trying to wiggle out of the way. "No teeth!"

Re: The Beach

[glacial_queen]

"I'll show you 'cleaning the apartment!'" Karla mock-growled.

Not that the comment made much sense, but she would.

"I'm going to replace your sunscreen with olive oil!"

Re: The Beach

[momslilassassin]

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Ben said, backpedaling furiously. "I'll only invite you back when there are butts to kick and new restaurants to try. Better?"