Raguel's visit.

[badinlatin]

"Now I know," Mal explains to the pair of footsteps following him to the bridge, "you ain't seen nothin' like this."

There's a random moon visible through the bridge viewscreen, a water-planet beyond. No suns immediately visible, so the water is dark along one side, almost a blue-purple.

"God I love bein' on a spaceship," Mal almost laughs.

Comments

[un_fallen]

Mal may hear the steady rhythm of footsteps in the short distance from the bar door to the bridge, but even so there's a small change almost immediately. The steps behind him falter slightly, rally, then stop altogether. When Mal glances back, he will see a much-changed angel leaning on the doorway for support, one hand pressed to his head, staring at the floor like he's about to be sick. It's likely for the best that his eyes aren't visible.

[badinlatin]

"Wo de -- Raguel -- "

It takes Mal two and a half long strides to return to his guest's side, moving between Raguel and the door so that the angel ends up leaning on him.

"What is it, what's wrong?"

[un_fallen]

Raguel can't hear him at all. There are voices screaming at him to listen, but none of those are quite clear, either. It's painfully like his fight with Blodwen; a blinding whirlwind of conflicting thoughts insisting that they are his own.

His vision has splintered like light through a dirty crystal. He sees a ship through cockpit glass, one he recognizes -

(how can that be, you've never been here)

(always been here)

- and it's coming at them head-on.

"Lookout!" he chokes into Mal's shoulder, and convulses in a motion that looks like a dry heave. Fortunately for Mal it's been a few weeks since he's eaten, but the beer he had at Happy Hour is making threatening noises.

[badinlatin]

Mal, supporting the better part of Raguel's weight now, eyes around quickly.

It's been awhile since the door to Milliways was a steady one, and Mal curses that fact now.

"There's nothin' there," Mal almost barks, leading Raguel away from the bridge and toward the kitchen at the opposite end of the corridor. "C'mon -- I'm takin' you back."

As soon as he finds a rutting door.

[un_fallen]

Raguel blinks around as they stagger toward the kitchen. The walls are fading in and out of focus, and somewhere in the distance he imagines that he can hear screams. His head swivels crazily from side to side, looking for the source.

"They swerved - they swerved!" he yells, apropos of nothing, and laughs. It sounds forced, choked out of him, and one hand comes up to cradle his head. It feels like it's splitting in half and the storm of voices hasn't lessened. His flickering gaze lands on the man supporting him.

"...Mal?" he asks hoarsely, as though he's just noticed.

[badinlatin]

"We're goin' I promise Raguel -- " and Mal drifts off into Mandarin without really paying attention to it.

The trip through the kitchen is awkward and painful, the almost-dead weight of Raguel hanging off of Mal's bones more than Mal's used to. He needs to exercise more, he thinks to himself blandly.

The door toward from the kitchen to the corridor facing the engine room is shimmery a little, and he hoists Raguel in front of him at a cant so that he can pass through first.

[un_fallen]

Raguel stumbles and nearly falls through the door, but catches his footing in time. And stands, gaping around at the bar. One hand is still at his head and he drops it cautiously as his breathing slows.

"What the hell was that?"

[badinlatin]

"I was actually hopin' you might've explained that to me," Mal offers, still evidently concerned and half-leading Raguel to a nearby chair.

"That's certainly the last time I bring anyone from Team Holy Angel Wings to my ship."

[un_fallen]

"Felt like there was someone else inside my head," he mutters, blinking stupidly at the bar in the sudden (relative) silence. "More than usual, I mean."

He allows Mal to lead him to the chair, though aside from his shaking hands - residual shock, he tells himself firmly - he feels perfectly normal. He sinks into the chair and glances sidelong at Mal, speaking hesitantly. His voice is hoarse from yelling.

"I can't-- can't imagine that always happens when you bring Team Holy Angel Wings over for a visit."

[badinlatin]

"I don't even try, with Tianshi and Crowley. They're about in my time, so I don't --- "

Mal stops for a second, taking that moment to mightily facepalm.

[un_fallen]

"They're the ones in your timeline? It's the same--"

He stops, staring wide-eyed at the floor. Then he leans over and runs a hand, still not quite steady, over his brow.

"What happened to them?"

[badinlatin]

"Well, if we want to see 'em in my time about somethin' that's happening in Milliways too, they already know about it, it's just that it was 500 years ago for 'em. More or less."

A helpless sort of shrug.

"That's not very helpful, I know."

[un_fallen]

"Oh." He takes a second to process this, but he's still frowning when he speaks.

"So they live in--" he gestures unhelpfully at the door, "and they don't--" he gestures back to the bar, "from here? Maybe I'm the same, then. Maybe it's just... just a doubling-up kind of thing."

He does not, however, look convinced.

[badinlatin]

"I'd imagine you're the same -- Crowley runs a corporation in my where 'n when, and Tianshi lives as a prior at an abbey."

[un_fallen]

"A prior?" Raguel repeats. A dazed grin surfaces on his face, then submerges again.

"I don't know - there was definitely something, but." After a moment he suppresses a shudder, looks back at Mal apologetically.

"I'll ask them. And if that's the case, then I still hope I get to see it. Eventually."

[badinlatin]

Mal pats Raguel one more time.

"I'll get you vidfeeds in the meantime. Almost as fun, I promise."

Not really. But he's trying.

[un_fallen]

The smile this time hovers a little longer.

"Much obliged. And next time I see you in, I'll owe you a drink. For nearly losing mine on your ship, if nothing else."

[badinlatin]

Mal grins and accepts, along with offering the usual 'Oh, that's not necessary's and 'No worries'.

Even though there are a couple, and Mal keeps a close eye on Raguel for the rest of the evening.