mnt_raph | (no subject)

There are days when Raph wishes he'd paid more attention to Donnie's Astronomy lessons. Not for any sense of personal edification, or to make him feel more in tune with the universe around him, but because if he'd done so he just might have a larger pool of comparisons from which to draw when trying explain just how MUCH he doesn't want to have the talk he's about to have with Abigail.

At the moment he's stuck at a whole freakin' lot.
Nothing to really be done though, right? Worms. Busted can. GIANT SPIDERS.

He sighs before pushing open the door to the Disgruntled Tortoise. It's long past sunset and what little dinner crowd there was has begun to shuffle out leaving plenty of room for the night owls to find places to roost. Raph nods a greeting in the direction of the familar faces as he makes his way through the tavern to his preferred spot over by the bar.

The two katana slung over one shoulder are new, as is the blank expression on his face.
Nothing good comes from blank expressions, they usually indicate one is hiding something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

mnt_raph

He hasn't let go because he's kind of amazed that what just happened actually worked. Quickly he lets go, completely oblivious to the fact that in his tirade he's gone and nicked his hand.

"Right. Okay, then."

He takes a step back, because...well the last place you want to be is at the pointy end of a katana. Raph knows, there's a small scar on the right side of his top lip from the one of the many times he was on the wrong side of Leo.

"Let's see what you got."

From:

tortallan_npc

"The stableyard might've been a better choice," Abigail points out reasonably, arching an eyebrow at Raph. "My quarters aren't meant for sword practice."

The weapon is hers to control now, and she's enjoying the sensation. There's no training or inherent skill in the way she sweeps the blade through the air; but Abigail is clever and determined, and she doesn't waste time with pretty movements or preliminary blustering. Had the strike been real, it would have been to kill.

The katana doesn't feel at all like Tortallan steel.

"Your father gifted you with this?"

From:

mnt_raph

"That he did."

Says distantly with eyes intent on watching her technique. Or, you know, the lack there of. It...it's really kind of cute, though he'll never say that to her. Certainly not while she's armed, though he can't help but smile.

"Outside's better for practice sure, but inside's better for explainin' why there needs be practice in the first place. I...brought'em both. The katana, I mean. Usually they come with one long an' one short, but we always used two long while trainin'. I figured I'd loan the other one to Thomas, if you think he's up for it."

Edited Date: 2009-01-20 10:55 pm (UTC)

From:

tortallan_npc

"He'll accept it," says Abigail, "if you offer."

The warning isn't hard to pick out there, is it? Is it, Raph?

He's worried about them. She thinks that's as cute as he probably finds her attempts at swordsmanship, which don't improve on a second pass. No one could doubt her fierce intent, however.

"So we have Spidrens in the valley. And there are other monsters afoot?"

From:

mnt_raph

Raph gets the message, or rather Raph gets a message and he nods to show it.

"I'll run it by him."

Intent means everything. At the end of the day even a swordsman with pretty moves can still be a dead one. Raph holds up a hand, indicating that maybe she should stop for a moment.

"Stormwings, though I ain't any."

From:

tortallan_npc

Reluctantly, Abigail lowers the sword.

Stormwings. These are strange times, indeed.

"Where are you takin' the children?" she asks at last.

From:

mnt_raph

And just when he thought things were going so well...
Before his face has time to blanch, and before he knows what his mouth is saying, Raph replies:

"Milliways, until we can get'em to the palace safe."

Then the world around him begins to drain of color.

From:

tortallan_npc

Abigail blinks.

"I've not heard of a town or fief by that name," she notes.

From:

mnt_raph

And then the stammering begins.

"That's uh...because...well...it..."

From:

tortallan_npc

The tip of the sword points to the floor as she takes a step closer, watching the color continue to drain from his face. The stammering starts to confirm her suspicion that he'd rather piss himself than tell her the truth.

She nods in a way that might be encouraging, if she didn't also look like she wants to reach down his throat and pull the words out. "It's...?"

From:

mnt_raph

"It ain't part of this world."

He says finally, but only after he's taken a deep breath and focused his eyes on the tip of the sword she's holding.

From:

tortallan_npc

Her eyes follow his, but there's an angry set to her mouth and her fingers tighten on the sword's grip. A casual observer might think she means to use it on him.

She doesn't. That doesn't mean she doesn't think about whacking him on the head with the hilt.

"Then what world claims it as its own?" she asks with disturbing calm.

From:

mnt_raph

"It don't. It's like...a pocket between'em, or somethin'."

The Metaphysics of Milliways never did make a whole lot of sense to Raph.

From:

tortallan_npc

"A pocket."

Uh huh.

"Between worlds."

Abigail puts the sword on the bed.

"I should think you're touched in the head."

From:

mnt_raph

Hey now! There's no need to go questioning the guy's sanity, or the structural integrity of his skull.

"But giant spiders with people faces are totally rational."

From:

tortallan_npc

He has a point, and it's acknowledged with a slight tilt of her mouth.

Perhaps by 'worlds' he means 'realms,' and perhaps this is just a type of magic she doesn't have the training to understand.

Yet.

"You've been there before?"

From:

mnt_raph

He nods.

"Yeah, you could say that. It..."

Oh man, he's really going to say this, isn't he?"

"It's where I was that week I went missin'. Kinda got stuck there...I...was in a fight."

From:

tortallan_npc

"But you've got a lamb's temper."

Feel the tremendous force of her shock, Raph. It's a wonder to behold.

"You should've told me as much then," she states, looking unimpressed. "This place, this Milliways, the Lioness goes there, then?"

From:

mnt_raph

It really truly is.
And he braces himself against it by folding his arms across his chest.

"What, so you could'a been pissed at me an' thought I was crazy? An' yeah....she does. She's there now, coverin' for me while I'm here with you."

From:

tortallan_npc

With Spidrens and Stormwings on the loose, a person would think she'd be here.

A deep breath later, Abigail swallows the slight resentment; it's easy to do when she knows where it's coming from and besides, she likes Alanna well enough; it's not her fault Raph kept this from Abigail.

He'll have to suffer the consequences for that. They will undoubtedly be long lasting and inventive.

"I've long been aware you're mad," she tells him, tilting her head. "Very well. You're taking the children to a pocket between worlds as a favor to the Lioness."

Beat.

"Try to control your fists. I'd like you back in one piece before the next moon."

From:

mnt_raph

"Runs in the family."

Raph says with a smile. This...this is going better than he'd hoped. Better than he ever could have dreamed. Look! He talked about Milliways! She didn't yell or run!

He crosses the space between them.

"Won't be long. Couple days tops. Alanna's going to find safe passage for the kids to the palace, once they're secure I'm back and on patrol.

You have my word that this is the first place I'll come once I can and we can go from there."

From:

tortallan_npc

He might be covering up a worse lie with an outrageous one. He might really be crazy.

Or, as impossible as it seems, he's sincere and the world is a very different place than she'd thought. It's lucky she adapts well. Still, Abigail has an unsettling feeling that everything she knows is about to change.

"You have mine that I'll keep your father's gift close," she promises, "in case a Spidren walks through our door. Though if it's a payin' customer, Thomas might not like me removin' its head."

Guess what, Raph? Now you get to explain to Thomas!

From:

mnt_raph

"I'll help you bury the bodies when I get back."

He says before leaning in for a kiss. True love is always having someone there to help hide the bodies. Raph traces the line of her jaw with his thumb, his expression serious.

"Be safe."

From:

tortallan_npc

"T'would be foolish to try to be otherwise," she remarks with a smile, briefly resting her hand on his cheek. "We'll talk on this more when you're home."

After she's had time to think and puzzle over her questions.

Her smile widens. "Next time, I'll come along."