Life in the Apocalypse

[apuckalypse]

Dumping ground for Earth 2044 shenanigans.

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[apuckalypse]

[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.]

[neonleon]

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.

[apuckalypse]

[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.

[neonleon]

[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.

[apuckalypse]

[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?

[neonleon]

[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.

[apuckalypse]

[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.]

[neonleon]

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

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

[apuckalypse]

[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.]

[neonleon]

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?

[apuckalypse]

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?

[neonleon]

[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?

[apuckalypse]

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

[neonleon]

Before the Krang showed up, I didn't really do that much with him, tbh? He'd lived a pretty exciting life and was happy to sit and watch commercials and eat good food. But he'd still train us sometimes.

After the Krang... We just. We'd take whenever we could find an hour or two and sit and talk. Drink tea, sure, and ..I dunno.

It doesn't sound like a lot or that exciting, but I'd give almost anything to sit and have another conversation with him.

[apuckalypse]

[Those words and the somber tone makes Casey roll back over, scooting closer and resting his head on Leo's, trying to hug him around the neck.]

What would you say if he was here?

[neonleon]

If he was here?

[He lifts his head a little, patting Casey's arm affectionately. He appreciates the hug.]

That I love him. That I wanted to hear more stories he had to tell.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey hums, leaning into the touch like a magnet.]

I bet he loved you a lot.

[Because sensei is sensei and who wouldn't love him. A dad definitely would.]

[neonleon]

...He did. He loved all of us so much.

[He takes a breath and uses it to blow the steam off the tea before carefully offering it up to Casey.]

It's still pretty hot so be careful - don't burn yourself.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey very carefully accepts the cup, holding it between both hands to not risk spilling a single drop of this precious thing sensei shared with his dad. He sniffs it again - it does smell better than before, actually, so clearly there's some science at work with this infusing thing - and blows on it a few times before taking a cautious sip.

...Makes a face. Then takes another sip. Then announces, very seriously:]

These are the best leaves I ever tasted.

[neonleon]

[He patiently waits before taking the bowl from Casey. And then laughs gently at that response.]

I'd hope so. They're made to be tasty, but this is gonna be a rare treat. Until Donnie can grow them more regularly. Still...

[He looks down at the bowl, expression soft in a way Casey might not be able to see where he's perched.]

Thanks for sharing an old turtle's memories, CJ.

[apuckalypse]

[He can't see the expression, no, but he can hear something quietly nuanced in Leo's tone that is difficult to parse yet sounds, overall, pretty good. It's enough to satisfy Casey, and he folds his arms against Leo's head, resting his chin on them.]

You're not that old yet. ["Yet". This is your child, Leonardo.] Thanks for sharing your leaves with me.

[neonleon]

"Yet". [He is definitely Leo's child, as he laughs a little to himself at that. Cassandra would've said something similar too, he thinks. Leo takes another sip of the tea and starts walking them back to a quieter room with less eyes about to wake up and find them.]

Happy to share. You know, not that many really care about hot tea water anymore these days. I thought you'd appreciate it.

[apuckalypse]

I do! [Even if he doesn't appreciate it the same way Leo does, thinking of his dad, he's coming at it from the opposite side. He's the one getting to share it with his... well. Sensei. Which is kind of the same thing.] Do you think Uncle Tello will be able to make more? So you can drink it all the time?

[He'd much rather have these leaves than the usual.]

[neonleon]

I think if he managed to make this much and told you to tell me about it knowing full well I'd immediately drink it? Yeah, he can make more.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey makes a soft, happy noise, hugging tightly to Leo's shell.]

I wanna do this again, sensei. Drink tea with you, like you did with your dad. Can we?

[Feeling bold this morning, though there's an edge of shyness in his question.]