[OOM: The Fray-Hamato household]

[mnr_splinter]

Mel and Mike's comfortably cluttered home has become a bit more tidy and refined with Splinter living in residence.
It smells less of baking, there is no sign of dust anywhere, and for the first time EVER there is tea in the kitchen

Comments

[realmrsreynolds]

"Don't tell me they've been making you clean around here."

The voice is from the woman in the doorway, who has long since gotten over her compulsion to knock and wait for someone to let her in at Mike's.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie gamefully winces.

"She not let you work Mike over?"

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter thinks back to Mel with her arms folded across her chest, her best what the fuck do you think you're doing, granpa? look on her face.

"Not so much, no. Not that working over was ever the intention. I realize he is healing, and was merely looking to speed that healing along."

[realmrsreynolds]

"She does seem protective."

Hedging her bets. Mel could be a scary lady sometimes!

[mnr_splinter]

"An admirable quality, especially given the girl's destiny. For a second though, I glimpsed a fraction of what the demons must face."

Never had he pitied demons before.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie nods in acknowledgement, not having much in the way of commentary on destinies and such. There is tea, and cake, and it's pleasant enough.

"Why are you called Splinter?"

[mnr_splinter]

Splinter picks up the plates of cake, and carries them to the table. Cake is best enjoyed while sitting. Actually, at Splinter's age, most things are best enjoyed sitting.

"Television," he says simply. "I raised my sons to be fluent in my native language, with the idea that we would only speak Japanese at home. Then television arrived in our home. Children pick up languages so quickly, and while New York is a multi-cultural city, it is still an American city. English is everywhere.

One day during lessons my Donatello made the connection between the word my Master Yoshi had named me, it's literal meaning in Japanese, and it's closest English equivalent. I have been Splinter ever since."

He pauses for a moment.

"I believe it is payback for the Renaissance theme."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Your sons named you. In English, at least."

Sallie doesn't know what to make of this.

"Sounds a little mean.

[mnr_splinter]

"I prefer to think of it as interesting."

You know, like the curse.

"At first I was resistant to it. I believed it was disrespectful. Fathers name their children, not the other way around. But after the initial shock wore off I realized that expecting our family to compare to that of the typical family was a disservice. Their naming of me was only further proof that they had chosen me as their father as I had chosen them as my sons."

He lowers himself into a proper seiza position.

"Besides, it could have been worse."

[realmrsreynolds]

"True enough I suppose."

Sallie smirks a little at the seated position Splinter takes. "Been a while since I've been comfortable sitting so."

She procures a cushion.

[mnr_splinter]

"You have met Stampy, yes? Michaelangelo once had a pet cat which he named Klunk."

Seriously, it could have been MUCH worse. Not Alanna levels of worse, but still worse.

His ears go up in surprise at hear reaction.
"Oh...you have my apologies. Please do not feel obligated to sit as I do. I do so for my own comfort, and not out of some expectation....would you like a chair?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Oh. Uh -- I weren't complaining any, Splinter. Promise."

The cushion gets plopped down on the floor, and Sallie bends at the knee so she can sit with her legs lightly curled to one side.

[mnr_splinter]

Well...if she says so. Next time though? There will be chairs when she visits.
It doesn't matter how Michaelangelo protests, or how many glares Melaka gives him. There will be chairs.

When she is ready, Splinter offers Sallie her teacup before picking up one for himself. It occurs to him as he does this just how rusty his conversation skills have become.

The pause that hangs in the wake of this realization seems to Splinter to go on for ages.

"When first we met you mentioned horses. Am I correct in assuming that when you are not here you live on a farm?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"I do. Well, a ranch if we want to get specific, but all the usual terms work."

It's a very stereotypical - damn near idyllic - place, all told. Every word Sallie uses to describe it is just dripping with affection for where she's lived the vast majority of her life.

[mnr_splinter]

Well that's just interesting on many fronts.

"Interesting. And how did you become a rancher?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"How did you become a ninja?"