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[mnt_raph]

Deep in the belly of the ship, past where the stores of salted meat and ale are kept, there's a secret alcove in the maze of the stacked cargo crates in the hold. It's here that Raph's door between Milliways and Tortall is located, and it's here that he makes his stealthy entrance.

If his math is correct it should be well after nightfall, though there's no taking into account the plasticity of time when it comes to doorways. Raph skulks his way towards the upper decks, taking great care to keep to the shadows.

Comments

[the_lioness]

Well, that stinks.

"Surely Splinter would want him to apologize?" A shrug. "X could... escort him there. Make it some sort of lesson."

She takes a drink.

"How not to be captured and transported by a mutant, for example."

[mnt_raph]

"I'm sure he does, but any time I try to get more information or offer my own opinion he gives me the look. So I'm just lettin' it be."

Splinter Looks are serious indeed.

"Last thing that flat needs is more tension. 'Specially since Mel's back."

[the_lioness]

"I could write a letter, perhaps. He can't give me a look. Well, not me me. The other me, Alan, might be in range."

Her eyes snap to Raph's face.

"Is she?"

[mnt_raph]

Raph nods.

"Moved out. Far as I know they haven't said word one to each other."

[the_lioness]

"That's upsetting."

She frowns.

"Is Mike okay?"

How could he be? He'd loved Mel so much, she'd always thought.

[mnt_raph]

"He's fine," says Raph giving Alanna a significant look. No one who ever says they're fine is actually fine.

"He's just real focused on his training, that's all."
Raph's worried.

[the_lioness]

So is she. Worried and so helpless feeling here, stuck on a bloody ship.

"He needs Abigail. I'm writing to Splinter," she decides, nodding once and getting up to look for paper and a quill, though how she'll get the ink not to spill is a mystery. There are always spells, but there are also other options. "Do you have a pen in that bag of yours?"

[mnt_raph]

He looks cagey all of a sudden.









"...no."

[the_lioness]

Uh huh.

Alanna holds out her hand. Her fingers snap, then motion for him to cough it up.

"I'll write him either way, but this way will be with less ink spilled on you."

[mnt_raph]

So long as she isn't mad...
Raph fishes the pen out of the bag, and hands it over.

"Oh well, when you put it that way."

Not that anyone would see the ink on his all black outfit anyway...

[the_lioness]

Not at this, no. She needs the pen, and they are technically well out of Tortall.

And a pen is not a gun. Or worse, MIB tech.

She pulls paper from the satchel at the foot of her bunk and looks back at Raph.

"Has anyone tried talking to Mel?"

[mnt_raph]

"Splinter did. I been givin' her a wide berth. Last time we had it out 'bout Mike she nearly took my block off, an' I put a sai through her foot. 'Course that was like ten years ago so," he shrugs.

[the_lioness]

Quietly, "I'm sorry I can't help."

Alanna swallows and bends over her letter, leaving Raph a few moments to look around, stretch, take a nap. Whatever he can find to do.

There are some rolled-up maps of Carthak in the corner. Mid-sentence, Alanna waves the pen at them as if to suggest he take a look.

[mnt_raph]

A nap would be nice, but Raph thinks that closing his eyes right now would reduce him to Alanna's previous condition. And since he's out most of his stash of ginger beer...

His eyes follow the gesture and his eyes come to rest on the rolls of parchment. Raph grumbles something under his breath about, more homework, but all for show. Any extra Intel is important. After wiping his hands on his pants he reaches for the maps and begins the process of unrolling them and giving them a once over.

[the_lioness]

Dear Splinter,

I hope this finds you well. Raphael has informed me of some of the goings on where you are, and I have a request. Several, in fact.

First, please do watch over Alan. I apologize for the need for secrecy, but it is so important that Alan not know of me, and that others not suspect he is anything other than what he says he is. Thank you for teaching him. I know he appreciates it.

Yes, this is incredibly strange for me as well.

I understand Mike is still grounded. I was hoping that you might temporarily lift his punishment so that he may visit Abigail. My reasons are twofold: He should apologize, and I think she would be good for him right now, given the situation with Mel. From what I hear, no one is really talking about it. Mike has always loved Mel, and I worry for him. Abigail will draw him out.

I suggested to Raph that X, who is apparently training him, even make it a lesson in avoiding capture and unwilling transportation!

Also, I trust X. She'll make sure Sven doesn't happen again.

I hope you will all be able to visit soon.

-Alanna of Olau

"And Thom said I was no good at letters!"

[mnt_raph]

Raph doesn't comment on Alanna's success in correspondence, it's too busy going over the maps. Raph has never been quick when it comes to book learning, and that speed is even diminished when it comes to parsing this world's written word.

Were Alanna to turn and see him now she might spy his lips moving as he commits the place names to memory.

[the_lioness]

She does look his way, and the sight makes her smile.

"The bottom one shows the trade routes," she tells him before starting letter number two.

Dear X,

No. That's wrong. Alanna starts over.

X,

If Splinter says yes, will you 'kidnap' Mike with Raph's help and take him to Abigail in Tortall? I think he needs someone like her to talk to, and he might as well apologize at the same time. She'll probably put him to work.

It might be interesting.

I hope you're well. Come visit when you can.

-Alanna

She'd say she misses X, but that's not really either of their styles.

"Here. Read these."

She tosses both letters over the map Raph is currently reading.

[mnt_raph]

"Oh that's okay, it's not like I was doin' anythin' there or anythin'," he grumbles. It's probably because he was concentrating so hard that the shift in the pages startled him.

"You realize you're meddlin', right?"

[the_lioness]

"No."

She looks stubborn.

As usual.

"I'm concerned about my friend, and I'm trying to help the only way I know how. It would be easier if Abigail came to Milliways, of course."

Side-eye.

[mnt_raph]

"'Course it would...for you."

Ms I Can't Get Back.

[the_lioness]

She shrugs.

"Yes and no."

It's hard being stuck here sometimes.

[mnt_raph]

"He'll be a'right. Just take him a little time to get back on his feet is all."

Raph hands the pages back to Alanna.

[the_lioness]

Alanna lets out an exaggerated sigh and gathers the letters, folding them...


...and stuffs them in his bag.

"Consider it" is all she says, inserting a note of authority. He'll do what he wants, she can't control that, but damned if he'll not at least take them.

"There." Her finger points over his shoulder at a city on the map he's currently examining. "Along the River Zekoi. That's where we are headed."

[mnt_raph]

He had every intention of taking them, he just wasn't sure if she wanted to seal them with fancy wax or not.

Apparently not.

"How many days out do you think we are now?"

[the_lioness]

Fancy wax was not a packing priority.

"A week, maybe a few days more."

Alanna grumbles a curse under her breath and pushes her hair back, looking like a caged cat with no room to pace.

"I hate that we need this peace more than they do."