(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]

*Raph stands up and brushes off his combat pants.*

Okay, ummm. I'm pretty sure it's down town. I think.
where did I remember seein' that place
Yeah, I think it's that way.

*He points to the South East portion of the Park. He turns back to Andrew, and sighs*

Cab?

[stilljustandrew]

Or subway. Whatever's good.

[mnt_raph]

*he says absently*
Good would be trompin' through the sewers, but I doubt they'd let us in after somethin' like that...
It'd be the 10 to the 30?

Fuck it. Cab.
Come'on.

*there is an uneventful cab ride to the corner of 57^th and 5^th.*

[stilljustandrew]

*And inside Tiffany's, Andrew peers at diamonds and jade and amethysts and amber, wincing occasionally at the price tags.*

[mnt_raph]

*Raph can't help but totally stand out. Black hooded sweatshirt, black army pants, combat boots. The employees give him a wide berth, and the security staff are keeping a close eye on him, and he knows it.*

Find anythin'?

[stilljustandrew]

*He sighs.*

I totally couldn't afford any of this. And ... I dunno, none of it looks like her, you know?

Is there somewhere else we could try?

[mnt_raph]

This is New York! Course there are other places to look.
I uh, just don't know where....*he snaps his fingers*
The Village. We gotta head back there to get back anyway...and they've got a whole bunch'a little shops and what not.

*They exit and snag another cab*

[stilljustandrew]

*Feathered masks in one place, painted glass beads in another, embroidered shawls in another; a thousand types of tawdry finery in the windows of half a hundred hole-in-the-wall shops.*

*Andrew fingers a necklace of amber and shells, and frowns meditatively.*

[mnt_raph]

*Raph calls over from where he's untangling a beaded curtain on display.*

That don't look like the face of a happy shopper.

[stilljustandrew]

I dunno ... this is closer, but it's not quite ...

*He trails off, spotting something on the other side of the display. He lifts it carefully, his eyes lighting.*

*It's a dreamcatcher pendant, in silver and six shades of blue.*

[mnt_raph]

Not quite?....

[stilljustandrew]

Hey, ever see one of these?

*He holds up the pendant, letting it spin on its fine silver chain.*

[mnt_raph]

*Raph looks up, the beaded curtain almost totally repaired.*

Yeah...ain't that one of them dream catcher things?

[stilljustandrew]

*He beams.*

It's perfect.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph raises an eyebrow and then smiles*
Well all right then. Can't argue with perfection, can ya'?

*he looks back at the curtain, that now untangled makes the picture of a hula girl.*

Mike needs this. He really does.

[stilljustandrew]

...I wonder if I could get Tim or Jonathan to put a spell on this, so it'd actually protect her dreams...?

*He twists it around to peer at the price tag, and grins.*

It's twelve dollars. Which I can afford! ...uh, which I could afford if I had any money in any way at all.

*He sighs.*

I wonder if there's any way I could get the bar to put it on my tab?

[mnt_raph]

Well, you know how much Tim hates The Magic.

*He says while fighting with the hula girl display curtain. Emerging successful, Raph makes his way over to Andrew.

With hands trained for picking pockets, he easily removes the necklas from Andrew's grasp and heads towards the register*

[stilljustandrew]

Hey, uh --

*He tries to follow Raph, gets slightly tangled with a display of beaded bracelets, and winds up tagging after him with a sort of sideways skipping motion.*

-- I can pay you back for that, uh ... somehow ...

[mnt_raph]

*Raph smiles at the cute girl behind the register, giving her a 'how you doin'?' for good measure. He fishes a pristine looking fifty dollar bill out of his pocket and pays.

The girl smiles back, and hands Raph a small paper bag with the necklace, and a larger plastic bag with the curtain.

Raph tosses the small paper bag at Andrew*

Eh, don' worry 'bout it. 'S my good deed for the day.

[stilljustandrew]

*Andrew catches the paper bag, and smiles gratefully at Raph.*

Thanks, man.

I'll, uh ... next time I can do you a favor, just name it, okay?

[mnt_raph]

*Raph raises his eyebrows and smirks*
Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

*He gives a nod at the cashier girl, and then heads out of the store*

So, where to now?

[stilljustandrew]

Uh ...

*He's glancing up and down the street, and facing south, he suddenly pauses and goes very still.*

*He's looking at the Twin Towers.*

[mnt_raph]

*Raph knows that look. It's the look one gets when a hoarde of enemies come into view. Knife in hand, Raph turns to see what they're up against...and blinks in confusion when he sees Andrew is looking at The Towers.*

oh.
They uh...they're gone where you're from, ain't they?
Tim tol' me 'bout that.

[stilljustandrew]

...yeah. They're, uh ... yeah.

*His face is so very still.*

Could we...?

[mnt_raph]

*Raph nods*
Sure. Never been on the inside before.

*unsure what to do, Raph claps Andrew on the shoulder, in an attempt to be reassuring*