tushanshu | 001 ● VIDEO

Entry tags:

001 ● VIDEO

[ The video feed loads and Mikey comes into view, frowning in concentration with his tongue sticking out. Computers are not his best subject. After about ten seconds he seems to realize that he's broadcasting and leans in, grabbing the console screen as if he can see everyone if he just gets close enough. ]

Uhhh... hello? This thing on?

[ He waves a two-fingered hand in front of the camera and sits back slightly. ]

So um, anyone know if this turtle gets DSL? 'Cause I gotta send a word back to my bros and I can't find the internet thingy on this computer.

[ Squinting at the console, a look of understanding dawns on his face. ]

Ohhhh what if I press--

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This will NEVER get old for Mikey. Until it does. ]

Two of them are here already!

Or three? It gets a little confusing.

[Honestly it's still kind of novel to be talking to turtles with words instead of his mind. Only slightly, though, because there are people with fish tails and octopus heads in Atlantis and it's no big deal.]

That's good, it makes things easier to have family here.

[ Considering there are fish mutants with mechanical legs and squid-shaped aliens in robot bodies in Mikey's world, that's actually not too odd. ]

...easier?

[ That sounds ominous. ]

Being away from home, away from whatever you might have had going on at home. I had... unfinished business, for example. [He got dragged away before he could go lecture his entire kingdom about not giving crazy rebels Atlantean weapons.] And I imagine it would be lonely, being here with no one you know.

Oh. I guess I hadn't really thought about that.

[ How many people are here alone? That must be awful. ]

Is your family here?

My wife, one of my sons, and my protege. It... helps. [Since he'd thought said son was dead, having him alive here makes things a little brighter.] That said, it's still wise to be a bit cautious. Tensions with the kedan are less than they were, but still there. And if you're ever in the Water Sector, don't stay in the canal water too long. [Judging from how it seemed to make another of the turtles sick back when the decay started...]

What's a protojay?

[ Small words, Arthur. Small words. ]

Wait, why can't I go in the water?

[It's a good thing Arthur is generally more patient with anyone remotely aquatic in nature.] It's someone you mentor. Teach. Like a... sidekick, or a student, I suppose. [Even if they mostly don't like being called sidekicks.]

Ever since Tu Vishan grew ill, the water quality in the canals has deteriorated. It made one of your relatives sick several weeks ago. I assume he's been fine since then, but still.

[ Good job he kept going; if he'd stopped at mentor Mikey would have stopped listening. ]

Right, the big turtle. I heard he wasn't looking so good.

[ Mikey bites his lip. ]

So who got sick from it?

He isn't, no. [But then he looks thoughtful.] I'm not sure I caught his name. He was... rather angry with me for pulling him out of the canal. I'm assuming it was a matter of pride.

[ Anger and pride rolled up in one turtle-shaped package. There's only one person that could be. ]

Raph?

Raph?

...he was okay, right?

[Huh. Well, okay, now he knows that one's name.]

I'm sure he was fine afterward. [He didn't hear anything about anybody dying, anyway, so...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 ● VIDEO

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;