steepwithdead | Folkmore

[The reaction makes Leonardo at least pause for a moment, realizing dangerous isn't what everyone is going for.]

Don't know how much more you do want to hear. [It isn't the most fun topic all things considered.] Yeah, it's very much close to a hive mind, they all act in accordance to what the krang leaders want. Send information they see back to the brains behind it. A specific one was in charge of the hive mind specifically. We never could get to him.

[He picks up the bun, tearing off a piece.] Once you're taken by the krang, you're... gone. Your body is still here, but what made you, well, you is gone. It was like having a shambling corpse at that point.

[Caduceus doesn't look offended at least.]

It sounds a bit like necromancy, how some spellcasters are able to control the bodies of the dead. Some types of dead, anyway.

[A bone thrown, since he's aware the Krang can be an uncomfortable topic: Leo can keep the comparison going, or take the distraction and (quasi) subject shift.]

I always thought necromancy was something people made up to scare you. Did you deal with it a lot? [His natural curiosity means he definitely has to ask.]

Bits and pieces, yeah. There's actually nothing inherently wrong with necromantic magic- it's just one school of many, and it's all in how you use it. I know a few necromancy spells, myself.

Huh. [He's picking at the bun still.] What kind of necromancy spells do you use? Like... you reanimate people, or is it more complex than that?

Ah, no. [He's quick to correct that one.] The Wildmother abhors the use of undead, and I find the process distasteful, personally. But necromancy is more than that. It's any spell that manipulates the energy of life and death. Spells that steal life force from one creature to give it to another, that seal off the senses, that have different effects depending on how close to death someone is, spells that give extra life to someone who may be on the brink.

[He takes a sip of his tea, swirling around the contents to mix the fruit flavours a little.]

Necromancy is the school of magic that brings the dead back to life. Not to undead creatures, but true revival.

Fair. I'm not exactly fond of the undead either, but, if something came up in a pinch, I'd get it. [His family kind of sealed Raph's soul into a robotic body, he has no room to judge.

He is impressed by the range of spell work Cad describes.]

That is a wide range, though, a lot different than I expected. A lot cooler sounding too. Then again-any time I've heard of necromancy, it was on TV. Or Draxum muttering under his breath about something.

[Caduceus probably wouldn't be fond of Raphael's method of revival, but it's at least less of an abomination than zombies or liches. When the person remains as they are mentally, the rules are a little more flexible.]

I think it tends to earn a bad reputation on account of all the evil necromancers in the world, bringing zombies to life.

Pretty sure if you framed it as pulling your friends back from the brink, that'd go over a lot better. [He sets aside his bun to take a sip of his own tea.] Hard to beat a bad rep though.

No, people tend to not mind if you bring them back like that. But most don't know that's necromancy, either.

Raph got a little prickly when we brought him back. Mostly because he was worried we hurt ourselves. [These two are never going to run out weird things to say to each other.] You're right though, people don't really want to stay dead. There is always more living to do.

Did you hurt yourselves?

[That feels like an important detail.]

At worse, there was some strain for Mikey, Donnie and I.

I was recovering from losing my arm still to some extent, but Raph needed us. [The wound wasn't fresh by the time Raph showed up, but the trauma of a lost limb lingers.]

Strain is reasonable. That's different from outright hurt.

[His gaze shifts briefly to the port of his arm.]

That must have been a lot to happen at once, though. Many people would feel overwhelmed.

It wasn't a great time, but I didn't have much time to mourn over it. [In his mind, everything worked out well enough.] We had things to do. Casey lost his mother then too, and I was free, so... things clicked into place.

That's when you adopted him?

[Well, informally, maybe. But Cad's seen enough from both sides to recognize them as a legitimate family.]

Yeah, I... guess so. I started carrying him around all the time in a baby sling. We didn't have the resources for me to get actual surgery for a good while, then Raph stumbled back home half dead.

Mm. Sounds like it to me. [Adoption, at least. He doesn't want to forcefully linger on Raphael's death, if Leo would prefer not to get into it.] It's no wonder he got so attached.

[Given the two are eating a nice lunch together, this is meant to just be a casual hang out. Not another therapy session.] I figured when he started walking on his own and talking, he'd probably find a new favorite. Mikey is- was more fun than I ever was.

Kids are also a handful, I had no idea what I signed up for, but, I wasn't about to leave him alone.

Apparently he didn't find a new favourite after all. Seems you managed just fine.

[Caduceus sounds amused at the assumption. He knows from experience, kids tend to latch quickly to the ones taking care of them, especially if they're lonely and grieving, and young enough to forget. An unfortunate circumstance, but undeniably a happy ending, in at least one way.]

I guess I did. Always wish I could give him more, but, y'know, kind of comes with the territory. [He sips at his tea again, just enjoying the fruity flavor and how it suits the noodles so well.]

Nature of your situation, yeah. I think you did good.

[Kid's obviously healthy, happy, and kind. Traumatized all to heck, that much is obvious, but Leonardo could have done much, much worse. Overall, good work.]

I'll take it. Thank you. [He hides his smile behind his glass.] I'm kind of excited to see him keep growing up. Gotta enjoy it before he finds me embarrassing.

I feel like you're understating your own excitement. You know, since we met, you've only gotten happier when you talk about him.

[He can see the Proud Papa, it's very clear every time.]

I feel like I'm very reasonably excited-? [He questions back. He thought it was about the same level all the time. Then again, he can't quite quantify that shift he had between arrival and settling.]

I'm always happy to talk about him. It's nice finally just... having the title officially, I guess.

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