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

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April has decided that baseball is definitely not her sport. She's heading back to House 55 for a shower when she spots Don with the garbage cans.]

Hey, Donny!

[i_speak_softly]

Hey, April.

[He'll slow down, resting the cans upright. They're pretty heavy.]

How's the game going?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Baseball is probably never going to be my thing, Donatello. And I'm okay with that.

Project? Or are you just being super tough on litter today?

[i_speak_softly]

[That's okay, April. You have plenty of other 'things'. Don will just nod and quirk a smile.]

Parts I've collected. Hadn't had a chance to bring them over from the apartment yet.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah? [Part of April instantly relaxes--a part that's been wound tight since he admitted he had given up on changing his current situation. Maybe this is Don getting back to nice, nerdy normal.]

Planning anything special with them? [Because you are a Junk Alchemist, Donatello.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He sighs.] I don't know. I haven't had much luck building anything, here.

Did you know, when I first got here there wasn't even electricity?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Well...at least you didn't have to reinvent the wheel. Literally. [Dumb joke. They come out when she's nervous, sometimes. That strange apathy is upsetting. Very upsetting.]

What have you tried making so far?

[i_speak_softly]

It was a close call.

[He'll resume hauling the garbage cans.] I made a lightning rod. It was a spectacular failure.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April will join in, tugging at the handle on one can. They ARE heavy.]

Uh...isn't that just a rod that you stick on top of a building? What did you use to ground it?

[Action] (Forty gallon garbage cans)

[consultmybooks]

[Giles has spoken with the turtles before, so the sight of Donatello passing by doesn't surprise him too much. The sight of the forty gallon garbage cans does get his attention, however]

Do you need some help?

[i_speak_softly]

[He'll humor your efforts, while secretly hoping you give up soon. They'll never get to the house at that rate.]

Lots of insulation. It was meant to be a barrier disruptor, but all it did was blow up in my face.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

["Help" is a touchy subject right now, and Giles should know exactly why. But in this case...]

I wouldn't mind some extra hands.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[He tries, and manages to move one without much difficulty.]

You're...Donatello, yes?

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic had been taking a walk when he spies Donatello near the up-ended garbage cans and the contents scattered all over the place. All the while, noticing the bizarre contraption coming together.]

Donatello?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Color Donatello impressed. You know your way around a library and you can drag heavy things.]

Only Donatello, now.

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don is instantly distracted.]

Frederic! You're back! [And you know his name, so...] You remember being here.

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic smiles gently and nods a bit.]

Yes, it seems the Malnosso or whoever is in charges of the powers that be has allowed me to keep my memories of the village. I'm rather thankful for that indeed. How have you been since I left?

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

[His expression turns sad.] It's been a long summer, Frederic. Two of my brothers aren't here anymore. And - a lot of other things happened.

[He turns back to his work.] Polka's gone too. [As you probably know.]

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

[Frederic's own expression becomes not so much sad, but indifferent when he hears about Polka.]

I figured Polka and Viola weren't here anymore, I couldn't find them no matter where I looked. But there's no use crying over it, they're safe back in their world and I'm happy for them.

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

That's what everyone says. [And since you're the first person he's met twice -] Is it true, Frederic? When you go back, it's like you were never here?

[ action ]

[refinedmaestro.livejournal.com]

I do not know if it the same for everyone, but I suppose I can tell my story. [He clears his throat and begins.] When I returned, my life went back to the way it was and I had forgotten all of Luceti. Yet as my days went on, something deep down in my heart kept tugging at me as if it wanted me to remember. However, I ignore that feeling because I thought it wasn't that important even if the tugging kept continuing. When I at last returned to Luceti, all of my memories returned as if they were forgotten dreams or memories that had been buried deep down within me. I also realized that tugging at my heart was my memories of Luceti trying to resurface even back in my world and I wish I hadn't ignored it.

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

Really?

The matter was resolved, then? [Lead the way, Don]

[ action ]

[i_speak_softly]

[He listens carefully.] So you just had - repressed memories? But no time had passed, and nothing that happened here had an effect in your world?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Mm. It - wasn't what I thought it was. [Follow this way!]

Re: [Action]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles follows, dragging the garbage can along] Such things never are, I'm afraid.

Are you all right?