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.
[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.
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.
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'.
[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?)]
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.
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.
[He knew that already, but he's glad that Leonardo feels about Casey the same way the boy feels about his sensei. That part's so important.]
I know you haven't had much to joke about for a very long time. For all of its flaws, this world has plenty. Take advantage of that, and joke to your heart's content.
[Well now he's made it tempting to downplay Casey's qualities in gentle ways just to see Leonardo do his dad thing. He thinks he needs the practice anyway, so may as well help. Plus it's adorable.]
What an honour. I'll see about returning in kind. [He's not a huge jokester, but he does have his moments.] I think I owe you a story, now.
[The promise does make Leo light up a little before he can tamp it down to be chill. BE NORMAL!! Someone else enjoying something he does feels nice and exciting!] I think you do. Fair is fair after all.
[he is going to pick up one of the buns to gently let it soak in the noodles broth.]
Let's see... [A similar story, maybe, to keep the vibe going.] When my youngest sister Clarabelle was still small - well, smaller - she decided one day that she needed to learn how to climb a tree. She first asked me to teach her, but big brother Colton decided he was the best at climbing, so he would take on the lessons.
[Caduceus follows suit, trying the bun with the broth as well.]
In fairness to him, he is the better climber. What he isn't better at is flora and fauna identification. So- ah, first, does your world have a creature known as a "treant"?
[He lifts his bun from the bowl, biting into a soaked portion of it. Yes, the broth does indeed work with the bun. His shoulders slump at the flavor, enjoying it muchly.]
We do not have Treants, but, I have a feeling of just where this is story going.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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[Is he curious or compiling ammunition? Hmmm.]
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[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?)]
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[Leonardo's in too good of a mood to actually be sorry for coming here.]
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[Though by Leonardo's laugh, he suspects that's already well known.]
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[His jokes are sometimes less dad, more wine aunt, but still.]
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[He fidgets with his fork idly.] Not that I've flexed that muscle in a while. Guess I haven't had the chance to.
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[Flex dad muscles and pun muscles at the same time.]
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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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[He knew that already, but he's glad that Leonardo feels about Casey the same way the boy feels about his sensei. That part's so important.]
I know you haven't had much to joke about for a very long time. For all of its flaws, this world has plenty. Take advantage of that, and joke to your heart's content.
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You welcome it, but I already know Donnie, and the teen versions of my brothers, are going to hate it.
Guess I'll save my best material for you.
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What an honour. I'll see about returning in kind. [He's not a huge jokester, but he does have his moments.] I think I owe you a story, now.
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[he is going to pick up one of the buns to gently let it soak in the noodles broth.]
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[Caduceus follows suit, trying the bun with the broth as well.]
In fairness to him, he is the better climber. What he isn't better at is flora and fauna identification. So- ah, first, does your world have a creature known as a "treant"?
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We do not have Treants, but, I have a feeling of just where this is story going.
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