Help a Turtle Out

[ginsu_master]

"Right."

Leo is having a staring contest with the Front Door.

"Look, I need to get my brother Raph, in Tortall. So he can watch our other brother, Mikey, your Barman, give birth. ...I never said it made any sense."

Bowing at the waist, he asks, "Can you please help me?"

The door swings open...

Comments

[agoodmusekickin.livejournal.com]

"Only when you close your eyes, huh?" he says sardonically....almost for the apple's benefit.

"Could be worse. Could be you share a common wall with that room."

Is all he's saying.

[ginsu_master]

His right eye twitches. Raph was always very active when they were younger. He only imagine-- no, no he won't. He does not need that image in his head any more than he needs to know ANYTHING about Mikey's sex life or Don's adventures on the internet.

Leo shakes his head. "You could have waited until I had a proper introduction before playing that prank. I like to at least shake hands before I accidentally molest someone."

[agoodmusekickin.livejournal.com]

Thomas's eyebrows raise slightly at the use of the word "molest."

"Was more to be a prank on your brother than on you. Raises the bar rather high, that one. So you've my apologies for being caught in the cross fire."

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail returns right about when Leo makes the joke about proper introductions.

It was a joke, wasn't it? Consider: as introductions go it was particularly memorable, and a proper introduction should be memorable, lest the people doin' the meetin' forget all about it.

This is unassailable Abigail logic.

"Nonsense," she declares breezily, stepping up beside Leo. "Plenty of folk wouldn't mind bein' caught in that crossfire."

A playfully bright smile directed at Leo, she continues, "Family doesn't need to shake on it 'less a deal's been struck. Give this to Mike, would you?" and passes Leo a small, soft bundle bound in leather.

[ginsu_master]

Leo ducks his head and just tries not to be even more embarrassed.

"I will try to return him to you soon."

[becareful_boyo]

"See that y'do," Abigail replies. "I'll be wantin' a few words."

If it sounds ominous, that's probably on purpose. Raph hadn't even stopped to consider that she, known to Mike and more than a little curious about their 'Milliways', might like to go along.

The nerve of that stupid, stupid man.

Abigail lifts her chin, nods to Leo and sweeps out into the courtyard, ignoring, for the moment, that she really won't be able to go far until they leave and she can return inside to change her attire. There's a point to be made. Maybe Leo can explain it to Raph.

[mnt_raph]

Raph enters the room mere seconds after Abigail has made her purposeful exit. For a brief moment he's surprised not to see her there waiting with Leo and Thomas.

It's only after that moment passes that Raph realizes the absence is an intentional one. Thomas' expression is a dead give away to that.

"Hope you're fuckin' proud of yourself," he says as he adjusts the strap of his rucksack on his shoulder.

[agoodmusekickin.livejournal.com]

"Me?! You're taking this to be my fault? I'll take the blame for many an offence, Raphael, but this here's got little to nothing to do with me."

Briefly he turns towards Leo expecting the other man to provide confirmation for his point.

...yeah, maybe that's not the greatest of all possible ideas.
Thomas steps slightly to the side away from Leo.

"Look, if it helps you sleep through the night, you just go right on thinking that. But know this, the longer you go thinking that particular untruth, the longer that peaceful sleep'll be alone."

[mnt_raph]

That right there might be a bit too much metaphor for Raph to comprehend in his current mental state. Which is why his response is not much more than a gruff snort, and a muttered, "Whatever."

He starts for the door, pausing to point an accusatory finger at Thomas.

"I'm ain't finished with you. Come on, Leo."

Leo bows respectfully and without further comment follows Raph out of the tavern.

[agoodmusekickin.livejournal.com]

Thomas exhales slowly as the overall tension in the room finally begins to abate. He looks over the patrons that were privy to the entire show, and tosses them an eyeroll.

"Shang," he says, as if the single word were the only explanation that makes any sense.

"Who's up for another round?"