the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Why, Alanna wonders, do the strangest things happen when she's not in the bar?

Frowning, she stares at the notes in the office and quickly decides that something funny is going on. She starts to question it in another note, sighs heavily and wonders if that's really her place any more. First, she should talk to Mike. And he can speak with Archie, if need be.

Mind made up, she nods firmly and heads for Suite 134 with a determined stride. Halfway there, she doubles back, speaks quietly to Bar and resumes her journey with a paper bag that could contain any number of items, really. Alanna is fond of killing two birds with one stone – proverbially speaking -- and has been meaning to visit Raph.

It's the same door she's burst through without knocking several times, but today she clears her throat and knocks, an oddly formal expression on her face.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

These days Mike is in either one of three places. He's either sacked out in front of Lilly ~~and Mel~~'s television, at his brother's bedside, or in his kitchen.

If at this particular moment one were to ask the multiple choice question about this very topic, the answer would be C) In his kitchen.

The last batch of biscotti has just gone in for the second bake.
The snickerdoodle batter is nearly complete.
Things are quiet.
...
Scratch that. Things are knocking at the door.

Mike wipes his hands on his bright orange Kiss the Cook apron, and heads for the door.

"Who is it?"

Mike.

She had come here to talk to Mike about security matters, but it's Mel she thinks of when she hears his voice.

Taking a deep breath, she answers, "it's Alanna."

He stops mere feet from the door.
Crap. Crappity crap crap crap crapcrap.
Maybe she's just here to see Raph. Just like Bernard was. YES that's totally it.

And if not, there's always cookies.

Mike gets to the door and opens it.

"Alanna! What a great surprise! Come in, come in. Here, let me help you with that."

He gestures towards the paperbag.

Her arms tighten protectively around the bag, and she turns her torso slightly, keeping it just out of his reach. She does, however, kiss his cheek in greeting after a slight hesitation.

"I've got it," she says solemnly and steps into the room. "Something smells heavenly."

Eyes dropping to the bag, she makes a face and puts it down on the couch.

"That would be the new biscotti recipe I've been toying with. Twice baked so they're extra crunchy. Good for dipping in tea.

Oh and I'm working on a batch of snickerdoodles."

Mike returns to his Kitchen Play Set.

Once her hands are free, Alanna fidgets for a moment before clasping them behind her back. She follows Mike, biting her lip.

"After several taste tests, I've decided that those are my favorite cookies. Perhaps this is a fortuitous visit."

How long, she silently questions, is one expected to keep up the small talk?

"I've missed you," she blurts out. "How have you been?"

Well that takes him by surprise.

"Good?
...
You know, considering."

Looking down, Alanna nods and absently kicks her boot against a chair. It's pointless to say she misses Mel, she thinks. Mike knows.

"How's Raph?"

"Healing. Still won't wake up, but healing.
Really, I'm beginning to believe this is all some sort of a prank on his part you want my honest opinion."

Judging by the expression on her face, his 'honest' opinion isn't very funny.

"Don't rush it. Sleep is quite restorative."

Alanna clears her throat.

"I'm glad he's healing. And I've been meaning to visit you for some time, but this... this isn't just a social call."

A beat.

"It isn't?"

She shakes her head swiftly and begins to pace.

"What happened with Bernard?" Alanna asks, turning her head to keep her eyes on his.

Mike blinks.

"I think maybe the onion farm he was raised on was located near high tension wires?"

Alanna stops pacing and blinks at him in confusion.

"Is that some modern way of saying he's been hit on the head too many times with a practice sword?"

"That's about the gist of it, yeah."

There's a quick grin, but Alanna quickly schools her features.

"While I won't debate that," she says, still amused, "I don't think that's the real issue. Your brother arrested him?"

It's less of a question and more of a prompt.

Mike nods, and then begins looking around the kitchen for....something.

"He did."

Alanna sighs heavily. It's like trying to get information out of her brother.

"And he arrested him because Bernard attacked you mentally? Please, explain that. I'm assuming it had something to do with Bar."

Well, they are in the same union...

Mike, now bent looking in one of lower cupboards, sags slightly and sighs.

"it wasn't an attack. i don't know why people keep calling it that."

Leaning over the counter, she eyes him.

"What would you call it?"

There's an edge to her voice, a sharpness that might suggest this is a sore subject.

"Having someone else in your mind when you don't want them there IS an attack, Mike."

"he was just upset, you know? that's all. we all were. i mean, we'd just got back with raph. it was nothing. really. i'm fine, he's fine, we're fine.

The only one who isn't fine is Raph."

"That doesn't matter," she insists. "You two have a connection, but there have to be boundaries -- boundaries that are respected. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should."

Her face twists into something like a sneer, and anger flashes in her eyes. For a moment, all she sees is-

(come here, girl)

-Lucifer.

Alanna takes a deep breath and tries again.

"Regardless of whether or not you feel you were attacked, I don't think you should have let him out."

Mike watches her change in reaction, her shift in expression.
He gets the distinct feeling that this has very little to do with him at all.

"i don't see the point in prolonging a punishment for what was essentially an accident."

Hs replies, his voice small.

For a moment, Alanna looks torn. On the one hand, she feels Mike had every right to release Bernard. He's co-barman.

Isn't the king's power absolute? she thinks.

On the other hand, it makes her nervous. Too much has happened for Alanna to take such things for granted anymore.

Quietly, "what happens if some new and exciting evil found its way to the bar and made dangers out of both of you? What recourse would we have?" She moves around the counter and crouches beside him. "We couldn't have each of you letting the other out every time we managed to get you in a cell. All I'm saying is that maybe you should have talked to Archie, explained your viewpoint and then let him make that decision."

"but this wasn't some new and exciting evil. it was just family."