Eleventh Theory [Action/Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

((For the duration of the experiment Don's thoughts will be in {curly brackets}, OH GOD SORRY FOR THE BRAINSPAM.))

[Today Donatello is wandering around the village center, enjoying the nice weather and generally exploring. Unbeknownst to him, he is being followed by a thought bubble.]

[As he passes the clinic, on his way to the fountain:]

{... disassociative delusions. Induction of kinesthetic misperception. She thought her arm was artificial, so far as to... I should go visit her.}

[And as he comes into view of the school, he opens his journal:]

Molly, the weather is getting warm... do you want to start building the playground soon?

Comments

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs and takes a seat at the table.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don sits again, drinks his tea, and compares his own slowly-shifting thoughts to the roiling images in Raph's bubble.]

[Quietly:] We're both prisoners, aren't we.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He leans with his elbows on the table, coughing and clearing his throat before answering.]

Don't say it like that.

[Though his thought bubble makes it obvious he has no idea why he shouldn't. It's at least half-true, isn't it? But it also makes them who they are. He wouldn't want to change that...or maybe he's not quite sure if he would. There are things he'd want to change about himself, but at the same time, that's what makes him who he is, and if he changed, it would be like losing a part of himself.

Above him, his thought bubble's cloud wordlessly argues with itself.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Forced cheer.] Well, I guess everyone is, in their own way. That's what makes psychology so interesting. {So hard to study.}

[Sips his tea thoughtfully.] I think this experiment has proved that there are certain kinds of freedom we wouldn't want.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs again and sips his tea.]

Whatever.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

{Too philosophical.}

Feeling any better?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Ah, yeah, I'll probably just try to sleep it off.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

You promised you would talk to Leo.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

I said I'd talk to Leo. I didn't say when.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Sigh.] {Not like I don't use the same loophole.}

Don't put it off.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

I gotta tell him sometime. I'm just sick of havin' all these deep discussions over every little thing, y'know? I just wanna quit talkin' so much.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

... Okay.

{............................................................}

[Drinks his tea in silence.]

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph's grateful for the quiet, finishing his tea and going to wash out the mug in the sink. He still enjoys his brother's company, obviously, but sometimes that's all he needs.]