like a bird

“To bad, if you could fly then we’d be having a totally different conversation.” She said smiling brightly at the woman. Her eyebrows raised at the thought there were seven other people out there that looked like her, that looked like Harley. “I did.” she laughed. “It’s nice to meet another.” She said. “So, Raven, where might you be from?” She asked as she walked to the board that held the roommate list. 

“If I could fly -- I think I’d be experiencing the world before I got caught my some government to have experiments done on me” She said, a small laugh escaping her. “I’d be like a real life X-Men.” As much as the blonde loved the movies -- she didn’t know if she’d want to have super powers like them. “Norway. Just flew in not too long ago” Following Nora to the board, she arched her brow slightly. “I didn’t know they had this -- otherwise I think I would have been.... not so lost”

“I have no idea what that means.” She replied with a smile, her eyes on the other girl. “Wait, that one word said all of that? Or that was the start of it and you stopped?: She asked with a chuckle. “I’m not sure, just how I’m wired I guess. Everybody is different and that makes life much better if you ask me.” She said with a smile, knowing that everybody had different preferences. “I know where most things are. If we get lost, at least we won’t be alone. And thankfully I know my way around pretty well so we won’t be lost for long.” She said, her head nodding. “That makes sense. I think it’ll all fall into place, life kind of works like this. I hope you make the Olympic team though. THat’d be so badass.” She added before chuckling. “Eventually tehre will be no more rooms…eventually.”

“Those all sound like very deep problems.” Katerina half-teased the blonde with a smile on her face. “I can relate to the being in a new country thing, but that’s about it.” She added softly. “As for the hungry thing, I can show you the kitchen if you’d like? There’s lots of yumminess in there – and then I can help you find your room afterwards?”

“Some more so than others” Raven said with a crinkle of her nose. “I was thinking most people, unless they’re actually from England could relate to that one. I’m just glad I know English so it makes everything slightly easier” She said with a shrug -- glad that the language barrier wasn’t too much of a problem. “Sounds like a good plan to me. I bet this kitchen has all the best things. Is it odd that I’m exited to see it?”

Making her way through the halls of the mansion, Kathy spotted the blonde as she made her way around the corner. “Herling? What does that mean, love?” she chuckled as she approached the girl. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. You look rather lost though,” she smiled.

Looking up at the older woman, Raven bit her lower lip. “Wonderful. Nothing rude” She said with a grin. “No -- you’re fine. I know there are a lot of people living here so I expected to run into them at some stage” The blonde felt slightly less nervous now there was someone who might be able to point her in the right direction. “Heh, yeah. I was just exploring the place and then I got a little lost. Tried retracing my steps but.... here I am... still lost.”

Everything felt different, this time around. Disappearing to Paris after reuniting with Sloan had been an impulsivity (most of her decisions were), but the news of Chase’s death had sent her back to England on a red-eye flight. What would greet her when she arrived? She hadn’t a clue. But the melancholic thickness that hung in the mansion air didn’t leave her untainted; her usual impish smile absent from plump lips, as she sat. Curled up in the living room, Imogen was perched beside a window sill — her eyes glued to the water-streaked panes, even as footsteps entered the room behind her. She didn’t bother tearing her gaze away from the downpour outside. Surely some might have found it poetic. “The rain can’t even let up for a night, can it? … I suppose it wouldn’t be home without the drizzle.” Imogen mused, soft green gaze finally wandering to lock with the eyes of those behind her.

Raven knew that the mood in the house had changed drastically with the two things that had happened -- someone being shot dead and two of the women missing. Although she didn’t know any of the women involved in this, she felt sad for the people who did know them. The blonde didn’t really know how to act around anyone -- not sure of how close they were to the three women. Walking into one of the rooms, after being caught out in the rain -- chasing a dog she had accidentally let out of the house, she was glad to be back in some kind of warmth. “I don’t think it can” She said with a nervous laugh, pulling off the sweatshirt that was drenched. “I’m just hoping no other dogs decide that they want to try and follow me outside... because I don’t want to go out there again” Grabbing a blanket that was thrown over one of the sofas, she wrapped it around herself. It was good enough until she could make it to her room. Groaning slightly as she felt said dog nudge her leg, Raven looked down at it. “At least someone’s dog likes me”

The light laugh drew a confused expression from the redhead’s face; so it wasn’t a curse word, well that was unfortunate. Shannon might’ve seemed like a doll to many a stranger, but she had the mouth of a sailor when she was annoyed or surprised. “Ehm, right right,” she said in return, laughing it off herself and waving away the confusion in a breezy manner. When the blonde spoke again, the dancer giggled more genuinely this time, “Yer not havin’ to censor yerself in front of me. I hear I could have me a man or two in a cussin’ fight, but don’t go tellin’ others that just yet. They’ll think me a low girl, wouldn’t ye think?” She asked it more-so to herself, before refocusing on the younger contestant. “How long ye been here’n the hotel? I’m new, meself.” 

As the redhead spoke, Raven tried to keep up with what she was saying. The blonde had no problems understanding English and speaking it -- but when an accent she wasn’t familiar with was thrown into the mix, it made things slightly harder for her. “Uh...” Raven trailed off and blinked a couple of times. “I don’t think anyone is going to think low of your for swearing. Everyone does it. They’re lying if they say they don’t” The blue eye woman said with a small smile. “Not long. I just got here. I think most people I’ve met are new, too”

She kept a smile on her lips despite feeling a bit odd momentarily as she adjusted to the new voice of a girl who looked much to similar to her lost love. “What’s your name? Maybe I can help you find your room” she said simply. “And yeah–sorry, you just look like someone I once knew. Surprised me is all.” the ginger said shrugging. 

“Raven. Like the bird but unfortunately... I can’t fly like a bird” The blonde said, crinkling her nose. She knew that her jokes weren’t the best and probably more on the lame side of things but she figured that the people she was going to be living with would get used to them rather quickly. “Oh” Raven replied to the comment about looking like someone Nora used to know. “Well.... they say that there are seven other people that look like us in the world. I guess whoever you knew was one of mine” The blue eyed woman said with a small smile.

HAVING BENT OVER TO TRY AND TRY AND PICK UP SOMETHING she had previously dropped Colette didn’t recall anyone in her close proximity but upon standing up and hearing a voice it did call for her attention, turning around and smiling as she noticed the distressed figure hoping she might be able to help her out; “Hi there. I wasn’t sure if that was your name or another language but I’m Colette. Anything I can do to help?”

Looking at Collete with a small grin, Raven let out a small laugh. “Oh... it was another language. Norwegian” She informed the other woman. “My name’s Raven. Nice to meet you” The blonde held out her hand for the other to shake. “Uh, do you know where the kitchen or a place to eat happens to be?” She asked, tilting her head to the side. “Short flight, not a lot of food and I forgot to eat before I left home” The blonde grinned “It happens”

Already this morning, Katerina had been to the gym, eaten breakfast, and taken a shower – the three things she was sure to do every morning. Now that her usual morning routine had been completely, the brunette found herself just aimlessly wandering around the halls, wondering who she would run into first. Of course, she never expected she’d run into a stranger. Noticing that the blonde looked like she was struggling, Katerina figured she’d better offer her help. “You alright, sunshine?”

Turning her head as she heard a voice, Raven bit her lower lip and shrugged her shoulders slightly. “Depends on your definition of alright. I mean -- I’m in a new country, lost in the place I’m meant to be living in and I’m hungry” The blue-eyed woman didn’t mean to sound like she was a downer, but those were the facts she had. “So... I think I’m doing... not so great for now, but as soon as I figure everything out -- I’ll be more than alright.” Raven said, giving the brunette a small smile.

“You probably did. Which is something that may not happen often. So you may regret it.” She teased, a chuckle escaping her lips. “I am. I don’t know about a talent but every person is different. Makes life interesting and flow better, I think. That makes sense, smaller groups can be easier but sometimes they terrify me, honestly.” She admitted, her shoulders shrugging. “That depends, if you’re with somebody who knows where things are, it’s possible, if you’re alone and new. Definitely not possible. What do you plan on going to university for, if you go back?” She asked, honestly curious. She loved knowing what other people planned on doing because not everybody figured it out. She shook her thoughts though and nodded, “I couldn’t agree more. Slightly lost is always a better scenario.” She admitted before she made a face, “I think I know where your room is, want to explore a bit?”

Feeling like the girl might be shy, or maybe just wasn’t as much as an open book Nicole practically was, she decided not to think much of it- if anything she just wanted to make her feel comfortable. And animals could be a big help with that. Hearing the blonde’s voice go up in octaves as she greeted her buddy, she couldn’t help but smile widely at the sight. Reuben’s tail went nuts, like he always did when he became excited when he received attention. Someone to pet his head or to play with, he loved it all, once he trusted the people who were around him. She felt like she truly had made progress in comparison to the first time she had taken him home and introduced to other people, way too soon for the dog to handle. Which was barely months ago and now… right now he was wagging his tail like a lunatic just by such a tender gesture, receiving attention from the younger woman. ‘’Thank you, he’s doing his absolute best,’’ she replied to how he adorable he was, as it was all the dog’s own doing. ‘’You’re a girl after my heart, dogs are the sweetest creatures and best ones to have by your side. Mutual trust is one of the strongest bonds you can have with an animal. Really? What dog did you have in mind? I’m actually really, truly in love with pugs, but don’t let Reuben hear that.’’ The red head joked around to keep the air light between them as she moved closer towards the doorway. ‘’You’re no idiot, absolutely not,’’ she reassured her by softly resting her hand on the girls’ shoulder. ‘’Do you want Reuben to come along with us? It’s all up to you, darling.’’

Seeing the dogs tail wag crazily, the blonde grinned at him. Raven was glad that Reuben  seemed to accept her and allowed her to pet him. Raven loved dogs and most creatures, except for wasps since she was allergic and just didn’t want to go through that experience again. “His best is good enough, I love him already” The blue eyed woman said with a small laugh -- continuing to scratch behind his ears. “Dogs are something. I always loved going to some of my friends houses because of their dogs -- they’d wonder if I was there to see them or the dog.” Raven said with a small laugh and a shrug of her shoulders. “I don’t know. Honestly, I’ve always loved pugs” As Nicole said she too loved pugs, she froze for a moment -- wondering how it was possible for her to even have something slightly in common with the person she thought could be her mother and then realized many people loved them, so it wasn’t a big deal. “Or Saint Bernard's. Complete opposite sides of the size pyramid for dogs but they both just always interested me. Maybe that’s why my dad didn’t want me to get a dog -- because I’d go for the biggest one possible” Raven let out another dog, imagining herself getting dragged by the St. Bernard. Feeling the older woman’s hand on her shoulder, Raven tensed up slightly and held her breath. Letting it out slowly, she let her shoulders relax -- hoping that Nicole didn’t notice what had happened -- she didn’t want the woman to think she was strange, or closed off -- when in reality, Raven was almost like an open book. This was her first meeting with her mother, possibly -- after all, how many Nicole Wolfe’s could there be in the world who were also Veterinarians? “Of course -- can’t leave him here all on his lonesome, can we?” Looking down at the dog, Raven grinned at him “Do you want to come on an adventure, boy? Do ya?” She asked him -- her tone of voice slightly higher than normal. Watching his tail move faster once again Raven looked over at Nicole “I think he’s all for adventure -- so where to first?” 

Nora was making her way to her own room when she almost ran right into the blonde. Her eyes quickly darted up locked with the other girls. It took her all of a moment to take in the girl’s features. Her breath being taken away as she saw the girl. The only thing that pulled her from her sudden shock was the girl’s voice. It wasn’t Harley. But damn, did they look similar. Dopplegangers were a real thing and she now wondered where her own doppleganger was. “Are you okay?”

Raven was glad that she didn’t crash into the redhead -- that was not a great way to meet someone that she was going to be living with for who knew how long. Giving the other woman a weak smile, she pushed her brows together as Nora seemed to recognize her. The blue-eyed woman couldn’t think of a time when she had met someone who looked like Nora, but maybe she had. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little lost, but it’s fine. I think. I hope. Are you? You looked like you’ve seen a ghost and I almost fully crashed into you there...” The Norwegian trailed off, her accent thick.