i_speak_softly | Fifty-First Theory [Written/Voice/Action]

[This morning, instead of going for his usual run, Don settles himself at his desk in the back room. The door is open and a pencil is poked thoughtfully between his teeth. When he begins to write, it isn't filtered, but courtesy of a translation-shield, anyone trying to read the entry will see something that looks more like a Danish cryptogram than anything intelligible. It's a code Don uses for his private notes: only his brothers or an extraordinarily gifted linguist would have a hope of being able to figure it out.]

BGTVULWG - Wvlz hltwqszu bluul kgf bj svg hblfl. Bj ilkqtblf bqs q lu zu lb pvwblu WJDLUQ, gs bj zpflh bqzzal tgulf bqs zlwh, lkulf vu bj nvhbl iglu nl f q lu vg gs lt vwh.

[A little later in the morning, Don leaves the following message.]

Filtered to everyone he can think of that he would consider a friend || Unhackable

All my friends here in Luceti... would you say a few words about yourself? For my notes.

[Much later, in the evening, Don goes out for his run. Now that Shredder is gone, he's allowed to go out after dark again. He knows he doesn't have long before the nights get too cold for this, so he's going to enjoy it while he can.]

((OOC: On Ami's suggestion, Don is working on the in-game equivalent of a timeline and a CR chart.))

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[But - he likes going out and speaking to people. It's one of the things that makes it worth being trapped in this place.]

I guess.

[Don resettles, straddling the branch comfortably.]

Why are you looking at me like that?

[Consider it a very large if.]

You know, in the meantime, we should do something before you won't feel like doing as much.

... What?

[That can't mean what he thinks it does.]

Swimming, or a picnic, or a hike maybe.... [But her voice trails off into complete uncertainty at his reaction. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked? It was rather forward of her.]

[Excuse him a moment while he filters this. If the conversation is going where he thinks it's going...]

Ami, what are you saying?

A mixture of admiration of your abilities and discomfort of my own lack thereof? [It's so remarkably blunt...]

[The side of his mouth quirks up, and then he slips off the branch, landing lightly in the grass.]

You're fine. Walk with me?

Nothing! It's just, it's starting to get cold. [With your body type... ~~alright, and what she's been told~~...]

Ami! [Well, what did he expect? He should really be more surprised that no one else has figured it out.]

[He tries to compose himself a little.] You - you haven't told anyone, have you?

No, of course not. [She says that easily enough and, of course, it's true.] I'm sorry if it seems to be prying.

It's all right... [In truth, it's good to have someone who knows, so they can look out for him when he's not lucid enough to do it himself. Usually Master Splinter fills that role, but, well, Don should know better than to count on his sensei staying in Luceti through the winter.] I - I would like to do something with you.

[Saved. She smiles, relieved, and a bit of warmth comes into her voice.]

Fall is a great time of year to enjoy. [She won't admit to liking leaf piles.] The colors are beautiful, and there are pumpkins and apples.

[As a response the scientist sidles up to Don's side and stops there obediently.]

I presume this does not necessarily have a destination...

No. [Nevertheless, he puts an arm around Robert's shoulders and steers him in the general direction of the riverbank. After a few dozen yards he speaks again.] Have I told you I admire your non-ability?

... I cannot say you ever have, before. [Robert leans into that broad, familiar plastron as they walk together, but his mind is lost trying to discern the meaning of that statement.] Why would you ever admire that?

Because... [He waves his free hand vaguely.] Because you're able to not be able. [He touches his palm to Robert's chest briefly, as though he can somehow push understanding into him.] Do you know what I mean?

[... Sadly, this reasoning is entirely lost on Robert.]

... not exactly.

[The look of confusion on his expression might almost be comical.]

Halloween is coming... [There's an edge of sadness in his voice. It's always been a special day for him, and Leo enjoys it too, but neither of them ever got excited about it the way Raph and Mike did. It just won't be the same without them.]

[Nope. Don misses the look as he tries to sort out his own thoughts.]

I'm - I'm jealous. Of your world. That you could spend your time doing something other than learning how to fight.

[Robert bites his lip at that. He can hardly fathom what it must have been like, growing up in a world where he had to learn to fight - it's just so terrifyingly unlike what he knows.]

... If... if I could have, I would have made sure you would have never had to...

... or, or at least would not have such a dire need to learn,that would exclude anything else you wished to do...

[Robert, you're missing the point. But Don won't press: if you knew how unique you were, you would have lost part of what made you special.]

What did you do, growing up?

Pommy doesn't remember. Pommy used to live with a family, but they were all people! Their daughter found Pommy in the forest and brought Pommy home. It was nice there, so Pommy lived there for a while until Pommy got caught up in the BHB Army's artificial black hole and became friends with Bomberman.

[Wait, what? Don was not expecting that ending.]

A black hole? An artificial black hole?

[Robert smiles a little to himself, in an awkward sort of way.] ... I... spent much of my time indoors, to be frank. Researching, reading texts, playing holovideos and immersive video games, using the Internet in general...

[... He was quite the little shut-in. Hell, Don probably sees similar behaviour in him now, when he isn't coaxing Robert to go outside.]

Sometimes we did go to the Institutes, though - my parents and I, that is. They were... fond of taking me. [Probably because it was easier than trying to keep up with him themselves.]

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Fifty-First Theory [Written/Voice/Action]

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