lucetilogs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who:

semper_cogitans and

gaijin_ninja at first, with

i_speak_softly ,

the_mikester ,

honorthecode and

ninjacane probably joining in afterwards
What: Robert desperately needing his butt rescued
When: Backdated to yesterday (March 23), after the events of this thread
Where: Near the riverbank of the stretch of river between the bridges near Community Building Four. Will probably move to House 55 later
Summary: After an extremely short sprint away from Yuber (thanks to Litchi), Robert's pretty much passed out on the riverbank. Then he has a rather unlikely knight-in-shining-keratin come to rescue him. Shenanigans follow.
Rating: Gods, I have no idea. Tentatively saying R because Raphael is involved and things will likely get awkward later, but it'll most likely only be for language and/or violence - two things you can't really avoid with the TMNT

Robert is not doing well at all, by anybody’s standards of “well”.

Sprawled out on the ground with his forearms streaked with mud from where he’s collapsed on the sodden riverbank, shaking with utter exhaustion and terror; fear’s still coiling in his gut and driving him to get up – except he can’t, because he is so totally demolished physically from even the short sprint from the fountain’s perimeter to the riverbank. Adrenaline spikes through him even now, enough to make his hands tremble – but he still can’t will himself to get up. It’s useless. He’s useless. Litchi is there, in front of the angry Yuber – possibly even dying for his sake, dear gods - and he’d been too useless, he had needed to run...

He sobs softly, losing himself to the feeling of panic that threatens to overwhelm his rationality, even when it still sits there in his mind, quietly, coldly; surveying the situation, making notes. Yuber wasn’t attacking before I left. I sent out that message on the journals.

The question is... had anybody actually heard that message?

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Now Raph feels about two feet tall. He flinches, but doesn't let himself cower like he wants to. He snaps his mouth shut but stands his ground, every muscle tense, hands winding into fists.

Shit, now Splinter's siding with him too? Great. Just great.

His escape attempt thwarted, Don feels closed in, and his need to get out nudges even higher. The encroaching near-panic makes it hard to think, just at the moment when he needs to choose his words most carefully.

He falls back into Japanese, the language he panics in, and tries one more time to explain himself.

"< I didn't want them to influence you. They already don't like him, for no reason, and I just wanted him to have a fair chance with you... Please, Sensei? This is so important to me... >"

Leo ducks his head and steps back a bit. He knows it's Splinter's right to meet the guy first. He's got no qualms with that. He can also tell how important this was to Don. He takes a few calming breaths before speaking on Japanese.

"< You were the only one that met him and knew him, Don. >" Until today. "< We have always been suspicious of people that we have not met. >" At least at first. Now that he met the guy, it's changed a little. Hell, a while ago he was ready to protect the guy from an attack.

"< I did like him Don, or did you not notice that? Don't lump me in with Raph. I would have supported you. >" But you've pretty much thrown that away by now.

The loud thud of Splinter's cane shakes Robert out of his awkward reverie, and he glances over. It's a confusing question. Why wouldn't Donatello want me to meet his brothers? Why would he exclude them from something that will obviously affect the entire family somehow? It seemed like a fundamentally illogical reaction. Of course, Robert supposes that if Don had some foreknowledge of how much Raphael and Michelangelo would dislike him, it made sense. But it still wasn't ethical.

And then there's that language again. Beautiful, yes, but completely inscrutable to Robert. And he has the frustrating feeling that they're deliberately using it to exclude him from the dialogue. So, despite his own discomfort and desire to not offend, he speaks up in defense of himself, since he doubts anybody else will in this situation.

"... Excuse me. If this conversation concerns me, then I would prefer to be included in it..."

Ah, so it was a misunderstanding--the very start of it, at least. Then it descended into words, and got worse from there. Donatello's reasoning was valid if he were attempting to give his father a neutral of opinion on Robert for the initial meeting as possible. Donatello's ability to provide incomprehensible explanations sometimes filtered into everyday speech.

This is a mendable situation.

"< Your position was understandable, even though your worry was overblown, Donatello--but your explanation to your brothers seems to have been incomplete. You are brilliant, but you must understand that we think differently than you. In the future, you should strive to explain your wishes better and remain conscious of how it might sound to your brothers. >"

Splinter made as if to go on, then paused, and decided to continue in English since Robert had actually spoken up about it (hmm, the man did have a backbone after all...). "This seems to be a result of an initial misunderstanding. A miscommunication. Then, frustration and anger. You should all apologize to each other, regardless of the most guilty party. Do not let it fester anymore."

Because just sometimes, even with their own unique intelligences, his sons were collectively idiots.

Two of his brothers still don't recognize a private conversation when they see one, but at least Splinter understands.

Don bows his head. "Hai, Sensei." Then to his brothers, addressing them collectively in a way that heretofore has been reserved for Mike. "Gomen nasai, oni-san." And finally, to Robert: "I'm sorry..."

Raph says nothing, just stares at his brother stiff as a statue as he makes his apology. He's not ready to forgive him yet. Not by a longshot. But he can understand some of what made this an understanding. What he can't understand is how Don's been acting ever since this started.

That is the real problem here. He could care less about meeting Robert. He's already made his impression. Ans sure, he doesn't like him. But he wouldn't try to ruin it for Don either. As angry as he is right now, he still wants his brother to be happy. That's why he did what he did when Don was in the mountains. But obviously that means nothing.

Whatever. That's just how life goes, isn't it?

Leo's watching Don. He never wanted to ruin it either. He likes seeing his brother happy. He glanced at Robert for a moment. The guy was strange, the world that he came from even stranger, but he's been showing he really does care about Don and his family. He looks back to his brothers though.

"Gomen-nasai." He wants it resolved, so he's willing to forgive to a point. He doesn't want to see his family torn apart over this. Let's fix it before it gets worse.

"Gomen," Mike murmurs. It's a start. Part of him suspects that Don wouldn't be so ready to apologize if Splinter weren't here, but he'll take it. And deep down, he knows that what made his own sarcastic words hurt so much to say was the fact that they were absolutely true.

Robert kind of watches as the tense situation dissolves into an uncomfortable half-truce. He suddenly feels even more awkward than usual. Somehow, something had happened - things he had never seen or even heard about at all - and it seemed like Donatello was responsible for at least some of the debacle.

It makes him wonder just exactly what was supposed to be accomplished.

"... It's alright. Just... I don't want to be a problem." Robert hesitates, looking uncomfortable. "If... If I can do something to remedy it, I shall."

Then he turns to Splinter, even more poignantly uncomfortable. "... Did you want to speak to me...?"

There is one apology missing. Splinter watches Raphael as the other apologies are made. There is still tension, but it will fade with time. Although how much or how little time it takes remains to be seen. Raphael will lag behind his brothers in forgiveness, either way.

When Robert addresses him directly, Splinter turns to him, and nods, "In a moment."

Then, he glances back to Raphael. "We are waiting, Raphael."

Your turn to apologize. Even if you don't mean it.

He stays tense, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He's not going to apologize when he doesn't mean it. Maybe he is sorry to some degree. But Don doesn't deserve that apology. Not after all he's done for him. Not after Don abandoned him for those mountains. Not after he slammed the journal in his face. Not after he pushed him so far out of his comfort zone and still treated him like some kind of criminal.

He was trying to keep the family together, not split it apart. Not let Don abandon everyone and treat them like crap. He's tried, but it wasn't enough. He screwed it up like he always does. Made things worse than they were before. And he hates himself for it. He hates Don, he hates Robert, he hates all of this shit.

He's sick of trying. Don can just go ahead and hate him for all he cares.

"I'm not saying it."

He doesn't care what the consequences are.

"It's okay," Don mumbles. He doesn't really want an empty apology. It won't make him feel better, to hear Raph say words he doesn't mean, and having to say them anyway will probably only make Raph more stubborn about ever saying them for real. He just wants to let this go and move on to the next part of the conversation.

Splinter frowns at Raphael's response, but it is not surprising. Only what's normal for his stubborn son. He won't fight him, for not--not in front of a guest. There's too much coiled in Raphael's gut to be unraveled during a single family meeting.

"Then we will speak later," Splinter states, fixing Raphael with his gaze.

After a moment, he looks away to Robert. "Let us continue in the dojo."

"Certainly, Master Splinter, sir." Robert nods obediently, turning to follow the grizzled rat to the "dojo" - whatever that was. Obviously a room in the house, but... it's a term Robert doesn't recognize.

He glances over at Don, wondering if Don's supposed to join them or not. He wouldn't mind speaking to Splinter on his own if Splinter preferred, but Don's presence would be reassuring.

Don follows also, casting only the briefest glance back over his shoulder. He'll need to speak with his brothers again later, but for now his mind is on what's ahead of him: on the conversation that is about to take place in the dojo.

Edited 2011-04-10 05:21 (UTC)

That's Raph's cue to take his leave. He can't get out of this Hellhole fast enough.

"I need some air."

And nobody's allowed to follow. Don't even try. He slams the front door behind him.

Edited 2011-04-11 00:34 (UTC)

Mike is still stroking Klunk's silky fur, looking down at the floor. After a moment he looks up at Leo.

"Well, that went well."

Leo's watching silently, looking a little thoughtful. There was certainly a lot to consider after today. Mikey's comment snaps him out of his thoughts and he looks at the other turtle.

"Yeah, it did." It could have gone slightly better. But considering this was a spur of the moment thing, it wasn't terrible.

Don emerges from the dojo sometime later, with a limping scientist hanging off his shoulder. He'll do his best to steer Robert directly into his bedroom next door, but any brothers still hanging around may hear their slow progress, and will certainly have no trouble catching up to them.

True to his word, Leo hadn't been listening in. If Splinter wanted them to hear, they would of been in the room. He looks up at the sound of the dojo door opening, and gets up when he sees the two slowly emerging.

"Need any help?" He asks as he approaches, seeing Robert leaning pretty heavily on Don.

Robert, clinging to Don's shoulder with the possessiveness of somebody who isn't quite sure if his ankles will continue to support him if he doesn't, glances over at Leo.

Awkwardly, he mumbles, "I don't think I'd... m-mind the assistance right now. Apparently, sitting in that one position for extended amounts of time is... n-not conducive to my ability to stand..."

"Seiza novice," Don translates, for Leo's benefit. He'll pause so Leo can slide under Robert's other arm, then resume the slow walk to the bedroom, angling sideways so they'll all fit through the door.

Leo nods to Don, and slides under Robert's free arm, giving the man extra support, even if Leo is shorter than Don. He helps them into the room and will head for where ever Don's going.

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Ack, sorry didn't mean to leave you hanging. ._.

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