[VOICE | Backdated Pre-Event] Survey

[anything_it_takes]

[You wanna play it this say, Raph? Taking surveys to prove a point? Fine. Let's play.

It's not about who cares - well okay, to be fair, that's the MAIN reason they developed such fine-tuned stealth skills in the first place. But that's not the only reason a ninja should stay hidden. With enemies who would probably not announce themselves first, who would see him and his brothers on the Network and then proceed to silently hunt them down one by one...

The last time the team faced Shredder, he nearly killed them all, starting with Leonardo himself; the memory of seeing the intent in Oruku's eyes while facing down his blade remained a deeply chilling moment. But now Leo's team is down by one, they're not always together and they can't just stay underground here. If Shredder found one of them out in Keeliai, alone, with no way to contact the others for help...]

How many people have had their enemies show up.

[A question with the cadence of a statement. That's how you know he's serious, apparently.

If this survey turns up zilch? Leo will have to concede the point completely. But he doesn't really suppose that'll be the case. Let's find out.]

Comments

permavid;

[seriouslytwisted]

God, you're telling me. What I wouldn't do for a ninja army right about now.

permavid;

[zerotoawesome]

That would be so cool right now, bro. I haven't beaten up enough ninjas in my life yet.

[seriouslytwisted]

[Leo you are embarrassing him down there.] If any of them show up, I'd be happy to schedule you a play date.

Dude, don't listen to my brother. He's an idiot.

[zerotoawesome]

I would be all over that, dude. And if you're lacking in giant robot points, I could totally set you up... Or religious zealots... Or even old men with buckets on their heads. I'm an equal opportunity ass kicker.

[He smiles a little.] He sounds a lot like Victor, my bro from home here.

[seriouslytwisted]

Victor...

Is he a green guy? Kinda lizard-y?

[zerotoawesome]

That's the one, yeah. [Santo collects all the awesome green dudes, apparently.]

[seriouslytwisted]

Huh.

[Santo's probably the friend Victor had been talking about, then. ...wow Raph had been so crazy off when he'd said Victor's buddy was a wimp.]

Small turtle, I guess.

[zerotoawesome]

[It's probably good that Santo didn't hear about that, or he'd have to work extra hard to show off. Which would backfire hard.]

You talk to him?

[seriouslytwisted]

Uhhh yeah we talked. [More like Raph tried to shut down Vic's bad guy hunting because he's territorial and ended up proposing a bet with the guy that would leave the loser the lackey of the winner.

But yeah, talked.]

I ran into him smacking around some thugs. You guys do that a lot back home then, I guess. [Together, as best pals.

...WHAT HE'S NOT JEALOUS THAT WOULD BE CHILDISH]

[zerotoawesome]

[Santo kind of wants to know how that bet turned out... And then help Raph come up with terrible ideas when he wins it.]

Every once in a while, yeah. We used to do it a lot more often before we went back to school.

[Raph, no! You're the only turtle for him!]

[seriouslytwisted]

[Don't worry, Santo bragging like hell to Leo down there is making Raph feel all fuzzy WHICH IS GIRLY AND UNACCEPTABLE SO HE NEEDS TO PUNCH SOMETHING AND BE A MAN!!!

SO TO SPEAK!]

You guys go to school? How's that work? [Raph knows they live on the surface, but Santo'd made it pretty clear that it was rough going. How the fuck did they manage school?]

[zerotoawesome]

[It's okay, Raph. It's totally natural to have feelings for Santo. He assumes that everyone does anyway, at least.]

Honestly? Not well. [He rubs the back of his neck, because he knows just how dumb it sounds.] We started off as students, but then crap hit the fan and we did what we had to to live. Then the adults decided that we were suppose to be in school again, so while everything still tries to kills us every other day, we're stuck pretending to care about science and math.

[seriouslytwisted]

[Raphael doesn't have feelings, his feelings-maker has long since been replaced by his Badassery Generator.]

That sounds like ten kinds of stupid. [So yup adults are again making dumb decisions that fuck up the lives of teenagers, nothing new there.] Why not just stop going? I don't think they could drag you back without like, a bulldozer.

[zerotoawesome]

[That's a relief. Santo would have to revoke your MAN card if that wasn't the case.]

It was either that or be used as cannon fodder by an asshole with a porn star girlfriend. [He shrugs.] Don't you take classes or anything back home? [He remembers something about a master guy.]

[seriouslytwisted]

[dude WHAT

what is that other option what kind of life do you lead, santo]

No. Not school school. Our master uh...he taught us stuff, like reading and writing and some math or whatever, but we don't go to school. [And in fact they're kind of done now; not like they need to know advanced algebra or anything, they're not gonna get jobs when they grow up.

...well Donnie does, but that's because Donnie's a nerd (read: super genius) and knew advanced algebra when his brothers were still trying to get the hang of their multiplication tables. Not that Mikey ever did.]

[zerotoawesome]

[The kind that makes him think living in the sewer, eating pizza, and occasionally beating up alien brain squids and the Shredder is a pretty sweet deal.]

It's not all boring school stuff. Sometimes it's combat training and how to use our powers... Not like they even let us anymore. Seriously, I went from being one of the top face punchers to being told to stay class and just watch the fight on TV.

[seriouslytwisted]

Ha! [oh sorry for laughing (not really) that's kind of dickish, huh]

So what, you just...do normal kid stuff? Why? Just quit.

[zerotoawesome]

[Come on, man. He knows how ridiculous it sounds. He hates it, and being here has made him feel more useful than he has in months.]

Would you just quit your family?

[seriouslytwisted]

[Raph opens his mouth.

Closes it.]

Guess not. [Turns his head and huffs.] If your family's just making you sit on the sidelines though, they need a smack or two. Family's not supposed to do that to each other.

[zerotoawesome]

They seriously do, bro, and I've considered it way too many times. [Not that he's going to act on it.] We weren't ninjas or heroes or anything for a long time. The adults just feel guilty for sending us to die, so they've gone in the completely opposite direction.

[seriouslytwisted]

[O-ooh. Yeah, Raphael's familiar with that situation; Splinter had gone completely nuts when they'd almost been killed by Shredder. Kept them down in the sewers, drilled them until they literally collapsed with exhaustion, acted like a total psycho, all because he was scared. Yeah, their dad doesn't express his fear very well.

Still, Splinter had eventually admitted that he was wrong. It sounds like Santo's still in the middle of that, and Raphael can't imagine having to deal with being on lockdown for more than the handful of days they already were. He'd probably go nuts.]

Look-

[He stops himself, suddenly aware of the open connection and the fact that Leo is most likely creeping all over this conversation.]

Look, uh...come meet me on the roof. [Y'know, The roof. The usual place.]

[zerotoawesome]

I- Yeah, okay. I'll be up there in ten minutes.

[And sure enough, miraculously, Santo gets there exactly at ten minutes, climbing up the side of the building up onto the roof to meet Raph.]

--> perma-action!

[seriouslytwisted]

[Eventually they should consider relocating their meeting spot to the ground, so the poor kedan don't have a huge rock person climbing up the side of their building like a granite King Kong. THAT DAY IS NOT THIS DAY.

Raphael's doing some hand-stand pushups when Santo arrives, and just flips back onto his feet to crack his neck.] Okay, put 'em up. We're gonna spar.

[zerotoawesome]

[One day, they'll stop accidentally ending conversations on a depressing note, which is mostly Raphael's fault for actually being someone that Santo cares about and he thinks gets him. One day he's also going to fall through the roof of this building... And that will be awkward.

Not yet though!]

Dude, are you serious? [He puts his hands as a surrender, not expecting this or intending to fight his bro.] I don't wanna hurt you.

[seriouslytwisted]

[Raphael just Rolls His Eyes, which is so impressive a gesture that it gets capitalized. Like if there was a worldwide competition for exasperated faces, this one would take home all three of the medals.]

I punch robots in the face on a weekly basis, man. You're not gonna hurt me. [Raph puts his fists up again.] Now c'mon. It's just a spar.