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...there was a cost. But I don't know what would have been supplemented for it if it was even something Shockwave would have considered.

[Donnie knows only that it would have cost him if he had done so, his eyes drifting to his hands again.]

And he wouldn't have gained anything. Power's what he believes we need, and I don't know if I can say he's completely wrong in that. Not with everything we've been having to deal with. ...but it still doesn't justify what was done.

[She huffs, it's not directed towards him, but everything in general. Dramatic and a little bit immature.]

Absolutely not. Power rarely leads to anything good, even if it helps in the moment.

I... I understand why he didn't. But that doesn't mean I agree.

He didn't even give us a chance. Not really

[Her voice dropped a little quieter. She was supposed to be the adult here and here she was pouting.]

Have you talked to Annie at all? Or Esme?

[It's kind of funny. Refreshing, even. Unfortunately Donnie doesn't feel much like laughing. The subject isn't really one to laugh about anyway.

He shakes his head at the question. Back to his usual habits, retreating from the world, hoping to work things out. It's been working less and less these days, becoming more tempting to just hide in his room.]

...no.

Yeah... Me neither.

[She probably should. Check in on them. The ship was big enough to avoid Shockwave at least.

It wasn't that she was avoiding the others as much as she didn't know what to say. It was easier with Donnie, somehow. Maybe because she felt there was a bit of kinship there. Maybe because out of the three, he probably related the most.]

Are you going to?

I guess I probably should...

[About what, though? He knows what Anemone would say, and part of him still wants to be relieved that they might have found something to restore her father. That they'd found something to revert his brother to normal. It's like Anila had said earlier, right? But for lack of a better way to describe any of it, Donnie just doesn't... 'feel good' about any of it. Fixing someone's problems shouldn't involve someone else's payment.]

Yeah.

[Her tone mimics his as she fiddles with her beads again.

Suddenly she flops backward and starfishes on the floor.]

THIS SUCKS!

[The observation deck is empty for the moment, blessedly、 and the yell echoes around the room.]

Edited 2025-05-05 16:58 (UTC)

[After her more controlled grumbling, this sudden outburst startles him, the behavior to follow, completely un-Jedi-like.

He stares down at her, wide-eyed for a moment or two before he drops his hand from clasping at his chest with an exasperated sigh.]

[She lets out an exaggerated huff.]

Okay. Enough of all this. I'm tired and feel like drek. Let's go do something fun.

[She rolls onto her stomach to look up at him.]

You have that techno-magic stuff right? Have you ever tested it against a lightsaber? For science or whatever.

[Well, Donnie supposes that's one way to try forcing yourself out of a mood? He blinks at her before shaking his head.]

Not really, no.

Wanna try it out?

[Really, she shouldn't be so eager to use her weapon but this hardly counts, she's not setting out to harm anyone and it would be nice to let off some steam. Besides. This is definitely training. Definitely. And for science.]

You can say no.

[She is quick to clarify as she finally sits up again.]

But I'm definitely gonna go swing some stuff around and feel good about it. The invitation is open for you to join.

....

[He glances away as he considers. It would be far better than moping. And maybe it might be nice to hit something.

So he nods at her.]

...beats the opposite, I guess.

[Anila lights up and hops to her feet in one fluid motion.]

Great!

[Okay, chill it out a bit. But it's hard not to want to counter the gloom that has fallen over them with blazing brightness. She's all too aware though, that sometimes that kind of energy can be off putting.

She offers a hand down to Donnie.]

Have you trained with Cal at all?

[Again he shakes his head as he gets to his feet, taking her offered hand.]

We talked about it, especially since he said he was familiar with using a staff-style.

[She tilts her head, tapping her fingers against her hand again as she thought, leading them out of the room.]

Well, not much can stand up to Lightsabers other than other lightsabers and beskar, mostly. It'll be cool to test your magi-tech though, but that staff of yours probably won't hold up.

[She looks at Donnie and drifts down to his arms.]

Probably best not to test the gauntlets.

[This comes as a conclusion to an unknown conversation she had with herself in her head.]

Not like I have my staff on me anyway. Cal did mention beskar. I doubt you have the molecular formula on hand...

[He glances at his hands, curling his fingers in. He bets they could probably hold against a lightsaber but when it comes to testing such things that are actually a part of him, he's not as eager to volunteer.]

Mystic-tech it is.

[She makes a face.]

Definitely do not.

[Anila looks at him curiously, folding her hands behind her back.]

Would you be able to make some if I did?

[Donnie looks a bit sheepish at being called out then. He stuffs his hands into his hoodie pocket, not at all still silently entertaining how well they'd hold up.]

Yeah. I could just change something else into it. That's how I upgraded my tech-bō from titanium to Cybetronian-grade metal.

[For all that Amalgamous Prime was a jerk, Donnie hates to admit that being able to change things into other things is...pretty convenient.]

[Fingers tap against palm in a flittering pattern as Anila thinks.]

Well, I'm not all that smart when it comes to all that sciencey stuff, I'm not even sure Beskar even exists in this universe, but I wonder if there is a metal that does? We at least know that whatever Cybertronians are made of is still susceptible, but I wonder if there's something stronger?

Guess that'd be a science project for another day. Testing metal samples against your lightsaber. Wonder if Cal's already come across anything.

[Tap tap tap]

I don't know. We can certainly ask. I haven't found anything but I haven't really been off the ship much and have had reason to use my lightsaber even less.

Which I guess it a good thing.

You're smart, could you like... I don't know, reverse engineer? Study the lightsaber and know what's strong against it?

[She didn't need to bring up the fact that this last mission was the most she had needed to use her weapon since arriving on the R2.]

Reverse engineer? I don't think that's how it works. I mean, I know how one's constructed, I took a bunch of pictures when Cal took his apart.

So really, the best way to test what's strong against it would be applying its power against other things.

[Right, of course he would have all the info he needed from Cal.]

Of course. Maybe I'll test some things next time I'm off ship. I'll report back if I find anything. Cal probably knows more than me though.

[Blessedly, they finally make it to the training room and Anila takes it as an opportune moment to change the subject, adding a little bit energy back into her voice and grinning at the teen.]

Hope you're ready!

[It's been an effective enough distraction, and even if Donnie's still bottled things up, he seems more...normal than he'd been.

He looks around, mostly to see if any damage from the time he and Leo decided to test out Shockwave's cannon remained. That thought draws a flicker of...something across his face before he turns, nodding at Anila.

He holds his hand out to the side, purple lines of neon tracing out to form the intricate parts housed in the eventually shaped shaft of the tech-bō he uses. Spinning it with ease, he twists it the way he would to activate the naginata blade, the slim thing sprouting forth with its delicate curve as he slides into an at-ready position.]

Whenever you are.

[Anila grins and unhooks the handle of her lightsaber and activates it with it's distinctive buzzing whir.

She spreads her feet and holds onto it with both hands, the blade at an angle, ready to swing.]

I'll go easy on your for now. Don't want anyone to get hurt.

[As serious as the statement is, there's a bit of teasing there.]

[That finally manages to pull something of a faint smirk from him.]

If you say so.

[As much as he's a fan of plans, when it comes to battle, he actually isn't much of a strategist so much as a reactive fighter. Truthfully he can be pretty reckless- and as it turns out, he's not afraid to try and strike first.

Donnie moves in, glowing staff twirling as he brings it around for a broad swipe to get things started out.]

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