i_speak_softly | Sixty-First Theory [Action]

Entry tags:

Sixty-First Theory [Action]

[People may have stopped scuba-diving and playing Whack-a-Mole around the fountain, but at least by some standards, it’s not entirely back to normal: now a giant turtle is sitting on the edge of it, staring intently at passersby.]

[Well, not just staring. Donatello is trying to establish psychic contact. He’s thinking a message as hard as he can at anyone who walks through the plaza, and while it isn’t exactly in words, the gist of it is: If you can hear this, help me.]

[Of course, to anyone who can’t hear it, he just looks like some kind of creeper. He’s sorry about that, really...]

((Death penalty reference.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Michael flinches away from him, not understanding what he's trying to show.]

J-Jesus, what---hang on. Sorry. Try that again. That was a little off in my head.

[Don hesitates, then tries again, sending carefully cliche images representing death: gravestones, angels, and what he thinks a human funeral looks like. It's accompanied by an overarching sense that something like this happened to him.]

[Michael has this thing about death... but he very quickly understands what Donatello is trying to convey.]

...you died?

[Nod. Not a secret, just - awkward and embarrassing to explain.]

[Michael softens, looking to him.]

...it's okay. I've heard people here can die. The important thing is that you're alive, Donatello. I bet you had friends who missed you.

[He certainly did. Even though he'd been able to warn them beforehand, they still didn't take it well.]

[Changing the subject, he tries to ask mentally about the fictional version of himself, and what Michael had imagined meeting a ninja turtle might be like.]

[Michael chuckles.]

Well, considering I grew up with the comics and the tv show, I used to be pretty confused about meeting you guys. I'll admit, I watched a bit of another series and I liked it too, but then we didn't have cable anymore and I didn't get to see more of it. I guess, I always thought you guys would be strong, silent types who vanished without more than a raspy "Be safe, kid."

...or maybe one of you would whine about being hungry and get thwapped upside the head. Probably Mikey.

Ahaha, man I could just go on. I loved you guys when I was little.

["Strong and silent" describes Don pretty well lately.]

[While it hurts to hear a stranger talking about Mikey when he hasn't seen his brother in so long, it's good to share those memories with someone. Don smiles a little at the thought.]

...are you alone here, Don?

[Because yeah. He's a little more in tune with emotions than most thanks to Lil'l.]

[No, he has Leo. He sends images to that effect.]

[Michael's reaction is pretty much to almost wet himself. Leonardo. The Leader. The amazing.]

L-Leonardo? really?

[Because honestly, what boy didn't idolize the brave leader at times?]

[Geez, it's almost like you like Leo better or something. Don takes away the images, because he's passive-aggressive that way.]

[Michael actually begins to laugh at that, gleefully, as he can tell PA a mile away and the look on Donatello's face is priceless. He sighs, rubbing his eyes and getting a last few chuckles out before speaking.]

Easy, easy. Every boy I know growing up wanted to be a leader like Leonardo. That's all. He was always too serious for me though. I was always more drawn to Michelangelo and Raphael. It's not your fault, Don. Honest. The show just seemed to stump you for the important stuff from what I can remember.

[He smiles gently at him.]

Like you said: The show's not an accurate reflection. And hell, I'm honoured to actually know the real you way more than the cartoon you anyway. It's not playing favorites with real people in my case as I've never honestly met any of you.

In that regard, I like everyone equally.

[Don doesn't usually get laughed at when he uses his psychological tricks, so he isn't sure how to react to this. Or to the suggestion that his fictional self is written badly and everyone likes his brothers better.]

[... He'll just be silent a moment, his mind blank.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sixty-First Theory [Action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]