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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[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.

[definingfuture]

[Tony's smile is a little embarrassed, but mostly warm. He pats the baby turtle hesitantly, but keeps his eyes on Arthur while he does it.]

She looks good. Happy... I guess all that effort went to a good place after all.

[It's nice to know that the egg really was what Arthur wanted it to be. Despite his doubts, Tony had hoped that would be the case. He couldn't confirm it wasn't at the time and took a gamble with the chance of a happy ending. So far, that gamble has paid off. One of the rare times it has.]

She's a big girl, though. You think the city can handle all of the new babies?

[relentlesstide]

It seems like. I'm... glad she's healthy and happy. [The doubts all seem so far away now, with the turtle alive and well and ambling all over the place like a curious toddler (and shoving things into her mouth like a curious toddler).]

I think the city will adapt, and most likely happily. They're more than baby turtles, I think, they're... a new spark of hope in this world. [When Rio nudges against him, he wraps his arms as far around her neck as he can and presses a kiss to her leathery skin. He's not usually so openly affectionate with anyone but... Tony has seen him with his son, the memory of his son.] How can anyone not love this face?

[definingfuture]

[Tony smirks knowingly at Arthur's response. He can see that paternal affection showing in his actions and he knows it's partly because he was proven right. He gets to be fatherly, and Tony has this impression that Arthur is twice as satisfied by that just because he was right.]

New life?

[The look he gives Arthur for a moment is teasing, almost like he's going to say something to make fun of that. But then his expression softens.]

You're right. I think we'll manage.

[relentlesstide]

[It is partly because he was right, but in this case, that doesn't soothe his ego, it soothes his conscience. He's glad he was right because of what it means.] New life when there wasn't any before. Asti isn't the last of his kind now. That's a big deal.

[definingfuture]

Yeah, I get it. New hope. You know, despite not being a turtle, I still understand things like that.

[Give him some credit, Arthur. Tony's smile is warm, though. He likes happy endings as much as anyone else.]

We all need a little more hope.

[relentlesstide]

[He chuckles quietly at the comment.] I know. And we do, especially lately.

We're not out of the woods completely but... this is a good sign, I think.

[definingfuture]

Well, we have it. And we're going to protect it, so you don't have to worry about that.

[Tony's cocky smirk is back. He can't help teasing Arthur a bit, even though it's fondly. He believes what he says, but he likes to push that ever-present calm Arthur always has. There is such a thing as being too serious for your own good.]

The real question is what does she eat?

[relentlesstide]

As much as we can. [Sorry bro, but he's always going to be too serious for his own good.]

I think the real question is what doesn't she eat. And the answer is that I haven't found anything she won't try putting in her mouth.

[definingfuture]

That's slightly concerning. Should I be watching where I put my hands?

[His expression remains warm so Arthur knows that he's joking. Tony knows that Arthur is more serious than he is. That's part of what drew Tony to him. But that doesn't keep him from making jokes.]

I'm not sure becoming Rio food counts as taking care of her.

[relentlesstide]

[Arthur gives him a wry smile as he strokes Rio'era's neck gently.] I'll tell her you'd give her indigestion.

[definingfuture]

It's probably true. I'm pretty sure she doesn't want that much iron compound alloy in her diet.

[It's actually not really iron, but hey.]

Still worried?

[relentlesstide]

I can't imagine that would be very good for her, no. [He smiles slightly and rests a hand atop her head affectionately.]

Not as much, no. [Except the worries still linger, he just doesn't want to admit that in front of Rio'era and upset her.]

[definingfuture]

Well, don't be. She's fine. I think if we were looking at trouble, we'd know by now. Just make sure she doesn't eat everything in sight.

[He falters a little, but manages to go on.] She looks good. You're a cute family.

[relentlesstide]

I make no promises. [It doesn't do much to assuage his worries still, but he also doesn't want to say that in front of the turtle, so he just smiles wryly over at Tony as she tries to headbutt him affectionately.]

She does look good. It's nice to have her around.

[definingfuture]

None expected. [Tony smiles. He hopes it's reassuring.]

I believe in her. She's got you, so wherever she came from, she'll be all right now. I think Asti had the right idea, bringing us there.

[He doesn't completely trust their situation, but there are some things Tony does feel confident in. One of those things happens to be Arthur.]

[relentlesstide]

I think he did too. Even if it was a... large coincidence that we would find them. [He still can't trust it entirely, but it just means they'll have to eliminate Malicant before it can sink its claws into the infant turtles.]