i_speak_softly | Eleventh Theory [Action/Voice]

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Eleventh Theory [Action/Voice]

((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?

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That's true. {I guess? I've never been in a cafe before.}

[He considers the menu hanging behind the counter.]

It's usually best to start with something like the House Blend. Every cafe has their own specialty roast, and it's generally made to appeal to the most patrons. Then you figure out if you like it black or with cream or sugar. The staff can always give you suggestions if you decide to try other blends.

... Then there's the food. That can generally differ, too--cafes serve anything from pastries to lunch, but not all do so. It really differs from shop to shop. I'm pretty sure you don't need pointers with the pastries, though, do you? [There's that grin again.]

At least, that's how cafes work in my world. Not sure about yours.

... I'll have whatever you're having. With sugar. [Definitely sugar.]

Sounds good to me--House Blend it is. ... And cinnamon rolls, too, of course. We can't forget those.

Sure. [He'll wait while you order. And maybe stake out one of these tiny tables.]

[After a few minutes, Minato's heads over toe the table with a tray carrying two large coffees and two... very large, gooey cinnamon rolls, the delicious smell proceeding his arrival. He sets the tray down on the table, then puts Don's coffee and cinnamon roll in front of him.

We're in luck, Don! These look good enough to send us both into diabetic comas.

[Minato sets his own place and ninja slides the tray table to the side of the table before sitting down.]

Excellent.

{Hm. That was a strangely ninja-esque move.}

[Don eats the cinnamon roll and drinks the coffee and enjoys both of these things very much.]

[Minato grins at that.]

That would be because I'm a ninja.

[There was no reason to hide that part of his identity in his world, and he feels like he doesn't need to hide it here, either.]

What a small world.

[Minato blinks.]

Why? Are there ninjas in your world, too?

Edited 2010-05-01 20:09 (UTC)

Er... yes. I am one. [Sigh.] I haven't been a very good one lately, though.

[A blink.] I knew you were trained in something, but I wasn't sure what. [And a slight, worried frown--yes, he's already worried.] How so? ... Er, if you want to talk about it, that is.

Edited 2010-05-01 21:32 (UTC)

[Picking at his cinnamon roll.] I've barely trained since I got here. I know I should get back, but... it just hasn't happened. {As if these things ever 'just happen'.}

[His eyebrows go up.]

I'm going to guess you don't enjoy training much, do you?

No. Never did.

What about you? Ninja by choice?

[Minato grins.]

Could've dropped out of the academy if I wanted to. Didn't. ... I liked the training, I liked learning new techniques, I liked making new techniques. Liked the challenge of stealth missions or of trying to figure out how your enemy's techniques work so you can use them against him. There's some things I don't like about it, of course, but what can you do?

[Minato shrugs. In other words: yes, not only does he enjoy being a ninja, but he quite possibly excels at it. Not that he'd say that he does; that'd be rude.

The ninja sighs. He's picking at his cinnamon roll, too.]

{Making new techniques? He must be very talented...}

I saw that, Minato. I know. I just - seem to keep getting busy with other things. [Never a good enough excuse.]

Ah, no, no. I've still got a far way to go... [Downplaying a compliment--only somewhat Japanese in nature, as he's not outright calling himself horrible. That's not popular in Konoha, but humbleness still is.]

Good. You were supposed to. [There's some slight amusement in his seriousness.] Other things you like more, you mean.

Don't we all. [He's been taught often enough that there's no such thing as absolute mastery.]

... Things that seem more directly relevant to getting out of this place. {Things I'm better at.}

[There's a momentary blink, as if it hadn't quite occurred to Minato to leave this place--even though it had unconsciously for everyone else, he's dead back home. Of course, he's not thinking about the implications of his surprise right now, so it doesn't show up in his thought bubble.

The bit of surprise is replaced by a soft smile.]

That's important, yes--but just remember that you have to be able to watch your back, too. ... I do apologize for being nosy, but unfortunately, I'm a father. Of course, you're nothing like my son, other than being a ninja, but...

[Minato shrugs, looking apologetic.]

I know. {He almost sounds like Master Splinter, sometimes.} I'll ask my brother to spar with me again.

Are you your son's sensei?

That'll be a good start. [Minato sounds satisfied with that. Also, filling away that little bit of knowledge about the brother.] Tell him to not go easy on you, either.

[A pause.]

Ah, no, actually. My student is actually his sensei, and he also has a sensei in my sensei. ... I'm going to be training him here, though. Looking forward to that a lot, actually.

Edited 2010-05-02 03:40 (UTC)

Believe me, he doesn't. [A flash of their last training session.]

Oh, your son is here... is it a good thing, Minato? What do you think of this place, as a father?

Ah, good, good. [Minato's satisfied with that. Very satisfied. Enough that he starts to eat his cinnamon roll again and takes a drink of his coffee.] Just keep that up, then. [And then, for a moment, a vicious grin.] If my kid's out of shape, he's gonna be getting the same treatment.

[Minato shrugs.] Haven't been here long enough to decide if it's a good thing or not. This place has given me a chance to spend some good quality time with him--he's grown up so much, nearly sixteen, but he still needs his father. ... Yet, I'm bothered about being essentially held prisoner here.

[He seems pretty happy about being with his son. Then again, this guy's the type that has a hard time staying depressed for long.]

Edited 2010-05-02 15:12 (UTC)

{Oh, he's the same age as me.} I'm sixteen too. Maybe your son and I could train together.

You said you just arrived - how long has he been here?

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