All the World In Front of Me

[thepurpleone]

WHO: Donnie and you!
WHERE: Temba
WHAT: Trying not to roast
WHEN: Mid to late July
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: Will match tag format/preference!


I. Evaporate
One might have thought it impossible to kind of miss the Calibrations space but at least it was climate-controlled! The weather's been absolutely hideous, not to mention dry, something Donnie's not used to. It makes things difficult to concentrate on, even with a fan blowing in your face.

Even summers in New York were never this bad. He could almost be fooled into thinking he was stuck in stage one of the flu, except that it had never lasted for days. Then again, given how hard it is to tell the difference for the time of day with how consistent the temperature is holding, he's not sure how long it's been. Going outside seems out of the question, but he still risks it just so he can check on his poor plant experiments out in Blue-04.

This is definitely not an ideal climate for a soft-shelled turtle, but the boy can't not tend to his plants, even if what he can ultimately use is a soak in a nice big pool. He'd thought to lug some water out to the poor, wilting garden but now he's regretting not saving some for him to dunk his head in. He huddles in the meager shade of what's still standing of the ruins it resides in, trying not to cook as he tries to mentally plot the quickest course to finding cover.


II. Rest and Recharge
Thankfully the beach is more tolerable, and the water feels good to stand in. It's not the most ideal place to really relax for all the waves, but it's some respite from the heat at least. He might just go for a swim anyway.

Of course if any of those pesky lobsters get too close and prove to be a nuisance, they're going to see what it's like to be used as a giant croquet ball. They fly pretty far when they're whacked with a rocket-boosted mallet! Head's up!

Time at the beach is only partially for play, however. Donnie does have research to do, after all! He has some things to research and materials to gather in the caverns. And maybe at least it'll be cooler in the depths?


III. When Turtles Fly
Rocket-boots had never been something he'd ever considered making but now he wishes he had because. They. Are. Amazing!

Tony said these babies can break the sound barrier. Donnie is absolutely going to test this out.

As a self-proclaimed adrenaline enthusiast, there has been nothing stopping Donnie from testing their limits. Well, except for the heat, but if you go fast enough and high enough... Huh. What's the range on these anyway? Yet one more thing to find out.

It's both strange and exhilarating using tech that hasn't been built by him, that was made for him- maybe the most bizarre part of it. They're so much cooler than a skateboard- he doesn't need a ramp to do any tricks!

Heights have never been a problem for him and clearly neither have drops as he boosts himself up high and then lets himself freefall some before catching himself in midair and zipping along again. The heat may still be present but at least he doesn't have to walk in it!

Of course once he gets high up enough, he can catch a pretty good glimpse of that new rock formation to the southeast, and it does not look promising...


IV. DiY
((OOC: AKA choose your own adventure/wildcard!))

Comments

[spinsandneedles]

Sonic makes a good effort to keep his eyes open, buuuut he's under this nice shady tree and there's a nice breeze... Yeah Sonic totally fell asleep. But! It wasn't for very long so it's totally fine!

When Donnie announces his return, Sonic sits up with a start and a very graceful "Wh-I'm awake!" followed by a sheepish grin. He was totally awake the whole time! He reaches for the icepack and just pretends that's true.

"Oh man, that was quick! Thanks, bud."

[thepurpleone]

"Yeah, uh-huh," Donnie says as he arches a brow at him, but at least Sonic's responding so that's a good sign.

"Not as quick as you would have, but I don't think it was too bad- but you are welcome," he says, grinning then as he offered one of the water bottles before sitting down against one of the nearby trees.

[spinsandneedles]

Sonic pointedly ignores that smartass eyebrow arch by taking a water bottle and draining half of it. Hah.

"You got rocket kicks or something?" Sonic says, leaning back against his tree and pressing the icepack to his head. The sudden cold makes him wince just a bit, but he'll live. "I know a guy back home who's got something kinda like that."

[thepurpleone]

"Yeah I do!" the turtle confirms as he kicks up a foot to show off one of the boots, some kind of repulsors built into the sole and what looks like a booster in the heel, the toe articulated for the unusual shape of his feet. He also almost falls backwards with the movement, but thankfully he's got a tree behind him.

"I admit, not my design. Tony made these for me. But they sure make it so much easier to get around when the ground is on fire."

my god that icon killed me i'm dead

[spinsandneedles]

"The ground is pretty hot lately, huh." He would know, he's small and very close to it. WEIRD THOUGH, right?? Gee wonder why that is hmmm.

Anyway, that's not nearly as fun to talk about as ROCKET KICKS.

"Oh, I've heard of that Tony guy! Pete said he built some kinda crazy invincible armor! If he can do that, those boots must be awesome!"

cackle

[thepurpleone]

"Really not digging Agrian summers, that's for sure," Donnie mutters, making a face. It's probably just some funky weather phase.

"Oh, his armor's amazing! I haven't actually seen him use it, but ugh, I'd love to take that it apart and see how it all works!" But Tony wouldn't appreciate that and frankly, Donnie can understand the sentiment there. He wouldn't care for anyone taking apart any of his babies either.

"But yeah, these things are so cool- he said they can break the sound barrier, I'm not sure if he was exaggerating or was just you know, being Tony but they are still pretty darn fast!"

[spinsandneedles]

Yeah, Sonic knows a nerd or two back home that wouldn't love for people to take their tech apart. That never stops Sonic from busting Eggman's stuff on purpose every chance he gets of course, but that's a little different.

"With speed like that, you could almost keep up with me!" Almost. "If you ever wanna test those babies against a Professional Fast Guy, just give me a holler!"

[thepurpleone]

Donnie uncaps the other water bottle to take a gulp. The beach is more tolerable than the city but it's still pretty warm out. That offer however makes him smirk.

"Hey, I'm game! Maybe just not right at the moment. Do I still have two heads?"

[spinsandneedles]

"Kinda, but they are starting to merge back into one. Maybe I was a bit dehydrated too."

Given the heat, it's entirely possible. Summer is the worst season, actually.

"Maybe we should let it cool off a bit before we start racing around. I think this weather is affecting my performance."

[thepurpleone]

"The ocean is nice for cooling off but not great for drinking," Donnie laughs. "But I agree there. It is pretty terrible out, especially with things even hotter back in the city. This turtle is not made for dry heat."

He sighs as he leans back against the tree, draining more water from his bottle. "Wonder if it's always like this when it's summer. When I first came it was winter so that was fun." No, not really. "This is a whole different beast."

[spinsandneedles]

"Pretty sure I caught a mouth full of sand and nasty ocean water when I fell..." Blugh. The thought makes him take another drink of his water. At least Donnie had been the only one around to watch him eat shit?

"Winter I don't mind as much, because I want to keep moving to stay warm, but I can see how other people wouldn't jive with it."

[thepurpleone]

Ocean water isn't exactly great to get a mouthful of even when you hadn't been clobstered. Donnie makes a face. "At least it was just a mouthful?" Would've been worse if he hadn't been there to pull Sonic out of the water. ...although if he hadn't been there whacking lobsters, Sonic probably wouldn't have been drinking seawater in the first place.

He shakes his head then. "I'm a turtle so cold weather without being properly equipped for it is no bueno."

[spinsandneedles]

Water under the bridge, bruh. What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger?

"Ah yeah, reptile stuff. We need to get you one of those fancy heated jackets or something."

[thepurpleone]

"That'd be ideal. Although at the moment being warm is the last thing I think I need to worry about right now," Donnie notes. "Just trying to do anything in the city right now makes me feel like my brain'll melt."

The heat's really been putting a damper on his wanting to work on any projects, that's for sure.

[spinsandneedles]

"I recommend ice packs, it's really helping to take the edge off the heat."

He needs to get lobstered in the skull more often, clearly.

"...Y'know, it's weird. It does feel like it's way hotter in the city, but the city really isn't that far from here. It's more than close enough to catch the sea breeze."

[thepurpleone]

"Not a bad rec. I should stock up. ...probably need a fridge first." Groan.

Donnie frowns, stroking his chin as he considers these observations. Not that he hasn't noticed it himself but he's not really talked about it with anyone. "That is true. I mean, maybe it's the trees blocking it? But there's really no reason for the heat to get as trapped as it feels. There aren't that many tall buildings and no asphalt so...yeah. Super weird."

[spinsandneedles]

"Then again, that just could be how it is on this planet? I have no way of knowing what's normal or not."

He's not a science guy, all he knows is go fast.

[thepurpleone]

"That's also a possibility," Donnie concedes. "I should've asked someone who's been here longer if this is the norm for summers on this world. Not that it changes much right now."

Knowing how the weather's supposed to be won't make it any cooler, after all.

[spinsandneedles]

"If something's wrong, I figure someone would have said something by now? Or maybe they just haven't noticed."

HMM interesting. Probably.

"Ah well. So! What brought you to the beach? Aside from whackin' lobsters, that is."

[thepurpleone]

"Maybe? Or they're all just as brain-fried."

Donnie looks a little sheepish at the reminder, at least.

"Erm, well aside from hoping to cool off, I was meaning to get a few more crystals from the caverns. ...have you been in there, by any chance?"

[spinsandneedles]

"Maybe it's like when you put a frog in water and gradually heat it up?"

It makes sense in his head, shut up.

"Ooo, I haven't been there yet! Somehow. I don't come out this way too often."

[thepurpleone]

"That's awful and begs the question of who or what might be doing the heating up."

He finishes the rest of his water, pointing the bottle back out towards the beach. "I first came out there looking for the hot springs- that was back when things were colder. They're deep in the caverns too. But I guess I went the wrong way and ended up finding some old caches of...I don't know, random things. Some parts I hope I can use. But then the crystals- they're what's used to make the energy rods that power things around here, but they have to be refined. In their raw form and natural setting though, they're like... I don't know. It's weird. There's weird effects. I was told they amplify people's abilities- supernatural ones and the like."

[spinsandneedles]

"Well whatever it is, it's probably worth looking into."

Maybe it's important, but right now it's not nearly as interesting as these caverns are starting to sound. Sonic follows Donnie's bottle pointing, his eyes settling on the beach while Donnie explains his nifty cavern findings.

"Amplify people's abilities, huh. We have something kinda similar back home, only there's only seven of 'em and they're a pretty much limitless source of power. In my experience, that sort of thing can be real dangerous in the wrong hands."

[thepurpleone]

"Probably."

Donnie would be more eager to do so if the heat wasn't so much of a thing.

"Yeah? Hm. Well, that's probably true. I'm not sure what's sourcing the crystal's energy, probably something connected to the planet. But once it's removed from the cavern, it doesn't hold the same ability so far as I can tell. Probably needs to be concentrated and consistent. Even then, the effects are only temporary once you're outside of the cave."

He pulls something from one of the pouches on his belt, a roughly hewn crystal shard small enough to sit in one's palm. "I'd had a few of them when we were stuck in that Calibrations tunnel thing, but it seemed like just being in there was sapping the power," he says as he holds it out to Sonic.

[spinsandneedles]

Sonic hops up from his spot and makes his way over to Donnie's tree (with no trouble! He seems to be feeling better). He takes the little crystal from Donnie's hand and looks it over curiously.

"Weird. So the crystals themselves aren't necessarily doing it, but probably something in the cave itself? Maybe it's something underground?"