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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A price never came up. Just -- just that he could still work on a man knocked out and brought to him against his will. Derek refused to have it removed himself.

Why? [- did Derek refuse.]

I think it's the infection -- protecting itself, you know? It's toying with the way he thinks.

[ at least, she prefers this possibility to bull-headed stubbornness. ]

What did he say when he was still himself?

[ ...that's such a painful question. buffy isn't sure just how early on the infection had set into him in a mental capacity. but she dips her head and thinks on it a moment before replying: ] That he didn't trust John. And maybe I don't either -- but I like the alternative even less.

[Don isn't much inclined to trust shadowy scientists either.]

Does anyone know how John - does what he does?

I guess we can only assume it depends on some of that Shift technology.

Nn. [A frustrating answer, but probably a true one.] What are you going to do?

I'm gonna fight until the take-down and then bring him to John.

[He pinches the ridge between his eyes.]

Be careful?

[With yourself. With Derek.]

[ she understood both implications. ]

Don, this? This is my job. I'll be okay -- it's why Derek trusted me with it over a year ago. And it's why I'm not going to keep my promise to him.

[ a sigh. ] Derek expects me to kill the vampire that's taken over him. To kill him. I can't do that -- hence plan B.

[He holds up his hands.] And it's why I'm not going to ask to come with you. [He moves one hand to put it over Buffy's.] I trust you.

[He doesn't say that to very many people.]

[ her fingers wiggle a moment. this is a position she is rather used to being in. ]

Thanks. It's...helpful, knowing his friends are on the same side. It's not exactly the world's easiest decision.

["We had no other choice. Make them a deal, or lose you. It was an easy decision, Donatello."]

["... You'd do the same for us, wouldn't you?"]

["I don't know."]

[Now he does.]

If I see him first... I'll tell him what you said.

I'd appreciate that, Don. Thanks.

[He pushes his chair back.] I should probably go.

Forty-Second Theory [Voice/Action for Housemates]

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