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((OOC: Post this.))

She leads Raph upstairs by the hand, a strange sort of gleam in her eyes, a step and a half ahead of him. She reaches his door and throws it open.

...The room there is most pointedly not his room. The walls are plaster, for one, instead of cinderblock, and it's... well... it's a lot bigger. There's a family picture above a bowl with two goldfish, and a slightly shabby but very comfortable couch. And lots of stuffed animals. A few books and a crude vase on a coffee table. And a stereo. With records. All in all, it's a very cute, very comfortable little place.

The girl stalking the room, however, could be described as 'peeved.'

There's an umbrella stand by the door. She stalks to it and pulls out one of the umbrellas there. It's a pretty thing, black and elegant. She looks at it like it might be a weapon.

"I just... Ooooh. ...I hope that dummy didn't break anything..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

mnt_raph

*Raph shuts the door behind him, and just kind of stares at his new surroundings. He's got the presence of mind not to gawk, but he's still pretty damned surprised to be somewhere he's never been before.*

toto? i don' think we're in kansas anymore

From:

locks_it_up

She looks up at him, and lowers the umbrella. The corner of her mouth twitches upward, trying not to grin outright.

"Oh. Yeah." She reaches up to scratch at the hair at the back of her head.

"This is my place."

From:

mnt_raph

*His eyes lock on the fishbowl.*

An' you have fish.

*He looks at her with an eyebrow raised.*

From:

locks_it_up

"Slim and Wandsworth. Slim's the big one."

She stalks back to the umbrella stand, reaches around him, and plunks her umbrella back like she was sheathing a sword.

Then she flops on her couch and picks up a stuffed chicken there, hugging it to her chest as she grumps. There's no other word for it. It's not as self-pitying as a pout.

"I'm going to have to go out and check the borders..."

From:

mnt_raph

*Feet rooted to the floor, he asks the obvious...yet belated question.*

You hope what dummy didn't break what?

From:

locks_it_up

"Hannibal."

She pinches the bridge of her nose. "He wanted to find his dead sister. I told him he could try."

There is a very long sigh from her.

"I didn't think he'd actually make it. I'm just glad I caught it before something got out..."

From:

mnt_raph

Lecter? He's the one who opened that door portaly thing?
That ain't good, is it?

From:

locks_it_up

"It could be worse. I'll just have to pay more attention in the future."

She puts the stuffed chicken down, and walks to the window, where there's a lovely sort of yard. With a garden. There's daffodils and roses and a peach tree that looks like it's good for climbing. A mockingbird alights on a honeysuckle vine that looks like it's making it's way up the wall outside.

She shuts the blinds, then re-opens them.

The window looks out over the Sunless Lands.

Death leans back and hugs herself, like a woman checking to make sure all her limbs and digits are there. Making sure there's nothing out of order. That nothing's missing.

She looks like she could stand that way for a long time.

From:

mnt_raph

*What the heck do you say during a time like this? It's not a time for jokes, that's for damn sure. And smart alecky remarks would be frowned upon. He watches her for a few minutes. She doesn't move. Watching her be still gives him the will to move, funny how that works sometimes.

Cautiously he moves over to where she is standing and wrapping his arms around her. He tries not to look out the window, but no matter where he looks he sees it...and no matter how hard he tries to hide...it sees him.*

From:

locks_it_up

Of course it sees him.

It's her, after all.

She smiles when he goes to hold her, and places a hand on his arm.

From:

mnt_raph

*Face nuzzled against the nape of her neck, arms holding her like a shield.*

is it broken?

From:

locks_it_up

She stares intently out into that darkness that is her, silent for an immeasurable amount of time.

Finally, finally, she speaks. Her voice is tinged faintly with a smile.

"No."

From:

mnt_raph

*He sighs in relief. The breath is warm against her neck.*

good

*Then a hand reaches out, grasping the cord, and closes the blinds.*

From:

locks_it_up

"M'still going out to check it at some point. Soon."

She might shiver at his breath on her neck. Might. Maybe it's more a twitch.

"It really bothers you, doesn't it?"

From:

mnt_raph

sorta. yeah, i guess. don't like not havin' control. an' i do like knowin' what i'm up against. i see that an' i know i don't got neither.

From:

locks_it_up

She sighs, but only a little.

There's a long silence after that.

"Raph?"

From:

mnt_raph

*He shifts so his chin is resting on her shoulder*
yeah?

From:

locks_it_up

"It's me, out there."

She starts to reach up to touch his cheek, but then stops, waiting.

She'd understand if he ran.

From:

mnt_raph

*Closing his eyes, he wills his brain NOT to explode. He knows he won't understand. He knows he won't be able to wrap his mind around this....but he knows he can wrap his arms around her. He tries to concentrate on that.*

but it's you in here.

From:

locks_it_up

Her shoulders drop at that, and she turns her head to kiss his cheek. Maybe her lips brush his ear.

"So it is."

And her hand now in his hair, light as the brush of feathers.

"Can you be okay with both?"

From:

mnt_raph

I don't gotta understand it, do i?

From:

locks_it_up

"No."

Her fingertips almost on his skin. Almost, but not quite.

"Just... ~~love me?~~ be here."

From:

mnt_raph

good.

*The tone is laden with false confidence. He's relieved. Confused, but still relieved.

He he takes a half step backwards and turns her slightly so they're facing one another. Still shaken ~~but not stirred~~, he briefly glances into her eyes, before turning his attention to her still wounded jaw.*

~~always~~ someone's gotta keep an eye on you.

From:

locks_it_up

She smiles up at him for a moment. It's a tired, lopsided sort of smile, but it's a definite smile.

"What, you don't think I can take care of myself?"