Thirty-First Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[The last thing they remember, they were warm in bed with their other brothers. Now they are two, and for reasons beyond their comprehension they are waking up in a snowbank.

The sun is bright, the snow is wet, and the frigid air seeps into their bones.]

Raphie, I'm - I'm cold.

C-c’mon, Donnie. [He latches onto his brother’s hand and starts pulling him out of the snow.] We n-need a better hidin’ spot.

Okay.

[The two tiny Turtles climb out of the hollow in the deep snow and, huddled against one another, strike out in search of shelter.]

((Five-ish-year-old Turtles, no conscious memories of Luceti. Replies will come from tinytechturtle and saidontmatter. April will threadjack eventually to take her little guys home, but initial rescuing is open to any kind soul who doesn't want to see a pair of young reptiles freeze to death. Have at, kind souls of Luceti.))

Comments

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Okay, Raph--I guess that's a "no" on the weapons, then. For now. You'll...probably be able to use them later.

Uh--when? Oh, you know---when he's not busy with you kids.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Stupid Donnie, ruining his fun. He pouts for a moment before reaching over to pinch his brother's arm.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

Hey! [Donnie slaps Raph back, forgets what he was talking to April about, and patters out of the room to see what other neat stuff is in this place.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

H-hey! Donnie, wait up! Raphael, I saw that pinch you know. You're instigating.

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[Raphie just pouts harder, dashing after his brother to try to smack him back. He doesn't know what "instigating" means. All he knows is Donnie ruined his fun and it's not fair.

But when he gets out of the room, he's a bit floored by all the bright and open space. Not as scary as outside, but pretty shocking none the less.

He stands outside the bedroom doorway looking uneasy.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Donnie glances nervously up and down the hall, then ducks into the room opposite.

This turns out to be a very good decision indeed. Someone incredible must live in this room.

Donatello just stands there with his mouth open, trying to take in all the cool stuff scattered across the room's surfaces.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April places a reassuring hand on Raph's shoulder and guides him toward Donatello's room.] Wow, Donnie--I guess you're never going to grow up to be the neatest turtle, huh? What a mess.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He latches onto April's hand more out of instinct than anything. He's used to always having somebody nearby to latch onto. Her hand feels weird, but he's decided he likes this human, so it isn't so bad.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Donnie picks up some loose parts, to see if maybe they can be put back together. He's allowed to touch this, right?]

Are these yours?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Yes! [Lie, but so what? This has to be an experiment, right? He has to grow up again soon, right? He'll thank her later.] But you can have it.

[She squeezes Raph's hand, meanwhile.] You're not hungry, are you?

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[His eyes light up.] You gots food?

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[That's a sufficiently distracting suggestion.]

I'm a little hungry...

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Come on---the kitchen's over here. [April turns and leads the way, trusting that they'll follow her.]

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[Yay food! For these little guys, food is something to celebrate. There's a skip in Raphie's step as they head to the kitchen.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Oh, but the -

Donnie puts down the circuitboard, watches it a moment to make sure it's staying put, and then runs after Raphie and April.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Wash your hands. Kids? Germ factories. [It's surprising how easy it is to slide into a comfortable chatter with the turtles. April may have no control over her life, or anything, but she can at least sit the kids down and feed them pasta.]

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[What is this washing hands business? They don't even have plumbing in the Lair.Raphie has no idea what she's talking about, so he just keeps clinging to her hand, bouncing on the balls of his feet and looking up at her expectantly.]

C'mon, Donnie! C'mon Donnie, food!

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Okay, okay, he's coming. He climbs up onto one of the chairs but - there's nothing on the table yet.]

What're we gonna eat?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April gives Raph's hand a gentle tug in the direction of the sink.] Come on, Donatello---wash hands first. That's the rule. [She grabs a kitchen chair on her way and places it in front of the sink so they can reach.]

The soap's right here.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raphie lets go of April's hand and clambers up onto the chair, looking at this strange bowl-like thing. Weird. He leans forward on the edge of the counter to try to touch the drain.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Um... right. He's just going to sit over here and see what Raphie does.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Like this. [She turns on the water for them and soaps up her hands, then rinses them under the faucet.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Okay. [It's kind of weird, but he mimics April best he can. He winds up dropping the soap container in the sink in the process, but it's all well and good. Plus the bubbles are kind of fun.

He plays with the suds a moment before sticking his hands under the faucet.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Hey, that does look fun. Donnie slides off his chair and climbs onto the other one, next to Raphie, sticking his hands under the water also.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

There ya go! Clean! [April lets them play while she dries her hands and grabs food from the refrigerator before making a trip to the microwave.]