tushanshu | [VOICE | Backdated Pre-Event] Survey

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[VOICE | Backdated Pre-Event] Survey

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yes Raph is good at that. When Leo really loses his temper, it's generally related to Raphael.]

Well, when you're trained by the best, you don't just throw that away. [Wow Leo don't be modest or anything.]

... And you're right, they didn't. We're here to fight something. I don't have very much useful information on it though.

[That's good, so it's not just her.]

Oh, so you were trained by your father too, huh? [Modesty? What's that?]

...I think everyone's stuck on that same boat, there are some things we know, but anything important, well [in her best Kedan impression] "that's the Emperor's business."

[Blink blink. Leo hasn't mentioned any specifics about their teacher; in fact he's generally very careful NOT to. The fact that Sensei is also their father isn't the most confidential information, but it's not the sort of thing he'll casually mention. Leo knows he hasn't told anyone over the network, certainly not in public.]

How... did you know I was trained by my father?

[The surprise overrides any commentary on the scarcity of good intel.]

I didn't...it's just that you were trained by the best...and so was I i just so happens that is my father as well...[and then it hits her]...oh! Was that supposed to be a secret or something? I'm sorry, but I won't say anything about it, Guardian's honor.

[And now it's apparent that if Leo hadn't confirmed it, Lara-Su wouldn't actually know. Whoops. Don'cha hate it when that happens.]

It's okay, it's - just not something we spread around. [A smile audibly warms his tone; Leo is a huge daddy's boy.] But he is the best.

So what does your father do? Is he a "Guardian?" [Presuming her profession would be the same as his, if he's a master of his field and taught her. Leo also thinks it's safe to assume that she doesn't mind talking about her family.]

[Life is just filled with boombies.]

I won't go spreading it around either, not that I know your father. [Something they have in common, she's pretty much a daddy's girl.] I'll bet. [Because she feel's the same way about her father.]

Yeah, he's the primary Guardian of Angel Island, he's stronger than I am...but that's probably because his mutation was more direct...and, well, I'm still in training.

[Leo chuckles, half at himself.] Yeah, I know you don't know anything to tell. But there are people I'd rather not have knowing that Sensei is... actually our father. [Shredder would undoubtedly try to use that to his advantage. Right now, all he knows is that the turtles are Splinter's pupils, which is enough.]

His mutation? I thought you said Mobians were mutated a long time ago. [Terminology confusion is GO]

Enemies? [Since Leo seems very concerned about his enemies in this particular post.] Don't worry, I'm not a big-mouth.

Hn...I wouldn't exactly call Mobosapians a mutation so much as an evolutionary miracle. [She gets that it's probably confusing especially since she's come to realize that people on the island who aren't human are considered mutants.] When my dad was still an egg his father exposed him to radiation from the Master Emerald...let's see...ah!

[Lara-Su removes one of her gloves, since she's using video she can actually show Leo her retractable claws.] Normal Echidnas don't have these...the radiation also enhanced our strength...and a few other things. It's not all that noticeable. Anyway, my father's mutation trickled down to me.

Enemies. [A one-word, grim confirmation. Leo has to deal with some serious crap here. The Shredder might not have super-fancy powers but he's fully capable of killing Leo and his siblings, if given the right opportunity. Especially with Leo's team missing one, they're down by a quarter of their fighting strength.]

Well... I think you've already met my brothers [yeah Leo stalks EVERYTHING his bros do] and you're not human anyway, so I guess - hold on.

[Video in 3... 2...

... 1!]

I'm not a Mobosapien, but I am a mutant. [He waves, a little shyly.] Hey.

[Evolutionary miracle, she called her race. Yeah, that's a much rosier way to put it than what Leo's heard his entire life. Splinter looked upon it as a rebirth and a (somewhat mixed) blessing, but the rest of the world considers them deformed freaks and that's just the way it is.

Also, Leo won't mention it, especially not on the Network, but his mutation is linked to his father's as well. It's a comforting parallel that encouraged him to take this step.]

Ah! [Don't worry, that's an excited sound, not a terrified sound because...well...she's already met your brothers or some combination of them.

She'll wave back energetically.] Hi! Nice to meet you face-to-face...and yeah, I think I might have met one or two of your brothers. I can see the family resemblance, but you're all definitely different.

[Mikey's special and Raphael is...Raphael, unfortunately they were not properly introduced. She met Mike as well.]

So [she can't help noticing the swords on his back and she'll gesture indicating that she's noticed] your father taught you how to be a great warrior?

[Yeah, Leo wasn't really worried about her reaction. She's an echidna after all (and a fellow egg-hatcher as well, though obviously not a reptile), plus she's given him the low-down on the Mobosapien thing. Now that it's easy to figure out who Leo is from the evidence littered about the Network, he's no longer worried she'll tell the wrong person he's a mutant turtle.

Another plus is her comment on their differences. Humans always just say they can see the resemblance, just because they're all turtles, but Leo thinks the difference between his brothers and his cousins is glaringly obvious. Lara noticed those differences, probably because she knows turtle Mobians already. It's a nice touch.

Leo's smile broadens with cocky pride at the great warrior comment, and he sits up a little straighter. This boy's ego will take a mile for every inch, feed sparingly.]

That's right. He's a Grand Master of ninjitsu, and my brothers and I have been training our whole lives. We're pretty good. [The confident, smug tone of Leo's voice says that they're far more than pretty good; he's understating drastically. Because he's just that confident.]

[What Leo surmises is true, because Lara is from Mobius she's more attuned to the way individuals on her world look like...and really there were some pretty obvious differences between the brothers. Coloring, markings, eye color, personality...very different.

But she's not thinking about that right now, she's too busy leaning forward, interested in what Leo has to say about being a warrior. It's a topic she can appreciate.]

Ninjitsu? [She's not familiar with the term, but it sounds interesting.] Cooool! So that's a particular style of fighting right...I learned how to grapple and dodge...but for the most part I just throw my strength around. [Not to mention she's still kind of a trainee.] So ninjitsu employs the use of weapons?

Well - not exactly. A lot of martial arts use weapons, but ninjitsu...

[Leo pauses. This is getting into detail. Not that what he would have to say about the basics of ninjitsu is any big secret, but any time he starts talking about more than the superficial facts which are already floating around in public, he'd rather keep it off the electronics.]

Look, this would be easier to explain in person. Do you mind meeting somewhere? [He suggests a fairly isolated spot on the edge of Water Sector, at dusk.]

[Agreeing that a demonstration would be much easier than trying to explain it. She could only imagine how difficult it would be trying to explain chaos energy to someone who had no idea how it worked. More often than not actions speak louder than words.

So she agreed to the meeting spot, the edge of the Water Sector was a pretty good spot at this hour. The lighting and the growth would make it difficult to get a good look at them so there was plenty of cover.

After arriving at her designated meeting spot she kept her eyes peeled...because sneaky ninja!]

[Leo's already here. You didn't expect anything else, did you? The ninja is lurking plastron-down on a tractor-sized slanted rock. He's well-camouflaged by his coloring, the texture of his shell and the thick scrub surrounding the meeting place. After waiting a silent moment listening carefully to make sure he can't hear any uninvited guests trying to join the party, Leo quietly drops to the ground. There's no avoiding the rustle and crunch of leaves as he lands, but that's fine, because he means to announce his presence anyway.

He steps up to greet her - and WOW she's short. Leo expected it somewhat from seeing her on the monitor, but it's surprising to meet someone even shorter than Mikey in real life.]

Hey. Nice to finally meet you in person. [For some reason, it's a little easier to introduce himself to her than it has been to make acquaintance with humans. Maybe it's because he's met a few other people at this point, but maybe it's just because he expects a certain reaction from them that doesn't apply to mutants. Or, non-humans anyway.

That being the case, he holds out his hand. Shake?]

[Sneaky ninjas are pretty sneaky. Lara-Su isn't usually one to startle, at least not very easily, but she does jump at the sound of rustling vegetation. Having an amazing sense of hearing is a fortunate thing, but jumping at the sound of leaves...well...nobody saw that right? Right. At least that's the story and she's sticking to it.

At Leo's approach she stands up to her full height which is maxed out at barely four feet. She doesn't necessarily view her stature as a disadvantage, but she's certain that some people see her as non-threatening because of it.]

Likewise. It's always nice getting out. [It seems as though hand shaking is a universal thing, recognizing the gesture she extends her hand immediately. She has one of those deceptively strong grips.

Not being one to push certain matters where others are concerned, she'll wait until Leo decides he's ready to talk about ninjitsu, in the meantime...she's not too shabby at small talk.] How's island life treating you?

[Hey, strong grip. Leo knows she's a fighter, and he certainly knows better than to underestimate someone due to their height. Any opponent who thinks that of his brothers soon learns better - especially with Raphael, the second-shortest. Yeah, never underestimate based on stature.

He smiles at the respectful small talk, able to tell she's being polite. It's charming, and Leo appreciates the thought, even though he's perfectly willing to address the subject at hand.]

It's... different. I mean, we get a lot more sun now, and I guess it's kind of nice not needing to worry about people freaking out if they see us, or getting caught on camera, but...

Well, I don't want us to get used to it. We shouldn't fall into careless habits, it's dangerous. [Despite his grim words and serious tone, Leo turns a friendly smile as he uses the topic to segue into what he knows she's here for.] Anyway, secrecy is a vital part of ninjitsu. With patience, skill and stealth, you can overcome nearly any opponent, no matter how formidable. [Leo's parroting some of Splinter's old lectures, and it's clear from his tone he's paraphrasing truths in which he's been steeped his entire life.]

[Lara still finds it difficult to wrap her mind around the fact that anyone would have to spend their lives in total secrecy...Okay, she could understand it if it was a villain trying to lay low, but Leonardo didn't seem to be that kind of character.

Different worlds, she supposed, but it did seem a little unfair.

In spite of that her attention was riveted as he began to explain ninjitsu to her, well, the setealth also explained the preference for the secrecy. If your art meant practicing caution in movement then revealing yourself would be counter intuitive, wouldn't it?]

Ah [and she laughed a little, mostly at herself because she just realized that his approach was meant to be startling] you seem to be very good at what you do then. I like to think I have pretty good hearing, but I didn't know you were here until you wanted me to know.

Right! Not being seen until you want to be seen is Ninjitsu 101. [Leo confirms, pleasantly surprised at her quick grasp of basic principles. Lara's bright. She's also spot-on about the turtles' social status; it shouldn't be that way but until now it's simply the way things have had to be. Leo appreciates the lack of utter ostracization now that he's come to know a few people, but he'll never be fully comfortable being seen in the open.] And yeah, I'm - pretty good. That happens when you're trained by a Grand Master for fifteen years.

[As interesting as it is to talk to somebody a full head shorter than himself, Leo's finding it a little awkward - he's SO not used to that extreme a height difference - and finds an outcrop to sit on. There, that's better, now she doesn't have to look up and he can see her face straight-on.]

Like I was saying... ninjitsu isn't really about the weapons. Actually, weapons are just the icing on the cake. [Leo often chooses to fight without his swords so he can use his hands freely, and he beats armed opponents that way on a regular basis.] It's about overcoming the enemy with strategy, patience and skill. Power doesn't mean much if you can't apply it, and you don't have to be the strongest to win.

[Leo smirks, thinking of some of their enemies.] Actually, we beat enemies "stronger" than us all the time. You can't hurt what you can't hit. [Taking a direct blow from Dog Pound's strong arm is a strict no-no. The guy cracks pavement when he misses a turtle.]

[It's more than a little unnerving that most of the island's population outstrip her in the height department, so being able to talk at eye level is a nice change of pace. It's comforting not having to be waist deep in the world every now and then, though there are a couple of kids out there that she could relate to height wise.]

Utilizing a strategy would mean you'd have to have a diverse arsenal to work with in order to adapt to any situation. [Lara was able to extrapolate that much just based on the techniques that Leo had mention so far. Stealth, the use of weapons, strategy...skill. Skill implied a number of things.]

So...against a lumbering enemy with great physical power, it might be better to use speed? [Lara chose her own spot to sit, using the temporary break in her thoughts in order to find a decent sized boulder--it was a little distance away, but Chaos Control could fix that. Encompassing her makeshift seat in a green light enabled her to levitate it a little closer, dropping it a few feet away from her companion before climbing up and arranging herself comfortably.]

Sensei says that anything can be a weapon. A true ninja is a master not only of himself, but of his environment. [There's his "quoting Splinter" voice again. In truth, Leo's arsenal is his brothers. He puts them where he needs them to make their strategy work, tactics which may need to change at a moment's notice.

Well, them plus all the pointy things he carries. Hands, feet and shell all work too.

It's a little charming as she comes up with basic strategic truths, ones that Leo considers fundamental to any battle. Yet Lara-Su is a warrior who's beaten enemies she considers dangerous; it's an interesting dichotomy and he wonders what her home arena, so to speak, is really like.]

Absolutely, and for us, speed is always important. Put it this way, you'll never meet a... er... a slow ninja. [He nearly loses track of what he's saying as Lara levitates a heavy rock without so much as breaking a sweat.]

And I'm guessing that would be your Chaos trick.

[Training had been significantly different for Lara-Su, especially given the fact that she'd only been in training for a couple of years. Guardians typically begin much earlier, her father was about three when he started...and yet for many years Knuckles had forbade her, wanting to end the guardian line...so it took a lot of begging (no one needs to know that).

While her Chaos training is coming along smoothly, her hand-to-hand combat skills could use a lot of refining. She basically wings her way through most physical fights and relies mostly on her strength.]

That sensei of yours sounds pretty like a pretty awesome person, that's some profound words of wisdom...I take it you have to be hyper aware of your surroundings...[It might be pretty cool to meet someone capable of leaving that kind of impression...

...but as the conversation switched gears, Lara-Su glanced down at her seat, nodding her head and looking completely amused by Leonardo's reaction to her Chaos Control.]

Got it in one, that's my trick...it makes it very easy to skip rocks you know. It's only one though, I make energy spears and freeze things in time...it comes in handy when you want to preserve food.

[Leo just smiles in confirmation of Lara-Su’s evaluation of his father. He can’t talk about who Splinter really is - other than not being his story to tell, some things were simply never mentioned outside family - but his regard and admiration for Sensei need no words.

As the echidna lists the uses of her talent, past scenarios flit through Leonardo’s mind. Freezing time would have been useful in countless situations, not to mention a flexible arsenal.]

Energy spears, huh. Does that mean a spear is your favorite weapon? Or would you rather, er - [Leo indicates the rock she’d relocated and gestures] - throw boulders at the bad guys?

[Oh, he’s proud of that alliteration. Maybe only his brothers could pick up on the fact he's trying a little too hard to be cool, but inwardly Leonardo self-congratulates his word choice.]

[He managed to wring a laugh out of her if nothing else, because battle preference is just one of those casual conversations.]

Y-you know, this is the first time I've ever really thought about it...but it's possible that the energy spears chose me...you think that's possible? [Hey, she seems impressed, or maybe it's just because she can't tell he's trying to be cool because he already seems cool to her.] Though I gotta admit, I think throwing boulders is a pretty bad way to take out a bad guy, I kinda like it.

[VOICE | Backdated Pre-Event] Survey

private; basic encryption [cute is a vital ingredient to tmnt2k12 :3]

Re: private; basic encryption [funny...funny is the second vital ingredient XD]

private; basic encryption [plus kick-ass ninjitsu and fambly tiemz]

private; basic encryption [whoop!]

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private; basic encryption

audio; private; basic encryption [1/2]

video; private; basic encryption

video; private; basic encryption

video; private; basic encryption

video; private; basic encryption

video; private; basic encryption

action

ditto

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hullo from vacation!

hope you're having a good one :D

It was lovely, Portland is beautiful <3

I want to go to Portland for The Frying Scotsman

Road trip!

Woooooo~!

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I woke up thoroughly amused XDDD

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week