Appointments

[semper_cogitans]

For any mundane, non-critical one-on-one interactions with the scientist here, whether it be poking him for whatever reason, maintaining continuity, throwing him an item, or in general doing something that isn't momentous enough to require a whole post or log for it.

Please copy and paste the following for the first comment in any new thread you're

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

Date of Thread: Evening of June 15, after Don gets back from the camping trip and finds out Shredder is in town
Type of Thread: Voice

[Panicked. Desperate. Pick up the journal right now.] Robert.

[semper_cogitans]

... D-Don?

[He wanted to talk to Don right away, yes, but even Robert can tell when the turtle is freaking out.]

What is the matter?

and Locked of course

[i_speak_softly]

I think my Turtle Luck is rubbing off on you. How did you already manage to run into the Shredder?

Oh yes, this should PROBABLY be filtered :|;

[semper_cogitans]

... Literally. [Robert exhales slowly.] I... had the m-misfortune of... actually impacting with him outside the Item Shop.

Apparently he has... no c-compunctions against misleading people as to his intentions.

[i_speak_softly]

No, and he's very good at it.

What did you tell him?

[semper_cogitans]

[Awkwardly:] We... had a conversation about several subjects, including the Malnosso and their... capabilities, violence and lack thereof, [- which Robert realizes now may have actually come from experience -] and... well, not knowing any better, I very nearly spoke about you.

[Even Robert can tell now that this is a spectacularly stupid thing, and his tone is... self-depreciating.] ... He gave no sign of recognizing, though, and I... never actually told your name... I, er, simply referred to you as an engineer. To be specific, a brilliant, self-schooled engineer.

[In other words, nothing that immediately traced back to Don. Still...]

[i_speak_softly]

[This praise goes right over Don's head as he tries to deduce, at a frustrating remove, whether Shredder really didn't know who Robert was talking about, or whether he was just feigning nonrecognition.]

[It's hopeless. Trying to keep any accusation or anger out of his voice, he asks:] Does he know where you live?

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert expects Don to be furious. And he's kind of angry with himself, really, that he allowed this to happen. That he was... stupid enough to allow this to happen.

He didn't do it on purpose. But that doesn't get the Hamatos out of danger.]

Yes. He knows the Community Building, at the very least. [And depending on how the log goes, he might know more specific things...]

... I... i-if I had known, I would have never s-spoken to him...

[i_speak_softly]

[Well. How long could it take him to snoop around and see which apartment the scientist lives in?]

Are you sure you won't move in with us?

[semper_cogitans]

I would rather only myself be in danger than your whole family...

[Even if the barrier exists, it isn't impossible to find out that Helios' life powers it.

And if Shredder is the kind of person who will kill like this, then he might kill Helios to take the barrier down. Robert finds this thought even more terrifying than dying at the Shredder's hands.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don hasn't had time to think through all the strategic implications yet.]

I'm so worried about you...

[semper_cogitans]

[And Robert is worried about Don in return.]

I cannot put you in any more d-danger, Don... I h-have already risked you enough as it is...

[And part of it is that his family despises Robert already for the most part. Honestly, if he does this without realizing he can't really blame them.]

[i_speak_softly]

How could your being here put us in more danger?

[Leo will probably give him a whole lecture of an explanation later, but right now he isn't seeing it.]

[semper_cogitans]

If I am the target, and the Shredder is willing to h-harm others to get to me... [These kind of twisted motivations are only occurring to him now that it's practically been spelled out. It's like seeing a whole side of person nature that Robert had never even been aware of before, all at once, and it's horrifying on several levels.]

... I cannot say I... entirely understand the motivations, but if there is any chance of him harming you, I want to... prevent it. As much as possible... [The unspoken implication is that Robert desires this, even if it requires his death to do so.]

[i_speak_softly]

No, Robert, we're the target. He would hurt you to get to us.

I would feel so much better if you were where we could protect you...

[semper_cogitans]

But... [Everybody always has to protect me.]

... I... I cannot ask your family to... endanger themselves for my sake...

[Not to mention Helios. Gods, he'd never forgive himself if he got both Helios and Don hurt.]