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

[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."