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]

Raph, Leo, and Mike arrived in the woods in the middle of a blizzard. The Malnosso have no sympathy for reptiles. [And you're probably not going to win that debate.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

I'm not letting you out in a blizzard. We'll keep you two warm in here, Derek and I. He can do the cooking and I can do the blanket-mummification.

[i_speak_softly]

Watch us get kidnapped and dumped in the lake. [But more seriously.] April - how much have you seen of us in the winter?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Not a WHOLE lot. Why?

[i_speak_softly]

[He rubs his feet togther nervously.] There's probably some things you should know.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Then there's probably some things you should tell me.

[i_speak_softly]

[He hesitates before beginning.] First, forget everything you believe about blankets and hot baths.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[April raises a hand, like a student in a classroom.]

Can I remember that I really like warm blankets and hot baths on a cold day?

[i_speak_softly]

[Oh, April. If anyone can make this disclosure less humiliating, you can.]

Correction: Forget everything you believe about the value of blankets and hot baths to hypothermic turtles.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Yes sir! Now you've got me pretty curious, though...

[i_speak_softly]

Listen, April... [Serious again.] In case anything happens. The key is to raise the surrounding temperature, gradually. We'll do the rest. Insulation in the form of blankets is worse than useless, and our temperature should never be raised too quickly, no matter how tempting it may seem. Do you understand?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Of course. And now I can build that sauna I always wanted.

[But, joking aside...] What about...external heat sources?

[i_speak_softly]

In moderation, and indirectly.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Uh---what does that mean? [She woke up with you wrapped around her, Don. She wants to know.]

[i_speak_softly]

It means don't point the space heater at us. Just have it in the room. [That's a different conversation, April.]

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Okay, okay. I'm getting a little nervous with all this information. Makes me feel like my winter will be spent spoon-feeding soup to two semi-conscious icy turtles. [She's kidding, Don. Mostly.]

[i_speak_softly]

No, no, it's not like that. [Usually. But it may be time to tackle the other half of the conversation.] Except for the semi-conscious.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

What...?

[i_speak_softly]

[This is so awkward. The pillow is suddenly a fascinating thing to look at.] We don't spend the winter falling in lakes. But we do spend it conserving energy. The first thing to go is... coherent thought.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Oh. Oh, super. [A tinge of panic enters her voice.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He reaches out to touch her arm, a steadying gesture.] This is why I'm telling you now. We're fine. We're just not very good conversationalists.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

When do you get "coherent thought" back?

[i_speak_softly]

When we can spare the resources. [He shakes his head.] It might not be like that this winter, April. We have reliable heat and food here, barring earthquakes. I just wanted you to know... because I might not be able to tell you later.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should make me a list of things you want. Or need. Now, so that, just in case anything goes...incoherent...I'll have it down on paper.

[Like a living will. But she doesn't want to call it that.]

[i_speak_softly]

April. [He can meet her gaze now.] We don't need anything. That's the whole purpose.