revivalproject | And Frightened Miss Muffet Away

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And Frightened Miss Muffet Away

WHO: Donnie and Various
WHERE: The wiiiiilderness beyond Temba
WHAT: Trouble, what else?
WHEN: Um. Now. -ish. Time is fluid.
WARNINGS: Possible violence and all the things that come with it. Oh right, and 8-legged freaks in the other thread.

I. Wild Robot Chase (For Stu and maybe a Billy if he is so inclined)
Scuttle is a robot. Scuttle's name is actually supposed to be Slashtag but Scuttle doesn't particularly like it. But the Purple one insisted that it was much cooler. Indeed, Scuttle can slash things, theoretically- well no, he can slash things rather well because his appendages are nice and sharp in the front, but he hasn't been running around slashing things as often as he simply...scuttles.

Scuttle is a cute name. Scuttle has conveyed this to the Purple one. The Purple one only made a face of [displeasure] but hadn't said anything more on the matter, so Scuttle had taken it as an acquiescence.

The Purple one was not the one who built Scuttle, but he'd Fixed him. Now instead of being stuck watching things in a tree all day, or sitting on a rock to do pretty much the same, Scuttle was free! Now he can wander the woods and look for things and... Hm. Well, anyway, he can wander! And...okay, play a signal booster for the Purple one's other not!scuttlebots (who are not nearly as cute as he!)

Cute may not necessarily be what one would choose as a descriptor for the robot. While Donnie had initially intended to replate the skeletal structure with something better suited to camouflaging with the local fauna, he rather liked how edgy the former Robotnik-bot looked shape-wise when stripped of the original exterior, and so simply reinforced the frame and gave it a snappy paint job- metallic purple, of course. What resulted was a spidery-looking crab-like bot, 3 feet high and 4ish in length if Scuttle splayed his legs out (but if he does that then he can't move very well.) Each of the six legs ended in sharp points, with an additional two that were slightly bulkier than the rest, shaped more like scythes that opened up in strangely angled pinchers.

Scuttle thinks that this exposition was highly necessary.

Of course, who would know that such an unseeming (?) robot is under the employ of (one of) the resident engineer(s)? And certainly its lurking by the fringes of the woods is not suspicious at all! Indeed, he's waiting, having received some positive feedback from one of the scout-bots. The Purple one is just taking his sweet time in coming to meet him! Surely this "pizza" can wait!!

II. Finder's Keepers (For Leo)
Some of the robots were unaccounted for. Even if they aren't Donnie's original creation, he's not about to let any resources go to waste around here. He'd said as much to Robotnik when the doctor had still been around, so surely the man can't fault him for repurposing any of the things he's left. But that's besides the point.

"I lost the signal on two of them somewhere out here," he explains to his brother as they make their way through the woods. At least there's plenty of shade, the ever thickening foliage providing at least some shelter from the heat that's been slow-roasting Temba, and the ground isn't going to threaten to burn their feet with every step.

"They probably wandered into a spot with bad access to sunlight for their backup charger."

An annoyance, but at least if they'd run out of power, then it shouldn't be difficult at all to find them at the last spot that Slashtag had picked up a signal from. All they'd have to do is drag the bots back to a spot with some reasonable solar exposure and let them charge. It'd certainly beat trying to bring them all the way back to the city, anyway.

Donnie pauses to set another tag on a tree, a digital and physical breadcrumb trail so they can find their way back if they get turned around somehow.

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Leo tries to fight back, but the bite on his leg is a bit more than a scratch, and the burning sensation that follows has him actively checking if he’s actually on fire. He’s been hurt before, but why does this burn so badly-

He’s distracted when more of the spiders descend.

He tries to get away, but there’s too many of them. His weapon is knocked from his hands, and he’s left to defend himself with his limbs. At least his shell is protecting his most vital parts… except his head.

Leo loses sight of Donnie in the fray, out of witty quips as he just tries to keep from being bit again. His leg hurts so badly he can’t even kick with it.

Panic won't help him here, but these things are keeping him from getting to Leo and that makes him mad. Donnie swings his foot up and then out, managing to nail the spider in the face just before it can strike. It reels back with a shriek, and Donnie hurriedly tries to get to his feet and grab his weapon.

He sees it, strung up by webs and effectively barred off by another pair of descending spiders. Just how many of them are there?? In his frantic look around he catches a glimpse of his brother who's swarmed with his own problems, seeing Leo's sword much too far away from the turtle to do any good. For a good solid second Donnie blanks on what to do. And then he feels something smack heavily against his battle shell and start to tug him back into the present.

"Leo-!" he shouts, but there's no help there. But Leo is there, which is so much of a difference than being alone, running from some horror trying to eat you or drain you dry. Back then he'd felt like he was reaching out into a void, but there was nothing there, no one to connect with. That isolation just made things so much worse.

It's a subconscious thing, but he knows there's something, something that's always been out of reach in those moments when he just needed his family. It's the thud of a heartbeat, scraping past the emptiness of desperation, clawing past blindfolds and walls that he'd just gotten used to, reaching out for the truth of the matter.

He's not alone.

And he's not letting anything keep him away from his brother.

Another heartbeat. Maybe Leo feels it, that point of connection. Donnie's markings blaze in brilliant magenta.

Since coming here, Leo had been able to feel it - a dull, buzzing feeling where a connection used to be, a missing piece of a whole. It was there on the very edges of his consciousness, and he’d put it aside, because Donnie didn’t remember it, the evening Raph let himself fall and they all dove after him.

Now, struggling under the weight of the spiders and desperately trying to wriggle free, he feels it snap back into place.

Welcome brother, it seems to say.

Leo can’t see Donnie, but he sees the purple light fighting against the dark of the canopy. For just a second, he pauses in his fight to admire.

“Whoa…”

But there’s no time for that, because the arachnids are still attacking. Hopefully Donnie figures this out fast…

It's strange when you feel something that you hadn't known you'd been missing suddenly slot into place. It toes at a dangerous line marked 'Emotions' but these are at least the warmer, fuzzier kind than the cold, uncertain feelings he'd become so accustomed to.

It's like a hand's been outstretched, waiting, this whole time, and he's finally been able to find and grasp it.

Donnie doesn't waste another second. He's already had practice, he already knows what he can do thanks to those strange caves, but that had always left him feeling empty and exhausted, a battery charged but for only a certain amount of time. This is different and he can feel it. Lines trace around him, complex parts of machinery layered over until they form complete weapons of pure energy. A barrage of glowing rockets fire at the spiders around Leo, sending them flying. A drill manifests beneath the one in front of Donnie, splattering it into oblivion.

The light's sent the remaining spiders in a panic, skittering uncertainly while others mindlessly throw themselves at what was supposed to be an easy meal.

Well, look at that. Donnie always has been a fast learner.

The arachnids on Leo scatter or splatter, enough to free himself and get to his feet, grabbing his sword as he goes. He’s limping hard, his leg still lit on fire and weighing him down, but he’s able to snap two of the arachnids through a portal before they get any closer.

He makes it back to Donnie’s side, his own markings lighting up bright in response.

“Oh yeah, we are so back!”

Donnie's grin is pure manic adrenaline, and although he has concerns about Leo's injury, his brother otherwise is up and moving and they've got the upper-hand of the situation. He yanks his tech-bō free, taking up a defensive stance by the other turtle.

As much as Donnie hates to leave the robot behind, that just sounds like it'll invite more trouble if they have to go any deeper into this spider nest. Leo's hurt and his own arm isn't feeling that great either, not great odds when he knows he's riding some weird...ninpō high or something.

"Yeah, but I think it's time to bug out!"

He must be delirious, he's making puns.

A pun!? Oh, this is truly an amazing day for Leo. Well, minus the leg injury.

“You said it, bro. One way out of this sticky situation, coming right up!”

So saying, Leo opens another portal just behind them, this one taking them to the edge of the forest.

For the record, that gasp just then was totally not a laugh.

Donnie's in some weird sort of space on the emotional scale, not outright gleeful because see spider situation, but while they haven't necessarily completed the full objective of their outing, he feels like he's managed to at the very least accomplish something, and it is so much better than dragging back two sticky, broken robots.

It's weird being able to actually feel that pull more clearly, something like a resonance between them as Leo uses his ability and opens that portal. Maybe it's just that his sensitivity is keyed up because this is all new to him, but it's fascinating and amazing. Donnie steps closer in case Leo needs some help getting through, building several mobile turrets of neon light to cover their escape.

"Let's go!"

Edited 2024-07-31 06:00 (UTC)

Mmhmm, sure it wasn’t.

Leo doesn’t need any help, except his leg really does hurt and he can’t help but lean on Donnie as they get through the portal. Leo slams it shut just as a spider thing tries to follow them through, saving them from having to look at its ugly face anymore.

Once that’s done, he turns to Donnie, laughing and giving him a little shake with his arm.

“Dee, you did it! And we didn’t even have to jump out of a tree this time!”

"One day you are going to have to tell me the context of all that," Donnie laughs. Now that they don't have to worry about giant spiders trying to eat them he can feel the rush wearing down, but it's not enough to dampen his mood.

"Personally I think I might prefer the tree method to seeing my brother nearly get eaten." But then he supposes that's part of what really triggered it for him. He's not particularly looking forward to losing that sensation once another stupid storm comes rolling around, but right now, that's not a concern.

"You okay? That bite looked bad."

Leo would have also preferred it didn’t involve him almost getting eaten, but he’s also glad it didn’t involve… other things.

“Oh yeah, I’m totally- ey-OUCH that burns why does it burn!?”

Leo’s attempt to put more weight on his leg ends poorly, and he doesn’t stop leaning against Donnie. He pulls his leg up so they can look. It’s definitely a bloody puncture wound… Boy, he hopes he didn’t just wake up Vomitello.

“Yeeeaaah… I should probably get this looked at.”

Yeah, that's reassuring. Donnie shakes his head. "I don't know, I only got a scratch and that still burns so I can't even imagine how bad that might be for you."

He grimaces when they do get a look at the wound, Donnie swallowing his initial queasiness. "O-ohhh gross, ugh. That's so much worse than a vampire bite." Maybe. "I...have bandages and stuff but otherwise we should probably get you to the hospital A-SAP."

“The really casual way you bring up vampires is super worrying…”

Leo sighs at that. He knows it’s the sensible thing to do, but still…

“Do I have to be seen by that Wesker guy? Or is there someone else.”

Because he doesn’t trust Wesker much.

"As it should be but they've been gone for a long while now so that's one less thing to be concerned about." Had he mentioned his vampire encounter? It's the whole reason he even carries basic first-aid items these days.

"-he's not as bad as you think, but there's also Tae and I think Billy." Why yes, your brother has actually been getting along with Doctor Sunglasses.

It’s been alluded to but never fully explained. Leo will remember that, though.

“…He strangled a guy in front of me.” Really, why does it feel like everyone wants Leo to think he was the weird one in that whole interaction!? “But who knows, maybe the other two are just as crazy.”

That seems to be how his luck is going.

Surely no big deal since they're gone. Pay no attention to the way Donnie briefly fingers his neck or scratches at his right forearm. The scars from her claws are barely visible anymore, at least.

"O-oh." Funny, the details you don't manage to catch from listening to audio recordings. Donnie suppresses a grimace, quickly moving away from the subject of Wesker. He'd been wary of him, sure, but he also knew that the man did help, and Donnie had felt he'd owed him.

"Doctor Tae is better. She's nice- and probably the most fashionable doctor you'll ever meet. And Billy's ...not really a doctor but he uses some weird brand of magic." Can you manage another portal? If not, then I'll do what I can now so it at least won't be exposed until we get there."

He did pay attention to that. Oof, Donnie, what happened while you were alone…

Leo pulls himself back to the present, where he’s… somehow managed to make Donnie upset again, by criticizing another adult in this place. Did he become friends with this one, too? Eugh boy.

“I can get us closer, but my aim probably won’t be that great.” It’s harder when he can’t visualize where he’s going. And he’s steered clear of the hospital.

While he's not so sure he'd consider them friends, Wesker actually ~~finally~~ acknowledged and appreciated his work and efforts. That Leo and Tony hadn't really any great positive feelings and experiences with the guy was the main reason Donnie hadn't really brought up the name, but his need to just be useful overrode any warnings Tony might have been trying to convey about him. But...sure, the guy was super rough around the edges and had apparently experimented with those weird demo-creature things to make guard dog but it was for the hospital so that wasn't- that couldn't be bad, right? Donnie's constant search for adult approval hadn't gotten him burned here, so far.

"I'll take care of it. Just so long as we're close enough," he says. There's no way he'll abandon his brother, after all. "Just get us to the city square, that'll be easier."

Hopefully it won’t burn him ever, but if it does… well, at least Leo is here now.

Speaking of burning, though! He wants this taken care of. Some painkillers would be great right now.

“Yep, I got it. Portal time, baby!”

His exclamation doesn’t sound as exclaim-y as usual thanks to the pain in his leg, but he does open a portal to the town square. That’s a few less steps to take.

Donnie brings his arm around his brother's shell to better support him as they once again go portal-hopping. It's a relief to be back in... Well, it's a far cry from 'civilization' but it's still better than the woods.

The way to the hospital is more manageable at least. "Okay. I'll take it from here. Hang on."

He's not sure how long he can hold any of his constructs, but this distance is better to work with. His battle shell isn't tested to carry passengers, so he feels better supplementing it with a boost from his ninpō. The light is welcoming as he grasps it, shapes it like an echo of his armor shell, easily lifting the two of them and carrying them along as Donnie directs them for the hospital.

Leo does flail for just a second as Donnie starts to lift them (he’s not used to being a flying turtle!), but he does calm down once he knows he’s not about to fall.

“Ooo, this is new.” At least new for Leo. Maybe in his timeline, Donnie carried Mikey around like this.

It certainly beats straining your leg carrying all three of your brothers! But it was highly unlikely that he'd be able to feasibly carry all of them in such a manner as their current one. Raphael alone would simply be out of the question, unfortunately.

"Relax!" Donnie almost laughs. It's easy to forget he's the only one who's used to flying around. It's not a long flight, and once they're closer to the hospital, he starts to descend until the point where he can land them in front of the door. "Well, guess it's time to play doctor roulette," he says as he pushes the doors open.

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And Frightened Miss Muffet Away

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