Thirtieth Theory [Action]

[i_speak_softly]

My sons... MY SONS!

[Donatello stands outside House 55, his shell resting against the wall, staring into the fog.]

Someone help me!

[It's not real.]

NOOOOOOOO!

[That's what everyone has been saying on the journals. So Don doesn't fall into the trap, doesn't go into the mist. (Through the red lens over his eye, it looks like a spray of arterial blood. When he loses focus, he starts to see the red cloud with both eyes. Then he blinks and it's gone again.) But he doesn't go inside either. He can't walk away from his father's voice. Not even when the words give way to pained cries, not even when cold fear grips him as he realizes he doesn't know who needs help.]

[No one. It's not real.]

[Still, he can't bring himself to move.]

((Not marked as Voice because he isn't saying anything, but if you call him over the journals he'll answer. Stay inside tonight, Luceti...))

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Don studies April for a moment, and decides she's not an illusion.]

April. What were you doing out there?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[She leans against the porch railing for a moment, pulling off one giant floppy shoe and emptying some sand and rocks out of it.] Oh. You know. The usual. What are you up to?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don raises a brow. April's definition of 'usual' sure has changed since she met them.]

[He tilts his head toward the fog-shrouded path.] Listening.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Hear anything worth hearing? [She can pretty much guess the answer to that.]

[i_speak_softly]

[One word should be all the answer April needs.]

Splinter.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Ah. Is he...okay? [It's an awkward question: what she means to ask is whether or not it's Splinter screaming in agony or Splinter being calm and reassuring.]

[i_speak_softly]

... No.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Donatello. It's not real. [April lays her hands on his shoulders, trying to get him to calm down.] It's not really him.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don looks at April, until his eyes slide away to focus somewhere over her shoulder.]

It's more than I've had for eight months.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

....Are you going to stay out here?

[i_speak_softly]

For a while.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Want a blanket? Or some company? Anything? [April isn't expecting him to accept her offer of company.]

[i_speak_softly]

I'll be fine.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[She nods. It was the answer she expected.] If you need me, you come get me. Understand?

[i_speak_softly]

[Later. Later he'll probably be in her room, telling her a story in soft, urgent tones. Sharing memories of Splinter, as though that will somehow help to preserve his existence. For now, he only nods.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April tries to give him an encouraging smile, but she can feel it falling short. If he does come, she'll listen. It's all she can really do.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Later, after Raph has calmed down from his bathroom hallucinations...]

[Don emerges from his room, crosses the common area, and knocks softly at April's door.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Come in? [April is curled up in the bed. A book lies open on the bed in front of her but she hasn't been reading it at all.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don comes in and closes the door behind him, but doesn't move any further into the room.]

Do you - have some time?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[Any awkwardness or resentment left over from the Raphael incident melts away at his tone.] Yeah. For you? I've got time.

[i_speak_softly]

[He shifts his weight from foot to foot.] I - don't know where to start.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[She says nothing, just nods encouragingly. April knows enough about Donatello to understand that the thoughts will come at their own pace.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He decides to come at things sideways.]

Were you serious about wanting to learn Japanese?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. Yeah, I'd like to learn it someday. [Holding back on the "What does THAT have to do with anything?" comment. It does. He'll make her see.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He comes to sit cross-legged on the end of the bed, facing in.] Why?