Fiftieth Theory [Voice/Action for Housemates]

[i_speak_softly]

[When Don opens the door to the storage room, he immediately forgets what he went there for. His housemates will hear him shouting:]

No!

[Later, when he's calmer, a Voice post:]

Derek Bliss has gone home.

[... That's all he can manage.]

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Don just gestures wordlessly into the suddenly-much-emptier storage room. What can he say? Splinter and Leo were more familiar with Derek's belongings than with the man himself.]

[honorthecode.livejournal.com]

[Leo just stares for a moment, before he gives a sigh. Another one went home. Even if he barely knew the man, Derek seemed like a pretty nice guy. Even if he did have issues.

He'll put a hand on Don's shoulder.]

I'm sorry.

[semper_cogitans]

[As usual, Robert's the last to show up, shocked out of whatever he was doing by Don's sudden cry of despair.

He stops dead in front of the entrance to the storage room, gray eyes widening slightly as he realizes instantly that the meticulously-arranged contents are now entirely missing.

... Derek Bliss, the owner of these objects, went home... didn't he.]

... D-Don... [He embraces him fiercely, knowing that no matter what, it won't dull the pain.]

[ninjacane]

My son...

[Splinter knows that words cannot change what has happened. He cannot begin to make this better or make this right. The only thing he can do is be here for his son.

When Robert arrives, Splinter reads his intentions and steps to the side. Donatello has a partner now, and Splinter is not one to rob Robert of part of his duty. He won't interrupt this moment, but wait for the right moment to touch his son.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don clings to Leo first, before turning to accept the hug from Robert. As for Master Splinter... does his sensei know how much of a surrogate father Derek had been to him? Don can't even begin to explain now what the man meant to him.]

[honorthecode.livejournal.com]

[Leo will briefly hug Don, before stepping aside as Robert steps in. He doesn't know what to say either. He didn't know Derek, but Raph and Don did seem to be pretty close to the man.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert only has the barest indications of what Derek meant to Don. He hardly knew the man himself, other than to ascertain he was a generally decent person, and so he doesn't really know what to say.

Don's pain is evident, though. So he'll stay there to comfort his partner unless Don wants distance, though he does move so that his brother and father can join the embrace.

... What can he say? This must be like when he lost Vivi.]

[ninjacane]

[Splinter moves forward to rub his son's shell, eyes soft. He doesn't need to speak. Donatello simply needs him here now.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don hugs Master Splinter too, then backs away from everyone, rubbing at his eyes. He appreciates their support, but... he needs to talk to people who knew Derek. He needs to let the village know he's gone.]

[honorthecode.livejournal.com]

[Leo watches Don. He frowns a little at the backing away. But he can understand it. They just didn't know Derek like Don did. His look turn more sympathetic again, as he nods to Don.]

If you need somebody to talk to, I'll be around. [Even if he didn't know Derek, he can at least offer to listen. Don's his brother after all.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert feels his heart wrench at that, at the way Don rubs his eyes in that pained manner. He can almost feel it himself, the same way he felt when Vivi left; when Ingrid left. That aching feeling of loss. That knowledge that you were no longer remembered, were no longer part of that person's life...]

...

Likewise, Don. If... if you need anything, anything at all...

[Even to be left alone. Robert will oblige it.]