Forty-Fourth Theory [Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Filtered to Friends and Love Interests of Hamatos || Not Up to His Usual Standard

Raph is back.

[It should be apparent from his voice and his merely-mediocre filter that he has been up all night. After his brief message, the recording continues for a few minutes, possibly transmitting the muted voices of other Hamatos in the background, before the feed cuts out.]

Comments

[Voice | Filtered 100%, up from substandard filter]

[semper_cogitans]

[The combination of the horribly bad timing of everything and the fact that Don's voice sounds incredibly strained - even to Robert's perception - means that, for once, he picks up on the implications of this.]

... I-I am glad he is back, but... he is in terrible shape, isn't he.

... What did the Malnosso do to him? Is there any way I can help?

[This might take Robert's mind off his own pain that he may or may not go through later.]

[Voice | Filtered 100%]

[i_speak_softly]

[He swallows hard before answering.]

... Vivisection.

[Vivisection. He had refused to think the word yesterday evening, but over the long hours of the night it had become impossible to deny the meaning of the patched-up hole in Raphael's plastron.]

[Voice | Filtered 100%]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert makes a wordless choking sound at that. Vivisection. That... well. The Malnosso had done horrible things to all of them. But... vivisection is something a step beyond that in terrifying. To do that while he was alive and probably even conscious - knowing the Malnosso - is absolutely terrifying.]

...

... Bloody hell.

... D-Don... [Softly:] Do you need anything...? Medical supplies, or an assistant, or...? [Robert is no doctor, but he knows more about turtle health care now than he did, and he finds himself inordinately glad that he tends to get obsessive about studying.]

[voice]

[forestpride.livejournal.com]

[she doesn't know them too well, but they fought together once, and much like her they are stuck somewhere between animal and human.

San also doesn't know how to filter, so.]

Your brother?

[voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[He hasn't even realized yet how bad his filter is.]

The one from the draft.

[voice]

[forestpride.livejournal.com]

You have more than one brother.

[just a statement. But there wasn't a draft recently, so he can't mean that.]

Did he return to your home?

[ingrate.livejournal.com]

...Oh thank god.

[First Richard, now Raphael. He's so relieved to know they weren't gone for good.]

[i_speak_softly]

You might want to save the gratitude until you see him.

[ingrate.livejournal.com]

He's alive and he's here. That's what's most important.

...Is there anything I can do?

[Locked]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

What did they do to him?

[Locked]

[i_speak_softly]

[He can't deal with this anymore. He needs everyone in one place.]

Derek, please come home.

[Locked]

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

[Long moment of silence.]

...I can't right now, Don. I'm kinda laid up myself.

[Voice || Filtered]

[wise_maiden]

Raphael...

I see. Is there anything I can do?

[Voice || Filtered]

[i_speak_softly]

[He sighs.] Try to talk some sense into Derek?

[Voice || Filtered]

[wise_maiden]

What do you mean?

[Voice | Filtered]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Don, what's wrong?

[Voice | Filtered]

[i_speak_softly]

[Does he really have to give you the details?]

Winry, I've never seen anyone come back like this...

[Voice | Filtered]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Is it really bad, Don?

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

Thank you for telling us. How is he feeling now?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

He hasn't been awake much.

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

That might be better, just for awhile.

[Video]

[sea-king-bait.livejournal.com]

[There's an excited gasp as a certain mermaid races to pick up her journal.]

Dino-chin is ba-- [She pauses briefly, then bites her lip. The tone of his voice. It was...tired, sad, maybe even disturbed. Her gaze lowers, and her tone drops with it.]

Is...he alright?

[Video]

[i_speak_softly]

[He's not very good with faces and it takes him a minute to place the voice, but the odd nickname can only be from one person.]

He'll recover. It will take a while...

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[When Don returns from his nap to check on his brother, Raph pulls himself out of his own dozing to listen carefully for any sign of Robert. One set of footsteps tells him it's safe to open his eyes. As much as he can open them, anyways - only watery slits between the swollen lids. He can only make out his brother's shape, but watches him silently as he approaches.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don pads quietly across the floor, leaning over the back of the couch to study his brother. He's conscious, more or less. It's a good sign.]

Hey.