And a Time to Every Purpose

[thepurpleone]

WHO: Donnie-ma-tello and you
WHERE: Temba
WHAT: Being a rebellious teen or something
WHEN: Mid to late Sept.
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: Will match pose format!


I. A Time to Plant
It had taken... a little longer than he'd wanted but Donnie's finally found a place to plant what flora samples he'd saved before the volcano evacuation. He's picked an area in the northwestern part of the city and spent some time pushing aside rubble and setting up a rough perimeter to mark the area off, a square of dirt roughly six feet length and width.

Finally he's ready to transplant things, and with the sleeves of his hoodie rolled up, he does so. His right forearm is bandaged up and around his hand, which he frowns at once he realizes he'll have to get it changed out for all the dirt it's collected, but what can you do?

Another hole prepared, another plant eased in. He carefully gathers the dirt around it, patting it flat. When he hears someone's approach he tenses just a little, but the fact that it's day eases his guard, if just a tiny bit.

"You don't by any chance have the plant people on speed dial, do you?" he asks, though he hasn't looked up to see who it is.


II. A Time to Lose
With still no word about the shuttles, Donnie wonders that no one's gone to check. Then again, given everything that's been needed to be repaired and cleaned up, he supposes people have just been too busy.

He's prepared to be disappointed about the continued absence of the shuttles.

He is completely unprepared for an absent hangar.

"Wha-??"

The area's blank, the building... but if it had collapsed completely then it would have surely left more of a mess, wouldn't it have? So he's running up the road to where it is, or was, or should have been, and the closer he gets, the stranger it is. By the time he comes to the end of the road, which at a glance seems to stretch further along, the turtle's frowning. "Not gone..." he murmurs, brow furrowed as he brings up a hand before abruptly jerking back wide-eyed, with a jolt. Or perhaps from a jolt.


III. A Time to Cast Away Stones
He hadn't really found a space he actually wanted to claim as his own, and with the volcano and aftermath still fresh in his mind, he's a little hesitant to look. But if he wants to do more things, having his own workshop and lab is- in his mind- a necessity.

It's even harder with so many places leveled or more damaged, harder still to tell what's sturdy and what's compromised. Donnie pokes around some of the buildings in the northeastern sector of the city, eyeing the outsides before ducking into a doorway to inspect the inside.


IV. A Time to Break Down
At some point he gets tired of looking at broken buildings and decides to stick to his roots, slipping underground and into the sewer system. It'd probably be a good idea to see if the tremors had caused any damages. Well, new damages. It doesn't look like much upkeep has been done with things here, so Donnie tries to be extra careful as he makes his way along the darkened tunnels.

He's opted to wear the hoverboots Tony had gifted him, just in case there's any trouble spots. But he's lived in the sewers of New York City so he highly doubts this one has anything it can throw at him that he can't handle.

Comments

[spinsandneedles]

"The only thing that's been stopping me is the storms. I hear getting caught in one is bad news, but at this point it's a chance I'm more willing to take. ...well, that was before someone tried to eat you. I don't really wanna risk her coming after seconds while I'm not around."

And then he pissed off another guy. Its probably fine.

[thepurpleone]

"There is that..." Donnie has to concede. "But it might depend on how far you are from it. I think effects are usually localized to the area the storm is in. Of course all my information is from other people."

Being so bluntly reminded of his encounter does make him put a hand over his neck again as he glances around anxiously, like saying as much would draw the predator out.

"Appreciated," he says. "Well...we can still take the long route to Sh'Ka if you're up for it."

[spinsandneedles]

He sighs, not really loving the idea of being trapped in a metal tube after being stuck underground for so long, but he doesn't really have anything better to do right now.

"I'm up for it. Might be a good idea to... maybe get out of town for a little while, all things considered."

[thepurpleone]

"...also an excellent point," the turtle admits. "Um. Well either way, I'll need to go by the hotel and grab some things if we're making a trip of it." Hah, what is he saying, it is definitely a trip out and then it's not like they can go back right away given the automated schedule.

"Have you tried any of the data points yet, by the way?"

[spinsandneedles]

"I was thinking of hitting the one that'll let me understand the little mushroom dudes. Figured it would make thanking them for all their help easier."

That sure is what he'd use it for. I mean sure, there are other things he can do, but being nice to mushrooms is his top priority!

[thepurpleone]

It's not a surprising choice considering they'd touched upon the subject back underground. Donnie nods.

"That'd be the communications one. It's over by the security tower in the city center so we could do that and hit the hotel." He knows better than to suggest it be done simultaneously because Sonic will clearly be finished before him either way.

[spinsandneedles]

Hah yeah Sonic has no chill, BUT he's trying to stick with his turtle pal!

"Sounds good to me! I'll try not to rush you too much."

No promises, though.

[thepurpleone]

By now Donnie knows that he can only let some forces simply be. Getting Sonic to slow down would be like trying to get his little brother to quit rebounding off of things.

He turns to start back towards the main part of the city. "At least once I get my boots I won't lag behind too much."

[spinsandneedles]

To be fair, Sonic is willing to at least try to slow down for certain people! Not many people, but y'know. Donnie's made it onto the list.

"Oh yeah, that's right! Those things are awesome! They won't do us much good on the train, but that's okay."

[thepurpleone]

Woo, VIP status!

"Well, yeah that's true but I guess we're going to have to suck it up for the train ride." Sorry, if he could strap rockets to the thing to make the train go faster, he totally would.

[spinsandneedles]

Donnie.

Buddy.

Don't let your dreams stay dreams.

"It's all good. I can sit still for a little while if I really need to."

[thepurpleone]

Look, if he had parts to spare for rockets he wouldn't waste them on the train.

"Hang on, I feel like I should record that for posterity," Donnie smirks.

The way back to the main part of the city isn't that level but the road's pretty straight-forward, so eventually they get to the town square.

"We're close to the hotel from this side. Should we just stop there first? I mean, either way I think it'll even out, but at least I haven't unpacked much from when we got out from underground."

[spinsandneedles]

"To be fair, 'a while' is only about ten minutes."

After that Donnie's gonna have a bouncy blue bored boy to deal with.

"Yeah, we can hit the hotel first. If you need me to carry anything, just toss it my way."

He may have twigs for arms, but he's stronger than he looks!

[thepurpleone]

"Oh, this is going to be a fun trip."

There's a bit more emphasis to his usual tone that already defaults towards sarcasm.

Donnie nods and continues on. "Won't be much. It'll keep me from being bored at least. Not sure about you though... Think we'll need snacks or something?"

How long are they planning on hanging around over there?

[spinsandneedles]

Sonic just chuckles. Sorry Donnie, he is a menace.

"I know if I say 'no', we're gonna get hungry later and wish we'd brought some. We should probably grab something."

[thepurpleone]

"Probably," Donnie agrees. "Maybe I'll leave snack gathering to you while I grab my stuff, how's that work?"

At least that way they can knock off two tasks at once.

[spinsandneedles]

"I think I can handle that. Any requests?"

Maybe an angry vampire won't jump them in the meantime!

[thepurpleone]

"I'd say pizza but there is still a horrible lack thereof," Donnie sighs. "Honestly, I have no idea what they have so just don't overdo it."

Oh don't remind him! But at least it's daytime. Vampires don't come out in the sun, right? ...never mind that buildings are dark inside.

[spinsandneedles]

"See, when I think 'train snacks', I was thinking something more along the lines of jerky and trail mix? I'll figure something out, see you in a bit."

Hope you didn't have anything else to add, because Sonic is off like a little blue rocket. Probably raiding the diner for fruit or something, who knows. Brb, don't get murdered while he's gone!!

[thepurpleone]

"O-oh, I mean that works too- Aaaand you're gone."

Donnie shakes his head before heading inside. Absolutely not intending to get murdered whatsoever. It has not occurred to him to wonder where bloodsuckers might live when they're not out on the prowl, but at least he's quick to grab his things, pulling on his boots and slinging his bag over his shoulder before he's zipping back out.

[spinsandneedles]

He returns quick, but not like super quick. Jerky and trail mix became 'but also sandwiches and fruit and more sandwiches', and he returns with a couple bags of TRAN SNACKS, arriving a few minutes after Donnie finishes up.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! My stomach started calling the shots while I was packing. We should be good for a while!"

[thepurpleone]

At least one of them knows how to pack for a trip! Donnie laughs.

"Nice! So long as we don't end up eating everything out of sheer boredom on the train, we should be good. Need me to carry anything?"

In the meantime they can start towards the security tower and the comms data point!

[spinsandneedles]

"I should be good, at least. Filled the tank while I was packing up. I got this stuff, don't even worry about it!"

He may have twiggy arms, but he can carry all the snacks!

"So all I gotta do is touch the glowy thing, right? Like the one when we first got here?"

[thepurpleone]

Well, if Sonic insists!

"Yep, pretty much," Donnie nods. "It'll be a big rush at first but then it won't be super obvious that you know all this weird stuff you didn't before until something relevant comes up."

[spinsandneedles]

He does! He's a big, strong, tiny hedgehog!

"Huh, sounds weird. Guess I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it!"

That's kind of how he approaches everything in life, really. It's worked out for him so far!

"No words of caution, or are we still in trial and error territory?"