thepurpleone | Cyberformed [] Inbox

[The look on Donnie's face was...strained, to say the least, although he looked strangely relieved too. That he might not ever see his brothers again or remember them had been a horror he'd managed to stifle until now.]

[Silence had not been what Leo was expecting, and his brows raised slightly in concern as he lowered (raised?) his phone to actually look at Donnie.]

Dude you look terrible! What happened?

[That was a loaded question if ever there was one. Donnie sucked in a breath, looking like he was having second thoughts coming directly here, but he managed to take a step forward, eventually crossing the way towards where Leo lounged. He sank down on the floor beside him, pulling his knees to his chest.]

O-oh, you know. Just got kidnapped by a parasite lord who wanted to brainwash us into model children while she ate our memories. No big deal...

Uuuuuuhhhhmmmmm????

[Leo lowers (raises?) his phone and gently tosses it to the side as he props himself to flip right side up to face Donnie as he lays on his stomach.]

That does not sound like a well thought out date, bud.

[A joke, but not one said with any heart behind it. That sounded super terrible, and while Leo could kind of relate in some capacity he certainly couldn't let Donnie know about it.]

You, uh, wanna talk about it?

[Donnie just pulls his arms around his legs tighter, scratching at his arm.]

What's to talk about? We were saved, the Queen was taken away by Baki, we got everything back so...yeah. Things should be cool now.

[Leo slams his hands onto the floor as he props himself up quickly in spurt of envy.]

Bro! As in Baki Songfang? You actually met him? Do you have any idea how many comics are written about that guy!

[Wait. He should probably focus on the important thing here.]

Well glad to see you're all in one piece. Everyone else ok? It was you, Annie, RT... Hashtag? aaannndd....meatloaf guy?

[He swore he was paying attention when Donnie told him but a lot had happened on his own mission and he maybe forgot.]

[Way to startle your brother! Donnie jolts at that, looking for a moment like he's uncertain how to process that. Maybe he would've felt a little more excited about it if there weren't so many things going on. What is it about his family and attention spans?]

...meatloaf guy?

[That one genuinely baffles him enough that he stares, but he still remains all tensed up. Maybe he should've gone to Mikey first.]

They're... Everyone's okay now, I guess. [Barring any lingering trauma, they're all fine..!]

...have I ever... [He trails off, shaking his head. The Queen had just been twisting things around. It's not like he'd done anything to hurt his family on purpose. But then maybe that's the whole point... He squeezes his eyes shut, shaking his head again.]

Never mind. You...said you wanted to talk about something?

[No sudden movements. Got it. Also not a good sign. It was a relief to hear that everyone, notably Annie and Riptide, were doing ok but given how rattled Donnie was he wasn't sure the was a reliable source.]

You know, the guy who always brings meatloaf to movie night. He always has that little guy with him.

[When Donnie started to talk and clammed up, Leo gave him a gentle accusatory poke.]

Ever what, Dee? Spill.

Oh right. Forgot about that. -Wheeljack, he was with us too. And Hashtag and her sister Twitch...

[Facts are easier to divulge. He should have however anticipated that Leo wouldn't let that other thing slide. His head sinks further down.]

...she said I basically disregarded my family as people "for the sake of his own perceived superiority." She was going to fix that. She was going to fix all of us. But as awful was she was... was she wrong about that?

That's a little harsh. Just cause you do science on us sometimes without our permission doesn't mean you don't see us as people? 'sides what's the point of being superior if everyone around you isn't also a person worth being better than?

[Logic as only Leo could put it together, but the sentiment remained that he thought the whole thing was bogus.]

When has "fixing people"- [he makes some extremely obvious air quotes here] every helped anyone? Remember those horrible gifts you made us a couple years ago? Or when you messed with our brains to make us smarter cause you thought it'd be better? Or when we all tried to do the proper ninja thing and got our butts kicked? Or when Whit was trying to turn you into a witch?

It's true no one can be as perfect as me but that doesn't mean you aren't also cool exactly how you are. Or anyone else.

[Donnie breathes a weak laugh at that, glad it doesn't come out as a sob, but he averts his eyes anyway.]

Hah. Perfect, right.

...

...she introduced each of us. On stage to all the other brainwashed kids, telling everyone what fault she saw in us, things that we'd never meant to do on purpose. And they booed us like we were the worst people in the world...

She had these fleas that'd just- they were everywhere and she'd control people with them.

[He can't help but scratch at his arms again as he recalls the feeling.] Uuuugh there were so many, there should never be that many fleas anywhere.

Ew gross! You didn't bring any back did you? If you did we are getting this place fumigated asap.

[He folded his arms in front of him, settling further on the beanbag so he was closer to his bro without actually touching him.]

Sounds more like a cliché nightmare than anything.

....could you tell me what she said about Annie? You don't have to, but. Well, I'm a little worried about her.

I don't think so but I'd be willing to throw myself in acid just to make sure.

-oh but I wish it was just a nightmare.

[Donnie flinches at the direct inquiry about Anemone. The look that flickers across his face is a concerning one, before he buries his face in his arms.]

She wasn't with us at the beginning. The Queen said she needed more "hands-on" treatment.

[His fingers tighten over his arms, the little claw-points that he's gotten used to having rather than the usual finger stubs.]

Somehow she'd wiped Anemone's memories that when we finally did see her again, she was the same as she was when we first met her, Leo. She didn't remember anything. It was like when we met her on our trip to Don'tra and Iskwiyac never happened...

Edited 2024-04-13 05:19 (UTC)

[The look, and the explanation, felt like a weight dropping in Leo's stomach.]

So that flea queen thought Anemone's been the worst version of herself since she met us?

[He was quiet because...was she wrong? It was easy to think back on how shy and determined and optimistic Anemone has been. So certain even what little but she could do to help save her city and the forest would make a difference. But now? After everything she'd been through, she was different- and who could blame her! Losing your home, seeing your loved ones taken from you. It wasn't something that was easy to move past.

It stung to see Anemone making the same kinds of mistakes he had. Reckless, putting himself and his family in harm's way without worrying about the consequences to anyone around him. It wasn't something he was proud of, and he didn't want her to to wind up the same way. Luckily he'd had Casey to set him straight. Anemone had them, but she seemed less and less interested in listening to them.

He reached down and grabbed his phone, holding it in his hands like it was going to bite him.]

When we were helping Tech with his mission.......we found Anemone's dad.

She said she was happy! [Donnie snaps, flinching then as he tucks against himself once more.]

...that the Queen said she'd done so many things that hurt people, that made her sad. And then she used Anemone as a shield when I attacked her and said it was my fault, my punishment for not being obedient.

But after all that...Anemone still wasn't upset with her. She wanted to be happy and I can't blame her for wanting that. I still convinced her anyway, that...she can't just take out he bad memories, that they're connected to all the good ones.

Did I do the right thing..? ...I keep thinking that maybe... M-maybe it would be better, and then she wouldn't be linked with him-

[His uncertainty switches all too easily into anger. He's not sure how many are even aware of Anemone's link with the Prime. Why is it always Primes? Always Megatrons...

He barely hears Leo when he starts to mention about his own mission's findings, belatedly snapping out of that red haze. His emotions are all over the place and it's not like he'd gotten them properly settled before they'd arrived back on the R2.]

Wh-wha..? Is he okay? Where..?

Even if Anemone was happy, it wouldn't change that happened. It wouldn't make any one else less hurt, it would fix things. I mean, what would happen if she tried to go back to Don'tra and found out it was destroyed? She would just get hurt all over again.

[His grip on his phone tightened, his expression dour. He wanted Anemone to be happy to, but not like that. He was positive Donnie did the right thing.]

Not really. You know those quintessons who keep popping up....we ran into one, and it was her dad. He recognized the pendant she gave me. He didn't want to fight us, but they made him eventually.

It took some convincing but I got him to record a message for her. I thought, I don't know, it might give her some closure? If it were pops I know I would want that. I just don't know what will happen if I give it to her.

[But even so, he feels like he'd been a little selfish. But he told her. It had been tearing him apart, that she didn't remember him, or his sacrifice for her. It hurt, it still hurts thinking about it, even though it should all be okay now. Right? He just wants someone to tell him that things are okay. But maybe they aren't.]

I...I know. I know, that's ...I told her as much. I just wish she could be happy like before...

[Then maybe he can be happy like before too...

Leo's information isn't helping. Donnie's eyes widen at the revelation. Anemone's dad had been turned into a Quintesson? He stares at his brother, not sure what to do with that, and the suggestion only turns his stomach. No, he doesn't want to think of it that way, he can't deal with this- he's not sure how Anemone would take it, especially not after accepting the weight of everything again.]

I want to see her happy too, we just gotta figure out what we can do to make that happen. I'm sure it'd be worse if she didn't have you around.

[He gave Donnie a supportive nudge, the first genuine sign that Leo considered his brother a pretty good boyfriend for Annie.]

You did the right thing, bro.

[The weighing silence afterwards did not make him feel much better about his looming choice.]

I should probably just give it to her. Trust my gut.

Then why does it still feel like it wasn't..?

[Maybe it's just him again. Maybe it's all still so fresh in his mind. He hates when he has no answers and can't explain things, he can't even remember when he'd last slept or if he'd even managed to sleep at all (how long had they been gone?) and it just feels like his mind's running on repeat because it's too tired to do anything else.]

...maybe?

I...don't know.

[Leo sighed, flopping onto the beanbag chair with a defeated slump. He felt like he should have an answer, or at least pretend to have one.]

Wish I knew. Cause it was hard, I guess?

[He swung out an arm to grab Donnie's opposite shoulder, pulling him into something that was not exactly a hug given their current seating/laying arrangement, but the sentiment was there.]

Just keep being there for Annie. I think she needs you more than she'll admit.

[Especially since he had the feeling she wouldn't want to be seeing much of him for a while once he gave her the news about her dad.]

[Donnie immediately stiffens at he contact, taking a moment before managing to relax a little beneath Leo's arm. It's something, even if he finds that small comfort at odds with what seems like such a monumental responsibility. It's not that he'd ever give up on Anemone- he'd told her as much. But he just wishes that she would be able to have a break for all that keeps seeming to happen.

He nods a tiny nod, shrinking in upon himself even more, if just a little closer to Leo's beanbag as can be managed.]

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