pyrighteous | [PSL] Hunter in New York

[Leo stops. And goes very still at the electricity. Okay. Not a cosplay. Something actually serious. But he keeps the one hand out cautious now.]

Well, yeah. There's [one two three four five six - no, he's out with April.] Five of us. [Give the kid some information so he doesn't freak out.] My brothers and our dad.

Just uh. Whyyy don't we try putting the hot electrical livewire staff down, huh?

[ He lowers it a couple inches, but the electricity still pulses along it’s length. ]

Brothers? Are they all turtle demons like you?

[ And then - ]

I don’t have any quarrel with you. I just need to find my friends and then I’ll leave.

Uuhh, not demons, but they are turtles like me. I mean, I'm the best one? Best looking, best talking, best fighting, but yeah. Other than that, yeah, like me.

[Really not into the electricity, Mr. Krabs.]

Look, I know the subway down here is new and [chuckles] Wait, wait, I can- I got this, just need a sec... [THINKING.] This conversation is electrifying [Pause for laughter.], but that's cool because we don't have any quarrel with you. Except you're in our hallway. So how about you come this way, or I take you back up top?

[ This is the STONIEST look in return. One-liners, REALLY. ]

F. Fine. I’ll follow you. But if you try anything funny, I’ll zap you.

Oh, I'm gonna get zapped then, I can't do anything but funny.

[He's amused though! Chuckling a little to himself still but he'll lead Hunter around the subway car and into the open alcove, large enough with a few things (bulletin board on wheels, darts on the wall, punching bag, work out bench, the sorts of odds and ends that active teenagers collect and pile up) lined against the way leading to the stairs up. There are lights coming from all sides now, some strung along the ceiling.]

Anyway, welcome to Casa de Tortuga. Brothers are doing their own thing, but ... [He stops to tap a finger to his chin in thought. Dad watching tv, Donnie in the lab. Raph and Mikey are the only real odd ones. Then again depending on the time, Mikey might be in the kitchen.] I can show you around or we can chill. Whatever gets that staff put away.

[ He remains on guard the whole time way, flinching at every single noise or motion? But honestly he’s way more afraid of the subway that rushes by in the distance than he ever is of Leo.

(Where is he? Where are the others? This must be the human realm, but it doesn’t match any of the descriptions he’s read about in books, and if there’s turtle demons then maybe he’s somewhere on the Boiling Isles, except this is nowhere he’s ever hear of—)

Hunter is slowly working himself into a minor panic attack. He winces as they come into the light, holding up a hand to shade his eyes as he adjusts. This… doesn’t look like a fortress… ]

S. Show me. Yeah. And don’t get between me and an exit.

[ He’s still gripping his staff hard. ]

Hm.

[REALLY WANTS THAT STAFF DOWN.

For now he gestures to the subway cars they just walked past.]

So. Bedrooms, there. This space [He holds his arms out wide to the open area they're standing in.] General purpose. Usually training, but sometimes not. Gear along the wall there. Up the stairs there is dad's, trust me, do not wanna go up there.

This way, c'mon. [He gestures for Hunter to follow him, through one of the open doorways into another large open room. But this has a kitchen, some diner bench-seat serendipitously pulled from some dump somewhere with a table pulled up to it.

And just like he thought - Mikey, smaller box turtle with orange maskdana.]

Don't freak out, that's Mikey, our little brother.

[Hearing his name, the smaller turtle turns and, seeing Hunter, throws both hands straight up.] (Oh me GOSH. Leo-)

I know.

(Does Dad know?)

I dunno, I sent it to the group chat but if he doesn't check that's his fault.

[Mikey comes right around the counter and straight to Hunter leaning in close to reeeeaaaaally look.] (....I think he's safe.)

Great detective work there, Miguel. Anyway, this is ...uh.... [Shit.] What's your name again?

[ Hunter keeps following, mostly out of a lack of any better ideas? He's clearly not being kidnapped, and his friends are clearly nowhere to be seen, and he has no idea where to even start ... ]

I'm not going into your bedrooms. There's no reason for -

[ That?? Um. He flinches at Mikey coming close, but he grips the staff closer rather than lashing out at least. Scowls at being inspected and being called SAFE. That's just rude. ]

Hunter. I'm - Hunter.

[Mikey seems to nod in approval before looking to Leo, who gives a quick nod. With that, Michelangelo bounces back to the kitchen to get back to what he was doing.]

Hunter it is. Donnie's working on something else, so the other brother we gotta worry about is Raphael... No idea where he went.

[But it's fine, probably. They'll stay busy until Mikey's done with cooking whatever he's making, but Leo knows there'll be a portion made for this kid.]

Think that's everything. [LEO IT REALLY IS NOT.]

[ Hunter is still taut as a spring, but slowly his paranoia is shifting from aggressive to bewildered and overwhelmed. It's beginning to sink in that he is somewhere FAR away from where he meant to go, and he has no idea what to even do next.

(What DOES he do next? Walk out? Go searching for his friends? He SHOULD, but it's been such an awful day, and he was banged up even before that weird metal monster hit him, and ... ) ]

It's - it's not everything! Where am I? Is this the Human Realm?

Edited 2022-10-09 10:50 (UTC)

[Leonardo stills at that. This kid is really panicking... maybe not a LARPer? Maybe something else. They already did this once, so-]

...Where exactly did you come from before?

Because - This is New York City, Earth. Uh. I guess human realm? Humans mostly, but plenty of youkai and mutants too.

The Demon Realm, of course. At the Head?

[ He looks around the "underground fortress" frantically. ]

Don't you know the Demon Realm? You - you look like you've been here a long time, but you must have come from there originally!

[ There's a waver of doubt in his voice though. Youkai rings a bell, but mutant? What's that? ]

Never heard of it.

We've been here our whole lives. I mean, our dad's from Japan, but-

[He follows Hunter's gaze around their home before landing back on him with a shrug.]

Wait, do mean the Hidden City? Because I didn't think they liked humans there, how are you from there?

[ Hunter opens his mouth to proclaim that he hasn't heard of Japan OR the Hidden City, but that last bit makes him pink and snap his mouth shut. ]

I'm not human, I'm a witch! Don't you see these ears?

[ He points to the points! ]

Huh?

[He'll look closer and-] Oh huh whaddaya know.

[Well that's different. He thought maybe they were fakes he sees when they're out sometimes. Witch is a new one though. But this kid is still human-ish looking enough to definitely not be from Hidden City.]

Still never heard of a Demon Realm though.

[ Those are 100% real ears, oh yes. Albeit ... well, there's that notch that looks like it was cut deliberately at some point ...

Hunter huffs, but looks happier not to be mistaken for a HUMAN ugh. ]

It's where all the demons and witches live. It's where I've spent my whole LIFE. You're sure you've never heard of it?

[Leonardo really thinks, leaning back against the diner bench seat with arms folded. Just... really watching Hunter.

This kid is lost, this kid is upset. If it were Mikey, he'd do anything to get him back home. But this kid also said he has no parents.]

No. Never heard of 'em. You said you don't have parents, what about siblings? Friends?

[ A full body shiver goes through him at the mention of "siblings." ]

F-friends. Yeah. We - were all supposed to go through the portal together. Everything was collapsing behind us. But I went through first, and ...

[ His voice cracks and falters. ]

I thought they were right behind me.

[That gets both the brothers' attention, Leonardo and Mikey both whipping their heads to look at each other.

After some kind of silent conversation between them, Leo steps closer and just. hovers a hand over Hunter's shoulder without touching. Still a little nervous about that staff but not quite as much now that he's gotten a better picture of what's going on.]

Okay. So. Mystic portals is definitely not my thing, and it's only barely Mikey's thing. But we know a guy who may can help you out. He's like. Our Mystic Information Speeddial.

No idea where he's at now, so he may take a while. Think you could wait out?

[ Hunter immediately lights up at that. ]

R-really? I mean - I know a lot about portals, I had to help my uncle rebuild the one we used, so I could definitely at least work with someone if they know what they're doing -

[ That's a yes. ]

Whoa whoa whoa, you built a portal?

Oh Donnie's gonna love this. Uh. Yeah, this guy doesn't really like. Build portals so much as he just. Can make them. So I think once he gets here you'll be fine.

(And-) [Mikey comes back to the tables, setting down plates of pasta and sauce, bread, and drinks.] (In the meantime, eat up. Everyone else'll be here in a second.)

I - I mean. I was just assisting him. But I also did most of the grunt work so.

[ That counts, right?? It has to count. Especially if this guy seems confident his friend can help ...

Hunter finally relaxes just a little. Right before the food comes out and makes him jolt, anyway. ]

Wait, what? You're feeding me? This is food??

[ He recognizes the bread, but those wordles are not nearly wriggly enough. ]

Edited 2022-10-09 11:50 (UTC)

(It sure is, best pasta you'll taste in New York City, baby!)

[Mikey is so proud, and honestly Leonardo's just glad what happened didn't hamper his little brother's hands too badly. But that sweet smell is enough to lure everyone else out. Raphael and Splinter coming in with Donnie a good two minutes behind. Either that, or Mikey texted them food was ready.]

Okay, we've got the rest of the fam here, big guy is Raphael. The annoyed looking one is Donnatello, and [he kneels down gesturing to Splinter] this little guy is our Pops.

And we are all hungry so please just grab a plate and find somewhere to sit and eat.

[ Oh. Oh Titan. Hunter was warned, of course, but going from two turtle (demons?) to four, plus a rat demon is kind of overwhelming?? Especially Raph, who is like twice Hunter's size at least.

His eyes just sort of flick wildly from the food, to Mikey, back to Leo, and then finally rest on Splinter. He winds up drawing back from the table just long enough to get down on one knee in front of Splinter. ]

Thank you. For providing me with food and shelter, sir.

[Splinter watches the boy taller than him (not that it's difficult). His eyes flick to Leonardo who nods, before back to Hunter and he nods himself.]

(Of course. You are welcome to stay.)

As long as he needs... [Leo supplies. Splinter doesn't look exactly pleased by it, but he suspects an explanation will come later.]

(Yes. As long as you need.)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject