[OOM: Olau]

[mnt_raph]

It wasn't long after Raph ran into AlannaAlan that he made his excuses and made a bee-line for Tortall.
Timelines were in danger.
People he loved were in danger.
Abigail was in danger.

His heart felt as though it was going to burst through his chest as he headed for the front door, his Security badge firmly in hand.

What if...
What if Alan was proof that the door had reset?
What if time had gone backwards?
What if it was like everything he'd lived there just ceased to exist?
All of it, rewritten in some great cosmic do-over?

He opens the door to a familiar scene, and for a split second Raph allows himself to hope.
The Tortoise. The same as always, as it's been for at least three generations now.
Raph walks around the tavern, rather than go straight through the front door, to the place where Abigail'd be hanging up the day's washing to dry in the noon sun.

There, holding a basket of clothes pins is a little girl no older than six, with her blonde hair in one long braid down her back.

"...oh no."

Comments

[mnt_raph]

His brow furrows.

"A sign? Of what?"

[the_lioness]

She tugs on her ear once, looks down, all trying not to show how much this conclusion upsets her.

"That I am now the opposite of bound." Her eyes meet his. "I'm bound here."

Beat.

"Which is as I thought, and as it should be."

Really.

Even if there is so much she will miss.

[mnt_raph]

"No...no that ain't it. It's a glitch, that's all. Thing's'll iron out, you'll see."

Because...the idea that the door could be so fickle, even after Raph's experienced it himself, is just that unnerving to him.

[the_lioness]

"A glitch."

Alanna remains unconvinced. What Raph calls a glitch she considers the work of the gods. And when it comes to gods, she has more than enough experience not to expect that things will 'iron out.'

Underneath, she thinks she has always known.

She sighs, the sound equal parts annoyed and resigned, and nods, turning back to Darkmoon. There's no time to dwell on this now.

"Are you coming up?" She mounts her horse, jerks her chin toward Olau.

[mnt_raph]

Raph looks to Abigail, and raises his eyebrows questioningly.

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail mimics his expression for a moment, then relents.

"Not today," she decides, reaching for his arm. "We've got catchin' up to do, and you've goodbyes to say."

She gives Alanna a nod, a silent promise to watch over the children while the Lioness is gone.

[mnt_raph]

"You travel safe, you hear? An' I'll catch up when I can. Give my love to the kids," he says reaching up to offer his hand as a goodbye for now.

[the_lioness]

Alanna stays silent and still for a moment, but she does eventually reach down and take his hand, turning a shake into a squeeze.

"You, too."

A small smile.

"I'll see you soon enough." She talked to Thayet and is aware of the Queen's request. Lucky Raph! "Goodbye, Abigail."

And thank you.

Alanna waves and lets Darkmoon have his head for the remainder of her journey.

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail wraps her arms around Raph's waist.

"Feelin' better?"

[mnt_raph]

"No," he answers honestly. "But I'm glad she knows. And I'm glad you're safe."

[becareful_boyo]

"Aye, I am. And you."

She takes his hand.

"I know just what you need, too."

[mnt_raph]

It'll take one gentle pull to get him to move from this spot, where he watches the direction Alanna and Darkmoon galloped off to, but only one.

"Oh yeah? That so."

[becareful_boyo]

One pull it is, then.

"Mmmm. Never doubt your bar maid, lad. It's a drink you're wantin', to settle your nerves, and I'll set you right up with the best."

Abigail kisses his cheek and gives him a long look, but that's all she'll say for now.

[mnt_raph]

His eyes close at the feeling of her lips upon his skin, and he takes a deep breath of the calming kind. It doesn't work, not completely, too much has happened today for something as simple as breathing to suddenly put his head to rights.

A drink with a beautiful woman would certainly help. He opens his eyes and forces a small smile.

"Let's go home."