October Event

[monstertruckers]

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Gradually the badlands fade out, replaced by brass colored grass and plains. The road is unnervingly well kept here, without a trace of wear and tear. It cuts straight through the land and into a valley. Ruins come in the form of tattered cloth scraps draped over the valley, and broken down wreckage of what could have been rollercoasters and carousels.

The Convoy makes a camp in a particularly fabric rich area; the tattered cloth flaps like flags in trees and abandoned powerlines. But as the sun sets, the cloth spreads and multiplies. In a breath the wreckage turns into tents with bright colors and patterns. Ruined rides build themselves back up again, a gigantic circus tent closes over the Convoy… And the vehicles all shift in a shriek of metal, turning into cages.

Drifters might find themselves trapped in those cages, scattered across the fairgrounds, or caught on the main rings of the tent. Right as they start to gather their bearings, a voice booms out.

“Ladies and gentlemen please, would you bring your attention to me?” The stands don’t seem so deserted anymore. There’s shadows filling the seats, and a few thousand faintly glowing eyes turned towards Drifters. “A feast for your eyes to see, in the wake of catastrophe! The world may be broken, our souls ghostly streaks, but we turn in the grave for this collection of freaks!”

A ghostly carnival is in full swing, And the Drifters are the leading stars, whether they want to be or not.

01: MONSTER SHIFT, ALL

It feels like every aspect of the Carnival is trying to force monster changes on Drifters. Cages designed to oppress or panic, or even kill Drifters if they don’t adapt: water filled containers to force Merfolk changes, bird cages that rise to great heights and then drop Drifters through the floor, etc. Then there are the performances trying to force changes, and even the gaze of the spectators.

It all means that Drifters are forced to change and adapt… Sometimes into entirely new forms.

((OOC: FOR THIS MONTH ONLY, you may switch your character’s monster form to something entirely different! Any monster is available, but this will reset at the end of the month. You can choose to keep your bonus traits (if any!) active during this phase, or mute them to fully explore the new monster traits.

IN ADDITION, all traits and monster form switches are discounted this month as though they were Event Monsters.))

02: BLOOD AND CIRCUSES

In a ring of fire and ice is the first attraction; a red spattered fighting ring. The Carnival hasn’t bothered to clean out the last set of blood stains before a collection of Drifters are brought in to shed more of it.

Along with the fire and ice bordering the ring, various hazards spring in to shed more blood; knife throwers sometimes appear at the edges of the stage to throw blades at the Drifters. Bleeding or dodging is both part of the show. Same with the occasional fire and ice breathers spitting the elements into the ring.

And then there’s the hazards loosed inside the ring proper, for the fighting spectacle. With a crowd of spectators hungry for more sport, any number of matches are available:

02-A: HUSK BATTLE

Assorted monsters are kept in separate cages from any Drifters, and are in a bloodthirsty state when released. Any prior monster encounter from other areas is fair game here! And there are several new encounters as well:
+T-rexaur: A large red and purple striped t-rex with fearsome jaws, a tail swipe, and a bad attitude.
+Water based monster: A portion of the fighting ring is flooded, and populated with an assortment of water monsters. Sea wolves and sea lions (in the form of actual aquatic mer-lions) are both in attendance.
+Stranger, a ghastly and gaunt creature resembling a human mixed with an ostrich, with a mouthful of sharp teeth ready to bite.
+Khezu, an alarmingly wyrm like dragon with a long snaking neck, snapping teeth, and the ability to generate electric shocks.

To make things just a little more complicated, the monsters also have a coating applied to their fangs, claws, and any other weapons on them. The solution alternately burns and freezes when coming into contact with Drifter skin. And any hit that draws blood can forcefully activate a monster trait for the unfortunate Drifter.

02-B: PVP

Of course, the crowd demands more than just fights against a mindless opponent. They wish for displays of cunning and ferocity alike, and this pushes Drifters into the ring to face off against each other.

Monster wranglers wait on the margins, either to goad Drifters into a battle with strikes, and perhaps a few darts to induce a berserk status… Or to break fights off before they can become too lethal.

They wish to keep their star attractions alive, after all.

But accidents and killings can still happen; in that case, Drifters will find themselves reforming in a strange gas station/tent combo, similar to the usual revival ritual.

02-C: CHAINED MATCH

Either of the above situations apply, but to make things that little more interesting, two Drifters will find themselves chained together.

Whether by the throat, ankles, or wrists, there’s a length of chain tying them together. The chain appears to be made of a material similar to the moon shards, alternating between metallic material, and a strange glowing substance.

It keeps Drifters within 6-12 feet of each other at all times. Attempts to break the chain will reflect the attacks back on the Drifter, either as damage or as monster changes… Though this said, two Drifters working together with concentrated attacks might have better luck at shattering the chain, and making their escape in the chaos.

Granted, such a thing might also cause a small scale Moon Warp. But it certainly aids in adding confusion and chaos.

03: CENTER STAGE

Beyond the blood sport, there’s also a circus performance to be had. Drifters may find themselves roped into a variety of performances, whether they’re willing or not.

Ghostly carnival staff have weapons at the ready to threaten and prod someone into performing if they need some extra motivation. Or perhaps even threaten those close to the Drifter, for more encouragement. Similarly, there's also the blackmail of withholding healing or nourishment until a performance occurs.

Among several performances a few stand out:

03-A: HIGH FLYING ACT

The more athletic Drifters may find themselves pushed into an odd set up, and leap, dive, and weave through various hoops of different elements. Somehow the Carnival has found a way to make the hoops burn underwater and perfectly suspend them above water as needed, as well. The entire thing is an obstacle course that doesn’t care very much about the safety of the performers. Aside from the burning, freezing, and electrified hoops, there’s knife dodging, and a lot of perilous footwork in the form of platforms to jump between.

Further up, a high flying act has been set up near the roof of the tent, with swinging trapeze sets and a tight rope strung at a dizzying stretch. It’s a long way down, and there’s various hazards set up to jump through and weave between, from more hoops, knives, and even nets of razor wire to dive between.

Drifters may end up injured in the process, or need some help to get through the course in one piece.

03-B: MAGIC ACT

Drifters with any degree of magic, whether that’s natural or monster powers, are pressed into the magic section of the ring. The hazards here aren’t quite as readily visible, but still present.

Drifters are presented with dangerous objects to destroy or dispel with their various magic talents: throwing knives aimed straight at them, razor winged mechanical doves, and perhaps even a sharp toothed monster rabbit hiding in a hat.

Then there are the hazards to escape from; water tanks, binds, coffins that are set ablaze or stabbed through with swords and the like.

And there is also the conjuring and disappearing acts. Drifters are given various magic hats to pull roses and assorted magic props from… Though there’s a chance those items might explode into a wave of transforming or mind altering magic as the crowd applauds. And there is also the disappearing act, where Drifters may vanish and reappear in a completely different part of the Carnival.

03-C:OPEN TALENT

If a Drifter has a talent suited for performing, they might very well find themselves in the spotlight and with a ghostly crowd focusing on them. Time spent show casing their talents might get a haunting cheer from the crowd, and a request for an encore while getting showered with ghostly flowers.

Said flowers offer one of two things: a moment of clarity to help restore Drifters who have become too feral… Or a chance to escape in a sudden swirl of flower petals. Though if a crowd doesn’t like the performance, a collection of tomatoes might also be incoming… Oddly blood filled tomatoes at times.

This said, there’s a handful of other ghostly performers nearby who don’t take kindly to sharing the spotlight, and are more than ready to sabotage the performance. That may include forcing transformations, or finding a way for the performance to turn deadly. Or just glaring and/or heckling the performers. Ghosts are fickle like that.

04: ENSHROUD

One last thing can (optionally) be draped over the Drifters in the Big Top: the Masquerade Shroud.

The Shroud may take the form of a masquerade mask, a blindfold, a veil, or any other type of accessory that covers the head. It taps into the Drifter’s Sigil to further enhance the stage. These enhancements take one of two forms:

Euphoria: does its best to convince a Drifter they are in an ideal setting, where everything is going their way. This may also pull on their memories, showing them cherished things or people to motivate them into giving their all to the performance.
Terror: is the opposite, bringing up nightmarish hallucinations to motivate a Drifter to try and escape, or eliminate any obstacle before them. Like Euphoria, the Shroud may also pull up deep rooted fears, terrors, and regrets from a Drifter’s past.

The Shroud also makes the illusions visible to others. This is usually for the benefit of the audience, but this also means that Euphoria and Terrors from different Drifters can easily blend together.

05: FAIR GROUNDS

Drifters who manage to escape their cages (or avoid getting caught up in the main stage as the Carnival springs to life!) will find themselves wandering the fairgrounds. But just because they’re free of the performance doesn’t mean the dangers or the hazards have passed.

The fair grounds are host to a variety of specters, drifting from place to place. Oddly, any transformed Drifter seen by the specters doesn’t raise an alarm; the Drifters seem to be treated as part of the wandering entertainment, as long as they don’t cause trouble… Though trouble lurks behind many of the attractions.

05-A: HALL OF MIRRORS

Lurking inside a tent is a maze of mirrors; a decent hiding place, and an even better place to get lost in. These mirrors show more than just the Drifter’s reflection: they catch glimpses of a person’s past; past regrets, past triumphs, all of it blends together.

Longtime Drifters may also be forced to revisit their time in Revan, both the high and the low points.

And if a mirror is shattered, then it also shows any number of possible futures… Though many of those are grim, capitalizing on a Drifter’s fears.

A Drifter can reverse multiple transformations if they make contact with a more normal reflection… Though there is a price to this. They will find themselves mirroring the personality traits of anyone they make eye contact with.

05-B: FREAK AND PEEK

It’s possible for Drifters to be captured again, or even just shunted from the big top to end up here. Put in cages for various specters to come gawk and stare at. However, the staring can go both ways; anyone who makes close eye contact with the ghosts will see something strange reflected in the spirit’s eyes.

That something is a glimpse of the world before. Drifters can easily see visions of past locations, this time healed of all damage and filled with people. There’s even images of monsters emulated in carvings, read about in books, and spoken about with a certain amount of fear and reverence. And it all seems to tie back to the moon.

That’s just at a first glance; it’s possible to gain more information with a deeper look, though it risks upsetting the ghosts… And causing a vision backlash onto the Drifters, forcing a new monster type onto them for the month.

((OOC Note: Please comment under the Freak and Peak comment thread on the OOC post, and we will do an RNG roll to determine your visions and monster type!))

05-C: CAROUSEL

A carousel full of eerily life like creatures spins around and around. The various figurines are painstakingly crafted puppets and animatronics that resemble monsters. A haunted calliope plays in the center, though no-one sits there. Instead a constant wind shifts through the pipes, producing a strange melody; the song can verge on being hypnotic, drawing Drifters in.

If an unfortunate Drifter DOES step aboard, they’ll find themselves cruelly ensnared by ghostly harness and ropes and forced to take part in the ride. Their instincts can be pushed to a breaking point as the Carousel spins faster and faster: Drifters can easily be overridden by either a predator drive to hunt, or a prey drive to flee or fight back. With such instincts active, it becomes easier to break out of the restraints… But that impulse will remain with the Drifter.

The carousel also has one last quirk. It runs both forwards and backwards. Running backwards reverts a Drifter from their monstrous traits, but forces a fear into them. They have to fight that fear and urge to flee any monstrous creature, including other Drifters. Running forwards advances a Drifter’s monster transformations, and pushes bloodlust into them.

06: FORTUNE TELLER

A lonely tent stands apart from everything else, and the phantoms stream around the tent like fish around a rock. A faint, shimmering glow spills through the tent flap from dozens of candles, providing just enough light to see.

The ghostly specter inside weaves a pattern of cards between their hands. They don’t speak, but offer to show images on the cards to any curious Drifters. In exchange for price. It could be a bit of coin, a bauble, or even a bit of song or story.

All of this is explained on a sign board next to the cards. It also warns: “A bit of magic will cling to you after the reading. Creatures of fate always twist the pattern into odd quirks."

((OOC: As with Freak and Peek, please comment to the relevant thread, and we will RNG roll a single card drawn from the deck, and a quirk assigned to your character. Unlike Freak and Peek, this is not a monster transformation but instead a little oddity that lasts the month.)

07: ROLLER RACE TRACK

Flickering carnival lights shine down on a dusty wood carved path behind the tents: a crude race track stitched together with a rollercoaster. A handful of vehicles have been freed from being cages, but appear to be bolted to the roller coaster. Electric current races along the track at times, as a shocking hazard to anyone outside their vehicle.

Those metal tracks run in crazy spider patterns around the course, with plenty of opportunities to weave and crash together. The track also has both steep plunges, and even loops for the cars to clear.

Drifters may find themselves bound to their cars via a chain lashed from wrist to steering wheel. The only promise of being released is if they can finish the race alive… And the Drifters may also find that someone else has been chained to the car with them, to heighten the stakes of the race.

Fast cars have the easiest time clearing the loops, and racing ahead. But Tough cars can better manage to demolition derby portion of the race. It’s always a toss up on who might come in first… Though the prize isn’t much to write home about. Simply that Drifters are let free to wander the Carnival grounds.

MICRO ENCOUNTERS:

PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.

Bark And Bite: Outside the tents is a strange electronic arrangement. It’s a haunted barker speaker with teeth growing out of it. It tries to bite passerby in order to steal or mimic their voice to announce the next big show.

Brewing Storm: The weather is a fickle thing, alternating between a haunted twilight state, a rumbling storm brewing overhead, and a few fitful bolts of lightning and splashes of rain. The sun never seems to shine overhead, no matter how many days pass.

Haunting Melody: A persistent melody creeps through the Carnival, through mournful calliope pipes and broken speakers. It tries to match to festive tunes either from the world of Revan, or the world of the Drifters… But it always comes out sounding mournful instead of cheery.

NAVIGATION

Comments

[purplexing]

Donnie whines again, nosing Leo's leg with a bony head before he settles himself on the ground. Okay is such a hard concept to measure by. He's not sure when the last time he'd truly felt 'okay' around here was. He's not even sure how long they've been stuck here. But at least here they're away from those ghostly gazes.

He'd gotten so accustomed to aching from things that everything feels the same, but it's felt so strangely distant since that strange encounter in the cage. He's gotten bitten and scratched up more times than he can remember, fights blurring into each other.

Being unable to talk like this is a pain in itself. He puts a paw over his main head, growling his frustration as he tries to remember how he changed back the last time.

[faceguy]

Leo sits down next to Donnie, putting a hand on his... shoulder? What he thinks is his shoulder, near his three heads. This sucks.

"You can't talk like that, huh?" he observes. He gives Donnie's shoulder a rub (not a pet, the fur going back and forth). "It's alright, I can see that was a no."

He gets it. He's not okay either. This is definitely the worst place they've come to so far.

[purplexing]

Oh, there it is. Donnie gives a pained yip at the contact, not happy to be reminded of that particular wound, but it seems to fade into something duller not long after. He'll tolerate the rubs, if only because it's Leo, and it's comforting even if it aches.

He rests his nearest head over his brother's leg, making a huffing sort of sound. At least he's less worked up. Leo's touch is grounding, and while the strains of the hauntingly distorted music from the carnival grounds still permeates the air, at least they're hidden away from things, here in the dark.

The environment's been stressful, and he can't understand why the shadows seem so intent on making them their entertainment. There's been no clear way to leave, no sign of their vehicles, and it seems like every time he finds someone he knows, he loses them again, and then the cycle repeats.

I don't want to lose you again, he thinks, pushing himself closer against Leo's side. I keep losing myself...

[faceguy]

That noise of pain is a red flag, but since Donnie only presses against Leo more, he doesn’t let go. But Donnie is hurt. Leo has to think of something to do.

The thoughts that beam directly into his head aren’t exactly new, but these are the most complete and clear ones yet. For awhile Leo’s had suspicions, but now he’s realizing that Donnie is really projecting thoughts, like he’s psychic.

Right now, he won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Yeah, I know. I don’t want to lose you again, either.”

But he doesn’t know if they can stay together. This place is unpredictable.

For now, though, they are together. And Leo is determined not to let go for as long as he can.

As Leo rubs Donnie’s shoulder, his curious white hair starts to glow gold, a soothing light washing off him and towards Donnie. Much like his unicorn horn did before…

[purplexing]

That's so undeniably a response to his direct thoughts that Donnie lifts a head to stare at Leo.

You heard..?

There's been other times where he'd received response to his unvoiced thoughts, but he'd always figured he'd been obvious in some way. He remembers when Leo was doing similar, back (it seems so far back now...) in the plains, with those strange tumbleweeds...

His other head glances at the glow, for a moment whining in concern, irrational, he knows, but something to his current build generates a strange anxiousness about it. But this feeling that follows is familiar, and he can feel it, all the pain that he must have just gotten used to, suddenly erasing or easing. His tail starts moving again, wagging as that figurative weight lifts.

[faceguy]

Leo looks a little sheepish.

"Yeeeaaah, I did. I didn't realize I could do that until just now, though."

Or is Donnie the one doing it? He's not sure.

"It's not all your thoughts though, I'm pretty sure. I mean, you're probably thinking a hundred different nerd things every second, but I only heard the... one..."

Leo is catching on to the glow himself, and the way Donnie relaxes against him, wagging his tail. "Do you... feel better?"

[purplexing]

He projects a brush of mild annoyance, snorting at that, but there's some warmth to the feeling, thankful that despite everything, some things haven't changed.

His heads rest again, but it's a bit more difficult to read the melancholy that's settled over him when he's got a skull for a face. Donnie doesn't feel like he's had nearly as many thoughts as he'd normally have, at least not in the way he would. There's so much more to process from the things around him that he hasn't had much chance to internalize and wonder about things, important things. He keeps forgetting what he's supposed to look for.

A bark answers Leo, a word framing in his mind: Better.

[faceguy]

Well, that's one problem solved at least. Leo sighs, slumping a little further over into Donnie.

"Good. Because I don't."

He actually feels pretty crappy. Let him just rest here a moment...

[purplexing]

It says something that Donnie doesn't complain about the encroachment of his space. He does turn his nearest head to look at Leo with concern, underlined by another whine.

Leo hurt? It's hard to tell when he's got literal pieces of him missing. Oh, but then maybe that's all the more reason for Donnie not to take it for granted to ask, huh. And Leo had mentioned he still feels pain...

[faceguy]

“Mmm…”

Leo debates for a moment how much he should say. He doesn’t want Donnie to find out he was injured during their fight - it’s not like it was Donnie’s fault, anyway. But he also feels like he can’t just not say anything. That’s what Donnie was mad about before…

Leo sighs, leaning back up again.

“Don’t freak out, because if it was going to kill me it would have already.” He pats at part of his shell. “But I think some of my stomach lining got ripped during an arena fight.”

[purplexing]

As Leo hesitates, Donnie's tail starts swishing anxiously again, all three heads lifting as Leo moves.

But Leo does explain, and while Donnie doesn't freak out, he's still worried about it. Stomach injuries aren't something to shake off when you're alive, and even if technically, his brother isn't, that just means he's suffering through more.

...can't fix it, like you can... he whines. Why are his changes so useless?! Find monster..? There's some dread accompanying that suggestion, the only other one he can think of, and yet he knows where most of the monsters are that they've seen, and it's clear the thought of going back to those particular tents terrifies him.

But his brother is hurting...

[faceguy]

"That's what I was trying to do when I found you," Leo acknowledges. He can feel the fear rolling off Donnie at the thought, and he gets it; if they can't find a monster out here, their only real option is to go back to the arena.

Well, actually, no. That's not the only option.

It's just that the other choice feels unacceptable. Jayce isn't here anymore, and no one else has given Leo permission to snack on their life energy. And he isn't going to do that to Donnie. He won't ask.

"It's fine," he says, and he wants to smile to reassure Donnie but he doesn't have the right muscles to do it. "I'm... sure it'll heal. Eventually."

[purplexing]

Not fine, Donnie thinks, barking his disbelief. He knows from talking with Jayce how well healing goes with someone who's dead. It's why he'd tolerated a badly healed previously broken leg rather than risk breaking it again to reset it.

He's not even sure how that would work with an internal injury, but he knows enough from his reading and studies to be aware that something like that would still need some sort of medical intervention. ...but they don't have that.

Barking again, Donnie puts a paw on Leo's leg, trying not to accidentally claw him in the process. Hunt? he asks, starting to get to his feet.

[faceguy]

"No, no, don't-!"

Leo puts a hand on Donnie again, desperately not wanting him to get up and go back there. He doesn't want Donnie to feel that fear and hurt again, not ever.

"Don't go back there, please." He grabs for Donnie, to pull him closer. "Just stay safe."

[purplexing]

It doesn't take much for Donnie to lean into Leo as he's pulled close, held like he might vanish if he so much as left the concealing shadows they've taken refuge in.

He wants so much to return that embrace, to cling to his brother, and so he does, lifting arms, slipping them around Leo's shell, careful as he can, feeling those cracks, the gaping opening where there should be something solid. Fur vanishes beneath Leo's fingers, replaced by the normal feel of Donnie's leathery carapace, although not completely unmarred. His wings somehow seem to unfurl with the form shift, folding lightly over Leo's arms.

"I-I don't want to," he admits. "...but what else can I do?"

[faceguy]

It's weird, to feel his brother shift forms under his arms. But he's so, so glad he can change back. He clings tighter, wincing when he feels those strange dips on his back.

"...Well, it's indubitably true that there's not any other way I can be healed but eating monsters," he says quietly. "But I can just hold out until we make it back on the road."

So it's fine! Don't even worry about it!

[purplexing]

Donnie isn't even sure how he's managed to change, although he's starting to suspect that it has something to do with being calmer. No wonder it's been so hard to change back at times.

"Liar," he says, resting his head against Leo's shoulder. "There's something else. You just don't want to tell me." He would never have ever caught onto Leo's tells if Raph had never pointed it out in the first place.

"...we don't know when we'll make it back. We don't even know how this happened. I... That's what I was trying to find out," he says, head lifting a little, remembering. "How we can get out of here. But then I keep..." Grimacing, he shakes his head. ""Things happen and I forget because I'm too preoccupied trying to hide...or worse."

Donnie sighs, pulling back so he can look at Leo. He looks exhausted, but probably more so because he's more gaunt and pale in appearance than he probably should be.

"If there's a way I can help you, let me help you. Before something else happens."

[faceguy]

Leo flinches at the word “liar”. Being called that seriously by his brother hurts, even if it’s technically true.

When did he learn Leo’s tells, anyway?

“…Well, something about this place is messing with our concentration,” he says, to stall. “They did it to me, too, when I was in the tent.”

He keeps his arms around Donnie, burying his face so he doesn’t have to look. If his heart were able to beat, it would be going like a hare’s. (But he’s still a tortoise.)

“Anyway, the other way is… obvious, if you think about it.” He chews on his lip. “Eating the life force of monsters heals me. …Any monster.”

Donnie can do the math.

[purplexing]

He records everything.

Well, probably not recently, not around here. Certainly not here, where he's been so distracted that he hasn't thought to try doing anything technical.

That this place in particular has been trying to keep them constantly off balance is a disturbing one. But Leo's admission brings another concern as Donnie keeps trying to look at his brother for answers. What did they do to Leo exactly?

Leo's refusal to let go makes it easier for him to feel when Donnie tenses. He can certainly do the math. They're pretty much monsters themselves, aren't they? That...hurts to admit, like it allows something to sink in deeper, asserting its place a little more.

For a good moment, Donnie doesn't say anything, but he sinks against Leo again, hanging on a little tighter.

He'd do anything to ensure that Leo can make it, so he can go home. He'd risked something before knowing what it was. At least this time, he knows what the fine print is.

"Then do it," he says.

[faceguy]

"No."

Leo's response is immediate, his voice coming out ragged. He knew, he knew, if he copped to it, this is what Donnie's response would be.

"I'm not going to hurt you to help me. I'm done doing that. To all of you."

[purplexing]

Donnie had figured Leo would say that. He didn't think it would be so simple to accept an offer of that level even if it was openly given. But he still couldn't not offer, either.

So he says nothing, his head resting against Leo's shoulder, his arms aching for how tense he's kept them, wrapped around his brother's broken shell.

He's not going to make Leo do something if it'll make him feel worse about everything. They've had enough of that. But he still hates that Leo's hurt. If he knew the reason for it he might be a little more insistent.

[faceguy]

Donnie doesn't insist, and he can probably feel Leo relax just a little under his arms. He's still hurting, but knowing he won't be eating his brother's life makes him feel better.

He's so tired of being the bad guy. Even if his family doesn't see him that way.

"...It'll be okay, though. As soon as we find a way out of here, you can hunt me down something good, okay?"

A compromise.

[purplexing]

There's a slight hesitation before Donnie offers a wordless nod, still planted against Leo's shoulder. It's a good compromise given how useless it makes him feel not being able to do something for his brother's benefit. That probably doesn't even need the mental link. But something bothered him knowing that he can't do a thing tech-wise. He's gotten good at...other things, and he's not entirely sure how to feel about that.

But neither of them want to go near the other tents, so being useful in any sense will have to wait regardless. At least they're together again, and that amounts to more than enough for now. He doesn't want to let go, half-convinced that he or Leo might vanish the moment they lose physical contact, making him particularly clingy.

[faceguy]

A clingy Donnie is becoming a more usual thing than it's ever been before. Leo has been feeling clingy himself, though, so he doesn't mind the close quarters.

He wishes he could say something more to Donnie to make him feel better, but there's not much coming to mind. The situation is bleak, to say the least. But he has to have hope that they'll pull through.

He wonders if his future self felt this way, through endless nights hiding from the Krang. He must have clung to his brothers like this, and April and, he supposes, Casey too.

And then he lost them.

Leo clings tighter again, trying to force the emotions back down. He won't end up like his future self. He won't be the world's greatest ninja, but he won't lose his family, either.

[purplexing]

Words probably won't do much good anyway. They both know better. Words can't fill in gaps or hold a person together as well as having someone there, or knowing you're not alone for all that's happened.

Donnie doesn't feel much up for words as it is. Admittedly it's not a very comfortable position that they're in, but Leo's hanging on tighter, so he doesn't want to move.

If they hide here long enough, maybe things will change again. Eventually. Maybe this particular nightmare will finally end.

Maybe, maybe... Things are still so fuzzy, with no real promise to an end, but Donnie doesn't want to think about that. He doesn't really feel like thinking about anything, right now. Some tiny, nagging part at the back of his mind still insists that he needs to, that they won't get anywhere if they don't do anything.

"...I haven't been much help."