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

[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.]

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[Now that Donnie's having his turn, he wants to do it again. He grabs more soap from the bottle and squeezes it on Donnie's hands.] There ya go, Donnie! Clean!

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Donnie wipes his soapy hands on Raphie's before rubbing them together and rinsing them off again.]

I think I like clean.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April has no clue.] Yup! Clean is awesome! [The smell of mac-and-cheese begins to fill the kitchen. Comfort food: April makes it.] But, you know---you guys might be getting a little TOO clean over there. It's time to eat.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Food? The clean is forgotten instantly for food. Don't mind Raphie getting underfoot as you try to bring that dish to the table, April. He's like a hungry dog, and wants to make sure he gets his share of whatever smells so good.]

[tinytechturtle.livejournal.com]

[Donnie, for his part, fiddles around with the sink until he figures out how to turn the water off. Then he turns it back on. Off. On. Off. On. This is fun!]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April sets down one plate of food for Raphael.] Donnie...it's going to get cold, hon.

[saidontmatter.livejournal.com]

[And Raph's on it immediately, shoveling food into his mouth with his hands as fast as he can.]