Twenty-fifth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[After putting in an obligatory appearance at the baseball game, Donatello is up to some business of his own.

At a certain point during the afternoon, you may find him wheeling a motorcycle from C6 to House 55.

A bit later, you might catch him dragging forty-gallon garbage cans filled with a strange assortment of objects along the same route.

And sometime after that, you may come upon him near the bridge on this path, surrounded by those same garbage cans. Except that they are up-ended now, their contents strewn across the ground. In the center of the mess a bizarre contraption is taking shape.

Question this strange behavior? Watch in silent bafflement? Or maybe just back away slowly.]

((Please indicate at which point you encounter him!))

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[... Well, there couldn't be any harm in just waving an antenna at the barrier.]

[He gestures to the cans.] Help yourself.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Here? Now? Don't I even get my own lab?

[i_speak_softly]

April, I don't even have my own lab right now. We weren't expecting to outgrow our new house so quickly.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Maybe we need to work on that first. Otherwise I shudder to think at the state the kitchen table is going to be in.

[i_speak_softly]

We'll - figure something out.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Hey--that's what we do, right? And...this can is heavy.

[i_speak_softly]

[He'll wordlessly take over the second can. Sometimes those long boring hours of weight-lifting do pay off.]

I wonder if we could keep the apartment, and just use it as a workspace. There aren't so many people here that it should be a problem. I mean, as long as everyone doesn't start doing it.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Yeah, or...I've heard there are labs around. [She trudges along next to him, shooting him a sidelong glance.]

[i_speak_softly]

There's the smithy. It's pretty crowded, though. And noisy.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Hidden labs? [She prompts, flushing slightly.]

[i_speak_softly]

I wouldn't know. I haven't found them.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

We can make our own place. [She speaks in a rush, brushing hair out of her eyes.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Wow, April, you almost sound as though you're proposing cohabitation. ... Cohabitation without other friends and family members, that is.]

A secret hideout, April? Aren't we a little old for that?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Secret? Well, we've got nothing to hide, right? I just meant, you know--space.

[i_speak_softly]

[Space. Space is too much like home, would mean he was giving up and settling into this place. Still, it would be nice to not have to work out of a closet.]

I don't know. It isn't like I get much work done here anyway.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[She reaches out for his arm, but instead takes hold of the side of the can to help pull it along again.]

Yeah. Well, you will now.

[i_speak_softly]

Listen, April - [He stops, and the loss of the can's momentum will force April to stop too.] This place has been really interesting to visit, but I don't want to live here. I'm trying not to get too comfortable.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Not sure how that translates into slacking off on the work, Don.

[She frowns and crosses her arms.]

[i_speak_softly]

I can't bring anything home and I won't remember anything I learned. There are better uses for my time. [And he resumes dragging the cans.]

[before-may.livejournal.com]

Like WHAT, exactly? [Well, the wind's out of her sails.]

You're so different here.

[i_speak_softly]

[Stopping, again. Because he can't say this without gesturing and he needs to free his hands.]

We don't need security systems because no one is trying to kill us. It's impossible to build an engine for any kind of vehicle. The plumbing fixes itself and when we run out of food we just walk to the store and take more. What am I supposed to do here, April?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should just start breaking things for you.

We'll think of something. I already told Casey I want to investigate the barrier.

[i_speak_softly]

Like I said. Things fix themselves.

I'd go with you, but I'm not allowed.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[What she perceives as his defeatist attitude is putting her in a bad mood, scratching the edge of that Irish temper.]

Hmph. I've never seen your helpless side before, Donatello.

[i_speak_softly]

Not so much helpless as extraneous.

It hits everyone here, April. People go a little stir-crazy.