milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

A young woman with a tangle of dark, curly, brown hair was sitting alone in a booth. Several items were abandoned on the table before her, including a small, leather-bound journal and a plate with a half-eaten chicken salad sandwich. Her bright blue eyes were perusing the pages of the New York Times, although closer inspection would have revealed that they didn't seem to be settling on anything.

She certainly looked like April O'Neil, yet if you were to judge by steely, distant expression alone, you would have easily mistaken her for someone else. There was also the matter of a certain gold locket being conspicuously absent from its previously permanent place around her neck.

~~[OOC: 4:00 PM ET - Mun is leaving work now, and going to do real life-ish stuff. Will be back in a few hours.]~~

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"It happens. I'm not saying it's the perfect thing for everyone. I mean, heck...it nearly drowned me last week."

April opened her mouth to retort but then stopped abruptly, her brow furrowing. "What?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah...I nearly drowned last week. Got sucked right down a hot tub drain pipe.
...
It's wierd...I was never afraid of water before, but I think I am now. That's messed up, isn't it?"

"WHAT?!"

"Well, it's really the only conclusion I can draw from it. I mean, at least I think it's fear. I've never really been scared before, but that's what you call it when your heart feels like it's stopped, and your muscles lock....right?"

"WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME?!" It was rather amazing how quickly she'd made her way over to his side of the booth. "Are you alright? Oh my God, Mikey, are you serious? You're serious!"

"I haven't really been making a big deal out of it. I mean, yeah, I'm fine and all. It was just a thing. Everything's okay. There was just...there was just drowning.
...
And we lost Senior Squeakins."

"Just a thing? Just a thing? You used to be a turtle and you almost drowned. How is that just a thing? And who the fuck is Senior Squeakins?"

"He was our rubber duckie vibrator."

He'll just let that sink in for a few seconds.

April just stared at him, going completely still.

"We're not having this conversation," she said.

"We're not?"

"I would rather we didn't."

"Okay. Um...should we go back to how much you hate us and want us out of your life then?"

It would sound sarcastic coming from anyone other than Mike, but he really wants to know.

April heaved a heavy sigh, leaning her forehead against his shoulder. "I don't hate you and I don't want you out of my life. You are my life. I love you. Maybe too much. You know that."

Mike nods.

"Yeah, I do. But it's good to hear you say it just the same."

He wraps an arm around her, and gently pulls her closer.

"Yeah. It is." April scooted closer, nuzzling in against his neck, eyes falling closed. "I'm sorry. About what I said earlier. I didn't mean it. I'm just scared is all." He smelled familiar and like home, and April wondered how she could ever have thought she could give him up. Opening her eyes again, she leaned back enough to look him in the face. "You're my Joy, Mikey. You know that, right?"

"If that means sexy hunk of a stud muffin, then yes."

He smiles, and it lights up the entire booth. Just around the eyes and the crinkle in the corners of his mouth, it's very easy for those that knew him before, to see his earlier face.

April smiled in return, but really, she couldn't possibly compete with his wattage. "I'm serious. You should know that." She wasn't sure if he had seen the letter -- If any of them had, come to think of it -- or if it had even made sense.

Mike turns a very mike shade of sheepish. It's the sort of look that one gives one's mother when she tells them to bundle up, it's cold out.

"I know, April. I know."

"Okay. As long as you do." She gave him a squeeze in reciprocation.

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