i_speak_softly | Forty-Second Theory [Voice/Action for Housemates]

[Don is feeling a little claustrophobic today. The number of vehicles he has stashed in his workroom has increased to five over the past week, and he's running out of room to build more. He'd been hoping that the wet, overcast weather would break so he could take his work outside, but that didn't exactly pan out. It is sunny today, but it's also unseasonably cold.]

[Determined to continue his work anyway, Don has shoved all the furniture out of the way and set up camp in the living room, surrounded by a mass of lightweight canvas and metal struts. Hang-glider Number Four is now Under Construction.]

[It's been quite some time since he asked a general question over the journals, so he decides to do so now. Companionable conversation is just what he needs to make the repetitive work go faster.]

If you had access to Shifting technology, and could change something about the world - what would you do? How long would you make it last?

[He also has some things he wants to talk about with Mike and Master Splinter - separately, that is. If they don't stop by while he's working, he'll be looking for them later.]

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[Mike blinks. He had, hadn't he. He shrugs, rolling a bolt between his fingers.]

You can hardly blame me for Vivi and Fujiko. They're practically family. And Keimi helped out with Raph. I kinda wanted to make it up to Winry for getting caught in the crossfire when we met Karai. Lucy's the first person I met here. And Ami....

[No. No! Dangit! You've tricked him into confessing it, you conniving brother, you!]

[He just raises a brow. "And Ami"?]

Ami, um... she's, um... a friend of Robert's!

[Yes! That's why he invited her. Because... aw crap. He's dead.]

Oh really. [You invited your brother's boyfriend's friend. You're not that generous.]

Uh...

[Mike ducks his head and then looks up at you hopefully. He knows you can see right through him. What do you think of this?]

[Don is radiating curiosity and concern and seriousness but also happiness and pride and amazement.]

You are remarkably efficient when you put your mind to it. [But more importantly.] Does she know?

Efficient?

[Gah, that question.]

No.

You've only been here a month.

Are you going to tell her?

No.

[What're you, crazy?]

[For a moment he pulls back from the questioning. Then:] What do you like about her?

[You shouldn't have to defend your feelings, but he can't help himself.]

[Mike shrugs helplessly. He feels light and heavy at the same time whenever he thinks about her, and her hair is really pretty, and she's a doctor too. And he just likes being around her.

Still mumbling:] She's nice.

[He gives Mike a sideways hug, comfort and acceptance and support for whatever he decides to do.]

[And a semi-subject-change.] Do you like living here?

[Mike leans gratefully into the hug, and then pulls away in the guise of reaching out to pet Klunk, who has just wandered in.]

Yeah. It's nice. Even the experiments don't seem too bad.