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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[watcheslanterns]

[From the moment Rapunzel had laid eyes on the newly hatched turtle in their care, she had fawned over it. She wasn't the first animal she'd cared for, but Pascal had always been very self reliant from the day they'd met. This baby turtle was so new to everything and Rapunzel just wanted to give it all that she could.

She's knelt down, next to her and patting her shell gently. She looked up at Midii and nodded.]

I agree. We can't go around calling her egg or turtle anymore. She needs a proper name.

[survival_isnt_living]

Alera.

[The response is instantaneous and without even thinking. He hasn't for a moment thought about it--but then, he doesn't need to. A part of him knows it's just not right, that he shouldn't weigh the girl down with that baggage--

But still. It's his first instinct.]

[unetrustworthy]

...Riva.

[Midii wasn't certain why that particular name came to her at that moment. It was a French name, yes, but so were many others.]

[survival_isnt_living]

[That name is enough to give Septimus pause, and he gives Midii a long and measuring look.]

Out of curiosity, why?

[unetrustworthy]

[Strangely enough, the reasoning behind it took much longer to figure out than the name itself.]

I don't know. It just...came to me, I suppose.

It's an old French name. I knew a girl once who had it. Her family lived down by the water when she was born.

[watcheslanterns]

[Rapunzel looked to Septimus curiously.]

Does Alera mean something?

[survival_isnt_living]

[He pauses and considers this.]

Not to my knowledge. I don't know who first came up with the name.

[Implying it's one from his home.] Well, it looks like you're the deciding vote, Rapunzel. Which do you prefer?

[unetrustworthy]

Alera and Riva. They're both quite pretty.

[Midii wasn't particularly attached to either, but there was still something about that latter name...she couldn't explain it. It had just seemed right to suggest.]

[watcheslanterns]

Me? You want me to pick.

[That's a lot of pressure! To name another living being? Too much! She stops and thinks a long, long while.]

I think...I think I like Riva best. It's suits her, don't you think?

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus just smiles faintly and tilts his head at the turtle for a few moments, eyes distant. He murmurs something which may be close to 'probably for the best' under his breath before patting the newly-christened Riva on the head.

The smile he gives the girls now is full and relaxed and broad.] Riva she is, then.

[unetrustworthy]

[MIdii hears the murmuring, but she can't make out the words.]

[Either way, the name has been chosen. She glances over to the newly-christened Riva.]

What do you think, Riva? Do you like it?

[It was a nonsensical gesture. Speaking to a newborn. She hadn't expected an answer back, and yet...a warmth washed over her at the question. Happiness. She almost laughed at how much unbridled joy seemed to radiate.]

[watcheslanterns]

[For a moment, Rapunzel can't help but feel that she's slighted Septimus in some way, and feel terrible about it, but the pure joy that radiated from the baby swept over her and the feeling of guilt was all too quickly forgotten. She smiled brightly and leaned in to hug Riva's shell.]

I think that's a yes!

[survival_isnt_living]

[He can't help it; Septimus smiles a little. The girls--all three of them, the newly-christened Riva definitely counts--are really quite endearing. He is once again forcefully reminded of his sister-in-law, and unconsciously promises to do as well or better by these girls as he did for her.]

I believe I must agree.

[Without even thinking he reaches for the turtle's consciousness. 'Best to focus on new beginnings, then?' The rush of warmth and affection tells him all he needs to know.]

Well then. I think perhaps we should give her the grand tour.

[unetrustworthy]

How do we do that?

She's too big for us to carry. I think she's too big to walk down the street in half the sectors.

[watcheslanterns]

There must be some open space for her to walk around in. [Rapunzel tilts her head down so that she's looking at Riva's face. Her own expression was a little sad as she pouted slightly.]

We can't keep her cooped up her all the time.

[survival_isnt_living]

Not to mention the size of the doors.

[With a thoughtful look at the wall, Septimus walks over to lay a hand on it. He extends his senses through it.]

Hmm. Well, here in Water we can take the major canals to get her to the rim of the turtle and go from there. Getting her outside to begin with, I can probably just--

[Riva has had enough of this very silly fretting. Of course she fits! And outside is just out there!

Oh look. Baby turtle shaped hole in the wall. Septimus facepalms.] Or there is always the direct method.

[unetrustworthy]

[Oh. Well. That was...um...]

Riva, no!

[Good thing that wasn't her wall. But that now left the dilemna of a runaway baby Turtle on the loose. And a pile of rubble almost as big as she is to climb over before she could go after her.]

[On second thought, Midii heads straight for the door.]

Come on. I have no idea how to stop her, but the least we can do is try to make sure she doesn't get lost.

Riva! Wait!

[watcheslanterns]

[Gasping, Rapunzel scrambled to her feet and followed after Riva and Midii. She glances back at Septimus as she moved.]

I'm so sorry about that. I'm sure we can find someone to fix it though, right?