tushanshu | [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

[Leo is acutely aware that he's lucky he's not here alone. Not that he couldn't have taken care of himself, because of course he can. But the ache of Donnie's missing presence would be like nothing in comparison to being all alone out here. Leo has a cousin who must be going through something like that; another cousin only has a single brother here. Leo is lucky to have two. Neither does Leo miss the pain that ghosts behind Banner's eyes.] Yeah.

[Not much else can be said, but Bruce's sympathy is both unexpected and soothing. It's not false, just straightforward and true. Leo doesn't need anyone to lie for his comfort and again Banner's approach is reminiscent of his father's.

Coming on the heels of that similarity, Leo can't suppress the hint of a wry smile as Bruce professes not to be a warrior right before spouting wisdom akin to one of Splinter's lessons. The man might not be a born fighter perhaps, but he has wisdom. Sorry Bruce, there's no getting away from Leo's admiration if you keep pulling out lines about responsibility.]

A weapon you can't control is a danger to yourself and your allies. He taught us that, too. [But Leo can respect that Banner doesn't consider himself a warrior, even though the turtle himself considers it a high honor. With an unwanted, dangerous power, Bruce probably doesn't like to fight at all.] But if you're not a warrior, what are you? Er - [Leo gestures with his oversized hands to emphasize] - I mean, if that's not too personal a question.

[He feels similarly that there's nothing else to be said on that. There's no sense dragging out saddening topics that don't have anything to be done about them. Bruce has expressed his sympathy, genuine and brief, and other than that, he's not about to open up further.

Bruce's entire life is about responsibility. He's oriented it around it and never hesitated to take it on himself-- in fact, arguably, one could say that he refuses to let it go. His overwhelming guilt comes from how responsible he feels, and he's always quick to shoulder it.]

Sounds like a smart man, [he says with a wry smile. Some things you just can't run from, and the fact that as long as he can't control the Hulk, he's a danger to everyone around him is one of them. It's inescapable.]

It's not personal. I'm a scientist. Uh... a nuclear physicist, some biochemistry. I've been doing some work since I got here. [This is a vast understatement, but Bruce is a master of those.]

My sensei. [Leo's elaboration is brief; no further explanations or qualifiers are needed. An observant person such as Bruce can easily notice that the young turtle's tone warms with the mention, much the same as it does for his siblings. "Sensei" is far more to him than his teacher.]

A scientist? [Leo's eyes light up as he recognizes Bruce's fields of interest as similar to those preferred by his absent brother. It sounded like the sort of thing Donnie likes to work on, anyway.] It's a shame you just missed Donnie. He would've liked to have somebody to talk shop with.

[He has enough experience traveling around and taking martial arts and meditation to know that 'sensei' can mean a lot more than just teacher.] For you and your brothers? [he clarifies.]

I'll have to keep an eye out for him in case he returns. Seems like there's a lot of, of interest around here. [To put it mildly. Bruce doesn't know what to do with all this interest in his scientific expertise after almost a full decade of working alone, and foraging for scraps in the garbage to build centrifuges out of.]

Taught us everything we know. [Teacher, master, father: Leo gives away a lot in the words he chooses and how he says them – with pride, filial affection and deep respect, pointing to the fact that this person is the central guiding figure in Leo's life – but he doesn't realize.]

Well [Leo quantifies and gestures], most of what we know. The skateboarding we picked up on our own.

I'll point him in your direction when he does. [Because one of two things will happen: either Leo will leave and go back home, or Donnie will get here sooner or later. There is no other option.

Also, the odds of Bruce picking up on Donnie's presence before Leo does are infinitesimal. He's smart enough to make a shout-out to his brothers on the network using audio, not video.]

I guess a lot of people are hoping that a scientist will be the one to figure a way out of here.

[That gets a shade of amusement.] Skateboarding. I've never done that.

[What is having fun or engaging in age appropriate activities... Bruce had certainly never done either at that age. Or had a positive father figure. He finds it impossible to relate, but it's nice to hear that not everyone has his experiences.]

I'll do my best, [is all he says about that hope.] But I think it'll be a collaborative effort. Science can't answer everything. [He's had that hammered home pretty firmly by now.]

[VOICE | Backdated Pre-Event] Survey

This is exempt from "dropping pre-vacation comm threads" b/c <3 dis CR omg

despite being slow, I refuse to drop this, too!!

aw yes. set up a power-drain event log soonish y/n/mfy?

yess maybe the other one we have going now could turn into action spam? :3 and wrap this one up?

Dude yes 8Db

excellent!