I think we should get to work on the lair idea… have somewhere to bug out to if things get bad. Having money and the big apartment is nice and all, but not if some guy is going to try to use us.
[It’s their normal to scavenge and scrounge, so he’s not too worried about that part now that he’s not alone.]
[It's both concerning and reassuring to hear, weird as that may be. But Donnie nods. A backup plan just seems the better idea, especially in a place where so much is different.
People may be more aware of their existence, but it's still been unfortunately proven that it hasn't changed things for the better, and for all that the systems in place look like they're trying to be helpful, there's a lot of things Donnie doesn't trust about it and he knows he's not the only one either.]
I've been looking- still looking, but Central's not New York. But there's gotta be some place.
I'll help you look. [With everything going on he's getting behind on school, but that's fine - he can just get more behind on school, why not?] You're right that there has to be somewhere...
Or... [He frowns.] We could go to this world's New York.
[He's not thrilled about that idea, though. He's not familiar with Central, but that's because he just hasn't lived here that long - easily explainable. If he went to this different world's New York, he thinks it would hit him a lot harder when things aren't where they're supposed to be; when things are different from how he knows them to be.
He already had a minor crisis when he realized this world doesn't have Famous Lou-Mike-Tony-Toney's and that was just one pizza place.]
[To be fair, Donnie's had the same concern and he hadn't even gone to this world's version of New York. Sure, it had been his initial plan, but in retrospect he wonders that it could have just made things worse.
But now there's no real reason to go there anyway. It's not their New York. It won't be home. Anyway, Leo's here, and he hasn't found any reason to go there. Except for perhaps the superior pizza. That he suggests it's an option means so much, especially when Donnie knows his brother's established himself here in Central to some degree. He...doesn't want to take that away from him.]
I don't know if I could take it, honestly. [It's a hard thing to admit.]
[Leo is relieved that Donnie doesn't want to go there, which is such a weird thing to feel when he's never lived anywhere else before. But it's true - it's not home, and without their family New York is just a city like any other. A really big one, true, but still just that.
Ultimately all that matters is that they're together; the postal code is just the set dressing. (Though, he'd still rather not go to Kansas.)]
Yeah, me either. [Since Donnie admits it, he will too.] It'd be too weird.
We will figure it out. ...Just... don't work yourself too hard, alright?
[Kansas is definitely not on the short list of potential residences and only a little ways up from New Jersey.
Donnie snorts, rolling his shoulders back as he flashes Leo a smirk.]
No promises!
[The List, it never ends...
But it gives him things to do, because if he doesn't have things to think about and work out then he'll have time for hopeless other thoughts to pop in his head and he doesn't want to get sucked into that mess. ...no, it's probably not healthy but it's the only thing working for him right now.]
[Leo wouldn't want him to feel anything close to guilt, since it's not like they left him alone on purpose. But still, it means a lot to him that Donnie is willing to say that; it's quite the olive branch, given some of his tendencies.
He grins big at that.]
Of course. I'm gonna drag you out for movie nights and skateboarding time, after all.
[And plenty of other things too, if he gets his way. He was serious that as long as they're here, might as well experience some normal human things. Though really he doesn't care what they do as long as they're doing it together.
[That grin says plenty enough. Donnie smiles lopsidedly at that.]
Well I guess I can suffer through that.
[A blatant lie since it's been well-established that there are plenty of interests they've all shared, movie nights and skateboarding among them.
Truthfully it would be good to get him to take a break from all the things he's been amassing to work on, not that it's something Donnie realizes until he's doing things aside from work. It's funny how easily he can forget he likes having fun for all the boasting he does about his brain.]
[Donnie may forget, but Leo won’t. He knows Donnie likes goofing off with the rest of them, even if he wants to act like he doesn’t have time.
Getting a safe place for themselves and studying the Confluence are both important, but he’s not going to let Donnie work himself to the bone over it.]
Speaking of, I think we earned ourselves some couch potato time with our pizza tonight. [He stretches.] I’ll even be nice and let you pick this time.
[Leo heads him off on any scavenging plans for the night...well, there's always afterwards. But Donnie grins at the "generous" offer. Anyway, who's he to snub pizza and movie night?]
[Maybe without Raph falling asleep or Mikey to fight with over the JJ helmet he'll actually pay attention all the way through this time. Or not. He's not as big of a fan of the musical numbers in Pluto Vacation IV as Donnie and April are.]
So sweet of you. [Said very deadpan!] But alright, let's get our pizza and get home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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...are you sure it's going to be okay sticking around with them?
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[He might as well be honest about it.]
I think we should get to work on the lair idea… have somewhere to bug out to if things get bad. Having money and the big apartment is nice and all, but not if some guy is going to try to use us.
[It’s their normal to scavenge and scrounge, so he’s not too worried about that part now that he’s not alone.]
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People may be more aware of their existence, but it's still been unfortunately proven that it hasn't changed things for the better, and for all that the systems in place look like they're trying to be helpful, there's a lot of things Donnie doesn't trust about it and he knows he's not the only one either.]
I've been looking- still looking, but Central's not New York. But there's gotta be some place.
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Or... [He frowns.] We could go to this world's New York.
[He's not thrilled about that idea, though. He's not familiar with Central, but that's because he just hasn't lived here that long - easily explainable. If he went to this different world's New York, he thinks it would hit him a lot harder when things aren't where they're supposed to be; when things are different from how he knows them to be.
He already had a minor crisis when he realized this world doesn't have Famous Lou-Mike-Tony-Toney's and that was just one pizza place.]
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But now there's no real reason to go there anyway. It's not their New York. It won't be home. Anyway, Leo's here, and he hasn't found any reason to go there. Except for perhaps the superior pizza. That he suggests it's an option means so much, especially when Donnie knows his brother's established himself here in Central to some degree. He...doesn't want to take that away from him.]
I don't know if I could take it, honestly. [It's a hard thing to admit.]
We'll figure it out here.
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Ultimately all that matters is that they're together; the postal code is just the set dressing. (Though, he'd still rather not go to Kansas.)]
Yeah, me either. [Since Donnie admits it, he will too.] It'd be too weird.
We will figure it out. ...Just... don't work yourself too hard, alright?
[Seriously Donnie, how long is The List now?]
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[Kansas is definitely not on the short list of potential residences and only a little ways up from New Jersey.
Donnie snorts, rolling his shoulders back as he flashes Leo a smirk.]
No promises!
[The List, it never ends...
But it gives him things to do, because if he doesn't have things to think about and work out then he'll have time for
hopelessother thoughts to pop in his head and he doesn't want to get sucked into that mess. ...no, it's probably not healthy but it's the only thing working for him right now.]no subject
Leo rolls his eyes, but he doesn't push the issue.]
Once we make you this lab you'll never come out... Just give me proof of life sometimes, huh?
[Shoulder bump!]
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[He says this solemnly, although it does make him pause a moment.
After all, it would be pretty dumb to be here and leave Leo still feeling like nothing's changed from the past several months he's been on his own.
...ugh, he hates this feeling that is probably guilt that he otherwise has no previous experience of whatsoever.]
...but in the event that I might lose track of the time- which I never do- [lies] -you can just tell me or something.
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He grins big at that.]
Of course. I'm gonna drag you out for movie nights and skateboarding time, after all.
[And plenty of other things too, if he gets his way. He was serious that as long as they're here, might as well experience some normal human things. Though really he doesn't care what they do as long as they're doing it together.
Behold Leo: giant sap at heart.]
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Well I guess I can suffer through that.
[A blatant lie since it's been well-established that there are plenty of interests they've all shared, movie nights and skateboarding among them.
Truthfully it would be good to get him to take a break from all the things he's been amassing to work on, not that it's something Donnie realizes until he's doing things aside from work. It's funny how easily he can forget he likes having fun for all the boasting he does about his brain.]
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Getting a safe place for themselves and studying the Confluence are both important, but he’s not going to let Donnie work himself to the bone over it.]
Speaking of, I think we earned ourselves some couch potato time with our pizza tonight. [He stretches.] I’ll even be nice and let you pick this time.
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Jupiter Jim's Pluto Vacation IV??
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[It's actually no surprise at all that this is his choice but he has to razz him for his very incorrect Jupiter Jim opinions anyway.]
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No takebacks!
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Okay... but next time we're watching Jupiter Jim Sails the Seven Galaxies!
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I am willing to allow for that concession.
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So sweet of you. [Said very deadpan!] But alright, let's get our pizza and get home.
[The sooner they start the sooner it's over!]