mnt_raph | [OOM: Olau. The Young Household.]

[OOM: Olau. The Young Household.]

Thank the Goddess for an empty house. Raph now fully appreciates why Splinter only chastised them after he and his brothers had snuck out, instead of stopping to lecture them before hand.

He rolls slightly, pressing a kiss to Abigail's forehead, before sitting up and getting to his feet. His clothes are around here somewhere...

"Hungry?" he asks, pulling his breeches over his anachronistic boxer shorts. Seven years is long enough to go without underwear, thank you very much. The boxers aren't the only new edition to his wardrobe that seem ever present these days, his Milliways Security Badge is rarely removed if he can at all avoid it.

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It's a wonder he could find Abigail's forehead through her mass of blond hair. Pushing it off her cheek, she slants a smile at Raph, then his curious short pants as they disappear beneath his proper ones.

"Aye, you've a talent for makin' me hungry," she says, laughter in her voice. "What strange sort of design are you wearin' today?"

Every new pair she spies sparks such a conversation. She delights in the look on his face.

That earns her an eye roll. Raph pauses, hooks a thumb into his waist band, and looks down at his boxers. He couldn't care less what the print happens to be, the sheer fact that they're there is all he really requires.

His shoulders slump. Frickin' Bar. That freakin' pain in the ass Bar. Raph swears under his breath.

"Turtles. Little green turtles."

Both her eyebrows raise.

Raph may or may not notice this as she sits up and fails to cover herself with the sheet.

"Adorable." A pert smile. "And very strange."

Oh he notices. Yes indeed he does, but not until after he takes a deep breath to calm himself.

"This's gotta be Mike's freakin' id..." his voice trails off as he looks up and catches sight of her. His consternation melts, and he can't help but smile. Such smiles on him make him look kind of dopey. Or...rather more dopey than usual.

She's so beautiful. And the house? So empty.

Raph has a way of looking at her that warms Abigail's insides for several reasons, all of them satisfying. The smile grows, turning slightly smug, and she stretches.

"Your brother selects your underthings?" she asks conversationally.

"I look like the laundry type to you?"

Dang his luck, he'd just gotten out of that bed. Dang his luck indeed. Oh well, what'cha gonna do?

That's okay. The rays of sun fighting their way through and around the heavy draperies suggest it's a beautiful day, and she's ready to be a part of it. She swivels sideways and extends one leg, then the other, and slowly stands.

The second stretch is purely for show.

"Mmmm, no. You'd make a mess of colors that bright," she agrees, assuming it's the same sort of dye available in Tortall, though she's never seen it applied so liberally.

Teasingly: "Does he have ones with rabbits?"

Dang his luck again. He just wasn't fast enough. No matter, that won't keep Raph from plopping himself back down on the bed. A front row seat to stretches is nothing to sneeze at. Plus it's possible his still missing shirt is somewhere amidst the blankets.

"It wouldn't surprise me one damn bit."

It's not. It's on the floor. Abigail, who threw it there last night, strolls over to him and picks it up along the way.

"Can't wait to see those, then."

A bright laugh follows the mental image of Raph stripping down for a wrestling match; his opponent would be so distracted that Raph would be sure to win.

Amused, she leans forward for a kiss.

That's all part of his plan, really. Distract them with animal shorts. Yes. Truly.

"I'll be sure to put in a request." he mutters before meeting her for the kiss.

Request. Request...what does he remember about a ...oh. Right. The Swoop.

"So, you think your Thomas and your Dad could do without you for a couple weeks?"

That startles her out of her own distraction attempt. Abigail blinks down at him, searching his eyes.

"Aye, they could stand it. I'm not so irreplaceable that young Molly from the village can't handle my work in my stead." Beat. "Why?"

Dang. He was hoping she'd think the time away was too long. Oh well...no backing out now. Still, he distracts himself by placing his hands upon her hips and fidgeting.

"We've been invited to Pirate Swoop by Alanna and Adam..."

Sorry, Raph. There's no way she was going to say no to that question immediately. He's never asked her a question like that before.

And his next statement does nothing to change her answer. Her eyes widen with surprise, but it's a pleased smile she gives him now.

"Have we?" Her voice goes slightly higher than normal.

He looks up at her, head tilting to one side.

"You ain't gonna explode or nothin' are you?"

"Explode?" It's oddly prim, especially as she's yet to retrieve any of her own clothing. "Don't be ridiculous."

Abigail runs a palm over his head and moves away, rummaging around for something to put on.

"What's Pirate's Swoop?" she asks eventually. "Name's familiar, means I've heard it, but I don't recall why."

He hates to see her leave, but he so loves to watch her go. He sighs again, damn Mike for putting that freakin' saying in his head.

"Don't really know, never been. Way I hear it it's a castle on the coast."

He pauses.

"You ever seen the ocean before?"

Her dress, simple but well made, is draped over a chair. Soon it's draped over her body.

"No."

It's wistful.

"I'm no noble," she adds, in what is almost a warning tone of voice.

"Seas don't belong to no one, nobles or not. They belong to themselves."

That last bit makes him think of his father, and as such he can't help but rub at the right side of his neck, just above where his tattoo sits.

"But the castle sittin' on its shores is noble through and through," she reminds him sharply. "I'm not ashamed of who and what I am, but they're used to fancy manners. Fancy dress. Fancy everything"

Abigail's eyes follow his fingers.

"Wait'll they get a load of us."

His chuckle goes dark towards the end.

"We don't gotta spend anymore time inside there than we have to. I ain't a real big fan of castles I ain't stormin'."

That soothes her. Reaching over, she trails her fingers along the spot he'd been rubbing.

"Are you askin' me, then?"

His eyes trail her hand, as his hand reaches up to cover hers.

"Yeah. Guess I am." Raph looks up at her then.

"Wanna go onna adventure?"

Abigail laughs.

"I would, yes. Do you?"

"Me? I'm always up for one."

Which isn't strictly true, given the fact that until he got caught up in her excitement this whole "adventure" was not something he looked upon fondly.

She turns her head slightly, just so she can look at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Anyone else goin' along?"

"With us? Not unless you want'em to. The kids're already there, an' Alanna'll meet up with us once Jon and Theyet progress or process or...whatever."

Raph doesn't do a whole lot of paying attention sometimes.

"Seein' the children will be nice."

Raph is going to get a stern lecture about his listening skills when she finds out Thayet and Prince Roald will also be in residence, not to mention all the Riders.

At least she'll feel comfortable with George.

Yeah, probably. You fall asleep in one little council meeting and suddenly you're just not in the loop anymore. Strange how that works.

"Yeah, it will. Kinda miss the little ankle biters, you know? I mean, when they ain't underfoot an' bargin' into rooms without knockin', they're good kids."

So...you know, when they're sleeping.

Another laugh, because thinking of them barging into rooms without knocking always brings one certain incident to mind.

She gives him another kiss, this time on the top of his head, and goes to draw the curtains.

"Is it safe to travel so far?"

Spidrens won't be intimidated or distracted by Raph's turtle boxers.

His ears most certainly do NOT go pink around the edges.

"Should be. I mean, it's only couple day's travel from here, an' we can keep to the main roads as much as possible. Even keep to the Inns, if you want."

Raph has disposable income again, thanks to actually picking up shifts at Milliways.

"And I've my trusty blade," Abigail remarks, tossing a smile over her shoulder.

Turning, she plants her hands on her hips.

"D'you wish to tell Thomas or should I?"

She looks rather pleased at the idea.

"That you do, Lady. That you do, says Raph chuckling as he pulls his shirt over his head.

"Which do you think will make him the most uncomfortable, 'cause I know that's the one that's gonna make you happiest."

Doesn't matter the universe, siblings are all the same.

"Oh, you tell him," she smirks, putting a fair bit of emphasis on 'tell.' "It'll twist him up more than a colicky pig."

But Goddess help him if he really tries to resist.

"That's an image I needed."

He adjusts his shirt, and the badge he's concealing underneath.

"Abs? This trip ain't proper, is it?"

Because sometimes the finer points of "courting" are lost on him.

Abigail gives him a Look.

"Maybe not. But since when has proper pricked your conscience, or mine?"

Since Alanna made the joke about the katana and marriage, but he's not telling her that. So instead he just shrugs.

"We ain't ever really left like this before, an' I don't like the idea of leavin' Thomas to deal with Owen, is all."

"Don't be worryin' about Thomas. He's had more years to accustom himself to Owen's moods than I've seen!"

She lifts her chin.

"It's what I want, and no less proper than this, or you stayin' with me."

He stands and crosses the room to her.

"I just worry sometimes, is all. My ways ain't yours. But if you're okay, then I'm okay."

Because anyone who even remotely thinks about making Abigail feel not-okay about her decisions will have to answer to him.

It would take a great deal for someone to be able to make her feel badly about her decisions. They are her decisions to make and once made are rarely second-guessed.

That doesn't mean his concern is unappreciated.

"I am," she assures him. "Your ways suit me just fine, though Goddess knows I'll drop dead of hunger before you get 'round to feedin' me."

He laughs, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"It's how I keep you from gettin' away. Come on, let's see what we can scrounge."

Returning the hug, Abigail laughs.

"Aye, that and your turtle pants keep me close." She releases him and starts for the door. "If we're to be leavin', I hope whatever we scrounge comes with a bottle of Olau red."

She feels like a small, private celebration.

Still smirking, Raph follows close behind.

"Think that can be arranged. Helped Cookie build some shelves in the cellar not too long ago. He owes me one."

"He likes me. All I've got to do is ask."

It's sassy, amused and... probably true.

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[OOM: Olau. The Young Household.]

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