i_speak_softly | Forty-Sixth Theory [Voice/Action]

Having you over for dinner, if you're up for it.

[With a smile in his voice:] I'll recover as fast as I can.

All right. [Same with her.] You still bringing the pizza?

Definitely.

[... He needs to ask Mikey about that.]

Good. Mildmay'll probably be around, too, if that's all right with you.

What? [... Is that a person?] I mean, who?

I guess you could call him my roommate. I can tell him to scram if you'd prefer.

Ah, no, that's okay. Where's he from?

It's called Mélusine. I don't know, I've never been there--but he's full of stories about the place.

[ALSO, DO YOU HAVE AN AIM OR ANYTHING. :D?]

Has he mentioned if they have pizza there?

((Why yes I do. Amicitia6, if you're too lazy to go look it up on the contact page. :P))

Nah, he was completely new to it.

[I went looking and failed to find. Did you know that I am currently too hungry to think. D:]

Did you make him read any of those books, at least?

((Stop tagging, eat food. I'll be here all night.))

The Lord of the Rings ones? I made sure he got a look at them. [The covers, anyway, as she read them to him, but she's not about to say that much.] I picked up a few of the others you recommended, too.

((OOC: Are you on the aimable now? It tells me you aren't when I try to im you. D:))

I'm dying to ask, but we should probably save it for Saturday.

((I'm on now.))

Have to have something to talk about other than the city, after all.

Exactly. I'll see you then, Kay. [He goes to close the journal, but -] Oh, ah, what time? Still six?

Still six, unless you've got a better plan.

Plans aren't my strong suit. I'll see you at six.

And I usually leave the plotting up to my husband. Six it is.

(OOC: Figuring that, by now, Robert would have known what happened with Helios... Of course, when he leaves this message, he didn't, but he does by the time Don answers it.)

[Robert spent the last week being terrified that his friends - and his lover - weren't going to come back alive. And so the very first thing he does is leave a single, distressed little message for Don.

Of course, the other Hamatos are free to pick it up as well, if they want.]

D-Don...

...

Are you... [Healthy? Sane? Safe?] alright?

...

I-I... I missed you...

He's exhausted, but he's fine. Just minor injuries.

[It's not Don, but Leo, who responds this time. Still, the rational turtle's voice is a comfort, and Robert murmurs gratefully.]

Oh thank gods...

I, I h-had been worried... wh-when he did not return transmissions...

[It was unlike Don, but if Don was really exhausted then that might be why.]

... Thank you, Leonardo. I... a-appreciate it...

... Is there a-anything I can do...?

[Leo himself sounds tired, with an undertone of anger at what his brother and the other draftees were put through.]

He's been in and out of it since this morning, mostly sleeping.

[He considers for a moment if he should tell Robert about thee fever.]

Edited 2011-06-08 07:36 (UTC)

[Please do. Robert clearly needs more to panic and cry over.]

Are the rest of his vital signs normal, if you can tell...?

[He's opening the inquiry for it, anyway. And Leo may notice the unusual... urgency in Robert's tone.

By this point, he probably knows Helios is dead. And he really doesn't want to see that number increase to two, especially not of his own partner.]

[Robert, have some faith in Don's family, they won't let him be a statistic without a fight. One death is one too many.]

They're fine. [Oh fine, he'll find out sooner or later anyway.] He's running a low fever though.

[Beat, cause he knows he would be doing it too.]

Don't come over. We've got this covered.

[He knows this, which is why he trusts them.]

... A low fever... [Robert's voice isn't... panicky, per se, but it's definitely terse.] D-Do you suppose he could have p-picked up some pathogen in the r-rainforest, or might it just be exhaustion...?

...

A-Alright. I... I j-just... I worry.

B-But I know you w-will... d-do your utmost to assist him...

Either is possible. Hoping it's just the exhaustion though.

[Leo knows you want to see him Robert. But considering what you two did before he left, he doesn't want to possibly add more stress on top of this.]

I'll have him contact you when he's up for it.

[Robert (probably) still isn't aware that the other Hamatos know about what transpired then, but of course, he doesn't think to ask.]

Th-thank you...

...

Wh-what about yourself, L-Leonardo? You must be e-exhausted... [And Robert probably sounds tired too, though not nearly as much. Staring at the journals and crying intermittently isn't good for most peoples' health.]

I'm fine. I'll be fine now that Don's back. [And once he's well again, which hopefully won't be long.]

I... I h-hope so.

... P-Please take c-care of yourself too, Leonardo. [This is spoken with genuine... tenderness. Robert does care about Don's brothers - even the ones that don't like him - and he definitely likes Leo.]

... A-And the rest of your family...? A-Are, are they alright too? H-Having Don back must be... r-reassuring.

I will. We'll let you know when you can come over.

All a little tired, but fine. Raph's strength has been improving.

I appreciate th-this immensely...

... And th-that is... also good to hear.

...

It is... n-nice to hear some good news, e-especially after the... d-draft.

[... And Helios' death. But he doesn't know if he should bring that up.]

[Leo nods, though Robert can't see it.]

Yes. After that mess, we can use all the good news that we can get.

......

Are you doing alright?

...

N-not exactly, if... i-if I am honest.

...

... [He breathes in, slowly, though he ends up sobbing a bit anyway.]

... H-Helios was... k-killed in the d-draft.

I'd heard someone named Helios was killed.

He was a friend of yours, wasn't he?

[Gods. That barely even begins to describe it, but the true nuance is deep and painful.]

... Y-Yes. Yes, a v-very close friend...

...

A-And h-he is s-such a... w-wonderful person...

H-He... d-died p-protecting his f-friends...

....

I'm sorry.

Dying while protecting friends is an honorable way to die.

[Now he feels a little guilty telling you stay away from their house, but he has his reasons.

Edited 2011-06-09 01:23 (UTC)

[It's okay, Robert probably wants to hide under a rock right now anyway.]

...

A-At... at least it is... n-not permanent... ... th-though, it is hard to b-believe...

Yes, there's at least that.

[Even if they'll come back with something wrong with them.]

[There is that, too, and it makes Robert worry, but for now he's clinging to the fact that Helios will be back.]

...

... G-Gods, I wish I c-could have done something...

... b-but I am always so... i-ineffectual.

I know the feeling. I hated listening to the reports, and being stuck here. If I had my way, I would've been out there helping.

W-Well, I would have been e-even more useless on the battlefield... [Robert's voice audibly shudders.]

B-but...

... I-I... s-simply having the option...

For people claiming to be military, they don't act like it. Even the military know that non combatants don't belong on the battlefield. Or wounded soldiers. Like this last draft, I heard something about a blind guy being sent out there.

Y-You may be referring to Giles... he was b-blinded by the Malnosso, a-actually, as d-disgusting as that is. S-Sending out someone to fight whom they blinded themselves...

...

H-He is Helios' friend... a-and the one who told me what h-happened to him. I-informed the whole village, actually...

[Robert slowly exhales.]

Oh, I see.

Yeah, I heard of the death from him.

Is he a friend of yours too?

Y-yes, he is... [Robert has a lot of interrelated friends, actually. The intellectuals tend to gravitate towards each other, it seems...]

... And he is... v-very close to Helios.

[There's still a tiny ghost of jealousy in those words.

Robert still worries, sometimes, that he isn't a good friend for Helios - not when Giles is there, doing everything he can't or won't.]

[Leo notes the jealousy.]

Friends always appreciate any help given.

Th-that... that is what I have been t-told, yes. [Though it's evident that some part of him still has trouble believing it.]

...

I am sure that Giles and Mr. Ch-Chopin will do everything they can for Helios, but... I s-still want to be there when he returns...

[Well, he didn't have many at home, and still doesn't have many here. But Casey, April and others always seemed appreciative.]

Check with them and see if you can be there. Don't be afraid to speak up. If you don't, people will think you're not interested.

I, I... I s-suppose. B-But, I do not wish to be a bother...

[Robert is clingy and pathetic with the friends he does have. It's inevitable that he'd get all self-critiquing over it, though.]

You won't be. Talk to them. Worse thing they can do is say no, or tell you to wait a day or two.

[He's getting firm here. Trying to get Robert to straighten up a little. He's seen this before in you, like with Ami. Man up, Robert. Real friends don't tell you to get lost, and listen to your worries or requests.]

[The firmness isn't entirely unappreciated. Robert is just... very bad at this kind of thing. This may very well be a case where somebody is worse at social interaction than the TMNT.]

... I will... th-thank you, Leonardo.

...

B-besides, perhaps... p-perhaps I can make myself... useful for him, when he does r-return.

[It's ironic that this is coming from the most anti-social turtle.]

Robert... [You sound like you're avoiding.]

[He's more anxious than anything. Robert doesn't know how to relate to people without including relative worth he has to them in it.]

...

Y-Yes...?

I-is there... something...?

[He let's out a sigh. He heard it wrong, maybe Robert didn't mean avoidance.]

Nothing. Just talk to them, offer your help. Trust me, you won't be a burden.

[It's okay. Robert misinterprets stuff often enough; other people deserve the chance to screw up too.]

...

Th-that goes for your f-family too, then. If there is anything I can e-ever do... whatever is within my p-power to assist with, I shall.

...

Th-thank you, Leonardo... p-perhaps... perhaps we will s-see each other again soon? A-At any rate, please t-take care of both Don and yourself - not that I w-would expect anything less from you...

We'll let you know if we need it. Don't go spreading yourself too thin, Robert.

Perhaps we will. [A part of him was starting to enjoy his conversations with Robert, even if they were strange sometimes.] Thank you, I will.

[The transmission picks up again on Wednesday afternoon - just Voice, no Video. Don sounds hoarse and exhausted.]

Robert... ?

[By then, of course, Robert knows one of the most painful things he's ever heard.

But hearing Don's voice - sick and exhausted as it sounds - gives him a little bit of hope.]

...

D-Don...

[Softly:] A-Are you... f-feeling a little b-better...?

Nnnmm. [Noncommittal. He isn't feeling great, but you shouldn't worry or anything.]

Have you - heard the news?

[That didn't answer his question, but considering Don can actually talk now, Robert will take that as a "somewhat".

The next part, however, gives him pause.

There's only one "news" Robert can think of right now, and it hurts even to say it, but...]

... A-About... H-Helios'... d-death?

... G-Giles t-told the v-village e-earlier.

[A pause, then:] I'm sorry. I wasn't there. [It's more an apology than an excuse.]

[With an almost fierce pain:] N-Not your fault... n-not anybody's f-fault, save those Shift Hunters and their c-cruel m-masters...

... W-Why did it have to be Helios, though...?

[He sounds painfully... empty. Though talking to Don is an improvement.]

...

B-but... p-people truly do r-return, c-correct...? G-Giles said to look for him on the t-twelfth or t-thirteenth...

[Having already lost Derek in a draft, and gotten him back (sort of, at least), Don isn't taking this quite as hard as Robert. He's more concerned about what state Helios will be in when he returns.]

Everyone comes back...

They... t-take something from them. The p-process is never perfect.

[Robert is worried about this too, now that the initial horrifying pain of his loss - even for just a week - has faded into the omnipresent ache of wanting him near and alive and happy again.]

...

W-what will h-happen...? Is, i-is there any way to tell? A-Any pattern...? Or... or is it random like all the other bloody o-occurrences of anything here...?

[He hates how he can't understand, can never follow these patterns...]

[Don is quiet a while, thinking, but he doesn't have enough data.]

Don’t know...

It... i-is understandable. Everything in L-Luceti is so difficult to... t-to get to any sort of c-consensus on.

...

S-Sometimes I hate this place, e-even if I... l-love those within it... [This last part is clearly directed at Don, and Helios.]

[He really wishes he could be with you now, as more than just a voice on the journals.]

Where are you?

[The same place he always is when he's depressed:]

I-in my apartment.

...

I-It has... b-been difficult to... t-to go outside, but... H-Helios w-wouldn't have allowed me t-to... t-to be t-totally alone...

Who's with you?

At the moment? [Pathetically:] N-Nobody... though I h-have, h-have gone out b-before. [To get away from the emptiness, to prevent himself from clinging to its placating oblivion.]

...

D-Did you want me t-to... to... g-go to you...?

[Robert still doesn't know about the whole issue with the Hamatos knowing about their shenanigans.]

[Gently chiding:] Robert...

[At the second part, his tone suddenly becomes much more energetic.] No!

[Robert's tone sounds like that of a small, kicked animal.]

A-Ah, I... I am s-sorry...

...

F-Forgive my... i-impertinence...

[It's clear that Robert took that as something against him, not realizing why Don said it.]

[The shout results in a coughing fit, but Don manages to fumble for a pencil and scribble one poorly-spelled word.]

CONTAGOUS

... Ah. [That, plus the coughing, makes it obvious.]

So it is a pathogen... [Okay, that makes sense.]

... Leonardo told me you had a fever... have there been any other symptoms besides that?

NOT SURE - BETTER SAFE - THINK I'M OK

At any rate, you are right. It w-would be best to... wait a bit longer.

[Despite the pragmatism of this, though, it's clear that Robert would kind of rather be with Don, even if he'd definitely get sick.]

... Can I do anything else for you or your f-family, Don...?

[If only he could get someone to bring him his tricorder.]

[If it was just a little fever, he would seriously consider letting Robert come over anyway. But when he's possibly carrying malaria... no.]

Talk to me?

[Is it sad that Robert would still willingly get malaria just to be with Don at this point? That's how lonely he is right now.]

... C-Certainly...

... [Quietly:] W-was... was the r-rainforest... like T-Terran kinds?

I... almost w-wish I could have t-taken samples...

[A rustling noise as Don resettles himself in bed.]

Was beautiful. Lost my vials...

Ah...

R-Rainforests are b-beautiful, yes... [The thought might have made Robert smile at a less horrible time. As it is, he just wipes a tear away.]

... D-Do you think the Malnosso d-deliberately took the v-vials, or do you r-remember losing them...?

I - I don't remember the last night.

[That doesn't seem good at all.]

...

In a-any way...?

Were you that sick...?

No, it - [Okay. It will take him a long time to say all this, but you'll be patient, right?]

It had been raining all day, more rain than I've ever seen. The journals weren't working, we could barely hear each other face to face, visibility was nothing... and the enemies just kept coming. They overran our base camp. We'd been out there three days already, we'd barely eaten or slept, we had so many injured... By midafternoon I was fighting on autopilot, and after that I don't remember anything until I woke up back in the plaza.

[Robert is patient. He's always patient with Don.

He listens quietly to Don's exposition, comparing it to what he thought would have happened. The idea is... well, it's nightmare-fuel inducing. But it makes him more glad that Don managed to get through.

He wishes he could go over there and hold Don.]

...

I-it... sounds t-terrifying...

... I... [Softly:] If I-I ever get... d-drafted...

[The unspoken implication is that, if they're like this, Robert will die.]

[He's not going to entertain that idea right now.]

Sorry I took so long to answer. I was sleeping it off.

[Probably a good idea, though Robert can't help himself.]

... I-I am just glad you are... [... not really alright, but...] b-better.

...

I w-wish I... c-could have done something...

Robert... let it go.

[He's been down this path before. It never leads anywhere good.]

[Robert has been being helpless ever since he came to Luceti. It is not a pleasant feeling.]

...

I w-wish I could.

[He presses a hand to his face and tries to steady his breathing.]

[Don really, really wishes he could be with you now, Robert. He doesn't know what to do.]

[Very softly:] If you ever want to... learn something... from my family...

[He'll leave it there.]

[The idea makes the majority of him recoil violently, especially in the wake of a war, of violence that just took his best friend's life.

But...

... No. He can't think about it, even if that little dark part of him relishes the thought of breaking whatever harmed Helios... even knowing they're dead and gone, now.]

I... I d-don't know...

I c-couldn't; i-it'd... it'd be.... unethical... [Don might notice how Robert's words seem less strong than they were before. And his complaints about the war have been less about the violence and more about the fact that people got hurt or killed.

... Luceti is definitely changing him, and he's almost afraid of it.]

[Don can tell the difference. But if Robert still isn't ready...]

[Just one more nudge.]

If you just want to hit something, you're welcome to use our training dummy.

[It's a healthy way to vent anger, and Don can't see how anyone could argue that it's immoral to punch a bag of sand.]

[Hitting something...? WANTING to hit something? That is so fundamentally... un-Terran.

...

He has wanted to, though, for maybe the second or third time in his life. The sheer anger and disgust he feels towards this situation is enough to actually make him contemplate violence - and then, of course, all that anger and disgust turns inward, at the horrifying fact that he could ever possibly think these things at all, could ever possibly consider the idea of harming something ever for any reason.]

...

H-Hitting something...?

...

[Robert shivers.]

I... [The revulsion is so deep-seated that he doesn't even have the words to describe why he can't consider it.]

[Okay, Robert is distressed enough without Don pushing this issue any further. He's a little worried that Robert doesn't seem to have any outlet for his anger, but then again, maybe anger isn't exactly what he's feeling.]

[Don drops the subject.]

When can I take you to the lake?

[It's not just anger, no - it's some complicated blend of emotions, and anger is only the most foreign of them. It's the one he handles the most poorly.

The subject change does help, though.]

... I... I-I suppose whenever you are feeling better...

[It's not like he has much in the way of obligations. He's just been holing himself up building the small hydroponics garden and in general being a recluse.]

Mm. I thought we would take the bicycle, have a picnic. Just us.

[He may have been using this to keep himself sane in the jungle.]

I... I would like that.

[Robert smiles, weakly. He'd been using similar thoughts to keep himself sane, too... though of course, sitting and languishing is nowhere near as taxing as fighting a war.]

Just... I would like to be here on the twelfth and thirteenth - Helios is l-likely to return then, and... I n-need to be there when he returns.

... Y-You would likely want to b-be there as well, regardless. [Because Helios is Don's friend too.]

Of course. After he's back.

Then I w-would be most amicable... whenever it is c-convenient for you.

...

I-I, I missed you. [Robert really wishes he could hold Don right now.]

[Don wishes so too. To that end -] I'm going to go work on breaking this fever. I'll see you soon?

[With almost unquantifiable eagerness:] Yes... please take care.

... See you soon, Don...

I love you.

[Her samples weren't the only ones to have dissappeared. Damn.]

Understood.

[Too many exhausted soldiers. Very few of these people were prepared for extended warfare. It had nearly exhausted her, too. They would all need to rest, and heal.]

... Take the time.

[It feels odd to put a xenotype as a friendly in her mind, but Robert did. That was one person accounted for.]

Thanks, Daisy.

Was there, ah... anything in particular you were looking for? I still have my observations.

That depends. How are you?

[In terms of health, that is. That, and she doesn't trust the journals much.]

I'll be fine in a few days. You? [Though he has a hard time imagining the giant warrior in anything less than fighting shape.]

I've been through worse.

[To be fair, the reason she is still fit for fighting, all her training and combat experience aside, is because of her armor. It is a Spartan's safe haven. It is her second skin. Her refuge.]

I'm assisting with some of the sick. But we can talk here... or in person.

[Strategically, she prefers the second choice. The less that got through the journals, the less the Malnosso would know they know. She knows her duty goes above any dislike she may harbor against xenotypes.]

Can I meet you somewhere later in the week?

Affirmative. Things should've calmed down by then.

[Hopefully.]

... Get well.

[Too many sick.]

Thanks. I'll call you in a few days.

((You can hit him up if you want, or just handwave.))

Don, how... how are you holding up.

Been worse. You don’t sound so great yourself.

Just a little feverish. I think most people have it.

[A laugh. Or maybe a cough. Hard to tell.] We should all get on the journals and talk. Remember the insomnia club?

Yes, yes I do.

[Do you remember how much he loved you then, Winry?]

[... Do you know he has someone else now?]

Do you think I'm still allowed in? I just slept for a day and a half...

I'm sure we can make an exception. I slept a lot too.

Edited 2011-06-08 21:34 (UTC)

[Winry, please teach Raphael this very pragmatic attitude.]

We just have to get back on the bandwagon, right?

I'm sure that won't be hard after some recovery time.

I think I might have another relapse, first, though.

I think I know what you mean.

I won't tell if you won't.

It'll just be between us.

I'll talk to you later, Winry.

I'll count on it.

[That 'sick for real' thing is catching up to him now too, especially thanks to sleeping poorly. But he ended up a hell of a lot better than he could have been.]

I'm in one piece. I hope you're doing ok?

[Don has mixed feelings towards you now, Mulder. He's glad you're safe, but he can't help wondering what would have happened if he had been with Helios that night instead of with you.]

Still alive. Did you have any effects from the return trip?

[If Mulder knew that, he would be feeling all irrationally guilty, himself. :( He doesn't know the connection yet though.]

A little under the weather, but I'll live. [Trying to downplay the feeling like hell and insomnia thing.] I keep wondering if we ever had much of a chance at all... or if there was something more we could have done.

[He can't help thinking back to what you said in the dorms.]

We almost all survived. If they wanted us to win, they should have given us better resources.

Yeah... Almost. It didn't sound like we lost too many, but... still... Why send us out there under such desperate conditions, at the last minute and under-prepared? If we weren't pulled out when we were...

[Half the village would probably have been coming back from the dead in a week's time.]

For that matter, why give us a time limit? Not that I'm complaining...

I don't see the reasoning, either. Even if there's no way in hell we could have made it through a week in those conditions.

[He shivers just thinking about it, and changes the subject a little.]

It was a fascinating area, though. I wish we could have had some time to just study it.

It would have been an exciting place to explore under more... peaceful conditions. Even if half the native wildlife was out to get us too, there were so many species from other worlds...

[It would be a whole stream of endless X-Files.]

What did you see, aside from the usual?

Quite a few things that looked extraterrestrial. One that sticks out was large green and tentacled, and emitted a noxious, poisonous odor...

[That stench will be hard to forget.]

Sounds like Mikey when he forgets to bathe.

[Sorry, he couldn't help himself.]

[Mulder has a laugh at that. That's a good thing, they all need something to lighten things up after how things have turned out.]

Remind me to buy nose plugs, if I ever meet him.

I'll try to remember.

Glad to hear it.

...And I hope you take care, after all we've just been through.

Thanks. I'll talk to you soon.

[The reports from the field had been few, but the ones that Leo did manage to get over the journals, he didn't like the sound of. He itched to be out there helping, especially with one of his brothers out there fighting.

Their shared room is dark, except for the flickering light of a couple of candles, providing enough light to navigate by, without lighting up the whole room. He'll be on his back, right arm under his head and eyes closed as he listens to the rain outside. Trying to relax his mind, even if he's in no mood to sleep. The room door opening will see him sitting up, eyes opened. Don looks exhausted, and he doesn't protest him crawling into his bed dirty. He scoots over to make room. He visually checks for wounds, but they all look minor.]

It sounded like it. [He says, with a sigh. He'll listen to Don's recounts of the battle. Come morning sometime, he'll leave Don to sleep, to go alert Splinter, Raph and Mikey(if he didn't wake up earlier) and let them know that Don's back.]

[Don is filthy, bruised and battered. A bandage, little more than a rag now, peeks from under the dirt on his calf.]

[The first thing he tells Leo is an overview of the battle. The types of enemies the draftees encountered, their seemingly endless numbers, the way they overran the camp during the fourth-day monsoon. The general organization of the draftees into teams, the ways they relayed information, what they learned about the world outside their enclosure.]

[Later in the morning he tells Leo about the rainforest itself: the beautiful things he saw there, and how much he would have liked it, if only he wasn't in constant danger of his life.]

[He'll have more to say in the afternoon, if Leo is still there.]

[Nothing a good shower won't fix, hopefully. He puts a hand on Don's forehead and notes the slight fever, frowning. It doesn't seem that bad yet, but he'll definitely mention it to Splinter. They wouldn't want it to get worse. For now he'll keep an eye on it.

Once he's done inspecting and assessing injuries, or while he's doing it, he'll listen to what Don says about the battle. Out manned, out gunned. A situation that non-combatants shouldn't of been near, but they were. The rainforest itself sounded beautiful, however.]

A shame you guys didn't get to enjoy it. [Beautiful lands outside the barrier, too bad they have no access to it at all.

He'll be in and out during the day, to get food and what have you. He'll mostly be in the room though, keeping an eye on Donny, makking sure that fever doesn't get worse.]

[The next time he's awake and you're around, he'll recount how he met Karai in the dorms and again in the jungle. He'll also mention how he got the injury on his leg: a piranha bite, naturally. You might want to clean that up for him.]

[He actually returns from one of his exits, with steal to rewrap it, and clean it up. He'll do that while you talk. To hear of Karai isn't surprising. He'd seen her on the list of draftees, and worried about what she might try to pull out on the field. But to hear that both encounters came out more or less peacefully, is surprising. Adding to it that she helped Don.]

Maybe she does still have some honor in her. [Though there's still doubt in his mind. But the fact that she didn't attack a fellow soldier, even one who's usually her enemy, shows something.

[Don lies quietly as Leo cleans and rebandages his injury, relaxing under his brother's hands. After four days of misery, of mud and brutal fighting and pushing on through the exhaustion, it feels good to just let someone take care of him.]

I talked to Derek.

This will sting a little.

[He warns, before he applies the anti-bacterial, and wraps up the wound. Learning basic wound care and first aid definitely comes in handy.

He glances up at Don's next words.]

Oh?

[The sting doesn't bother him, but he appreciates the warning nonetheless.]

I think... he might be ready to come home.

[He smiles a little. He's only really met the man over the journals, but he can tell Derek means a lot to Don and Raph. Once he's done wrapping, he'll set the stuff aside and sit on the bed.]

He's doing better, then?

Edited 2011-06-09 05:22 (UTC)

The infection is gone. He's - he's himself again.

[He flexes his ankle, just a little. Feels good.] Thanks.

Good to hear. I could clean up his room for him.

[It's only half-hearted, he wouldn't really without Derek's permission. Though the idea of everything in Derek's rooms gathering dust just tempts him.]

Welcome.

[Don shakes his head against the pillow.] Don't. We've left it just the way it was.

I won't.

[He shakes his own head. He's not done it to this point, and he still won't. He has more control then that, he doesn't clean Mikey and Raph's room either, after all.]

Good. [He drifts off again, probably to wake up in the thread below.]

[Sounds good, Leo'll go see if anybody else is awake.]

[Mike is still asleep on the table when Leo comes looking for him, a small puddle of drool pooling around his mouth.]

[The kitchen's one of the first places he looks. The sight of Mikey asleep at the table stops him for a moment. Despite his mood, it gets a little smile from him. He heads over to his brother, giving him a gently shake on the shoulder.]

Mikey?

Fnh?

...Donnie?

No Mikey, it's me. Leo. Donny's home, though.

[That perks him right up.]

Where is he?

[Thought it might.]

In our room, he's exhausted from the draft and has been mostly sleeping. [So no running and pouncing on him, please?]

[Mike gets up and bounds (quietly) into the room. Is Don sleeping? If not, he may get a wiggly turtle all up in his face, though he will be mindful of Don's condition. A little.]

[Don is awake, for the moment, and looking in mild dismay at the dirt caked all over him. Surely something can be done about this. Or maybe he'll just get pounced on by an enthusiastic brother. That's good too.]

[Leo follows. Yeah, they should do something about the dirt.]

Mikey! I hope you didn't wake him up.

I didn't! He was already awake.

You were awake, right Donnie?

[Don't mind Raph hanging in the doorway, guys. He has his arms folded, shifting from foot to foot, just watching his brothers. He's glad Don's back. There's no doubt about that. But he's content to ghost around and let the others handle it for now.]

'm awake. [Did he hug you before, Mikey? He can't remember. He'll do it now.]

[Yeah, Leo'll hang back and just watch for the moment. He knows that Raph's there too, and glances back at him briefly.

[Mike hugs Don back fiercely.]

Are you hungry?

[Are you okay? Are you in one piece? I missed you.]

Starving.

[And tired and sore and dirty and BITTEN BY A PIRANHA, but mostly okay and glad to be home.]

I'll get you something!

[He runs out of the room. Based on the noise he's making he's bringing you the whole kitchen. He's also going to be a while. (You're getting a Dagwood sandwich, Donnie. Are you ready for this?)]

[Raph moves into the room to get out of Mike's way as he leaves. He stares at Don as if he has something to say, but doesn't dare say it.

I'm glad you're back.]

You should get cleaned up. If you're up for it.

[The bite wound is bandaged and cleaned, but who knows what else he's carrying.

Please. [He hauls himself to a sitting position so Leo can pull him to his feet. As he gets up, he'll cast an uncertain look at Raph.]

[Raph just looks away and heads for the kitchen. Looks like Leo's got it handled.]

[Leo watches Raph and sighs when he retreats after looking away. He'll help Donny up, and to go wash up.]

Mikey, taking Donny to get washed up. [He calls to Mikey in the kitchen when they pass. Since he knows his brother's busy making that sandwhich quick.]

[Sorry, Leo, Don has to lean his dirty self on you all the way to the bathroom.]

's he okay?

[Must not wince, must not wince. Nah, he doesn't mind, though the filthy sheets are definitely getting changed, or cleaned, or both, while you eat...if Raph and Mikey let him leave you with them for a bit.]

No, he's not. [Physically he was getting better, even if he wasn't a 100%. But Raph's not too happy. How do you tell your sick brother, that Mikey and Raph didn't take the news before the draft well?]

[Just this look, as Don climbs into the tub. Don't make him ask all the questions.]

[Leo will help you into the tub, and turn on the water, getting it to the right temperature. He knows the look though.]

He's been sulking around since he came back from his kidnapping.

Edited 2011-06-12 05:24 (UTC)

[That isn't news, but at least nothing else has happened.]

[Don relaxes into the rising water, letting it soak away the dirt.]

[Unless Don protests, Leo will help clean off the rest of what the water doesn't remove on it's own.]

[Clean away, bro. Don might just doze off a little in the tub.]

[That works too, good way to relax sore, tired muscles. He'll clean away, occasionally shifting a limb or just shifting you forward to get to an area to clean.

[Oh, he's relaxed, all right. He's so relaxed you may have to periodically haul him back upright as he gently keels over into the water. Or not. It isn't like he's going to drown.]

[He'll haul you back up once he gets your shell clean. Once he's done, he'll drain the water. He'll grab a towel to get him dry.]

Come on Donny, wake up. Mikey's got food with your name on it.

[That perks him up, moderately. He's starving.]

[Whenever you get there, Mike's in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a sandwich literally six inches high.]

[Perking up is just what he wanted to see. He'll get Don dry, then help him up and out of the tub. They head out of the bathroom, and soon arrive at the kitchen.]

Here he is, good and clean. Ready for Food. [He'll pull out a seat and help Don sit down.]

[Don falls into the chair and onto the sandwich, devouring the latter in minutes. Talk amongst yourselves, guys; your brother is too busy chowing down.]

He doing okay?

[No limbs missing, etc? His appetite is intact at least.]

[Leo just nods in answer Mikey's question. He watching Donny, making sure he's not going to choke, while he's inhaling that sandwich.]

Bite wound on his leg that we should watch for infection with. I changed the bandages and cleaned it, before I found you in here. [Mikey may have noticed the bandages.] But other then that, he's fine.

[Raph will be there, sitting at the table with his head in his hand, just watching Don with that same sedate expression he had before. He's so sick and tired of everyone always being sick and tired for no freakin' reason at all save for the Malnosso's twisted games.

He scratches absent-mindedly at the bandage glued to his plastron.]

[Oh, hey, Raph, you're here too. Don throws you worried looks in between licking the plate.]

Need more?

[It does Mike good to see such a hearty appetite, Don, it really does.]

[He isn't certain what Donatello is trying to say at first, but then realizes.]

Thank you Donatello, but everything's all right as am I. Although...I would not mind some company if you are up to coming.

[ooc: Hope you don't mind me reposting this, I thought this sounded a lot nicer. ♥]

[Sounding frustrated and defeated:] Frederic, I would, but they're not letting me out of the house. Can I come tomorrow?

((Sorry for slow; had to wait and see how the week would play out.))

Of course, I do not mind. And who you mean by they? Is everything truly all right with you?

[... That may have come out wrong.]

I mean my family. They're just worrying...

[He's nodding, despite Donatello not seeing it.]

I understand, how is your brother Raphael doing? It's been some time since I saw him.

[ooc: Also I thought I'd say it's totally okay. ♥]

Better. He's back on his feet.

((Can we say Don visited/will visit Frederic on Thursday? Need to know for purposes of other threads.))

That's good to hear, although by your message... You've already heard about Helios.

[ooc: That's fine with me. ♥]

Giles told me the day after. I didn't get the whole story, but I understand if you don't want to talk about it...

I do not know why Giles did not speak the whole story, but... Helios died saving my life from Shift Hunters.

I think something was wrong with him, but he wouldn't tell me what.

Are you hurt?

That must have been when he took Helios' powers. And it's more emotional than physical pain right now.

He what?

He absorbed Helios' powers and it made him go mad.

[Well. That explains the blood magic, at least.]

Is that - normal? For wizards?

I'm afraid I do not know, since I have never been able to do it.

Is - is he okay? I mean, did he know it would have that effect?

I do not think so, but yes he's fine. Although as of right now, he's not living with me.

Where did he go?

He's living in one of the vacant apartments on a different floor. You can ask him which one, since he and I aren't on the best terms right now. All I ask is that you don't bring up what I've told you with Giles if you see him.

[There's more going on here than Don knows about. He doesn't want to pry, though.]

I won't. I'll see you tomorrow?

Thank you. And yes of course, that's perfectly fine.

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