Tommy wasn't one to usually cede a verbal bout to anyone, but as his eyes bounced between the two women, the look on his face was priceless.  Not only was he beaten, he was beaten<em>badly</em>.  On the ground being beaten even more, the only mercy to turn and run.  Abby held the advantage and she used it skillfully.  Tommy just smiled and nodded, taking a step back and bowing as if to surrender, "I do miss these chats, Abby," he laughed, remembering back before the schism how she and he used to trade off telling some fiction, tossing it to each other with such ease.  They were both verbal warriors, both would have made skilled diplomats.<br/><br/>He turned and smiled at Valla, something more contained than he had meant it to, and walked toward the water, kicking off his boots as the dirty began to shift to sand.  Abby watched for a moment as he took off his shirt, revealing his bare back and arms, but then turned to Valla.  "Okay, so just that we get it straight - that man is about to burst.  We both know Lois would just as likely knock you from your little pedestal in his eyes, so what is keeping you?" she paused, but added a few things to cut off her verbal defenses.  "I know that we all still hope we leave here... but what if we don't?"  She turned and looked back at the waves, him standing knee deep in them, "We all have our flaws.  Julian has his too, but you better choose fast or you'll lose them both."