the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Adam and the boys are sick.

It's just a head cold. Alanna’s Gift helped make them more comfortable, which is why she doesn't feel guilty for her smug comments regarding the clearly superior constitution of the females in the family. Or for escaping with Grace, thereby making certain there's no chance she'll be forced to eat her words. That would be worse than the runny nose.

Since there is always paperwork to be done, Alanna stops by the security office and then takes Grace to sit by the lake. Both mother and daughter are clad in sweaters, as if bad weather is expected. Paperwork quickly becomes a letter to Thom, short and stilted, and Alanna hums as she writes. Grace, it seems, has learned to sleep through the noise.

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There is a very quiet thump to Alanna's left, and Raven settles to the ground.

His eyes, black and bright as ever, are fixed on Grace.

"There will be blizzards, perhaps?"

Raven likes snow.

"Goddess, I hope not," mutters Alanna, eyeing the sky suspiciously as if a blizzard is a very real possibility.

One never knows with winter; in her experience, it can pop up out of nowhere, just when she's getting used to the brisk temperatures of autumn.

She shudders.

The papers are tossed to the side. Sorry, Thom. "Hullo, Raven."

"Alanna."

Raven wrinkles his nose, reaching out to tug on her hair.

"Things go, yes?"

She doesn't fuss and even refrains from flicking his ear in reaction, such is her pleasure at seeing him.

Retaliation can always come later.

"Indeed, they have a way of doing that," she grins, pulling her hair over the shoulder farthest from him. "Adam, Thom and Jamie have succumbed to a head cold, so Grace and I have escaped. There's no need for all of us to be miserable. How have you been?"

Raven tilts his head, considering.

It is possible his fingers also brush lightly against Grace's cheek.

Probably she does not wake up.

Raven has skills.

"Bored, perhaps."

He is very solemn.

"You are meant for keeping me busy."

Right.

Alanna snorts.

"And here I was thinking you appeared to save me from paperwork."

And letters. She really hates writing letters.

"No matter," she says, tapping a finger against her lips. "It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. What shall we do?"

It's said with a fond smile, as his gentle treatment of Grace does not go unnoticed.

Raven considers this.

He considers this for a very long time.

"You are very fond of giant mice, perhaps?"

Beat.

"Also there are ducks."

Someone has been watching TV with Coyote.

Probably.

While Raven contemplates, Alanna pulls the sleeve of her sweater over one hand and starts chewing on her other thumb.

Old habits, and all that.

"Giant mice?" She blinks, momentarily at a loss. "Well, it's true I'm fond of larger than average turtles, but I've never come across giant mice. Ducks are fine."

Except when they're sinister.

"In truth, I have no opinion on ducks. Although they are quite tasty when roasted."

Raven considers this.

"Possibly these are not for eating. Still."

He grins.

"There is candy."

Lots of it.

And funnel cake. Somewhere.

Or so he has heard.

"And children."

Raven is not going to eat those. Most likely.

Just as long as he doesn't eat Grace.

"I like candy," Alanna tells him, smiling mischievously, "and I have a child."

An often ignored sense of caution tickles the back of her mind and suggests she should have more information before agreeing to any plan put forth by Raven, but Alanna's reckless side is clearly running the brain today.

"Where is this place?"

Raven does not look shifty at all.

"Coyote has been there before, I think."

And Raven cannot remember, exactly.

Well, not the name, at any rate.

It is a thing.

Eyebrows raised, she slants him a sidelong glance.

"I can bring my sword?"

The giant mice might not be hospitable.

The voice urging caution in the back of her mind is starting to sound a lot like Adam.

Raven considers this.

"Possibly daggers are better, yes?"

They are more easily hidden, after all.

There's a token scowl, but this is the woman who has learned, albeit ungraciously, not to carry a sword on the streets of London.

Some people have strange ideas about them.

After giving it some thought, she nods.

"I have daggers, and I can leave the sword in the security office." Brightening, she pushes herself up on her knees. "If you'll watch Grace for a moment, I'll take care of it. Then can we go?"

Raven does not look displeased at this possibility.

"It is, I think, not so difficult. So."

He tucks Grace neatly into the curve of his arm, grinning down at her.

Alanna will be back soon.

Probably.

Unless she is for getting very distracted.

Not today: the bar is quiet, and the only thing to be distracted by in the office is more paperwork.

She's back in under five minutes, two of George's daggers stashed about her person and an eager smile on her face.

"Do you want to carry her? I have the sling, and her carrier, of course."

Grace chooses that moment to wake up and gurgle at Raven.

Raven wrinkles his nose at the baby, eyes bright with merriment.

"I will not be eating her face, I do not think. Likely it is not so tasty."

He does not offer Grace back to Alanna.

This probably means that he will carry her.

At least until he gets bored.

Alanna shrugs and leads the way inside, speaking quickly and cheerfully in that way parents have when they've been spending a lot of time with someone who cannot yet carry on a conversation.

"Probably not, but I thank you all the same. As would Adam, I'm sure, after he groaned at you about how miserably sick he is. Men can be such babies," she scoffs, perhaps forgetting that she's not exactly the world's best patient.

Raven blinks.

"He is for needing diapers?"

Grace makes another burbling noise.

It might be a laugh.

Or gas.

Let's hope it was a laugh. But just in case, Alanna reflexively checks the bag on her shoulder for the necessary supplies.

It probably says something that she thought first of weapons, then diapers. If someone were to repeat whatever that something is in her presence, however, he or she would quickly think twice about doing so again.

"Not that I'm aware of, but feel free to ask the very next time you see him," she says, drawing to a halt before the door. "Lead on."

She stays close, just in case Raven looks like he might drop her daughter. Not that she thinks he would.

Probably not, anyway.

Raven is not as clumsy as he looks.

Mostly.

Though possibly traveling from milliways to Florida will take some thought.

Here's hoping he doesn't trip when crossing the threshold.

He doesn't, as it happens.

Alanna comes close.

It's just so very bright. One hand on Raven's shoulder to steady herself, she blinks until the spots start to clear and wonders at the music that seems to be playing all around.

It's quite... cheerful.

Raven smells cotton candy.

It is entirely possible that he is very distracted at this moment.

Oops?

Alanna shakes her head and is about to make a snide comment about being blind, when she realizes it is wonderfully, blissfully warm.

She stands at the end of Main Street, USA with her eyes closed, arms spread wide, and laughs like a mad person.

Someone small bumps her leg. Opening her eyes, Alanna watches a woman hustle away with a small boy. "It's okay," Alanna shares, "insanity runs in my family."

The woman doesn't look reassured.

"What is that delicious smell?"

Raven considers this question.

Grace looks like she's thinking about it, too.

Or maybe she just has to pee.

"Possibly it is cake?"

He is not certain.

There are too many colors.

And shiny things.