Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yesterday the village grew quiet, as many villagers were called on a draft, and many others began the anxious wait to see if their friends and loved ones would return to the village safely.]

[Also yesterday, a breath of warm weather arrived in Luceti. Don has been out enjoying it, trying not to dwell on those who are fighting on a flying island right now. He has enough other things on his mind, and around midday he does something about one of them.]

Filtered to Beast || Unhackable

Beast... I haven't thanked you properly for what you did for Robert and me. For everything you've done for us.

End Filter

[Later, he leaves a brief, unfiltered message:]

Would anyone be interested in learning how to program computers and fix cars?

Comments

[semper_cogitans]

[That tone shift does not go unnoticed, nor does the nickname.]

... About... wh-what?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don looks at the barren ground.]

I read Leo's journal.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert brings his hands reflexively up against his chest, systematically kneading them, though he still doesn't look at Don.]

Might I... a-ask what it contained, Donatello...? [Tender-but-intense - this name seems appropriate here.]

[i_speak_softly]

What happens to me.

[He glances sideways at Robert, seeking the reassurance of eye contact.]

[semper_cogitans]

[This time, Robert looks up, and locks his gaze with Don. He's always been curious about the things Leo had neglected to mention, but he's never put this curiosity into words...]

... I-Is that... something you wish to share...?

[There's a grave seriousness in Robert's voice that outstrips even his usual tone.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Quietly:] It's something you should know.

[semper_cogitans]

[Then it's something Robert wants to know.]

Please feel free to... explain as much as you w-wish. [The man slides an arm close to Don, extending a hand to hold - if he wants.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don looks away, turning to face down the hill towards the river.]

Let's sit.

[semper_cogitans]

[Immediately, Robert takes his arm away, repositioning himself in the same direction as Don, and then drops into a formal seiza almost automatically on the ground. It actually takes him a moment to realize he's kneeling on dirt... but he doesn't really care enough right now to scoot away from it. (It'll probably bother him later.)

For now, he just waits for Don to begin speaking.]

[i_speak_softly]

[... He meant closer to the water, but okay.]

[He settles cross-legged on the ground, and stares at nothing in particular for a moment before saying:]

I guess I should begin at the beginning.

[semper_cogitans]

[Hey, it's what happens when you give such a direct order. Maybe Robert would've gotten the hint if Don stared at the river some more first.

In any case...]

... That... seems a prudent place to begin, yes...

[i_speak_softly]

[Don gathers his thoughts, and begins here:]

Ironically, the first thing is mostly a blank. Shortly after the last thing I remember, Ultimate Drako attacked the Lair and zapped us all to different dimensions. Wherever he sent me, I never talked about it.

[semper_cogitans]

[Ultimate Drako... the fusion being that the Hamatos had discussed, who whisked them off to different worlds... hmm. Where could Don have possibly been sent that made him unwilling to speak of it?]

... That seems... s-strange... [Though Don has been recalcitrant before. But with his brothers?]

[i_speak_softly]

[He remembers some other solo adventures he's never told anyone about, has tried to fit this new blank into that framework... but really, it could be anything.]

After that, Bishop kidnapped Master Splinter, but we found him by using my train car.

[semper_cogitans]

[The man suppresses a slight shudder. Everything he's heard about this Bishop has been abominable, and the less he's involved with things, the better. Poor, poor Robert.]

And Master Splinter was... a-alright...?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don hesitates, thrown by the strangeness of this story: telling of things that haven't happened to him yet in past tense.]

He... yes.

[semper_cogitans]

[It's strange, but Robert is rationalizing it as the retelling of Leo's story - for him, this was all past tense.]

... Good.

[Robert breathes in slowly and resettles a little in place.] What... what happened next...?

[i_speak_softly]

After that... the part where Leo got the scar.

[Please don't ask him the details of that adventure.]

[semper_cogitans]

[As much as Robert's inherent curiosity begs for answers on this point, Robert can see he'd better not push it, so he just stays quiet. He does put his hand on Don's, though.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don frowns now, and the fingers of his free hand tap against his leg as he thinks.]

I forget what's next. It's all jumbled up.

[semper_cogitans]

[Unfortunately, Robert can't help with this part.]

... Perhaps a review of the c-contents would be in order...

But is there... a-anything else?

[i_speak_softly]

[There was one part Don wanted to be sure to talk about, but first he has to confess to something else. He flaps his wings almost violently, scowls in irritation, and says:]

I give. It's driving me crazy.

[semper_cogitans]

... [At this, Robert just gives Don an uncertain look. Give what?]

[i_speak_softly]

[Well, that is kind of weird and unsettling.]

Why are you looking at me like that? You've been wanting to fix it practically since I got home.

[semper_cogitans]

[And now it clicks. The sudden comprehension on Robert's face might be almost amusing.]

... Ah. You... you mean your shell...

[Should he get up for some cleaning utensils? Because he's about to if Don isn't specific.]