steepwithdead | Folkmore

You never know what will happen with fireworks. [He muses with a wiggle of his fork before going in for another bite. He does chew and swallow before he speaks again.]

I'm pondering. Since there are options. [He wants to relax, mostly.] Story swapping could be fun. Or a game if we can think of one.

True enough.

[He hasn't really seen enough fireworks to know much about them, so he'll bow to Leonardo's expertise.]

We could lead with story swaps, and see where it takes us. -This is delicious, by the way. Well done.

Thank you. Second time I've made it, think I got it down way better this time. [He's honest about that much.]

Alright, I do owe you the story about how I fell into a base, alternatively, I could tell you about the time I teleported my brothers to Tahiti by pure accident as a kid.

Since I have no idea what "Tahiti" is, and the base story had me intrigued before, how about we start with that?

Tahiti is a tropical locale on my home planet, or it was way back when. [He offers as an initial answer, working on taking another bite of noodles. After he finishes chewing and swallows, he speaks.] The base story is a good start, sure-

This was back in the early days of the war. I was about... 19? Nearly 20. We were starting to move underground as the city was being taken over.

I was young, fool hardy, one of the people leading the war effort for our group. Give a kid some power, and you can guess how that goes. [He shakes his head a little.] I specifically picked where we were putting the bases. I should have remembered where they were.

I did not.

[Caduceus quirks a brow, waiting until he's chewed his mouthful before making the obvious prediction:]

And the roof wasn't as sturdy as you'd have thought?

Not even a little. [He agrees with a preemptive laugh.]

I didn't remember where a base entrance was, and I was giving a speech to a few new people joining the colony. I was walking them to the damn base too.

[It takes him a second to remember the speech. It has been... a long time.

He sits up a little, squaring his shoulders, his voice taking on a commanding enough time. For the relaxed nature he has between them, he can actually command a room and speak with authority.]

'The New York colony isn't the safest, not yet, but we strive to be. We've held out this long because we're not giving up on our home, our people. The Krang have taken so much from us, but they can't take away our spirit-'

[He thunks his fork into the bowl for demonstration. He drops back to his more relaxed tone easily.] Walked right on a weaker built entrance and fell right in on people building the thing.

Edited 2025-10-02 05:48 (UTC)

[Caduceus laughs at that, a deep rumbling chuckle right from the belly. Going from such a dramatic posturing of a leader to the mental image of Leonardo falling through the floor... it paints quite the picture that no doubt created a stir among his people.

Reminds him a little of some of Fjord's more fumbling moments, as he tried to adjust himself into a captain's role. Great leaders aren't usually born, they're made- usually through many, many hours of laborious and often painful practice.]

I hope you weren't too hurt from the fall. Besides your wounded pride, maybe.

[Actually being able to make the other man laugh feels good. Leonardo's face brightens by a few notches. He works on eating his noodles, just happy.]

I twisted my ankle, but I hobbled it off. I had to pick up on the speech and pretend I didn't fumble the ball. My brothers did not let me forget it for months.

Siblings excel at making sure you never forget your mistakes. Though they themselves often forget that road goes both ways.

Always fun to remind them just how that works later. [He muses with an easy laugh.]

Mikey had this whole mystic guru thing going on, he looooved saying some cryptic nonsense to sound wise. It was always funny to turn that back on him, watch him squirm and try to sound all knowing when he's unable to rebuke you.

He's the youngest, if I remember right? The little ones often like to pretend they know everything. It's important to heed them when they're right, and destroy them when they're wrong. Lovingly, of course.

Got it in one. [He isn't surprised Caduceus remembered that much.] He was usually right about a lot of things, but sometimes he'd get real wound up. Especially about food, even if it was a subjective food opinion, you could get him soooo heated up about it.

What counts as a wrong food opinion for him?

[Is he curious or compiling ammunition? Hmmm.]

Depends, sometimes it was the fact I put too much shredded cheese on a pizza slice, other times it was him getting picky about one of us not making or eating a food the way he would. [He offers back with an amused chuckle.] Sometimes I'd drive him crazy by putting ketchup, mayo and mustard on things at once to watch him grab the ketchup bottle and eat it 'correctly'.

Truly criminal.

[He doesn't really get that one, but he doesn't get much in the way of condiments in his neck of the woods, either. (What's wrong with combining those flavours? Is it the food type?)]

[He snorts a little at the sentiment.] Sorry you have criminal at your table, Caduceus. Hopefully not the first or last time it happens.

Don't apologize unless you really mean it.

[Leonardo's in too good of a mood to actually be sorry for coming here.]

[That does a fair job of making the turtle laugh again.] Okay, okay, no joke apologies at the table.

Jokes in general are still on the table. For the record.

[Though by Leonardo's laugh, he suspects that's already well known.]

Good, because I am definitely full of those. [He pops another forkful of soba into his mouth.] You have wizened meaningful things to say to change someone's perspective. I have cringe worthy puns.

I'll admit I do like puns, too.

[His jokes are sometimes less dad, more wine aunt, but still.]

Anddd this is why we're friends. Well, one of many reasons. [He is going to have a very good time talking with Caduceus, clearly.] Everyone usually groans at any puns I make or seem to hate them.

[He fidgets with his fork idly.] Not that I've flexed that muscle in a while. Guess I haven't had the chance to.

Isn't that what children are for? To make cringe and complain about terrible jokes?

[Flex dad muscles and pun muscles at the same time.]

I raised him right, he likes my jokes. [He groans as necessary!!]

Just, haven't had... as much time in the last couple of years to joke. Guess I better make up for lost time.

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