September mini-event/catchall

[roombamastermind]

Who ⬤ Croix & You [+ one closed prompt with beariot]
What ⬤ September mini-event/catch-all
When ⬤ Sssseptember?
Where ⬤ Throughout the city
Content Warnings ⬤ Bombing-related stuff, injury, will update with anymore if needed

Prompts in comments

Comments

[roombamastermind]

[ The owner nods, and begins to prepare their order. Croix sits down at the bar, patting a seat for Leonardo to sit next to her. ]

So, let's talk. Can I know the name of the turtle that's threatening me?

[neonleon]

[You're not the boss of him. He moves to sit on her other side.]

Leonardo.

[roombamastermind]

[ Oh well. ]

Leonardo...Donatello. I see the theme there. You two are named after some great men, then. Myself, I was named after a constellation.

[neonleon]

Uh huh that's nice.

[Whatever great men they were named after, it clearly didn't mean much to this turtle. And he knows and cares even less about constellations.]

And what name was that?

[roombamastermind]

Croix Meridies. It means "Southern Cross".

But let's set names aside. What are your interests, Leonardo?

[neonleon]

[God SHE EVEN HAS A MAD SCIENTIST NAME!! WHAT IS HE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS except operate that she is a mad scientist!!

There's only one real way to cope with this.]

Oh, y'know. Long walks on the beach, action movies, treating my life like an adventure, the usual.

sorry for changing format

[roombamastermind]

[ She laughs. ]

Is that why you see an enemy in someone who is just trying to reach out and help someone they see themselves in? Because you want this to be another adventure?

[neonleon]

No, it's because the last mad scientist we met kept trying to help us 'realize our potential' and threw me ofF A ROOF.

[Never getting over that.]

[roombamastermind]

...I see.

[ She sighs. Their ramen will be here soon, and she doesn't want this to spoil it. So...time to stop beating around the bush. ]

Leonardo, you're right about me. I was what most people would call a "mad scientist". I used to put people in danger, all for the sake of my ambitions. And you want to know what happened?

[neonleon]

No, but I get the feeling you're gonna tell me anyway. You guys really like to monolog a lot, you know that?

[roombamastermind]

Yes, we do like to hear ourselves talk.

But what happened was was that I nearly destroyed the things I held dear, and then I ended up in prison. I want you to ask yourself, then, why I'd risk my newfound freedom by doing the exact same things that caused me to lose it. Repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results is the very definition of insanity.

[neonleon]

I dunno, I'm not a mad scientist.

[He'd wager a guess that this place is new, she has no tethers or history here, so conceivably she could start fresh. Who knows.

But it's a similar enough story to Draxum as well. And he had been going out of his way to help them and their dad since Mikey got him that job at the school.

God Mikey would want him to trust, and she's going to be working alongside Donnie for a while. He hates this.]

I do not trust you. This food does not change that, so we're clear. But you're working with my brother, so I'll lay off for now.

[roombamastermind]

[ She let out a heavy sigh, before leaning her head on her hands. ]

I'm not just a "mad scientist". I'm a person. A person who deeply regrets who she used to be.

But I suppose that I'll just have to take what I can get, so very well.

[neonleon]

[Regret who she used to be, huh...

Something about those particular words do settle him a bit, little by little. He wasn't exactly the best brother for a while there either. And though he apologized and worked it out, he does still regret those fights with Raph - Krang wouldn't have been let out if he'd listened, Raph wouldn't have gotten hurt and taken if he'd listened, if if if.]

Just don't play us or screw us over.

[roombamastermind]

[ If was a cruel word. A word that promised different potentials and results. An unscientific word motivated by dreams and wishes and could've's and should've's. ]

I give you my word that I won't.

...Looks like our ramen is here.

[neonleon]

[Words don't mean much. Actions will determine if Leonardo ever trusts her. He'll leave it for now. She exists more in Donnie's world than Leo's. All he can do is keep an eye out where Donatello might get too close to see the overall issue if one comes up.

He's still watching her when the bowl is set in front of him. And it's a small torture (but only small) to look away, pick up the chopsticks and deftly handle them with ease to start eating.]

So what're you guys working on?

[roombamastermind]

[ Croix does the same, focusing on her own serving without looking at Leonardo. ]

I'm just giving him general advice, helping him to find resources, that kind of thing.

...He seems a bit overeager, to be honest. I'm worried he's a short step away from stealing something.

[neonleon]

[He stops with a bite halfway to his mouth.]

Uh. Sure. That's probably good to worry about.

[HAS DONNIE NOT STARTED THAT YET?]

[roombamastermind]

[ Croix is busy slurping some noodles into her mouth when she hears that. She slurps the remainder up, before turning to face him. ]

And you're worried about me?

[neonleon]

He's my brother.

[roombamastermind]

...Right.

[ Croix looked back at her meal, and sighed. ]

Well, I promise I won't lead him astray.