(no subject)

[othellovonryan]

Noise.

It starts as just irritation. A metaphorical crawling under your skin. Things are too noisy, too bright, there is too much happening all the time and you can't take it all in-

Then silence it, make it yours, make it you, take control and destroy what will not submit

It sounds so inviting, a freedom from the noise, but its wrong, its wrong, its wrong and the noise is getting louder, mechanical and foreboding as it sees you, it knows you are there, and it wants to make you apart of it.

Anatawa hitorijanai

For a moment, there is quiet.

You breathe.

And fall through water.

Comments

Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[You find yourself in a dance club. Well, sort of. There's a dance floor, there's music, but there's also like so many rhythm games about, and a stupid amount of music systems. There is light and vibrancy, and a thrilling rush of joy.]

[Though there is also something....distant about that joy.]

[There are also computer screens on one wall, with images of Donnie's various relations, mostly the pictures are full of dumb moments, some sweet and sincere, but all something cheerful and upbeat. The unfortunate thing is those screens are also corroded off with horrifying pink tentacles.]

[And mixed in with them is an anthropomorphic purple robotic box turtle.]

[There is also a box glowing orange not far from a DJ set up.]

[Oh, right, and also half of the room is literally just a giant ass seemingly bottomless pit.]

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

[ Oh. Oh wow. There's so MUCH happening here. Music, colors, screens, tentacles, robot, DJ, GIANT???? BOTTOMLESS PIT?????

SHOULD A HEART HAVE ONE OF THOSE?

Phew. Okay well.

Raph's gonna go right for what he assumes will be a Mikey box and try to punch it open too. Mind Raph was super helpful, after all. Plus, y'know.

HE WANTS TO SEE HIS LITTLE BOY. ]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[Fiery orange burst]

[ITS THE LITTLE BOY]

[As Dr. Feelings for a hot second before sweater is gone and Raph is getting a big hug.]

Raph!

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

Mikey!

[ THE SHEER HUG CONCENTRATION OF THE DONNIE'S HEART RUN... INCREDIBLE.

A Mind Mikey is not a fully-realized real-life Mikey, but ninpo mind meld remnant stuff can be weird and Raph's missed him a lot either way. Big hug energy. ]

Man is it good to see your face.

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[Sometimes you just need to outsource the Mikey hug energy.]

Its good to see you too! Donald is mad wiggin and needs so much help.

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

I know, right? It's this whole crazy snake god thing! It jacked him up!

[ He cannot hug Mikey forever in the same way he could not hug tiny Donnie forever with vital things to do. But he'll give him a little noogie for flavor when he pulls back. ]

I got Selfishness set back up, so I came to help Relations out next. Get stuff settled back down a little.

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

It really did. He's being super weird, even for Donnie.

[Noogie is Acceptable Affection Currency in these trying times.]

But it's good Selfishness is back. That'll help his self destructive tendencies. Now we need Relations to gauge how he interacts with others.

[And sweater is back.]

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

[ Oh dang it's Doctor Feelings.

That kinda adds up for the setting. ]

Exactly. [ Looking over towards robo Donnie 2.0 to worry on main. Tentacles stop terrorizing his brothers' brain aspects 2023. ] So just pull him out to start, right?

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

Yes. Both physically and emotionally.

I can't do it or get the tentacles attention, but I can hinder them when they're moving.

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

[ Physically and emotionally... well Raph is just gonna have to figure out what that means when he gets over there. Because he is not leaving the tentacle zone without a robot safely in his hands. ]

Okay. Let's do this. Raph's got your back, Relations!

[ THERE HE GO TIME TO TRY TO EXCAVATE HIS BROTHER. ]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[The sweater is gone and nunchucks are at the ready.]

[There's a robot brother covered in tentacles.]

[Tentacles that are gonna get real active when he touches them (D20 roll)]

Re: Music Room

[supersmashbro]

[ Raph can't wait to bury the Kraang tentacle sensations deep in his mind palace with all the other ones after this is over, wow.

But if he let that stop him from trying to yoink a robot out of them, he'd be committing the ultimate big brother crime.

(thanks for the based nat 20, boa holy shit) ]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[There is going to be so much repressed Kraang tentacles after this.]

[Boa really has said Yandonnie has had enough time to play.]

[There is a web of fiery chains to help hold back the tentacles from getting into him, just the horrible brushing of tentacles before they're tied up again.]

[Raph gets a hand on the donbot and there's a twitching of the limbs, the eyes lighting up, as he gets half pulled out, but the tentacles are stubbornly holding on.]

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

[and after all that.]

... hhhhelllooo ...?

[she has not met orange Brother before.]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

Hello Cat.

[Gasp!] Its the parent aged adult who perceived Donnie! Hello! I'm Mikey! [He's coming over to hug her. BECAUSE HE'S FRIENDLY LIKE THAT.]

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

[holy shit this one's a hugger mugger. she is ... not used to being hugged by way of greeting, and it shows, but she awkwardly tries to half-return it, patting Mind Mikey on the shell.]

Yeah. I'm the one who might screw up anyway, now and then, but doesn't have to try to get it enough to apologize if I do. That sort of thing. I hope.

[also holy shit this brother is so small.]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

[He really is. If he's bothered by the awkward, he doesn't show it AT ALL. If anything, he beams more.]

[Also very small, this 4'7 bitty. Who can throw a skyscraper.]

[Also suddenly glasses and sweater.] I appreciate your faith in my brother, just make sure to hold him accountable when he does screw up.

What is that when?! Offended scoff!

Just know how you are, Dee~! [Sweater and glasses gone, said with teasing affection.]

HUFF! Let her go, you're hogging.

Okay!

[And Mikey lets go just so the Donbot can now hug her. There is only hugging mugging today.]

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

[Catherine tries to think of the last time someone sight unseen was happy to see her immediately, much less to hug her as a way to welcome her anywhere.]


[it occurs to her that this has never, technically, happened before.]




[she decides that she's not going to examine that thought today, or possibly ever, and puts it in a box.]

Hey to you too, Donnie. You brothers sure are ... affectionate. [a beat.] I never had siblings. Not used to it.

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

They are incredibly affectionate it and I appreciate it greatly, even if I often have to pass on it because it makes my skin feel like its made of a million fire ants somedays.

He likes being affectionate, he just has sensory issues. [A sage nod from Mikey.] Even if he explains it like an edgelord.

It sounds far less worryingly dramatic and instead just dramatic.

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

[typoing "you brothers" instead of "your brothers" last tag like a boss ...]

Yeah. I already expected. Donnie's got plenty of ways to show affection without ever needing to do any of that, I bet. Don't you, Donnie?

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

I do and they're very good at understanding it.

But it is nice to be able to hug without the ants feeling. [But he is letting her go now, rocking back on his feet.] I even have a battleshell with special settings for its extendable hands to give an approximation to a real hug or friendly pat!

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

Gods, you're such a clever kid. Turtle. Teenage mutant turtle boy.

Not that I'm not enjoying the affection, but the Core Donnie mentioned something about dossiers?

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

I very much am.

Oh, yes! Over here.

[Pointing over to where the computer screens are and leading the way, please ignore the bottomless pit, that's fine.]

[He'll hit a button and get rid of the screensavers of images and show the screen full of various icons with name and pictures of people's faces, along with things like 'Dr. Feelings Therapy Notes' and 'Emotional April Conversations.']

Re: Music Room

[allevilthings]

[don't worry she has experience walking past those and not acknowledging them, it's all good]

[anyway, let's see what you have on me, you adorable megalomaniac]

Re: Music Room

[othellovonryan]

Name: Catherine Foundling

Age: I don't think Fuck Off is a real age. She looks in her twenties. She has a very parent aged adult vibe. Maybe Fuck Off is code for 'older than they look' like they always do in anime.

Height: 152cm/5 foot (She seems bigger)

Team: Mouse

Objectives and Taboos: Unknown. Apparently the cult wanted her to guess wholesale as well. Though she may know them by now. I should try to find that out.

Cultist Thoughts: Truly an impressive specimen. We'll need to ensure she stays more protective of her peers than contemptuous of us.

World Notes: Incredibly high and powerful magic. She has a deal with a god she helped ascend. A Below God maybe? Dark, potentially considered Evil, but Evil is probably akin to not fully understood and self righteous judgement from others. It does make her capable of a fire that burns magic eternally until it goes out and fractures a person's personal timeline.

World has strong social cast systems, probably not very advanced with technology. Medieval like armor is common. People in general don't understand the want to ask and answer better questions.

Validation Source: Unexpectedly effective. Maybe because she knows someone similar? It makes it feel like I'm being judged against a peer which makes it feel more important.

Analysis: Maybe I really should make it a policy to never learn about people through death games unless I'm personally interacting with them. I knew being hostile was a non-option, Hunter loves his team too much, but I had been angry when I heard of Shirou's death. Even if he didn't know if it was targeted or accidental, Shirou certainly wasn't going to be mad about it, so I thought I would be.

And much like when I spoke with Adora and Venti, I found myself blindsided when I actually spoke to her. Faster than those two even. At least I was looking for some way to not be mad because Leo asked me on purpose, but Shirou is too passive to truly ask me to not be angry.

I still wonder if I made the right choice to change my mind. (". . . Whatever Foundling-san may be doing, I am certain that she is pursuing the path that she believes is right. Even if it is difficult for her . . . even if it is painful. Even if it means she is evil for it.

If she is here, within your heart, Donatello-san . . .

Then, I'll put my faith in her. She has my trust. "

Shirou chose to trust her after a lengthy deliberation. His words nor decision were based solely on my sake. He believed in her intentions. He will not begrudge us forgiveness, and not just in his relenting way of his.)

I know I am not an easy person to understand. Within a few sentences, she had me pegged almost to a tee. Obviously, some things were wrong, but I've always known I was lucky to have the family I do. The limited human interaction at home, and the research I had done with whatever is wired peculiarly in my head has shown more than enough evidence that not everyone has a family who tries so hard to understand such extreme quirks. This place has only reinforced that. There are plenty who are kind and keep an open mind, of course, but there are many who see malice where there is none, greed that isn't present, and heartlessness where that is, sometimes unfortunately, furthest from the truth.

But few understood the core of me so thoroughly as she did. Maybe people would be more willing to partake of my services if they understood I make things because I enjoy building new things instead of thinking I only do it for profit. Its funny how many people would get free things out of me if they didn't keep reminding me I should be charging, ha.

She

She's the first person to actually ask me to work on a project with her. Not simply make something for her or Mouse or someone else. It wasn't a project I brought up, though even that's had minimal success, with only Hunter and the Greenhouse getting anyone willing to work with me on something that's beyond basic construction.

She thinks I can help with a project, with enchanted armor. She heard me offer to help with the dungeon and realized I could do more and wanted to work on something. She's willing to help me learn the parts I wouldn't know to do myself. She's willing to teach me skills that I have been struggling to try and figure out on my own.

The only teacher I've ever had was dad, and that was only ninja training after he got the basics of reading and math when I was five.

I




There had been two things I've wanted in this place, because I would never get it back home. Honestly, I did not expect the romantic prospects to be the easier one to find, but it really had been someone to work with and learn from that had been denied repeatedly. Someone who was willing to respect what I was capable of, but still get there are some things I don't, and be willing to help me learn.

Someone whose willing to be patient when I'm socially inept and understand that I'm not looking to hurt anyone. I just want to learn, to ask better questions, to make new things, to have new avenues to make things better. I really thought I was doomed to never meet anyone like that. Either they wouldn't be able to show me anything new, or I would have made such a dismal impression that they would write me off entirely. But if she has to talk down a god from destroying the world and decided to help them, then I'm fairly confident she really will forgive any of my social faux pas.

I hope it happens. I want to do it. I want to get that experience at least once, to know what its like to work with someone on a project, who knows what they're doing, instead of just being told to put that piece and that other piece together. I want the chance to learn more of what I can do without having to go in blind.

I want to connect with someone while trying to make something new.

She offered a place where I could have some understanding and make sense. And I think she does. At least, I want to learn more about her so she makes sense. Nothing has been confusing yet, but I also only know a bit of her. But if she's going to offer to understand me, then its only the fair thing to do. That's how friends are.

And I really, really want to be her friend.