[For Hunter - The less defined figures are varied in size, shape. They haven't even finished being sculpted yet, looking like vague blobs of plastic and color. One longer one that looks like it has an animal face and many legs half-finished, a few smaller lithe figures. A few taller human shaped figures. One humanoid with what look like two large bulging lumps on the back.
The most notable thing about them is each has a single individual line of color, like someone marking an inventory. Purple, blue, only one of brown (gray?), one green.
But Tiny Raph does just keep staring annoyedly, tiredly forward.]
[ Raphael "champion of physically attempting to fight myself" Hamato fully keeps staring down at tiny Raph while they are talking. Who does Perceived Raph even think he is... this jerk of his own contribution... can't even account for tiny Leo's whereabouts, he bets.
Yeah. Draxum's startin' to turn it around, but he did kinda specifically make us 'cause he wanted to destroy humanity back in the day. So, mixed bag. [ It's weird okay he doesn't know. ] You said your uncle used to be human, right?
[Tiny Raph stares right back. It's not changing, big guy.
The brownish gray one has a little more definition to its sculpt, a little extra time spent on it more than the others so far. There's the idea of a face there, a bit of hair hanging down the front. And a small chunk of the figure material on its shoulder, like something perched there but still not fully shaped yet.]
Hunter hugs the little figure for a moment, just happy to be included. ]
Yeah. He was. But he was a witch hunter, along with his brother. When he got to the demon realm, he decided to exterminate all the witches living there.
He’s been working on that for the last four hundred years.
[ Okay, that's worth a quick breakaway from the Disappointed Raph-off. ]
I know you know this already, but that's straight-up evil. That's one of the most bad guy things I've ever heard. Four hundred years on extermination instead of makin' some friends or helpin' people!
[ How does anybody used to operating on the human timeframe go that long without budging? By being pure evil. Case closed. ]
I - I know that now. Yeah. But it took me a long time to figure it out. I was his Golden Guard my entire life until Luz finally showed me the truth.
[ A deep breath. ]
I think his brother realized too. That Belos was wrong. So Belos killed him. Tried to copy him over and over again, but killed every copy for “betraying” him eventually.
That ain't on you. He was supposed to take care of you and he didn't. He used you. That's all him.
[ Raph has opinions on everything and perhaps none stronger than his responsibility-based opinions.
But.
Ah.
Two things they needed to talk about, one stone, he guesses. Cool to have that extra info where Belos killed his brother himself first. Not a huge surprise, all things considered. ]
He-- told me about that last part. Kinda. I thought I was checkin' in with Leo after that story game thing, and he was pretty hung up on one of your pictures? I was gonna circle back with you about it, but, uh. Then the punishment stuff rolled in.
[ And it's like, once you lose the eye you already had trauma about, freaking out about that's gonna be your whole day. ]
[ Yeah that’s reasonable to be honest. Hunter was distracted himself by that same darn Polaroid.
He hunches over a little and shivers. Nods slowly. ]
Of course he would. He’s - obsessed. He hates that I’m a failed version of what he wanted, and he hates ANY example of families that are actually healthy. Especially brothers.
[ He looks away, just a bit too tender for this last bit. He feels fully adopted by Donnie, but still a little intimidated by Raph. ]
Especially especially brothers that have adopted me and replaced him. He’s going to throw everything he has at all three of you to try to destroy you.
[ Bad all the way down. To put it, obviously, extremely lightly.
Raph's not sure he's got a vocabulary that covers the full and complex scope of all the ways he feels about the details. Too much all at once. A lot of sad and angry. Bold of the guy to feel 'replaced' when he never did anything good for Hunter in the first place. Not even in the same league.
He steps closer, puts a hand on Hunter's shoulder. ]
[ Hunter sways towards that hand lightly, head bowed. He wants to believe that? He's going to TRY to believe that. But there's something in the back of his head that can't be convinced, that can't see Belos as anything but the all-powerful Emperor that had controlled Hunter's life for so long.
We'll be careful. You make sure you're careful, too. You're not just with us now, y'know? We're all part of each other.
[ He sends a little wash of ninpo Hunter's way, as proof of concept. A 'here I am, I want you safe.' A 'you are not alone.'
It's been weird having someone new ping on the metaphorical network. In a good way. The connection of it all is Raph's favorite part. Together all the way back to the start of the line. Together with everyone coming after.
Man, it's really starting to bug him that there's no tiny Leo on the shelf, thinking about that. Lost or stolen or... just not made? Gotta be one of the first two, right? (Common courtesy: no point making a Raph figure until you know everyone else got made.) ]
[ Oh. That feels nice? It feels comforting. Hunter tries to flare his ninpo connection in turn. It’s much lighter and weaker, like a flutter of bird wings. But still, that little glow of gray-gold is distinct.
He is not alone. He’s one of them now. He just has to trust that fact. ]
I - I will be. As careful as the rest of you.
[ don’t think he won’t swoop in now. Being family goes both ways.
He gently puts his own figure back on the shelf. ]
Re: Start
The most notable thing about them is each has a single individual line of color, like someone marking an inventory. Purple, blue, only one of brown (gray?), one green.
But Tiny Raph does just keep staring annoyedly, tiredly forward.]
Re: Start
Hunter gently moves to pick that one up and take a closer look. ]
Yeah. Like - Draxum, right? Like my uncle.
Re: Start
He's feeling a way. ]
Yeah. Draxum's startin' to turn it around, but he did kinda specifically make us 'cause he wanted to destroy humanity back in the day. So, mixed bag. [ It's weird okay he doesn't know. ] You said your uncle used to be human, right?
Re: Start
The brownish gray one has a little more definition to its sculpt, a little extra time spent on it more than the others so far. There's the idea of a face there, a bit of hair hanging down the front. And a small chunk of the figure material on its shoulder, like something perched there but still not fully shaped yet.]
Re: Start
Hunter hugs the little figure for a moment, just happy to be included. ]
Yeah. He was. But he was a witch hunter, along with his brother. When he got to the demon realm, he decided to exterminate all the witches living there.
He’s been working on that for the last four hundred years.
Re: Start
I know you know this already, but that's straight-up evil. That's one of the most bad guy things I've ever heard. Four hundred years on extermination instead of makin' some friends or helpin' people!
[ How does anybody used to operating on the human timeframe go that long without budging? By being pure evil. Case closed. ]
Re: Start
I - I know that now. Yeah. But it took me a long time to figure it out. I was his Golden Guard my entire life until Luz finally showed me the truth.
[ A deep breath. ]
I think his brother realized too. That Belos was wrong. So Belos killed him. Tried to copy him over and over again, but killed every copy for “betraying” him eventually.
me thinking i hit post comment on this already
[ Raph has opinions on everything and perhaps none stronger than his responsibility-based opinions.
But.
Ah.
Two things they needed to talk about, one stone, he guesses. Cool to have that extra info where Belos killed his brother himself first. Not a huge surprise, all things considered. ]
He-- told me about that last part. Kinda. I thought I was checkin' in with Leo after that story game thing, and he was pretty hung up on one of your pictures? I was gonna circle back with you about it, but, uh. Then the punishment stuff rolled in.
[ And it's like, once you lose the eye you already had trauma about, freaking out about that's gonna be your whole day. ]
OH NO the worst feeling
He hunches over a little and shivers. Nods slowly. ]
Of course he would. He’s - obsessed. He hates that I’m a failed version of what he wanted, and he hates ANY example of families that are actually healthy. Especially brothers.
[ He looks away, just a bit too tender for this last bit. He feels fully adopted by Donnie, but still a little intimidated by Raph. ]
Especially especially brothers that have adopted me and replaced him. He’s going to throw everything he has at all three of you to try to destroy you.
no subject
Raph's not sure he's got a vocabulary that covers the full and complex scope of all the ways he feels about the details. Too much all at once. A lot of sad and angry. Bold of the guy to feel 'replaced' when he never did anything good for Hunter in the first place. Not even in the same league.
He steps closer, puts a hand on Hunter's shoulder. ]
And everything he has won't be enough.
[ Straightforward, simple, no hint of doubt. ]
no subject
He nods helplessly. ]
I - I believe you. But. Be careful. Please.
no subject
[ He sends a little wash of ninpo Hunter's way, as proof of concept. A 'here I am, I want you safe.' A 'you are not alone.'
It's been weird having someone new ping on the metaphorical network. In a good way. The connection of it all is Raph's favorite part. Together all the way back to the start of the line. Together with everyone coming after.
Man, it's really starting to bug him that there's no tiny Leo on the shelf, thinking about that. Lost or stolen or... just not made? Gotta be one of the first two, right? (Common courtesy: no point making a Raph figure until you know everyone else got made.) ]
no subject
He is not alone. He’s one of them now. He just has to trust that fact. ]
I - I will be. As careful as the rest of you.
[ don’t think he won’t swoop in now. Being family goes both ways.
He gently puts his own figure back on the shelf. ]
no subject
He's got a nice color.
Raph tousles Hunter's hair just to be big brotherly about it.
The trust stuff gets easier with time. He should know. It took him a pretty long time to get it through his own skull. ]
This is all Raph asks.
no subject
Then I can do that much. Yeah.
Should we, um. Go somewhere else?
no subject
[ He's an A to B person. He likes when he's not the brains of an operation. It does sometimes work against him. ]
Kinda hoped we'd get in and get right to punchin' the bad guy.
[ So the entire opposite of doing a heart game. ]
no subject
[ He looks at their surroundings warily - everything they faced so far, everything left to go. It feels like an elaborate trap to him. ]
Belos is … making that difficult, I think.
no subject
[ Different world, different magic, different rules. He guesses. ]
Not that I want a giant Leo to punch through the wall to fight us off or whatever. But you know.
[ It would be nice and straightforward. ]
no subject
[ Hunter straightens up at that. ]
Anyway. My advice is to explore. Carefully. It’s easy to damage things in here.