faesphere | Life in the Apocalypse

[~~It's all the malnourishment~~

Casey tries the line again, under his breath, and tries to implement Leo's advice. (Almost sounds better, actually. Huh.) He's quickly distracted by the scenery, though, and he peers around the greenhouse curiously- usually he doesn't go in here, kids aren't typically permitted in the food stores because everything is so delicate, so he's taking in the sights while he's able. Looks the same as it ever does, with multiple experiments ongoing, the scent of different types of soil and growth wafting in the air. Not much should be growing underground, but somehow they make it work. Uncle Tello makes it work, at least.

When they reach the last table, Casey leans over his shoulder to spot the jars, and points to one on the end.]

That one for sure! I saw him writing on the jar in his lab.

That one, huh.

[He reaches to give Casey's head a gentle pat with one hand while he reaches for the jar with the other. But once he sees the label, his eyes go wide.]

Holy... And you're sure this is real? Not him playing a jokey joke on me?

[Casey considers that.]

He didn't sound like he was joking. He did all the same stuff he always does when he's making something really cool. [Pulling all-nighters, holing himself up in his lab for days, talking cryptically about this or that, bragging about his genius once he hit some kind of breakthrough. Then the nonchalance with which he announced the project's success.

If this is important like that, it's definitely not a prank.]

That's definitely his 'serious something really cool' mode...

[He's so afraid to hope for this one. It's such a personal thing, something from their old lives. A memory. He carefully twists open the top and lifts it up to see the jar full of loose leaves and some other things mixed with it. He leans it close to smell and-]

Ohmigosh it's real. [Leo holds it up to his shoulder for Casey to smell.] Smell that- don't take a big whiff. Just a little sniff.

[Casey sniffs - he means to go little and ends up going a bit too big - and scrunches up his nose. It's not totally unpleasant, but it's like nothing he's ever smelled before.]

It smells weird... what is it?

[Leo laughs a little at that reaction; he remembers he'd done the same thing when he was that age. He pulls the canister back to himself and smiles down at the leaves.]

It's tea. Well - tea leaves, you make tea from this. But it's been something we've all been missing.

Oh... tea.

[He remembers hearing that word plenty of times before. It was brought up alongside coffee as a thing dearly missed in the apocalypse, especially with tensions running high and most people too exhausted to make it through the day without something to take the edge off. Everyone made it sound like it was really wonderful, and sensei seems happy to see it again.]

...Are you gonna make some?

I am absolutely going to make some. Just gotta get some clean water and a burner to boil it on.

[Clean water around here is precious and this being his first taste of tea in a couple decades, he wants it to be perfect. So Donnie will have to forgive him. He sets the canister into Casey's hands and starts fussing around the rest of the green room. He manages to put together a small bowl of clean water.]

Okay, we aaaare not doing this in here, he'll kill me if anything happens to the plants. So! How about a field trip to the kitchen? Only if you don't tell.

[Casey tucks the jar in between himself and Leo's shell, curling around it protectively as he holds on, as if it's the most precious of treasures. Hearing the excited tone in his sensei's voice makes him excited to see what tea is like, too. Weird smell and all.]

I won't tell. But I bet this is why Uncle Tello said to do it this early.

[He has magic cameras everywhere, he'll definitely know. But he can keep this as their secret from everyone else.]

[Oh Donnie is definitely going to know. But it's nothing if not a show for the kid. Leo gives him a wink before heading to the galley. No one is in there this early except some of the night watch on break. And it's nothing for him to pull up one of the small burners to set the bowl of water on.]

All right. So. We're gonna heat this water up so it's nice and toasty, and then we're gonna take it off the burner, put some leaves in- once I find a suitable strainer, oh should've done that first - and then the hot water will be infused [He says it like he learned it one day and has been proud ever since] with the flavor of the leaves.

[Casey carefully crawls up to perch on Leo's shoulder instead, the shell supporting him from behind, giving him full view of what Leo is doing, and freeing his hands up to hold the jar of leaves. Why is it always leaves?]

That's a lot of steps. You don't just eat them?

[Is this like when Uncle Mikey told him there was a whole recipe for soup that was like 90% leaves, is sensei the one playing a jokey joke this time?]

[All right now the waiting. Waiting for boiling....]

Oh, haha! No, that'd ruin it. No, you use the water to draw out the flavor and drink it.

[Casey is quiet for a long moment, peering down at the jar with a newfound fascination. His voice is hushed as he says at last,]

Leaves you don't have to eat... whoa.

[Suddenly he likes tea for that reason alone.]

Right? It's super cool.

[And it's actually super hot as he starts to see the smallest bubbles forming. So he removes the bowl and puts a strainer with a small portion of leaves into it.]

You'll see.

[Casey crawls forward a bit, halfway hanging off so he can watch the process more closely. It's nothing too fancy, but life in a resistance base in hiding for a kid can be kind of boring, with far fewer options for entertainment, so every new thing is at least a little fascinating.]

...It smells different now.

[The smell is softening a bit, and the color of the water is starting to darken in increments as he lets it steep.]

The heat of the water brings out some different parts of the smells.

[Hmm, hmm. Still doesn't smell spectacular, but then again, nothing does here. It at least smells better than cooked rat.

Maybe he will try a little, when it's done.]

Sensei? Why are you so excited for tea?

[It's so much better than cooked rats and leaves. He waits a few more minutes.]

Because it's something I liked a lot in the old days. And I haven't had any in a long time. It was something I shared with my pops.

[Give him a second to parse that.]

Your dad? Master Splinter?

[The mysterious and well-loved rat man he never got to meet... if this is something he did with his dad, it's very special indeed.]

That's him, yep. This was his favorite, actually.

[And it's clear that Donnie did it on purpose for that reason.]

[Master Splinter had strange taste. He knows better than to say that, though. Instead he can't help fixating on the fact that sensei asked him to come along for this, and not one of his brothers. It makes him beam at the privilege, arms winding indulgently around Leo's neck for a hug.]

I hope it tastes really good then, sensei!

[Sensei's been working hard for everyone. He deserves to have a break, to have his dad's tea.]

It will, trust me.

[He does pat at Casey's arm around his neck. He loves this kid, he's happy to share this with him. But after a few minutes he removes the strainer with the now wet leaves and careeeeefully lifts the cup. Takes a sip and something in his shoulders relaxes. It's... Not exactly like he grew up with, but it's so close.]

Gotta let it cool down before you taste it, all right?

Awww...

[The suspense, the suspense, sensei! He can smell it from here! But fine, Casey rolls over on his shell to flop on his back instead, counting cracks in the ceiling.]

Can you tell me about your pops?

[Leo can't help the light chuckle at Casey's flopping. He was the same way, still kind of is. He's just gotten better at dealing with it. But the question has him pause.]

About my dad? What do you wanna know?

Mmm... I don't know. What did you do with him, just sit and drink tea?

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