saisdontmatter | (no subject)

(no subject)

[When sickness hit the Hamato household, it swept through like wildfire. And ever since Splinter found himself with two sick little turtles on his hands, he was determined to keep the other two as germ-free as possible. So as soon as they woke and they ate their meager breakfast, he shooed Raphael and Leonardo out of the den, hurriedly telling them to bring back anything they found of use before being pulled away by his sick ones' alarmed whimpers.

Raphie was more than happy to leave the den. It stank like throw up in there, and being hungry made it even worse. Ever since Donnie and Mikey got sick, Splinter hasn't been able to go topside for food, and splitting a can of tuna fish and a couple slices of stale bread with Leo left him feeling hollow inside. He'd been growing a lot lately, way more than his brothers, and it was making him feel hungry all the time. Maybe they'd be able to find some cool stuff while they were out, or even some more food.

The only problem is, he has no idea where to look. Splinter doesn't usually take him out on scavenge runs. It's because he's too noisy and doesn't listen, but his brothers tell him it's because he cries too much. But that's because they're stupid and Splinter doesn't take them either! No one gets to go except for Leo, because he's a daddy's boy and the favorite. And a stupid idiot, but that's besides the point.

So. That leaves two nine year old turtles and one mission. Raphie looks at his brother, shrugs, and starts shuffling off to wherever his feet take him. Because there's no way he's gonna let Leo tell him where to go. He'll just walk until he finds something.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The man's offer doesn't sway him. Sensei says that not all humans have evil in their hearts, but that it can often be impossible to tell one's true nature until it's too late. As much as Leo wants food.. as hungry as he is, as hungry as his whole family is, there's no way he's going to go out and talk to a human just to get it. Even the thought of it seems ridiculous.]

[He lies in the dark shadows, pressed down against the ground as he watches the man in predatory silence. If they're lucky, he'll give up and go away. If they're lucky... the thought trails away from him as he shivers, blinking in surprise at the involuntary action. He's just now noticing how cold and clammy his skin is getting beneath the rain. Donnie's babbling about thermo-regu-whatever seeps into his brain like an unwelcome visitor - he doesn't know the details, but he knows the gist of it, and the gist of it is "getting cold is very bad". He shifts slightly, trying to work some heat back into his limbs. He's hoping Raph isn't getting cold, too; they'd really be in trouble.]

[Shell. He's suddenly a lot more worried about their ability to wait this guy out.]

[A movement in the shadows by the dumpsters catches his eye, and he smiles warmly in its direction.]

Ah, there you are. I assure you, friends. I am quite--

[There's only a blur of green before he finds himself sprawled flat on his back on the wet pavement, gasping for breath. And the shadow - small, green, and eyes full of fury - is standing over him like a predator.

During his time on this earth, he has asked many questions, pushed the boundaries of knowledge and philosophy, gone to great lengths a lesser man would never dare to go. But curiosity, it seems, can sometimes be a curse. And today, it may very well kill this old street cat.

But he will leave this world in awe.

For a moment, all he can do is gape up at this beautiful, this terrible creation of nature.]

My god. You're magnificent.

Edited 2013-09-14 22:56 (UTC)

[He doesn't know what happened. First, he's crouching in the shadows, thinking of how much he'd love to hurt this stupid homeless guy. This human. Next, he's standing in the middle of the alley, wet and panting, standing over the guy like he's about to go in for the kill. As the black filters from his vision, the man's eyes are wide and scared. But there's something else he sees in those eyes - wisdom and kindness he tries to pretend he doesn't see. The guy doesn't even try to fight back. It makes him uneasy, makes him shake with his own fear and ebbing adrenaline.]

Leave us alone, you dumb old guy!

[A whirl of motion, something whipping out of the shadows beside him faster than he can process. He seizes up, eyes tracking the blur as it hurls into the homeless man, knocking them both to the ground. It takes Leonardo a moment to realize that the blur is his brother, but the moment he does, he leaps to his feet and darts out into the alley.]

Raph! What are you doing?!

[Has Raphael gone crazy? The homeless guy isn't fighting back, but all Leo is processing is that look of wonder and awe on his face, and he doesn't like it. Leo makes a grab for Raph, trying to push his brother behind him while snarling possessively at the man with as much fierceness as a nine-year-old can muster.]

No, he's not! You can't have him! Go away!

[Two of them. Two of the most amazing, the most horrible creatures he has ever had the pleasure of seeing. He's heard the tales, yes. The stories told by the firelight of oil barrels, spun by fellow free men who have seen so much of the world and her mysteries. Giant rats, crocodiles that walk on two legs, and the men and women who have been shunned from society, whether by birth or consequence. He has seen much in his long life, but this... yes, it's terrifyingly magnificent.

But they're scared, just children. He can see it in their eyes... yes. Those strangely human eyes gleaming from their reptilian faces.

He sits up slowly, retrieving his kufi cap and dusting himself off. Strange and magnificent as they are, he knows better than to gawk. He has seen and made good friends with many possessing deformities of mind and body, but they are all just people. Just souls bound to mortal flesh, one under the same stars.

He keeps his tone jovial, steady. Keeps his smile kind.]

Have him? My, what would I do with him?

[He hates this guy. He hates him trying to be nice. He hates him coming into their spot. He hates him for making him this mad.

Leo forces his way in front of him, but not without some effort. Even behind his brother, his hands are wound into fists, ready to strike.]

Break our n-necks. Cut us up into little pieces. But don't even try it 'cause wuh-we'll kick your butt!

[Leo doesn't get what's going on with Raph - he's always having tantrums and getting upset, sure, but he's usually a scaredy-cat when it comes to humans. He feels Raph tensed behind him, wiry muscles coiled as though ready to strike. It makes him nervous. This human is a lot bigger up close... and while he thinks they can probably handle him, he doesn't share Raph's sentiment that it would be an easy fight.]

[His imaginations aren't quite as wild as Raph's, either. But he still knows what the humans are capable of. He spreads his arms wide, eying the man with quiet intensity and taking a cautious step back.]

Edited 2013-09-14 23:59 (UTC)

Barbaric! [What a ghastly thing for this poor creature to say. Being a black man, being a free man, even being a philosopher has brought upon him many hardships, but never could he imagine the fear running through these poor boys' minds.] I'm a mere professor, a teacher. I could never imagine inflicting such atrocities. Forgive an old fool his curiosity if it has made you believe me capable of such.

[He takes a moment to straighten his jacket.]

And I assure you, my young reptilian friends, my derriere has already been thoroughly kicked.

[Raph takes a reflexive step back, his face screwed up in a grimace as the guy yammers on. This is not how he imagined humans would be. He must be crazy. He's just sitting there, calling them his friends and talking in gibberish.]

What are you, crazy or somethin'? He doesn't even speak English!

Edited 2013-09-15 06:44 (UTC)

[Leo's snout crinkles. This guy talks like Donnie used to back in his 'I'm so smart, look at all these new words I'm learning' phase. Leo had always thought that was incredibly annoying, but it doesn't sound as snooty on an adult. It just... confuses him.]

[A lot of things are confusing Leo right now. This human is big, but he doesn't seem very mean at all. Maybe... just... maybe he's not all that bad? Leo chews on his tongue, eyes nervously flitting from the man to the dumpster and back. If there's a chance he doesn't want to hurt him, they can't just beat him up.]

[Aw, shell. What does he do?]

We're not friends. [He tips his chin up, trying to make himself seem taller, but even he winces at the obvious note of hesitation in his voice. He's not trying to be mean, but he doesn't sound as firm as he'd hoped he would.]

[Obviously the children are terrified of humans, but to no fault of their own, he's positive. He's seen how society treats those who are different. Living on the streets has exposed him to people with every kind of handicap, every kind of religion and background, people who have come to live amongst the detritus not only because of their choices, but because they are different. And these creatures, these terrifying, strange, and fascinating children... they are far more different than anything he has ever seen.

The one in blue, most likely the older of the two, still has so much fear written in his eyes. But there's an attempt at boldness there that only betrays his innocence.

Though even that is a breakthrough. And as much as sitting on the concrete puts an ache in his backside, he's afraid to move from his spot and startle this magnificent experience away.]

No, I suppose not. Not without a proper introduction. [He offers another warm smile, extending a gloved hand in the boy's direction.] My name is Henry C. Jacobs the third, but most prefer to call me the Professor.

Edited 2013-09-22 00:48 (UTC)

[What is wrong with this guy? Shouldn't he be trying to eat them or something?

At the proffered hand, he takes a weary step back, visibly bristling at the idea of even touching a human. But otherwise he stays silent, his old fear slowly trickling back in as the heat of the moment cools his angrier thoughts.

This isn't right. This isn't how it's supposed to be. Why is he being so nice?]

[Leo stares at the hand in front of his face, practically balking at the notion. Touch a human? Before today he's barely even glimpsed them up close from below sewer grates, and now one wants him to shake his hand?]

[Every bit of him is screaming to run away, grab Raph and dive back down into the sewers and never think about this weird guy again. But there's another part of him, somewhere deeper, that wants to believe that most humans aren't really as bad as Sensei says they are. He's always wondered if they were, but it had always seemed like taking Splinter's word for it was just smarter. It still does. But while his head is telling him one thing, but his heart is telling him something completely different.]

[Leo doesn't step back like his brother. He stares at the gloved hand, at the dark, sausage-like fingers poking out from ratty cloth. Then, hesitantly, he lifts a hand, his eyes dashing to the man's, and slowly presses his palm into the Professor's.]

[He can't help the quiet intake of breath; the hand is so different from what he knows. It's startlingly warm, like Sensei's, but there's no scritchy brushing of fur against his skin. Even through the fabric stretched over his palm, Leo can feel it radiating from him like he's a furnace. There are other details too, all catalogued within moments - size, texture, even the number of digits - but the warmth is a fixation for the most reptile-brained part of him.]

[Leo swallows, trying not to show how surprised or terrified he is by touching a human for the first time. He squares his shoulders and sets his mouth in a thin line, and admirably, his voice doesn't even shake when he speaks.]

Leo.

[The Professor shakes the little reptile's hand once, carefully, trying to train the unbridled amazement out of his expression. So he has a name. A human name, even. How wonderfully unexpected.]

It is good to meet you, Leo. [Then his eyes trail to the other one, the obviously more feral one. There's a wild, cornered animal quality to his eyes as they dart back and forth between him and his companion, his mouth hanging open in disgust.] And who is your friend, if you don't mind me asking?

[Raph feels nothing but object horror as his brother actually shakes the human's hand.]

Are you stupid? Don't touch him! [He squeaks, his newly deepening voice cracking enough to hit an awkwardly high pitch. His hand clamps down hard on his brother's bicep, but he doesn't pull, just hangs on with every ounce of fear he has.

He wants to just run away, but Leo's staying, and there's no way he's gonna chicken out if Leo isn't. He's not a baby.] A-and don't tuh-tuh-tuh-tell him my name!

[Except babies don't stutter like babies, but right now he's too horrified to even care.]

Edited 2013-09-22 02:15 (UTC)

[He grunts as Raph's finger dig into his bicep, sending him a sharp look that immediately softens when he realizes how scared his brother is. He raises his free hand to settle it on his brother's, murmuring lowly.]

He's not gonna hurt us, Raphie. I don't think he's like the others. [His gaze then slides to the human's in an expression that is both a challenge and a plea for affirmation. He's never relied on blind faith like this before, and it's scary. Even still, he stands even straighter, trying his very best to project an air of confidence for both the man in front of him and his younger sibling.]

This is my brother. [It seems like a fair compromise between the two requests; moreover, there's an edge of fierce protectiveness to it. It's crystal clear where this young turtle's concerns lie.]

It is a pleasure to meet you both. [And an honor, really. He never in his life thought he would meet such astonishing creatures. He had theories about their existence, about the things that lurked in the dark below and in corners of the great unknown. But to actually meet them.]

And I certainty would never think to hurt you. [He glances at their faces, one terror-stricken, the other more hesitant. But something else strikes him about their features. As round and solid as they're built, their eyes are sunken, their frames more angular than a healthy human child's. Their young muscles stand out like wiry ropes under tight reptilian skin.

It doesn't take a professor to know they're hungry. It must be the reason they've come scavenging in the alleyway in the first place.

The thought gives him an idea.]

Now, you must be hungry. Allow me to show you one of my favorite foraging spots, in honor of new friendship. There's a bakery just a few blocks away that often throws out its expired goods. Their blueberry muffins are especially delightful.

Edited 2013-09-22 03:37 (UTC)

[Did he just say... food? Just the idea of a real bakery, of muffins makes his stomach growl hungrily. His expression falls flat. Indecisive, he shifts nervously from foot-to-foot, not letting go of his grip on his brother's arm.

This has to be a trap. But he's so hungry he almost doesn't even care.]

[Conflicted, Leo's brow knits. Food... real food, not the soggy, half-rancid junk they've been sifting through all day. Not even the cold, bland rations he and Master Splinter usually end up dragging home on their scavenging runs. Actual food, like the humans eat - maybe a little stale, but by the sound of it, otherwise largely intact. His stomach clenches with sharp hunger pains just thinking about it.]

[At the same time, they've been warned about this, too. Humans promising them things in an attempt to lure them away, and then kidnapping them. They might have shaken hands, and Leo really does think this guy might not be all that dangerous, but those human horror stories urge caution all the same. He's not their friend just yet.]

[Leo crosses his arms over his plastron, trying to look firm.]

Go there and bring something back. If you're telling the truth, we'll go with you, Mr. Professor. [It's rather bold to make demands of someone doing you a favor, but as far as Leo's concerned, this is the best way to figure out if he's really trustworthy or not. Besides, if it's just a few blocks down, it's not like it would be a huge hassle for him, right?]

Of course. [It really isn't a hassle. Walking two blocks in order to find a gift for fascinating new friends (as well as food for starving children) is no problem at all. He only wishes to gain their trust in hopes to learn more about them, what they are, where they came from, and how they came to be.

He stands up slowly, groaning at the ache in his stiff back and knees.]

Wait here, children. I'll return in a few minutes.

[When the old man disappears into the street, Raph just stands there, dumbstruck, his mouth watering and his grip slowly slackening on Leo's arm. What just happened?]

You really think he's coming back?

I don't know. [he admits quietly, watching the Professor round the corner and disappear into the gray afternoon light. Then, grabbing Raph's fingers, he gives a gentle yet urgent tug to disengage his hand from Leo's arm.] Look, go wait at the bottom of the manhole, okay? I'll hide up here until I see him coming back. And if I tell you to run, you start running.

[He doesn't want to tell Raph that he's afraid the human might come back with a weapon, or even worse, some more "friends". Until those baked treats are in his family's hands, he's not assuming anything.]

[And that's what Raph is really afraid of. The old man's gonna come back with more humans, tell them who they are and where he found them, and they'd be caught and killed for sure. The idea makes him visibly shake.]

No! I'm not luh-luh-leaving you, okay? I'm not s-scared 'a that fat old man.

[But the threat of tears behind his eyes is enough to prove otherwise. Though his hand, now extracted from his brother's arm, winds into a fist. Another flash of anger storms across his face.]

He wants to catch us, we'll kick their butts!

We can't 'kick their butts' if there's a whole group of them, doofus! [There's no bite behind the name-calling; he just wants Raph to understand that getting into a fight is the last thing they want right now.] We have to make sure one of us can get away. If we both get into trouble, who's going to get help?

I'm not a doofus, stupid! [He grabs onto Leo's arm again, because he doesn't want to split up. He doesn't went to be alone, and he doesn't want to leave his brother no matter what. Pretending he's tough enough to kick their butts makes him feel a little less terrified. That's all. If Leo won't let him pretend, he'll just be stubborn. Jaw set, hovering on the edge of tears, he's not gonna let go. He's not gonna let Leo split them up.] I'm not going down there!