Twenty-seventh Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[After spending most of the past few days ensconced in his room, doing mysterious work, Don is out this morning running some errands.

He first stops by House 23, where he leaves a neatly-wrapped package on the doorstep. On top of the package is a folded note, which reads: Winry - I don't forget my promises. Sorry this one took so long to deliver. Take care of yourself. Don. Below this is a diagram which appears to illustrate how to put a saddle and helmet on a legless mouse. And indeed, inside the package are several sets of this rodent-sized equipment.

Don next journeys to Building 7, where he heads up to the fifth floor to knock at the apartment of a certain wizard named Helios.

And after that visit, he will make a detour on his way home to stop by his previous residence, Building 6, where he will call on his former neighbor, one Atsuki Saijo.]

Comments

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He grits his teeth at the pressure.]

I am holdin' still!

[He's not whining. No. Not whining at all. But it hurts in that weird annoying pinpricky way he has no problem complaining about.]

[i_speak_softly]

[This is stupid. What was he expecting? That the gouges would heal instantly just because he concentrated on them?]

[But when he leans forward, careful not to put his weight on Raph's shell, the inside edges of the wounds look just a little less raw and ragged.]

I'll go get the tape.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Raph huffs, but stays put, watching Don bustle around looking for tape.]

It ain't that bad, right?

[Please don't tell him he can't train. Please don't tell him he can't train...]

[i_speak_softly]

Shallower than Leo's, but the way it's angled... [He finds the tape and comes back, trying to decide where to start.] You need to be very careful until the cracks stabilize.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

It's nothin' like Leo's. Trust me.

[i_speak_softly]

I really wouldn't know. He never let me look at it. [He tears off a piece of tape, and starts weaving the cross-hatch over the first gouge.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

He got stabbed straight through the shoulder. That's just what the Utroms had to take off after the fact.

[No harm in talking about Leo now that he's gone, right. And GAH!]

Ow!

[i_speak_softly]

[Don presses the back of his hand to his mouth. Thanks for that image, Raph.]

Sorry -

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[He grunts at that apology and tries his best to hold still.]

So exactly how careful is "careful"?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don rips off another piece of tape, and hisses out his breath. This isn't going to go over well.]

Sleep on your stomach. Don't lean on things. No jumping off buildings.

[He shouldn't have to tell you you can't train. But he will if you don't get the hint.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, he knows he shouldn't, but if Don doesn't specifically say it, he's got enough fodder to attempt it and twist Don's words around later.]

Yeah, yeah. How long?

[i_speak_softly]

A few weeks, at least. More - [He pushes up on a dislocated plate, forcing the edges of the crack back into alignment.] - if you exacerbate the injury.

[Hint #2. Are you getting it yet?]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[That definitely deserves a wince. He can't quite keep still after that either. 'Cause ow!]

You're exacerbatin' it NOW!

[i_speak_softly]

[Don pulls back on Raph's shoulder, making him stay in place. With his other hand and his teeth, he manages to tape the realigned crack.]

Do I know how much I hate doing this, Raph? Are you really going to make me have to do it again? Don't think I don't know what you're planning.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Fine. I'll take it easy. [He huffs frustratedly.]

[i_speak_softly]

[For a few minutes, Don works in silence, except for the stretch and rip of the tape.]

Maybe a healer could speed things up. A real healer.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

[And Raph frowns thoughtfully while Donnie works.]

How long've you been doin' that?

[i_speak_softly]

Hm? [He inspects a deep crack.] Not long enough, apparently.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

What's it like?

[Yeah, he never thought he'd be so genuinely curious about magic before.]

[i_speak_softly]

What's what like? [His fingers lightly trace the spider-web of cracks outward from the central gouges.] Lift your arms.

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

That magic stuff. [He does so obediently, and is happy to find stretching out eases a little of the pressure from the cracks.] Talkin' to spirits and all of that.

[i_speak_softly]

You're asking me what something I'm bad at is like? [As he thought - some of the cracks are frighteningly long, but none of them have crawled off Raph's carapace and onto his bridge.] As long as you behave yourself, I don't think I need to plaster this. Keep that in mind whenever you get the urge to do anything strenuous. [He runs his thumb over the lines of tape, making sure the strips are smooth and secure. Then he turns away to pack up his supplies.]

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Okay, yeah, I was gonna tease you for it. But that's not the only reason I'm asking.

[He just rolls his eyes at Don's chiding, dropping his arms. Then he turns to Don, watching him pack up and wondering if he'll actually give him an answer. He can be serious sometimes too, y'know.]

[i_speak_softly]

Thanks, Raph. That's very encouraging. [He holds up an assortment of painkillers, ranging from "mild" to "knock you out for a day".] Any of these?

[meanandgreen.livejournal.com]

Nah.

[And he recognizes the "knock you out for a day" ones. Nasty sons of bitches. Part of him wants to tell Don to throw them away.]

I'm serious. What's it like? I catch people all the time tryin' that "communing" crap.

...Unless you ain't even gotten that far.