life_inshadow | Dorms Roof, Wednesday Evening (Reply)

Tara hadn't stayed at Reserves long once she realized so many people had turned invisible. She knew she should have stuck around -- she could have tried to undo the spell -- but even if it had worked right, undoing the spell would mean people would see her and yell at her. And she wasn't ready for that.

She sat near the roof garden, arms around her invisible legs as she stared out over the island. Her father's voice was playing on endless loop in her head. For the first time in a long time, she wondered if maybe her family had been right. Maybe some part of her was evil.

Karla	There was a bit of brooding emo coming from off the roof. Of course, it was the roof, so that was only to be expected, but Karla was pretty sure this particular bout belonged to their missing witch. "Is it her, you think?" she asked, wanting to double check with Raven. "Though I suppose we could always just go up on the roof and see. If we can't see anyone, it's probably Tara." Someone thought she was funny.
Raven	Raven closed her eyes and concentrated. Not that Karla or anyone else could see her doing that, but. "It is Tara," she said. "It feels like her." Beneath the distress and guilt was a distinctive Tara-ness that made her emotional signature unique. "She is very upset."
Tara	Tara dimly heard the voices. People. People coming for her. She knew it wouldn't do any good, but she curled into an even smaller ball and contemplated the planters. She could throw one, if she had to. Would she dare? ... probably not.
Karla	"Course she is," Karla said easily, looking around the roof. She couldn't actually see Tara, but habit was habit. "She messed up during her first presentation to the Reserves. Who wouldn't be embarrassed and upset after that?" Helpful, Karla. Very helpful. "What she's not realizing," she added in a slightly louder tone, "is that it's still a pretty cool spell, even if it didn't work entirely as planned. And that no one's going to even remember a few hours spent invisible after the next time it rains ice cream or we're invaded by carnivorous vegetables or whatever."
Raven	"There," Raven said, pointing toward the source of the emotions she sensed. Then she sighed at herself because such gestures were pointless when one was invisible. "By the garden," she added. She moved toward the garden, taking only slow steps when she drew near so she didn't accidentally step on her friend. "Tara?" she said softly. "It is Raven and Karla. You do not have to hide from us. We are not angry."
Tara	Tara gave a last, longing look to the planters and bid farewell to the idea of throwing one. She licked her lips and quietly said, "I'm here. What if I'm angry? At me?"
Karla	"Then be angry," Karla said. "Rant, rave, throw things." Though not at them, please. "Talk to us. Tell us about how stupid everything is. Do whatever you need to. We're here to listen." And get everyone visible again, but that could wait another ten minutes. It wasn't like they could get more invisible
Raven	Raven crouched down, addressing what she was guessing to be the location of Tara's head. "I understand what you are feeling," she said softly. "I have made mistakes with my own gifts. I made people fall in love with me. I felt miserable and did not expect to be forgiven, but I was. We all make mistakes from time to time, but your friends will forgive you."
Tara	"I shouldn't be doing magic at all," Tara said. Her voice sounded as if she'd been crying, but with an edge to it. "I -- do you promise people aren't going to yell at me? N-not that I don't deserve it, I just -- don't like. Yelling."
Karla	"Tara, darling, that's not true at all," Karla said, sounding far more amused than angry. "I've caused fires trying to brew potions and make spells. One spell gone awry does not a failed witch make. Hell's fire, I'd say it's the other way around even." She crouched down, trying to pat Tara on the back or shoulder or something. "No one's going to yell. I promise you that. You've done nothing to deserve it."
Raven	"I think some people are even enjoying it," Raven said. She send a gentle pulse of comfort toward Tara, stricken by the sound of tears in her voice. "There was some confusion and worry at first, yes, but this is no different from the many things that Fandom has forced us to deal with. No one will yell at you."
Tara	"If you promise," Tara said, relaxing under Karla's hand on her knee and Raven's comfort. Her voice was still thick and very young, but with something of a new strength in it. She had to admit the other girls had a point, and (even if it would make her life easier) she couldn't let everyone stay invisible forever. "Stand back, though, I-if the c-counterspell goes weird I don't want it to hit anybody else again."
Karla	Karla smiled a bit, not that anyone could see her. That was what she'd been hoping to hear in Tara's voice. "Sure, no problem," she said. "Whatever you need us to do. We're in this together, right?"
Raven	"You will do fine," Raven reassured her, wishing Tara could see her smile. "I have every confidence in you, and so does Karla. Just believe in yourself as we believe in you."
Tara	"Th-thanks," Tara sniffled, then closed her eyes and folded herself into lotus position to focus. She listened until it seemed like the girls had taken steps away from her, then quickly chanted: "Blind Cadria, lift your veil. Give magic form and break my spell." She didn't open her eyes before asking, "Is it all right? Do -- can you see me?"
Karla	"We can, yes," Karla said happily, glancing from her hands to Tara and back again. "The spell is broken. Is it wrong that I'm kind of hoping that it came down in time to catch a few people in compromising positions? I think that would be funny."
Raven	"I never doubted you could do it for a moment," Raven said, equally pleased. "And I think your spell will be very useful in the future."
Tara	Tara opened her eyes and looked down at her hands, seeming stunned they were there, before glancing up at Raven and Karla. It had never felt so good to see them. "We're here." Slowly, as if waking from a dream, she added, "We should go back to the campfire and make sure it worked on everyone else." And so they did.