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

[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.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[She simply nods. Because as far as she is concerned, there's nothing true about that. Raphael and Donatello need their father and brothers. She realizes that she's been trying to fill a turtle-and-rat-shaped hole for the past few weeks and has gotten nowhere with it.]

[i_speak_softly]

[He pushes himself up on his elbows.] I should go.

[after-march.livejournal.com]

No, wait! I mean...why? You can stay if you want. You were supposed to be the one doing the talking, and I was supposed to be the listening one, and we never really got around to it...

[i_speak_softly]

I've done nothing but talk...

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Sure, about me, and Raph, and cold-blooded biochemistry. Not about how you're doing with...everything.

[i_speak_softly]

You, Raph, and the details of my biology isn't 'everything'?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

Donnie. You left out the all-important subject of you, and I never gave you a chance to get to that.

[i_speak_softly]

[The furrow in his brow deepens.] April, I don't understand. How has any of this not been about me?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

[A sigh.] Never mind. You should go do whatever it is you need to do.

[i_speak_softly]

I was just going to go to bed... [He starts to push himself up again, then hesitates. April looks unsatisfied.] April, what do you want me to say?

[after-march.livejournal.com]

That's not how it works, Donatello. Go to bed.

[i_speak_softly]

[He doesn't know what he did. He gets up, and, with a brief glance back, heads to his room. Tonight's events require a long meditation session.]