[Log] Calibrations: Trapped in Yesterday

[thepurpleone]

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."

Comments

[plate_builder]

"It was worse than that. We actually burned the Lifestream like a fossil fuel," he says with a sigh.

And that was his fault. But he can't touch that now. Not at all. "The fossilized memories in materia, though, those we combine with the magical energy within ourselves to call forth spells. I look forward to showing you if you want. You could even borrow one for a time."

[thepurpleone]

"Ooh...that...that sounds pretty horrible, yeah," Donnie admitted, especially now knowing what made up the Lifestream.

He blinked, looking down at his hands thoughtfully then. "Magical energy within ourselves..." He frowned a little. "So um. When I was exploring the beach caves for the hot springs I found the areas with the concentrated crystals instead and... Well Tony said they reacted to inherent abilities. Somehow I was able to...make things? Like... actual tech, but out of...light energy? I'm not really sure. My goggles read it as mystic energy somehow."

[plate_builder]

Oh yes, beyond horrible.

"We didn't know. Or, well, some people theorized it but we didn't know what we thought we did."

Still, he's impressed by what Donnie is telling him. So yes, he's really interested in that.

"I would suggest learning there then, as you might be better at tapping into magic there. But that's really intriguing to me. I think I'd like to see that, if it's okay?"

[thepurpleone]

"It's weird. So far as I know, we...don't do magic? I mean, outside of what I've seen my siblings do with magic weapons." But now he wasn't entirely sure.

"That's the thing. It only works in the caves. Like...I have to charge something up, and it'll last for a little while outside, depending on how fast I burn it off doing things- and then it's like a caffeine crash when it's exhausted. But yeah, I can show you. Once we're out of here, anyway."

[plate_builder]

"Magic weapons is still magic," Reeve says with a shrug. Or so he feels. That may not be true, but it's no reason not to try.

"The caves are supposed to enhance natural abilities. They charge us up. Whatever you do there might well be something you are inherently capable of but just not ready for."

[thepurpleone]

Donnie gave him somewhat of an exasperated shrug back. He didn't know how the magic weapons worked exactly- part of the problem really. Something instinctual? Some kind of energy syncing?

Reeve did make an interesting point there, however. Something he was inherently capable of but just not ready for... It made sense in a way. Experimenting with it had been frustrating, trying to keep a grasp on that feeling as it faded off with the charge from the crystals always failing, and it left him feeling empty, alone.

"Hm..."

[plate_builder]

"You can always keep practicing," Reeve says with a smile. "You seem young still. Which means you're still blooming into the fullness of your ability. Give it the chance. YOu deserve to explore it fully."

[thepurpleone]

Reeve's words coaxed a faint but hopeful smile from Donnie. He didn't hear much encouragement from people these days, not that he really needed it, but it was kind of nice.

"I was trying to figure out if I could make use of the crystals any, like some kind of supplementary...focus? I don't know. I brought some of them. Well, obviously not here here," he said as he gestured loosely at the rest of his lab.

[plate_builder]

Why wouldn't he hear encouragement? He was young. That was what young people need, isn't it?

"Obviously," Reeve agreed with a chuckle. "But that is perhaps a good approach, in the long term. The first secret to any form of magic is to learn to center yourself and work with the basics of connecting to it before getting out a focus."

That is true in about... well, 98% of cases. Some people just took too magic quicker and didn't need the whole mental aspects of it.

[thepurpleone]

Splinter was usually parked in front of the TV and his brothers...well, brothers, right? They were always more quick to tease and complain than offer encouragement.

"Yeah, not really sure how to go about the whole 'centering myself' thing," Donnie admitted, bringing up his fingers to make quotation gestures.

[plate_builder]

That's not a good parent or teacher.

"Well, you've got time to learn here," Reeve points out with a smile. "You ever learn meditation?"

[thepurpleone]

He might not seem that way, but Splinter still taught them important things. ...between commercials. But the boys still loved him deeply.

Donnie made a face. "Yeah, but it doesn't really work very well." It for sure didn't help them get out of being caught by Baron Draxum. Raph's fists had been much more effective in getting out of that cage than Hamato ninja training.

[plate_builder]

Well, that's fair.

"Maybe you'll learn it better here. If you wish to. I cannot say that I'm good to help with that though."

[thepurpleone]

"Maybe..." Donnie said in reluctant, dubious teen fashion. "I mean. Guess there'll be plenty of time to try."

He supposed he needed to give himself a break now and then from working on things, anyway.

[plate_builder]

Indeed there was.

"And it's a good way for men like us to take a break."

Reeve gestures to the space around them that implies to him that Donnie, like him, lives for his work.

[thepurpleone]

The kid breathed a laugh then, shrugging. "I suppose even progress requires rest and recreation," he sighed. Still not completely sold on the meditation bit, but he'd give it a shot, again.

[plate_builder]

"They really do. Not that I was very good at learning it myself," he said with a laugh.

[thepurpleone]

"There's always so much to do. Here more so." It was far easier to do the recreational part when his brothers were around, at least. Ugh. Maybe he did need friends to hang out with.

"...so. This has been scintillating and all but uh...how long are you supposed to be here for?"

[plate_builder]

"I don't know how long the time actually lasts," Reeve admits. "Usually, at some point, I feel a fading. If I'm respecting the person. Otherwise if a memory is triggered, it can be faster."

[thepurpleone]

"Not like there's a solid way to keep track in a dream..." Donnie muttered. He frowned. "A memory? Oh..."

He tried not to grimace at that as he glanced around. There were already a few things he noted that didn't seem to belong in his lab, at least on a regular basis.

"Are you...feeling any different or..?"

[plate_builder]

"Not yet, but I can just sit down and close my eyes," he admits. "To make things easier."

[thepurpleone]

That made Donnie look less anxious. Reeve seemed like an okay guy and all, but it was still a relief that he didn't have much intention of poking around what amounted to Donnie's head.

"Sure, okay. You can use my chair if you want," he offered. Least he could do, anyway, even if his lab space was probably the cleanest place in the Lair.

[plate_builder]

Reeve nods and moves to sit in said chair. That should be more comfortable for both of them.

[thepurpleone]

Donnie nodded before abruptly freezing as he realized a minor detail he'd overlooked. "Wait don't-"

Unfortunately the purple satin jacket that was so innocently draped over it- and it was a very nice gaming chair at least- was one of the things that didn't quite belong, and once Reeve took a seat, the perhaps familiar shift of scenery occurred, the lab fading out abruptly.

Pain. It's a wonder nothing's broken. Definitely not one of your better landings. If you'd been flying things probably would've turned out better.

A few feet from you, a dark-skinned girl in a green and yellow jacket sits up, red glasses askew. "I think I broke your jetpack."

"No probbles! I got this!" you say, the four extra appendages of your spider shell unfolding and ready to get to work.

"Not so fast, von Ryan."

Kendra descends from above with your flight shell, violet light blazing from the four rotors, her short lilac hair fluttering in the breeze. She did look quite the sight in that stunning purple satin jacket but more importantly- How dare she! She smirks and her fingers dance across the keyboard of the laptop in her hand.

Suddenly all four arms of your spider shell tense- oh crap, the access code-

All you can do is flail and roll around in the alleyway as all four arms attempt to throttle you.

"No! Hey! No!! Stop! Override! Override! Alpha Bootyshaker Nine-thousand, three y's!"

It's hard to maintain focus on Kendra when your own tech's trying to kill you, but you can hear her all the same.

"Well von Ryan, looks like you're out of luck. I'd love to spend all night beating you up with your own tech. But...I've got a global bank to hack! Buh-bye!" And she blows a kiss. The nerve!!

You feel the grip on the arms give and fling it upward, pulling your hands over your hood as you cringe in preparation for round two before you hear April shout.

"Head's up Donnie!!" Oh that girl. What would you do without her and her bat??

While April takes care of your out-of-control tech, you look up at Kendra as she continues to fly off, gloating.

"Those rotors! The reason I never wear a jacket is that I'm terrified it would get caught in them!" you shudder, hugging your arms around yourself. It's a natural fear, isn't it?

"How about...using a jacket to block those rotors?"

"Exactly! Give me yours." You hold a hand expectantly in April's direction.

"What?! No. Use your own jacket!"

Expected. But no less disappointing. Well, she is a little preoccupied and...

You sigh.

"Guhhh. You know even though this whole thing is your fault, April, I guess it is up to me to solve it."

"Oooh...we gonna have a talk."

That never bodes well, but this is already too much. With great reluctance you unzip that glorious purple jacket, reverently balling it up, and with a heavy sigh as you poise yourself like a shotput athlete, pressing the cool satiny material against your face one last time.

"Fare thee well, my synthetic darling. I hardly knew you, but parting is such sweet-"

"JUST DO IT-"

"-okay."

It's a surprisingly good throw that sends the jacket unfurling, sleeves fluttering in the air like the wings of an ascending angel. Your beloved angel. Certainly she's betrayed you, but still...

Kendra cackles as she continues to hover upwards before the sleeve catches in one of the rotors, the entire jacket shredding instantly even as it sends the hacker plummeting.

The landing is about as graceful as yours had been, the laptop clattering away from her before meeting its demise at the heel of April's foot.

"Sorry Kendra. Looks like your computer's...Wait for it... Wait for it... Crashed! BAM! I should write for the news!"

At least someone's enjoying this bittersweet victory.

Meanwhile you stand watching as shredded satin flutters around you like soft purple sparkling petals in a spring breeze.

Guess it was never meant to be. Is it silly to cry over a jacket? Probably.

"Alas. The classic tale of a well-meaning loner who just couldn't fit in with a band of well-dressed crooks."

You feel April's hand on your shoulder then. She's always been there, at least.

"That's okay Donnie. You'll always be in the April O'Neil Dorky Pals for Life Club."

"Thanks April."

"No matter how stupid you dress."

The sound of police sirens threaten the moment. It won't be good to stick around. You turn and begin gathering your busted equipment.

"Hey, you wanna help me get this stuff back to the Lair?"

April sighs as she starts grabbing things. "I say yes to you way too often," she says as you both make a run for the nearest sewer access.

The memory fades back out and back into the lab.

[plate_builder]

WEll that was all an... experience. Reeve stands up slowly and pushes away from the chair.

"I think I preferred the 'touch nothing' strategy. I'm sorry."