[OOM: Up on the roof]

[mnt_raph]

*It's a nice dream. One might even say a happy dream, which is why there's an inadvertant reaction with the Pixie Dust he'd had sprinkled on him two days before. Raph doesn't know it, but he's been floating an inch or so above the bed for a good five minutes now. As one stage of sleep flows into the next, the dream ends and Raph comes crashing down onto the bed. This wakes him up enough to realize he's in bed, and he's not alone. Rolling onto his side he sees a mop of black hair sticking out from under neath the blankets. Half asleep he scoots over and wraps his arms around the sleeping figure, placing a kiss on the nape of her neck.

Something doesn't seem right, but he's too groggy to be able to put a finger on what exactly that is.
He rests his forehead between her shoulders.....her....broad shoulders.....waitaminute....

Eyes opening slowly at first, and then wider when the changes begin to sink in.....'round about now is when the screaming starts....*

Comments

[locks_it_up]

For her part, she looks like she's been kicked in the stomach.

She doesn't have words.

[mnt_raph]

*His expression shifts. Neutral to penitant...all the while anger lurks in the background. He'd reach out to her, if he didn't feel so damn dirty.*

[locks_it_up]

Her arms drop to her sides.

She knows damn well he didn't mean to. She should reach out and tell him it's okay. She wants to, even.

But she's hurt.

[mnt_raph]

*run. Run. RUN. You've fucked things up again. Regroup. Escape. GET OUT!*
Hands clenched into fists, body tense, jaw set.
Ready for flight....when it hits him....he has no where to go. No where left to run. No where to hide.
There's no where she isn't.

His legs look like they're going to buckle as his body goes slack. With a thud, he sits back on the edge of his tub, hiding his face in his hands.*

'm so sorry.....

[locks_it_up]

She reaches up and swipes at her eyes. There's no way she's crying.

"I'm not going to say it's okay. 'Cause it's really not."

She kneels next to him, touching the back of his hand gently.

"But it will be."

[mnt_raph]

*He leans into her touch.*

you really should just squish me....

[locks_it_up]

"Should. Can't. Love you too much."

[mnt_raph]

*he looks at her through the spaces between his fingers.*

but then you could keep me in a Sucrets box for safer keeping.

[locks_it_up]

"There is that."

She takes her hand away, and stands.

For some reason, she doesn't want to see him right now.

But she stays.

[mnt_raph]

*Leaning his weight elbows on knees, he looks up at her and then away.*

i can understand if you wanna go. i mean, i don't want you to go...*he sighs* ...but i don't want you to see me like this...i feel like you deserve an explanation, an' I'm never good at explainin' myself, an' this I really can't explain...an'...i just don't understand...it doesn't make sense...an' for the love'a just hit me.
please.
something.
anything.....please

[locks_it_up]

She is still. And very quiet. For a long time.

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to tear Desire a new one."

And then she leans back down, and lifts his head up to kiss him.

This time, she does not hold back.

[mnt_raph]

*The moment her lips touch his Raph's whole life turns to eleven. From egg to grave, he feels every single moment at once.
All the pain.
All the pleasure.
All of it.
Breaking free of the shell, to the breaking of his body through years of abuse until the final rattle shakes him free yet again. Lifeless husk left to the elements.

Her kiss is oblivion.*

[locks_it_up]

Too far. She went too far.

She rarely scrambles, is rarely flustered, but this is different. She can feel him slipping away, into her...

And she won't allow that.

What it looks like is her breathing into his mouth.

What it actually is, is her forcing him back into himself.

What it feels like... is very roughly like being born. Hatching. Crawling out of the dark and into the light.

When she is sure, positive that he is himself and whole, she pulls away, and studies his face. She is hurt. Hurt and afraid and maybe a little bit angry... but mostly, she just loves the idiot.

[mnt_raph]

*The force of it all sends him reeling back into the tub, arms flailing for something to hold onto. They feel new and uncoordinated, and as such he's unable to catch himself before his head cracks against the side of the tub.

His unfocused eyes roll about in his head until they finally focus on her.*

happy birthday.

[locks_it_up]

She winces at the sound.

"Idiot."

A helpless sigh.

"What the hell am I going to do with you?"

[mnt_raph]

*Still panting from his near Death experience..*

forgive me?

[locks_it_up]

"I will."

She turns her face away, looking at the bottles and the clothes and...

Her eyes close tightly.

"But not just yet."

[mnt_raph]

*Still reeling.*

don't blame you.

*He attempts to right himself, and get to his feet. He's cold, and he really wants to hide. Pieces of the night before begin to dribble and dance behind his eyes, and he wants them to go away.*

[locks_it_up]

She helps him to his feet, face turned away from him still.

Her other hand goes up to swipe at her eyes.

"You're going to have to be especially nice to me, you know."

There might be half a smile, there.

[mnt_raph]

*He can't seem to make eyecontact with her...can't imagine why.*

anything.

[locks_it_up]

"You figure it out."

She leads him to the main room. There's a suit laid out on the bed.

"That... should fit you."

A long sigh. She runs her hand through her hair, pauses, looks away.

He knows he fucked up. She doesn't need to belabor the point.

[mnt_raph]

*Raph looks at the suit, but the sight of the clothing still strewn about the floor almost makes him run back to the bathroom and vomit.
The tent should have cleaned that by now. The spells must be broken.
Clearly this is Mike's fault.
Mike.
Will.
Pay.*

i...i will

It's nice. Thanks.

[locks_it_up]

"Welcome."

There's another pause.

Then she kicks Tim's jeans into the wall.

[mnt_raph]

*Maybe it's the contact with the wall, or maybe the tent has finally wisened up, but suddenly the tent is alive with activity. The clothing folds itself and promptly finds its way towards appropriate drawers. The bed makes itself, plush Death front and center at the head of the bed. Even the bottles of cider go towards the recycle bin.

Raph rolls his eyes. Nice timing.*

when?

[locks_it_up]

"When what?"

She looks tired.