Thirty-Ninth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[The house is too quiet today. With April sent home, Derek hiding out who-knows-where, and Leo gone to battle, it's down to just Don and Raph again - and not in their little apartment now, but in a house that feels suddenly too big.]

[Fortunately, Don has some things to occupy himself with. After making sure Raph is all right to be left alone for a few hours, he heads out to visit some friends.]

[He goes first up the path to C7, to visit Frederic - to check on the man in his roommate's absence and to deliver a certain package.]

[After that he'll circle back to C3. He needs to see a certain resident that he's been visiting frequently of late. This time, however, he won't go around to the door of the apartment. Instead he'll knock on the window. There's something they need to talk about, and this seems like a more apt way to begin the conversation.]

Comments

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph's okay. Not good, not great, but okay. He's feeling like himself again health-wise, at least. It's a welcome change after that two day long hangover. But he'll survive.

At the moment, he's in his room, trying to clean up as much as possible.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don taps on the doorframe as he leans into the room, walking a thin line between "sneaking up" and "barging in". He just wants to let Raph know he's leaving for a bit.]

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph looks over his shoulder, holding open a garbage bag full of wood splinters with both hands.]

I won't bite, you know.

[Quit looking so scared to see him.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[He moves into the room to lean against the wall.] I need to go out for a while. Will you be okay here?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll be fine.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[He gives Raph a measuring look, then turns back towards the door.]

Can I bring you anything?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs.]

When you comin' back?

[Action] (can wait until other threads are done if you want)

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Derek's a lot closer to town than he had been. Close enough that he notes when Don is out and about.

He won't approach his former housemate for a while; probably not until it's obvious that Don is finally headed home. And then he'll follow for a bit before deciding to say anything.]

[Action] other threads are far enough

[i_speak_softly]

[Don is understandably distracted as he turns from Azzip towards home, but he's not so oblivious that he doesn't eventually notice that he's being followed. As soon as he does, he whirls, gracefully balancing the pizzas on one hand while reaching towards his bo with the other.]

Who's there?

[Action] *Finally sneaks in*

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

It's just me, Don.

[Derek will come out of the shadows. If it's still daytime, he's wrapped toe to head in clothing, including gloves, sunglasses, and a hat for his head. Hugh Jackman probably makes it look cooler, but it works well enough for Derek. Night time of course means that the hat and glasses come off, but not the gloves.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[There's still some daylight, but it's fading fast. Between the lighting, the clothes, and his own distraction, it takes Don a minute to place the figure.]

Derek. I wasn't expecting to see you.

[Action]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

Keeping an eye on the village.

[Just in case.

As the sunlight fades to a safe intensity, the sunglasses and hat come off, leaving Derek merely looking bundled up. He's still ragged looking, but a little more alert.]

How're you guys doing?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Not so well. Raph's having a hard time, and you know Leo got called for the draft.

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic had been making tea in the kitchen when he hears a knock on his door and answers it.]

Oh hello Donatello, what brings you here?

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

[He unzips his duffel bag to show Frederic the wrapped bundle inside.] I finished your tuning forks.

[And with a worried expression:] How are you?

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[He smiles at the other and invites him inside.]

Thank you for finishing them, I'll be certain to show them to Helios. As for myself, I'm doing all right. Thank you for asking me.

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

[He unloads the tuning forks onto a convenient table.]

He's not back yet, is he?

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

Not yet I'm afraid. Although since you're here, would you like some tea? I started making some in the kitchen.

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

Um... sure. [His mind is really elsewhere, but he shouldn't leave Frederic alone. And anyway, it's rude to refuse tea.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert hadn't been doing much either, other than brooding quietly over the fact Ami had been drafted, and had turned out to be a person entirely different from what he'd expected. He's in the middle of absentmindedly writing a report which is mostly just empty words when he hears a rapping noise on the window.

He glances up, looking mildly curious - and when he sees Don's face that curiosity changes to something between surprise and concern.

The scientist hurries (well, as much as he can hurry) himself over to the window and opens it, looking out at Donatello.]

A-Ah. Salutations, Donatello. [This is a very strange way to meet, but Robert can't deny he's glad to see the turtle again.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Not the warmest greeting. An inauspicious beginning to what's likely to be a disastrous conversation. He decides to go through with it anyway.]

Can I come in?

[semper_cogitans]

[Hey, it's warm for Robert. Comparitively. He's mostly surprised to see Donatello in the window.

Something like a strained smile slips over Robert's features.]

Y-Yes, certainly. Please give me a moment. [And the scientist disappears from view temporarily as he opens the door. Donatello might hear the click of the door opening, and then a nervous-but-kind-of-excited-anyway scientist standing just off to the side of the door frame.]

[i_speak_softly]

[And Robert might hear an awkward throat-clearing from just inside his window. While the scientist was unnecessarily opening the door, Donatello had gone ahead and climbed inside.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Here, have an embarrassed scientist turning around at that.]

... Oh. Er... Well. [With a slight flush of embarrassment, Robert re-closes the door (mostly because he doesn't want to broadcast whatever happens) and heads over to where the turtle's standing underneath the window.]

... My apologies. I d-didn't exactly... expect that. [It's so painfully obvious Robert is extremely nervous - but in the blushy stuttery way of somebody trying to talk to a crush. Which is what Donatello is. A kind of shameful, self-mocking smile lights Robert's face a moment.] Do you often enter through windows? I would do well to remember that...

[He trails off eventually, still blushing a little, his fingers going reflexively to his glasses.] ... S-so, may I enquire as to what you... wished to see me for?

Th-though to be frank, I did wish to see you again... [And Robert's blush deepens a bit. Damn his crush.]

[i_speak_softly]

Not lately. [He reaches behind him to slide the pane shut. No sense letting all the cold air in.] Robert, there's something you need to know.