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!

OOC Announcement

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CLOSED | 26th

[imaginate]

→ DAMIAN + JIM

[His Christmas Day had been spent in Jim’s company, and contrary as it sounded it had been quiet and... nice, especially after Jim had surprised him that morning with a hand-carved easel. Kyle had been looking forward to getting a fresh start on paintings since he had none left: they’d either been sold or burnt.]

[Except Jim being Jim had insisted on a walk outside first, to enjoy the fresh air. Kyle, in that halfhearted, exasperatedly fond way one indulges Jim, agreed to it, because it was a beautiful day and hell if he was going to spend it indoors being a grouch. The moment he’d stepped outside and made it to a nearby square a turtle had butted its head gently against his leg.]

[Kyle’d jumped, more out of shock at the unexpected telepathic contact than any fear of the creature itself, and after a few seconds of staring curiously, reaches out a hand to touch it, tentatively.]

Hi...?

→ KORRA

[He hasn’t gone back inside or even thought to stop much to eat or drink something. He’s been running across turtles all day, and stopping to talk to them even if they are committing wanton property destruction and he should probably be trying to report them instead of overlook it. His face hurts from the smiling, but he keeps going; and finally come evening collapses on a few steps, only to be approached by yet another turtle. Laughing, he pets it, lavishing as much affection on it as it’s giving him: the sensation of complete serenity; that he’s needed and craved for so long.]

Hey little guy. Where’re your parents?

[demon_brat]

[ Damian's not very far behind. At first glance, he looks put-together as always. It only takes a further look to notice his eyes are a little wide, and that he's sticking waaay too close to the turtle. ]

Rayner.

I... think it reads far more of me than I expected it would...?

[ In other words, the turtle knows Damian likes the lantern. ]

[imaginate]

[A quick smile lights his face and then it's gone, the youngster's concerned and Kyle — Kyle doesn't like the idea of a foreign influence anywhere near him. He slides off his ring, for safety, and slips it into his pocket, before gingerly petting the turtle.]

[It only takes a glance at Damian to see how worried he is. Kyle steps forward, nonverbally requesting that they close the distance between them as much as they can, publicly.]

Yeah, you don't say.

[It's reading me.]

When — ? [did it hatch? He can't really articulate, the sheer wonder he feels at witnessing this is incredible, especially since Damian was warned they could be something else.]

[demon_brat]

Yesterday.

[ Of all things, Kyle's reaction makes Damian focus, makes him calm down a bit. Makes him start register things fully, again, where he's been going on reactions for the last day or so. ]

I believe they all hatched yesterday. They have been ...

[ So, so much softer. ]

It has been very confusing.

[ And, just like that, there is a wave of love, and cheer, from the hatchling. In answer to his uncertainty. Damian just. Raises his eyebrows. See? Also, it has probably been reading him since before hatching. ]

[imaginate]

[The hesitant patting becomes steadier as Kyle gets accustomed to the sensation. Yeah, he's uncertain too. He can't help it. He doesn't like surprises.]

They've been getting around.

[He finishes the sentence, trailing off, the fingers of his free hand curling in slightly where he'd reached out to steady himself instinctively when it had nudged him. In response, the turtle chirps pleasantly in his mind, and he smiles again.]

Hey there.

[His expression is soft, as he brushes his fingers over the turtle.]

How're you doing, huh? Don't mind your daddy over there, he's a worrier.

[demon_brat]

>Tt.<

[ Well, at least for a moment, the reaction is pure Damian, before he has to let the irritation level go, and, well. Turtle. ]

... you would worry, too.

[ Mild, mild grump. But there's a bit of a smile, when Kyle gets the turtle to chirp, and. Wow, knowing that it's happy, (she's happy?) makes so much about the world seem right. It's simply not ... right. GAH. ]

[imaginate]

[Kyle laughs, utterly delighted, and the turtle nudges him again, pleased that its tactics are working.]

I would. [I have.] And then get a construct flying monkey of appropriate size: every kid deserves at least one go on the Air Express to Oz.

[demon_brat]

[ There's a slight questioning nudge from the hatchling at the last phrase. Before he considers it, Damian builds a quick image, of flying and of Oz. ]

[ Suddenly, there is a very, VERY excited wave of I WANT THIS from the baby turtle. ]

... I do not think we can get to Oz from here, little one.

[ Softly, and with far less exasperation than Damian would even usually have used, just a little sadness that he can't give it to the baby. Though he does eye Kyle speculatively. Oz might be impossible, but the other part of the image - the flight... hmm. ]

[imaginate]

[Momentarily bowled over, he takes a few moments to gather himself.]

Yeah, no. For starters, we need a yellow brick road.

[He casts a worried look at Damian. Flying's fine, sure, but a turtle, flying? This soon after they've hatched? Do they get motion sick? Are they afraid of heights?]

[demon_brat]

[ Damian shrugs. It doesn't have to be high or far, to begin with, and they can see from there. ]

... if you talk about munchkins, I will consider giving you more drilling in our next training session.

[ That's a far better threat than 'I'll hit you,' okay? ]

[jirk]

[Jim rounds the nearest corner with his hands full of coffee, and he promptly stops dead at the sight. There is no great eloquence here, no witty or intelligent commentary. He just blurts out holy shit and takes a step back as the turtle bowls him over with telepathic affection and loud, echoing queries about what it is exactly he's holding and whether or not the cups are edible.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle shoots Damian a knowing smile, and instead of retorting, he stands and moves next to Jim, taking one of the cups so he doesn't drop it.]

Incredible, huh? Apparently they hatched yesterday.

[In addition to the turtle there's a quiet, steady affection touching Jim's mind that's all Kyle.]

[demon_brat]

[ No. Not food. Damian's information is firm, but very, very gentle, at the same time. He doesn't even bother with wondering if she's hungry again, just points towards one of the nearby shops which sells foodstuffs. I will bring you food. ]

[ And more emotions. Damian's barely gotten to the point where the words thank you mean something to him - the barrage is just. A lot. He sighs to himself, and places his hand on the turtle's leg, trying to send affection back. He knows it's partly a mistake, because what's coming to him will intensify, but it doesn't seem fair to isolate the hatchling. ]

Rayner, Kirk. This is Taraja.

[ Of course, in his mind, the full names form, the way they usually do when he is referring to somebody. And, of course, the extra warmth towards Kyle. He can't help it, yet; he also suspects that it might be a bad idea to try and cut off much of the information stream, right now. Too much like what was done to him. ]

[alphatar]

[Taking her eyes off the new baby turtle for just a second was an incredible mistake. Thankfully, Naga made it easy to track down that large little guy.]

There you are. You're worse than Meelo. [Not even close to a scold, this is her little turtle and she's as fond of it as the air kids. But she wasn't expecting to see the Lantern.]

Kyle, hey. We were just going around town. [With her having to patch up what she could in the turtle's wake with some earthbending.]

[imaginate]

There she is! Don't tell me you didn't miss her.

[He rubs its head affectionately, as it keeps pouring the cheer on him. Incongruently: he actually seems pleased to see Korra.]

Hey Naga.

[A beat.]

You decided on a name yet?

[alphatar]

[She shakes her head, her lips pursed curiously.]

Nope. We're waiting until we can all agree on one. [Korra scratches under Naga's chin to keep her from licking the turtle's head.]

Why, got any suggestions?

[imaginate]

[He nods, mouth quirked upwards pensively.]

Kilowog.

[A single word, but it carries weight. He spent time picking names, when he'd browsed through the parenting books.]

A dear friend. Good soldier. Tough as nails.

[alphatar]

That's a- nice name. [what?]

Temeraire and I were thinking of Eshai, but all three of us have to agree on it first. [A telepathic message catches Korra's attention and she set her self forward, bracing against-

the wind?

Then the turtle's head rears back and headbutts her, causing her to stagger back a bit.] Gotta get used to that too. You don't have any water, do you?[Rubbing her head, she wants to prevent a bruise; and a concussion if possible.]

[imaginate]

Oh, it's a girl?

[He apologises to the hatchling, and then the turtle sends cheer at him anyway. Jeez, he's just about blissed out from it, and he's not even their parents, who must be getting so much more.]

No water, sorry. You know, you could just... not headbutt.

[alphatar]

[Korra shrugs her shoulders at that. She didn't check to see if it's a boy or a girl.]

Oh no. Headbutts are important. [Said matter-of-factly because, well, because it's her baby turtle.] But she's heading to Temeraire's since it's his turn to watch. It's, kind of weird to not be moving eggs anymore.

[Now that she notices, this is the first time she and Kyle actually had a chance to do small talk. At the clinic it's business as usual.]

[imaginate]

Headbutts hurt.

[He doesn't seem bothered by that, though, and upon stating her destination, he gets up, follows. The turtle's been keeping him happy and for one of the few times in his life, he actually wants to stay that way for as long as he can.]

C'mon, I'll walk with you.

[alphatar]

All right, we’re almost there. She just wandered off at the last second.

[Being around the baby turtle has been nothing but good for Korra and she manages to keep it from wandering to off their path. Korra takes only a few moments to take the young turtle into Temeraire’s suite in the Fire Sector.]

So how many turtles have you had to stop from destroying everything they walk on? [Mostly a quip, Korra didn’t mind them. They were too important.]

[imaginate]

Troublemaker.

[He sends a wave of affection towards the hatchling, and it chirps happily. He hasn't worn his ring all day and thus, there's been no need for restraint, and he didn't consider that he'd need to defend himself against them.]

[Well, maybe from the headbutting.]

Hm? Not that many. I mostly had to stop them from doing- [another wave of cheer which almost bowls him over] that.

[alphatar]

Troublemaker, huh. Kind of fitting. [Teasing, of course she wouldn’t name her big baby turtle that. As the turtle leaves them, its presence goes too and Korra starts to feel that edge she tends put herself on whenever Kyle’s close by.]

…where’s your ring?

[imaginate]

Kids tend to be.

[Once the turtle's out of range Kyle exhales, quietly, the edge that surrounds him resurfaces. Yet, he stubbornly holds it off, intending to enjoy the happiness afforded by the hatchling for as long as he can.]

It's around [Cryptic, but he's never been unarmed since the day he got it. Not about to start now.] Not much use for it today.