the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Alanna and Adam's flat is quiet, the only light coming from the kitchen. It's early, but still a good half-hour past feeding time. The resident animals collect in front of the closed bedroom door, prepared to stage a revolution if necessary to get their Human out of bed. Myles and Thea rub up against each other and the door, meowing loudly. Puff appears to be huffing smoke in preparation for trial by fire, her two remaining children playing on the carpet.

Tulip croaks and eyes the purple, sparkly urchin. She decides she'd rather go hungry.

It will never cease to amuse Alanna that the only pet she acquired through her own means lives in the stables.

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A great, yet quiet, shushing comes from the direction of the spare bedroom.

Both cats and Puff go completely still.

Had their Human escaped without their knowledge?

Surely that isn't possible.

Waddling towards the spare bedroom, Puff unfurls her wings, pulls herself up, and prepares to go into defensive mode. She leaps in front of the doorway, a brief, harmless stream of fire preceding her entry.

Good eyes couldn't find him among the paintings, but a deft nose could in no time flat. There's someone in that room that doesn't belong...but entirely unfamilar.

The cats, being cats, take to grooming each other under the assumption that Puff will handle things.

Puff is suspicious. The flames disappear, and she steps into the room with a soft whirr. She recognizes that smell, even without the paint.

Her favorite candidate for the Replacement of the Pale Tall One is here. But why?

With a swift flap of her wings, she lands on Mike's shoulders.

"Shh. Be still. We're hiding."

He says without moving his lips.

From what, Puff wonders. The large white machine in the kitchen that makes weird noises and keeps everything *gasp* cold?

Sometimes she hides from that machine.

A door opens and shuts, and a quiet murmuring sounds in the other room.

Puff sticks her snout in Mike's ear.

Ninjas don't yelp. They don't. It's just an impossibility for them to yelp. Even when regal and majestic tiny-dragons stick their noses in ninja ears.

...

Okay, maybe they're allowed to yelp then.

The murmuring stops, and a moment later, Alanna stands in the doorway with her sword drawn.

The cats twine about her ankles, and she shakes her foot, annoyed. One can't be threatening with cats purring on you.

"Whoever you are, I suggest you step into the light."

Something whispers over in some corner of the room.

"see? now look what you've done."

Eyes narrowing, Alanna steps in the room. It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust, but she can still only make out shadows.

"Show yourself, Alanna insists.

Puff obligingly lights up the corner in question. Alanna slowly lowers her sword, mouth dropping open.

"Uh...hi."

Says Mike, as he slowly comes out of the woodwork.

"Mike?"

All concern now, she props the sword in the corner and walks over.

"Why were you hiding? Is everything okay? I'm going to assume this isn't because you want to put finishing touches on the mural."

"Hmm?"

He appears as if someone else is also talking to him and he's having a problem multitasking.

"Oh...I just wanted the quiet, is all. I'm sorry, I should have knocked or let you know...but I wasn't really. Yeah..."

Alanna gives Puff a curious look, but the dragon simply preens and hops down to go check on her offspring.

Perhaps, she thinks, if she leaves these two alone her Human will forget about Him.

"Don't be silly. You know you're welcome to come and go as you please." She frowns, watching him closely. "You're worrying me."

It's almost as if he's still finishing his previous sentence.

"...and it's...something's happened. I...I think I need your help. I think I'm...like, your boss now."

Blinking, Alana stares at him and tries to decide if this is some sort of joke.

Her boss? Surely that's just slang and he didn't mean that literally.

She closes the distance between them, searching his eyes before giving him a big hug.

"Perhaps you should start at the beginning."

"Bar woke me up this morning. She and ... bar-nard...had a fight. So she left him, and um...ran to me?"

It's like he can't even say Bernard's name. Like attempting to do so causes him pain.

Of all the things Mike could have said, this is the very last thing she expects. Her arms tighten before she pulls back.

"Great Mother Goddess. Okay. This-" She takes a deep breath. "We can handle this. Do you get the sense that this is a temporary circumstance?"

"I..everytime I try to ask she just keeps crying. So I don't...I don't know. But...Mel is worried and ... I just thought it'd be quiet here."

That second pause, that's where he would have Mentioned turning to his brother for help, but thought better of it.

"I'm sure she is, and it's as quiet here as you can hope to find in the bar. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish."

Tilting her head, she eyes the door and moves to shut it, awkwardly finding his hand in the dark and pulling him over towards the wall. She sits, hoping he'll do the same. There's a little light filtering through the window, but not much.

"There's nothing you have to worry about immediately. The bar is fine, security is under control. I wouldn't suggest trying to talk to... him for a while."

Right now he could do with some leading, so he follows without question.

"No? yeah, no. I don't think she'd like that. It's, wierd. I mean, I'm used to Mel being in my head, but this is different. It's like...stereo."

"It feels different with different people. I don't mind Adam taking a look, but once I had two other people in my head, and it was like being three people at once. I can only imagine how this feels, Mike."

Swallowing, she squeezes his hand and tries to remember everything Bernard had ever told her about Bar.

"There's still a chance this is temporary, but if it's not, it will get easier. Once she calms down. He loved her, remember? give it a few days, and it will be better."

She shakes her head as if to clear it, the sentient bar are still giving her pause.

Mike nods. Her's is a voice of authority. Right now he could use some authority.

"it's true. you'll help me though, right? I mean, I don't know what I'm supposed to do here...I just tend bar."

Alanna goes very quiet.

"Yes, Mike. I'll help you as much as I'm able. But there's something I have to tell you."

"You're changing your name to Fernando and planning to live out your dream as a cabana boy to the rich and hairless?"

What? It could happen....

Most of what he says leaves her blinking in confusion, but it's such a standard Mike answer that she grins.

"Not quite."

Deep breath.

"I've been trying to come up with a way to discuss this with... him... for several months now. Things really changed when I was injured. With me, with my priorities, and most especially with home. Tortall is dealing with famine right now, and my first duty has always been to king and country."

Another deep breath.

"And it's entirely possible that Adam and I are going to have a child in the near future."

Mike allows this to sink in, which takes just a bit longer than usual.

"So...you're going home then?"

Alanna wraps her arm around his shoulders, anchoring herself to his side.

"No. Not like you're thinking. I could never walk away from this place entirely. Not only do I love it and the people here, but this is where my brother and I can be together. And I'm certainly not going to leave you alone now."

She bites her lip for a minute.

"I just need to spend more time at home, and if I do get pregnant, I need to be able to let others handle the more intense issues. What I want to do is step down from head of security to my former position as deputy. I have someone in mind to take my place, if he agrees, as well as a few other people in mind for additional deputies. When the time comes, I want to be able to go a day or two without returning and not feel guilty for it, because there's somebody else in charge."

He leans his head on her shoulder, and then nods.

"Yeah, no that makes sense. Yeah. I mean, totally understandable. And um...congrats on trying for the baby and stuff.

...

Do...do I have to give you permission for this? Or do you go to...um...you know...him?"

Alanna swallows, absently kissing his forehead. She feels a little guilty for bringing all of this up now, but she can't help being honest with Mike.

"I'm not sure. This isn't something I've ever really thought about. If I see him, I'll ask, but I suspect it's you, now. Boss."

Somehow, she has to get him smiling again.

"I'm not going anywhere, and we'll figure this out. I promise. Who knows? It might even be fun."

"Like a stomach pump, you mean.
...
NOO! No I didn't mean that, it...it was a joke! Please don't....crap"

Wincing, Alanna listens and tries to imagine what it's like.

"Bar?" There's an unmistakable note of authority in her voice. It mostly masks the pleading. "You've chosen Mike, it seems, so you must be familiar with his sense of humor. Let's all relax."

Whispering, "this is so strange. Can she even hear me?"

"Maybe? I don't know I never asked how this kinda thing goes."

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

"Know I know how Casey must feel...all the time."

"I suppose you'll just have to learn as you go."

Thinking, she chews on her thumb.

"Who's Casey?"

He sighs, that's what he was afraid she was going to say.

"He's a guy I know from home who's incapable of saying the right thing, even with a script."

It would have been easier to just say Raph's Friend, but only slightly.

"We'll learn?" she tries.

Alanna thinks about Raph and wonders if he knows yet. But it's been so long since either Mike or Raph mentioned the other that she's hesitant to ask.

"I've been accused of such a time or two. It gets easier. It has to, or... he would've gone crazy months ago."

"You say that like he wasn't nutso in the first place."

Mike grins.

Alanna waggles her eyebrows.

"Well, insanity does run in my family. Perhaps I don't find it as strange as others might."

She grins back.

"Want me to go raid the kitchens for some food?"

Me makes a face.

"Um...no thanks. I'm a little to queasy still for food. Anytime someone orders something I get a whiff of it. It's really messed up."

Wrinkling her nose, she nods.

"Duly noted. Is there anything else I can do to help? Or do you just want to sit here in the dark for a while?"

"Am I a terrible guest if I say that just sitting here in the dark would be heaven sent?"

"Not at all. And I can stay or go, whichever you would prefer."

She smiles reassuringly.

"Although I will eventually have to go feed the animals before they torch the bedroom door and drag Adam out by his toes."

Mike turns and looks at her.

"Oh you're staying right here. There's no moving for you. That's a show I'd pay for a whole seat, but only use the edge for."

Alanna giggles.

"You might have a point. It's not as if he couldn't fix the door immediately after. Okay, then. Here I stay."

Reaching up, she pets his hair. When in doubt, do for others what works for you.

Mike smiles. It's not a full wattage smile, but it is an improvement. He sighs contentedly, his head on her shoulder.

"thank you, alanna."

"You're welcome, Mike."

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