Anemone of Ekosi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shybombardier) wrote2025-10-15 04:07 pm
shybombardier) wrote2025-10-15 04:07 pm
Nemz, sweetie, excuse me but
DID YOU REALLY BLOW UP THE LIBRARY AND THE HYDROPONICS LAB?!
DID YOU REALLY BLOW UP THE LIBRARY AND THE HYDROPONICS LAB?!
Um.
[Anemone is now hiding in her room with blankets over her head after a long, frustrating, day of failing to destroy her enemies. Her voice is small when she speaks next because now she realizes that she probably shouldn't have done any of that.]
I got a little bit carried away.
[Anemone is now hiding in her room with blankets over her head after a long, frustrating, day of failing to destroy her enemies. Her voice is small when she speaks next because now she realizes that she probably shouldn't have done any of that.]
I got a little bit carried away.
A little bit.
You know, I get wanting to test your work out and that you've only been here like, not even a week but you can't just blow up someone's home!
This is the only place some of us have right now and those two places happen to be where I spend a lot of my time!
You know, I get wanting to test your work out and that you've only been here like, not even a week but you can't just blow up someone's home!
This is the only place some of us have right now and those two places happen to be where I spend a lot of my time!
[Something burns in her core behind her eyes. Weeks, months, of being displaced, following her mother and the former inhabitants of Don'tra around as they tried to rebuild everything they lost. The stress her mother had been under had been immense, as she was now responsible for the safety and happiness of thousands of people. Anemone had told herself to keep her own anger and frustration inside so that she wouldn't add to her mother's load. For months it had built up more and more, until she can practically feel it sparking out of her eyes, but she stayed a good daughter. She did what she was told. Didn't cause trouble. Didn't cry or whine when things were upsetting or uncomfortable. Her mother had taken her face in her hands and told her with a grateful tone how glad she was that Anemone was being so reasonable about all this.
She wants to explain these feelings to Donnie, to get him to understand why she felt like she had to take action against the Megatrons. But she can't. She'd let too much out already, and look what happened.]
I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.
I won't do it again. There's no point. They're all too strong anyway.
She wants to explain these feelings to Donnie, to get him to understand why she felt like she had to take action against the Megatrons. But she can't. She'd let too much out already, and look what happened.]
I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking.
I won't do it again. There's no point. They're all too strong anyway.
[Donnie sucks in a breath at that. It would have been easy to keep going dad-mode but Anemone isn't one of his brothers or even his father. And usually they didn't apologize like that.
It's the resignation in her words that really sinks in. This isn't a situation he's ever had to deal with. ]
...are you okay?
You didn't get hurt, did you?
It's the resignation in her words that really sinks in. This isn't a situation he's ever had to deal with. ]
...are you okay?
You didn't get hurt, did you?
[There's hesitation before Anemone answers, because the answer isn't no.]
...I'm okay. One of the Megatrons grabbed me and...
Well. It could have gone worse, I think.
He let me go.
...I'm okay. One of the Megatrons grabbed me and...
Well. It could have gone worse, I think.
He let me go.
[There's a breath of relief. Donnie may be on speaking terms with a couple of those Megatrons but he's well aware of how big some of them are.]
O-oh good.
[The silence that follows is palpable. Being physically okay's one thing, but...he knows how it feels when your experiments don't go the way you expect them to. That's not something he's ever been able to relate to with anyone else before.]
...are you in your room? Can I come over?
O-oh good.
[The silence that follows is palpable. Being physically okay's one thing, but...he knows how it feels when your experiments don't go the way you expect them to. That's not something he's ever been able to relate to with anyone else before.]
...are you in your room? Can I come over?
[Her reply is slightly tearful, but she struggles to keep it under control, trying to keep her tone light.]
Um. I'm not sure you'd want to. I'm not great company right now.
[She feels terrible, and she's sure that she's about to get into a lot of trouble for her actions. Donnie deserves the good and happy version of Anemone, and not the angry and sad one. She just wishes that she was more of the former than the latter, the last few months have made it hard.]
Um. I'm not sure you'd want to. I'm not great company right now.
[She feels terrible, and she's sure that she's about to get into a lot of trouble for her actions. Donnie deserves the good and happy version of Anemone, and not the angry and sad one. She just wishes that she was more of the former than the latter, the last few months have made it hard.]
...
I've been on your end. [Pretty recently.]
I know how it is.
...but...I also know it's when I don't really want to be alone either.
So.
The offer's still there.
I've been on your end. [Pretty recently.]
I know how it is.
...but...I also know it's when I don't really want to be alone either.
So.
The offer's still there.
... Maybe in an hour?
[It'd be nice to have company. Maybe. As terrible as she feels, it's worse when you're alone.]
I'll try not to be a huge downer by then.
[It'd be nice to have company. Maybe. As terrible as she feels, it's worse when you're alone.]
I'll try not to be a huge downer by then.
Okay.
And you don't have to try too hard. It's just me.
And you don't have to try too hard. It's just me.
...Okay.
I'll see you later.
[An hour goes by, and Anemone climbs out of her pile of blankets and tidies up. She brings out her datapad and looks carefully at the variety of food that exists out there in the world. What's a good kind of food to have to entertain turtle guests? She'll have to ask.]
I'll see you later.
[An hour goes by, and Anemone climbs out of her pile of blankets and tidies up. She brings out her datapad and looks carefully at the variety of food that exists out there in the world. What's a good kind of food to have to entertain turtle guests? She'll have to ask.]
[It's a weirdly anxious hour and Donnie feels like he's checking ever other five minutes to see if it's been long enough.
Eventually he's off and out, taking into account the time it takes to get from point A to B. At least he has his battle shell repaired, so he zips through the halls and cuts closer corners landing at Anemone's doorway with of all things, a stuffed dragon plush tucked under his arm.]
Um, knock-knock?
Eventually he's off and out, taking into account the time it takes to get from point A to B. At least he has his battle shell repaired, so he zips through the halls and cuts closer corners landing at Anemone's doorway with of all things, a stuffed dragon plush tucked under his arm.]
Um, knock-knock?
[By this time, Anemone is thoroughly upset with herself for having acted this way, and for worrying Donnie when all he's ever done was be a friend to her. So when she answers the door, she manages a shy-but-cheery greeting, hopefully to let him know that she's alright (debatable) and he doesn't need to worry.]
Hi, thanks for coming.
[She tilts her head slightly at the stuffed dragon.]
Oh, what's that? It's very cute!
Hi, thanks for coming.
[She tilts her head slightly at the stuffed dragon.]
Oh, what's that? It's very cute!
Heeey...
[He blinks and looks down at the purple thing like he'd forgotten it was there.]
Mikey made it for me, actually. Um. Other-Mikey... [He fluffs it up a bit before holding it out even as he looks towards the floor, just a bit awkwardly. ] It is not that adequate for company but very squishable and actually not too bad at giving hugs if no one else is around but you did not hear that from me.
[He blinks and looks down at the purple thing like he'd forgotten it was there.]
Mikey made it for me, actually. Um. Other-Mikey... [He fluffs it up a bit before holding it out even as he looks towards the floor, just a bit awkwardly. ] It is not that adequate for company but very squishable and actually not too bad at giving hugs if no one else is around but you did not hear that from me.
Edited 2023-10-19 20:58 (UTC)
[That is unbelievably cute, and Anemone can't help but let out a soft giggle, before reaching out and taking it and holding it to her chest. It's very small, but it reminds her of her childhood toys. A year ago, she couldn't have imagined that she'd miss her toys this much.]
You're adorable.
[She tells him fondly, this time without embarrassment, because it's the truth. Making a "come in" gesture, she floats through the room over to her bed, where she perches and waits for him to catch up. Her pile of blankets and pillows is surprisingly huge and they fill the room with the faint smell of ocean.]
I really messed up.
[She sighs, staring out the window, still holding the stuffed dragon.]
What's worse, not a single one of them were really upset about it. That's kind of scary y'know? Them being so strong that they're barely bothered by an explosion.
You're adorable.
[She tells him fondly, this time without embarrassment, because it's the truth. Making a "come in" gesture, she floats through the room over to her bed, where she perches and waits for him to catch up. Her pile of blankets and pillows is surprisingly huge and they fill the room with the faint smell of ocean.]
I really messed up.
[She sighs, staring out the window, still holding the stuffed dragon.]
What's worse, not a single one of them were really upset about it. That's kind of scary y'know? Them being so strong that they're barely bothered by an explosion.
[Donnie still ducks his head a little at that, smiling shyly as he manages to look back over at Anemone to see her giving the plush a small squeeze.
Compared to his room, Anemone's looks far more comfortable, more lived in. He follows her to the bed- the girl's probably got more pillows and blankets than he does but boy does it look like a great place to nest in.
He hops up to sit beside her, following her gaze towards the window.]
...they're probably used to being attacked too. And it is scary. Most of them have been fighting maybe their whole lives. I'm...kind of glad that they didn't get upset though. I'd hate to see you get hurt.
Compared to his room, Anemone's looks far more comfortable, more lived in. He follows her to the bed- the girl's probably got more pillows and blankets than he does but boy does it look like a great place to nest in.
He hops up to sit beside her, following her gaze towards the window.]
...they're probably used to being attacked too. And it is scary. Most of them have been fighting maybe their whole lives. I'm...kind of glad that they didn't get upset though. I'd hate to see you get hurt.
I'm not afraid of getting hurt.
[Which is a lot of confidence for someone who has never been seriously hurt in her life. She adjusts her grip on the stuffed dragon so that she can look down on its little face.]
I'm just...
[Another moment of hesitation. She shouldn't burden others with her feelings, she's already decided this. Still, she should say this much.]
It's such a dumb thing to be upset about, but what if Duam barely takes me any more seriously than they do? What if I try my hardest, put my whole soul into it, and all that happens is that he laughs at me?
[A soft sigh.]
I wish I wasn't so weak.
[Which is a lot of confidence for someone who has never been seriously hurt in her life. She adjusts her grip on the stuffed dragon so that she can look down on its little face.]
I'm just...
[Another moment of hesitation. She shouldn't burden others with her feelings, she's already decided this. Still, she should say this much.]
It's such a dumb thing to be upset about, but what if Duam barely takes me any more seriously than they do? What if I try my hardest, put my whole soul into it, and all that happens is that he laughs at me?
[A soft sigh.]
I wish I wasn't so weak.
Me too.
[He pulls his knees up, draping his arms around them, stone skin and all.]
Getting hurt is the worst. And because I'm the most vulnerable one of my brothers, they're always so overprotective of me.
That's why I made my battle shell, and my tech. I want to prove that I can be strong too, that I can do things.
But almost everyone in this universe is so huge and strong. I watched almost all of my team nearly get taken out by those slavers on that last mission I was on, and for all I was trying to do to fight back, all it took was one shot to nearly take me out too.
[He pulls his knees up, draping his arms around them, stone skin and all.]
Getting hurt is the worst. And because I'm the most vulnerable one of my brothers, they're always so overprotective of me.
That's why I made my battle shell, and my tech. I want to prove that I can be strong too, that I can do things.
But almost everyone in this universe is so huge and strong. I watched almost all of my team nearly get taken out by those slavers on that last mission I was on, and for all I was trying to do to fight back, all it took was one shot to nearly take me out too.
I guess we're both a little out of our depths here.
[Anemone says with a small laugh. She's still confident in her abilities, but that confidence is now tempered with the knowledge that just willing your enemies to fall before you isn't going to actually make it happen.]
We'll just have to be smarter than all of them. A few techno tricks from you, and a bomb or two from me, and I bet we can solve a lot of problems before they start.
[Anemone says with a small laugh. She's still confident in her abilities, but that confidence is now tempered with the knowledge that just willing your enemies to fall before you isn't going to actually make it happen.]
We'll just have to be smarter than all of them. A few techno tricks from you, and a bomb or two from me, and I bet we can solve a lot of problems before they start.
[In spite of himself, Donnie breathes out a laugh at that as well.]
Yeah, maybe just a little.
[He lifts his head, thoughtful as he nods.]
We can't rely on pure force of strength. If we waste all our strength on the outside just trying to get to where damage can really be done, we're wasting our time. And if we're aiming to prevent further problems, precision is key.
Yeah, maybe just a little.
[He lifts his head, thoughtful as he nods.]
We can't rely on pure force of strength. If we waste all our strength on the outside just trying to get to where damage can really be done, we're wasting our time. And if we're aiming to prevent further problems, precision is key.
Exactly! We need to be efficient.
[She looks down at the dragon again.]
Though I'm not sure how to apply that to things like our trip to Iskwiyac. I don't believe we'll be in danger, but I don't know that for sure. What do we do if we encounter something unexpected?
I've never encountered people like you before, so I'm not sure what being prepared looks like for you.
[She looks down at the dragon again.]
Though I'm not sure how to apply that to things like our trip to Iskwiyac. I don't believe we'll be in danger, but I don't know that for sure. What do we do if we encounter something unexpected?
I've never encountered people like you before, so I'm not sure what being prepared looks like for you.
Honestly..? It was easier to be prepared when it was just being in our city back home with the expectation that it'd just be some crazy mutant or the Foot Clan.
We need to really find out anything and everything we can about Iskwiyac before we go, as much as possible.
I know we may not expect anything dangerous but being prepared for a fight might still be good. We don't know what kind of creatures might be out there, and even if the location is outside of Council-space, that makes it even more subject to the potential that it's open access to anyone, and with the limited info you've found, that just means we're not up to date on whether anyone else has found the place or if something or someone lives there already.
We need to really find out anything and everything we can about Iskwiyac before we go, as much as possible.
I know we may not expect anything dangerous but being prepared for a fight might still be good. We don't know what kind of creatures might be out there, and even if the location is outside of Council-space, that makes it even more subject to the potential that it's open access to anyone, and with the limited info you've found, that just means we're not up to date on whether anyone else has found the place or if something or someone lives there already.
Well...
We do have the location of the planet. If we can get some sort of... explorer drone? In there ahead of us, we might have a better idea on what we're dealing with, flora and fauna-wise.
Do we have any way to send something clear across the galaxy without having to spend weeks going there ourselves?
We do have the location of the planet. If we can get some sort of... explorer drone? In there ahead of us, we might have a better idea on what we're dealing with, flora and fauna-wise.
Do we have any way to send something clear across the galaxy without having to spend weeks going there ourselves?
[Donnie strokes his chin. A drone is the easy part, and a data-gathering mission is sound. He'd feel a lot better with more information than they've currently got before going in.
And as for sending something clear across the galaxy...]
Actually...
And as for sending something clear across the galaxy...]
Actually...
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