(no subject)

[becareful_boyo]

[The morning after this...]

Late to bed and early to rise, Abigail is bright-eyed and smiling, evidently quite pleased with herself, and sweeping the floor with a bounce in her step that hasn't been there in quite some time. Thomas had blinked in surprise when her usual morning grunt of greeting had been followed by a quick, sisterly hug of affection and just as quickly retreated to the kitchen where things made more sense. Abigail let him, happy to indulge her own complex thoughts while she sweeps, the sort that make it hard to carry on a conversation. Humming is a different matter, and she's doing a fair bit of that as she turns about the tavern like a grand noble lass twirling away at her first court ball.

Life carries on, earth-shattering news or no, and the tavern needs to be in tip-top shape for the day's custom before she goes hunting for a certain youngling by the name of Jamie of Olau. He owes her news; she owes him a spice cake.

Comments

[k_in_black]

And just as casual as you please, in come two men dressed... not from around here.

And yet, strangely enough, somehow those black suits seem to fit right in. Funny that.

One of the men is tall and thin. The other is somewhat shorter and quite a bit wider.

They both give the common room of the tavern a lightning-quick glance, but it's the tall one who looks back at her first and gives her a smile.

"Good morning, Ma'am, and how are you on this fine day?"

[becareful_boyo]

"Grand," Abigail answers easily, a breezy, carefree quality to her voice. She still hasn't taken her eyes off her work, but she's aware of the strangers' location and of the fact that they are strangers; the accents give it away before the clothes can. "And you, gents?"

An expert flick of her broom sends a dust pile into the hearth. Abigail lifts her head and fixes a welcoming smile on her face, hand resting on her hip. She presents a clear enough picture: friendly, calm, but inherently no-nonsense.

[k_in_black]

Truth be told, K has always had a soft spot for no-nonsense women. Probably that Texas upbringing he got, and just a look at this woman suggests she could meet even that high standard.

Hell, setting thing's straight here should be as easy as falling off a Terrassian Grease Cannon.

"Well, Ma'am, this tavern came highly recommended, and since we had some business in the area--." K stops, his eyes widen just a bit. "Now I wouldn't be smelling some fresh-baked bread, would I?"

From the tone in his voice, you'd think he hadn't had fresh bread since the very day his sainted momma left this mortal plane.

The rounder one is rolling his eyes at that, but it's hard to tell because he keeps glancing under all the tables, as if looking for someone who might have sneaked under them, trying to hide from whatever justice he's got coming.

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail's direct gaze stays on the taller, charming one while she notices, in her peripheral vision and from a bone deep awareness of every corner and object in this room, what the other man is doing.

It doesn't set off any warning bells. Not yet. They've had worse from Old Keven on nights his wife kicks him out and he gets overly familiar with their ale supply.

"That it would," she agrees at last. "You're early for most, but pull up a chair." She's feeling magnanimous today. "Anythin' to go with it?"

She raises an eyebrow at the shorter man. It says: I see you. I see what you're doing. Sit down.

[k_in_black]

The shorter one's doesn't seem to take the slightest notice until the tall one makes a gesture at him. There's a split second of annoyance on his face, but then a game face comes over him too, and he takes a seat beside the tall one who's looking pleased as punch.

"Hope we're not imposing. But I have to say, some of that bread with maybe some jam, if you have it, why that would take me back."

"Looks like you're having a good day yourself, if you don't mind my saying so."

Not that K isn't capable of pulling this off under any circumstances, but the bread actually does smell like heaven.

[becareful_boyo]

"Imposin'?" Abigail throws her head back and laughs. "Mindin' your manners," another pointed look, followed by a smile, for the shorter man, "and askin' nicely? Aye, it's all grand."

She shakes her head, still laughing softly, and disappears through a door by the bar.

[bring_a_sponge]

"What the hell are you doing?" Zed growls.

K looks at him with mild surprise. "Managing contact with a civilian while in the field. What do you think I'm doing?"

Zed gestures at the kitchen door. "She's a known associate of Milliways patrons. How's that make her a civilian?"

He glowers. "More like a goddamn accomplice."

[becareful_boyo]

Abigail is humming again when she returns, having replaced the broom with a loaf of bread on a carved rectangular piece of wood in one hand and a jar in the other. Both are set before her early morning visitors.

"There's that, then. It's grape. Everythin' is grape or apple 'round these parts."

She nods and walks to the bar, rummaging for two metal plates and a knife for the jam. Her ears are perked, in case the strangers decide to speak of anything interesting, but there's only so long she can tarry before bringing them their supplies.

"What's your business?" she asks conversationally, putting down the plates and offering the charming one the knife.

[k_in_black]

"Recovering an important item, actually."

"We've been sent by our guild on a special mission to get it back. We don't want anyone getting hurt, you see."

Needless to say, K delivers this news with all the gravity of a Very Important Servant of All Laws That are Good and Proper.

"Now you wouldn't have happened to see it, would you? About this long, sort of a silvery finish?"

The rounder one is definitely starting to look a bit impatient.

[mnr_splinter]

In the deep recesses of the barn attached to the Designated Tortoise something glows blue.

A doorway. It flickers into existence for a moment, and then just as quickly as it appeared,...it is gone.

In the shadows someone makes a noise. It's a slightly surprised noise. As if the maker wasn't 100% sure that this trick with the chalk would actually work.
...
Ignore it.

[ginsu_master]

"Please don't tell me you weren't sure if this would work," another voice mutters and sighs.

Leo trudges out of the shadows and runs a hand tiredly through his long bangs. "Right. You two, around back. Try not to look like burglars. I'll go and try to...ah. Let Raph know we're here."

And off he goes to the front door. Very determined!

[mnt_donnie]

Don sighs, sounding put-upon. It's not like he thinks long black cloaks are fashionable!

He heads for the barn door and peers cautiously out, checking to see if the coast is clear. "Ready, Master?"

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter slowly emerges from the shadow dressed in a black cloak of his own, though he has yet to raise his hood. Instead, he stands with his head slightly cocked to one side, ears focusing slightly on what can only be a distant sound.

"Not just yet, Donatello."

[mnt_donnie]

He freezes, trying to catch whatever Splinter is hearing.

Animals, the breeze, the creak of wood, but nothing alarming.

Don ghosts back to Splinter's side. "What is it?" Turtles don't hear as well as rats, after all.

[mnr_splinter]

"Trust me, my son. You don't want to know."

He pulls the hood over his head.

"But suffice it to say, we are both glad that Leonardo went first."

[ginsu_master]

Leo pauses on the stoop. The front door is... well, it isn't exactly on its hinges. He reaches back and draws his swords. There is noise coming from the behind the door. Scooting to the side, he presses himself into the archway and pushes just slightly against the door--

The front door crashes inward and Leo gets a good look at too many relations' bare assets.

"Damn it!" And jerks himself about so he is looking anywhere at anything else. What is it with his ability to walk in on naked people and sex?!

[mnt_raph]

Mike would say it was luck, but then Mike is kind of a perv. Though, think of it this way Leo: It could have been worse. Much worse. You could have shown up a few moments sooner. When a couple of bare assets would have been the least memorable portions of the view.

For the most part Abigail is obscured from view, by virtue of the fact that she's half the size of Raph. That may be about the only virtue either of them has left at this point...just for the record.

Between panting attempts at regaining his breath Raph was murmuring protestations of love to Abigail...that is until he heard a voice behind him.

"We said, we ain't open. Get the fuck...Leo?! What the..."

Meanwhile, in a kitchen not so far away...

[ginsu_master]

Entirely unflapped, Leo says honestly, "You're handling this better than I thought you would."

[mnt_raph]

It's a testament to Leo's patience that he waits until after the glassware has stopped ringing from the sheer concussive force of Raph's, "WHAT?!?"

By this point Raph has settled his head into his hands, and is leaning his back against the edge of one of the kitchen's many work benches.

"...fuckyouleo."

[ginsu_master]

"Mmmmm," Leo hums. That was his little brother's mantra for... well, most of their lives. It's like 'I love you', really.

"Bar is in a panic about Mike. She told Splinter what she could glean, and Father brought us here. I did at least convince them that cloaks were a better choice than trench coats."

He leans across from Raph, both of his palms offered open to his brother. "It had to happen sometime, Raph. This was not your plan, but we can try to make the best of it."

[mnt_raph]

make the best of it.
Raph gets very very still.

Make the best of it?
He takes a breath. When he exhales he lowers his hands and sets his jaw.

"Make. The. Best. Of. It," he says slowly. His voice has once again regained its razor sharp edge.

"You know why Bar is in a panic, Leo?"

[ginsu_master]

He knew going in this was not going to be something he could win or break even on. He'll take it and he'll help as best he can because it is a "shitter" no matter how it all ends.

"Why is she in a panic?" Leo asks quietly.

[mnt_raph]

"Because she gave our brother an MIB device that they use to alter people's memories. And he used it on Abigail."
Raph gets progressively louder with each word.

Though...the words that come across the loudest are the ones he doesn't say at all.

And he did it for me.

[ginsu_master]

Leo does not break eye contact, doesn't move.

He lets Raph's shout hang in the air for a moment.




"...he altered her memory?" he repeats slowly. "Why?"

[mnt_raph]

"More'n once, the way she tells it! Only reason she knows is because the dumbass turned the damn thing on himself! Now he's goddess-knows-where thinkin' he's some pig farmer named Sven!"

Raph had been so good about maintaining at least a somewhat even keel through out all of this. That is...until now.

"HOW THE FUCK SHOULD I KNOW?!"
Judging by the nervousness he's exhibiting around the eyes...Raph does know. He's just not saying.