i_speak_softly | Fortieth Theory [Written]

(Also in code, but translated OOCly for your convenience.)

March 3. Weather colder than I had hoped. Snowsuit good idea, must try to replicate at home. Did a lot of thinking and made campsite by mid-afternoon. Worked through remaining daylight.

March 4. Meditated all day. Nothing.

March 5. Meditated all day. Nothing.

March 6. Meditated all day. Revising prior analysis of "nothing" -- am much better at meditating than I used to be.

March 7. Went hiking today. Weather much warmer. Area, and views from it, very interesting. Really is an ocean now -- would like to go there in the summer. Thought about a lot of things. Watched the stars come out. Talked to Derek. Missing family and friends but not ready to go back yet.

March 8. Meditated again. Think I made contact.

March 9. The string moved!

March 9 - Later. Master Splinter here. Talked to him and Mikey. Have permission to finish what I came here to do, but will have a lot to explain when I get home. Must remain focused - can't stay away from my family like this for nothing.

March 10. Feel wonderful. Want to talk to Master Splinter about so many things, but still not ready to go back.

March 11. Much progress today.

March 12. Tried using magic with bo. Liked results.

March 13. Walked today, communicated with spirit. Should have come here months ago. Understand a lot now. Ready to go home.

((Don is in the mountains for a while. Post will be updated over the course of his journey and can be used for any plotty things that need to be played out.))

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[About an hour after Robert and Raph's conversation, Raph's spent some quality time blowing off steam attacking his punching bag. When he's found his Zen place again, he tries getting a hold of his brother. He can't decide if this's a good idea or not, but he guesses there's only one way to find out.]

Don.

((Note to self: Really the 5th.))

[It's late. Don doesn't know if he'll sleep tonight. His mind is still too unsettled. He can't have distractions. But...]

You have five minutes.

Well, jeez. Don't sound so freakin' happy to talk to me.

[Okay, maybe he hasn't blown off all the steam.]

Edited 2011-03-06 03:15 (UTC)

[He closes his eyes and pinches the ridge between them.] I can't right now, Raph. What do you need?

[SIGH.]

I just got done talkin' with Robert. He came to me makin' sure you're still alive. What the shell was that about?

[He swears softly and in regards to multiple subjects.] What did you tell him?

I told him you were off in the mountains getting your head together. Don seriously. He came to me. The guy's terrified of me. You got any idea how worried about ya he's gotta be if he's comin' to me first?

Nnn... I forgot to tell him I was going. I didn't know he was - [A sound of pages flipping.] Raph, it hasn't even been a week since I talked to him.

Hey, y'know what? If I was supposed to be "in love" with somebody? A week's too long. But that's just me.

[Ugh. He can't believe he's actually advocating this. The things he does for you, Don. Seriously. Now he feels dirty.]

[The journal slams closed.]

[An hour later.]

... Raph?

You give me five minutes, I give you two.

[He's angry, but there's no heat. That hurt, Don. Seriously hurt.]

[He's trying very hard to keep his calm. It took him an hour to fight his way back to it; he won't give it up easily.]

Raph, I came out here because I can't hear anyone else's opinions right now. I want to talk to you, but you need to respect that.

[Fine, then he won't say anything at all.]

I'm sorry. It's not about you.

[He moves away from the journal, but he doesn't close it.]

[He swallows hard and lets the minutes tick by in silence. Eventually, he'll speak again, his voice much quieter, pained.]

So you're not even gonna talk to me.

[Don too takes a few minutes to answer. When he does, there's an odd echo to his voice, suggestive of the path the sound takes through the cave to the journal.]

Raph, you're not listening.

I am listening! Donnie... [Damn it! His throat tightens, and he can't swallow it away.] Donnie, I'm trying, okay? I'm trying so freakin' hard to understand this. And I know it ain't about me. I'm tryin' to stay out of it. But it looks like I'm stuck in the middle whether you like it or not.

I don't understand it either. I need more time. We'll - we'll talk when I get home, okay?

Fine. When you decide you wanna come back, Mikey'd like to see you. Just so you know.

... What?

Mikey. He came back home a couple days ago. He's here if you want to talk to him.

I - [Obvious sniffling noises.] Tell him I'll see him soon, Raph...

[Oh, fuck this, Don. You're killing him.]

Okay. Yeah. I can do that.

[He takes a deep breath.]

Just take care of yourself, Don.

Edited 2011-03-06 04:34 (UTC)

I - ['Love' is such a loaded word right now.] - miss you guys.

[He closes the journal once more, very gently.]

Fortieth Theory [Written]

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