steepwithdead | Folkmore

[Thankfully, Leo has stopped moving around at this point.]

I don't think he would pull the trigger, but, I'm not... I don't want to even indulge this. [He hates that he even has to think about this question.] He needs to apologize to Casey.

I hate to be the one to say this, but it is a question you need a firm answer to. When you're a father, the distance between "my brother made a stupid, empty threat" and "my brother legitimately put my child's life in danger" is vast, and one is much harder to come back from.

[Not impossible, people can change, especially if they're being affected by some other force (like, say, alien influence or a terminal disease). But still. Big difference.]

You're allowed to say it. I'd rather you just be to the point with me. [This whole situation is one of his least favorite situations. Maybe in the top five.]

He wouldn't do it. He's just stupid and scared. Extremely stupid. I just never wanted Casey to feel like he couldn't be safe with us.

[The good news is, Caduceus usually doesn't need permission to speak his mind. He'll take that seemingly blanket permission to heart, though.]

That's fair. Whether you believe it or not affects how you act going forward, as a father. But if Casey has any doubts, it affects your whole family dynamic. Children believe more easily what the adults in their lives tell them.

[It's complicated, when you trust the adult, when you're old enough or experienced enough to recognize lies and nuance, when you're too scared to read between lines. Only Casey can decide.]

If Casey feels unsafe, we'll figure out something together. [It would hurt to have to pick between Donnie and Casey. Leo isn't sure he could emotionally handle it. For now, it is just... playing it by ear.]

I just want my family to be okay again. Things just aren't that simple right now.

Feelings can and do change over time. Whatever is felt in the moment can improve. If he's afraid, work together to find ways to reassure him. [His brows furrow, tugging off a scarf and setting the broken glass shards onto it so they don't get lost in the grass.] You'll very likely need Donatello's support with that, as well.

For right now, I... think we just need time to cool off. Everyone.

[Says the guy who went in for a fist fight first.

He almost suggests he take off his pants, but realizes it could be an actual issue with as much glass as is there.]

I think I fumbled my way into getting the impression across. Hopefully Draxum doesn't want that lab back.

If Draxum comes back we'll cross that bridge. Don't worry about it right now.

[He finishes with the glass, as far as he can tell, and straightens up, looking Leonardo up and down.]

Go take a bath. I'll heal you when the wounds are clean, and we can talk.

[He's not throwing the bucket at you, buddy.]

[are you sure, that bucket seems like the best option-

Leonardo is so, so, so tempted to head inside and just soak in that giant tub but he has to be responsible. He holds up his hand to stall.] Uh, might be worth bringing up now, asides the heavy emotional stuff. This is Donnie's blood. He had vials of it everywhere and- uh, it got on both of us.

I don't think the infection can spread like this, but, it's something alright.

It's alright, I can purge the water. [He's not especially concerned about that, though he will be mindful of clean-up and potential piercing of skin, considering all the glass around.] What kind of infection is it?

Turns out, the Krang infection is back. And Donnie is struggling with it. [Says the guy whose is covered in blood full of that infection.]

[Caduceus pauses.]

The... alien infection. The one that killed him?

Yes. It's not a maybe anymore. His stupid ass has it. [Just throw the bucket at him.]

[Yeah, no. Immediately, Caduceus points towards it.]

Bath. Now.

I- sure? [This isn't an argument. He's wary of making the bath area disgusting. He's going to awkwardly get his pants off so he doesn't bring that with him. The pants are kicked aside. Begone.

He does just listen to the order and walk in that direction.]

Edited 2025-10-20 22:01 (UTC)

[Caduceus leaves him to wash up, gathering up the glass to dispose of carefully, and going inside to get some medical supplies and cleaning materials. And some spellcasting components. Tiny cuts are one thing but a potential alien infection is another thing entirely.]

[Thankfully, Leonardo knows how to operate the very fancy bath area on his own by this point. He scrubs off the blood he can. The hot water against the new resin feels.. definitely weird, but he can tell it will hold.

Actually being able to have a moment of reprieve gives the turtle time to breath. Time to look down at the chest plate and give it a once over. It is no surprise Donnie's work is as solid as ever. Leo can't even really tell the difference from where Casey put him back together and the place Donnie picked up on the crack. It is seamless work. There is something to be said about the people he loves the most personal handiwork keeping him from literally falling apart.

The thought carries him through the rest of the bath. He dries himself off, heading into the actual house.]

Caduceus? Should I go anywhere in particular?

[Cad's voice calls out from not too far off:]

Kitchen. Everything's ready here.

[It's also close to the spa, relatively speaking, so he should be able to find Caduceus quickly. A medical kit is set up on the counter, alongside a smaller pan of steaming water, near a freshly-boiled kettle, and, weirdly, a small, open bag of... diamonds?]

[The turtle walks into the kitchen, blinking at the set-up therein. The diamonds are not what he expected. He walks a little closer, wondering what Caduceus has up his sleeves.]

Are you going to bedazzle me?

[Caduceus looks at him with the obvious expression of someone who's never heard that word in his life.]

Am I going to what?

The diamonds? People use those, or like... shiny rocks to put on stuff to dazzle them. Thus, be-dazzled. [His explanation is not helpful.]

Oh. [Yeah he's not heard of that, but isn't that just... decking oneself out with jewelry??] No, we're not doing that. Diamonds are a material component for a spell I'm going to use on you. And no, I'm not asking.

[Get over here.]

Oh, okay. Magic. [Good news, he walks over with 0 complaint or real thought.

Caduceus apparently has this man believing him with no questions.] Is this gonna be like painful at all, or are we gonna find out?

[Caduceus pauses at that, and for a moment looks deeply apologetic, his ears drooping. He doesn't like that prior experience has made it a necessary question.]

No, it... shouldn't. Healing isn't meant to be painful. I'd be alarmed if it hurt you.

[The ears drooping is what makes Leonardo wince more than the glass than anything else. He holds up his good hand quickly in placation.]

I mean- you've never hurt me with healing. I'm just used to how much it usually hurts when I get put back together.

It's normal to like low level hurt all the time anyway, so, I shouldn't really complain. [He does not mean to admit that part out loud.]

Edited 2025-10-22 01:25 (UTC)

tuck him in

read him a nice story about dead krang and cool spacemen

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