Nineteenth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Donatello regains consciousness somewhere southwest of the village. He knows he's southwest of the village because when he sits up he can see the community buildings with the mountains behind them.

His journal is lying, closed, in the grass beside him; he scoops it up and tucks it into his belt. Then he stands and calmly walks back to C6.

When he arrives, he goes into the apartment - Hm, quiet - heads to his workroom, and starts salvaging the broken remains of his projects.]

((Feel free to run into him at any point. If you do, you might notice that he looks pretty good for someone who's just come back from a friendly visit with the Malnosso. Look closely, though, and you can see he has needle marks on his arms, as well as what appear to be faint burn marks.))

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Don relaxes too, as the knife is lowered.] Many geniuses are misunderstood by the people they're trying to help.

[all7seas]

[What]

And many madmen are mistaken for geniuses...

[i_speak_softly]

[The problem doesn't seem to concern him much.] Either way.

[all7seas]

By that calculation, I'm a genius, mate.

[i_speak_softly]

Congratulations.

[all7seas]

Look--[He can't believe he is saying this, especially as there is nothing in it for him.]--do you need anything? Aid? Escort? Swift slap on the face?

[i_speak_softly]

[Shrug.] You can walk with me, if you like.

[all7seas]

[Not really, but now he feels obligated, and shoulders his chainsaw in answer.]

Just to the edge of the village.

[i_speak_softly]

Or you could stay and work on your mast. [Or give him your life savings, punch him in the face, chainsaw your own head off, start singing the lumberjack song... all the same to him.]

[all7seas]

Or I could cut your blasted head off here and now and solve all of our problems! [Jack will continue walking in spite of this remark. He doesn't really mean it; but he finds this strange new version of the turtle that hates taxidermy so much very off-putting.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Walks for a while, silently. Then:] I'm not sure I see quite which problems would be solved by my violent decapitation.

[all7seas]

Does that thing go into the shell at all? [Gesturing toward Donny's head.]

It's just...you're too....

[i_speak_softly]

[Blink. Strange question, but hey, if you're curious...] Only this far. [His neck "accordions" until his head is nestled between his shoulders, then pops up again.] Ordinary turtles can do it because their shoulders are inside their ribcage, but we made the trade-off for increased joint mobility. [Because obviously you wanted to know all that.]

[And time for a question of his own.] I'm too what?

[all7seas]

Too...with the calm acceptance. About those Malnosso scum, savvy? You should be ravin' about, threatening to poke them all into the grave with that there big stick of yours. Not holding 'em up to holy heaven as beacons o' genius. I may not know genius, lad, but I know mad brutality when it hits me between the eyes.

[All this followed by a swig of rum from a convenient flask.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Reaches up to touch his bo, as if making sure it's still there.] I don't think they're scum or saints. Just scientists.

[all7seas]

Scum. Scum what does this "science" you're so over the moon about. What you need, lad--and I'm saying this purely in your interest--what you need is to maraud a bit. Snap you right out of whatever they've done you for, savvy?

[i_speak_softly]

'Maraud'? Is that like going on patrol? I've taken some late-night walks here, Captain, and there's never much of interest happening.

1/2

[all7seas]

...

2/2

[all7seas]

You mean you're telling me that you equate proper marauding with...with..."midnight walks"?

[i_speak_softly]

Well, with the kind of midnight walk where the primary purpose is to look for other midnight walkers who may be in need of assistance, so you can do a good deed before vanishing back into the shadows.

[all7seas]

Well that's rather mad, isn't it?

[i_speak_softly]

... Come to think of it, it is a lot of effort - and risk - for a stranger. I don't know why we bother.

What do you mean by 'maraud'?

[all7seas]

It might be a bit like your midnight walk, where the primary purpose is to look for other midnight walkers what to attack and hold at swordpoint until they hand over all their valuables. Alternatively, it's a midnight walk in which a fair wench is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Or we just sack a port.

But then--yes, vanish back into the shadows. Yes, that's a big part of any successful marauding.

[i_speak_softly]

That's... not exactly how my family does it. In fact, that sounds like exactly the kind of thing my family looks for in order to intervene and put a stop to it.

[Walking, thinking.] I feel we should be enemies, Captain.

[all7seas]

Yes! Right! Enemies! That's the turtle I so happily remember. He's coming back to himself, eh? Knew the Malnosso couldn't work their dark magical science on you for too long. Knew you'd bounce back, lad.