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

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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.))

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It's no trouble.

[Something about the not-so-secret feelings Mike had for Ami makes Don think the young woman must have hidden reserves of physical talent, but he doesn't know for sure. Either way, he must be nearly twice her weight, so he'd better go a little easy on her.]

[What feelings? 8D]

Please don't be shocked.

[These words are almost guaranteed to preface something shocking. Ami lifts her arms into the air, and gestures as she speaks three simple magic words that make her voice echo with power:]

Mercury Power, Make-up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utg6luc-C24)!

[The energy of her transformation swirls around her with a pure, watery aura, the water and bubbles coalesce into the sailor-suited uniform, and Mercury stands in Ami's place. The gem on her tiara glimmers briefly.]

[Well. That's hardly the most amazing thing Don has ever seen, but he's also sure that isn't how humans normally change their clothes.]

You... did mean for us to spar, right?

[If you were going to magically change your clothes, couldn't you have picked something more battle-appropriate?]

[Senshi learned the hard way about the uniforms when Venus complained about hers back in Sailor V days, was allowed to switch into armor she thought she was cooler - and couldn't fight at all thanks to its weight.]

I did. This is the form I fight in.

[Don looks Ami up and down - well, maybe not too much down, because wow that skirt is short - and then squares off opposite her, watching her stance to gauge her skill level.]

Suit yourself.

[She eyes his bo, and then once more reaches into nothing. She raises her arm straight in the air, and closes it around the tambourine that materializes in her grip. She shakes it, calls on her planet, and her sword shimmers into a watery existence. She pulls it sharply into a ready position.]

[He wouldn't have guessed her as a sword-user, but he sizes up the weapon with a practiced eye and settles into a defensive stance.]

[Whenever you're ready, Ami.]

[She waits until she's sure of her opening, and then a quick step and turn in brings her into perfect position to strike out at her opponent. She adjusts easily for the different target areas on the different body.]

[Don is sharply increasing his estimate of Ami's skill level right about now. Very few fighters think to change their technique when faced with a non-human opponent.]

[He uses his greater strength to deflect the attack, then counterstrikes with a purposely-slow sweep. He doesn't want to actually hit her.]

[She thinks about more than that. As soon as she regains her footing from the sweep, Ami applies their conversation from earlier this quickly: The air temperature suddenly drops as she gathers her energy for an attack of snow.]

Mercury Aqua Cyclone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Niz40qto)!

[She gestures with her hands as she speaks, and a stream of snow and ice heads straight for Donatello.]

[Don throws himself to the side, not terribly gracefully, narrowly dodging the snow and ice. The accompanying cold gust alone is enough to knock him out of the fight.]

Ami, no!

[She pulls up short the second he calls out.]

Are you alright?

[She hadn't thought it'd be that bad, and she instantly feels terrible. She hurries over towards him.]

[He curls up on himself, not that this will help anything, and is grateful that Ami is the kind of fighter who stops when their sparring partner goes down.]

P-please don't do that...

I'm sorry! [She looks around quickly, but there's nothing here to help warm him with; of course not.]

Should we go inside? [There'd be blankets... hot tea...]

[If only he had studied some Fire magic...]

Yes...

[He holds out his hand. Ami is small, but maybe she can help a little?]

[Fire is too foreign to her to learn, even here; she's focused on Nala instead. Healing suits her.

Ami gives Don her hand, and helps to support his weight as they head inside.]

I'm sorry. [She feels like she can't apologize enough. She hadn't meant to harm him.]

I just thought... I just thought it would be a small advantage.

Edited 2011-10-22 01:19 (UTC)

[He leans on Ami a little, and laughs weakly.]

Keep it in mind if you're ever in a real fight against a reptile.

[Her voice comes out weak, too; the same voice as Ami despite the blue hair and uniform.] I'll remember.

[She will. This certainly drove it home. It's more relevant than one might expect, somewhere like Luceti and even back home if the enemy were to somehow arise again. Youma had taken on many different types of forms.]

And to apologize, please let me help you until you're feeling a little better.

[He limps up the front walk and nudges the door open.]

Come in. And you know you still owe me a fair match, right?

[Well, if the yelling hadn't gotten his attention before, the appearance of his slumped, ice-frosted partner being brought in by a battle-suited Ami - or, rather, Mercury, Robert has to correct himself - is frightening, to say the least. The little scientist scurries up to them both, eyes somewhat widened.]

Don, are you alright? What happened...?

[Is he going to have to get out the tepid water? Because that's the first thing he should probably do...]

[Robert can get the water while Mercury helps Don to a chair. She doesn't answer the question, instead she gives a nervous glance to Don.

Truthfully, she feels ashamed. She shouldn't have let it happen like that. She should have... something!]

Edited 2011-10-22 02:00 (UTC)

[Don settles gratefully into the chair, pulling a throw blanket over himself.]

Robert, some tea? Please?

[He'll explain once he has a warm drink in his hands.]

[Worriedly, Robert casts a single glance over his shoulder before heading off to boil water for the tea - this is something he does as quickly and efficiently as possible, and in the meantime he's casting glances at the sink. Should he try to get Don to the water...?

... May as well get him the tea first, though.

A few minutes later, he returns, with the warm tea in a nice mug for Don.]

It was an accident.

[She might be saying to Don, it's so quiet and Robert is already leaving the room. It's the best she can do.]

Do you want anything? [This, is definitely directed to Don.] I'll bring it right away.

I'm fine. Was that your own magic? I've never seen anyone do anything like that with Sona.

[Obviously the most important thing here is to investigate the nature of what hurt him.]

[When Robert returns, he murmurs "Thank you" and takes the mug carefully, holding it between his hands and inhaling the warm vapor.]

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[Action] self, you should not be thinking 'now the opposite: turtle soup!' >_< XD

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[Action] sorry! XD

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[Action] *interrupts at a hideous time if this is okay?*

[Action] it's perfect. >D

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[Action] interrupts at a hideous time if this is okay?