In an attempt to lessen the pangs due to Empty Nest Syndrome, Splinter has begun regimenting his daily activities. His plan for the day is to spend the afternoon seeking out inspiration for a series of haiku. He can think of no better inspiration than a brisk walk by the Lake.
A stiff winter's breeze Snaps teeth sharply at all things Spring tarries behind
He shakes his head, displeased with his attempt.
The sun shines warm gold, But the air pays no heed.
No, he stops himself short, that won't do either. Then something up ahead catches his eye.
"By his feet he swings A young man caught in a snare How did he get here?"
Oh, there's a witness. Tyler manages to swing himself around but...it rather turns into him spinning slowly on the branch from which he swings by his feet.
And the vision of the upside-down rat in a kimono walking on the grass towards him passes by several times before he can come up with a response.
"Boy caught by own work, tried to learn rope escape art, On his own, help please?"
It is a testament to both his training in Ninjitsu, and his parenting of four children, that he does not laugh. He doesn't even crack a smile.
"Hmmm. Interesting. Does the boy know how to tuck and roll?" he asks while reaching a hand up one of the sleeves of his kimono to fetch one of the throwing knives stored there.
"...yes." Tyler replies, trying to stop spinning long enough to see what he's doing, or planning to do. Tuck and roll was one of the first lessons, and it's been handy.
Tyler didn't expect the old rat to climb up to the tree house, did he? Or maybe attempt to break his fall with his own body? He is mighty, sure. But he's not invulnerable!
When the boy is in the furthest portion of his arc, Splinter throws the knife. Or rather, that's what we can assume happened based on the outcome. That being the cutting of the rope, and the appearance of the knife in the trunk of the tree.
All other movements were a bit too fast for the average eye to trace.
"Three."
Splinter straightens his kimono and then makes his way over towards the boy. "All you all right?"
Tyler's covered with a good bit of spring slush, mud and old dead winter twigs, but he isn't hurt. Just still bound hand and foot, with his hands behind his back.
"Little bit too good," He admits, sheepishly, looking up at Splinter. At least the next time he knocks out a round of bad guys with gas pellets, he can tie them up pretty well.
"Yeh, I do...you want your knife back?" It is stuck up in the tree after all, and the old rat, he doesn't exactly scream fighting fit to climb a tree in the cold.
And there is NO ONE else here, so he's pretty certain that knife belongs to Splinter.
"I don't fear that it will wander far in the time it will take us to remove the ropes."
Relying a bit too heavily on his walking stick than he's strictly comfortable with, Splinter lowers himself into a seated position next to Tyler, and begins to make heads and tails of the rope.
"Is there a particular reason you were practicing Hojojutsu without a spotter on a cold winter's day?"
Give him a moment, he's got to at least try to bluff his way out of this. Tyler might not be able to pull it off, he has got the beginnings of a guilty puppy face.
A stiff winter's breeze
Snaps teeth sharply at all things
Spring tarries behind
He shakes his head, displeased with his attempt.
The sun shines warm gold,
But the air pays no heed.
No, he stops himself short, that won't do either. Then something up ahead catches his eye.
"By his feet he swings
A young man caught in a snare
How did he get here?"
That'll do for now.
Reply
And the vision of the upside-down rat in a kimono walking on the grass towards him passes by several times before he can come up with a response.
"Boy caught by own work,
tried to learn rope escape art,
On his own, help please?"
Reply
"Hmmm. Interesting. Does the boy know how to tuck and roll?" he asks while reaching a hand up one of the sleeves of his kimono to fetch one of the throwing knives stored there.
Reply
"...what're you doing?"
Reply
Tyler didn't expect the old rat to climb up to the tree house, did he? Or maybe attempt to break his fall with his own body? He is mighty, sure. But he's not invulnerable!
"On three..."
Reply
"One..." For the first swing. "Two..." And a little more forward momentum to avoid the straight down drop.
Reply
All other movements were a bit too fast for the average eye to trace.
"Three."
Splinter straightens his kimono and then makes his way over towards the boy. "All you all right?"
Reply
"Yeh, kinda."
Not one of his finer moments.
"Thank you for getting me down."
Reply
He eyes the young man, taking a moment extra to admire the handiwork of the knots.
"Your knotwork is quite good. Possibly too good?" he offers.
Reply
Should it ever come to that.
"I'm Tyler, by the way. Tyler Marlocke."
Reply
Another long appraising look.
"Do you wish to salvage the rope?" Good rope is not something you go around wasting, after all.
Reply
And there is NO ONE else here, so he's pretty certain that knife belongs to Splinter.
Reply
Relying a bit too heavily on his walking stick than he's strictly comfortable with, Splinter lowers himself into a seated position next to Tyler, and begins to make heads and tails of the rope.
"Is there a particular reason you were practicing Hojojutsu without a spotter on a cold winter's day?"
Reply
Ah..he...doesn't know what that..oh!
"You mean trying to escape from being tied up?"
Reply
"And so high up as well."
Disapproving Splinter is DISAPPROVING!
Reply
Give him a moment, he's got to at least try to bluff his way out of this. Tyler might not be able to pull it off, he has got the beginnings of a guilty puppy face.
Reply
Leave a comment