memestertrucks | MARCH TDM

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After tumbling through shadow you find yourself in a shrouded, ruined garage. It’s full of shattered windows and broken mechanical equipment, with all sorts of sharp edges to watch out for. Between that are strange symbols scrawled into the ground. Outside is cloudy weather and the beginnings of a storm flickering and rumbling.

Beyond the rundown garage is a rundown gas station surrounded by rolling, grassy hills. Close by is a Convoy of vehicles, either parked or driving up to station.

01: SUMMONING CIRCLE

This time the summoning circle and car garage is attached to retro diner, and an old wind turbine, barely still spinning and providing fading power. There’s also a broken radio playing a message about Nirvana and imploring people to head north. In fact, there’s a large amount of broken electric equipment in here and spitting sparks.

A fan circles overhead, stirring those sparks and creating a breeze. Trails of paper are attached to the fan, spinning lazily about. If Drifters choose, they can easily retrieve those paper talismans with little more than a slight static shock. While the paper is tattered and smeared with ink and blood, the following can be made out: “Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-“ “Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-“ “Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-“ “Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right.”

Hard to say what that all means, but it seems to have something to do with the summoning circle here. And there’s lingering power crackling through the building. The sort that makes the lights flash and flicker… And line up eerily with flashes of thunder on the horizon.

02: START UP 

New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting outside for them, and a collection of vehicles, one of which feels like it belongs to them. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters have the keys to the vehicle now.

…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.

03: STORM WARNING

There’s something odd in the sky; it shifts between a dark cloud, and a collection of birds. As the thing draws closer, it clearly becomes a mix of both. Car-sized, dark feathered birds and skeletal avians fly in a thundering flock, and turn the sky stormy in their wake. That alone is bad… But what’s worse is how the shiny chrome of the Convoy and vehicles draws the birds. As they dive towards the ground to snatch at the shiny metal, they pull the storm and bring a tornado with them. The Convoy does its best to anchor to the ground, but lighter vehicles and Drifters might not be so lucky.

The garage and diner takes it worst of all: the electric devices start spitting sparks and can even act as homing beacons for lightning strikes if a Drifter with electric abilities gets too close to them. Any remaining, intact windows shatter as the storm winds pick up, pelting Drifters with razor shards. And water starts pouring in, further shorting electric equipment and soaking anyone to the bone. There’s even a strange droning, siren like noise to warn about the storm and cut into one’s hearing. It’s difficult conditions for anyone caught up in the blow-out.

04: WEATHERING

Once the main force of the storm hits, the following happens:
Diversion: Those with Fast cars can drive away from the station and divert the birds. They’ll want a second Drifter to come along; either to snipe at the pursuing birds, or keep eyes on the terrain! Eventually the birds will tire or get culled enough that the storm disperses.
Updraft: There is the risk of getting swept up in the tornado winds. Damage, injuries… And a particular quirk this storm has. Drifters who spend more than a minute in the storm winds will find that they begin to take on traits from the Harpy monster. These traits increase in potency if the Drifter experiences hunger or violence. As the weather clears and days become calmer, the traits fade.
Downburst: If Drifters get slammed into the ground by the storm, or the dark birds flying about. They may also find themselves drenched with rain. Any injury they take mends quickly, but is replaced with scales, as the Drifters begin to resemble a Naga monster. These changes grow worse if they tell lies, but disperse with the storm.
BIRDS: The birds themselves are vicious: those afflicted with Naga traits are seen as prey, while Harpies are seen as rivals. The birds are deadly, but also clumsy if forced to the ground. The screens on the Convoy recommend crippling the wings before finishing the bird off on the ground.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, NAGA

This month, Drifters will have access to the serpentine Naga. On top of all Naga species traits being available, the following occurs:
+Cold Blooded: the rain and storms can potentially make Naga slow and sluggish, or inclined to sleep or seek out other heat sources to gain energy; this includes basking in body heat from others!
+Water Divert: With their water shaping, Naga can divert falling rain and even ground saturation to make the area or other Drifters more dry. They can also concentrate water into different areas, and can also change water into mist or ice.
+Blue shift: the scales of Naga become more vibrantly blue, or a strange mottled combination of blue and stormy gray, the more intense the rains become. These scale colors can also reflect their moods.
+Extra arms that are painful and disorienting to grow, and can result in coordination issues.
+Scale Pains: Pain and discomfort when scales grow in, as well as fangs or talons!
+Water glide: during floods from the rains, Naga find they can easily traverse deep water as though they were simply walking (or slithering) across it.
+Thermal vision, making it easy to track others in the middle of storms. Vision may also become disorienting, and eyes become slitted.

04: MONSTER SHIFT, HARPY

The storm will bring a second monster this month, in the form of Harpy. On top of all Harpy species traits being active, the following occurs:
+Storm Rider: high agility and capable of flying through the storm winds without hindrance. Even tornadoes can be mastered!
+Feather pains: itching, or full pain when growing feathers or wings. Talons may also be painful when growing from fingers or from feet.
+Wind Affinity: able to shape wind, including diverting the worst of the storm winds, or summon and focus wind into razors.
+Warbling Voice: words may waver and slip into something more songlike, or even a damaging sonic scream if emotions are heightened.
+Height Call: a need to get higher into the air, whether through perching on buildings or the convoy, or through flight. A sense of euphoria as they go higher.
+Nest Building: a compulsion to create a nest out of spare and soft objects, and feeling more safe inside that space.
+Heightened vision like a bird of prey, able to pick out details even at great distance. This may be disorienting at first, as vision becomes telescopic.

05: RAIN, SHINE, OR SALVAGE

Upon culling enough birds, the storm disperses. The monster avians dissolve as they drop into streams of energy, feeding into Drifter Sigils and providing limited healing. And handful remain intact when they hit the ground and can be harvested for meat, feathers, and possibly even talons.

There is one extra problem, in the form of falling debris. After being pulled up into the sky, wreckage (and possibly stray Drifters) are going to drop back down. It’s advised to look out for falling objects and people. It might be possible to salvage something in the form of scrap metal for any vehicle repairs, but such a task requires two.

06: STORM SHOT 

The storm can be dispersed in one of two ways. One is waiting the storm out. The second is a battered collection of machines melted into the roof of the garage and gas station. When touched they burn the hands of Drifters, but also fire a jolt of lightning into the storm. One shot lessens the effects of the storm, repeated shots completely disperses the weather.

In the aftermath of the storm, something different rains from the sky in the form of glowing, quicksilver feathers. These feathers can suppress one avian or serpentine trait for a month, and can also drain away any Naga or Harpy changes from the event completely.

Alternately, the feathers will allow Drifters to temporarily access flight for one day. Doing so completely robs the feather of its magic: only one effect can be chosen from a feather.

MICRO ENCOUNTERS:

PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.

Windy Days: Preceding the storm are gales of strong winds, enough to stagger Drifters or send them staggering into other people or other vehicles.

Diner Is Served: While the retro diner attached to the garage has only limited food stores, curiously there is a respectable amount of cooking equipment that can be plundered. Portable stoves, pots and pans, spoons, and the like are all available for the taking.

Fading Storm: In the aftermath of the storm, the garage and diner look like they’re on their last legs, barely held up by their shelving. Anyone who wants to try salvaging had better move fast and carefully, before the entire thing comes crashing down.

NAVIGATION || RESERVES || APPLICATIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Donnie does his best to wind up the rest of the bandages, absently stuffing it into a belt pouch. His weird tongue slips out again as he tries to half-clamber, half-slide onto the bed at Leo's invitation. The extra help certainly won't be dismissed, but it's almost guaranteed he'll still end up facefirst against the bunk at some point during the endeavor.

"Huh? What about Mikey and Raph?" he blinks once he's settled, trying to get his coils to settle into the right position without threat of pulling him off the bed again. It takes him a moment, but he figures maybe it's fair that Leo hasn't been completely aware of the extent of everyone else's injuries, not with how bad off his own were. He nods.

"Mikey... I think out of all of us he skated by with the least amount of injuries. Superficial, mostly. The worst were his arms. I'm...not sure what would have happened if Raph and I hadn't been there to support him when he ripped open that hole between dimensions."

He rubs at his right arm, still remembering that sensation, that brief moment where it felt like it had been on fire before something in them stabilized.

"Raph...he's doing better. We had to make sure that crack in his plastron and the edge of his shell didn't get worse. There's no replacing the chunks that are just...gone, but otherwise it'll be fine. Mostly it's his right eye that's been bothering him. I've been monitoring it."

He'll be nice and not laugh at the faceplant. It's a little concerning, anyway, how much trouble Donnie's having with movement...

It's confusing that Donnie is confused by the question - isn't it obvious Leo would want to hear about all of them? He doesn't know about anything that happened after. But at least Donnie answers, and... it doesn't sound too bad.

Raph's eye... of course that would still be bothering him. Leo hopes he can get someone else to monitor it, while Donnie's here. Oh man, he must be in such a tizzy right now. Losing a(nother) little brother so soon, Raph has to be panicking.

Leo will just have to get Donnie back to him as soon as possible so he doesn't worry.

And Mikey... It's good that his wounds were only superficial. It's not that much of a surprise, since Leo doesn't remember him getting into too much of a scrape while they were fighting (they all protected him too much for that), but it's still a relief. As long as the damage was only to his arms from...

from...

Leo blinks a few times, just staring at Donnie.

"Mikey did what?"

Given that this point is a vital part of Leo's being rescued, Donnie's a bit surprised that it seems to have slipped from his mind. Unless...

Something like worry flickers across his face for a split second before he shakes his head. No, focus on this!

"The whole 'mystic hands' thing? He tore open a hole between us and the Prison Dimension to get you back," Donnie explained, watching Leo carefully as he does so. "Raph pulled you out, but that Kraang guy was right behind you, and I wasn't letting him have you."

He winces, glancing down before forcing his hands to loosen from the tight balls he'd wrung them into.

Leo just stares at Donnie for a long, long time.

He tore open a hole...

I wasn't letting him have you...

between us and the Prison Dimension...

Raph pulled you out...

But... no. None of that happened. Leo was pummeled by the Kraang, he felt himself getting hit over and over, felt his bones crack and snap and his shell splinter and then he was here.

No one got him out. No one but whoever summoned him here.

"That..." Leo's voice comes out hoarse and warbling, as he stares at Donnie, uncomprehending. "What kind of joke is that? Why are you saying that?"

That's not an expression of remembrance. That's not pride, nor relief nor...anything that should have been there. That unsettled feeling stirs in his stomach again.

The words that come out of his age-twin's mouth are almost incomprehensible. Donnie finds himself slowly shaking his head, not understanding what's being asked.

"What do you mean? Why would I joke about that?! You asked what happened, how Mikey and Raph were- don't you remember?"

But what if he doesn't? His earlier responses, his reactions... What if...?

That cold dread creeps up his spine, making Donnie pulls his arms closer to himself again.

"Leo... we saved you."

But you didn't!

It's only Leo's complete loss of control over his tongue that saves him, keeps the words from coming out in a desperate scream. They didn't save him. They couldn't have saved him.

(Or they could, and they-)

He shoves that treacherous thought away. Tries to yank himself back to the here and now, Donnie staring at him, the thin mattress of the bunk under his legs.

"No... I don't... remember any of that," he stutters out, his voice still hoarse. "I-" died "...I blacked out and I woke up here."

He doesn't think Donnie would really lie to him about this. Donnie's a horrible liar, anyway. But then why... why... why...

Why doesn't he get to remember it?

That uncomfortably heavy silence once again asserts itself in the space after Leo's words. For some reason it feels like some sort of condemnation, even if it's simple fact from Leo's perspective. But it confirms a point that Donnie had been hoping not to hear.

And yet he can't bring himself to say it, that Leo must have been brought here before that point, somehow. That's the only feasible reason he can think of, one he's only reluctantly open to because of all the time anomalies they've already created just by one visitor from the future hoping to catch the mistakes of the past before they happened.

But this isn't Leo's fault. It's not like Leo desired to be cheated escape, cheated his family.

The end of his tail slips around Leo's wrist, a subconscious gesture when he's got his arms folded so tightly against his plastron. It's probably not good to keep doing that when it keeps making them hurt, but it feels like the only thing Donnie can do to keep himself from falling apart. He's decided that the one who's responsible for putting his brother through this hell is who or whatever had brought them here in the first place. But without that vital piece of information he has no idea who he's supposed to nuke in the face, no outlet for this growing spikiness of a feeling that wars in his gut with the uncomfortable lump from Leo's situation.

The unfamiliar feeling of a scaly tail wrapping around his wrist startles Leo, and he nearly jerks away before realizing that's Donnie. Donnie, who's never been the best at physical comfort, still reaching out to Leo even as he keeps the rest of himself tucked away.

They tried to save him. Of course they did.

But...

A bifurcated time branch echoes in his memory. And that makes the most sense, right? There must be two versions of what happened in the Prison Dimension: one, where Leo was pulled through a portal, escaped hell, got to go home, and the other...

Leo feels the sting of it, right through his chest.

Why wasn't it me?

It's not Donnie's fault. Not his fault that he saved his own Leo, and not this one. Leo doesn't feel bitter towards him.

But he does feel bitterness, creeping up into his heart. Because someone else got to go home. Someone else got to be with his family. Someone else got to be warm and safe and loved.

And Leo gets to be this.

A ghost.

It's not fair.

He can't move, to reassure Donnie, to comfort him back. He's too devastated to do anything right now. It feels like his one wish was just shown to him, and then snatched away.

He wishes he'd never known.

The last thing Donnie wants to do is cause his brother this kind of pain. To an extent his thoughts run parallel to Leo's. Who's messed up idea was it to bring his brother here, thinking everything else was hopeless? It jabs at him from the inside, a different sort of ache than what he feels in his arms and his shell. It's almost nauseating, and the worst part of it is that Donnie doesn't know what to do about it.

He doesn't mean for his tail to pull tighter, but it might, just a little bit. It's like some physical lifeline, the anchor being his unresponsive brother, not that Donnie can hardly fault him.

Leo's thoughts are still a dark, buzzing cloud, as he curls up in the corner of his bunk. He should say something, do something... This is normally when he'd crack a joke or find something to lighten the mood, except how can he when he feels like he's drowning?

Donnie's tail tightens on his wrist, and Leo lets his arm be tugged in his brother's direction. He wants to reach out, to say something, to seek comfort, but his body barely feels like it belongs to him anymore.

His breath hitches, and then he crumples, his face buried against his knees. His breathes come in fast pants, his body shaking. It feels like it did when he tumbled out of Raph's escape pod, what feels like a billion years ago.

He still lets Donnie hold his wrist, dangling between them.

(Is it terrible, that he doesn't want his brother to go? That he doesn't want to be left behind again? Even if it means being here?)

Oh no, how did it get worse?

Donnie lifts his head, looking over as he feels that tremble, and as he hears those quickening breaths. He's not the only one trying to keep it together. They're both a mess, but only one of them has truly been robbed. Well no, maybe that's not true, because somewhere else, three brothers have had one of their own stolen away.

...but Leo's right here. And even though here isn't where either of them should be, they're still in this place together now. Donnie's aware of the situation now, and although there's so much he doesn't know about what's going on in this place, there's one thing he does know, and that doesn't need a second thought.

His tail's grip loosens, if only because the rest of it slips him closer in a more fluid motion than he's ever managed before this point. It might be a little unsettling to be wrapped in the coils of a giant snake, but Donnie's there, easing into the space beside Leo, just as he tries to ease Leo out from the corner, collecting him closer so he can pull his aching arms around him again.

"I'm not leaving you."

It definitely is weird, but Leo can't really think about it much past the general oddness, his attention instead caught by Donnie, as he puts his arms around him.

Slowly, very slowly, Leo uncurls, and leans more into Donnie's embrace. Maybe he shouldn't - maybe it's not fair, maybe it's wrong, maybe he's stealing some other Leo's Donnie, maybe it'll just lead to more heartbreak for both of them.

But he can't push Donnie away now. He's scared. He's hurting. He wants his family so bad.

Leo leans in, tucking his head under Donnie's chin.

"...Okay," he says quietly.

Maybe he can believe it, for now.

It's so strange, being in this position. This isn't usually his job. This is where Raph comes in, with his huge arms that would move mountains to keep them safe. This is where Mikey would cling back, both of them huddling together as they waited out another storm in the form of a typical argument between their other brothers. This is where their father would be, when he wasn't so wrapped up in his soap operas and TV commercials. It would be where April would place an encouraging hand upon his shoulder and let him lean in when he was ready to admit defeat.

But none of them are here. It's just him and Leo. It's such a big space to fill, and while Donnie feels sorely inadequate for the job that's usually held by several people, he's all he's got.

No, that's inaccurate. He's all Leo's got, and far be it for him to walk away from the task.

So he hangs onto him, as though to try and convince his brother through the gesture alone as he curls around him. He's no Raph, or Mikey or Splinter or April...

But he's Donatello Hamato, and that'll have to be enough.

In a way, the tail is kind of nice; it's been a long time since Leo had a full body hug like this. Not just while he's been here, in this weird place, but even back home. He'd been fighting with Raph for so long... It feels so stupid, now.

He knows this isn't Donnie's usual place, and he does feel a little bad, putting him in this position. Even though Leo really, really needed it. Especially now that he knows there's some cosmic force laughing at his misfortune. His head's still buzzing with a dark cloud of pain and despair, even though he feels like he can breathe again, with Donnie holding on.

Once he calms down enough to use his voice again, he croaks out a soft, "'M sorry. For how I reacted when I first saw you." He snakes an arm around Donnie back, finally. "This place messes with our heads sometimes. I... thought what I was seeing wasn't real."

He squeezes.

"It's gonna be okay, though. I'm not leaving you either."

Leo's talking again; a good sign. It lifts...something from him, Donnie can't really tell. Everything's all simultaneously a mass of pain and numbness somehow that he can't find where one ends and the other begins. But his brother hasn't shut himself away completely, and that's something.

And while he can't quite suppress a wince as Leo moves his arms to squeeze around him, he still doesn't complain. His own arms might protest as he squeezes back, but right now he doesn't care. Leo hasn't given up, and that's all that matters.

"No, I think I get it." He probably would've had a hard time too, although at least maybe his goggles would help, if they started working right. It still scares him to think that he might start questioning his own senses, his arms tightening with the thought. "...not gonna lie though, kind of hated it." That's something he can live without ever experiencing again, thanks.

Donnie takes what comfort he can from those words, nodding. He may not have thought too much of the reassurances earlier, but this feels different. This is Leo, and that's all that matters.

"Yeah." Leo sighs, leaning his head against Donnie's shoulder. "I know. Sorry..."

He's gotten a little too good at apologies lately. At least it seems like Donnie believes him about it being okay. Leo just hopes this place doesn't make a liar out of him.

"...Uh, so..." he starts up again, a few minutes later. "Do you want something to eat? Or just to rest here? Man, did you even sleep at all last night...?"

The storm was bad, and Donnie was just crouched in the diner...

His arms have loosened a little. As much as he wants to cling to Leo, it's kind of tiring. At least he doesn't have to put too much effort in keeping his tail around them. Donnie lifts his head finally, staring a moment.

"...sleep? When was I supposed to ever sleep?" He doesn't even have any idea how long he's been here, or how long that storm had lasted, but sleep had been the last thing on his mind.

Leo grimaces at that. "Good point. Alright."

He pulls away from Donnie so he can help his half-snake brother navigate they bunk until he is closer to the wall, Leo on the outside. Then Leo turns to the side of the bunk and leans over it, rummaging around underneath until he finds... something... ah ha!

He pops back up, holding his prize aloft: gas station beef jerky.

"Here! I've got snacks. We can just hang here for now."

He opens the bag and fishes out a strip of jerky, then holds it out in offer to Donnie.

"The convoy is usually pretty safe."

He's doing a little better with the tail if he doesn't think too much about it, managing to avoid banging his head on anything as he leans his shoulder against the wall with a sigh. His coils tuck against him as compactly as possible so he won't take up too much of Leo's space while he watches him hang over the edge of the bunk.

What's he... Oh!

Donnie's tongue snakes (cough) in and out at the offering before he seems to register it, and he takes the jerky strip without any fuss, gnawing at it.

"Nice to know some place is, at least. ...there anything else I should know about?" he asks, glancing at Leo as he works on the piece of jerky.

Whoa, that's kind of weird... Leo has to break his gaze from Donnie's tongue quickly, focusing on getting his own piece of jerky out. He sets the bag between them so Donnie can get more if he wants.

"Uuuh... Well." Leo's eyes drift up, like he's thinking. "There's a guy named Jack who offered to make me stuff to wear for when it gets colder; I'm sure he'd do the same for you. But he already told me he doesn't care about making it fashionable." Leo scowls. "He suggested socks with sandals."

"Eyyyeew, seriously?" Donnie frowns around the end of the jerky. "I mean, I guess we can't be terribly picky about fashion when we're in some dilapidated something-apocalyptic world but still! There are just some things you don't do!"

He's still working his way through the end of the first piece of jerky as he reaches for a second. "What's he even going to make things out of? The mere suggestion of socks and sandals just seems particularly unreasonable for colder climates."

“He’s been finding scraps of fabric and old clothes in some of the abandoned buildings and learning how to sew.” Leo shrugs. “And he said something about how it’s easiest to lose heat from your feet and head? But he doesn’t know how to make shoes.” Leo wiggles his bare toes. “Especially for feet like ours.”

Which is fair - their feet are nothing like a human’s.

“Ugh… but I hate to think I’d go through the post-apocalypse looking like a dweeb!”

This is the worst punishment of all!

This sounds less and less ideal. "Learning, huh?" Oh boy. "I can't say that he's wrong about the heat thing there, but sandals and socks. No. I'd rather freeze."

Well, probably not, but it's easy to be in favor of that as opposed to a fashion faux pas when you weren't actually freezing at the moment. Not that he has feet to worry about at the moment either, which is another problem entirely, but he hopes this whole snake thing goes away soon so he can be properly annoyed.

"I think we can find a work-around for the whole shoe thing if we can find big enough ones to make use of. But failing that, just grab some old tires and we can cut out some soles. Those'd be the most important part anyway, since they'd have to be reasonably tough. I'd need like...something to punch holes through them and a needle, some cord, or at least something thicker than thread..."

Leo listens to Donnie problem solving, and he can’t help the smile that crawls over his lips at it. Man. He missed his brother so much.

He leans over and bumps their shoulders together.

“How was I surviving without you?” he asks, voice light despite the sudden display of sentimentality. Leave him alone, he’s had a rough day!

(And, maybe it’s good that he’s even using a word like “survive” for himself.)

"If those tires I helped replace are still around we can just cut some pieces off those! Bam! One less scavenge mission," Donnie finishes with a grin before he blinks as Leo bumps his shoulder with his.

There's the briefest hesitation, but for once he manages to hold back on something more long-winded. That's not what Leo meant, and probably not what he needs anyway. So Donnie lets out a breath of a laugh instead, bumping him back.

"Don't worry brother, I'm not letting anyone make you wear socks and sandals together." No brother of his will be a fashion disaster on his watch!

MARCH TDM

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