Kamikakushi

[purplexing]

Who: Donnie and...
What: A shopping trip goes awry...
Where: Name your space mall
When: Late Juneish


Sure, it's cool and all, being able to virtually make anything you need simply by putting your hands on things, but that requires things you don't really want to be able to change them. That would also be admitting that the supposed gift bestowed upon him is actually useful and appreciated, and Donnie does not want to give Amalgamous Prime that satisfaction, even if the old Prime is dead. But then dead Primes so far as he's discovered, have had this way of still slipping into people's business...

Nothing beats a good, old-fashioned shopping trip anyway. It's not a pleasure Donnie's had very often back home, most of his shopping relegated to online, at least until they got a bit bolder about being around in broad daylight in public. Oh, the power of hoodies and the natural ignorance of human beings!

But here, he's simply seen as another alien, albeit a young one. Not that he forgoes the hoodie. It's just more comfortable to wear and loose enough to wear over his most streamlined battle shell, a segmented, sleek thing that he's designed solely for that extra protective layer, without any additional bells and whistles. He's also got on a dark pair of cargo pants because he likes the pockets.

"Oh, excellent, there's a bookstore," he says as he peruses the directory. Books are one thing he definitely can't just make without completely knowing what content he wants in it, and he's always looking to add things to his growing collection. "And a plant shop? Ugh, I should've brought a bigger bag," he mutters, turning to step over to the railing to tip down his goggles. According to the map, both shops should be in the same wing-

"Augh! Illex!" the turtle teen sputters as he feels a tongue slurp his hand. He pulls his goggles off, not at all looking amused as the headpiece twists upwards with a toothy grin. "I really need to remember to double-check my things... You were supposed to stay home."

The mimic whines as Donnie slides the goggles into his bag. Wearing them is just going to keep ending up with similar results, but it feels strange without anything on his head, so he pulls up his hood as he starts down the walkway.

Comments

[fenixnpcs]

Even if they'd seen Illex, it would change nothing.

A job is a job and Krivnaar is very, very good at what they do. They'd have to be, to the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.

Their current disguise is that of a slender, non descript tiefling in a jacket, headed in roughly same general direction as Donnie. Mimi's on their hand as always.

The job is simple: Capture and bring the turtle-kin known as Donnie to Grusa Somm. Alive. Poor thing, but one doesn't steal from the fae; from the Somm. Though, they are willing to bet the target is not a turtle-kin, but from one of the lesser known smaller turtle species.

Came in with a bunch of others - unimportant and it looked like there was enough of them that the target wouldn't be noticed missing for a while. Good.

They have a few methods they can use to catch the target, depending on where it goes.

[purplexing]

Donnie comes across the plant boutique before the bookshop. It's a cute little space with tiny potted plants of alien varieties, marketed for brightening up desk spaces, from what he can tell at a glance. Not nearly as cool as the shop in Adhmuria, but this mall isn't nearly as big either.

But he's not about to be picky when it comes to plants he's never seen before, and he's all too happy to peruse the brightly colored specimens.

To his delight it looks like there's an indoor garden area in the back of the shop, catering to the more adventurous. "Now we're talking," he beams. From the confines of his bag comes a sullen growl, so he gives it a gentle pat. "It's fine, we'll stop by the food court later and I'll get you some space fries."

[fenixnpcs]

The specimens are well cared for, but it could be better too.

Yet all too soon, Donnie finds himself amongst alien ferns, some of which remind him of those he stole from Kopaya'. Yet his seeds are mere seeds, not half-grown plants that, to his eye, are struggling.

And then he spies it - a Void Palm, or close enough. He has a seedling, yes, but it's nowhere near as advanced as this one is. Yet, the poor thing is sickly but it has the start of a Void Fruit. His new magic sings; have one of them, and with enough experimenting, he could make interesting tech with it.

Illex, by now, has settled. The promise of (all you can eat) space fries has mollified the baby. Realistically, the mimic has instinctively sensed an adult of its species around and has defaulted to instinct: hide, hide, hide until the threat passes. Alas, it's too young to think to warn Donnie of The Adult.

Pity, but this will be a lesson Illex takes to heart.

[purplexing]

With Illex quieted it's much too easy for Donnie to let his attention be completely wrapped up in the plants here. He's surprised to find a Void Palm of all things here, but then there had been specimens going out for study. He does have to frown at the state of the plants in general.

"Poor things. I highly doubt a mall is the best space for you. ...then again indoors would have to be highly adjusted to your specific needs," he murmurs, fingers brushing the fronds of the ferns.

He eyes the Void Fruit. The plant in general might be pricey, but it'd be worth it if he could save it. And at the very least, he'd be able to get his hands on actual fruit.

"Maybe they'll be more open to haggling, here," he muses as he tries to see about getting the pot.

[fenixnpcs]

And that's Kriv's cue.

A tap of the 'glove' and carefully, Mimi slips off. With another tap, she shifts into a three tailed bird-cat-horse-like animal the size of a dog, tongue looking before it retracts into an otherwise normal mouth.

And then she's off with a bark-chirp, tails wagging as she runs right up to Donnie.

"Jeena- No!" Krivnaar calls as they hurry after the rambunctious animal, face etched into a look of exasperation. "Back. Bad girl!"

'Jeena's tails wag harder as she chirps and butts against Donnie. Pets! New Friend!!!!

[purplexing]

Let's be real, having something like that running at you out of nowhere is going to be startling no matter the location.

"GAH, what are you-" Donnie blurts once he turns his head towards the movement. Sure, he has some minimal experience with dogs but this..isn't one. And more importantly it doesn't seem like the creature is intent on eating him.

He looks up as he hears Krivnaar shouting, blinking at the tiefling. Huh. He's never actually seen one before he and Leo had impersonated the archeologist pair. -augh he's being attacked, no wait.

The turtle teen looks down at 'Jeena' and hesitantly pats the creature on the head with the clear uncertainty of a person who doesn't very often interact with animals.

"Err...yours, then, I take it."

[fenixnpcs]

"Yes," the trifling says with a good natured laugh. "Though, she's only a pup. Extremely friendly, which is good, yet..."

'Jeema' leans into the pets with a soft chuff. Yes. Yes. Give her more.

"She didn't scare you did she?"

[purplexing]

"O-oh, so she's probably going to get a lot bigger..."

Donnie laughs a little as he looks back down. She's not so bad when she's just there and not rushing at you. His fingers relax a bit more to give more propper scritches.

"Just surprised me. Wasn't expecting anything but plants in here," the turtle clarifies. Which is mostly true! Scared? No, not he!

[fenixnpcs]

"Double in size. They were bred to hunt shapeshifters of all kinds and more importantly, oni-kin," Krivnaar makes sure to put enough scorn into 'oni-kin' as befits a tiefling, which is a lot.

"Same here. I'm actually looking for something from Alchera; weird place in Lord Stans sector, but they grow this fungi-tree whose bark's brewed into a tasty drink," they grin before squinting at Donnie.

"Say, you look like one of the Hunters from the Grand Hunt."

'Jeena' leans into the skritches. If Donnie isn't careful, she will end up sitting on him.

[purplexing]

Huh, it's like Donnie's had some personal experience with that word for the way his expression sours.

"That's...awful," he says quietly, hand pausing on the creature before resuming.

"Alchera..." He tries to recall if he's ever heard of the place, simultaneously distracting himself as his brain already shifts to search mode, scanning the pickings of the plants there. His hand pauses from administering 'Jeena' attention as said attention shifts to the plants again.

"Well, I would've said there'd be a slim chance finding anything worthwhile in a mall shop, but turns out, they have some surprising specimens."

Donnie pauses again, glancing at the tiefling upon mention of the hunt. He blinks before offering a snort.

"Eh, I get that a lot. Everyone figures they see one masked turtlekin, they see them all," he snorts. "For the record I'm better-looking."

[fenixnpcs]

Alchera, near as Donnie knows, is a weird star system in Lord Stans sector. The most famous thing about it is as the tiefling's said: the strange fungi-tree and it's bark that makes a tasty drink.

Otherwise, outside the outlandish rumour of it being a prison system, Donnie doesn't know much.

"How so?" Krivnaar cocks there head, tail lashing as if Donnie's said something confusing or offensive before that tail stills.

"Don't know. You look like someone from a wanted poster?"

[purplexing]

"Oh, well some might be better suited for a botanical garden than...a mall shop."

Donnie looks back at the plants, not really reading anything from the tiefling, but then he is not the people reader of the brothers.

But he does slow his steps at that question, a chill of suspicion going down his spine.

"Huh, not sure how to take that one. That's definitely got to be the worst pickup line ever," he says, but now he's paying attention again, trying to look casual in his scanning of the room for escape routes when he glances back over his shoulder at Krivnaar.

[fenixnpcs]

"You're not wrong," Krivnaar hums.

"Hn." The tiefling nods in agreement, though it was meant more as an observation than anything.

Donnie will notice that, somehow, he's been herded deeper into the shop, near the back. There's only one escape route that he can see, and it's behind the tiefling, who look bored. If a little disappointed but also... pleased.

"Sit, girl."

And with that, Jenna, who hadn't left Donnie's side, proceeds to literally flop on him with a familiar, but deeper, churring rumble. "Nothing personal."

[purplexing]

Was he...all this time??

Donnie turns completely to face the tiefling, glaring even though he's not sure if he's more mad at them or himself for not being more aware of things.

It's pointless to ask what the other wants, not after mentioning the wanted posters. He curses himself for not being more careful, mind racing, but his hand is quicker, reaching into his bag for his tech-bō-

"-augh!" The creature is a lot heavier than he'd expected it to be. What's so familiar about that sound?

"Jerk! How're you even sure you've got the right turtle?!"

Focus, focus, focus-

Neon purple light sparks behind Krivnaar as Donnie tries to form his retaliation.

[fenixnpcs]

When he reaches in, Donnie might brush against Illex, the baby mimic so still - fearfully so.

"Bounty Hunter," the tiefling says, stepping to the side without a glance behind themselves before walking up to Donnie, palming a syringe as they do. "Someone wants you alive and unharmed. I need money. Nothing personal, kid."

Meanwhile. 'Jeena' yawns as she makes herself comfortable on Donnie, mouth splitting open to show far, far too many teeth before she's grinning tongue loling.

"She won't hurt you."

'jeena's tag wags. She's a Good Girl!!

[purplexing]

His hand's kind of pinned with his bag as it is, fingertips brushing his goggles- no, Illex, that's right. It's such a strange behavior from the mimic. Great time to be wondering that now, genius!

Donnie rolls his eyes forcibly. "'Someone'," he scoffs. "Let me guess, starts with a 'Gru' and ends with a 'sa'?" There seems little point in trying to maintain innocence now.

He nearly loses his concentration when he spies those teeth and that 'grin' from Jeena, unable to keep from a yelp at the sight of it. The missile he'd been forming from his mystic-tech goes off prematurely, rocketing narrowly past Krivnaar's head- depending on how alert the bounty hunter is.

[fenixnpcs]

"Good girl," they praise and tails wag harder - and Donnie can place that familiar, deep churring rumble: Mimic, but much, much older than Illex. Narrowly avoided missile or not, it's still a good thing Krivnaar is alert to danger when taking down targets. Yet they frown as the missile connects with a row of plants.

Ugh. It's starting to get messy, and Grusa wants the target alive and unharmed.

Enough playing around. It's time to end this before others get involved. Rather than continue with the talk, they reach down and grab the back of Donnie's neck in an ironclad grip that is wholly out of place on a tiefling. The species are known for their magic, not strength.

They don't wait, though, and jab the syringe into the left of the turtle's neck and press the plunger down. It's a knock out drug. Nothing fancy, just enough to keep him out for the needed minutes to calculate and administer the correct dose for his species, or something close enough.

[purplexing]

A mimic. Wasn't it supposed to be rare to be able to tame them? Poor Illex, no wonder he's gone quiet. But Donnie can't do much about that now. He's on the fence as to whether having a slim battle shell on is doing him any favors when he's being subtly crushed. How big do they get???

Donnie'd be upset about the plants getting damaged if he wasn't just mad in general that he'd missed. He makes a noise in protest when the 'tiefling' grabs him, but his eyes go wide as he feels the something sharp at his neck, whatever anger he had quickly dissolving into panic. His head suddenly feels like a lead weight, and try as he might, he can't keep his eyes open too much longer before he slumps in Krivnaar's grasp.

Grusa Time!

[fenixnpcs]

"I know you're both awake." The voice is sharp and cuts through whatever sleepy fog remains from the impromptu naps.

Eyes open and both Rock and Donnie find themselves sitting up at a table. Though, they are tied to the chairs with rope: around the shoulders, hands to each of the arm rests, and legs to the legs.

Their gear -and battleshell and pendant- lays out of reach, and Donnie will notice that Illex has been put in a magic hamster ball, much like Mayhem was all those years ago when they'd first encountered the yokai.

The mimi does NOT look happy.

To the left stands a red cloaked figure with a bone bird skull mask. What can be seen of their face is blank and there eyes hollow, as if dissociating.

"The ones that stole from me." A person - no a strange cross between elf and living cloud that has to be Grusa Somm leans against the table, expression hidden by the mask with a razor grin. "Did you think I'd forgotten?"

[purplexing]

This feels worse than waking up from a caffeine crash, and the words spoken seeming to suggest there's no option to try returning to sleep. His neck aches, and as Donnie tries to lift his head, still feeling oh so heavy, he winces.

"Where..." he starts to say, or tries to anyway, the word sounding sleep-slurred as he starts to slowly become more aware of his position. His shell is sore, or maybe it's his spine in general for being secured upright to a chair, and he gives a twitch of a jerk at the bonds keeping his hands and arms in place, eyes widening as the last dredges of sleep evaporate.

He sees his things, feeling terribly vulnerable seeing that his battle shell's been removed, but there's a feeling like ice settling in his stomach when he spies the pendant Leo had given him, among his belongings. I thought that wasn't supposed to be removable... There's a pang as he sees Illex, and despite knowing he's tied to a chair, Donnie still can't help but try tugging against it.

That's when he sees Rock, and it's like he'd already forgotten he'd been tied up as he strains against the ropes again.

Bad, bad, very bad..!

His eyes fly towards the voice, although passing briefly over the skull masked figure, though there's something familiar about him. Donnie can't quite connect these details just yet, not when the very person whom he's been avoiding for so long is there before him.

The turtle...isn't sure what he'd expected of Grusa. The mask is unsettling, looking at them in general is somewhat unsettling somehow.

He swallows, putting on his bravest face as he snorts. "Sore loser, huh?"

[gentlebluebomber]

"I'd do it again too, people aren't products for you to do with as you please. They are People!" Rock says suddenly in a jolting realizing whats going on.

What is this rope made of? It shouldn't... It shouldn't restrain him, not for long but he feels tired still and his armor is removed.

When did... Oh and he's too tired to revert to Mega Man. But he can always talk. At least they didn't remove his limbs... small miracles.

"How'd you like it if your people were being traded off like toys or trinkets or or." Tools, like Robot Masters. Father...Father never saw him as a tool, Rosa didn't, Stern was cautious of him...

But Dr. Wily stole him that one time... that time with blank memory of action. A tool with no thoughts of his own. A weapon of destruction.

Just like what the Emerald Spears feared.

[fenixnpcs]

You were unconscious, A soft, timid voice cuts into Donnie's mind. And it was fae-made. Your brother got what he asked for, nothing more.

Grusa sighs with a dark chuckle."Everything is a product to someone. What you stole held information I wanted on an elf of... importance."

Grusa pushes off the table and slowly walks towards the pair. It's like watching a living, breathing storm cloud whos eyes burn bright, as if lit by lightening itself. "Now, I've thought long and hard about what I'd do to you thieves. At first, I thought I might kill you. Simple. Clean. Use your cooling bodies in my art. Then I thought I'd give you to my students, but Maeb married my star student off-"

"Queen Maeb," the red cloaked figure corrects, and both Rock and Donnie finally place him: Tezca, Queen Maeb's Psychic Champion from the Grand Wild hunt.

"Queen Maeb, then. But the rest aren't as talented. Then I thought about handing you to my Gardeners... But... no." Grusa stops before them, eyes bright with malicious glee as the fae stares at Donnie. "You're related to the Leonardo of the Hunt. It took some digging, but... And you..."

Lightning laced eyes switch to Rock. "Most AIs are built in sets. Don't you think it would be funny if you turned on your own?"

[purplexing]

At least Rock sounds unharmed, although Donnie doesn't know how great either of them will fare given their current circumstances. He glances over at the little AI, freezing at the voice that isn't his, but it's in his head. His eyes flick back towards the masked one, eyes narrowing. Of course, he should have figured there'd be some workarounds when it comes to fae dealings.

But other things begin to click in his head, and it's getting harder to keep a neutral face with the implications.

They know he's related to Leo...

Grusa begins to move, and Donnie looks back at them, distrustful of anything they might do, running through his options. He can probably buzzsaw his way out of these ropes, but what if they're enchanted? It's an option he holds in his back pocket as he grits his teeth, glaring at Grusa.

There's plenty he'd like to say, but sometimes less is better, and if Donnie's learned anything, it's to be careful with saying anything around the fae. It's...almost odd, he doesn't feel nearly as terrified as he should be while Grusa goes over the possibilities they'd been considering in doing to them, but they're only words, threats that he knows are only being mentioned to try and unsettle him. Maybe he should be more concerned. Maybe he really is broken, like Terra had said...

His eyes flick briefly back towards the one with he bone mask, before looking to Grusa again. Doesn't seem like Grusa holds much respect for the queen. Interesting. Donnie's not surprised to hear about Maya's relation to this freak, and he can be quietly satisfied that that's one more resource Grusa no longer has.

Hearing his brother's full name spoken by someone who by all rights shouldn't know certainly gets his attention, the turtle going rigid. How-

Whatever this 'digging' refers to, Donnie doesn't like it at all. His eyes warily shift towards Tezca again.

That one had hardly done anything in the Hunt's finale, and Donnie had assumed he was biding his time, which, given the chaos of the field, seemed like a reasonable tactic. He'd brushed off attacks without moving, but in the end he'd still been unable to avoid Leo. That had to be his voice, just then...

Donnie's mind races. They need to get out of here, they can't be here, if Leo's name and relation has been found out then what else have they learned? He looks back at Rock in alarm as Grusa turns their attention towards his friend, fingers curling in to tight, trembling fists.

Ninpō's too flashy, and his arms can change into anything. It's a risk but Donnie takes it, attempting to shift his arms into blades to cut free- pull away, stab Grusa, grab Rock, escape escape escape

[gentlebluebomber]

"Please. Isn't there a part of you that knows this isn't right." Rock says somberly. He struggles in his restraints.

Then freezes. "You... You shouldn't involve anyone else. This is my fault. Let my friend go."

Put focus on himself. Give Donnie the time he needs to make the moves he needs.

"It was my idea to rescue. I did it!"

[fenixnpcs]

"So that's what they do. How quaint!" Grusa coos at Donnie's escape attempts, the ropes magically changing to fit the shape. Though, they needn't do that, given there is no way for Donnie to escape; cutting the rope feels like he's cutting into steel, yet worse: It's like he's trying to saw his own arms off, even though he isn't.

It would seem that Grusa has had a long, long time to consider how to deal with the thieves.

"Yet he was with you. Donnie, no? Or... Donatello. And... Rock." The way Grusa says the names touches their soul. Maya is polite enough to avoid using the fae's power over names against anyone - she actively goes out of her way-, but Grusa is not.

The fae's magic is electric. Ominously so. This is not a young adult fae, bound as she is to Cayde, but an adult fae who's decided Donnie and Rock are play things and Grusa pivots to Rock.

"Right? Wrong? Oh darling child mine, you stole from me after sneaking into the fairy-fort, past the guards so low and stupid. That is wrong, oh darling mine, but I do like games of weal and of woe."

[purplexing]

A strangled cry comes from the turtle at the unexpected pain that he feels in his arms.

He'd been so focused on trying to get free to help Rock that he hadn't been completely tuned into the conversation, but his plans are abruptly cut short with that surprise. His arms revert as he sags, shaking against the chair, looking wide-eyed at the bindings, at his arms to make sure nothing actually had pierced. He's always been able to feel with his magical stone appendages like normal, but they'd so far been impervious to things.

That damn rope!

Donnie finds his fire again, if briefly as he glares back at Grusa, but he's losing his cool rather rapidly. If he tries his ninpō what would happen? He's not giving Grusa that information.

And yet when he hears his name actually spoken by the fae, he freezes, and when his full name is spoken he shudders, gasping not only in fear of realizing Grusa knows it, but the sensation behind it. What was that? He only knows it's bad for fae to know names but he's never really figured how bad it is.

"Rock, stop talking, don't say anything else!" he says desperately.

[gentlebluebomber]

Tears drip down his face, his mouth open to say more. But he shuts up, because that's what Donnie needs him to do. He stops fighting the ropes. Sitting there as the streams grow more and more with his frustration with the situation.

"I ..." He wants his father, his trembling body tenses as his fingers curl. The electric pulses through him and make him weaker.

He was never that strong against it. It always was one of his worse weaknesses. Life given and yet so easily can it overpower him too.

He looks at Donnie with his deepened frown. Then back at Grusa as he recoils as far as he can. He looks down. Be Mega Man, be Mega Man. Be the powerful brave protector. For Donnie, for himself! But... he can't power up.

[fenixnpcs]

"Awww. Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you. You, Rock-" The name is a purr. A command. A leash around Rock's soul. I's not his full name - thank Fate for that- but it's still a name that is his.

"Do you want to know what I plan, oh darling child mine?"

Tezca shifts, mask subtly turning away. He knows, from how uneasy he is, he... doesn't have a choice in this.

[gentlebluebomber]

The poor AI's face jolts up, compelled and trembling. He slowly shakes his head side to side. Never once taking eyes off Grusa. This is, this is...

It conjures up the briefest phantom of that black out.

Rock opens his mouth as tears keep dripping, what an annoying feature... but still a gift from father.

"Please don't..." He begs no matter how vain. "I'm not-" weak and then stronger- "I'm not your 'darling child'." He manages through the painful emotions. To defiance. One last burst.

[fenixnpcs]

If they fae seemed a living promise of storm cloud, now Grusa is that storm cloud as lightning rips across cloudy skin and eyes flash bright.

The smell of ozone hangs in the air. "Answer my question, AI."

[gentlebluebomber]

"What! Then!" Rock shouts back. His eyes glossy with the rain he creates keep pooling down. They want to know his answer fine. FINE!

"What are you going to do to me?" He snaps that fear shedding to anger. The phantom memory so close to his heart now.

[fenixnpcs]

"I will make yuo mine. You stole from me, so I steall from you."

the words are a dark purr. This is an adult fae in all the horror that fae is: morality means nothing to them. Not when they believe they have been wronged.

"I will take your memories. Corrupt them until you know only me as your maker, as your creator, as a parent. As the one who's cared for you and your brother all your lives. Yet you will know that the monsters from your nightmares seek you out. That they wish to steal you away from my loving embrace. You will know that the only salvation is to kill them, oh children mine, before they harm me and steal you away."

Grusa sits on the table, one knee on top of the other, wings fanned wide. "But, you ask with your eyes, those monsters? Friends, batch-mates, siblings - your family. How? Tezca. I borrowed him from Queen Maeb for you, Donatello-"

I want no part, yet I must. I will not destroy them as she wants, but I will hide them so that even a Wish struggles. I will ensure, at my own harm, that your friend has the same. It is within my power. I'm sorry.

"While I know coding enough for you, Rock." Grusa finishes, unaware of Tezca's plans.

[purplexing]

"Don't you dare do a thing to him!" Donnie growls, unable to sit silently when his friend is being threatened. He strains against the ropes again, baring teeth like he'd bite if Grusa was in range, and knowing softshells, probably would.

Truth is, he's scared. What Grusa threatens are what he treasures most, the bonds he has with those whom he would do anything for. Who he's always sought to please, to protect, to help-

Oh, he doesn't like where this is going. He freezes again when his name is spoken again, even as claws dig into the arm of the chair his hands are bound to.

The voice in his head that isn't his is there again, almost overwhelming to try and balance the two conversations when this situation is spinning so wildly out of control. He feels an all too familiar, frustrating prickling in his eyes, and all he wants to do is curl up and hide and wait for everything to be over. But this isn't the ship and he isn't anywhere with his family, and he's the only one here for Rock, he can't withdraw, he can't try shutting things out.

The look he turns towards Tezca could almost be mistaken for a glare, eyes slightly glossy from the tears Donnie refuses to let fall.

Please....

He...doesn't know if he can really trust anyone connected to the fae. He doesn't know how anything is going to happen but whatever is, with Grusa involved, he's certain it won't be pleasant. But there are disagreements between even the fae, and no love lost between those who have been made to serve not of their choosing.

It's terrifying placing your trust in a complete stranger, but Donnie has no one else here aside from Rock whom he can turn to.

The look he turns back towards Grusa is a baleful one that would guarantee an entire nuclear onslaught on a single person's face if he allowed himself to go all out. If he thought that such things would damage a fae. But no. Going against a fae means for subtlety. Although exploding their sorry carcass after would be so satisfying.

[fenixnpcs]

I promise. It's the best I can do. Tezca means it.

Grusa's grin widens under the mask as the fae sighs and leans back. "Such fire. Pity that you stole. You would have made a fine servant."

"Will they sleep?" Tezca asks, and his voice sounds young, 24 at best.

Grusa humans with a chin tap. "Perhaps I'll be kind and let you sleep, both for my work and Tezca's."

You don't want to be awake. They always scream when Grusa works. Princess Maya made it painless, as do many of the other students, but Grusa... It's better to be sleeping.

[purplexing]

Why are you helping this...this monster?

Donnie keeps his attention on Grusa. He doesn't know what Tezca's angle might be, or if he genuinely wants to help, but neither does he want to give anything away. At least it's easy to be angry at Grusa, and he only seethes more at the fae's response.

But there's a flicker of dread then, and Tezca's explanation doesn't help to settle it. Donnie thinks of the wolf creature the others had brought back, mad out of its mind, of the other creatures that his brother had faced, twisted things with no sense of what they used to be.

He's not entirely sure what Tezca's part will be in this either, but knowing it must be to do with the mind prompts a few traitorous tears slip.

[fenixnpcs]

I have no choice. The Queen said I must, but that doesn't mean I want to. This is wrong, yet... I have no choice.

[purplexing]

So he has the queen to thank for that too? His List is going to be impressive. ...if there's any point to it.

Because he doesn't know how much of his self he'll be able to hang onto. Because he doesn't know what's going to happen, and while Grusa may think they're being 'kind' for some part, it's not at all a kindness at all.

He's never wanted to be anywhere other than home as badly as he does right at this moment, safe with his brothers, safe with his father, with April...

There's that familiar sensation in his gut, like a chasm's opened up beneath him with now way to avoid it, and all he can do is fall. It's a horrible, hopeless feeling and it sinks its teeth in deep.

"I-I'm sorry Rock..." Donnie whispers, head hanging.

...I don't know how to fix this one...

[gentlebluebomber]

If he could reach for Donnie's hand, he would. He would squeeze it and tell him everything will be all right. Its not impossible, but in the very moment Rock can not comfort back.

He struggles in his seat once more. Giving up so quickly as he bites his lip down glaring at Grusa. His snarls turn to wet snippits of sobs. Bravado slips.

He then rips his head away from Grusa and looks at a wall. His voice wants to say so much.

I hate you. To Grusa.

You did all you could. To Donnie.

I want my father. To no one who can hear him.

Run. To who. Perhaps the poor other in this room who does not want to be here either.

Finally... Finally Rock musters something with those soft glitches of red optics.

"You better hope I don't remember this." He threatens.

[fenixnpcs]

"You shall'nt." Grusa smiles and with a click of cloud-like fingers, the fae puts Donnie and Rock to sleep.

Over the course of the next week, they are physically and mentally shaped into what Grusa wants: Tools and weapons to inflict misery on the ones that will seek to save them, though the fae is careful to appear loving and kind each time the pair are awoken to test the changes.

By the time they are done, all either know is what Grusa told them they would:

"-know only me as your maker, as your creator, as a parent. As the one who's cared for you and your brother all your lives. Yet you will know that the monsters from your nightmares seek you out. That they wish to steal you away from my loving embrace. You will know that the only salvation is to kill them, oh children mine, before they harm me and steal you away."

The monsters are coming; they are safe for now, but it's only a matter of time before the monsters arrive to harm the only adult who's ever cared for them, and to steal them away for unthinkable fates.

[purplexing]

Waking each time in pain and mentally drained, to see that face, strangely masked as it is, has always been a comfort. He doesn't know why it would always hurt, but the promise that it would end is there, and Donnie has no reason not to believe it.

It's taken some time to get used to the extra appendages, and he'd at first felt clumsy with them, not understanding why he couldn't get his legs to work the way he wanted them to, hating how his back would ache and wondering what he'd done wrong. But he's gotten better, stronger. Grusa had praised him for it, and he's clung to the attention, craving more from Grusa's hidden lips whenever something he does pleases them, pushing himself to do his best, especially when it comes to proving his fighting prowess with staff and his own limbs.

He hadn't liked having to go to sleep, especially in those times between such tests. That's when the nightmares would come, and there'd seem no end, but once he'd wake up, Donnie could never remember things very well, save for pain, for some deep-seated fear, and flashes of blue and vibrant orange.

To be told that the things of his nightmares are real... Well, Grusa has never lied to them, and while the fear of being sought and taken away is there, there too is anger and incredulity, for who would dare defy Grusa?

"They'll never get that far, Father. We'll teach them that nothing will separate us from you."

[gentlebluebomber]

Rock says nothing at first, adjusting to the data at hand. A quiet thing he'd always been, his eyes dart side to side as if expecting something to come this very second for them. A ping in his chest at the mere thought of being away from his brother, and father.

What cruelty. His lips turn up, as he holds onto his own bio cables. Something that made him feel disgusting for some reason, and yet he would never say as such. Strong children are self reliant. But a good child is dependent in all ways upon the parent. And Rock will always be a child. His choices will never be only his own. He must do as father says.

But...

"Do they have to die?" Soft as he is. Its always a question, a part of him. "Do we leave survivors?"

Its not easy. But they are things need to be done. But perhaps they can be harvested, salvaged. Small mercies would be death, but death is scarier isn't it?

Death means... they just stop.

/ caps this off

[fenixnpcs]

"I know, and yes, my darlings. Death is the only way to halt the monsters. I wish it were not so, yet..." Grusa looks down, wings low and tight with regret and sorrow as the rest against the fae's back.

"Yet enough of such sorrowful talk. We are safe, we are together. Nothing will tear us apart. Now, you must be hungry. Come, a banquet awaits in celebration of your tests being finished at last, my dearest darlings."