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memestertrucks2025-11-08 08:19 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in memestertrucks2025-11-08 08:19 pm
Entry tags:
NOVEMBER TDM
A chilling mist and storms cling to the surrounding area. The cold and the wet pierces even the garage, making for a poor welcome. This time around the garage and gas station lurks amidst multiple farms, and a fall colored forest. The seasons have decisively shifted. And the environment is doing its best to shift the new arrivals in turn.
01: SUMMONING CIRCLE
New Drifters arrive to gloomy skies seen through the broken windows of a garage… And a large barn house looming overhead. Rain echoes on the roof, along with the occasional rumble of thunder. When it isn’t raining outside, there’s a damp and chill mist that lingers over the farmlands.
It makes the large Convoy pulling up to stop at that garage seem that much more tall and imposing: though it’s also clear the Convoy has seen some wear and tear, metal scuffed and a few gashes and dents in the cars.
The summoning circle in the garage is lined with candles that can be used to ward off some of the mist and the chill, but it’s advised to find more stable shelter in cars or in the barn. The roof of the garage leaks. And wet, cold concrete isn’t very comfortable for very long.
It makes the large Convoy pulling up to stop at that garage seem that much more tall and imposing: though it’s also clear the Convoy has seen some wear and tear, metal scuffed and a few gashes and dents in the cars.
The summoning circle in the garage is lined with candles that can be used to ward off some of the mist and the chill, but it’s advised to find more stable shelter in cars or in the barn. The roof of the garage leaks. And wet, cold concrete isn’t very comfortable for very long.
02: START UP
There are various cars surrounding the garage. Some of them parked directly outside, though a few of them are parked in various farm fields and vegetable patches. Drifters are advised to watch out for hostile farm life and produce (such as exploding pumpkins) if their ride is out in the farm patch.
There’s also a certain connection between different newcomers and cars. Something that suggests a particular vehicle is theirs, backed up by possessing the key to that vehicle. The key 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 the sort of thing that 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.
There’s also a certain connection between different newcomers and cars. Something that suggests a particular vehicle is theirs, backed up by possessing the key to that vehicle. The key 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 the sort of thing that 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: FARM HOSTILITIES
The farm isn’t always the friendliest place; the assorted livestock are all monstrous, and ready to fight any Drifter that looks at them funny. Cockatrices, bull gorgons, bullfango, and bicorns are all present and grumpy.
In addition, Drifters should look out for scarecrows in the farm patches. Their eyes glow with an eerie light, and anyone who meets their gaze will find their fears manifesting. At first the fears last for only a blink, and appear to be hallucinations. The longer any Drifters stay under the scarecrow’s gaze, the more their fears become real and dangerous.
Leaving the gaze of the scarecrows (or destroying them) can end the effect. Though any lingering trauma and bloodshed will need different solutions.
In addition, Drifters should look out for scarecrows in the farm patches. Their eyes glow with an eerie light, and anyone who meets their gaze will find their fears manifesting. At first the fears last for only a blink, and appear to be hallucinations. The longer any Drifters stay under the scarecrow’s gaze, the more their fears become real and dangerous.
Leaving the gaze of the scarecrows (or destroying them) can end the effect. Though any lingering trauma and bloodshed will need different solutions.
04: MOON WARP
Various glowing moon shards have taken root across different farm fields. Thanks to them, there’s more than just produce and livestock growing on the farm. Magic has sunk into the buildings and the soil, and is ready to work on the Drifters in turn.
The scarecrows take on a more sinister glow some nights, pulsing violently with light before exploding; moon shards lay dormant in many of them, before activating one night and forcing changes in Drifters. Along with activating other monster traits, two event monsters are available:
The scarecrows take on a more sinister glow some nights, pulsing violently with light before exploding; moon shards lay dormant in many of them, before activating one night and forcing changes in Drifters. Along with activating other monster traits, two event monsters are available:
04: MONSTER SHIFT, KITSUNE
A fox monster possessing multiple tails. They may take the form of Kitsune, Gumiho, or Huli Jin. They may feature a full or partial vulpine transformation, and with all Kitsune traits also have:
+Trickster Curse: Anyone who steals from farms or acts with trickery/deception risks activating traits.
+Liver Eater: Begins to feel a clawing hunger that can only be satisfied by the liver from prey. The fresher, the better. Husk monsters can fulfill this craving!
+Fox Fire: can generate phantasmal fire either at will or while emotional. These fires cannot burn, unless willed to do so… Or if one’s emotions grow out of hand.
+Fox Fright: If fear or anxiety becomes too great, may become a fox (either small or giant!) in an attempt to flee and hide.
+Tails To Tell: Growing extra tails, up to nine. This may interfere with balance, or even reach out to brush against other people like they have a mind of their own.
+Thief Feet: Gains a talent for moving quietly and stealthily, even able to hide from the farm monsters and the scarecrows.
+Favored Prey: gains an appetite and a ferocity for cockatrices.
+Trickster Curse: Anyone who steals from farms or acts with trickery/deception risks activating traits.
+Liver Eater: Begins to feel a clawing hunger that can only be satisfied by the liver from prey. The fresher, the better. Husk monsters can fulfill this craving!
+Fox Fire: can generate phantasmal fire either at will or while emotional. These fires cannot burn, unless willed to do so… Or if one’s emotions grow out of hand.
+Fox Fright: If fear or anxiety becomes too great, may become a fox (either small or giant!) in an attempt to flee and hide.
+Tails To Tell: Growing extra tails, up to nine. This may interfere with balance, or even reach out to brush against other people like they have a mind of their own.
+Thief Feet: Gains a talent for moving quietly and stealthily, even able to hide from the farm monsters and the scarecrows.
+Favored Prey: gains an appetite and a ferocity for cockatrices.
04: MONSTER SHIFT, TAURUS
Hoofed monsters who can appear as minotaurs, satyrs, and centaurs. In addition to having Taurus traits the following also occurs:
+Red Flag: several of the scarecrows carry red rags on them, which flap in the breeze… And have a way of inflaming Taurus tempers, prompting them to charge. On impact, the red fabric shreds but tries to put off one more pulse of fear.
+Eat Your Veggies: on top of a craving for vegetable, Taurus can also heal their wounds or restore their stamina when eating vegetables from these gardens!
+Horn Sharpening: when horns grow in, they can itch and ache on a Drifter’s head. Rubbing and sharpening them against hard surfaces is the best way to dull the discomfort.
+Safety In Numbers: There is a sudden pressing need for Taurus to stay close to others; being alone causes anxiety and irritability.
+Raging Bull: Threats to a Taurus’ herd invokes anger and aggression from a Taurus, and they will do whatever it takes to crush said threat.
+Digging In: Drifters should take care with their steps. Pressing their feet too hard into the ground can cause a small quake… or even compel them to charge someone, if they make eye contact for too long.
+Stir Crazy: going indoors for longer than a minute causes restlessness and agitation in a Taurus, and a pressing need to get back outside.
+Red Flag: several of the scarecrows carry red rags on them, which flap in the breeze… And have a way of inflaming Taurus tempers, prompting them to charge. On impact, the red fabric shreds but tries to put off one more pulse of fear.
+Eat Your Veggies: on top of a craving for vegetable, Taurus can also heal their wounds or restore their stamina when eating vegetables from these gardens!
+Horn Sharpening: when horns grow in, they can itch and ache on a Drifter’s head. Rubbing and sharpening them against hard surfaces is the best way to dull the discomfort.
+Safety In Numbers: There is a sudden pressing need for Taurus to stay close to others; being alone causes anxiety and irritability.
+Raging Bull: Threats to a Taurus’ herd invokes anger and aggression from a Taurus, and they will do whatever it takes to crush said threat.
+Digging In: Drifters should take care with their steps. Pressing their feet too hard into the ground can cause a small quake… or even compel them to charge someone, if they make eye contact for too long.
+Stir Crazy: going indoors for longer than a minute causes restlessness and agitation in a Taurus, and a pressing need to get back outside.
05: HUNTERS
Time passes, and a fog rolls into the farm lands. It obscures much of the surroundings, but one thing does shine through the gloom; red, electric lights that look suspiciously like eyes. A metallic growl echoes through the farm fields, before robot canine shapes step out of the fog. A few of them carry speakers mounted to their shoulders, and a voice echoes out from them:
“All chromehounds, set commands to seek and destroy. Any infected you find, you eliminate. Keep Nirvana safe from their taint at all costs. Now hunt.”
At those orders, the chromehounds spring out and begin to course through the farmlands, hunting for prey. A single chromehound can be handled by a Drifter on their own, but the danger is how often they hunt in pairs or in packs; in that case, a Drifter will need help to either fight or flee from them.
Those in the midst of Kitsune or Taurus changes will also need to deal with a howl the hounds send out; it is pitched at a fight or flight frequency designed to distress monsters. Either by causing intense bouts of fear, or near blinding rage. The intent is to flush any Kitsune and Taurus out of hiding and into the jaws of waiting chomehounds… Though hounds don’t account for monsters also having pack.
“All chromehounds, set commands to seek and destroy. Any infected you find, you eliminate. Keep Nirvana safe from their taint at all costs. Now hunt.”
At those orders, the chromehounds spring out and begin to course through the farmlands, hunting for prey. A single chromehound can be handled by a Drifter on their own, but the danger is how often they hunt in pairs or in packs; in that case, a Drifter will need help to either fight or flee from them.
Those in the midst of Kitsune or Taurus changes will also need to deal with a howl the hounds send out; it is pitched at a fight or flight frequency designed to distress monsters. Either by causing intense bouts of fear, or near blinding rage. The intent is to flush any Kitsune and Taurus out of hiding and into the jaws of waiting chomehounds… Though hounds don’t account for monsters also having pack.
06: CUCCO WARNING
There's one more oddity at the farm; one that isn't immediately hostile to newcomers, though it does regard them with curiosity. It takes the form of a rather innocent (and slightly vapid looking) chicken. Many of them roam the farmstead, trying to avoid any conflict.
A few of them even gather around an abandoned pie eating booth and peck at the remarkably well preserved pies. They might even be willing to share. (And the pies themselves are still edible and tasty, somehow.)
But this good will and tolerance can swiftly come to an end if they are attacked. If agitated, the cuccos can summon more of themselves to swarm the threat, causing plenty of pecks, scratches, and assorted injuries. There's even a ruined scarecrow laying nearby, torn to death by little beaks to show how dangerous they can be.
They also don't take kindly to threats from other denizens of the farm; the robot dogs, scarecrows, and some of the angrier farm life can quickly learn that the hard way!
A few of them even gather around an abandoned pie eating booth and peck at the remarkably well preserved pies. They might even be willing to share. (And the pies themselves are still edible and tasty, somehow.)
But this good will and tolerance can swiftly come to an end if they are attacked. If agitated, the cuccos can summon more of themselves to swarm the threat, causing plenty of pecks, scratches, and assorted injuries. There's even a ruined scarecrow laying nearby, torn to death by little beaks to show how dangerous they can be.
They also don't take kindly to threats from other denizens of the farm; the robot dogs, scarecrows, and some of the angrier farm life can quickly learn that the hard way!
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.
Snow Warning: Mountains rise above both farmlands and forest, and it seems clear that the road leads on towards them. It might be wise to plunder the nearby garage and farmhouses for any winter wear, before going further.
Food Forage: The local fields hold supplies… Some of them unconventional thanks to the Moon Warps. It’s probably best not to ask why corndogs are growing on corn stalks, but they’re still edible enough.
Misty Step: Sometimes the gloom and mist can do strange things to one’s perception, and stride. Walking into the mist can easily tun a Drifter around and place them in a spot they weren’t intending to go: whether that’s back in the garage, in the middle of the approaching Convoy, the middle of a field, or maybe somewhere else entirely!
Holy Cow-Car, Batman: One last quirk of the region, is that occasionally the vehicles here (including Drifter vehicles) seem to have a mind of their own. And that mind is similar to a cow. The vehicles can be found wandering in fenced off grassy areas, flattening grass to a degree where it appears to be eaten.
The vehicles are at least fairly docile, and once they are removed from the fencing revert to being normal cars/motorcycles/etc. But until then, they retain that odd quirk.
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[Donnie tilts his head before he grins crookedly, glancing to where the last motes of light fade.]
My mystic-tech. I haven't used it all that much recently, so it feels good being able to focus enough to do so.
[At least so far they hadn't come across anyone particularly hostile when it comes to arrivals, but Donnie concedes the point with a brief nod.]
I guess... But it's not really funny when you're all in the same rotten situation. Everyone I've met that's part of this convoy now has been all right. We all look out for each other. It'd probably be really terrible otherwise.
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[Especially if there were a lot of vehicles here or other things that were mechanical or techy. But he wasn't going to ask-- alright, no, he was going to ask.]
Been too stressed to focus on stuff?
[He knew stress and shit really messed with his dreams sometimes, made it a messy process trying to pull anything out. Sometimes, it was so bad he just had to...not for a while.]
It's never funny, or whatever other bullshit people come up with to try and justify it. Sounds like everyone here's got their priorities straight, though.
[From what he'd seen of this place so far, he had zero doubts that things would be really terrible if people didn't cooperate and get along and do what they could for each other. People weren't generally that great at putting aside their differences, in Kavinsky's opinion, but it meant something that they made the effort here.]
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[He looks at his clawed hands, flexing his fingers. Stress was only part of it.]
This place is changing us. These, the wings and tail and the feet- not part of the standard Donnie package. [He sighs.]
And it's not just physical. There's...creature things that come with it. Messes with your head.
[It speaks volumes that people from different places can set aside such differences to get through a place like this. That this is somewhere so messed up that you feel the only people you can trust are the ones who understand and are in the same position.]
There's bigger problems than trying to be one.
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Yeah, I figured. About the wings and all. Sounds like both a reason for everyone to look out for each other even more, and a reason why that might get hard.
[How could people stay level-headed when they had so much shit they were dealing with? How did things not become a disaster now and then, with snapped tempers and too much stress? Maybe they weren't always level-headed.]
So.
[He let the word hang for a moment, before he said anything else.]
Something like that's going to happen to me too, isn't it?
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[His face sours at that, but who'd want such a thing? His mind has been his most precious resource and it's being slowly eaten away.
He shudders, shaking his head and fluffing his wings.]
...yeah. It's unfortunately inevitable. You probably got marked when you came in.
[Donnie glances at his left shoulder, brushing the tips of his claws across the purple mark there, curved and sharp looking, but it could suggest something like stylized wings.]
This wasn't nearly as organic-looking back home, but I guess this place figured it convenient to use. Otherwise everyone seems to get symbols of some kind, somewhere on their body.
Changes vary between people. Sometimes it's slow, other times not. And there's a lot of things in this world that can exacerbate the transformations.
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[He couldn't say why it wasn't surprising, just that it wasn't. The moon was responsible for a lot of things, and there was speculation about even more things people thought it might be causing. Why not weird monster transformations?]
A mark, huh? Kind of rude to give us something we don't even get to decide on.
[Like giving a tattoo to a drunk person.]
What kind of things exacerbate 'em?
[He was taking the information well, with a curious look at the mark Donnie had pointed out on his shoulder, but overall no panic. He didn't like the idea of potentially losing his mind and doing things without being in proper control of himself, but it wasn't happening right now, so he'd save the panic for later.]
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[He rolls his eyes, but no one's like to be a fan of the idea.]
Getting injured. Or certain circumstances, like the environment or the terrain. The last place we were in...we got caught in some kind of twisted cursed circus or something... [By the way Donnie hugs himself, it clearly wasn't something he wanted to revisit.]
...worst is the moon warps. Pieces of it just...fall. And everything gets chaotic. That's when we're usually in the most danger of losing ourselves. The changes come fast. If you're lucky, they'll fade once the moon warp does, but in most cases, something of it sticks.
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[A lot of things seemed to be happening or being done to them here without their consent, so why would those forces be opposed to slapping marks on them, of all things?
Getting injured wasn't one of the things he would've expected to exacerbate changes. It sounded like something could happen all too easily, and he didn't like the idea of that being tied to changes.]
Pieces of the moon fall, huh.
[Naturally, that meant Kavinsky looked up, just to check on the sky. At the very least, it seemed like it would be hard to miss moon chunks raining down, but he was sure at the same time it wouldn't actually give anyone enough time to prepare. If there was anything that could be done to prepare for that. Especially if the changes happened fast.]
So...is there anything here that isn't out to get us in some way or another?
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There's pieces still lying around here and there too, so... that's always fun finding out. [Except not, clearly.]
I wish I could say. The only thing we've been able to trust is the Convoy, which seems to be programmed to help us get to this Nirvana place. From what we've gathered, it seems that whoever might be there is a neutral party, and at the very least, they've been trying to make sure we're as prepared as any of us can be in a place like this.
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[That was extra shitty.
He frowned upon hearing the Convoy was programmed. He might have had a completely different idea so far of what, exactly, the Convoy was.]
The Convoy is an actual thing? Like it's not just all our cars, but there's something more to it?
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[Donnie waves a clawed hand back and forth at the latter question.]
Well, there's two main truck-trains that are the base of it. And everyone and their own vehicles just become part of the collective.
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[...And also kind of interesting. Whatever magic fueled them just...didn't run out. Being separated from the whole didn't stop them. It reminded him a bit of starfish, but at least the moon pieces weren't growing into whole new moons.]
And the truck parts drive themselves?
[That was some impressive programming then. But also-]
Sounds a little...tech-hive-mind...ish.
[And he wasn't sure how he felt about that.]
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Completely automated. Actually, somehow all the vehicles we end up with end up being automated to some degree in the event that we aren't able to drive them ourselves. I mean, I equipped the Turtle Tank with an autopilot but something's specifically installed into every vehicle that lets it follow after, even motorcycles.
Very tech... Well, I guess hivemind isn't completely wrong. The Convoy is also its own enclosed network. We have radios to communicate with each other through, and at times the Convoy manages to catch a frequency from whoever's been trying to guide us to Nirvana, but the signal's crap so it's never very clear for long.
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Autopilot on motorcycles... Sure.
[He could imagine a slew of ways that could get dicey, depending on the factors involved and the skill of the autopilot. But also-]
The Turtle Tank? Like, a turtle shaped tank orrrrrr...
[His curiosity had piqued with that one; how could it not be?]
So I'm guessing that means there's no music on the radio, huh?
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[He has so many questions about autopilot on motorcycles but he can't really say anything when they've been working. Somehow.
Ah, but as the Evo is Kavinsky's treasured vehicle, it seems the same goes for the Turtle Tank. There's a clear joy to the grin Donnie flashes at him then.]
Well...not exactly, but I couldn't help myself. We have a theme. Anyway, the turtle part is really only visible from above. And it's not exactly a tank but it's positively massive. Can't miss it.
Aaaaas for music, well...it does play music on occasion? But it's... okay, admittedly it's crappy and kind of creepy but it's usually for specific purposes. Otherwise yeah, no functioning radio stations around. I'm sure the only thing that would pick up would be some Steel Warden propaganda. They already have cursed networks. Glitches out computer screens, the worst!
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That said, he was a little charmed by the way Donnie's face lit up when he talked about the Turtle Tank.]
Hey man, if you've got a theme, absolutely lean into it. No shame there.
[And there was something about Turtle Tank that just rolled off the tongue, nice and neat.]
It sounds kick-ass, whether or not it's an actual tank. I had a real one once, for a party.
[He was pretty sure it'd become some kind of legend, like cryptids, because no one could really believe it'd been real. Not even some of the people who'd been there.]
Ugh, figures. Are there any CDs anywhere at least?
[That'd make the lack of music on the radio slightly more bearable, at least.]
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[Not that he's ever been to a party back home to really compare.]
I haven't seen any CDs. Actually I'm not sure who all else might have music. I have whatever's on my phone, which is quite a bit but also genre-specific, but I am not above sharing.
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[He grinned. It had been a good party, and it was a good memory.
Seeing what kinds of music other people had wasn't something that'd occurred to him before, but now that it had--that was a potentially good idea.]
Mmm, what kind of genre? What're you into?
[Kavinsky would listen to almost anything, though he had his favorites, of course.]
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Ohhhh that sounds amazing, I wish I could've seen it.
[Who blows up tanks for parties?! But then that'd beat regular old 4th of July fireworks any day in his opinion!]
Oh, well mostly techno and some dubstep, electronica- and some good ol' 80s jams because there's just something about those rhythms you can't help but dance to.
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He did fireworks, too. And bonfires. And a variety of other things involving fires and explosions. Not just at the 4th, either, but for a lot of his parties.]
It was good. Memorable. Too bad I probably won't be throwing any parties like that here.
[It was a bit of a bummer, if he was being honest. He'd have to find other ways to entertain himself, and maybe others, and have fun. There were probably still things here that could be or needed to be blown up at some point.]
Not bad, not bad. I listen to a little of all of that, myself. Some rock and hip-hop and rap, too, some Bulgarian stuff.
[He didn't dance, though.]
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[He fully intends to, anyway. He needs a proper outlet.]
Oh, that's a good mix. Bulgarian? Well anyway, I can see about setting up a frequency for some music.
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[And in a place like this, well, it wasn't like he had to worry about setting someone's house on fire. It felt like there should be more reasons to blow things up. For survival. Or science. Yeah, definitely science.]
Yeah. 'Cause I'm Bulgarian. Never been, but I've been planning a trip for after graduation.
[And he was multilingual already, so.]
That'd be pretty damn cool if you could. I don't know how radio frequencies even work, but if you need any help...
[He was also fishing a bit, for information, because he was curious about how the hell Donnie would be able to get a frequency set up like that.]
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Oh. I mean, that's cool too, but I guess that's as good a reason as any. [He blinks.] I...don't think I caught your name.
[He'd dropped his own earlier but that had been more of an offhand thing than an actual intro.]
I'm Donnie. Donatello, but hardly anyone calls me by my full name except Ed.
Shouldn't be too hard to set up a channel. Just have to find a frequency that isn't being used and set things up to broadcast, and then whoever tunes into that frequency can pick up what's on it.
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[Which had taken a special place on his list of favorites.
Kavinsky had completely glossed over Donnie mentioning his name earlier, not even because he'd been trying to brush anything off, but because he'd just been so focused on trying to work out whatever the hell was going on with this place that he hadn't realized. He was more relaxed now though, more conversational.]
Donnie's got a nice sound to it. My name's Kavinsky. [A pause.] Joseph, really, but I prefer my last name.
[He was getting--or, more actually, had been getting, through this whole conversation--the impression that Donnie was pretty damn smart.]
So, you're good with mechanical and tech stuff?
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[Ah, but he can't help but puff up a bit then. Why yes he's good at that stuff, thank you for noticing.]
My bread and butter. You need anything fixed, I'm your turtle.
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