revivalproject | [Log] Calibrations: Trapped in Yesterday

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[Log] Calibrations: Trapped in Yesterday

WHO: Donnie and you...?
WHERE: In the mind of Donatello... Gah, why're you in here
WHAT: Just some teenage turtle things
WHEN: During event
WARNINGS: N/A

(Waiting Room Mingle here)

Darkness gives way to neon lines of light that follow along the ceiling and sides of a massive room. It's a rounded shape, reminiscent of a tunnel, but someone's definitely made themselves at home here. Backlit and accented in soft purple hues, the entire space is retrofitted so professionally that anyone who steps inside wouldn't think they were in a sewer beneath the streets of New York City.

As the eyes adjust, it's clear that this is some sort of lab or workshop. The computer equipment is pretty slick, lining the walls of one side, random consoles and contraptions laid out here and there. Encased in a domed glass is some very stylized looking computer chip about as tall as a handspan, all angles and points. Seemingly somewhat out of place is, of all things, a trophy that's apparently from some sort of demolition derby. Beside it is a small purple crystal. Draped over a very fancy looking gaming/computer chair is a very purple bomber jacket, the smooth, shiny satin kind. This one has a purple snakelike dragon design on the back.

Of course, the place wouldn't be complete without a few pizza boxes, and there's a small stack off to the side for a place called Albearto's. The mascot appears to be a jolly-looking mustachio'd bear with a chef hat.

On the opposite wall are a line of shell-looking objects, armor of a sort? One of the battle shells has definitely seen better days, bearing massive claw marks that's laid circuitry bare. If that's not enough of a giveaway as to who's room this is, there's a titanium bust of Donnie's head sitting on the central workspace/desk.

...of course then there's also the actual Donnie, hunched over some project or another, goggles down as he does some welding. He doesn't even look up at his uninvited guest, but he makes it clear he knows you're there.

"Sigh, it never fails, you try to get some work done and someone just wanders on in uninvited. Do us both a favor and don't press any buttons."

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This was... not a space Reeve was expecting. Or the person. But he was still happy to look around, to consider. There was so much here that was absolutely breathless to see. There was so much here that looked wonderful. Granted he didn't want to see any of this get into the hands of so many people back home. But it's good here and now.

"Forgive me. I most definitely do not intend to press any buttons. But may I ask questions? You have some things here that are really beautiful."

"Ah, someone who has a clearly appreciative eye for workmanship!"

Donnie's elation was short lived as he had to pause at the unfamiliar voice, raising his head from his work as he pushed his goggles up to look over at...

A human? In his lab? Wait... Something wasn't right here. Humans couldn't just wander in, not without his brothers making a fuss of some sort, or alarms going off. Something about this guy was familiar however, and the turtle finally stopped staring as he ran a hand across his face, trying to remember how he'd even gotten here.

Oh right, this guy had been talking to him.

"Er...questions, right. Sure, ask away. Also, how did you get in here."

Ah, a... No, not a sahajin, but something else entirely. How strange. Where has he seen something like this before? Damn if he can remember.

"I awoke here," he explains as he walks over to a computer to look at it. No touching. His hands are decidedly in his suit pockets. "This looks wonderful. Are computers like this common in your world?"

"You...woke up here."

It was clear that the teen didn't believe him, even as he slid a look past him to where the...

Okaaaay, that was strange. It was pretty hard to miss doorways around here, given they were part of the whole sewer tunnel.

"...the technology is common, more or less, yes," Donnie decided to go with the conversation so he wouldn't panic. Maybe something would make sense eventually. Hopefully. Besides, how often did he have an adult interested and impressed with his work?!

"I made and installed all of this myself. Tech is common, but my family is unfortunately not, so we can't go up and just buy stuff all the time like humans do."

He didn't stutter, did he? Reeve raises an eyebrow as if to say 'what of it'. Then he lets the young man talk.

"Yes, that is sensible. I can't imagine you would not be notice."

He moves to continue his tour of the place, and smiles.

"These, shells are they? They look amazing."

Sensible, yes. A big pain, definitely. But it had helped hone his skills tremendously, becoming self-sufficient as he had to learn and teach himself how to do things. The lair's technical upgrades were entirely by his hand.

Donnie beamed with pride as Reeve walked over to inspect the armor on the walls. "My battle shells. Each are designed for specific functions. Well, specific secondary functions, ultimately they are armor, after all."

"Armor?" he asks, intrigued. "Is that something you require frequently in your life?"

"Maybe not frequently. But my brothers and I are ninja so... never hurts to be prepared."

Donnie frowned a little, folding his arms as he leaned against his worktable. "We all have shells but mine isn't really...suited for protection like the ones my brothers have. So I had to improvise."

Ninjas, huh? Yeah, that works for him. He knows more than a few. And this kid doesn't seem like a thief yet. Actually, definitely not as he said he had trouble with buying.

"So less Adamantoise and more Sahagin. And those are definitely things from home that don't make all of the sense."

"A what and a who now?" Donnie squinted at the man. "I....have no idea what either of those are or how they apply here."

He pushed away from the table, turning to thumb at the battle shell currently on his back. "Covers my natural one. I'm an apalone spinifera - a spiny soft-shelled turtle."

Spiny? That might explain a bit of attitude.

"And you're talented to find your way to compensate for what might be a weakness in a fight. I'm almost jealous. I never found a good way for it myself. Magic users tend to be very fragile."

That's just how he was. Then again, soft-shell turtles did bite.

Donnie blinked as he turned back towards Reeve. Having someone say as much was kind of weird, as though he were revealing a weakness itself, and it made the turtle feel vulnerable.

"But...magic can do a lot of stuff. Frustratingly cool stuff... I haven't been able to figure out how it works, but my brothers have magic weapons and have no problems with making them work for them." He clung tighter to his tech, but he was increasingly concerned that one day they just wouldn't need him or his tech any more.

Edited 2023-06-14 22:57 (UTC)

"And you don't have access to magic weapons yourself?"

Maybe he could teach the boy some, when they aren't trapped in dreams. Who doesn't enjoy a bit of magical fire from time to time?

The expression that flitted across his face then was in mild distaste for the suggestion. "I forewent grabbing a magic weapon in favor of a more cerebral option," he admitted, tapping at the side of his goggles.

"I found a crystal that could reveal readouts of things with magical properties when applied with my goggles."

Ah, one of those.

“Magic can be cerebral too. Maybe, when this is over, I can show you. My magic is one anyone can learn after all. Crystals and all that. Though a scanning crystal is also very useful.”

That certainly piqued Donnie's interest. "Really?" Most of his frustration had been due to having no one being able to explain magic to him. The weapons hadn't come with instruction manuals but his brothers took to them like fish to water. Their exposure to mystical things was still relatively new and largely limited to their dealings with the Hidden City.

"Oh, it is! It even shows what magic might be hiding," he said, looking a little proud of his findings. Magically augmented tech could be cool.

Of course he would do so. Reeve offered a respectful nod over the question.

"Really. And yes, we make great use of scan magic too. I don't have any materia for that here. Of course I do not think it would be much use here. All of our magic is... like inherited memory. And memory cannot remember what it has not encountered.

"Materia..?" Donnie tilted his head. The concept of whatever sort of magic Reeve used was interesting though.

"So...you're basically using what's already been established, you mean? A set power?"

"I will show you when we're awake. I won't be able to show the magic, but you can look at them, and hold them."

And when they get out, he can have lessons. But yes, it's like that.

"Memories of magic in a way. They are crystalized memories from the lifestream of our planet. An echo of the memories of magic that another race from our world could do."

The promise of getting out and learning something new is a powerful one that picked up his spirits.

"Lifestream? Like... Okay, I'm not sure what you mean by that. Did the magic exist before this race or after it?"

Ah that is even more to explain.

"Have you heard of the concept of reincarnation?"

"Yeeeah..." Donnie replies slowly. Of course he's heard of it. Belief is something completely different, of course.

"In my world, that's how all of the world works. All life, be it person or animal or plant or even the stone itself, is part of the rebirth of souls of my world called the Lifestream. Magic comes from that. From memories of magic. My race, we can't do it naturally beyond limit magic. But we can use crystalized memories to cast spells."

Yes, his world is a very strange one.

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