It's Christmas!

[alderwood]

Characters: Baby turtles and you!
Date: December 25/26/27!
Location: All over Keeliai!
Situation: The baby turtles are hatching, and Christmas spirit comes with them!
Warnings/Rating: Please include warnings in comment subject lines, otherwise have at!

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Midday on the 25th, OPEN

[relentlesstide]

[It's like Christmas came early for the Atlantean, except it's. Technically right on time. But he also doesn't care about Christmas when something momentous and joyous like this happens instead. Luckily he's delivered his small and impersonal presents early, otherwise the recipients wouldn't get them at all - there's so much more on his mind, namely a massive telepathic infant turtle scuttling around like a curious and precocious child.

It's a little like watching his son learn and grow, if his son were about eight feet long and weighed more than most large cars.

The baby's size doesn't seem to deter the sturdy Atlantean at all, and they can be found all over Water Sector when it isn't with its other caretakers. Arthur seems to enjoy spending time with it, and his smiles come much freer as he tries to keep the massive turtle from doing too much property damage, riding on its back as it slips around happily in the snow, and talking to it in earnest, both telepathically and out loud.

About mid-afternoon, he manages to coax it into taking a lunch break in an open plaza of the Water Sector, bringing some large melons for it to try, but it seems more interested in munching on one of the large potted decorative shrubs.] C'mon, little one, try some real food, huh?

[definingfuture]

[So Bruce got a dog, which was interesting for him considering he holed up in the Stark labs almost as much as the Banner Tony knows. But Christmas is a great time for companionship and it's not that surprising that people want more during the season. He just didn't expect Arthur to pick a giant turtle.

It takes a minute for him to realize that the new baby must have come from Arthur's egg, mostly because he's just shocked by the size of the hatchling. He approaches the pair on foot, dressed warmly and wearing a curious smile.]

I was just going to find you. I have something for you, but I didn't realize you were going on a birthday walk.

[relentlesstide]

[Why wouldn't you expect Arthur to pick a giant turtle for companionship? Whenever the man feels lonely (which is fairly often, all things considered), he visits Asti's head, and just sits and talks to him out loud. He can communicate better with the baby, though, and he's having a rather good time. Arthur actually manages a smile when he looks up to see Tony approach.]

She's very curious about- well, everything. [He laughs.] I'm trying to keep her from putting too many holes in walls. [He strokes the turtle's head, and his smile turns almost wry.] Rio'era, go say hello to Tony.

[definingfuture]

[Tony isn't exactly surprised at the turtle. It's just ironic to see the man walking the giant turtle down the street like a dog. He smiles awkwardly, trying to keep his expression mild and not cast a sidelong glance at his friend too much.]

Ryo-ra? Ryohra? Uh. Hi, Rio.

[He almost backs away from the affectionate turtle headbutt. She nearly knocks him on the ground with her enthusiasm, but he somehow manages to back up enough to keep his footing.]

So this is your daughter?

[relentlesstide]

[Don't judge his baby's name. Arthur quirks an eyebrow at his mispronunciations and sounds it out,] "Ree-o-eera". It's an Atlantean naming pattern, and she's named after two very strong women. [His co-parent's mother and his own wife, but that's a bit personal to mention in a casual conversation.

He just kind of grins a little as he watches Rio'era try to give him a headbutt-hug. She's been doing that to people all day.] Something like that. Did you need me for something?

[definingfuture]

[He's not judging (mostly). He just can't pronounce it.] Right. So Rio's okay?

[He doesn't mean any offense by the way he's grinning. It's just a little teasing, and he does try to pet the giant turtle's head, despite the fact she's nearly knocking him down like an overly large Saint Bernard.]

No, uh, not- not really. I just... wanted to say hello. Check in with you. Is this a bad time?

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur just gives a slightly amused, long-suffering sigh.] Rio is fine.

[He's not offended, though, he's in too good a mood to take anything the wrong way today, judging from the affectionate, smiling way he strokes a hand over Rio's shell.] Not a bad time at all.

[spiderkid]

[Miles wasn't there when it hatched, but he felt the wave of psychic emotions get so much stronger all of a sudden, so he ventures over to Water Sector to try to find his "co-parents" and the egg.

He spots Arthur and-- whoa, that's a massive turtle!-- walking about and heads over, grinning.]

Hey! The egg hatched, huh? [Way to state the obvious, Miles.]

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur laughs softly as he watches Miles come up, and the turtle, of course, is just as happy to see him. She seems to adore her 'parents' even more than passerbys, which is quite a feat, since she's knocked over at least three kedan already.]

She has, what a birthday, huh?

[spiderkid]

Yeah, guess so. [The turtle comes over and Miles pats it on the neck fondly.]

Have you given it a name yet?

[relentlesstide]

I don't think I should be the only one to decide something like that. [His smile softens slightly as he watches the turtle.] Anyway, my wife says I'm terrible at naming things. Any ideas?

[spiderkid]

It's a girl? [That definitely gives him an idea...]

We could-- I mean, if you don't mind, that is-- we could name her Rio. That was my mom's name.

[relentlesstide]

[He takes note of the phrasing, 'was' my mom's name, and how can he possibly say no to that? Kids have always been Arthur's weakness, his soft spot.]

In... Atlantis, we have certain naming traditions, to name children in honor of relatives or historical figures. A name is very important, to tie one to their history and family, to draw strength from those who came before. How about we call her Rio'era? For your mother, and for my wife. I think in the future, she will need all the strength she can get.

[iguanasolution]

[What the f-]

That turtle is enormous. Has it really just hatched?! [Frank wasn't sure what he was expecting, the egg was already giant-sized. And the "little" things are to grow up to Asti's size if everything goes well, so of course the "babies" would be also... Asti-sized.

But logically knowing that doesn't change the fact that it's the biggest damn baby turtle he's ever seen.]

[relentlesstide]

[It's probably the biggest baby turtle anybody has ever seen period, honestly, since there haven't been hatchlings in a while.] She hatched this morning. [He is such a proud turtle dad.] This is Rio'era.

[iguanasolution]

[Their mental link is never invasive, and Frank never gets more than he wants nor shares more than he had planned to. It's more like speaking a private language than anything else, if a bit more intimate. This time though, he can feel how proud Arthur is even through the link and it makes him smile.]

Rio'era. And she's a girl? [He reaches to pet her, slow enough to not startle her but still making his intent clear. He's never dealt with turtles more than seeing them once or twice as someone's pets, but he's got experience with big animals in the camp, dealing with Hannibal the Elephant.

Not the same, but what can you do.]

[relentlesstide]

[It's hard not to exude that sort of pride that he's feeling. It was just such an incredible relief to have an actual turtle crawl out of the cracked open shell and not some sort of monstrous trap planted by Malicant. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't worried about that a little.]

She is. Don't worry, she's very affectionate. If you project enough, she can even understand you, and communicate back. We're still working on words, though. [If he tries to listen for it, he might hear an exuberant telepathic 'hello!' from Rio, who is all for being petted.]

[iguanasolution]

[Frank frowns. He hasn't tried to do this with everyone with Arthur, and with him it had seemed so natural after the conversations as sealife he didn't even need to try that hard.

So he tries focusing on the ginormous baby turtle, not expecting anything- and he almost falls to his butt in surprise.]

She said hello!

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur beams as he watches them. Rio'era seems to be capable of hosting a telepathic link, the same way Arthur can except more compatibly, and it'll take work but she seems to be able to communicate with more than just him.] I think she's capable of providing the telepathic link needed to communicate with non-telepaths. I'm not sure why it isn't quite like trying to communicate with Asti, it might be that she's younger and less developed, or it could be because her egg was cared for by humans.

night of the 25th at Arthur's suite maybe?

[cowled]

[Bruce doesn't do Christmas. In fact, it's one of his least favourite holidays, at least publicly. Privately... it's one of few days in Gotham that has a chance of being quiet and the closest thing to crime-free his city ever is. He hates the parties, the social expectations, but he remembers Jason coming downstairs the morning Bruce had tucked the adoption papers under the tree, and all the other times he's spent with his family.

But the expectations of his station are... lessened, in Keeliai. He's been here a year and a half, and like it or not he has changed. Enough to appreciate the day for what it means - spending time with friends and family - more than what it's too often meant (too many masks).

He makes the rounds slowly, bringing or leaving presents for his... (he doesn't want to say 'friends') acquaintances. Arthur's is the exception, it's a living creature and not something Bruce can just abandon on his doorstep. So. Here he is. Knocking on the door to his suite, a brightly coloured betta in a plastic bag. He'd rescued it from a vendor that was angling to turn it into a shishkabob and lacking any other fishbenders to choose from, has brought it to Arthur.]

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur, when he comes to the door, looks tired, but better than he has in a while. At least since Mera's disappearance, honestly. It was a long day spent doting (and playing with, hence a bit of soreness all around) on Rio'era and answering her questions, teaching her things. He's a little surprised to see Bruce at his doorstep; he had largely forgotten that today was Christmas Day, in his mind it's become Rio'era's hatch day instead.

His gaze turns down to the betta fish in the plastic bag, and he bends down to greet the finny little one first, a slight smile tugging at his lips.] Hello there. [And then he straightens to look at Bruce.] What brings you by?

[It's fairly obvious he's in a good mood, since he's stepping aside to let Bruce in.]

[cowled]

[Always good to know where he ranks to the reigning king (occasionally) of Atlantis. Bruce purses his lips in something that, to those that know him best, might seem wry amusement. He holds the bag out, expecting Arthur to take it, and steps into the suite more fully, loosening the cashmere scarf from around his neck.]

I need an excuse to visit a friend?

[The fish, meanwhile, is trying to explain to Arthur that it was on the verge of being deep-fried and is very put out by this. Of course, as betta are aggressive as all get-out, its reaction is 'FIGHT ALL THE THINGS'.]

[relentlesstide]

[A king has to treat his subjects with more care than he does others. Even when isn't King of Atlantis, he's still King of the Seas and all the creatures in them (a title he doesn't really have here, but even back home he had to gain respect and do good deeds before the residents of the oceans would recognize him as their king). He takes the bag when it's held out to him, rolling his eyes slightly at the fish's thoughts.]

We're using the word 'friends' now? [But it's a joke, at least as much of one as Arthur ever really makes, and not meant to be offensive or cold.] Settle down, little one, you're safe here. Let's see about getting you out of this bag...

[cowled]

[Oh is that the door closing behind them good. Bruce sheds the veneer of holiday cheer almost as definitively as he loses the scarf to a hook in Arthur's hallway.

It's well within his nature to jump into the true purpose of this visit - business - but he. Frowns, just slightly instead.]

It's not an inaccurate statement.

[Friendship is... fiscine? Also, literally no one in the history of anything, ever, has sounded more put-out about admitting some sort of... vaguely friendship-shaped feelings.]

[relentlesstide]

No, I suppose it isn't. [And that is the closest he will come to admitting that Bruce is somewhat of a friend, at least for now. He takes the bag with the fish in it into the room off to the side of the entrance that houses the pool (and all the bedroom furniture inside the pool) to release the feisty little betta into the much more open water there.] There you go, better, huh? [Yes, he's having two conversations at once, don't judge him.

But once he's gotten the fish settled (and heard another angry retelling of his story, punctuated by biting at the hem of Arthur's bedspread), he comes back out.] Want a beer?