Seventeenth Theory [Action/Incidental Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

((Continuity notes: While taking care of Polka after she collapsed, Don and Raph learned that Leo had been mallynapped. They promptly barricaded themselves in Polka's room, but quickly realizing that this was not a long-term solution, they determined to Get Serious about their plans to disrupt the barrier and escape.))

[This morning, the Turtle Twosome can be found stalking around Luceti, sticking close to one another and glaring at everyone else as though just daring them to turn into giant brother-stealing robots.

Their first stop is the library, where they will spend a couple hours poring over books about electricity, magnetism, plasma, and other esoterica. (Well, mostly Don is poring while Raph runs books back and forth from the shelves.)

Later they descend upon the smithy, rummaging through the items there and carrying off a number of metallic parts.

After that they go directly to the item shop, where they bin-dive for more random-seeming objects.

Then, they retreat to C6, lock the door, and start assembling their booty into a device that is essentially the World's Most Awesome Lightning Rod.

In the evening, when it is slightly less excessively hot, they will emerge again, to spend some time cooling off at the lake. This will largely consist of long periods of sitting underwater, punctuated by brief forays to the surface for air.]

((Feel free to run into them at any point, or to eavesdrop through the journals as they're working. Tags will likely be answered by both.))

Comments

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

And yet you've been here four months and still don't have one. Couldn't be because you can't do it, doesn't seem like a shortage of motivation... [Thoughtful.] What's that third thing lawyers look for? Ah, opportunity. You've just been too busy.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

What, you wanna be a lawyer now? Please. The only reason I don't got a bike right now is 'cause there's no parts and nothing to run it on.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Raised eyebrow.] So what makes you think I could build one? Because I assume your casual segue to the topic of bikes is really a veiled request for one.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

It's not. I was just talkin' about it. Yeesh.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Mm-hm. Keep deflecting, bro.] Raph - if the lightning rod fails and we can't get home, I will build you a bike. That's a promise.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

No, then we start thinkin' of another way out. Don't waste your time on me.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

I'll need something to keep my hands busy while I think. Anyway, isn't the barrier several days' walk from here? If we're going to be going there often, we'll want transportation.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Shrug.] Suit yourself.

[Oh hey look, the smithy! Raph walks right in, maybe a little too eagerly, crossing the main shop and into the workshop straight toward Winry's workbench. But he visibly deflates when he finds the entire place empty. Sokka must be on his lunch break...or something.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Hm. It's not usually so quiet here, is it?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Don't know where Sokka is, but he said Winry didn't show up yesterday.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

She can't have gotten kidnapped again, can she?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[His eyes are glued to her empty workbench, lines of worry on his face.] I don't know. He called her over the journals, but she never answered.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Moving to the bins, quietly gathering what he needs.]

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph sighs and joins his brother. He was mad yesterday, but today he just can't summon the emotional energy. He's so damn tired of this crap.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Are you okay?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Fine.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Still digging through stuff.] You were close with her, weren't you.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

She drives me insane.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Things only drive you insane when you care about them.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He sighs again, then says quietly, under his breath:] Yeah.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[His hands still, but he keeps looking into the bin.] Something happened between you and her, didn't it.

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph freezes like a deer caught in the headlights. Suddenly it feels very, very hot in here, and it ain't because of the forge.]

Uh...[He clears his throat nervously.] What gave you that idea?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Raph, I'm not stupid. You suddenly stopped talking about her, a few weeks ago. If things were going well, I'd still be hearing about it at dinner every night. [Long pause.] Do you want to tell me?

[Action]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

I don't talk about her that much. [Yes he does 8|]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Standard deviations, Raph. [Resumes searching through the bin.]