steepwithdead | Folkmore

[Well now he's been distracted by the network post mentioning him, so the collecting will have to wait a few minutes while he looks at that.]

I don't know whether or not my contribution could help. I've not met this Raphael. But I can speak with him and try if you think it might do something.

Does Donatello know healing could be an option?

[The delay gives Leonardo a moment to actually settle himself. The pacing slows, and he eventually sits down heavily on the floor.]

At this rate, he's fed up with everyone not getting this resolved now. I get it. I'm as frustrated, but Donnie is... Donnie.

He doesn't know you could heal him, but, if it's magic, he hates it.

Children have a difficult time accepting long term solutions. Time feels so limited, especially when a solution exists but isn't being used.

What may happen is he won't be willing to accept a solution until the eleventh hour, when all other avenues but death are pursued. Stubborn, proud people make themselves very difficult to save.

I need to remind myself he won't get it just yet. Not when all he can see is the hurt happening.

Considering he chose to die his way last time, I'm hoping he will accept either magic or the idea Casey has. Casey made it, so his plan would fit in Donnie's perimeters too. He's still stubbornly rejecting it.

I'll help you remember if you forget. We're the adults, we have to let the kids be kids. I know you're trying to.

What is it that made him choose to die "his way" before?

Thank you. I just need to remind myself that... he's some version of my brother, but, he's still a kid. He doesn't need to be privy to the shit happening with my brother.

The illness progressed so much that Donnie knew he was going to die from the illness anyway. That's it.

Edited 2025-11-04 02:51 (UTC)

It's hard to keep such things concealed, especially when the children are already involved. But we keep moving forward, and try to do better when we go astray.

It doesn't sound like what he did will be an option this time. Maybe he's frustrated by that, too.

Yeah, that is about the best we can do. I'm surprised this went uncommented on for as long as it did. Glad Casey at least is trying to talk about everything with other people.

He can't go on any suicide missions here, so, he's going to have to let us actually help. I know he has to be really frustrated. This situation sucks.

Kids can be more sensible than adults, sometimes. It's a fascinating nuance of growth. But it's good for you to demonstrate through example that he's doing the right thing. Keep on communicating that with him, and the others if you can.

[He knows Leonardo isn't their dad, or necessarily a guiding figure, but still. Adults can have influence in many ways.]

There's still time to let him come around on the idea. The solution is still a work-in-progress, isn't it?

Kids are a lot more direct and cut through the bullshit in a way we lose. I'll do my best to. I don't want to overstep. He has his own family back home, and we're different enough this is jarring.

Casey has everything planned out. He just needs the time to actually make sure he has enough blood to flush the infection out. It involves a little magic, but Donnie can cope with it.

It's good to stay mindful of the differences. He isn't your brother. But the familiarity of "fellow turtle" and "Raph" is a draw, is it not?

I don't entirely understand this plan, but do you think you'll have enough time for that?

Yeah, it is. Hard not to be a draw. I want to take care of him, as much as he'll allow me to.

Casey explained it really well. I'm not much of a big thinker, so, I'm probably not explaining it particularly well. I think so. Donnie was working on a way to stall things on his side.

It's just a lot of hurry up and wait.

You're a good person, Leonardo. Give it time.

[And then, since his conversation with Raphael is more or less winding,]

Are you coming downstairs?

[If he wants to keep pacing there, Caduceus will go up.]

How does he always know what to say-? [The turtle mutters to himself. He closes his relic with a click. Tucking it away in his pocket.]

I'm coming down! [He's at least paced out some of his energy that he can calmly make his way down to where Caduceus is.]

[Caduceus is down in the kitchen, boiling a fresh kettle for tea, and starting to gather up ingredients he knows are good for dough, alongside taking stock of the vegetables they have already for the pizza. His relic is off to one side, since he'd been using it moments ago.]

If you're going to walk holes in the floor, at least do it where there's nowhere to fall through.

Hey, I'm doing my part of testing the integrity of the floor up there. [The joke comes easily enough as he walks over to lean against the counter for the moment. Not in the way, but here to make pizza happen.]

I think we have enough tomato for sauce, but, I haven't checked our tomatoes in a while. [you mean HIS tomatoes, buddy.]

[Caduceus doesn't correct him. They've been sharing space for a bit now, and the groceries have been shared, too. They can be their tomatoes for a while.]

We may have enough ingredients here already, though I'm not opposed to going out to fetch more. You seem like you have some extra energy to burn.

[Walking through the market is surely better than pacing craters in the floor. It's such lovely mahogany...]

You want me to stop tormenting these poor floors. Afraid my stress tests might be too much. [He bats back, teasingly.]

Well, if you want, we could go and grab a few things. Keep me away from my relic and all the drama there. [Suddenly a 'we' thing again.]

I do, actually. It's load-bearing.

[The house is sturdy, but the roof has to rest on something! Also, it's a ceiling as much as a floor, and the kitchen is just below... (It isn't really going to collapse, but the ruse got him downstairs, didn't it?)]

I think time away from all of it would do you a lot of good. Not only for you, either. Your stress is contagious.

Well, if it's load bearing, I better not test it too hard. [The turtle is very easy to trick, thankfully. Leonardo chuckles somewhat back.]

Didn't mean for my stress to come your way. Guess I'm real good at stressing.

Call it one of your many talents.

[Please calm down, though.]

There are things in life you can't change. Opinions are, sometimes, one of them. You've done what you can for now, sown your seeds. You need to give your thoughts and feelings time to grow in his mind.

We'll add it right on the list next to 'too loud' and call it even on the talent list. [He mimes checking it off a list.]

I used to be able to change hearts and minds with speeches, guess I've lost that touch. [He has to joke a little about that much.] You're right, best I can do is wait, and be nearby if Raph wants to talk it out.

Well, at least you know your talents.

[Better to categorize it as talent and not flaw!]

Do those speeches usually work on teenagers? Because I find that speeches often end up being ignored because they sound too much like a lecture.

Gotta be my biggest hype man and hater, depending on the day.

Probably would come off as a lecture here, I'm a little more used to the whole wartime stirring speeches kind of thing. [He motions for Cad to lead the way out of the house, they have ingredients to obtain for pizza after all.]

Edited (I am not a very smart man) 2025-11-16 17:35 (UTC)

[Caduceus fetches his spoon and a basket, and heads out, shrugging on a warm, spring-coloured jacket by the door before they leave. It's not terribly cold yet, but it's good to keep warm just in case.]

Less wartime, but rousing speeches might be what someone needs around here once in a while.

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cw: blasé mention of suicide

Re: cw: blasé mention of suicide

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