002 ~ Video

[i_speak_softly]

[Don sits at his console, opens a Video channel, and prepares to speak. Before he can get a single word out, Mike leans in front of him.]

We interrupt this program to bring you the following special announcement.

[Don sighs and pushes Mike out of the frame to say his piece.]

Caretakers of hatchlings, please listen!

This mean you, chuckles. Pipe down.

[Yes, Mike, thank you. Continuing now.]

It's awfully hot out there, and while you may have heard that reptiles love heat, too much of it is dangerous for them.

Please don't cook your turtle.

The hatchlings, like all reptiles, are ectotherms. This means that they regulate their body temperatures by exchanging heat with the environment around them. In other words, they take on the external temperature.

They're cold-blooded.

Yes, Mike, that's what I said. Could you please stop interrupting me? Ahem...

While reptiles are adapted to tolerate a wider range of internal temperatures than mammals, they can still suffer from both heat stroke and hypothermia when conditions are too extreme.

We repeat: please do not cook your turtle.

[Fine. From here on out, Don is just ignoring the interjections.]

Like now. Please don't let your hatchlings stay outside too long in this weather, no matter what they say to you. They will overheat and get sick. But, bring them inside carefully.

And not just because they're likely several times your size, though there's that too.

Remind them that safe equalization is very important. Going directly from an extreme temperature to a comfortable one may sound like a good idea, but it causes another condition called thermic shock. That can lead to unconsciousness or even death.

We know about this because we're turtles, and we've been turtles longer than they've been turtles, and so clearly we know better than they do. That's just Science.

[A pause, what else does he need to say.]

Oh, and remember that turtles drink a lot, even when it isn't this warm. Be sure to provide plenty of clean water!

Because good hydration is key.

Never put your hatchling in an ice bath. Ever.

That's just cold, man.

I don't really trust these "coldstones" either.

...

I'm done, Mike. You can talk now.

[The screen is again filled by Mike's gleeful face.]

We now return you to your program, already in progress.

[End transmission.]

Comments

[gathersnomoss]

I assume the warning about ice baths is because bringing anyone's body temperature down that much is dangerous. Don't let the hatchling go in water you wouldn't go in, assuming your biology is at all close to human or animal, right?

How are the canals in the Water Sector? Other than that, I wonder if taking a vacation to the seashore might be best. The water is cooler than the air is right now, and the turtles should be able to swim.

[Granted, the job at the hospital means that Septimus might throw a fit if Zel asked for time off, unless he was carting overheated kedan with him.]

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike just sort of blinks at him.]

Is there any particular order you'd like all of those answered in?

[gathersnomoss]

Beginning to end is fine.

[michaeljangelo]

Fair enough!

If it'd make any outies go innie, chances are good it's too cold too fast. Delightful, and akin to bathwater. Who doesn't love good long walks on the beach?

[gathersnomoss]

[takes a moment to parse those]

Thanks.

[michaeljangelo]

Anytime.

[His is a sincere smile.]

video

[looksfine]

[A strange expression washed over Aya's features at the sight of the two anthropomorphic turtles. Her lips twitched upward. Her eyes glistened. One might almost mistake it for...amusement.]

May I ask precisely what it is about these coldstones that cause you to hold such reservations?

video

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike raises a hand, and begins counting off on his fingers.]

Well for one, they're cold. I mean, what's up with that? For another, who knows where they've been?

[Translation: He has no idea.]

video

[looksfine]

Yes, I has assumed that they were cold based on the name.

As for not knowing their place of origin...did you not think to ask?

[Since there had been a specific individual identifying them over the Network. Publicly.]

video

[i_speak_softly]

[He's been a little busy with other things, okay.]

I'm falling behind on my research. Do you happen to know the answer to that one?

video

[looksfine]

Negative.

I have been focusing my priorities moreso on finding alternative sources of energy for much of our current technology, so that it does not risk overheating in this climate.

video;

[michaeljangelo]

Oh crap, that's right. Computers aren't really big fans of warm, are they?

[Mike used to bring a heating pad into the cold room that April's office had become when the city got too hot for her computer.]

video;

[looksfine]

Actually, most pieces of technological equipment require fans in order to maintain an adequate temperature.

[Old habits were hard to break, especially when people continued to phrase things in a way that were easily taken literally.]

But I am fine, if that is your concern. My systems are fully capable of self-regulating temperatures.

[raavashing]

Will keeping them wet help at all? Just generally wet, not ice cold.

[Not that he couldn't do ice cold, but he'd just been told that wouldn't be a good thing to do. And Rio'era was already cranky enough. He didn't need too cold cranky on top of too hot cranky.]

[michaeljangelo]

[Mike's smile twitches slightly. As if he's not expecting that kind of a question.]

Iiiiii don't think so? It's nice when there's a breeze, but we really shouldn't be wet all the time.

[raavashing]

Oh. I was thinking if I kept Rio'era wet, it would be easier to manipulate how cold the water is and keep her temperature down. The Great Turtle is always swimming and it doesn't effect him, but... I guess being smaller it might not be as safe for them.

[Which meant Rio'era would continue to be very, very cranky.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don exchanges a look with Mike.]

I can't say I've had much experience with magically-mediated equalization. It might work, but be careful.

[michaeljangelo]

Yeah, if Rio'era's anything like Raphael, they might not say when when it's actual time for when. Just, out of sheer stubborn.

[raavashing]

It's not magic.

[Wan corrected just because it was kind of annoying for it to be referred to as that when it was all very natural.]

But Rio'era isn't really stubborn. Usually. The heat's been getting to her a lot.

[And speaking of the heat getting to turtles.]

...are you guys okay? You and your brothers, Leo and that Raph guy, you're all keeping cool, right?

video;

[wintershepherd]

[ Someone's been clinging to the coldstone that was delivered to him for (more or less literally) dear life. Even still, Jack looks pretty wan and weary across the video feed. ]

The coldstones work pretty well actually, but I definitely know what you mean about the temperature shock.

[ His just normally works in reverse, of people being very cold and then going somewhere too warm. ]

video;

[michaeljangelo]

Oh...dude, Jack. How're you doing, buddy?

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

Still kicking, Mike.

video;

[michaeljangelo]

I should freakin' hope so. You need an extra cold stone thing? Because you can totally have mine if you do.

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

[ Mike, you're a great bro <3 ]

I think I'm all right for now, Septimus made sure I got one right away when this heat struck. I haven't heard that doubling up on the stones doubles down on the temperature so you keep yours, but I appreciate the offer.

video;

[michaeljangelo]

Hey man, anytime! Just say the word, and it's yours. Along with like, any and all ice cream or Popsicle I can find.