i_speak_softly | Thirty-Fourth Theory [Voice]

[She really hopes that doesn't mean what she thinks it means. Especially not today of all days. But she'll be tentative-- no need to rush to conclusions, after all.]

It's been a rough month, hasn't it? With the shift going on for so long, and... everything with Derek. I understand if you need a little more time to regroup before you feel comfortable coming back.

I - [A pause, and then with greater resolve:] I don't think I'll be coming back at all.

I'm... sorry to hear that. You were doing so well.

[With something like regret:] When I was there.

Everyone misses days, Donatello, weeks even, myself included. Considering the nature of this place, we don't hold it against the students if something comes up. It's... expected.

I've missed half the year.

You say that as if you wouldn't be able to catch up. Besides... even if you need the time off now, that door will always be open for you to return. I didn't encourage you to take lessons just for you to walk out on me, after all.

It's nothing about you, Professor. I really appreciate everything you've done. I just - wish I could have been a better student.

You're not a bad student, Donatello. Far from it.

[... This is probably not the time to start quoting Splinter's proverbs.]

Thanks, Professor.

[He's not sure what else to say.]

In any case... if you've made up your mind, I'm not the one who can change that decision. The school will still be here, should your mind change.

Edited 2010-12-23 03:24 (UTC)

I'll - keep that in mind. [Awkward pause.] I hope you're enjoying - your holidays. [Whichever ones you celebrate.]

I think it's been a little too busy to really enjoy anything like that. But... thank you, I suppose.

Is it me, or has it been especially crazy lately?

No, it isn't you. So many things have been going on one after the other. I'll be glad for a little break.

Do you think we're likely to get one?

With that draft ending the way it did, who can say? We might be expecting new feathers again soon as well...

Oh, that's right. [He's quiet for a while.] This will be a year since my brothers arrived.

Is that so? Mmm... a year can be a long time.

But you've been here... it must be close to four years now.

Don't worry, it hasn't been quite so long yet. It will be my third year in March, should nothing change. My arrival was roughly six months after the first Luceti cycle.

[Winter is definitely having an effect on his brain. She'd told him she'd been there two years, not three.]

Sorry - should have remembered that.

It's all right. It does seem like it's been longer, sometimes. [And it's not as if he's been the only one to say something like that, winter brain or not.]

I know what you mean...

So many things happen in a short period of time. And then when you have a chance to look back on it, it seems so far away...

You know, I read something about that in a psychology book. [Studying on his own? Why yes he does!]

Is that so? What did you learn from it?

Um... [Winter brain, don't do this now.] Something about... when a lot of things happen... and then, um...

[Damn, he lost it.]

Professor, I'm sorry...

You don't have to apologize. Is there... something troubling you?

[Yes, and it's the reason he's quitting school. He doesn't know how to answer that.]

... Get some rest, Donatello. It seems like you need it.

[Yes and no.] ... I will.

... All right. We'll talk again soon.

[Raph only overhears part of that conversation, but nothing to insinuate the reason for it. He does pick up on Don's tone, however. There's something unsettling about it.

As soon as Don shuts the journal, Raph opens his bedroom door and peeks in.]

You all right?

[He closes the book, but doesn't take his hand from the cover.] Hey.

[Okay, something's definitely up. He closes the door behind him, crosses the room and sits down on the edge of Don's bed.]

What's up?

[He shakes his head, slides the journal into a drawer, and turns around in his chair.] Just listening to the books.

Was that Raine?

Are you spying on me, Raph?

What? No! I was just gonna ask you what you wanted for dinner and I heard you guys talkin'.

[Okay, maybe just a little.]

I just wanted to ask her a question.

Right. [You're lying. He can tell.]

[He is not lying. He reaches back into the drawer and pulls out his heavy grammar book, dropping it on the desk with a purposely loud thump.]

Regarding the difference between participles and gerunds. It's been bothering me for weeks.

Uh-huh.

[He pushes himself off the bed.]

You want mac n' cheese or tuna casserole? I'm too lazy to make anything else.

Either one is fine.

[Tuna it is, then. He opens the door and walks out. If Don's got anything to say, he can come find him.]

[Later, after dinner...]

[Don hesitates in the doorway of Raph's room, a little surprised to see his brother already going through the motions of bedtime.]

Oh - are you going to bed?

[He's undoing the knot of his mask when Don appears, pulls it off and tosses it on the nightstand.] Huh? Oh, yeah. Was out in the cold all day. I'm beat.

Where did you go?

[He sits down on the bed and starts undoing the buckles on his kneepads.] Oh, the woods. Winry's. All over. Tree had to come from somewhere. Thought she'd want one too.

Edited 2010-12-30 23:47 (UTC)

Do you still see her much?

Yeah. I stop by her house every now and then. We ah, got in a fight a while ago. Guess I'm still makin' up for it.

I think you mentioned that. [And didn't want to talk about it.]

Yeah.

[He dumps his knee pads on the floor and works on the elbow pads in silence. He's hedging about telling Don what happened between them, but he doesn't know if it'll come out right if he tries.]

[He won't ask. It's not as though he has any leverage at the moment.]

Do you mind if I sit in here for a while?

Go ahead.

[He clicks on his electric blanket and crawls into bed.]

Want me to leave the light on?

[He shrugs vaguely, and takes up a position by the window, looking out into the darkness.]

[Fine. Off the light goes. He turns over on his stomach and tries to fall asleep, but his head's too full of Winry now, along with a slight bit of worry for his brother.]

[Don knows he won't sleep tonight. Probably not tomorrow night either. The worst part is that it's not even related to the things he'd rather not think about, but he won't be able to stop himself from thinking about them anyway.]

[Sunrise will be a long time coming.]

[Raph drifts off for a while between the worlds of sleeping and waking, a whole mess of memories and emotion running through his head. But eventually, his mind traces its way back to that day by the lake, eating salami sandwiches in the rough grass, the feel of her skin against his lips.

He opens his eyes, swallows, tries to quiet his racing heart. For a while, he lays there studying his brother's silhouette in the window.

Finally, he works up the courage to say something.]

Can I ask you somethin'?

[It takes him a while to register that someone is talking to him. He doesn't know how much time has already passed.]

Hm?

First, you gotta promise you're not gonna act weird about this.

[He sighs heavily.] I'll do my best.

All right. Here goes.

[He clears his throat.]

Have you ever uh...you know, us livin' like we are...have you ever thought about gettin' yourself a girl? I mean, you think it might be possible there's some chick out there might actually not scream if you asked her out?

Hardly anyone has screamed at me at all. Then again, I don't usually ask questions like that. [Mostly avoiding the other half of the question? Maybe.]

Yeah, well, what if I told you that I did?

Did what? Ask a girl out?

Yeah. Sorta.

Am I right in thinking that it didn't go well?

How'd you guess?

If it had gone well, you wouldn't have asked me about it in such a hypothetical and roundabout way.

[He moves to sit on the corner of the bed.]

Are you okay?

[He sits up a little against the wall.] Yeah. I guess I'm over it. At least past the point of feelin' sorry for myself.

It was a while ago. [Mostly a statement.]

[He nods.] Last summer.

[He's quiet a while before saying:] Hypothetically, I think the answer is yes.

Yes for what?

Yes, I think it's possible that a girl might like it if you asked her out.

Now if you could only tell me who.

Insufficient data, sorry.

[He grunts something of a laugh, then sighs.]

But you know, I was thinkin' today. Lookin' back on it, I'm glad she said no. I don't think I was good enough for her, turtle or not.

[He frowns.] What do you mean?

I don't know. What kinda girl would wanna put up with me?

April likes you. [She even lets you live in her house. If that's not putting up with, Don doesn't know what is.]

Yeah, but not like that. And I know I push it with her sometimes.

Mm. [He hesitates before broaching the next question.] Are you - looking?

I guess. [Not now though. Don should be all too aware what cold weather does to the reptilian libido, but he's definitely interested if the opportunity ever presents itself.]

Oh. [Far enough.]

[Silence. He thinks he's gone far enough too.]

[Don finds a corner of the electric blanket and pulls it around himself. Maybe he'll stay here for a while.]

[After a long period of silence, he settles himself back down again.]

Well I can't keep my eyes open. [He stifles a yawn.] Night, Don.

[Lucky you.] Good night. [He makes himself smaller in the corner of the bed, giving Raph more leg room.]

[Within a few moments, he's out like a light, snoring loud enough to wake the dead.]

Thirty-Fourth Theory [Voice]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked] 1/2

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

[voice || locked]

/laaaaaaaaate x___x

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject