2nd Problem Solved ☢ Donatello ☢ Video (OTA!)

[thesmartbrother]

[Donatello intended on putting on audio, as is apparent by the fact he's not even looking at the communicator, but he's very distracted by what he's doing and the fact that he's been running on roughly two hours of sleep and a few gallons of coffee for the past three daysSomeone's been busy. He's set up two cork boards on either side of his desk,

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[video]

[watersacrificed]

[When Aqua first sees the desk and the state that it's in, she almost thinks it's her own. But with Terra staying with her for the time being, she's had to keep that area clutter free. It's hard though. It's easier to gather information with multiple sources spread out with notes covered in other notes...

But seeing as how there's a giant talking turtle...that can't be her desk. It takes about five minutes on her end before she actually answers. She doesn't look all that off either, but she does offer a small smile that has a twinge of sadness.]

I'm afraid coffee is all we have here, unless you add some espresso to it.

I'm Aqua. It's nice to meet you, Donatello.

[video]

[thesmartbrother]

[Donatello, still unaware that the video's on on his end, looks at the communicator and smiles wanly.]

I guess I'll have to hunt down espresso, then. They have it in the cafeteria, right?

Nice to meet you, Aqua.

[video]

[watersacrificed]

They might...but sleep usually is the best cure of all. You do look worn out..[Because she looks the same and she's not even taking her own advice.]

[And now onto semi-serious matters...] How much information have you gathered about the Mist?

[video]

[thesmartbrother]

[He's so tired/hyped on caffeine and distracted that he doesn't even pick up on the 'look' part.] I sleep. There's just too much work to try to stuff in eight hours on top of it.

I've written down all my observations and experiences, so I've drawn a few inferences and hypotheses, but there are a lot of variables. From what I can tell, most of the Mist's and Strangelings' effects are emotionally-based, and they seem deterred when there's even one other person with you. I think that's worth looking at further, since if the damage they do is emotional, then maybe it's possible to deter them using emotions as well. [In other words: power of love/friendship.] More than that, the Mist doesn't really behave like an organic thing. Organic processes usually have very predictable, very regular causes and patterns if you know what to look at. None of that seems to apply to it--no wind currents, no geological features, and no general environmental happenstances seem to affect where it goes and how big or little it gets

[Video]

[hiddenbadass]

[It's a while before Mike answers. He's seen the picture before, but can't help staring at it again, even over the smallish screen of the communicator.

He has to listen to it again.]

Haven't run into the Mist yet myself, so I can't help.

[There was something else that pinged him.]

Somethin' stronger than coffee? Like a caffeine IV drip?

[It feels weird to joke like that, but somehow a bit natural.]

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

Well, what about procedures the Academy's told you to take during Mist attacks? Those are probably the things that've worked so far. It's a buddy system, right?

[Donny chuckles, grinning. It's nice to hear Mike joke.]

Believe me, bro, if I thought I could survive that, I'd be all over it. This work won't do itself.

Re: [Video]

[hiddenbadass]

Yeah. And you already know all that stuff.

Mmm. You gettin' enough sleep? [Mike remembers what it means when you start relying on the heavier stuff.]

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

[He was hoping that maybe security guards were told about extra procedures, but apparently not.] Well, logically, a buddy system shouldn't work in cases of otherworldly violence, but it does. I think that's worth looking at.

[Well, 'enough' is a relative term...] Yeah, don't worry about me. I'm doing fine.

[Video]

[obviousroyal]

[Well... if there truly is a way to neutralize the Mist, perhaps there was hope of Meg and her regaining what the Mist erased from their minds.]

I do not know how much help this will be, but I do know that the Mist can influence a person and cause them to lash out in an extreme of a certain emotion... At the same time, I knew a man who had been in it for so long, he lost all ability to feel; it took him several months to be able to experience the slightest inklings of emotion.

From personal experience, though, the Mist can alter or erase memories altogether. [She gives a small smile, hoping that what little information she had could help him out.]

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

[Donatello listens intently, touching his chin and scribbling that weird shorthand in his notebook as she speaks. He's taking notes on her story.]

The man lost emotions? Is it common for emotions to be dulled after an encounter?

[He leans back, frowning at the ceiling, the gears turning in his head.]

Do you know if there was anything special about the memories it tampered with in particular? Did they involve the same person or were they emotionally charged?

[Then he sits up straight, looking at the communicator with concern even though he doesn't know that video's on for him.]

I mean, if you don't mind me asking about it. If you don't want to answer, that's okay.

[Video]

[obviousroyal]

Yes, he did. Though we have yet to see a single or several encounters with the Mist do that to anyone else. But from what he told me, he had been wandering in the Mist for a very long period of time.

[The small smile disappears at that second question.] Oh, I do not mind at all. It is just... I cannot recall. Funny thing about losing your memories; it is impossible to tell what you have forgotten.

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

Well, you can't draw a conclusion from one instance, but if the long-term exposure leeched emotions from him, then it lines up pretty well with the theme of emotional damage instead of physical.

Oh. Well, yeah, I guess that'd be a problem. [He was hoping that maybe someone had told you what you had forgotten.] But thank you anyway. You have no idea how much stuff like this helps.

[ audio ]

[tismynature]

[ Someone certainly sounds bemused. ]

Stronger than coffee?

I t'ink I may have what ye lookin' for.

[ It's a trap, Donny. ]

[ audio ]

[thesmartbrother]

[You baited the trap with caffeine. Of course he's falling for it.]

You do?

What is it?

[ audio ]

[tismynature]

Somet'ing homemade, ye come an by, I start ye a fresh pot.

[ She's just going to knock your ass out, is all. Bro looks like he needs it. ]

[ audio ]

[thesmartbrother]

[Good Tia Dalma, keep looking after the idiot who sucks at looking after himself.]

Thank you, ma'am! Where should I go?

[Video]

[darkhonour]

You mean you haven't already figured it all out?

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

Believe it or not, it's actually difficult to understand the inner-workings of something you've only briefly encountered and heard about, even for me.

[Video]

[darkhonour]

You can't hurt the runty ones, can't even touch them.

You can touch the big ones, but they can touch you too. [That's all Dark Leonardo needs to know, which ones he might be able to fight.]

[Video]

[thesmartbrother]

[Wow, you really are his brother's clone.] Well, I know that, but I'm trying to figure out something more in-depth so I can find a way to put them down a little more permanently.