INBOX // ROUTE 666

[purplexing]

You're conversing with Donatello-

Juuuust not this exact second. Please rank your call by number of priority and I'll get back to you accordingly.

1 - A technical emergency

2 - General inquiry

3 - Miscellaneous

Comments

[purplexing]

Yeah. It's... He's done it before from a temporary change. No horn this time though.

[Donnie smiles faintly at Edward's certainty. When, not if. He wants very much to believe that, has been trying hard to remember that escape from all this is what they ultimately need to be seeking.

...he misses his nest precious baby.]

It shouldn't be a problem. The Turtle Tank was built to include a pair of motorcycles- the Shellhogs. It only stores one now, and that's only when Leo's not using his.

[propatriamori]

I hope he's able to keep it this time, if it's something that he would want to save.

[At Donnie's answer, Edward breathes a sigh of relief. He didn't think Donnie would say no, but he wasn't sure if the Tank had the necessary features to carry another motorcycle. He's glad that it does; he doesn't want his poor bike to go feral.]

As to the next, more pertinent issue... [a soft sigh] do you have any experience crafting prosthetic limbs?

[purplexing]

I think if it came with the horn he wouldn't mind it as much. He's always liked unicorns...

[Oh, but that is a very specific question indeed.]

I've only made Jayce's brace, here. Otherwise I think the closest thing would be the mechanical legs I designed for my spider shell back home.

...did something happen?

[propatriamori]

[Why is knowing that Leo likes unicorns so endearing?]

[Edward actually manages a short burble of laughter at Donnie's answer.]

Bless you, Donnie; of course you've made spider legs before.

[He sobers up quickly though.]

Yes. I've lost one of my legs from the knee down.

[purplexing]

...

Wh-

How-

[propatriamori]

The arenas. It got caught during an escape.

[purplexing]

Oh no...

[propatriamori]

Yes. It is... less than ideal.

[purplexing]

Which leg? Did...did they catch you?

[He's been determinedly avoiding the main tents as much as possible but it hadn't necessarily meant he'd been safer. Any thought of going even near the place makes him feel almost sick.]

[propatriamori]

The right back leg.

I was… escaping. I had someone on my back, and passed him through a gap in the top of the cage. Then when I climbed through, the lid slipped and caught my leg.

It… ripped.

[purplexing]

Right back leg...

[Mentally he's trying to picture which one, wincing at Edward's explanation of what had happened.]

Ohhh that sounds horrible.

[If it sounds muffled it's because he's covering his mouth with a hand.]

[propatriamori]

It wasn't one of my better days.

[He is trying to stiff upper lip this so hard. He doesn't want to burden Donnie with more of the gory details than necessary.]

For the time being, I'll be stuck in my spider body. I'm able to move with only three legs, but I'm slow and awkward.

[As in, extremely vulnerable.]

Something that would let me still use the fourth leg would be tremendously helpful.

[purplexing]

[It's difficult trying to picture which portion of Edward's many legs needs replacing, not without his mind wandering towards the scenario in which it occurred. He shakes his head, trying to keep himself focused, but that's been difficult in general these days.]

I-I don't have access to the materials or Jayce's forge. Or my tools. Not right now.

[They can escape this. They can get away, find their vehicles, he has to believe that.]

But once I do, I can build something. I have more than enough parts. I already have a lot I can repurpose from the cyborgs limbs I've collected.

I'll need to study your legs and get some measurements for it.

[propatriamori]

[He's not doing a very good job of explaining it, in all fairness to Donnie. He doesn't know the technical names for spider parts.]

Thank you.

[There is deep, sincere gratitude in Edward's voice.]

And of course. Whatever you need.

[purplexing]

[To be fair, neither does Donnie, but he knows that to certain degrees all creatures share the same basic structure. Off the top of his head he can't quite recall how many additional joints Edward's legs have after the patella, so there's a lot he'd rather work out in person.]

I'll get you up and running to full capability again. I just...need to not be here. We, sorry. None of should be here.

[propatriamori]

[Edward is prepared to sacrifice spider ankle flexibility to be able to not stumble around everywhere. He knows how damn vulnerable he is right now and hates it.]

Thank you. And yes, we all need to be away from this place.

[A pause.]

Have there been... any plans, to that effect? I have been a bit uninformed lately, dealing with my injury.

[He's been hiding in rafters to not attract attention, is what he means.]

[purplexing]

[Unacceptable. Donnie won't rest until Edward gets ultimate mobility because that's just how he is.]

...I don't know. I haven't heard anything, and it seems so hard staying in contact with anyone once I do find someone I know. So many things keep happening, the whole place is distracting. A-and then I change and it's harder to remember anything, much less how to change back.

Leo said this place is probably doing that on purpose. Keep us unbalanced, force us to take on new changes...

[propatriamori]

[At that rate, Edward might ask for a human leg prosthetic too. As much as he enjoys the spider body, being stuck in it until it molts and his leg grows back (hopefully) isn't a great time.]

I don't doubt it. If we're divided, separated, and confused, we're easier to control and manipulate.

Are you doing all right, Donnie? And your brothers?

[purplexing]

[Oh, he hasn't even thought about how the lost leg would affect his actual legs, or if it was one of his original legs. He's usually better at this.]

I...don't know how to define "all right." I've avoided being in a cage again for some time. Leo found me. I-I think that's all right as I can expect.

Raph...we were together for a while. He didn't like his changes...

[propatriamori]

[It's a very strange set of circumstances, and Donnie can't be faulted for not thinking of everything! He's never seen Edward transform and doesn't know how his human legs split to become the spider legs.]

I'd say staying out of the cages can be considered a win.

[Look what happened to him when he got caught again.]

I know. I helped Raph as much as I could with his changes, but I imagine it will take some time to fully adjust.

[purplexing]

[He might be a bit thankful to be spared that knowledge...]

Yeah...

[It's hard to remember how many times he's been in and out of cages. He can barely recall the in-betweens.]

He doesn't seem fond of insects.

[propatriamori]

[Edward can show him if he wants a demonstration!]

He's not. They terrify him.

[Which Donnie should know, and that he doesn't sends a spike of anxiety through Edward's heart.]

Did you change further? You had started to grow fur the last time we saw each other.

[purplexing]

[Nnnnn...]

O-oh. That explains a lot.

[He falls silent again at the question. It's difficult to approach because he's still not entirely sure how it works.]

I did. ...into a completely different species. I turn into...a three-headed dog... Except sometimes it's like I'm stuck half way between the bird part of me.

Something else changed too... I think I might kind of be like Leo, somehow...

[propatriamori]

[Wait... did Raph tell Edward about his bug phobia and not his brothers? Edward isn't sure whether to feel honoured or horrified, since it was his own monster form that no doubt pushed the issue.]

Oh, Donnie...

[There's a deep, simple sadness in Edward's voice. Donnie is one of the few people around who, like Edward himself, seems to be adapting fairly well to his transformation, if not even enjoying it sometimes. To hear he's been changed is a blow.]

I take it you don't mean the unicorn parts.

[purplexing]

[Donnie hadn't realized it was that extreme of a thing, and given the rate that Raph had changed, entirely understandable why he'd freak out about turning into a giant turtle-bug. But it also really isn't surprising for Donnie to overlook the depths of such details.

What he doesn't like about being able to have a better grasp of his thoughts, of himself, is that it also means those awful, annoying emotional things can really sink in. His voice catches in his throat, something to Edward's tone piercing deep, even in just two words.]

...no.

[It's the quietest little breath of a "no" but it speaks volumes. It's not even that he's particularly hung up about the dead part, maybe it's just easier accepting being dead than...something else, he's not sure. His opinions must certainly be skewed.]