SERPENTINE HORIZON - LEOXORCISM

[neonleon]

We're exorcising! That! Turtle!

Day 50

Comments

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

—- Wait! Wait, stop.

[ Hunter stays back behind Donnie but. ]

I don’t think we can get it out without hurting him. If - if it’s like what my possession was, he’s eaten part of his body already. He’ll die if you yank it out without a plan.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

Well that's just annoying. At least the Kraang had the decency to let themselves be ripped out.

[The chainsaw does come to a stop.]

[He still looks to be pondering doing it anyway.]

You got any information for us Leo? Because we can free one hand, but if you're gonna go puppet soldier on us again only, its better to leave you like this.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

[he watches Donnie, then shrugs the one free shoulder shaking his head.]

Beat me fair and square.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

In a fight? Just him?

[ Since 2-on-1 doesn’t seem fair. ]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

...I cannot believe you were giving me silent sass when you can talk just fine, you-

We are trying to help you, what is this squaring up nonsense?!

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

I know. [He holds his free hand out placating.]

I don't know much, just what I am. And that you have to go a little deeper.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

He’s not Leo’s inner self. Most of the time, if you see a version of someone in a mindscape, they’re … kind of limited.

Guard was an exception.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

And to go deeper I have to beat him in a fight?! What sense is that?!

[He gestures wildly at Leo with one hand.]

[The other has....a rather hard grip on his bo.]

[Because he knows his got a better shot then Hunter because he knows Leo's tactics, he knows how Leo works, he would very much have the better shot.]

[But while he's always down to try, there is a definite awareness that most of the time...Leo is just better than him and that awareness is terrifying when there's stakes versus just a spar.]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

I was just put here to try to stop you. It was a fifty-fifty shot either way that you'd beat me.

[He says that, and the goop around the base of two buildings behind him recede, showing two exits free to traverse.]

I can tell you you're close, though. Probably.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

… Did Belos force you to do that? Or are you naturally protective of Leo’s inner self?

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

[Looking at the doors.] Are those not going to take us to the deeper you meant? That still means beating you?

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

[he looks from Hunter down to his free hand, like the goop is interwoven through it, patchwork through that giant, hulking hand.]

Bit of column A, bit of column B?

[And then Donnie's asking about-]

They go down, yeah. You don't have to beat me, you already did.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

That … makes sense. Yeah. Belos corrupting the mind’s usual processes…

[ Hunter just over here bein’ a nerd thanks. ]

— Oh. I didn’t realize that counted.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

...that wasn't a challenge, that was a statement of fact.

Thank god. [Okay, now he'll let himself just slump a bit against his staff, forehead to the wood because! Way to give him a heart attack!]

Should we just...keep you like this for now? [Gestures at Leo.] The ice will melt and I can dismiss the fabrications whenever.]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

[He visibly winces at the correction, a bit of that goop spreading further an inch or so.]

If you want. It won't make much different either way.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

[ Leo :( Hunter winces as he watches the corruption spread. ]

Who … are you, exactly? You look different. Older.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

[He grimaces as he sees the goop spreading, staring at it with some Concern.]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

[He looks at Hunter, then back down at his hand.]

Self doubt. About himself, about the future. Casey built up "Master Leonardo" as this whole... thing, so. That's this whole [He waves his hand over his face.] situation.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

[You know, sometimes you do just have to go running around the mental scape to start picking up things because you're just bad at reading things despite your best efforts.]

[He's going to step forward, hesitating a moment, then going to reach out to touch whatever part of his head isn't covered in black goo.]

[And gonna chirp at him because! He's gonna have a feeling! Or a bunch.]

[Its an old sound, an apology for being difficult.]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

[He stills for the moment, waits to see what Donnie will do...

Oh. But that gets a quiet little smile. He thinks for a second before chirping back. Twin.]

Been a while since I've done that.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[othellovonryan]

[Twin. Another chirp.]

[He shrugs, patting his head.] It was easier to get meaning through with sign language. Or...I thought so.

They might be broader concepts, but maybe it was easier when it was simple. Can't do a classic Donnie overthink when its that simple, right?

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

No, no you really can't.

[He sort of just... Sighs like this. Watching them both.]

What are you gonna do then?

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter has to take a moment to parse that. He’s going to linger and talk to Leo for a minute. ]

So not actually future memories, but more like … what Leo thinks his future self is like.

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[neonleon]

Right, exactly. Supposed to be smart, heroic, selfless. All that. A lot to live up to from someone's memory of the future.

[And then there are his brothers, expecting more of him now.]

Re: 2nd - BATTLE NEXUS NYC

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter makes a face. ]

That … sounds kind of awful, to be honest. I’m glad I don’t know what my future self looks like.