PSL Time

[makesascene]

Want to RP?

Want to see Leo pop the fuck off like you've never seen before?

Here is the place! Drop a top level on me!! I'm good to try anything at least once. Just be mindful, Leo is 14-16 years old.

Comments

[soft_shelled]

[The question rouses Donnie out of his own thoughts, which is a good thing. He needs to be present for Leo, that's the important thing, so at the older turtle's question, he gives a small smile.

Better to pretend things are going well than let things backslide.]

Yeah, I'm okay. [He lets out a breath he wasn't even aware he was holding in and reaches out to give Leo a shoulder pat as well.]

But you, my dear brother, need to come out of hiding. Everyone is worried about you.

[makesascene]

[The feral turtle narrows his eyes somewhat. Some former emotional intelligence present enough.

He doesn't have all the pieces to understand why or what upset Donnie, but he is feels like something is wrong. Its really the first time he didn't just take what was said to him at face value.]

purrble, purple- not- [He struggles to get the words together properly. His voice gets shakier on the last two words.] Okay. Not Okay.

Trreasures don't- [He's clicking his teeth together, just unhappy for a moment he can't get things sorted.] worry. Shouldn't.

[soft_shelled]

Hey, hey, hey. I'm okay, honest.

[Supress, don't feel. It's better this way and puts less stress on Leo, which is the last thing he wants to do.

Especially when he says that treasure shouldn't, and don't worry.]

Hey now, you can't make us not worry about you. You're important to us, you're our treasure.

[makesascene]

[The feral turtle is unsurprisingly still a little skeptical. The expression more something Donnie likely remembers opposed to the cheerful but almost blank look that tended to be the default on the older turtle's features.

He reaches out, before drawing back. A bit more coming back to him. Some boundaries were clicking back in place.]

Mmrrph, Purrpble.

[soft_shelled]

[The look on Leo's face kind of hurts to see, just because of the remembrance of something familiar. Like a hint that maybe things could be how they were, and Donnie can't hide the hurt from showing on his face.

More so when Leo reaches out but then draws back, sure Donnie has his touch limits but... He's been letting them get pushed for his feral brother.]

It's okay. We should head back before they get more worried. I can make you more burnt eggs if you want?

[Just backing out of the spot now, hoping Leo will follow since he's no longer crammed up in there.]

[makesascene]

[The temptation of eggs is strong. The feral turtle clicks and chirrups a little at Donnie. He doesn't believe Donnie about being okay, that much is written on his face. That kind of expression used to be followed with the feral turtle peppering him with questions or trying to cheer him up.

For the moment, he just vocalizes lowly.

He does follow, starting to drop into all fours until he course corrects himself. Between steps he awkwardly slides back into standing up and walking on two legs.]

[soft_shelled]

[Don't you make that face at him, Leo. He just is going to awkwardly smile at his brother and he's well aware of the other turtle's issue with walking on two legs?

When he sees Leo correct himself, he'll offer a hand to him.]

Need some help?

[He just thinks it'd be nice to not see Leo struggle for even the little bit that walking back to the kitchen will take.]

[makesascene]

[He scrunches his snout a little. Some of his suspicion at least eases off of his face as he nods. He accepts the offered hand.

He trusts Donnie enough to help him up on his feet again. He looks at his brother, just for a moment.

Something clicks somewhere in his mind.]

Donnie. [He chirrups a little. Struggling on the second part of his sentence. Thaank youuu.

[soft_shelled]

[This is fine, this is fine.

Until Leo says that. That one little word, much more impactful than calling him "Purple", makes Donnie stop in his tracks. And he just stares at his brother, as something, an emotion, starts welling up inside of him and he just.

Scrunches up his snout, trying to keep himself from showing anything on his face and failing.]

You're... [He chokes on his own words, not able to say anything else in this moment. Instead doing something he wouldn't normally do, as he's pulling Leo into a hug.]

[makesascene]

Donnie-? [He repeats it again, a bit more confidently. Even if his voice is reedy still.

He's surprised by the hug, but readily holds the other turtle close. His hands settle away from Donnie's shell. The gesture more ingrained into the feral turtle than its a conscious choice.

He exhales softly, cheek pressed against his twin's shoulder.] Going- be okay.

[soft_shelled]

[Don't cry, don't cry. Those words repeat over and over in his head as he just holds his twin close, as crying just will make this worse he thinks.

Just hearing Leo say his name though and that it's going to be okay, he can't help it. The tears come out.]

I know, I know it'll be okay. That you're going to be okay...

[makesascene]

[He sniffles a little, biting the inside of his cheek.

It feels like a weight was settling over him. Some part of him understands this is important. This is his brother, his family. His Treasure. His treasure was upset.]

Donnie, got you. [Its a promise, he wishes he could actually get his thoughts out. His voice is still weak, but he's trying.] Okay- upset.

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie can't help it, he lets out a small laugh at Leo saying he's got him, and that it's okay.

It's not okay, not whatever happened to Leo in the prison dimension to make him this way, not that every time some breakthrough happens Donnie feels too much. He hates that he can't fix things, why do people (or turtles) need to be so complicated? That's why he just buries himself in his projects lately because that's something he can do.

He lets out a shaky breath as he's pulling away from the hug now.]

I know, but... You shouldn't have to, I should be the one that's got you.

[makesascene]

[He steps back, staying standing for the moment. He's keeping some coherency in his talking for the moment.]

Together, we have each other. [He taps at his plastron, and mimes back at Donnie. He chirrups after. He lets that hand he raised settle at his throat. His voice is even thinner now, on the edge of a whisper.] mMmM much.

[soft_shelled]

[The coherency just gets him, it makes him smile just a little. Hopefully he gets what Leo means, considering the other turtle is trying so hard.]

Yeah, we do have each other. [The fact that Leo's voice is on the edge of a whisper does not get past him, even as he takes a few deep breaths to steady himself.] You've talked enough for now, so don't worry about saying more, Leo.

[makesascene]

[The older turtle gives a nod at that, clicking lowly. He falls back on something more familiar, charades hand motions.

He mimes cracking eggs with his hands, then points at the kitchen, raising an eye ridge.

A unspoken change of topic for both of them.]

[soft_shelled]

[The topic change is loved, really. As Donnie is just going to wipe at his face first, gotta hide that he was even crying in the first place.]

Yeah, yeah. I promised you more eggs, I'll get you eggs, come on.

[Not even checking if it's okay with the older teen, he'll take Leo's hand and lead him back to the kitchen.]

[makesascene]

[The feral turtle hums a little at the contact, squeezing Donnie's hand in his own.

He walks with Donnie, finding some ease with their proximity. Ease with the fact his Treasure is okay.

Raph pokes his head out of the kitchen, looking abashed when he sees the feral turtle.]

Look, Leo, I'm so, so, so sorry-

[The feral red eared slider shakes his head, chirruping.]

Rrred. [He's whispering now, his voice shot.]

[soft_shelled]

[The proximity is appreciated on Donnie's end too, even if he'd deny it if asked. It's an appropriate amount of togetherness for him.

He also can't help but smile a little at Raph's apologizing and Leo's whisper.]

I think he gets that you didn't mean it, Raph. Or at least I hope so...

Anyway [He lets go of Leo's hand to clap his hands together.] I kind of promised Leo here more eggs.

gently bumps us ahead once again

[makesascene]

[With improvement also comes backsliding. It isn't a surprise to the family given the progress that they've made over the last few weeks.

None of them expected the projector playing a movie would be what set their feral brother off. All it took was an explosion for the drowsy turtle to launch himself up onto his feet. His gaze is uncomprehending of his surroundings or who any of them are. He spits, hisses, and shrieks at the top of his lungs.

Raph tries to catch him, and gets bitten for his efforts. Repeatedly bitten on the arm before he is forced to let go.

Splinter is wrapping Raph's arm in fresh gauze as the largest turtle cringes a little. He looks to Donnie.]

You wanna give it a try, Donnie? I've gotten gnawed on a little already, and you might have to talk him down.

Do not pressure yourself, my son. Your brother might need time.

We definitely need to... not watch any action movies for a while still.

[soft_shelled]

[No one would have expected that kind of reaction, Donnie being one of them.

So when Leo has that reaction and biting Raph, it's just. Something.

At Raph's question, in the aftermath, he'll just nod.]

I'll try, no promises though.

[And he'll go to do just that, try to find his feral brother and hopefully coax him out of where ever he could be hiding now.]

[makesascene]

[It takes some searching, but Donnie can likely hear the familiar almost rhythmic taps. Following the sound would take him to the source.

A glance upwards would reveal the feral turtle hiding in a cluster of pipes. He's almost completely hidden from sight. Only his nervous tapping is sign of enough of his presence.

He seems to hear Donnie's approach and the tapping stops.]

[soft_shelled]

[Donnie is purposefully not being quiet in his search for Leo, just so the other turtle isn't scared more. But yeah the tapping does get his attention and what surprises him more is just where it's coming from, as he looks upwards and squints. Trying to see if he can spot Leo in the cluster of pipes.

He has no luck in spotting his brother, especially when the tapping stops, but he's going to stay where he is and look up at the pipes.]

Leo, it's okay. You're safe, I promise.

[The words feel hollow, because if Leo can backslide like this over a movie what else is going to set the other turtle off?]

[makesascene]

[There is some movement from above. The older turtle resituating himself. He is absolutely still now, quiet. His mind is spinning with too many thoughts and no way to be sure he's safe. He hasn't seen The Big One anywhere nearby, but where is here? What is here? It can't be real. He presses his hands against his face, breathing unsteadily.

The attempt at stealth is ruined by the low sound he's making. It isn't really a growl, or a hiss, just something strange. Almost warbly. A warning.]

[soft_shelled]

[The movement catches his eye, and he focuses on that, finally spotting Leo.

He considers his options, especially considering the strange noise Leo is making now, he could stay down here or try and get up there and get closer to his brother.

Donnie decides to risk it, as he's moving to find his own way up into the pipes. Not using his battle shell to do so, as to not scare Leo more, so having to rely more on his own skills and abilities without the tech help.

Once he's up there just going to say quietly, while still giving the feral turtle space;]

It's okay, you're home you're safe.