"Hey, there's a lot of musicals, and we have a lot of movie nights," he said. Hey, there's always rewatches. Then he can sing along.
"I mean, that was mostly taking advantage of finding out what Donnie did. He's technically done the brunt of the research. He just didn't know I had a secondary motive," he said. "And he never will."
"Movie nights are growing on me. Although I might be forced by the circumstance to do some sort of quasi-costume and performance for reruns." He lives for that shit.
"Mm, I do like the way you think. And Donnie definitely doesn't need to know."
Macaque chuckles. "I made them of increasing degrees of lethality, from snare to shred."
"That sounds adorable. Pretty sure you could talk Donnie into that too," he said. "And Choco too, honestly."
"So self defense only and I'm sure he knows I'm hunting down gangs too, got plenty of reason for it," he said with a sage nod. So plenty of excuse for some time when Mac really wants to feel wrecked.
"Whoever is interested, as long as they're okay with me singing along. Participation optional, but encouraged." Their own little theater troupe, but make it silly.
"Plenty of reasons, and I doubt he'll ask questions." And if he does, Wash is a great liar.
"I made them fun, yes. And perfectly balanced. Hopefully they meet your standards. If nothing else, you'll look impressive throwing shadow knives around."
He nods about Donnie, and then pulls something dark out of a portal.
"I also finished your shadow blanket. It doesn't really count as a holiday gift since I promised it to you before, but I wanted to make it something that would comfort you." He hands it over.
It's covered in detailed designs of power armor in various shades of Red and Blue. He doesn't know precisely what shades so it's not exact, but the general impression should be a good one.
Wash will takes a rainbow of reds and blues, but he's gonna take the blanket.
Time to burrito them both. You're getting in on this, monkey man.
"I'm pretty sure making a whole blanket is enough effort to count as a present. They don't ALL have to be a surprise," he said. "I still want the knives though."
Burritoed it is. Macaque has zero complaints. Being under a shadow blanket is his most comfortable, and being snuggled up with Wash is an upgrade.
"You're still getting the knives, never fear. I wouldn't feel right keeping them, they're not my specialty. I did try them on the dummies, though. They're pretty fun. Especially the one that zaps the target." He used his electricity powers to really get in there.
"You have plenty of other good specialties," he said, nuzzling the top of his head. "Including making really cool things that also zap, holy shit. Taser knife."
"Yep, taser knife. One uses a shadow snare, one uses ice, one creates a portal -- that's for you more than a target but feel free to send someone to the bottom of the Ocean Lake if you want to -- and one just straight up kills the target. Assuming your knife throw didn't do it first, the shadows creep into the wound and destroy them from the inside."
"They really are," he said. "Teleports are always great, even if I always had to be sparing, even with Minnow powers."
Wash nodded. "Probably. You could probably get him going, but considering his little hide away with his birthday, he probably doesn't like thinking about them when he's on his own," he said. "Family had some codependency issues. Not surprising with their circumstances. Nearly sent Raph into a panic attack because he didn't know how to take an adult wanting to be responsible and support him."
"One day I'll have to sit you and Choco down and have you elucidate all the powers, what's pendant and what's unit and what's other." He wants to know what he's listening to.
"Maybe I'll try to get him talking. He's not hard to get going, really, I just usually let him go on about his projects because it's interesting. It's sad about Raph, though. Especially considering that their father was physically there, just struggling."
"To be fair, I just have the Pendant and Minnow as options," he said and paused. "And the Command Seal, but those are enforcing my will on someone else, so no," he said. "It was part of a bargain to keep them from dying. That was what I got in the exchange." Not a fan, personally. "Unless we want to count my science stuff too, but there's nothing SUPER fancy there."
He nods. "I give Splinter a little more leniency than most because they were all in a kind of shit situation. Raising four kids as a single parent is near impossible. Raising four kids of a wholly unique species with supersoldier abilities and oh, you have to hide you exist from all of humanity is a nightmare, and he did seem to be trying his best. Parentified his kids, but they all still had the ability to be dumb teens enough to get other kids into it, so that meant they felt at least some security with him being a parent," he said. And in that situation, still giving them that much is a point in his favor. "Will still call him out on bullshit, but I'm more inclined to have a stern talking to than to get into a fistfight with him."
"But they're good kids. Dealing with a lot, but it was good to see them with the other teenagers. They were good at bringing out the dumb teen stuff."
"Right, you mentioned that. Mana and all. I assume you haven't used any of the magics that it gained you?" Since using it all up would mean that person dying again.
"Oh, I know. I give Splinter a lot of credit, because Donnie's a good kid and he could easily have been a terrorist, literally. Sure he slips now and then, but he's still learning. I wouldn't fistfight him, or even close, but I'd want to talk to him about mutually terrible coping skills and why they're not great. He and I have the same problem, sort of. The avoidance. I'm just trying not to do the same thing to Donnie that he did... but I seem better at not falling into that trap with my kids than others, at least."
Wash shook his head. "I didn't gain magic. I volunteered because I apparently had more Mana than most. Its tied to souls and I kind of have...extra," he said. "The only extra magic it got me was the Command Seal."
"To be fair, I'm not sure there was much that could stop Donnie from being a near terrorist. I've met a few true geniuses and they're all some kind of unhinged," he said. "Now, making sure Donnie liked people despite the everything, that was a good move."
"My impression his avoidance was kind of like when I run away from Wylan. He can't really call a babysitter when his brain wants to attack him, doesn't want to hit the kids with it, so he avoided them until its less bad," he said. "At least from what little Donnie's said when I've mentioned my bad mental health."
"Right, but I'm assuming the command seal does something. Most bargains of that nature are a benefit to both parties. Best guess is that you can literally command the person who is the source of the seal."
He nods. "Red is the same way. Easily influenced by the people around him who show him care and regard, even a small part. Or who he wants to prove himself to. He did the whole villain thing for a while because my Brother's wife became fairly single minded when my Brother was sealed away."
Macaque strokes through Wash's hair, a bit of grooming as a treat. "I'm working on him calling me when his brain is attacking him. I'm shit at dealing with my own mind being an ass, but I can help my kids for whatever reason. Parental insight strikes at the right time." Mostly it's that he refuses to do anything else so he gets a sense of clarity.
"Yeah, that is exactly it. I can give him three orders and he has to follow them to the letter," he said. "He doesn't get to say no. He could loophole it if he hated my guts, but if I said the words, his magic would go wild to make sure it happened, including stuff that'd normally be near impossible."
"Is THAT his deal? Because he definitely gives off the shady vibe," he said. "Crimes to free family?"
"Oooooh. I was talking about Splinter. But yeah, Donnie does it too. Though I think a large part of that is he gets overstimulated and the space does get necessary," he said.
"I can imagine that you had no desire to use commands like that on someone." Not unless it was a dire situation or Wash got pushed to his limits.
"That's his deal. His father was sealed when he was small, and he had been through some things that I can't really discuss, so he devoted himself to saving his mother and freeing his father and accomplishing their goals. And demons, some of us definitely do the world domination thing, especially when it means culling mortals. So, yeah. I don't approve of that anymore, by the way. At one point I more didn't care than tried to actively do it, but I've mentioned that part of my past, I believe."
"Ah, I see. Yes, Donnie definitely does it. Patience usually helps. I know he's getting there when the robot arms pull me in."
"I did not, no. I did tell him I would consider it if it was a do or die situation and I needed back up, but otherwise, no. He kept trying to tell me its fine." Wash can't say he won't do a lot to survive, so when the connection was strong, he can't say he wouldn't do it, but a save isn't like. The worst.
Wash nodded. "Not surprising. I don't know a lot of the Journey to the West, but I know stories of heroes, and it wasn't really until around the 20th centuries where it was discouraged that heroes killed a bunch of people. Older stories had heroes slaughtering in mass all the time, because even humans were more bloodthirsty then," he said. "Doesn't seem surprising demons would be more so." He paused. "Wait, ARE you a demon? Aren't monkeys some weird thing?"
"Though I do want it on record that I'm glad there's no more massacres because I really....really don't like that," he said with a grimace. When your first memory was your slaughtered home city, it does things.
He nodded. "Donnie found his own way to be able to communicate what he needs, even if he can't do it in a normal way. Another good sign of how healthy his family managed to be despite all the unhealthy in the mix. They figured stuff out."
"I figured." He could guess all of that, knowing Wash.
"Yeah, heroics back then was a lot of murder. I take a lot of issues with Journey to the West, but it got that part right."
"We class ourselves as Demons because it's the closest thing, but technically we're not. Celestial primates are separate from all other beings. All demons have gifts, but they're not as strong as we have. At least, most of them aren't. Occasionally you get a boss, to use video game parlance."
Macaque nods sympathetically. "I know, that's why I made it clear. That's ancient history for the most part. When those threats come up, we stop them." He doesn't consider himself a hero whatsoever, but he still helps.
"They had each other. Speaking as someone who had no one for most of my life, that counts for a lot."
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Re: January 4th
"I mean, that was mostly taking advantage of finding out what Donnie did. He's technically done the brunt of the research. He just didn't know I had a secondary motive," he said. "And he never will."
"And I absolutely want magic knives."
Re: January 4th
"Mm, I do like the way you think. And Donnie definitely doesn't need to know."
Macaque chuckles. "I made them of increasing degrees of lethality, from snare to shred."
Re: January 4th
"So self defense only and I'm sure he knows I'm hunting down gangs too, got plenty of reason for it," he said with a sage nod. So plenty of excuse for some time when Mac really wants to feel wrecked.
"Oooooh. Those sound fun."
Re: January 4th
"Plenty of reasons, and I doubt he'll ask questions." And if he does, Wash is a great liar.
"I made them fun, yes. And perfectly balanced. Hopefully they meet your standards. If nothing else, you'll look impressive throwing shadow knives around."
Re: January 4th
"Probably not. As soon as he has a solid reason, he's pretty willing to take things at face value," he said.
"I'm sure they'll be great. You make wonderful things," he said and kisses the base of his ear.
Re: January 4th
He nods about Donnie, and then pulls something dark out of a portal.
"I also finished your shadow blanket. It doesn't really count as a holiday gift since I promised it to you before, but I wanted to make it something that would comfort you." He hands it over.
It's covered in detailed designs of power armor in various shades of Red and Blue. He doesn't know precisely what shades so it's not exact, but the general impression should be a good one.
Re: January 4th
Time to burrito them both. You're getting in on this, monkey man.
"I'm pretty sure making a whole blanket is enough effort to count as a present. They don't ALL have to be a surprise," he said. "I still want the knives though."
Re: January 4th
"You're still getting the knives, never fear. I wouldn't feel right keeping them, they're not my specialty. I did try them on the dummies, though. They're pretty fun. Especially the one that zaps the target." He used his electricity powers to really get in there.
Re: January 4th
Re: January 4th
He was very thorough.
Re: January 4th
"The teleport one sounds fun. I know Leo could do some stuff like that, Donnie's twin. Teleporting swords, for himself and messing with people."
Re: January 4th
"Oh? Donnie only talks a little about his family. I think he finds it too painful."
Re: January 4th
Wash nodded. "Probably. You could probably get him going, but considering his little hide away with his birthday, he probably doesn't like thinking about them when he's on his own," he said. "Family had some codependency issues. Not surprising with their circumstances. Nearly sent Raph into a panic attack because he didn't know how to take an adult wanting to be responsible and support him."
Re: January 4th
"Maybe I'll try to get him talking. He's not hard to get going, really, I just usually let him go on about his projects because it's interesting. It's sad about Raph, though. Especially considering that their father was physically there, just struggling."
Re: January 4th
He nods. "I give Splinter a little more leniency than most because they were all in a kind of shit situation. Raising four kids as a single parent is near impossible. Raising four kids of a wholly unique species with supersoldier abilities and oh, you have to hide you exist from all of humanity is a nightmare, and he did seem to be trying his best. Parentified his kids, but they all still had the ability to be dumb teens enough to get other kids into it, so that meant they felt at least some security with him being a parent," he said. And in that situation, still giving them that much is a point in his favor. "Will still call him out on bullshit, but I'm more inclined to have a stern talking to than to get into a fistfight with him."
"But they're good kids. Dealing with a lot, but it was good to see them with the other teenagers. They were good at bringing out the dumb teen stuff."
Re: January 4th
"Oh, I know. I give Splinter a lot of credit, because Donnie's a good kid and he could easily have been a terrorist, literally. Sure he slips now and then, but he's still learning. I wouldn't fistfight him, or even close, but I'd want to talk to him about mutually terrible coping skills and why they're not great. He and I have the same problem, sort of. The avoidance. I'm just trying not to do the same thing to Donnie that he did... but I seem better at not falling into that trap with my kids than others, at least."
Re: January 4th
"To be fair, I'm not sure there was much that could stop Donnie from being a near terrorist. I've met a few true geniuses and they're all some kind of unhinged," he said. "Now, making sure Donnie liked people despite the everything, that was a good move."
"My impression his avoidance was kind of like when I run away from Wylan. He can't really call a babysitter when his brain wants to attack him, doesn't want to hit the kids with it, so he avoided them until its less bad," he said. "At least from what little Donnie's said when I've mentioned my bad mental health."
Re: January 4th
He nods. "Red is the same way. Easily influenced by the people around him who show him care and regard, even a small part. Or who he wants to prove himself to. He did the whole villain thing for a while because my Brother's wife became fairly single minded when my Brother was sealed away."
Macaque strokes through Wash's hair, a bit of grooming as a treat. "I'm working on him calling me when his brain is attacking him. I'm shit at dealing with my own mind being an ass, but I can help my kids for whatever reason. Parental insight strikes at the right time." Mostly it's that he refuses to do anything else so he gets a sense of clarity.
Re: January 4th
"Is THAT his deal? Because he definitely gives off the shady vibe," he said. "Crimes to free family?"
"Oooooh. I was talking about Splinter. But yeah, Donnie does it too. Though I think a large part of that is he gets overstimulated and the space does get necessary," he said.
Re: January 4th
"That's his deal. His father was sealed when he was small, and he had been through some things that I can't really discuss, so he devoted himself to saving his mother and freeing his father and accomplishing their goals. And demons, some of us definitely do the world domination thing, especially when it means culling mortals. So, yeah. I don't approve of that anymore, by the way. At one point I more didn't care than tried to actively do it, but I've mentioned that part of my past, I believe."
"Ah, I see. Yes, Donnie definitely does it. Patience usually helps. I know he's getting there when the robot arms pull me in."
Re: January 4th
Wash nodded. "Not surprising. I don't know a lot of the Journey to the West, but I know stories of heroes, and it wasn't really until around the 20th centuries where it was discouraged that heroes killed a bunch of people. Older stories had heroes slaughtering in mass all the time, because even humans were more bloodthirsty then," he said. "Doesn't seem surprising demons would be more so." He paused. "Wait, ARE you a demon? Aren't monkeys some weird thing?"
"Though I do want it on record that I'm glad there's no more massacres because I really....really don't like that," he said with a grimace. When your first memory was your slaughtered home city, it does things.
He nodded. "Donnie found his own way to be able to communicate what he needs, even if he can't do it in a normal way. Another good sign of how healthy his family managed to be despite all the unhealthy in the mix. They figured stuff out."
Re: January 4th
"Yeah, heroics back then was a lot of murder. I take a lot of issues with Journey to the West, but it got that part right."
"We class ourselves as Demons because it's the closest thing, but technically we're not. Celestial primates are separate from all other beings. All demons have gifts, but they're not as strong as we have. At least, most of them aren't. Occasionally you get a boss, to use video game parlance."
Macaque nods sympathetically. "I know, that's why I made it clear. That's ancient history for the most part. When those threats come up, we stop them." He doesn't consider himself a hero whatsoever, but he still helps.
"They had each other. Speaking as someone who had no one for most of my life, that counts for a lot."