[Social] Have No Fear, Even Though It's Hard to Hear

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina made her way across the quad in between classes.

Well, that was the idea at any rate. In reality, she was more 'standing in the doorway between one building and the next', anxiously looking over the open space she'd have to cross to get there.

But no, she was doing fine. Probably.

((open))

[Wanda Johansson]

Several students jostle past her on their way to their own classes before a voice behind her asks, "Is everything alright?"

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina started slightly at the voice behind her, but gained her composure rapidly.

"Oh, erm, yes. Yes, everything's fine, thank you..." she said, turning around to see who it was.

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda regarded her, adjusting the bag slung across her body. She was dressed in a long skirt and a solid color t-shirt that showed off the tattooing up her right arm that seemed to be a work in progress. "Okay. It just felt like you might be having a moment there and I didn't want to disturb you," she says, casting a stern glance at the backs of the students who had shoved past Katarina.

[Katarina Karkov]

"It's...well, this is odd to say," Katarina said, still hedging.

"It's just a...sudden shift to return here, after I was...away. Much has changed."

[Wanda Johansson]

"And you feel... out of place?" She guessed, smiling in what she hoped was a comforting way.

[Katarina Karkov]

"In part, yes," Katarina nodded, put at least somewhat at ease by Wanda's reaction. "But also...you try not to think about the dangers, until the dangers come thinking about you."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Once you see the dangers, it sort of redefines your normal," Wanda nods, "I've been there."

[Katarina Karkov]

"In the past, there was someone to take care of all those problems for me; to watch out for and manage the dangers. But she..." Katarina said, pausing.

"Now I am on my own," she finished, simply.

[Wanda Johansson]

"I didn't find my guardian until after the danger had arrived, but one thing I did learn is that this place is full of people who will watch out for you."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Well, you may say that what you like, but that does not change the fact that the danger found me here. It will...take some re-adjusting."

[Wanda Johansson]

"That's fair," Wanda says, "No one would tell you how to feel, well, no one worth knowing."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina nodded. "I just...didn't anticipate the difficulty on my return. I thought it was over."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Your response to trauma doesn't end with the event. It didn't for me. I still have moments where I forget something or feel like I lose track of time and I start to panic. And the response doesn't always make sense."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina nodded. "You said that afterwards, you found a...guardian, of sorts?"

[Wanda Johansson]

"It's complicated, but yes." Wanda inclines her head slightly, "She was one of the people hunting me at one time, but she had a change of heart and I gave her a second chance to watch out for me instead of hunting me."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Being able to turn foe to friend is a very useful skill. One that I would give much to have right about now," Katarina sighed.

[Wanda Johansson]

"I can't claim the credit for her change of heart, but, if you were to ask my advice, I would say that a reasonable place to start is believing that people *can* change."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina gave a rueful chuckle. "It is...difficult for people to change, when they have put so much stock into their position. To admit defeat...is not easy, for many."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Sometimes they have to come to terms with how things have changed for them. That isn't always a fast process."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Well, I shall take that under advisement as soon as they stop plotting to kidnap me," Katarina sighed. "If I am honest, they seem to want things to change far quicker than I am comfortable with," she added, trying to land a joke (and not quite succeeding).

[Wanda Johansson]

"They're not vampires are they?" It was an oddly serious question.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Just because we border Transylvania does not mean that we are all vampires in Eastern Europe," Katarina scoffed.

[Wanda Johansson]

"I'm sure it must sound that way, but they were the ones who kidnapped me, so I was curious."

[Katarina Karkov]

"Ah, my apologies," Katarina said, uh, apologetically. "It is...a bit of a hair trigger for me, I suppose at the moment.

No, these were rival noble families, attempting to take the kingdom for themselves. So, altogether, a lower form of life."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Or at the very least an ambitious and unscrupulous one."

[Katarina Karkov]

"It is seeking power for the benefit of seeking power, and not for the responsibilities that come with it. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but they would melt it down for their own private gains."

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda nods, "Too many people don't see or understand the responsibilities of power."

[Katarina Karkov]

"The responsibilities, the importance, the necessity..." Katarina said, huffing.

"Here I am, supposed to be leading my people into a new generation, and I can't even lead myself across the zasraný quad!"

[Wanda Johansson]

"Then, for at least the time being, you find someone who can go with you. I'm heading in that direction myself, if you would like company."

[Katarina Karkov]

"I...

Yes. Yes, that would be...quite useful, thank you," Katarina said, trying to regain a little bit of dignity in the situation.

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda steps around Katarina and out the door, stopping there, "Shall we?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"Yes, I...

...Thank you, Wanda," she said. "I shall remember this."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Happy to do it any time," Wanda says, falling into step beside Katarina.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Well, here is hoping that any time will not be every time," Katarina said, with a slight grumble as the two crossed the quad.

[Wanda Johansson]

"Take it at the pace you need to take it. If it's every time for a bit, there's no harm in that."

[Katarina Karkov]

"If only it were that simple," Katarina sighed. "There are decisions that need to be made, moves that need to be done. And I am expected to do them; to lead and guide. I do not know if my country has time for me to be afraid of assassins in every shadow."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Your country can likely afford for you to be human. You can't help balance them if you're not balanced yourself."

[Katarina Karkov]

"That would be ideal, wouldn't it?" Katarina sighed. "But not everything can work on my ideal timeframe."

[Wanda Johansson]

"There can also be damage in rushing things. I understand demands no waiting for convenient times, but someone can help you triage those, yes? Someone can share that burden?"