OOM: A return

[latino_menace]

Ramon would never admit this to anyone but Random - not even himself, really - but this has been the longest week of his life, bar none. It's bad enough when Random's away but when he's gone away to Amber...well, that's a whole different level of worry to deal with

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[underwater_owl]

One knock on the front door before he opens, just so no one gets a heart attack, and then steps in the hallway. Peeking into the living room. Then the kitchen.

Random, who looks old, grins at Ramon and even with the crows feet it's still him.

[latino_menace]

The sense of relief is almost overwhelming. Given that the Random in-bar at the moment is from further on in the timeline, he's still had no idea what the fuck is going on with the Random that left here a week ago. He doesn't speak as he stands and crosses the kitchen and silently wraps his arms around Random tight.

[underwater_owl]

He hasn't felt smaller than anyone since... some time before the jewel showed up, back when Corwin was still a big brother. It's much more comforting than a person would expect.

"Hey. Guess what?"

[latino_menace]

'What?'

A little muffled as he's still holding him. God.

[underwater_owl]

"'m King."

Hehehe. Who'd have thought?

[latino_menace]

'You are?'

That causes him to pull back pretty quickly. There's a brief frown as he pauses to think about it and then, suddenly, a few things fall into place.

'That's...good.'

He became king in a week? This doesn't quite add up.

[underwater_owl]

"Random, King of Amber."

Older and a little tired and very glad to be home.

"It's been a while, my time."

[latino_menace]

'Yeah, you said it would be,' he mutters, almost to himself. His arms drop to his sides.

'How long exactly?'

[underwater_owl]

He starts adding years on his fingers, and ends up just looking a little more tired and perplexed when he gets to about five.

"Tell you what. I'll go see Martin for an hour or two, and then we reconvene for an adult discussion and I give you the blow by blow."

[latino_menace]

'...OK.'

Perhaps a good idea. He needs to ask so many things, not least where to start on the issue of marriage and...fuck, right now he's quite surprised that Random remembers him at all, if its been that long.

'I'll make you a sandwich or something.'

Needs to do something.

[underwater_owl]

"A sandwich would be perfect. It's been nothing but fucking venison for a year. God damned deer in Arden."

And exit, to find the little one and hold him and never let go. He's a lot of things, but you'll never be able to say he's not a loving father.

[latino_menace]

Ramon takes his time. He's trying to work out in his head a way to broach the many issues he has with all this, all the while remember what the older Random had said to him. In the end he makes about four turkey salads on rye and carries them through to the sitting room with a large mug of coffee. He doesn't intrude on Random's time with Martin. There'll be enough chance to speak a little later.

[underwater_owl]

It's a while, because he missed his little one so very, very much, but he makes it into the living room after having given Martin a bath and sung him to sleep, lying in bed with him and stroking his hair.

He pokes into the living room and settles down next to Ramon with a little sound of satisfaction.

"It's been about a million years since I ate something normal."

[latino_menace]

'Can't promise five star cuisine, I'm afraid.'

He tries to keep his voice light but its quite obviously an effort. After a pause, he says quietly,

'I know you're married.'

[underwater_owl]

...WHAT?

Random, when caught off guard nowadays, merely goes still. It's more prudent not to react until you understand. The silence invites explanation.

[latino_menace]

Ramon lets the silence run while he tries to collect his thoughts. Eventually he sighs and runs a hand over his face.

'You're in the bar. Another you, from a bit further along. I thought he was you, if you know what I mean. He told me.'