(no subject)

[mnt_raph]

*The exit opens to a dark alleyway. Doesn't matter that it's the afternoon, most alleyways are dark. Especially ones in this part of town. The sounds of the city are overwhelmed by the stench of the trash in the cans lining the alley.

Raph takes a deep breath*

Home sweet home.

Comments

[mnt_raph]

*He turns back to the vendor*
Make that two. Oh and two rootbeers. Barq's, if you got'em.

*There's a flurry of activity, as the vendor sets about dousing the hotdogs in various and sundry toppings of all types.

Raph hands off a hotdog and a can of soda to Andrew, and then pays the vendor for the food.*

Come'on, let's find a place to sit.

[stilljustandrew]

*There's a park bench not far from the cart, with an attractive view of a small placid body of water backed by a crag of stone, atop which is a tiny two-story castle.*

*It's called the Turtle Pond. But if Raph knows that, he isn't saying anything.*

*They sit, and Andrew fumbles for a moment trying to open the soda can without dropping the hotdog.*

[mnt_raph]

*Raph is about to take the first bite of his hotdog, when Andrew's struggling catches his eye.*

You all right over there?

[stilljustandrew]

I think I got it --

*Triumphantly, he manages to pop the top without spilling either the root beer or the sauerkraut. He grins, and takes a large bite of his hot dog.*

[mnt_raph]

Well done.

*Raph chuckles and follows suit. He makes short work of the hotdog, and then leans back on the park bench, nursing the rootbeer*

Okay, this...this right here? This is pretty wild. That's what this is.

[stilljustandrew]

Well, it's sort of wild over there -- *he points to a tiny island in the lake, heavy with overgrown greenery* -- and on the other side of the hill, but here they've trimmed the bushes and everything...

*He trails off, realizing that isn't quite what Raph meant.*

[mnt_raph]

Dork don't shut off, do it Andrew?
*he smirks*

[stilljustandrew]

sorry.

You meant, uh ...

what did you mean?

[mnt_raph]

*He finishes his soda, crumples the can and then tosses it into a nearby trashcan*

'Bout which part? The wild? Or the Geek?

[stilljustandrew]

The wild.

The Geek I got.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph stretches backwards, the bones of his spine snap as he does so.*

Andrew. It's the middle of the afternoon. I'm sprawled on a park bench by my favorite pond in Central Park. No one's running. No one's screaming. There ain't a ninja in sight.

This don't seem wild to you?

[stilljustandrew]

...oh.

*He begins to smile.*

Yeah, that's ...

... that's pretty cool actually.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph shuts his eyes and basks in the sun for a moment, a smile slowly forming*

Yeah. Yeah it is.

Andrew?
What's your biggest dream?

[stilljustandrew]

Biggest dream...?

*He looks out over the lake, and up at the odd little castle, and further up at the chill blue November sky.*

...I don't know.

I used to dream about things like -- meeting Peter Jackson or somebody, you know? Or learning to do magic. Or being a hero in some epic struggle of good and evil.

Or meeting a girl who --

[mnt_raph]

Yeah yeah yeah...I get the picture.
How'd you feel at first.
...
Overall, I don't need details, thanks.

[stilljustandrew]

...Nervous. Like I'd screw it up.

[mnt_raph]

*he opens his eyes, and watches the world go by*

Yup. I'd say that pretty much sums it up, right there.

[stilljustandrew]

*He takes a long drink of root beer.*

So now what?

[mnt_raph]

*His mind reels. Oh the possibilities!*

I'd say Yankee Stadium, but it's a little late in the season for that. Next year. Uh..I dunno. What do you wanna do?

[stilljustandrew]

*The suggestion "Let's go crazy Broadway-style!" is in his head, but he squelches it firmly. That sort of line only leads to musical numbers, nd that's just not happening on this trip.*

Uh ...

oh! I'd kind of like to get Meg a present. Maybe a souvenir or something.

Only I, uh, don't have any money.

Never mind.

[mnt_raph]

What kind of present?

[stilljustandrew]

...I don't know. I've never done this before....

uh, a necklace maybe? Or, I don't know, something to wear?

--not a scarf, though, she's got tons of those.

[mnt_raph]

*He chuckles*
Yeah, no joke. That girl's got enough scarves to choke a yak.

Hmmm. If April's shop were still 'round, I'd take you there.
Tiffany's?

[stilljustandrew]

-- isn't that like really expensive, though? Diamonds and stuff?

[mnt_raph]

*Raph shrugs*
Dunno, never been inside.
Wanna go?