Riverside Rescue

Leo kept his focus on those who had been horsing around. He did notice the way the kids were huddled around Donnie, but right now his attention needs to be on ending the shenanigans.

Though it was good to see Liam acting a little better. And it was good to see Donnie being protective of the kids. That was good. Though Donnie had sort of been 'older' brother to Mike ...until recently, so that sort of protect the little one mentality had been there. Even if Mike was typically the better fighter, and Donnie's version of protecting his brothers at 13 was usually more along the lines of applying antiseptic and bandaids.

And then just not tell Master Splinter that he had done so! He never lied about it or what happened if asked, but would typically (conveniently) just forget to mention it.

As the others start going about their tasks again, Leo relaxes and turns to Addy.

"Want some help taking care of that?"

Tone is moooostly neutral, especially since he probably shouldn't get too excited just yet. The change in demeanor is also a sign that it's probably safe to look at the kids now.

Donnie looks down at Liam, and his little, perfect Leo stance. There's an amused dragony chuckle before he pokes the kid in Leo's ticklish spot.

Then goes about snuggling, nuzzling and encouraging them all to play again.

Leo figures that should buy at least a little time to clean Addy up before Donnie starts stressing about still being a dragon again.

Mike miiight be back on task but he has noticed the babies, and his little brother - and there is a grin as he turns back to working hard on making sure the lettering is straight and clean and bright and no splotches of splatter from other colors were there working around Mikey and thoroughly pleased to see that familiar Don in his young dragony brother.


and just to see him play. Play in a way Don rarely did in the last few months before Nexus. Just play for the sheer nonsense of it. Even Leo the serious bossy Leader still sometimes just let the teenager out and horsed around with them all. So watching from the corner of his eyes as Donnie played was heartwarming.


And the little ones took the way Liam squeaked and giggled as his ticklish spot makes his 'imitate big scary Leo' fall apart into a bundle of giggling blue kiddo to help and pounce on him and tickle him some more! most kids accidentally tickle Donnie's dragon belly as they rush to play too!


Addy took the hint and looked and - ooooooooooooooooh she melts, purrs, and rubs body sideways a little on Leo before making a squeaky sound of her own, " Ooooh my gooosh - yesssss, soooo sorrry forgot I was... oh dear... yes please?... ahem I mean yes first mate Leo." going from goop to ooooops face cause yep she shared a little paint his way, probably not much cause he is ninja a quick, and then to that 'bossy' sort of serious tone she knows Leo likes. Get excited! she won't mind a clean, in fact, relish the hand! and a little play and get her licks in at the same time!


Leonardo chuckles and there is a chuff of a brief churr sound at Leo, kinda like a tigers chuff, deep and brief, it means he will keep his eye on things whilst they handle the colorful kitty.

Leo is relieved to see Donnie playing with the kids. It's good to see. Another of those things that Leo hopes can be a positive way that comes from this.

Donnie squeaks as the kids tickle him on their way by! He then makes a move for one of the balls. Having no back legs, he slithers a bit as he moves. Snatching up the ball, he faces the kids playfully wagging his tail.

Leo can't help a smile.

It turns into a slight cringe as Addy coats him in paint.

"Nope... it's fine..." Though her shifting tone makes him chuckle. A glance about making sure the others are pretty well on task before slipping away to wash off the paint!

This is a new development, bumbling five little bodies tumbled and scrambled towards Donnie, Liam eagerly jumping trying to reach the ball, Randal joining in, then the others - now all tails are a wagging!

Donnie keeps the ball on the ground. He treats it sort of as a game of soccer. He can't really show the kids how to kick in this form, but it's really just to keep the ball where they can reach it anyway!

He does a but of a side to side movement before he tries to get past them. Moving close enough they can easily try to reach for the ball!

Chuckle and Addy pulls her melty self together leading Leo into...


By teasingly brushing her fuzz covered long tail up between his to briefly brush his tucked away tail in a definitely flirty 'this way'...


Purring!

Donatello2003 wrote:Donnie keeps the ball on the ground. He treats it sort of as a game of soccer. He can't really show the kids how to kick in this form, but it's really just to keep the ball where they can reach it anyway!

He does a but of a side to side movement before he tries to get past them. Moving close enough they can easily try to reach for the ball!

Having kids play was not exactly conducive to working hard. Mike pausing to watch and chuckle as five eager little ones try to get the ball either from each other or Donnie, as a result the young dragon would have it most the time as they bounced off him, or each other or tumbled around his front paws.


It was fine their all giggling and little tails are wagging, Mike looks about makes sure no Leo to keep him on task - gets some pictures!

Donno is mostly on task, even as the kids play and are definitely a bit distracting. MikeyMikey keeps sort of appearing at Mike's side, mostly to watch the kids as well.

"Aw... they're cute."

Donnie might have the ball most of the time, but as soon as one of the kids thinks to tackle him, he'll 'fall' and let them capture him. Wriggling might seem random to the kids, but he's definitely tickling them subtly if they crawl on him!

Mike flops down with Donno and Mikey and Mikey Mikey grinning at them and nodding grabbing his counterpart when close again in a one armed hug, "they are... I can't wait to make at least two of those with my lady... someday, brothers seeeeem to think they are subtle keeping us apart, and well it's import for now I know. he laughs and is chill. " annnd well.... it's just awesome that Donnie is playing, having fun... gets to have a chance to be a kid again in away he hasn't been for a long time..."


Chuckling as the kids cotton on to Donnie tickling them and at odd moments switch out 'tackling' to get tickles on purpose..

Especially Liam!


And all little boys seemed fascinated whenever Elena copped it and had a giggle fit, pausing to watch her giggle loud and long.


Well he supposed had he and his brothers had a little girl to play with she would have fascinated them too.

"All work and no play is like, totally dull." MikeyMikey comments. It's sort of off hand, any he hasn't really heard much about Don's history, having been in Mike's group. Sure, he knew the guy had been pretty sick since arriving in the Nexus, but not much beyond that.

And their task is almost done so MikeyMikey enjoys the peace for a moment. He should probably get back to helping Donno clean, but Donno hasn't complained yet, and the deck isn't looking terrible anymore.

Donnie is amused as the kids catch onto his game! He had sort of wondered if they would! And they did so quickly! Though all of them rushing in can be a little more than he bargained for!

Donnie squeaks as one of the kids finds his ticklish spot! It was probably Liam. Turns out even being a dragon doesn't make that go away! There's a quick writing before he wriggles his way out of the current pile of babies!

He gets a couple feet of distance, relaxing into the game and clearly enjoying it! Not even noticing as he bonds with the kids. Enjoying this quick moment with them!

Mike laughs and shuffles backwards to begin helping Donno clean up. " that is the darned truth, and for some time ago it was my Leo doing the all work no play, took a while be he now knows when to have fun... clearly." biiiiit of a smirk and he was sooo rubbing Leo and Addy, and prepared to get some back cause it was a Leo and a pirate cat team.


And another laugh watching as kids all delighted hop on the spot and copy Donnie's squeak as best they can and then like a row of ducklings rush after him still making the squeak noise!

No not to mock him like his brothers would have, but because they thought that was the perfect noise for this game!


Bebe is near by watching over the top of her book and giggling, in fact Yay and Inaba where watching too, as was most of the critters onboard, even Froggo put her Froggo face up and Mike was sure he could see a black beady crab eye poking out too hahahha.


It was just wonderful indeed to watch Donnie have fun, bod with their newly discovered little sons. Who bounce and scramble after him cute squeaking.

MikeyMikey considers that information with a soft "hunh" sound of accepting what had been said.

"So, is it like a thing with you guys?" Or is their situation actually that horrible? Is unspoken. Though, it does appear that Mike and his brothers have had more of the harsher adventures than MikeyMikey and his family has.

Like maybe Mike and his family hasn't had as many adventures that were more fun than dangerous.

But, dawww... the young dragon playing with the little ones sure is cute! And even Donno has to watch from time to time!

Donnie actually noticed and appreciated the difference between mocking squeaks and joyful joining in! He's not used to being the ringleader of this sort of game, but he seems to be enjoying the opportunity!

Donnie is unaware of the audience their game has. Perhaps a little awareness training is in order, but Leo isn't here to notice!

Donnie pauses and turns, letting the kids tackle him again.

Mike grins and pokes Mikey Mikey to help Donno finish up so they could all three watch the play. And well so as they paused like now to watch -


Then laugh softly -


Over there Be fluttered nervously behind a quartet or little wagging tails Elena's longer than the boys all getting stuck up in the air one after the other and crouch waggling as Donnie paused -

Practice pounces that for most the part missed! .... and clumsy attempts to find the spot that made Donnie squeak!


All of them still squeaky like ducklings!


Hahahaha and bumbling about in the attempt to tackle and tickle Donnie. Elena had the right idea by she sort of just looked like a bracelet in the young dragons front leg. And Malcolm his tail dDuncan had miscounted and was sprawled on his plastrons, Liam hugging against Donnie's side!


Mike nods. " Yeah, our worlds humans are not as excepting and we have had some tough seriously bad PTSD times. Leo's was bad, Don's seemed to melt over into worsening physical health..."


So to say he is absolutely trying not to laugh to loud and draw Donnie or kiddoes attentions their way and let them play as long as Donnie wants to, to bond and get closer, is an understatement. Mike just thrilled to watch it.

Any grumbling from MikeyMikey about having to help again is silent and entirely fake. He does help with that last bit and Donno is also freed to watch the younglings play.

If Mike or the others are watching closely, they might notice that Donnie's movements are slightly clumsy too. Not compared to the kids, but compared to his turtle form, absolutely. He's managing in his dragon body pretty well, but there are slight shifts of balance, and stutter starts that will tell someone who knows what to loo for that he's not yet sure footed in this form. Being a dragon is still weird. He does have a ninja's balance though, so recovers pretty well.

Donnie picks up the front leg that Elena is clinging to, and waves her about lightly. It's gentle, not enough to dislodge her, but hopefully enough that it's fun! There might be a slight wave of his tail for Malcolm too.

And careful not to hurt any of the little ones, he 'falls' over onto his back!

~Oh, nooooo they got me!~

MikeyMikey is trying not to giggle at the kids. He bumps Mike on the arm.

"Our humans used to be more accepting, but it's sort of... you don't know which it's gonna be anymore."

"Some still like us, but others would sooner kill us. So we mostly avoid them now." Donno shrugged as the kids played.

Donno considered Mike's words. PTSD wasn't easy to deal with.

"PTSD is a rough one." Though it was hard to imagine the playful, young dragon as an older turtle with PTSD. "Your Leo seems to manage it well." And the young dragon doesn't have that in his memory anymore,

Mike churrs low in brotherly commiseration with the counterparts, "maaaan that's almost worst sounding from having mostly acceptance to tacit at best?" Siiiigh maybe somewhere in a universe a New York was more accepting.


He laughs softly watching Donnie and amused when all kids took this as a sign to climb up tail, or leg or pounce on Donnie annnnnd little tails up in the air wagging so fast he is surprised there is not some form of lift off when churry Purry babies set to nuzzling the down young dragon with all their might!


Full on rubbing their little faces all over belly scales and neck scales -


Hahah they were gonna find ticklish spots for sure Mike muses and agrees with the other two. No PTSD was not fun, he thinks over the question. [color:b529=#F_8C00]"at first Leo didn't deal, he became intense and angry and withdrawn always training, up most nights guarding always on guard, becoming more ruthless with bad guys we dealt with... It all came to a head when he lashed out at Master Splinter and dad sent him away. It hurt we wanted to go with him, and I know he at first felt like he was being punished didn't want to go, wanted us to be with him... But he came under the tutelage of our grandfather Yoshi's master and guardian. The Ancient One. Man he needs a better name.... anyways he was gone a long time and we eventually had to learn to take care of ourselves and not rely on big bro to swoop in and save our tails... Then he literally did come back and save us all after a Foot Attack we had to flee the lair, it was a rough time scattered in New York fending for ourselves, Leo found us all and brought us to a new home. And he's been this wiser chiller Leo ever since... Still intense in training but in a healthier way." Mike explains watching as a worried Bebe fluttered and hovered over the pile of babies and youngling.

"Bern's like a toootal James J. Jameson, Dude." MikeyMikey commented. Donno nodded agreement.

"April was able to feed him the real stories for quite awhile, but eventually he managed to win over public opinion. He tried to fire her several times too."

Unspoken comment is that they wouldn't threaten April's job like that. Best to bury the story or spin it against them if the truth would get her fired.

"And there are enough of the newer mutants out there who actually are evil, or... well, maybe more insane than evil."

"New dudes give us a bad rep."

Donno nodded. It's easier to just hide.

Both are listening to Mike's story of Leo's struggle.

"Well, I'm glad he seems to have gotten the help he needed."

"Like, for sure. Leonardos are intense enough as it is."

Donno chuckled as he watched the kids play.

And the tots are definitely finding ticklish spots! Donnie is mostly able to nuzzle or hug them away from those spots, but there are definitely wiggles and squeaks that easily tell the others that the kids are making it difficult!

There is also a soft sound that must be dragony laughter as they play. He looks up at Bebe!

~Help?~

Leonardo looks over - he is still and balnced for Ralphie, and now grins a bit over at the rest of them as others are beginning to crowd on the ships open space again, the food stuffs are all packed up. " Intense is a way to put it."


Raphael snorts and slaps the Leonardo, moving to join the watching group. " Should see this guy try not to laugh when we give our Casey a hard time. And good job guys, we still feel terrible our April lost her job because of us... though she says its mostly because she was stubborn, not exactly our fault... still doesn't make that any easier to deal with."


Mike chuckles and nods a little, but there is a light shove against Donno and MikeyMikey, " sorry to hear that guys, its bad when bad eggs spoil it for the rest of us... How you going over there Ralphie?!" A call out to check his progress yes but also loud enough to carry to Leo and Addy to give them a hurry it up -


Dana bounces up beside MikeyMikey her tail boffing his shell as it wags and she gets to watch the bit of the play.


Monroe is back and excited and happy to get a view with Donno, Sam and Pip watching eagerly.


Bebe's wings flutter and she considers, watching as little ones crawl all over Donnie, moooostly distracted by his hugs and nuzzling, though there was a determined edge to find those spots that make him squeak and wriggle if the way those little fingers search all over his belly! hahah she giggles and considers, her first instinct is to grab up Liam and maybe the rest will follow, and its probably one way - though she guesses any of them would do and she flutters lower, though her efforts to carefully slip an arm around Malcolm ends in a surprised squeal and the kids all rushing up Donnie's belly - except Elena who had jumped, fluttering her wings from Donnie's belly to Bebe's leg whilst a Duncan hops and climbs her opposite arm and sort of threw the fae of balance -


right on top of Donnie's belly where the kids had been!... and now she squeaks as they - laughing little mob they were rush to climb over her and Donnie little hands looking for her ticklish spots as much as his!!


Mike has to hold his plastron laughing at that.


Mikey cackles! " clever move kiddies." he calls out whooping a little.


Leonardo laughs, he will get Raphael back for that later, now he checks to see if Ralphie is ready.

MikeyMikey grinned at Leonardo's agreement!

"Like, for sure, Dude! Even Leon is like that. Can't do anything half way. Even when we hit him with a personality modifier ray--

"I told you guys that was a terrible idea."

"--he even made totally chill, like totally intense!"

"Yeah, yeah, you told us so. You're a broken record like that." Ralphie was finished up with his painting! It's not the most beautiful script ever, but it's easily legible and the tail of the final A looks enough like a cat tail that it is passable!

He alllllmost tossed the paints and brushes he had been using back over the side onto the deck, but a glance at Leonardo right there and still being the one to actually keep him attached to the ship had him setting the items carefully on the edge while he climbed over instead. There's enough  

Donno, MikeyMikey and Ralphie are all chuckling at Raphael's comment about April having been fired because she was stubborn.

"Our April's definitely got that one in spades too. What about the rest of you guys? And the new name looks great if I do say so myself." Yes, rather prout of hs work!

MikeyMikey grinned at the tail boffing and started to wag his own as he shifted closer to her.

Donno was also shifting closer to where Monroe was as they watched the kiddoes play.

Trapped under the mob of toddlers, Donnie was indeed captured, and someone was very, very good at finding his most ticklish spots! It might be more than one someone. There had been a definite playing, happy squeal that was -almost- reaching that point where it wasn't fun anymore when the kids managed to capture Bebe and drag her into the game as well! It at least gave him a break from the brutal toddler tickles!

And if the throng is slooooowwwwwly sort of wriggling its way closer to the group on the deck, and maybe Mike in particular well... there is a dragon squirming around under that pile of tots who is trying to guide the pile when he gets a moment free from tickling!

Leonardo chuckles and nods, " Well you know our April is entirely stubborn -" keeping the little platform balanced with a chuckle as Lilo floofed past to drop down and check out Ralphie's work.


There is a delighted yell from her - " this is awesome! suits the wood color and boat and captain too!"


That doesn't cover the laughing of Mikey as he says gleefully, " Hah! ouuuuuur April smacked Leo with a rolled up newspaper!"


Causing Leonardo and Raphael to snort and laugh, Donatello in his sail spot chuckle hard and love struck at his April's name Donnieboy to start a little at the sound.


Monroe grins at Donno, his scales had a sheen of pink over his usual soft muted greens and yellows, not in a hurry to help pack up the rest of the painting stuff as Sam and Pip had it under control and he is chuckling at DonnieBoy's face, nodding to him and tail tip prodding lightly with a bit of a stroke over Donno's calf to draw attention there. " don't need his scales or shell to turn pinks, that is a familiar face." he winks slowly.


Mike laughed out loud at that too and reaches over to scoop up a toddler, randomly tossing the giggly Duncan at MikeyMikey, a Liam went towards Donno and Elena at Raphael, Malcolm he has to 'chase' around Donnie and Bebe's sides and belly briefly adding to the torture tickle for brief moments before 'catching' the golden wriggle worm and showing the others what to do with them. He tickles Malcolm until he squeals, all the while carryign him to the deck out to be a play pen cart. " I would have paid money to see Lee's face at that! - why did she smack him?" that was funny as heck to imagine! And he carefully holds the little gold turtle out to pee - giggle induced over the boat side before placing him in the cart.


Bebe gasped and lay on Donnie's belly for a moment she juuuust needed to catch her breath! her wings fluttering and uncrinkling where they had got a bit smooshed.


Raphael ahhhs and tickles Elena carefully, but takes the tiny girl to the latrine first to pee before putting her in the cart with Malcolm. Coming back to lean over the edge as Lilo climbs up and over to Ralphie to run her tail up one of his legs before resting around his shell, humphing a bit. " that does look damned good." he adds, thoroughly amused and looking at Mikey for his answer to why Lee got newspaper whacks.

Dana giggles she doesn't understand all about the talk of Aprils or newspaper but she gets it is amusing, and now MikeyMikey has kiddo! she yips lightly and gives the giggling tot a lick! her tail fluffy and whapping against MikeyMikey's shell, and then more against his when she feels his there! like hers! wagging!


Leonardo is also waiting for the story and doesn't draw any attention to the captain's cabin when there is two watching from the door, though he noted them and his counterpart probably knew immediately when he had. He nods at Raphael and Lilo, lightly tapping Ralphie's shoulder when Lilo joins him. " does look awesome, should be pleased, know Addy will be."

Raph grins at the compliments about his painting and the new name on the ship!  

"Oh, I know. Brilliant, right?" Maybe a little eager to soak up the praise! But it never lasts long, and he actually does let the attention fall elsewhere.

Well, except Lilo's. He does try to keep her attention! A light kiss to the cheek to start!

MikeyMikey is chuckling at the talk about the Aprils.

"Like, did he deserve it, Dude?" When Mikey tells the story of April swatting at Lee with a rolled up newspaper! MikeyMikey is pretty sure the guy probably deserved it! Like Mike, he is also eager to hear what had caused her to do it!

Donno chuckled at Monroe's comment.

"I could have sworn I saw little hearts floating around his head there for a moment." Surely not, right? Still, he could have sworn...

Before he can really say or do anything else though, Liam is plopped into his arms! Well, the kid is there, he snuggles the little guy.

Similarly, MikeyMikey is snuggling Duncan! MikeyMikey's tail still whapwhapwhapping against Dana, just as hers is whapping them! Though hers is so fluffly!

Like Bebe, Donnie is taking the moment after Mike freed him of the giggly, wiggly, tickling kids to just sort of lay back and catch his breath! It's not bad, and he's recovering quickly. Just the quick breaths of having finished a fast, fun game with the little ones. Which he did.

Donnie will be pretty content to just lay here and rest for a moment. At leat until Addy and Leo make their way out of the Captian's Cabin, and out onto the deck once more. Then there will be a worried and overbearing dragonet to hover around big brother for a while!

Snigger, " Pretty sure my older brothers have said something similar about me too." she chuckles. And agreeing to both.


bit of a grin at Leo and nod. " Annnnd this scar for me will also be a wonderful way to recall quiet moments between us." Yes, just the quiet care, resting and close moments. Not in particular the more sexy moments though those too! Mostly the connected close moments.


Raphael is not tickling Elena too much yet, both so he can hear why Lee got a newspaper whapping and also so he could let take her to Donatello for a quick hug before he'll take her to loo. A grin at Ralphie too, glad he was pleased and definitely with the grin telling him to relish the praise!


Lilo's tail tip brushes under the rim of Ralphie's shell and she grins, pressing closer, eagerly chasing his cheek kiss for more on lips one! nuzzling nose tip to snout after with a happy laugh, " Soon as Captain is on deck you muuuust drag her over to see." she whispers eagerly. Proud and happy and enjoying the gathering but mostly giving Ralphie all her attention! And it helps Dana's tail is not boffing everyone! Amusingly Lilo sooort of notices infact Dana is keeping it aimed at MikeyMikey on purpose and thats cool cause he seems to enjoy it.


Monroe nods and bumps snout to Donno's cheek - offering so to the little blue boy, as the little one snuggles and chirps delightedly, and whilst tail waggy and desperately nuzzling Donno dooooes shyly bump his snout to Monroe - and then gasps shocked when the brief touch makes Monroes snout turn a matching blue to Liams. Only with the faint pinkish tinge still around each of his smaller snout scales. and all the while the lizard guy is whispering. " Oooh good I was wondering if I had imagined those... like they popped fairly quickly but for a moment I thought it was being near you induced imaginings."


DonnieBoy dreamily picks up the story - much to Mikey's delight as it meant he could, behind DonnieBoy's shell act out the scene their April had vividly described to them much to the sheepish embaressment of Lee at the time. " April says Lee came to her late at night alone and woke her up, he'd fought with Raph earlier and gone off on his own for a while to cool off, and he told her he met a girl." yep love hearts pop pop pop, and behind him Mikey miming the entire Lee knocking on a window, and a sleepy April answering it, red haired wig from his magic pocket and all. " She got excited, demanded he tell her everything - I swear their like gal pals sometimes - and then he does, telling her he met a cool, kunoichi and theeeeen as April is getting worked up only then drops the bomb that she's in the Foot Clan." behind him Mikey impressively still actinging out a bashful grinning twittipatted Lee and a excited girly April - then the bombshell bit and the way April described her dead panned face -


" then swipe! she got him right across the cheek!" A MikeyLee staggers from the sudden blow, more out of shock than any actual pain cause... it was a newspaper... and from a sleep prior to being trained April. " April says she then maaaybe yelled at him a bit for the girl, who we all know now was our Karai, and then they talked a little about what she wants from Lee as she wanted to met him again - and gave him a warning it was probably to shove him off a very tall building. And then she had to get back to bed." Mikey acting that out and the part of a still stunned Lee left to think about the warning.


With an booooow when its over!


Leonardo laughs, " Yeah I could imagine our April doing something similar if we approached her about girls in that manner."


Pleased he stuck about for that whilst Donatello and Elena hugged a moment, Raphael, sniggering takes the little girl to go pee spotting Leo and Addy in the doorway himself and waving but shushing an excited little terror so she doesn't give away the game yet.


Mike laughs holding his plastron with one hand and the other in the cart with Malcolm still, waiting until he had his brothers and little friend in there, thoroughly enjoying the story and the acting out Mikey did for them to give an amusing impersonation of his Lee. hahaha!


Dana loves that! the feel of ers and MikeyMikey's tail making happy tingles and though she giggles at the story she does happily snuggle closer to MikeyMikey and Duncan just to lick the little boys face - of course, Duncan is used to this by now and still a giggling mess he just snuggles for all he is worth!!


Bebe giggles, fluttering her wings, maybe not getting all the context of the story like most of the Nexusians but absolutely appreciating the moment to rest, catch her breath, give Donnie's snout a pat and let herself roll off him as she giggles fluttering her wings a bit and only now spying Leo and Addy. ~ hehehe those kiddoes are sneaky!... and oooh there those two are!~ was her sort of disjointed thoughts as she straightens up wings happy yellow and pink bubbles.

Ralphie is grinning at Lilo before she finishes her comment! They were already close to each other and he's soaking up whatever attention he can get while they others are starting to wrangle the kids. Though they do seem to be lingering and waiting for the story. Right now, for this though, Ralphie is perfectly content with Lilo's attentions!



Donno had returned Liam's happy nuzzling, and there might have been a bit of a brush against Monroe too while Liam had moved in that direction. He chuckles at the response though, speaking quietly so he's under DonnieBoy's story. Donno wants to hear it too!

"Pretty sure those were actually there..." Sort of bizarre, really.

Donno and Ralphie are both chuckling at DonnieBoy's story, and Mikey's acting it out!

"Yeah, that sounds like an April."

MikeyMikey is being boffed by that fluffy tail, and he doesn't mind at all! He's also somewhat busy laughing heartily at the story and acting!

"And the dude definitely deserved it." Yup, 100% sounded like April had good reason to do that to Lee! He hadn't really doubted as much!

As the story finishes, Donno and MikeyMikey start going about taking their assigned tots to pee before they start changing gears. As it did seem that it was about time to do so.

Leo smiles at how Addy will remember that scar of hers.

"I like that." And he will likely remember his own in a similar fashion.

He had been amused by the story that had been told, and Mikey acting it out. And it did seem that the group was just about ready to shift gears and start going about some new tasks.

Though part of him definitely wants to agree that Karais and Leos having flings is way too common, he is also certain it can only lead to trouble. Especially with Mike here. All the same, as the story ends, he does encourage Addy to move out onto the deck once more, where they are spotted by Bebe.

Donnie hadn't been paying any attention to the conversation of the others, even after he had mostly recovered from the kids play. Though much of that had been that he had already missed much of the story and it wasn't worth trying to figure out what was going on.

~They are! I guess I shouldn't have let them catch me.~ Oh, they had gotten him good, and it had actually been something of a relief when they had finally drawn Bebe into their game too. It had at least given him a moment's respite!

When Leo and Addy finally make their presence known and Bebe points them out, Donnie carefully wriggles his way out from under her! He doesn't want to dump her on the deck necessarily, but he does want to go check on Leo!

And he does just that!

His worried chittering stops and he pulls up short for a moment when he realizes that Leo smells...

...different? Sort of. Like... Extra Leo-y. And both of them smell like each other. He pauses, unsure. Leo seems okay, but he just doesn't know what this is. He notices it, and recognizes just enough to be cautious for a moment. There's a sort of confused sound and Donnie actually looks to...anyone who is still nearby that isn't Leo or Addy for an explanation.

Laughing out loud at Donnie's cute noise Mike gives him a light nudge, " that's the scent a dude wears after he has been making out with his lady..." okay Mike can scent it too when he moves closer and it makes him tuck his tail just that bit tighter and he knows not to move towards Addy just yet until some of the very Leoness she was wearing wore off a little. " we'll make him bath properly later." figuring a pg version miiiight not entirely satisfy enquiring young minds but will be sufficient enough for a Donnie.


A bit more of a grin as Addy smiles kindly at  Donnie - whispers something he doesn't quite catch just under Leo's ear hole and looks like she is about to step away so Donnie could get in close.


"loooove that." Addy teasingly, bossy voice whispers just under Leo's ear hole. Shifting, he can still very much pull her back if he wants to but she is making room for Donnie to get in close and worry snug his big brother if he wants. She was hesitant to it an end to this fun but knew she had to, wind had picked up and with some measure rowing they would make excellent time! Giggling a bit at Mike's words.


Monroe's blue stained snout now because half the exact shade of green as Donna's and Liam's blue. Still laced with mother of pearl bright pinks along smaller scale edges but definitely both their unique colors, not that he himself is paying much attention right now, mostly agreeing and making his snout more Donnos color by sneaking a quick Smoochie in there! Chuckling a bit. " we better hope he does not do that during any time sneaking about is required." playfully. Miiiight be a bit obvious is love hearts maaaybe noticeable to others would randomly start popping up hahaha!


And then he is following and a lil Liam has only a little wee before he is eager to cuddle back into Donno until he is in with his happy little gold brother. Duncan almost didn't want to let go of cuddles to pee or play, happy to hide his side's away from possible more tickles and churr little churrs making scrunchy faces whenever Dana licks him ! Giggling though when she gives MikeyMikey a few.


She has definitely enjoyed fluffing MikeyMikey with her tail, especially when it brushed his tail! That was fun! And felt nice!


Leonardo and Raphael take some of the last moments of laughter at Lee's deserved newspaper whack and the come down to check in on Donatello, treating the guy to rough brotherly love. But not too rough yet.


Addy will only loudly clear her throat once she has stepped away from Leo into the centre of the deck space to catch attention when all kiddoes are in the cart and begin to distract and play with each other and their toys in there. She will assess her available crew and how they are doing until she has all their attentions and make up her mind how they will progress today. And take a moment with Ralphie when he is moving into place to see his work.


Lilo almost misses the throat clearing! In the middle of happy pleasure humming and giving Ralphie light Smoochies to that happy proud grin of his!


Bebe chuckled at Donnie words, nodding, her wings fluttering as he moves, helping him let her slid easily off and she watches amused by the loud Mike.

Mike's words do little to clear up Donnie's confusion.

~But wasn't she supposed to give him a bath?~

Leo half snorts, half coughs at the poor kid's confusion.

"She did, Donnie. But you guys seemed to be having so much fun playing that we had a little fun too."

Donnie watches Leo for a moment, there's a definite 'does not compute' expression on his face.

~Oh...kay...?~ And the young dragon accepts the statement. Maybe slightly dubious, but not enough to question it.

Leo did give Addy a quick squeeze for those soft words! It's a silent acknowledgement before letting her back away. Donnie might have accepted what he had been told, but Leo does need to give his brother some time now too. He had promised to try and see if Liam could help Donnie get back to his turtle self. Donnie probably wouldn't object if the task was put off longer, but he would remember it.

Once Addy has stepped aside to make space and start getting the crew back in line. Donnie hesitates a moment before he does rush into Leo, hugging and nuzzling and checking to make sure he's okay.

Donno sniggered at the comment from Monroe. Yeah, they should probably be careful not to bring up April during a stealth mission.

"I didn't really believe it at the time, but I think I've seen his bandanna tails droop and stand on end with emotions too."

Nah, that was still crazy right? But there had definitely been hearts around the guy's head!

It did look like Addy was about to start getting the crew ready, but Donno was definitely lingering until the last moment, and sort of amused at Donnie's confusion, and weirdly easy acceptance of the little half truthes that Leo and Mike had clearly told him.

"Geez, was I ever that gullible?"

MikeyMikey had been enjoying that tail boffing too! It felt nice. The closeness felt nice. And he might have nuzzled Dana a few times there when it was ostensibly meant for Duncan.

He can't help chuckling at Donno's question.

"Like, no way, Dude."

"I don't think you've ever accepted an explanation even almost that flimsy." Though Ralphie is a bit distracted by Lilo's attentions. And he does respond to that throat clearing, as do his brothers. They start getting up to get the kids settled for the next leg of the trip. Though Leo will probably have to come and get Liam for a little while.

Donnie seemed oblivious to the conversation behind him. Leo noticed and is amused, but it's not obvious.

Leonardo and Raphael are no help at the moment, carefully keeping faces straight and or turning grins away so Donnie doesn't see them!

Donatello smothers himself in the sail where he is.

Addy purrs and sort of guesses what was asked when Mikey looks like he is struggling for a moment and Bebe just nods and thinks out loud to all. ~ I would imagine a cat bathing would be funnnn - though clearly -~

" I was very thorough Donnie and made sure to apply a little more numbing paste for Leo - you two and Liam should settle back in the sail with Donatello and see what you can do about learning to shift out and into your dragon form. Both might be important to know how to do." politely cutting across Bebe. She was a princess's maid even as a child she would have been made to understand, sadly, from a young age or whenever Yua became of marriage age or possibly ever since her first heat Bebe would have been taught. On the off chance she had to in turn play pleasure fills in for her mistress or the husband was just .... gross...


Bebe gasps dropping her line of thought and rushing for the books she had left to help Donnie.


Oh good averted... Addy grins and winks at Leo as Donnie is all over him, oh the love of little siblings.


Then she can see her crew is mostly paying attention. " The wind is picking up we will have some easier rowing... so lets get going... Donno and DonnieBoy last checks on Leo and Donatello, make sure Leo and Donnie are settled then to the benches... MikeyMikey, Leon, DonnieBoy, Mikey, please last checks on animals, kids, make sure cart wheels are blocked and all shades are tied tight, then I want Donno, Leon and Mikey on the right first and second on the row benches, DonnieBoy, MikeyMikey and in a moment Ralphie will be on the left first and second rows two each row. Mike you are on the til get over there I will show you how to steer us out into the open water and current and keep us there. Lilo you are on untying the ropes and then getting up on the main sail with Yua, Kovu you are on the front and Inaba the back. Big guys you two get the oars ready and I want yous in the last rows one on each side. Bebe you will be ready to hand out water and snacks to rowers so Sam, Pip, Monroe get those organised, Sam your with Kovu, Pip Lilo and Monroe join Inaba. Ralphie you will join your brothers in a moment, first please bring the cover name, and show me your work." she orders, its slow and she points at those she is addressing and where she wants them eventually, keeping it to laymans terms encase not all the newer crew are familiar with sailing terms.


Mikey is there! and makes both Liam and Monroe startle with similar surprised squeaks of huh?! " You are not imagining Donno my brothers bandana tails do, occassionally move... I thiiiink its all the extra brain power it has to go somewhere you know?" he says absolutely sure of this and confirming the observations at the same time, whilst also side-eyeing Donno's bandana tails like he is waiting for them to jerk in surprise or stand on end in indignation or shock or droop when he is sad...


And Donno will catch those side eyes all day from here on out! - though for now there is a chuckle and raised eye ridge at his fellow MikeyMikey, " Never? DonnieBoy here keeps falling for Raph every time he says he won't hurt him if he just puts down the staff." laughing as Donnieboy finally heard them and shot Mikey a glare - which Mikey ignores, because Addy has orders, he nods and salutes and hurries off! Ducking Donnieboy as he also moves to do as told but with a playing swing at his brother's head.


Leon still rubbed his sides from the chuckling he had been doing, and hummed in thought eyeing Donno, " now we are going to have to try thinking of a moment just to share back with them." he laughs and nuzzles a smooch on Inaba's fluffy soft cheek and hurries off to do as asked.


Monroe purrs nuzzling more of Donno than the still surprised by Mikey Liam - the little guy is keeping both eyes on Mikey for the moment, in a very intense Leo-like way as if to spy just how Mikey moves so fast all the while snuggling up under Donno's chin and making it hard for Monroe to start pulling away to do as told!


Lilo giggles, she eeeeeks softly and can't help kissing Ralphie a last time before she will slip away, " oh she is going to love it." pleased for her turtle man, and definitely looking forward to stroking more than ego next time their able to get a moment alone - give Ralphie all her attention and more, her tail teasing against his tail briefly to make that promise for later!


Mike sighs in relief, good Donnie brought it - mostly, missed the chatter and Bebe spilled nothing! he ay ay captains in his best pirate voice, bumps Donnie's dragony snout lightly in a brotherly chuff way, " you got this lil brother." encouragement and then hurrying off to stand where told and wait to be showed how to do this! Past amused looking Leonardo and Raphael both moving to get those big heavy oars into place.

Oblivious!!!

The young turtle trapped in a dragon's body is absolutely clueless. Not only has something sailed completely over his head, but he is utterly unaware that he has missed something!

Leo is glad that Addy managed to redirect Bebe so thoroughly. It took just a moment for Leo to realize why the girl had caught on so easily to what had been said. Those who know him well miiiight catch the brief hint of anger about that situation in his eyes. It's very subtle, and Donnie doesn't notice at all! Too caught up in snuggling his older brother! It's also gone in a flash as Leo is pretty thoroughly distracted from the thought by a snuggly dragon.

And Leo caught that look from Addy! The problem with the 'little' sibling at the moment is that he's actually bigger than Leo!

It takes a moment to calm Donnie enough to get him to realize that they're actually going to head over to the cart and see if they can undragon him! Mike's snout boop helped! And Donnie is off! pulling Leo along to the cart (mostly) gently.

Ralphie is only too happy to have his ego stroked a little here and there! Though he does very much appreciate the other sorts of stroking that Lilo has come up with! And he does hope there is a chance for more of that at some point! And that kiss and teasing tail! Cheeky, cheeky monkey!

MikeyMikey chuckles at Leon's words as he moves to settle little Duncan in the cart.

"I, like... can't think of many, Dude."

"Leon's more likely to be the gullible one." Ralphie added to Leon. Donno, like Ralphie himself, was decidedly more cynical and distrustful than MikeyMikey or Leon are.

"Hey, Big Guys. Your Donatello gullible like these ones?" Like the tall turtle wasn't right there.

Ralphie is heading to go about showing Addy the new name, as well as mounting the fake cover while the others get the kids into the cart.

Donno slips a finger into Liam's hand, hopefully freeing Monroe. He had huh'd softly at the words from Mikey. Sort of fascinating about DonnieBoy's bandanna tails. And no, Donno's do not do that at all.

Change color completely once in awhile... Yes. Show his emotion, no. He will notice Mikey's glances eventually, and might try to keep a turtle between them if it gets to be too much! For now though, he's not particularly bothered by the glances.

And it did seem that Leo and Donnie were making their way to the cart to see about undragoning Donnie! Donno offers Liam to Leo.

Addy chuckles, she is moving toward Ralphie and what he wants to show her and Bebe flutters past quickly.


In arms all the books, buzzing a little outside the sail shade and smiling, absolutely diverted.


And perhaps Donatello couldn't see all that happened but he heard and was determined to show as Yua's husband Bebe was safe with him, of course he knew the others knew that, but still he felt compelled to show it, patting a spot next to him for Leo, and the other side for Bebe, that way Donnie had the space.


The fae flutters in, sitting beside Donatello and smiling at him but laying open the books, the dragon one on top to where she hopes it is the page Donnie had read the information about


There is a call out from Donatello, " hah! no waaaay-" drowned out by -


Raphael booms a laugh that makes Leonardo glare at him as they drag a oar into place. " Nailed it, Leonardo here was the last of us to become a member of Primal Instincts, he actually brought for a little while at least our feeble excuses for having money for pizza annnnnd still falls for the ' be right in' whenever he enthusiastically asks if we will help him clean the dojo!"


Causing DonnieBoy and Mikey to snort hard and then laugh out loud as purple bandana follows Donno to do as asked and make sure injured parties are fine, really they only needed to check on Donatello as no doubt Donnie being calmed meant indeed Leo was okay. If still strongly smelling very Leoy and much like Addy.


Mikey grinning up at Leonardo, " your like my Lee - he can be convinced to be a stunt jump after eating half a dozen cheese pizzas." gleefully as the massive blue-wearing turtles blush a little, swats a laughing Raphael for spilling all of the big guys naive secrets all over the place!


Mike - wrong this to say around any Mikey - he files that away for another time with a grin... maaaaaybe a bit of cheeky glance towards Leo but it doesn't last long and he is chuckling as he waits where he was told to be.


Just as a Leon is disclaiming, " Noooo waaaaay...." in a tone of voice that gave away he knew he was often the gullible one among his brothers some of the time.


Addy is happy to let the crew chatter as they get into place and she gets to see the name, happy cat chirp sounds, and pulling Ralphie into a playful side one-armed hug, " thank you it does suit it well and some of the best I have seen on any ship." pleased with it and it shows! Ready to help Ralphie - even whilst laughing a bit at the chatter around them - to hang the fake name over the actual. above them a nervous Inaba climbs up into place with a pink, blue, purple dotted Donno green Monroe, she is not accustomed to heights.


Lilo is bouncing about, eager to get moving, pausing to watch Addy's delight at Ralphies work and giggling, pleased for him, her tail curling and hurrying on to make sure they are untethered, ready to sail! Pip working closely with her as Sam is acting out for Kovu what they do up the front.


And almost at once when sails are shifted the pull of the current began to show itself.


Addy will wait for them to be all in their seats before giving next orders.


Good thing she waits, cause Liam is both eager to reach with a hand and foot for Leo once offered over, but also tried to keep a foot around Donno, keep a hold of that finger, and snuggle!


Yua takes each little one passed into the cart, snuggles them if they let her and then sets them carefully to play with their new toys.

Leo is pretty sure he wouldn't fall for the sudden extra money. He certainly hadn't when Don suddenly had money...

And Leo suddenly wonders where the vehicles for the second Battle Shell and the Turtle Taxi had actually come from. Apparently Don's souping up junk cars for Casey to sell and small appliance and computer repairs for April had gone on longer than he had realized.

Though Leo is less gullible about believing that his brothers actually will come help clean the dojo, and he will roust them to help when that is required.

As for Mikey's comment about the skateboard jump...

Leo does not like the way Mike is looking at him after that. Yeah, Leo could probably be talked into that one. Less likely that he could be talked into actually eating 6 pizzas though! Leo has often been pulled into trouble by an over eager brother, though he will insist that he was just there to make sure no one got hurt!

...it's not always strictly true. And wanting to trust someone has nearly bitten him in the shell before. The Shredder trying to win his allegiance with a pretty sword, Karai and Bishop over the years, pretending to help them out.

Oh yeah, Leo has had his share of gullible moments. He has... sort of learned from them though. He doesn't like to think himself cynical, necessarily, but definitely more so than he had been at Donnie's age.

It's only after they're on their way toward the cart that Donnie is finally sort of realizing that there is a discussion going on, and that he has probably missed something! He wouldn't remember Leo just letting him sweep that sort of thing under the proverbial rug.

"Ooohhhh yes way." Ralphie is laughing as it is starting to seem to be something of a Leonardo trait.

As Leo accepted the tot, he tried a similar tactic, trying to gently take that hand that was clinging to Donno, and pull it to himself. Leo waited, snuggling Liam, while Donno and DonnieBoy checked over Donatello before he got into the cart. Donnie didn't seem interested in being separated. Even as they moved toward the cart, Donnie had either been up against him, or at least touching Leo's shell with the tip of his tail, just keeping track of him.

Only once Donatello has been checked over and any necessary dressings are changed will Leo get into the cart, followed closely by Donnie! Leo does take the offered seat, and Donnie curls up on the floor of the cart in the open space, his shoulder resting against Leo's leg, and curling around in front of Donatello to reach the book Bebe had set out for him. The book is in the right place, and he noses to the next page as he rereads anything he hopes might help him get back to his turtle form!

It is open to the right place! And he starts reading for now as Leo snuggles little Liam for a moment before they start getting ready to try and see what the little alpha might have hidden away in his inherited memories.

As they make their way to their places, MikeyMikey spotted the multicolored Monroe and chuckled. He gave Donno a light, playful 'way to go!' elbowing followed by waggly eye ridges!

Donno punched him in the arm. It's a hard, brotherly, warning punch flirting with the limit between play and fight.

MikeyMikey just laughs and bounces off to his position!

Ralphie is more than pleased with Addy's assessment of his art! The guy certainly does appreciate having his ego stroked a little!

"Thanks, La Catitana! Now ya gotta keep it nice!" Grinning, playful tone as he's still thrilled that she'd liked his work. He was rather proud of it. Once the fake name is in place, he hurries to his position and he and his brothers are ready for the next push onto toward the final group of turtles!

Addy chuckles and lightly pats Ralphie's shell in a playfully swat-like way, her tail tip twitching, encouraging Ralphie over to where she wanted him on the oars. " All the hard work you put into that? You know I will." it is playfully put, but meaningful, she will indeed have it refreshed occasionally in the future.


Once they are all in the place she stands at the drum, " We have a good wind and strong current, so it will be easier rowing for a while. We will be working on one stroke to the beat of the drum, keep to the pace." firmly and Yua makes her way over after babies are all settled to play in the cart with the injured and she gives the drum beating to her showing her the paces she wants it at and trusting the princess, taught to sit through loooooong cermonies and stitching and dancing she is confident she manages.


She will be the one moving among the rows to give drinks and snacks. Whilst the first gets going she doesn't worry it will be necessary, but soon enough.


Donatello chuckles watching the way others settled, Duncan had come over for a quick hug, followed by an eager Malcolm, then the little boys bounced off to Elena to play they found a spot near Donnie's back leg to play a variation of knuckle bones with small shells in the play of bones. They are adorable!


Liam still seems to need a fair bit of contact, only letting go of Donno when Leo offered the hold on and does he ever! snuggling right in! his little blue tail wagging. " I feel like I already know you through your son... a little anyways, your face and some expression I was entirely sure by the way Don looked that it had to be something he as seen on you." Light rubbing on Donnie's head and a smile.


Liam tried to cover as much of Leo's plastron as he could! churring, and one hand and foot were able to reach Donnie and he does!


And even so, there is a serious curious wondering little Leo look on the little boy's face, he is aware on some level he had something to do instead of rushing over to where his little friend and brothers played, he was ready!


Out there on the oars Raphael is amused for outing Leonardo like that, and then huffs a little, " even so as the last to join us he earns the highest." but its a playful grump and he is relaxed and grins at the smaller turtles.


[color:866d=#oo99ff]" awwwww we Leo's just want to believe the best in folks is all." Leon defneds himself and fellow blue wearers, sure they learned the hard way but still there was hope.


DonnieBoy chukles in place and ready and when the moment came pushing the oar with his bench buddy. [color:866d==#9932CC]" Yep thats a Lee thing, always hopeful."

Ralphie had really meant keeping the ship safe, and he is sure Addy will! It is her home after all. But yes, a little ego stroking with the work he's done too! He grins and hurries off to his next task.

He joins his brothers at the oars, and they're ready to go! Sure, still a little sore after the hard row yesterday, but they're ready to go again today, and will do their best to get to the final group as soon as possible! Sure, their group is complete, but they're still eager to reach the final group!

He chuckled at the continued conversation about gullible brothers. Grumbing "Typical Leonardo." at Raphael's comment. Of course Leonardo would earn the most.

"Fine line between hopeful and gullible." Donno added.

His bandanna miiiiiight have been red when he said it.

Leo and Donnie both obliged any little boys searching for attention before fully settling into their spots in the cart. Hugs for nuzzles are welcome and given freely. After their bit of play, and looking forward to maaaayyybe getting back to his turtle self, even Donnie is freely nuzzliong. Leo is also more than content to snuggle little Liam as long as he needs it.

When Donatello speaks, Leo lkooks up, still snuggling the small, blue boy.

"With as much of Don as I have seen in Duncan, I suppose that shouldn't surprise me."

Leo gives Liam another little moment to snuggle while Donnie is reading a bit. As Liam is starting to seem ready, Donnie is sort of frustrated with his reading. There was a little information on the topic, but not very much. And given the nature of that particular section of the book... it almost had a hearsay feeling to it. The writer was not a shifter, and was at best working from stories. If not stories of stories. Donnie couldn't tell from the text if the conversations had been with an actual shifter, or if it was a friend of a friend who knew a guy sort of tales.

So he sighs and sort of snuggles against Leo's leg for a moment. And maaayyybe horning in a little on Liam's snuggle time. Trying to join in for a moment. Leo shifts slightly to give Donnie a little space too.

Liam doesn't put up any fuss, in fact, he tries, awkwardly to find a way to snuggle both against Leo's plastron and Donnie's head, or mostly his dragonish shout. Just a happy little guy to do so. And still, Mr serious mini Leo is ready to do this face!


His brothers and Elena play quietly around Donnie's tail. It probably won't last long, their kids. And there is a bit of excitement in the knowledge that the vessel is moving, at a good steady pace, that they will be getting closer to their missing brothers, and not thinking beyond that for now - to the battles after that, they may face, these days of collecting, regrouping, meeting and resting may be the only ones once they are moving on the capitol. So best they enjoy them. Especially the little ones.


Donatello chuckles and settles back to watch the kiddos, to watch and if needed help however he can, " caught a few of those moments myself watching young Duncan, and Malcolm." nodding to the Amethyst and Gold boys with Elena - there is a scroll in her hands and she is reading it, he is proud she has only some practice at reading, Terrors are meant to be mail carriers and know enough to get by to deliver their missives, not be able to actually read, he is glad to have begun teaching her and that Yua has also done so, it's amusing now that Malcolm sits and listens with wide eyes, and Duncan keeps pointing at the scroll to make Elena reread a word, trying to say it after her. Haha, it's cute! He grins at Leo, the talk before helped ease some of his guilt and misgivings on how he has handled all that went down on the journey to get back to his brothers, not all of it, but some, and he is resting a little easier. " how can I help you guys with this?" he wonders and it's a gentle way to encourage Donnie that it's time to get started on the trying, even if today this first time it doesn't work out, the important thing is trying for now.


Liam is ready to rub Donnie's dragon head, the other hand hanging onto Leo's plastron edge!


Bebe nods at the book, [color=#ffffff]" there was a little in there about our types of dragon beings and the creatures that magic and imbuing other races with them created, and a little about dragon shifting forms, not sure how useful, but it's a good sign that it's even written right? that it's possible and doable?" She is eager!


~


Addy is amused with the chatter and encourages it, and she set this pace, though really she coooould push them faster. Buuuut no, it was better with the harsh rowing they already did to enjoy a more even-paced flow, for now, she is as eager to make the last of the scattered worlds genio innocuo, but she needs to make sure the crew now first warm up a little and loosen from the previous hard rowing, then stay at a pace that shouldn't wear them out too fast. Still, she will watch them all closely, in any case, to make sure no one is hiding injuries.


Leonardo flashes that characteristic smug smirk at that but it's brief and he focuses on the rowing.


Whereas Mikey almost missed his beat doing a double take - naaaaaah he was suuuuure Donno's bandana changed color?!


Nah!


He grunts pushing the oar when he catches up to the beat he lost.

If Mikey is looking to any of Donno's brothers to see if they noticed anything weird about his bandanna, they're certainly not showing it! It's fairly rare, but all of their bandannas change color once in awhile. Though it seems to happen to Donno a lot more than it does the others.

There is also typical Raphael-type grumbling when Ralphie noticed the smirk. But it's all in brotherly fun.

For the most part, the group is pretty well on task, and rowing intently!

~

Leo chuckled softly in response to Donatello as he snuggled the little, blue boy that he knows Don had been so very close to.

Watching the children sitting there as Elena reads as best she can is... it's incredible. They're absolutely adorable.

"It's almost spooky how similar they are."

And he can't help but wonder briefly exactly how the children came about. Yes, a lab was involved, but how much manipulation went into their creation? He's a Leo, not a Don though, so he doesn't dwell on the question. Just sort of files it away for later.

There's a smile at Donatello's offer of assistance.

"Honestly... I'm not entirely sure yet. It's sort of up to Donnie and Liam. For now, I think our best bet is to simply open our minds, and be ready to go along with whatever happens. I will try to guide as best I can, but being here and being around as a well of energy might help."

Leo doesn't really know what they will find there, but he will try to help sort though whatever memories they access, and guide toward what might be most helpful as best he can. He will also be something of a spiritual well if it's needed. He doesn't know what they'll find, and maybe Donatello could also be helpful in sorting out memories. Maybe trying to display memories as screens...? He won't know until they're in the moment!

Donatellos as a rule are pretty good at finding things. Especially if there's any sort of pattern they might pick up on. Maybe a teacher? Since it seemed that at least with Donnie, the shifting is learned. Maybe it's always learned? And if it helps the tall turtle feel better about this situation, well... Leo sees no reason to not let his help as much as he can.

Leo is opening his mind, shifting so Donatello can also make contact if he so chooses, and Liam is willing. Leo's preeeetty sure he can help guide whatever is about to happen.

Donnie had looked hopefully at Bebe. Yes, it was promising that the stories existed! And he did take some comfort from that. He and Liam are from another world though! Is it is the same? Or completely different? He's pretty sure he can shift back. It's pretty sure it's possible. He just doesn't know how!

He has no idea how he knows this, but Donnie is certain. Even moreso after reading the book! There's a way to do it, he just hasn't figured it out!

~I... I know it can be done. I just don't know how to do it.~

And Donnie is ready, he opens his mind as Master Splinter taught him. Donnie might not remember much of what Don had learned about meditation and chi, but a surprising amount is there, but blocked. Some skills and memories are tantalizingly out of reach unless they are well and truly required or possibly unlocked in some other manner. He tucks his head down to Liam. Close so the little guy can reach in whatever manner he might choose. Whether it's a hand, or touching head to head.

Donatello has a thoughtful look, " really does bring the nature versus nurture thing to mind." a bit of a grin and he is straightening up, this kind of concentrating was a lot easier than trying to play ping pong on a table balanced on a ball... And bonus there was adorableness going on with their little ones.


He is offering his strength, glad for Leo's spiritual guidance. And it will become clear Leo will have to lead this, Bebe settles near, able to concentrate but she had none of the training they had so it was just comfort and closeness with her, For Donatello, it is the strength, even sore as he is with his shell and plastron in the state they are it's not bad and he has energy and stability to spare. But as for organizing what they might find -


It takes a moment. Liam looks between Donnie and Leo not sure who to touch his forehead to and who his hand... Bebe opens an eye and grins at him, guiding his little blue hands to each of their forehead, one to Donnie, one to Liam.


Little blue guys is not sure what to do, but he has followed this instinct a couple of times for Don soe he lets it do so again, taking him, and them into his memories, and Leo will definitely have to organise them as they come. The latest ones, his adventures in the Nexus, not all of them fun. But those were some of his happiest, he was not hungry all the time, he played with Elena and Mikey - he was taught things by Leon and Donatello, snuggled by Yua and Inaba. Inaba with the oooh so luxuriously soft fur. He too had a brief encounter with Erica and had his first taste of warm milk, annnnd almost someone similar to his never met mother, she was scaled, soft and smooth but warmish to the touch. There were memories of the long days of travelling, worrying more than a three year old should over his big turtle, his mild small acts of defiance to remain beside him. Being care for at the Reinigen stronghold, people nearly worshipping him, finding Elena his little firend, waititng for Don to wake, when Don does, Liam's attempt to help him, Mikey's songs, the games in the maze..of watching Don, Leon, Donatello, Mikey, even Inaba, Yua huddling, Bebe getting between them at the battle with the lizard like folk... befoer that their travels through the swamps after the Don and Donatello left them, and back to the battle of the eels people.


further back the memories went, to his first night in Nexus, first meeting Mikey, Inaba, Leon, and those first few moments with Don -


Of course everything from Liam's point of view - and if Leo doesn't organise the memories as they come like something sort of played in a flash back to younger days they would all find themselves swamped in his young unihibitied emotions.


though Donatello doesn't mind the few that slip through. For even if there was some terror at moments, these memories with Donnie, Mike, Leo and the others were like the ones with himself, Leon, Mikey, Inaba, Yua, Bebe and Elena - they had fun moments and felt loved and secured and warm, the foundations of informative memories - and Donatello was glad to see them to feel them.


Because the next ones would not be so pleasant, the tumble through the portal in reverse was weird and these were... unhappy there would be snippets of emotions from a very sad little boy longing for a loving parent of any sort, hopeful in painful ways whenever blurry faced humans would come in seeking a connection ... and being rejected.


Turning to brothers, ooooh it was hard to watch and feel the odd emotions that broke through, some a toddler didn't understand but felt. He loved his brothers, and was inconsolable the few times in memories the humans separated them. Those Donatello assume were experiements as a blurry faced human would sit where from Liam's point of view he couldn't touch them, or hear them or his brothers, smell nothing but the sterile little space they had him in and he would howl the most heart breaking crying sound.


Donatello had never watned to hurt humans more than necessary in defense as he did right then. But he forces himself to breath through it rationally. there was nothing they could do for this younger in the past Liam. And even in this horrible selection of memories of humans extracting blood, punishing Liam for trying to help his brothers, or them for trying to help him. There were good memories, all through Liam's eyes. Like the one of what had to be maybe two or one and a half year old babies mimiccing a few human words... and ooooh its a lovely memory their little dragon turtle sounds and the odd disjointed human words, Dada... one of the first - and this was fairly usualy for all babies - but somehow more meaningful in Donatello's opinion. Further back in memories they are becoming more and more disjointed as a younger Liam is merely observing what is going on and so a lot of them are blurry, but there is the memory of little ones, maybe nine or so months beginning to stand - and hah Duncan was the first to let go of the white wall he had been balancing on and take a wobbly couple of steps - then there was just no stoppign them trying again and again to find their little feet.


And still back more to them crawling, mirroring early turtlehood days of scrabbling about on all fours.


They would be treated to the same hatching scene Don got, and that... Donatello was breathless through most of it. The way Liam set them all off in hatching, and just like baby reptiles in his world and probably theirs too he crawled over his siblings eggs encouraging their hatching. Ooooh the superposition of vague dragonish shapes over a humana nd a turtleish shape was not lost on Donatello -


Memories beyond here, inherited ones they would have to reach for with the brief image of that smallish dragoness. Not much larger in her dragonshape than Erica the damonfeuer. She had pink and purple scales with blue highlights here and there. Liam, Leo or Donnie would have to fixate on that image and reach Liam's subconciousness for them. And if they do one of the first would be from her point of view of when her sons eggs were taken from her, she had been forced to lay them, unable to reasorb and then it had a few long days for her to get all four eegs out of her, and barely after she had been tranqed enough to make her woozy and those eggs even as she tried to stop the humans, taken away.

Not a pleasant memory. And random like all those Liam inherited, one from Haley's earlier days, watching her brother Jake being taught by Grandpa how to 'Drgaon Up' and 'Down' the old dragons voice explaining its all about relaxing, focusing solely on the shape you need to resume, and remaining focused through the shift, that it will become easier with each transofrmation. This was the memory Donnie needed, with the guidance of the grandpa and the practicing form of Jake changing in front of the dragoness's - who they now had a name for - Haley's point of view.

"Until recently, I'm thinking there really wasn't much in the way of 'nurture'." Though Leo had certainly encouraged behaviors in Duncan that he had recognized from Don. Even if it was only recently.

Even before they start, Leo is pretty certain that he's going to be sort of leading this one. Sure, Liam is the one with the memories that they're trying to access, but Leo is the one with the training-- or at least the one who remembers the training -- that they'll need to get what they need from the contact.  So he is making sure he is as prepared as possible. Steady and stable, and ready for the sort of memories he had glimpsed from Duncan once before.

Liam's are much stronger than Duncan's had been, and Leo is glad for Donatello's stability! Yes, some of the energy is definitely useful, but the stability is what Leo is relying on the most. Leo doesn't quite manage the distance of seeming to watch a movie, but Liam's emotions at least are filtered enough that they shouldn't be quite as unbearable.

Liam has been through a lot, and Leo is now seeing what he's only heard a little bit about through the child's eyes. He manages to keep himself just one step separated from those memories, in part because he knows a little about what is coming. He also acts as something of a barrier for Donatello and Donnie.

As the memories of the Nexus play in that sort of strange backward manner, Leo finds himself sort of positioning Donatello in between himself and Donnie as a second buffer. Filtering Liam's memories through both of them before letting them reach Donnie who seemed to be struggling a little.

It doesn't seem to help much...? Or maybe... No... Leo's pretty sure Donnie is experiencing something different from what he and Donatello are. A couple times Leo is tempted to cut the contact, worried for his little brother, but Donnie held on.

~~

As Liam's memories of the Nexus play in reverse, some of them are triggering additional memories. Liam's point of view is overlaid with... another first person memory.

It takes Donnie awhile to realize that it's... his own...? Sort of...?

Donnie won't be able to really explain the experience later, but for memories in Liam's story that Don had been present and aware for, Donnie is seeing though Don's eyes too. It's weird... It almost hurts. There's so much! So fast!

The weird highs of the puffer that Donatello had made, the one that had saved his life. The constricted airway that refused to release that forced him to use the puffer. Bebe's breaths that Liam had somehow spurned her to give to Don to keep him breathing long enough for the puffer to be made.

Quiet moments teaching Liam to float on his back! Teaching Liam the first kata up on the roof of the cart. Snuggling the little boy and loving him more than Don had known he had been capable of loving anyone.

The battle that had interrupted Donatello's and Yua's wedding reception.

Playing hide and seek with Liam in the Fortress! He sees himself nearly attacking Inaba after Liam called so desperately for help. The baths, soothing Liam's fear of the 'big' water.

Taking Liam as his son. Explaining what that meant in a voice that was his, but also wasn't... yet.

Hearing the little boy call him 'Dad' for the first time.

The snap of clarity as Liam cleared the haze that had filled his mind when he had woken in the fortress. Or since this was in reverse, the clarity had snapped into a horrible, unpenetrable fog.

It's extremely hard to comprehend! There are a few times he almost panicked, but Leo managed to calm him, settle the worries and smooth the worst of the jumps just enough that Donnie was able to make it through.

There's a bit of a break as Liam travels toward the fortress after Donatello had taken Don ahead while they were separated. Donnie looks worried as he sort of glances to Leo and Donatello. He's unable to share what happened just yet though!

The experience is clearly draining for him, but he doesn't want to stop! And he's worried, but grateful that Leo didn't break the connection at that point.

It moves on. He can't breathe. Not properly. His lungs feel like soup. He can't keep food down. Desperately weak, but trying to care for the little boy even when it's painfully obvious he's unable to. It's a strange sensation of 'getting better' when he knows he had actually been getting worse.

The eel battle. Finding Donatello, Mikey, Inaba.

The swamp squid.

Finding Leon.

Finding Liam. That first time he had sort of awkwardly picked up the toddler.

It's incredible, but also horribly confusing as memories that aren't his, but somehow are his come rushing back. He feels elated, and horrified and so very drained! But they're not done here. They haven't found what they came for. He stabilizes himself with help from Leo and Donatello and holds on as they continue backward.

~~

As they continue backward into the lab, Leo is even more grateful for Donatello's stability. He had needed a little help himself in a few of those moments. There's a little emotional whiplash experiencing this all in so short a period of time! Leo is sort of surprised at how stable Donnie seems once they move into the lab compared to the memories of the Nexus. He doesn't know that it's because Donnie is experiencing what Donatello and Leo are now since they've reached the end of moments that Don would have shared with Liam.

Though Leo can definitely feel his little brother vibrating with the same sort of anger that he himself felt toward the blurry faced humans in the lab. He can feel Donnie marveling at the milestones they had missed. First words, first steps. Little personalities developing despite the at best neglectful treatment.

Both are silently awed as they watch the babies hatch.

Leo spotted the dragoness in the memories. He had known to look for one, and Donnie is really not in any state to guide or pursue anything here at the moment, though he did seem ready to continue. The dragon is really quite beautiful. Fairly small, but the coloring is incredible.

Leo follows the memories. Follows them backward, and he knows that this battle with Draco will only be the beginning. When they get home, there will be another battle there for them. Even if the kids do arrive in the lair with them, there will be more to do.

...They have to find the boys mother. They have to find this dragon girl. They can't leave Haley in the lab's clutches any more than they can leave the kids.

Leo almost lost the connecting again there, and without Donatello's stability, he might have been forced to do so, but somehow he soldiers on. Continuing the trek backward though inherited memories. Ones not as raw as young Liam's had been.

And finally! They find it. He focuses on it, committing the words to memory. Donnie was focused too, paying close attention to the lesson.

It doesn't sound terribly different from some of what Master Splinter had taught, and Donnie had definitely not felt relaxed when he had been trying to return to himself. He... he thinks he can do it! Pretty sure. He can almost feel it click, feel the words just make sense.

Almost!

Leo is relieved. Hopefully this is enough, and he is oh so grateful to the little boy who had been able to facilitate this. And he fills the contact with all the warmth and love he can. Filling Liam with that. Doing what he can to let the little boy know that Leo loves him very, very much. And he can feel Donnie's energy join him. Though within it... once in awhile... it's very distinctly 'Don'.

She knew - or more of sense, that the intense session might also have highly emotional moments. And well she could do nothing to offer Leo an outlet for it now, and also it was probably an important one, for him, Donnie, Donatello, and the little ones.


She keeps the moment semi-private for them until ready to share Addy encourages singing, bawdy ridiculous sailing songs.


Encouraging them to share those they knew - and were eager to learn - did mean a little of a lost row beat but not too much and it was important. She has to balance again, the emotional care of her crew, both those sailing and those healing and learning.

Liam was a tad over-emotional by the time the memories and the coming out of it were over - and like any toddler, he went for the meltdown.


Unlike any toddler and now Donatello knew what he was doing, Liam actively tried to stifle his own sounds of discomfort or displeasure having been taught by those humans that doing so, that crying for perfectly toddler reasons resulted in being left hungry, or being zapped, or watching his brothers being zapped. So the way he stuffed hands in his mouth or pinched at himself because he literally couldn't express his broiling over emotions.


But... that didn't happen this time - the little boy, over waught from this session, it had to be as difficult for him as for them, more so even cause he couldn't actually separate himself from the memories - so he is crying, and its a full cry, one he doesn't bother hiding or trying to shut up.


That is such a huge thing Donatello can't help but grin, if shakily and a bit overwhelmed with everything himself as Liam has an arm about Leo's neck and reaching for Don, Donnie with the other drawing the dragon snout close like a stuffed toy and hanging on for dear life as he does the sort of crying an over tired tot does.


The other children come over, Duncan and Malcolm a little anxious looking and watching their brother, Leo and Donnie worriedly, Elena had followed them over and looked unsure. Donatello gently ushers the two other little boys, ooooh those soft little noises, half sort of chirps, half sort of meows to their brother, so cute! and the way Duncan brushed his hand over Leo's arms around Liam, the other hand will stroke Donnie's dragon cheek, Malcolm right behind him!


And as Donatello has guessed and feels a deep pride and delight over seeing, Liam is not making an effort to cry as he normally would because of Donnie's closeness, and Leo's embrace, because of the love and safety that he felt, he could actually just... cry... and become drowsy... and among hiccups, and a half attempts to answer his brothers... his eyes droop and he is becoming a slinky...


Donatello is taking the moment to reassure a worried Elena and afford Leo and Donnie the time to do so with Malcolm and Duncan as Liam nods off -


And it helps a little beyond the cart and sail hide away that the crew sound a mix of bad but good and the songs are silly.

Leo keeps that feeling of love and safety going until Liam is fully out of the contact. He then wraps his arms around the little boy as he takes a moment to recenter himself. He needs that moment. He knows that as soon as the rest of them are out that he's going to have to be a rock again. That solid, dependable leader who's absolutely there for his sure to be overwhelmed little brother and son. There was a silent 'thank you' for the stability that Donatello had given them during the contact. Leo's not sure he could have managed all of that with Donnie and Liam on his own without the help.

As he comes out of the contact, Donnie is trying not to cry. And he is failing. Just as Don had the first time he had seen Liam's memories of the lab where he had lived his whole life before coming to the Nexus. Also, like the first time, Donnie is shaky after the contact. It had been a lot for the young dragon. Donnie was well versed in guided meditations, and even fairly skilled on his own for his age, but this had been something else entirely.

Without Don's experience that's there, but locked away, and Leo's guiding hand, Donnie might not have made it out of the contact unscathed. Liam's memories on their own had been hard enough.

Having Don's unlocking and overlaying so many of them...

His brain feels fried, and in a way, maybe it is a little burned. And so he cries as he snuggles into Leo and Liam. It's only the comfort coming from Leo that keeps Donnie grounded in the present. Without that knowledge that big brother is there and will keep him safe, he might have given in to instincts to take Liam and hide.

Instead, he wraps his serpentine body around the pair like a boa constrictor, pulling Malcolm and Duncan into the embrace as he does so. Seeking comfort from Leo, offering it to the kids.

There is no way he's going to be able to focus the way he needs to to undragon himself right now! Because, not unlike Liam, Donnie is shaking and crying himself to sleep. His young mind, struggling to incorporate the newly unlocked memories of Liam with what Donnie thought his life was.

~I love you, My Son.~ Is only for Liam. Even Leo can't hear that one.

But Leo is still awake, and encouraging younglings to rest for now. Hopefully when Donnie wakes next time he'll remember where he is. There's not much Leo will be able to do this time. He's pretty well trapped at the moment.

Awwwwwww Donatello swears he has hearts popping above his head and probably chibi eyes as he squeeeees softly and moves closer slipping Elena into the huddle where she can join in rubbing Liam's shell with his brothers and hilariously she kisses boys cheeks cutely there thereing the collection of boys, Donnie and Leo! Hah!

He grins adding his arms around the huddle, poor Leo, nuzzling the trapped guy and the others, churring as beyond their sail hideaway Mikey impressively imitates a girl singing My Jolly Sailor Bold.


He himself needs a moment. Even if he had watched all as a doting big brother, uncle, hopeful one day dad he also had been a buffer for some of the emotions so was in need of the contact too just to sooth and calm and remind himself these are not his emotions and memories!

Leo is back pretty quickly. He's mostly ready to face th world again as soon as he's out of meditation. Though he does appreciate the touch of those around him. It does help dissipate the remnants of those strong emotions.

And it helps remind him that the kids are safe now. That they're out of the lab.

Even if he knows they're going to have to find it and go back for their mother.

"Just rest." Is soft and intended for whoever needs it. Clearly Donnie and Liam do, but he's not sure about any of the rest of them. The other kids might still have a bit of play left in them.

He smiles at Elena comforting them as she and Donatello join the group.

He remembers the tall turtle now. Remembers... maybe not everything, but a lot of what happened. The drastic lengths to which Donatello went in a desperate attempt to keep Don alive long enough to get him back to his brothers!

Donnie makes a soft sound that is maybe a whimper, maybe a not quite chirp. Then he wriggles a bit, encompassing Elena and Donatello in his boa constrictor grip, shifting so he's partially in both older turtles' laps as well as snuggling with Liam. Donatello is almost as trapped as Leo is!

Leo can't help a soft chuckle as they're all trapped and apparently on enforced rest once again. He looks to Donatello.

"Thank you for your help. Are you okay?" Just checking that th tallest turtle came through the meditation session unscathed.

Donnie will sleep long and hard as his mind struggles to consolidate everything he just experienced. Attempts to wake him will be mostly unsuccessful, though he will relax and the others should be able to escape his grip shortly.

Leo will be hesitant to leave him, and will definitely be worried by the time he starts to come around.

Liam is almost asleep, he is borderline, with a weak small smile, and mumbles as his squirmy brothers snuggle and Elena presses closer, as Donatello joins the pile.


Its a low mumble, " Looove... looooves... DadDon - daaaads... bruff... Lea mumble mumble as he drifts entirely. Worn from the emotional and mental tasks of not grasping the importance of having seen his mother, of what might await them when this adventure was over. For now, all he knew was that he was safe, loved, and had heard DadDon's voice, in his mind and it sounded that young way but it had been familiar and comforting.


Malcolm and Duncan were not sleepy but diiiiiiid snuggle all the same.


Donatello took a deep breath and thinks about his answer, not minding at all being pillow and wrapped up with Leo, and there is a brief wince he hides from the strong dragonet as a bit of his cracked shell twinges. And he will think over his answer and knew Leo would understand that, he had a thoughtful Don, now Donnie.


And finally as Donnie and Liam settle, and Liam's mumbles fall away - awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! - Donatello will whisper his answer, " oddly... I feel... lighter?... heavier in a way but light... I just saw a condensed version of everything... and I now understand in a way I was sort of still questioning if there was anything more I could have done at all... and just... reliving it - I really did... and boy I a glad I am not the fools who have their mother." this he adds shakily but there is warmth in his smile and he churrs, beyond their nest Addy is encouraging more songs, more timing on the drums and he can feel the boat's movements. " how are you doing? I know that was a lot."


understatment of the day.

Leo frowns at Liam's mumbling. He doesn't know what happened to Donnie in the contact, and he doesn't know what Don managed to say only to the child. He feels bad for the child who sort of lost Don.

But he can't ask either Liam or Donnie what they experienced. They're falling asleep.

It wouldn't take much for Donatello to hide the wince from Donnie. He's falling asleep, and isn't aware of much of what is going on around him. Seeking somewhere comfortable and safe to snuggle up and rest. And that space is wrapped around and snuggled up with big brother Leo and the big brother counterpart who kept him alive this long in the Nexus. But as he snuggles down, he does loosen his constrictor grip, and in a few moments, he won't actually notice if he's moved.

Leo churrs softly, encouraging rest. As Donnie and Liam drop off to sleep and the other kids at least snuggle in for the moment, he lets the sound fade as he turns to his conversation with Donatello.

He smiles almost sadly at Donatello's realization. There was absolutely nothing more Donatello could have done for Don. Leo knows that. He knows the guy went far above and beyond, making every single attempt he could possibly come up with to help.

And he's actually rather proud of the tall turtle for recognizing it now.

"You did." He agrees. And it's an honest agreement. "I wish... I wish that he'd been able to see that once in awhile." Leo brushed his little brother's head. Dwelling on the 'what ifs' had definitely been one of Don's struggles. And will probably be something that Donnie struggles with going forward too.

And there is a dark look on Leo's face as the boys' mother is mentioned. Because Donatello is absolutely right there. Because when they're finished taking care of this mess in the Nexus, that lab is the next spot on Leo's hit list.

"You got that right."

And Leo actually pauses when asked how he's doing. The knee jerk reaction is to stay the 'Fearless Leader,' so the first response sounds almost joking.

"Ask me again when they wake up."

But in part? In part he means it. He's certain he only saw a small part of whatever happened during that contact, and he's concerned about what will happen when Donnie and Liam wake up. Well... maybe not concerned. At least anxious.

So he pushes that knee jerk response aside, and gives the question actual thought. Just like he would for his own Don, who probably would have punched him in the arm for that glib response.

...Would Donnie do the same? Or just let Leo stew?

But Leo is talking to the guy who saved his little brother multiple times, and Donatello deserves a better response than what he gave.

"I... I don't know yet." It's honest. He's not trying to hide. "Because, you're right, it was a lot. And Leo hasn't really had a chance to process it yet.

"I knew it got bad out there. I knew he wasn't doing well - he hasn't been healthy for awhile - but..." Leo hadn't realized just how bad off Don had been. Just how close to that brink he had come, or how often! He had never doubted that Donatello had done everything he could for Donnie, but Leo also hadn't really realized just how much that had been. Maybe some of that had been exaggerated through the toddler's eyes, but... somehow Leo doesn't think so.

"And I knew they were close, but I hadn't realized how much they already meant to each other." Leo gently rubbed Liam's head. Oh, the distress the toddler had shown makes so much more sense now. He was sort of impressed that Don had gone all in on the Dad role. Much more so than the rest of them had, at least early on.

Even Leo had kept that little bit of distance in his and Duncan's relationship. He regretted that now. But they are close, and together, and all they can do is move forward.

"And that lab..." Oh, that has definitely got to go.

"But finding it, as well as access and any demolitions that might have been required...? That was always Don's specialty." And Leo's not sure Donnie is there yet. "We'll find it. April's good, and I'm sure Leatherhead will pitch in, but..." Leo's not sure yet how his team is going to fit together going forward, and he's concerned about that. Part of him would prefer leave Donnie at home where he'll be safe, but what would it do to Donnie to be left behind?

Donnie is pretty well asleep, but Leo will never voice that concern anywhere that the young dragon might accidentally hear. Even if it's only subconsciouly.

Duncan climbs a little up his brother, much to blue toddlers annoyed sounding protests in his sleep, to chase that hand that had rubbed his brothers head nuzzling up into it and beaming. "Liam sleeeeps is okay now?" he had worried!


And Donatello has to fight the urge to chuckle when Malcolm begins wriggling upwards. He is quick to carefully extract Elena before she starts too nuzzling her and then placing her outside Donnie's coils. "shhhhhe yes they are both okay, just need a rest." he then shifts Malcolm so he can reach Leo too without climbing all over Liam and there for Donnie too. Little gold boy as any Mikey would tries to nuzzle in with his brother and Leo wagging his tail!


Donatello does not rush Leo's response all the while gently encouraging kids to calm down enough for a moment and let their DadLeo talk. A soft grin for Leo.


Nod and sheepish chuckle, [color°#8B008B]" I am going to suggest my brother's and I do this more often... I think I could stand to do a review now and then..."[/color] best way to see just what he did and what he could have done.


Nod at the dark look, again very glad to be their allies and not in the way as they go to find their sons mother. Gentle grin. "might be just the adventure to help reorganise the team dynamics a bit. Sure it's dangerous but when it is not ever?" sure voice is full of the well awards Leo would want to keep a young Donnie home - "better than him sneaking out trying to prove himself." cause he and his brothers had done that a lot.


A LOT.


As a result Donatello can kick major ping pong table butt and Leonardo do the splits in a way that is painful for most guys yep even turtles. Michelangelo head stand for hours and Raphael knit as expertly as any old granny. " When I joined them on the road the two were already very tightly bonded, it has been amazing to watch them grow closer, admittedly I was so eager to take on this little cutie cause I totally could see it, wanted to experience that too, without waiting..." chuckle, unlike his brothers going out there trying to make half a dozen hybrids, he adopted! Smiling at the small terror now and her step mother.


He doesn't try to say it will just take time and patience Leo already knew that, suggestion to keep Donnie involved as possible to hopefully avoid any feelings of being left out or treated like a child were just suggestions and he is also aware Leo would no doubt be considering all of that.

Leo can't help the soft chuckle as Duncan crawls over his quietly protesting brother, and he rubs that little purple head too. Reassuring Duncan too.

"They're very tired, and we should let them sleep." Leo spoke at a level barely above a whisper and gestured for quiet, hoping that the kids would catch on and let Liam and Donnie rest for awhile.

He then goes about carefully helping extract Duncan, Malcolm and Elena from the pile as they were definitely not tired. And yes, giving the tots a snuggle before setting them off to play in the cart for awhile. If Liam shifted too much Donnie protested softly, but he didn't seem to mind if the others were moved.

Donnie tensed and objected lightly a few times while the kids were shifting, but as they settled and Liam was still snuggled safely in the pile, Donnie relaxed again, cuddling into Leo and Donatello and nuzzling Liam gently as he dropped off into a deeper sleep once more.

Leo smiles as Donatello says that revisiting past actions can help. He nods in agreement.

"It can, but it's double edged. Reviewing too often can also lead to dwelling on what is past." And Leo had definitely struggled with that! As had Don, though their reasons and ways to break the cycle had been different.

Leo's not certain Don ever really broke that cycle.

As Donatello continued to team dynamics, Leo's expression is.a little tight. But it's tight in that way that he knows darned well that Donatello is absolutely right.  Because Leo absoutely is tempted to leave Donnie home where he'll be safer! Taking a 13 year old Donnie out in the field with them is almost terrifying! But...

"And he wouldn't even have one of us to watch his shell if he sneaks out." With the four of them, at least they usually snuck out together. They had each other. There is a slight begrudging mutter in his tone. He doesn't like it, but Donatello is absolutely correct. They're going to have to bring Donnie along. At least this way, they'll be there to help protect him when he falters.

Leo is listening patiently as Donatello talks about how close Don and Liam had been, even when he had first joined the group! That sort of surprised Leo! The patient listening shifts to amusement.

"What is it about those kids? Don examines every decision he can 16 different ways then two more for good measure. I get the impression you are the same way. But put a kid in the mix and all of that goes right out the window and both of you just adopt them instantly."

Actually, Leo sort of wishes he'd been able to embrace that with Duncan as easily and completely as Don seemed to for Liam in those earliest moments.

Liam chirps and settles once his brothers stop clambering over him eager to reach Leo and nuzzle, to cuddle him, their tails waggling their grins big! and Duncan particularly his eyes sparkling as he nods and relishes the attention he gets. " annnnd Dossor Me says pomarines snugs and hugs!" he whispers back as seriously as he possibly could!


And Donatello could only assume tghat meant the little guy, calling himself Doctor, was prescibing much hugs for his brother and Donatello could not help the chuckling churr that escaped him especially at the puzzled but delighted grin Malcolm gave his purple brother.


Annnnd oh its adorable once their free Malcolm pounces setting off a tumbling little bundle of Duncan and Elena and golden little boy.


He nods at the double edges sword comment. " mmmm hmmm agreed, guess it takes having a Leo ... or any brother... a loved one to sit there and go through it with you and help you review without being suckered right back into the vicious cycle." A light bump of snout to Leo's temple, a polite thanks for being that anchor at that moment for him, for all of them. Especially the little guy still body hugging against Donnie and still hand a small blue of fingers curled around Leo's plastron edge like a life line for both him and Donnie to hang onto. Considering Leo's words as he knew the guy had his, " I.... don't know how the magic works... but some deep bond formed between Bebe and Donnie. For now its a weird strange mix of mother, sister, brother, son transformation bond if those strange little slips he says mean that... perhaps... she might be a part of your new team too even if the magic sends us all back to wherever we started when this spell or jinx that brought us here reaches it end perhaps... I hope anyways she will go with him thanks to their bond. That way even if he doesn't have you three in his shell when he does inevitably sneaks out sometime he will have her and she him." He suspects, he hopes... and maybe it was not comfort but comfort too to hope over.


Then a grin at Leo, " That I can't say what it is... When Elena came stumbling in to play with a frustrated Liam so eagerly I just knew she had me wrapped around her little fingers so simply with Dad's voice in my head saying I saw how much Don loved Liam and just knew she was an abandoned little kid needed that too, just like long ago Dad watched from our tanks how Mr. O'Niel loved his daughter April and once released instead of eating us or running away even as he had to be in more pain than us during our transformations or at least able to recall it that he loved us." amused too. So much for huge intellectual tough guys. " The instant bonding is even more incredible that wild turtles don't usually do the parenting thing and that we are males to boot... Well, I assume it was instant, Leon was the first to find them on the road and now watching the memories... for the kids - its... well judging by the faint impression that one of you and their mother was supposed to be there at hatching he was primed to imprint on a turtle or a dragon, his brothers to a lesser degree maybe cause he is the little alpha or order of hatching maybe, I noticed int he recall his hatching set theirs off like most reptile hatchings."

Leo couldn't help but chuckle at the tot. "That's absolutely right. Lots of snugs and hugs. But they need to rest first." Leo made a shhh gesture, hoping it would let the playful ones have an escape and let the tired ones rest.

They clearly needed it.

And Malcolm, Duncan and Elena did go play! Leo smiles at their game before turning back to Donatello.

"And a willingness to accept their help." And at least in part, that was where Leo had gone astray. Leo's sure that Don too had struggled to let his brothers in. Though he had accepted a little more than Leo, Leo knows there were some things Don had been clinging to that continued to drive the cycle.

He's hopeful it can be different for Donatello though!

There is a pensive expression on Leo's face as he considers Donatello's words about the bond between Donnie and Bebe.

"He keeps calling her 'Mom', though doesn't seem to recognize that he said it. And she hasn't really done anything to stop it." He knows Donatello knows this. All of it's strange, but voicing it makes it somehow real in a way it wasn't before. But he had noticed the sort of strangely easy bond the pair had. Like when Bebe had slept near Donnie last night in their pile instead of near Yua who she had spent most of her life with. It did seem to be more than just the two of them being about the same age.

Leo pet his young brother's head gently, and Donnie sighed softly at the touch, relaxing a little, but not truly stirring. He is very much asleep.

"If it recognizes him at all." Leo commented of whatever magic had brought them here. Because if it was possible that Bebe might be pulled along with Donnie's, then perhaps it was equally possible that the spell could have changed Donnie enough that he wouldn't return with his brothers.

Though Leo and his family do know the spell to return to the Nexus, so it shouldn't be that much of a problem to come back and get him. Or maybe Leo should just teach Donnie the return spell just in case.

But Leo is also thinking about what it would be to have a fae running around New York City. Bebe would not be inconspicuous there. He looks toward the various companions they have found on this trip.

"Maybe we should do a little stealth training for everyone before we get too much farther..."

Leo smiles slightly as he listens to Donatello tell about why he had adopted Elena. It did sound perfectly reasonable.

He chuckles when the fact that turtles - especially males - don't typically parent children at all.

"Well, there goes that 'Nature' argument." It's an amused tone. Even though he is considering the words. He doesn't say anything, but if Liam had a stronger drive to bond than Duncan had, well... Leo could see Don going for that pretty readily.  "And my brothers and I are... sort of both. Well... Donnie more so now."

She will catch Leo's look and give him a smile, a sassy flick of her tail... and eager to join in on the chorus of hoist the colors - enjoying keeping her crew as focused as she could, as hydrated and fed as much she could and to the beat of the drum.


~


Donatello nods, " I feel bad for Yua on the fact her lifelong friend has been changed, but also... glad? Bebe gets to experience a little freedom she never really had before... this mother thing... might be the spell itself, like she transferred youth and magic to him perhaps the magic in him recognizes the magic in her as its source or beginnings and that's why he feels it and says it but doesn't recognize her as his actual mother." he speculates for a moment out loud, glancing towards the opening and seeing Addy, then he also glanced away from her missing the flirtations she sent Leo's way to look up and seek out Yua - she was up there helping, part of the crew so he felt bad but also, she had a chance to make more friends not just the one that was her slave also. So he is also glad that this... bond between Donnie and Bebe moved the fae more away from the life she had lived and will make Yua a little more independent. But a bit of a shrug for Leo, that was his best guess for having no way to really study. " Would be an awesome idea - at least the basics if anything else just so they can make an escape when we are all gone and not able to help them anymore. And that kinda training will help Addy form a bit tighter bonds with the crew we will leave her with when we are gone... and probably turn her into a more stealthy piratess." amusement at that. She could be a true force to be reckoned with on the waves if she takes such training and runs with it.


And a laugh of his own, " a touch of nature from Liam, and mostly all nurture for us, you guys and us." All the more amazing, rat males don't do much in the way of parenting either but all theirs had. From the pudgy turtles to the one with the crazy Mikey. Bit of an awed face, " yeah you guys are almost as a dragon as them..." nod at the little ones, fighting down a loud laugh, Malcolm was making Duncan and Elena fall over backward laughing as he had his wings open in a funny position, tail out and hoping in a funny way about in front of them, here around Donnie's tail, so they touched him from time to time.


But as long as it doesn't bother him he wont and suspect Leo wont move the tail or nudge them a little further out to play.


He does brush a light rub over Donnie's back, Liam's shell and then those little blue fingers still curled on Leo's plastron edge.

Leo is quietly thrilled with that smile from Addy! That tail flick! He liked that, and he winks in response. He just watches her for the briefest moment. The kids do need someone to keep an eye on them, and he doesn't want to be distracted from the conversation he's currently in for too long.

He feels Donnie relax again, seeming to reach a deeper sleep. The kids playing about his tail don't seem to be bothering him with their brief touches and bumps, and even when someone steps more firmly on his tail, and Leo had been sure they would wake him, Donnie didn't move, didn't notice.

Leo nods as Donatello explains that he has mixed feelings about Bebe's change. Leo understands that. Not only does Leo have similar feelings about Donnie's new state, though for different reasons, but the reasoning is sound. The sort of reasoning he would expect from a Donatello.

He is considering the largers turtle's words again, with a nod this time, as Donatello offers an explanation for the 'mom' thing that Donnie has been doing. It sounded more than reasonable. It made sense, and it felt right. There was definitely a bond between the pair, and Donnie's magic recognizing a source like that made sense.

"Well... whatever it winds up being, we'll figure it out somehow. Never a dull moment." Those last words almost sound like they could be a curse...

Leo's thinking about the words though, and the shared magic. And that he's pretty sure that Don hadn't shared magic with Master Splinter when he had accidentally used the spell later on.

"Do you suppose the fae book has anything on shared magics? I... can't imagine it was ever a common practice..." Surely fae magic would have been all over the Nexus if it were that easy.

"And she's a cat, so naturally stealthy." Leo commented of Addy. There's a hint of an allllmost swooning tone at the thought of an extra stealthy pirate Addy and just how exciting Leo finds that thought!

Leo has also noticed that Inaba too has a certain amount of natural stealth, being a prey type commoner. As does Lilo and Monroe.

Yua, Bebe, Dana and Sam and Pip, not so much. Though perhaps Sam and Pip were less likely to be called upon to help in that manner. Still, it would likely be a useful skill for them to learn.

Leo chuckles at the response to his joke. "Fair point. Nature from Liam."

He's amused by the antics of the kids, and smiles at Donatello's comment about Leo and his brothers being more dragony than Leo had really considered before. That's something they'll have to look into a little more going forward.

For now though... just very much amused by the antics of the little ones around them. Leo is perhaps slightly concerned that Donnie doesn't seem to be noticing when he's bumped, but Leo can tell his younger brother is breathing, and lets it be for now. And Leo kisses the little blue head as he resettles his position just a bit.

Donatello chuckles, he feels the vessel move faster - the beat of their fellow turtles and songs and Addy's occasional call-outs picked up. " We're Ninjas it's an occupational hazard. I am sure you guys have heard similar from your dad but ours always said we could weather any challenge as a team, as brothers... so it will work out." He was agreeing with Leo on that front, how ever it goes new team dynamics and possible new members to lead Leo and his brothers will figure it out together. As Leonardo has had to do with Casey, April, and Vern. And will have to do to find ways to bring their foot clan to heel once home, and for trips back here to seek out and check on any possible hybrids. A Mmmmm sound at Leo's question, " I don't think I heard of it and Inaba nor Bebe or Yua for that matter mentioned it was possible, sooooo maybe it was more Liam's doing than Fae magic, something from his dragon heritage or even you perhaps through chi? maybe what Liam has been doing comes from small bouts of chi?" all three possibilities were entirely possible and maybe as the magics that bonded Bebe and Donnie involved all three perhaps it was all three.


Chuckle at the mention of a cat ninja stealthy pirate. " heard that, you find that prospect quite intriguing? There is a playful tease, but also a light prod for a chat, and curiosity, he is a Don after all. But it's playful and a tease because he does understand if there is a little guilt for not jumping right into the dad role for Duncan as Don had for Liam. And also because Leonardo liked to play his feelings close to his plastron too.


It was part of his appeal to his clients.


So Donatello guessed Leo did too. However their here, in a quiet moment, beautiful babies playing around a young dragon's tail and occasionally looking at them and Liam and Donnie with worried little looks. Checking to make sure their playmates big and small were still wrapped safely against Leo and Donatello by Donnie. And Liam had shifted a little under Leo's affection, like Donnie now relaxing in sleep entirely to the point he was a slinky, his little blue mouth drooping open and everything in the adorable fly catcher state.


So it was a good time for such curiosities, and just offering a little more big brotherly ness. In the teasing or being an ear hole to bounce things off as they creep closer to the last of their brothers and little ones to collect.

There's a gentle smile as Leo agrees. He's certain that Donatello is right. It will all work out.

That won't stop him from worrying.

Because as certain as he is that it will work out in the end, and they will do everything they can to find how their family fits together now, Leo's not fool enough to think it will be easy.

He considers Donatello's words about the various magicks involved in whatever happened to Donnie and Bebe.

"I suppose there as a lot involved in whatever happened. It could have been any combination of those, or might have needed all three. Don accidentally repeated the spell on Master Splinter in the astral plane, and it doesn't seem to have had the sort of effect on our father that Bebe's attempt did." Leo hasn't had a full contact with Master Splinter in awhile, but he's pretty sure their father is still himself from the handful of brushing contacts he's done.

"Liam is untrained yet, but that doesn't necessarily mean he can't access some of his chi. There are at least inherited memories, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of his connections with Don had been two ways." Don's chi had changed after contact with Liam, it was more than possible that Don had affected Liam too, maybe given him tools to access that sort of power without realizing it.

At the talk of the stealthy cat pirate being intriguing, well... Leo actually does allow himself a slight playful smile in response to Donatello's questioning. He doesn't actually answer the question, but allows just a hint of a response to show. Absolutely, Leo does like to play things close to the plastron, but his interest in Addy is not exactly a secret. And oh heck yes, extra stealthy kitty does sound exciting.

For now though, Even with the clearly open ear, Leo is rather content. It sounds like they're at least pushing a little harder toward their destination, so they're probably close to getting to Raphie and the rest of the last group.

The kids are adorable, and playing mostly nicely while Donnie and Liam rest. Like Liam, Donnie has reached a point where he is limp too.

Though Leo is just starting to get a little concerned about how long this nap has gone on.