Twenty-eighth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

((All-over-the-place-dated, from this morning to whenever Raphael gets back from his mallynapping. Call it the 18th or so.))

((ETA: Ends on the 12th with Raphael's return.))

[Raph never comes out of his room this morning. Don knocks on his door as he goes to start the coffee. Comes back a few minutes later, bangs again, tells him it’s time to get up for school. Goes looking for the scattered pages of his homework.

Orbits past the room a third time, shouts that they’re going to be late. Gets impatient with the lack of response. Opens the door.

Finds the room completely trashed. The bed empty, the window wide open. The air is too still, too cold.

Don doesn’t go to school today.

He spends the morning moving around the house, cleaning, preparing. In the afternoon he heads out, a heavy pack over his shoulder.

For the rest of the day, the rest of the week, as long as it takes, Don can be found roaming Luceti, watchful for Raphael’s return. He’ll be in the woods and at the lakes, standing on roofs and circling the outskirts of the village. Some nights he’ll return home, some nights he won’t.

He’ll eat on the move. Rest in fitful catnaps. When he can’t walk anymore, he’ll sit in meditation, searching the astral plane for Raphael’s aura and shoring up his connection with the healing spirit. Then he’ll rise again to continue his lonely hunt. He won’t stop. Not until Raphael is home, and safe.]

((Name the place/day/time/any other scene-setting you feel like throwing in. Pretty much anything is fair game.))

Comments

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April steps back to let Raine come inside, ushering her into the kitchen.] I was just going to make some tea...

If you wait around for a bit, he might show up?

[wise_maiden]

That sounds fine to me. [She goes quiet for a moment, until they arrive in the kitchen.] ... How have you been holding up?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[The true answer to this? Only okay. Derek has been a real source of support through everything, ever since she arrived in Luceti. It seems like they only enjoyed a few days of Almost Normal before everything went to Hell again with Raphael's kidnapping. With her back to Raine, she goes through the motions of pouring out the tea into two mugs. One a chipped "I <3 NY" mug that was startlingly familiar and which she had quickly swept away from the items shop.

She uses her forearm to wipe at her face before turning around with the steaming hot tea and heading over to the table.]

Oh--as well as I could be, I guess. Derek's been amazing.

[wise_maiden]

Waiting for something like this isn't easy... I just hope that Donatello doesn't push himself too much. [It's just... not how to handle this situation. Not that it can really be said.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April just looks at Raine.] That's kind of what he does. His personality.

[wise_maiden]

... I know. I could tell that about him.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April sighs at this.] I'm not surprised; I can't imagine being his teacher. He must love school, though.

[wise_maiden]

He's very enthusiastic about it, even if he was reluctant to go at first. It's rewarding to have students like that.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

He's definitely motivated. I hope he does something with his gifts once we're back home; he could take online classes and get a college degree, you know?

[wise_maiden]

I hope so as well. ... Online classes? [Pause, thinks about what others have mentioned in Luceti throughout the years.] So they would be done through a network, and not in person, correct?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is, he is talented enough to go to absolutely any college or university he wanted. But since he's not human, he doesn't have the opportunity. The guys can't be discovered.

[wise_maiden]

It really is a shame that they're at such a disadvantage. From what he said, your world doesn't really seem... tolerant of those who are different.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Let me tell you, if my world were any LESS tolerant we'd face mass extermination. Which HAS happened in Earth's history, by the way. It's not pretty.

[wise_maiden]

Most worlds seem to have a history along those lines. The lengths that people will go... [She shakes her head with a sigh.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Yours, too?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don walked in on the sad thing, but remained in the shadows between the living area and the back hallway, just listening. Now he clears his throat softly. Good evening, ladies.]

[wise_maiden]

... Yes, that's right. [At Donatello's noise though, she lifts her head up sharply, glancing for the source.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don steps into the light. He doesn't really want to, but it would be rude to lurk.]

Professor. [He bows.] I apologize for my absence. I'll make up the work as soon as I resolve some - family matters.

[wise_maiden]

Donatello...

... I understand. If there's anything I can do when he's found, please let me know.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April just remains silent, stirring her tea. Letting teacher and student clear whatever needs to be cleared.]

[i_speak_softly]

[... Oh. She already knows.]

[Don moves forward to take a seat at the table.]

He'll - probably need a healer. I can't do it...

[wise_maiden]

You'll have to be in top form for everything else. Finding him, being there... I can take care of the healing, if it's needed.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

You don't have to do everything you know, Donatello. It--it doesn't have to all fall on those shoulders of yours. That weight is too heavy.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don rolls those same shoulders. He can be there. He can do this. He can trust Professor Sage to help him. This world can be awful, sometimes, but it has its bright spots too.]

I'll find him, Professor. I'll call you when I do.

[wise_maiden]

... Understood. Just be careful of your own limits, Donatello. He needs you to be healthy, too.