OOM: Mike's Kitchen

[ginsu_master]

Leo is making tea, humming tonelessly to himself as the kettle boils.

His deep thoughts right now: soon, it will be too warm to wear all his favorite wooly sweaters. Then, what will he do?

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[mnr_splinter]

Leonardo isn't the only one singing this afternoon.
Not long after the water began to boil the rhythmic sound of a walking stick tapping against the hardwood of the floors can be heard. It's keeping time to the folk song that Splinter is singing under his breath.

"Oh good afternoon, Leonardo."

[ginsu_master]

Leo reaches up and pulls down another teacup for Splinter, humming along.

"You sound rather pleased today, Master."

[mnr_splinter]

"It is a good day," he admits. Splinter's eyes follow Leo's hand as it fetches another cup. He smiles. And now with the prospect of tea with his oldest son? The day has gotten even better.

[ginsu_master]

With practiced motions, Leo fills a tea strainer (hojicha, his favorite) and fills the teapot from the whistling kettle. He drops two cubes of sugar in one teacup, then once the tea has finished stepping, he pours. First for Splinter then himself.

He bows slightly as he offers Splinter his slightly sweetened tea.

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter bows in return before accepting the cup.
Two lumps, just how he likes it.

"Shall we retire to the living room? Or had you other plans for your afternoon."

He doesn't want to interrupt, after all.

[ginsu_master]

"I am at loose ends. I did my work out and practice session this morning." He shakes his damp hair. "The earlier the morning, the less likely I am to discover a gaggle of teenage girls on the shore when I come out of the lake."

Why always teenage girls?

[mnr_splinter]

"There are some who would not consider such things an impediment."

Mostly Mike.
Okay...maybe Raph, but mostly Mike.

[ginsu_master]

Leo follows Splinter into the living room, sipping his tea.

"Teenage girls, Master. I am far too old for them."

[mnr_splinter]

"I was not suggesting that you participate of any sort of...impropriety, Leonardo," he says mildly...and with more than a bit of a smirk playing about his whiskers.

He was just making fun of you, and your problems.

[ginsu_master]

"You just want more grandbabies," Leo teases right back.

Aw yeah, he said it!

[mnr_splinter]

"I merely wish for my sons to have all the happiness they can find in the world," he says before sipping his tea primly.

"Which is not to say that I would be downhearted by any grandchildren that might require spoiling with sweets."

[ginsu_master]

"Mmmm."

"And help yourself as well?" He grins. "Raph might be your best hope in this situation."

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter has NO IDEA what you're talking about Leonardo, which is exactly why he doesn't even dignify that comment with a reaction.

The second one, however, causes him to stop drinking his tea mid-sip.
Which...is almost like a spittake, but far more subtle.

[ginsu_master]

Leo grins.

"I like Abigail."

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter's expression says, Well played, my son. Well played.

"She is a delightful young woman. Very...spirited."

[ginsu_master]

"She has no problem hitting Raph with a chair."

[mnr_splinter]

"Very true. Which speaks well of both her stealth, as well as her dexterity."

Many people have wanted to hit Raph with a chair, but only a select few have been able to manage actually hitting him.

[ginsu_master]

"Speaking of stealth, how do you think Mikey is doing?"

Don, he is fairy sure, is just fine. And enjoying the freedom from Dad and Big Brother for once.

[mnr_splinter]

"Michaelangelo is progressing nicely."

Pause for sip of tea, which he swallows along with any hint of disappointment.

"Physically he is coming along, emotionally..."

[ginsu_master]

"Mmm. I agree."

He settles himself more comfortably, lotus style, on the floor.

"I was worried he would view our move as an invasion of his privacy and independence, but I think it has been good for him."

He sips his tea.

"And Mrs. Sallie Reynolds has been invaluable."

[mnr_splinter]

"This is Michaelangelo we are talking about, Leonardo. Not Raphael. If our relocation were an irritant to Michaelangelo we would hardly be the ones to notice it."

That's just how Mike is.
A pleaser to a fault.

"Meleka could always be trusted to offer an objective opinion, but with her gone..." the sentence dies as he sips from his cup. "Yet another reason we should all be thankful of Sallie."

[ginsu_master]

Fascinating.

"She has been good for him. Mike was always more tactile."

Mom-like hugs have been good for him.

[mnr_splinter]

"Indeed he has."

Of the four of them, Mike was the most physically affectionate.

[ginsu_master]

He smiles.

"I rather like Sallie."

Said in much the way he said he liked Abigail.

[mnr_splinter]

"She is very easy to like."

What?! It's the truth!

[ginsu_master]

Hm. Not as fascinating.

"I used to always be back and forth about my feelings on the matter, but Milliways has been good for our family."

"A long road to good, but still."

[mnr_splinter]

"Oh? What was the straw that broke the camel's back, my son?"

[ginsu_master]

He smiles and takes a long sip of his tea.

"This and that," he vagues.

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter raises an eyebrow.