i_speak_softly | Eighth Theory [Voice]

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Eighth Theory [Voice]

Filtered to Molly and Raine Sage || Extremely Unhackable

Molly, Miss Sage - I've redrawn the blueprints.

The major change is that I gave up on the missiles, the generator, and the defensive capacities of the fort. Even with electricity, I wouldn't have been able to make them work. But, I found someone who can cast a magical barrier around the playground. He just needs everyone who should be allowed in to write down their own name. Miss Sage, if you could work on that list... ? There's no hurry, since we need to actually build the playground first, but it will take some time and we should get started.

Ah... I also put in floodlights; it seemed like a good idea...

What do you think, Molly? Does this design meet primary objectives?

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Well now you're talkin'! C'mon, I'll show you the lake!

[Then he takes off running southbound, letting his innate sense of direction guide him.

It's a solid four mile run, Donnie. Better keep up!]

[Good. If that conversation had taken any longer, Don would have regained his sanity and gone directly home by the shortest route. Instead, he brushes the water off his head and follows Raph towards and past their apartment building. Somewhere along the way to the lake, his legs remember their old rhythm, and he pushes through the pain and rediscovers how good it feels to just run.]

[Raph keeps his merciless pace whether he leaves Don behind or not. They're making it to that lake, and that's all he can think of.

The moment he reaches it, he dives into the freezing, swampy water. Two seconds later, he re-emerges with a yelp, scrabbling to get back on dry land.]

Okay, cold, COLD! Bad idea!

[He can't breathe. The fact that's he LAUGHING probably isn't helping.]

I'm - *gasp* - I'm sorry! I forgot the water hasn't warmed up yet!

[OR DID HE.]

[Now Raph is dripping wet and freezing his ever-loving tail off. This, of course, calls for a stroke of REVENGE! He strips his sodden mask off and stalks moodily over to Don, then promptly grabs the edge of his carapace, fully intending to wrestle his brother into the lake or die trying.]

I'll show you who's laughin'!

[Well, technically they both are, but that's besides the point.]

No no no no!

[Yeah, Don couldn't win this match even if he wasn't exhausted and out of shape. He is competely at your mercy.]

[... Come on, now. Are you really going to throw your sweet little brother into a freezing lake?]

Eat lake water, Brainiac!

[Then he practically throws Don bodily into the lake.]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAAUUUUUGGGHHH!

[He hits the water backwards and sinks like a rock, before he gets his shiver-flailing under control and manages to kick back to the surface. He slogs to shore as fast as he can, and lays in the dirt, panting.]

I hate you. So much. Right now.

[Now that was just fucking hysterical! He's laughing his butt off at him now.]

Aw, c'mon. If it wasn't for me, you'd be super-glued to that desk chair by now.

[Then he plops down in the dirt beside Don and turns his maskless face up to the sun.]

Sure is nice out here, though.

[It might be nice, somewhere out there beyond his frozen skin. If he lays here long enough, he might warm up enough to appreciate it.]

Mm.

[Face. Regaining feeling in it.]

Thanks, Raph.

[He loves you. Really.]

No problem. [He loves you too, bro.]

Let's take a breather, huh?

[Raph starts undoing his sodden pads, setting them out on the dirt to dry in the sun, then lays out next to Don with a content sigh.]

Yes. Breathing. Sounds good.

[He folds his arms under his head, and tries not to think about the work that's waiting for him at home.]

[Mmmm sun feels good. He lets his eyes slip closed, stifling a yawn.]

Man, I'm goin' to bed early tonight. Smithy's almost better than training. Get a workout with a purpose.

Mm? Were you at the smithy? [Mock indignant.] And you didn't invite me?

Didn't I tell you I work there? Man, you really have been livin' under a rock.

What? [Props himself up on his elbows.] No, you didn't tell me! [Cuffs Raph affectionately on the back of the head.] Look at you, you productive member of society! I knew you had it in you!

[Gah! You're embarrassing him. He rolls his eyes a bit at the praise.]

Jeez, tone it down. It ain't that big of a deal.

What, I can't be proud of my big brother? [Rubs Raph's arm.] Come on. Tell me what you made.

[But it's embarrassing!] Heh. Uh, nothin' special. Leo's got some new swords. We just gotta finish the tsuba. And I been makin' myself some manriki, but I only got half of one chain.

[Puts his head back down.]

Sounds like good work to me.

[It's not just swords they forged. It's the missing piece of Leo's soul. Maybe now he'll stop drifting around, like a boat without anchor or compass.]

[Raph nods.] Passes the time.

[Then his expression shifts to something a little more guarded.] Leo was surprised about it too. Why's it so hard to believe?

What, that you're engaging in constructive activity? [Closes his eyes.] Because you're usually so secretive about it. You do things for people, and you like to see them enjoying the result, but if they notice that you had a hand in the matter then it ruins your fun.

[Thoughtful pause.]

Why do you hate gratitude so much, Raph?

[Don's insight is like a punch in the gut. It's always a little staggering to realize how well Don's got him figured out when he works so hard to hide everything below the surface.

He pauses for a moment, watching the ripples on the lake.]

'Cause it ain't about me.

No one said it was. [He opens his eyes, and reaches out to touch Raph's arm again.] You know, sometimes I want to thank you for something, but I don't, because I know you'll snap at me. We don't want to... take away from what you've done, by recognizing your effort. We just want you to know that we appreciate you. [Squeeze.] Take it in the spirit that it's given?

Hm. [He slinks down a little lower, hugging his knees.] I don't mean ta get angry atcha, Donnie. But I dunno...

It's like - all the good people ever do is to feel good about themselves. I hate that.

What's wrong with doin' good just to make people happy?

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