[Those strings are cut easy enough! But as he's free and the weight of Leo and the shell about to fall, the Krang flesh around him tightens its hold, wrapping around him tighter. But even with the motion and the noise, Leo still doesn't react.]
[ Hunter's dismay is total as he sees the flesh just wrap around him tighter. It's too much for him to witness, and even worse for him to consider Leo's probable perspective in this. It's been too LONG. Hunter can't bear this another moment.
There's a tense, and - oh yeah, bad decision time - ]
He can't stay in there! We - we have to get him out!
[ And he dives off the staff, aiming to tackle Leo right through the center of all that muck. After that? It gets harder. But he is going to TRY to flare his wavering connection to the ninpo and blink back down to the floor of the chamber. ]
[The Krang flesh tries to latch on to Hunter, but quick as a flash, he blinks both himself and encased Leo down to the floor. Coin toss went in favor this time.]
[ Inside of Raph are two wolves. One is going "the fact that there's not a bad guy in here right now giving a bad guy speech despite all you've heard about him is extremely suspicious." One is chanting "HELP LITTLE BROTHER" very loudly and urgently bc it's a full horror movie in here.
Neither of them understands the situational reference. Both of them agree that closer to brothers is better than in the air. It's the easiest self-argument he's had all week.
So after being lowered to a certain point, he'll toss Flapjack a lil salute and straight up let himself drop the rest of the way. HERE HE COME. ]
[The good news here is: they did successfully get Leonardo out of the Kranglos goop and down to the floor with no incident.
The bad news is: not only is he still covered in the hardened shell, but now the upstairs neighbors are awake. Unfortunate, really, when all the eyes around focus down on the trio.
All it takes is the blink of an eye before the fleshy mess extends out tendrils and pillars of ooze, aiming to hit something, anything with how many there are - a veritable rainstorm of force in the form of strong tentacles shooting out at them all.]
[ RAPH. PLEASE. Flapjack would have brought you down!!
But here's Hunter doing a swan dive so actually the cardinal is not impressed with anyone right now. He converts back to a bird and flutters back down to perch on Hunter's shoulder. Just in time too: the tentacles shoot down around Hunter, forcing him down to the ground and binding him there. He struggles against it. One blink with the ninpo was hard enough; he flickers gold as he tries to do it again without Flapjack in staff form. ]
[Okay, that might actually be in their favor right now.]
Hunter!
[He drops down the last few feet, the laser cutting away the tentacles that go for him, and as he lands beside Hunter and Leo, he brings it up to cut through the ones on Hunter.]
Start embracing that trust, Hunter, there's a lot of power there!
[A barrage is dangerous. A barrage can start wearing them out when they need to deal with Belos.]
[But he knows those eyes-]
[
The eye found them, the tentacles he couldn't stop came, the white hot pain through his back-
]
[He holds out his staff to the side, the parts coming together to form a MLRS, the square, boxy shape with multiple missiles.]
[And he's going to put that Extra Something into the fabrication before he fires off the missiles.]
It goes off. The missiles Donnie fabricates has the usual purple color to it, with blue cores in their centers before they fire off. With so many, it's hard to miss anything that's in the way, and they hit all the pillars of flesh.
But the real thing that happens is that blue - that Extra Something - goes off too. Blue electricity sparks wildly as the missiles hit, tracing up and to the sources, the goop all along the wall and ceilings. There's a second, larger explosion as the blue spreads across the roof and walls of this section of the pit, clearing out all of the Krang and Belos goop in a rather spectacular electric blue light show.]
[ the tentacles fall away from Hunter in droves; he kicks away what few linger, squashing them with the soles of his boots. It’s okay. It’s okay! He’s not infected , Leo is here, they might have won?
And then someone laughs from above them. A slender web of green-black strands begins to lower from the ceiling, with one all too familiar figure at its center. Belos, going full on cliche supervillain, gives the three of them a slow clap. The metal gold of his gauntlets clink in the relative silence following the explosion. ]
“Well. Aren’t you causing a mess.”
[ Below Belos, Hunter freezes, immediately having a panic attack. ]
[...and this is why you save your special buffs for the boss battle, children.]
Ha! Leave it to Nardo to have a sense of style. [Listen, he can appreciate his twin for enabling his love for destruction. He has a manic grin at the sight because its always so satisfying to cause widespread damage to something that super deserved it.]
[But of course, the grin fades when Belos appears.]
[He looks to Leo, then to Belos. He puts a hand to Hunter's shoulder, squeezing it.] Raph, getting Leo out will take precision tools and we're likely going to need him to fully get this demon out.
Remember what we talked about? Got about ninety-five now.
[And as much as he wants to Hurt Belos-]
[Leo is the priority and he thinks he knows what to do.]
Raph personally does not lose his grin when Belos makes his spooky grand entrance. He's been wondering how target-shaped Belos is this whole time. The answer is: very.
What he's hearing is "precision tools" and "we'll need Leo after the precision tools get him out" so the math on that is obviously "so stay between us and this gross-ass old dude because you're not precision tools or a convoluted plan." Obviously. ]
It's your show, little brother. [ He'll trust that. He does trust that. ] Raph'll be the opener.
[ YEET off he goes again. Head empty no thoughts wanna try to punch Belos very hard with a giant mystic fist.
Also he is bringing Hunter with him. Welcome to baby possum mode inside the big red family gundam. He will defend you with his life. ]
[ Hunter is now? A baby possum?? Complete with confused scrabbling and hissing when the protection snaps him out of his initial panic. ]
—- I’m okay! I can handle this! He’s my uncle, so -
[ Belos is getting punched SQUARE in the face. It’s a satisfying noise! So much squish! The fist goes through him in fact? He splatters ALL over the place.
And then he reforms on top of Raph’s energy construct, seemingly unharmed. He paces on top of it, feet sticking via goop. He clicks his tongue. ]
“How boorish of you. I thought you would be more flexible in a setting like this.”
[ The entire pit seems to rock back and forth, as if being rattled by giant footsteps. ]
“No wonder it took you this long to even attempt a rescue.”
You go, Raph, show him what a healthy big brother relationship looks like. [Offers him a thumbs up and let's Hunter be taken away. He trusts Raph to keep Hunter safe.]
[He turns to Leo and kneeks beside him, looking over the cocoin. He tunes out Belos' guilt trip. That doesn't matter right now. His focus is on Leo.]
Really would be nice if you woke up now, Nardo. [He pulls up the laser, and starts cutting away chunks, careful to not get too closer to where his body probably is, just until he can see better hints if it.] You know, I've been thinking a lot about trust lately.
[Breathe in. Slice. Breathe out. Slice. Focus, focus, FOCUS]
[That cocoon shell isn't giving any problems to the laser. It's pretty tight work though, like the goop was literally dripped onto him and hardened that way.
It did, but they weren't there for it. As more and more pieces of the shell fall away, it's clear where those strings that they cut went to: wrapped around his arms, legs, and neck, cutting deep into the flesh and muscle. The other visible problem being... anywhere the goop touched skin is burn scarred, that same kind of acidic burn Belos gave him during the Death by Destiny fight. All over his face except the small bit around one eye that was left uncovered, his neck, his chest and arms. But so far, no issue slicing it all off.]
[ As before, the flick scatters him into goop ... and as before he reforms again, this time up in his strands. There's an unnerving movement behind him - the walls of this chamber pulsing dimly as eyes begin to open all through the scenery. One opens right next to Donnie and stares at him.
Hunter cowers close to Raph, still debating wtf to do here. ]
"Is this what my grimwalker's replaced me with this time? A trio of pets?"
[ Hunter grits his teeth, fingers digging into Raph's shell. ]
They've all been kinder in one day of knowing me than you were to me my entire life.
[Donnie trusts Raph. He trusts Raph to keep Hunter safe. He trusts Raph to keep Belos relatively occupied. He trusts Raph to do his best to keep his word and he knows that's gonna be key.]
[The urge is strong to fire the laser into that eye, but it's just staring and right now, his focus on Leo.]
[He does pause, seeing all that damage.] Oh Leo.... [He sniffs because the emotions are running high, his brother is hurt, and of course the tears are starting.]
[But he can see and that is Enough.]
[The laser in his hand gets smaller. A precise tool. Purple energy wrapping around his hand as a mechanical glove as he starts grabbing strands, and tugging them to get the laser close to cut them away without hitting Leo.]
I know you can hear me. Even like this, you can't abandon us.
Trust isn't blind faith. Trust allows for questions, criticisms. Because trust is about intentions, benefits of a doubt, and yes, knowing the disagreements are not make or breaking the relationship.
I'm sorry we made you feel like you had to be perfect. You didn't. You just needed to listen, let us help you find the answer. We want to help you.
[Focus. Focus. He is reaching deep into his own mystic power, focusing on his next move. The next completely stupid move.]
[As Donnie gets the last of the shell off, he'll see the last of the damage - Leo's hands and feet fading, his soul trying to still hold on.
But once he grabs the first strand, Donnie will hear his own voice. Leo is a suitable stand-in. Anyone can learn. And until you do, you can outsource. Leo makes a great stand in.
Another strand, Mochi's voice. Maybe this is why you're such a poor leader.
Raph's voice, You just don't get it. And then growling in anger, Let him go, Mikey.
Their father, Oh why did I ever trust you? My other sons would have taken this seriously. followed by Casey Jr's, filled with frustration and anger, The world needs Master Leonardo. And all we got is THIS guy.
But then the last strands are all Belos. Belos' voice sinking deeper into his skin than the others. You've ruined everything. You may as well give in, and save ONE person some trouble.
It's terribly noble. Just you, all alone. And they don't even care. Let the stand-in take all of the hurt.
To give a hug? On his own? Please. He used you like the tool he considers you to be.
Don't tell me you're stupid in addition to being inadequate. You're the weakest link here. Or else why would I be here at all?
Then why haven't they managed it already? They find it easier to believe in your cruelty than I was expecting.]
[ Hunter instantly brightens at that. A gloved hand reaches out from behind Raph, waving a whole stack of post-it notes with weird circles drawn on them. He doesn't want to try using them THROUGH Raph's shield or he would. ]
Here! Try these - they're ice glyphs. Just smack them down wherever you can.
The room tilts. More and more of those eyes open, great corded limbs of goop beginning to take form as it becomes clear what this room REALLY is. Belos's humanoid form dangles like a little light on an angler fish as the much larger monster begins to finally move. A face looms in the darkness, made up of that green-black goop and lit by an eerie blue light.
One enormous hand reaches for Donnie and Leo, trying to close fingers around the both of them and c r u s h. The other hand reaches out to pry at Raph and Hunter, this time seeking any weakness in the red energy armor to try and separate the two of them. ]
[There is a sharp breath at some of those strands. It doesn't slow his determination to cut them away. It does speed up his tears, but fuck, he is determined to see this through and as the feelings and doubts and everything seep into his mind, into his bones-]
[It crystalizes his plan to ninety-nine percent.]
[His ninpo is wrapped around what he needs it to be.]
We are gonna have such a talk later. I could just say you're wrong in interpretations, how I love you, but its all words, and that isn't going to be enough, not now.
[He sees the movement out of the corner of his eye, and he's quick to change the laser, into a giant scooper as the hoverpack activates and shoots them off to the side, out of the way of the hand.]
Trust isn't blind faith.
[There's a giant Belos. The situation is definitely a lot more dangerous. One hundred percent.]
But sometimes a leap of faith is necessary.
[Leo is too quick to sacrifice himself, to lose value in himself, and getting him to respond to that alone may not be enough.]
[But he knows what is going to get Leo's attention.]
[He knows where Leo isn't going to let him down.]
I'm trusting you big brother.
[And then in the mindscape and real world both, purple energy encases his back.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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There's a tense, and - oh yeah, bad decision time - ]
He can't stay in there! We - we have to get him out!
[ And he dives off the staff, aiming to tackle Leo right through the center of all that muck. After that? It gets harder. But he is going to TRY to flare his wavering connection to the ninpo and blink back down to the floor of the chamber. ]
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[Calm, calm, just get him out, he expect-]
Hunter?!
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I've got him! Down here!
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Hunter, give him space!
[There is panic because he isn't sure it's that easy.]
[He's almost certain it's not.]
Flapjack, bring down Raph! [He's dropping down quickly.]
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Neither of them understands the situational reference. Both of them agree that closer to brothers is better than in the air. It's the easiest self-argument he's had all week.
So after being lowered to a certain point, he'll toss Flapjack a lil salute and straight up let himself drop the rest of the way. HERE HE COME. ]
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The bad news is: not only is he still covered in the hardened shell, but now the upstairs neighbors are awake. Unfortunate, really, when all the eyes around focus down on the trio.
All it takes is the blink of an eye before the fleshy mess extends out tendrils and pillars of ooze, aiming to hit something, anything with how many there are - a veritable rainstorm of force in the form of strong tentacles shooting out at them all.]
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But here's Hunter doing a swan dive so actually the cardinal is not impressed with anyone right now. He converts back to a bird and flutters back down to perch on Hunter's shoulder. Just in time too: the tentacles shoot down around Hunter, forcing him down to the ground and binding him there. He struggles against it. One blink with the ninpo was hard enough; he flickers gold as he tries to do it again without Flapjack in staff form. ]
Let go -- !
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[He's still in a cocoon state?]
[Okay, that might actually be in their favor right now.]
Hunter!
[He drops down the last few feet, the laser cutting away the tentacles that go for him, and as he lands beside Hunter and Leo, he brings it up to cut through the ones on Hunter.]
Start embracing that trust, Hunter, there's a lot of power there!
[A barrage is dangerous. A barrage can start wearing them out when they need to deal with Belos.]
[But he knows those eyes-]
[
[He holds out his staff to the side, the parts coming together to form a MLRS, the square, boxy shape with multiple missiles.]
[And he's going to put that Extra Something into the fabrication before he fires off the missiles.]
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It goes off. The missiles Donnie fabricates has the usual purple color to it, with blue cores in their centers before they fire off. With so many, it's hard to miss anything that's in the way, and they hit all the pillars of flesh.
But the real thing that happens is that blue - that Extra Something - goes off too. Blue electricity sparks wildly as the missiles hit, tracing up and to the sources, the goop all along the wall and ceilings. There's a second, larger explosion as the blue spreads across the roof and walls of this section of the pit, clearing out all of the Krang and Belos goop in a rather spectacular electric blue light show.]
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And then someone laughs from above them. A slender web of green-black strands begins to lower from the ceiling, with one all too familiar figure at its center. Belos, going full on cliche supervillain, gives the three of them a slow clap. The metal gold of his gauntlets clink in the relative silence following the explosion. ]
“Well. Aren’t you causing a mess.”
[ Below Belos, Hunter freezes, immediately having a panic attack. ]
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Ha! Leave it to Nardo to have a sense of style. [Listen, he can appreciate his twin for enabling his love for destruction. He has a manic grin at the sight because its always so satisfying to cause widespread damage to something that super deserved it.]
[But of course, the grin fades when Belos appears.]
[He looks to Leo, then to Belos. He puts a hand to Hunter's shoulder, squeezing it.] Raph, getting Leo out will take precision tools and we're likely going to need him to fully get this demon out.
Remember what we talked about? Got about ninety-five now.
[And as much as he wants to Hurt Belos-]
[Leo is the priority and he thinks he knows what to do.]
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[ Big flashy explosion? Excellent. Top tier.
Raph personally does not lose his grin when Belos makes his spooky grand entrance. He's been wondering how target-shaped Belos is this whole time. The answer is: very.
What he's hearing is "precision tools" and "we'll need Leo after the precision tools get him out" so the math on that is obviously "so stay between us and this gross-ass old dude because you're not precision tools or a convoluted plan." Obviously. ]
It's your show, little brother. [ He'll trust that. He does trust that. ] Raph'll be the opener.
[ YEET off he goes again. Head empty no thoughts wanna try to punch Belos very hard with a giant mystic fist.
Also he is bringing Hunter with him. Welcome to baby possum mode inside the big red family gundam. He will defend you with his life. ]
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—- I’m okay! I can handle this! He’s my uncle, so -
[ Belos is getting punched SQUARE in the face. It’s a satisfying noise! So much squish! The fist goes through him in fact? He splatters ALL over the place.
And then he reforms on top of Raph’s energy construct, seemingly unharmed. He paces on top of it, feet sticking via goop. He clicks his tongue. ]
“How boorish of you. I thought you would be more flexible in a setting like this.”
[ The entire pit seems to rock back and forth, as if being rattled by giant footsteps. ]
“No wonder it took you this long to even attempt a rescue.”
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[He turns to Leo and kneeks beside him, looking over the cocoin. He tunes out Belos' guilt trip. That doesn't matter right now. His focus is on Leo.]
Really would be nice if you woke up now, Nardo. [He pulls up the laser, and starts cutting away chunks, careful to not get too closer to where his body probably is, just until he can see better hints if it.] You know, I've been thinking a lot about trust lately.
[Breathe in. Slice. Breathe out. Slice. Focus, focus, FOCUS]
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It did, but they weren't there for it. As more and more pieces of the shell fall away, it's clear where those strings that they cut went to: wrapped around his arms, legs, and neck, cutting deep into the flesh and muscle. The other visible problem being... anywhere the goop touched skin is burn scarred, that same kind of acidic burn Belos gave him during the Death by Destiny fight. All over his face except the small bit around one eye that was left uncovered, his neck, his chest and arms. But so far, no issue slicing it all off.]
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I know, bud. You're with me either way.
[ Belos be out here saying stuff, Raph is busy thinking ugh, of course he's a dude who you make go splat and then he just reforms to say evil stuff.
Must have been the little brother. Before he did that one specific murder.
Raph tries to flick him. ]
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Hunter cowers close to Raph, still debating wtf to do here. ]
"Is this what my grimwalker's replaced me with this time? A trio of pets?"
[ Hunter grits his teeth, fingers digging into Raph's shell. ]
They've all been kinder in one day of knowing me than you were to me my entire life.
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[The urge is strong to fire the laser into that eye, but it's just staring and right now, his focus on Leo.]
[He does pause, seeing all that damage.] Oh Leo.... [He sniffs because the emotions are running high, his brother is hurt, and of course the tears are starting.]
[But he can see and that is Enough.]
[The laser in his hand gets smaller. A precise tool. Purple energy wrapping around his hand as a mechanical glove as he starts grabbing strands, and tugging them to get the laser close to cut them away without hitting Leo.]
I know you can hear me. Even like this, you can't abandon us.
Trust isn't blind faith. Trust allows for questions, criticisms. Because trust is about intentions, benefits of a doubt, and yes, knowing the disagreements are not make or breaking the relationship.
I'm sorry we made you feel like you had to be perfect. You didn't. You just needed to listen, let us help you find the answer. We want to help you.
[Focus. Focus. He is reaching deep into his own mystic power, focusing on his next move. The next completely stupid move.]
But...there is more to trust.
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But once he grabs the first strand, Donnie will hear his own voice. Leo is a suitable stand-in. Anyone can learn. And until you do, you can outsource. Leo makes a great stand in.
Another strand, Mochi's voice. Maybe this is why you're such a poor leader.
Raph's voice, You just don't get it. And then growling in anger, Let him go, Mikey.
Their father, Oh why did I ever trust you? My other sons would have taken this seriously. followed by Casey Jr's, filled with frustration and anger, The world needs Master Leonardo. And all we got is THIS guy.
But then the last strands are all Belos. Belos' voice sinking deeper into his skin than the others. You've ruined everything. You may as well give in, and save ONE person some trouble.
It's terribly noble. Just you, all alone. And they don't even care. Let the stand-in take all of the hurt.
To give a hug? On his own? Please. He used you like the tool he considers you to be.
Don't tell me you're stupid in addition to being inadequate. You're the weakest link here. Or else why would I be here at all?
Then why haven't they managed it already? They find it easier to believe in your cruelty than I was expecting.]
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He swats at him again, mostly on principle. ]
Yeah, thanks for the apples to oysters stuff, actual supervillain.
[ Which is all he can really call that, by his reckoning. It's like saying a banana replaced a lobster. ]
Hunter, we got anything that can freeze him up some, or do we gotta get creative?
1/2
Here! Try these - they're ice glyphs. Just smack them down wherever you can.
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The room tilts. More and more of those eyes open, great corded limbs of goop beginning to take form as it becomes clear what this room REALLY is. Belos's humanoid form dangles like a little light on an angler fish as the much larger monster begins to finally move. A face looms in the darkness, made up of that green-black goop and lit by an eerie blue light.
One enormous hand reaches for Donnie and Leo, trying to close fingers around the both of them and c r u s h. The other hand reaches out to pry at Raph and Hunter, this time seeking any weakness in the red energy armor to try and separate the two of them. ]
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[It crystalizes his plan to ninety-nine percent.]
[His ninpo is wrapped around what he needs it to be.]
We are gonna have such a talk later. I could just say you're wrong in interpretations, how I love you, but its all words, and that isn't going to be enough, not now.
[He sees the movement out of the corner of his eye, and he's quick to change the laser, into a giant scooper as the hoverpack activates and shoots them off to the side, out of the way of the hand.]
Trust isn't blind faith.
[There's a giant Belos. The situation is definitely a lot more dangerous. One hundred percent.]
But sometimes a leap of faith is necessary.
[Leo is too quick to sacrifice himself, to lose value in himself, and getting him to respond to that alone may not be enough.]
[But he knows what is going to get Leo's attention.]
[He knows where Leo isn't going to let him down.]
I'm trusting you big brother.
[And then in the mindscape and real world both, purple energy encases his back.]
[And shatters his battleshell to pieces.]
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