[Open] Productivity

[purplexing]

Who: Donnie purplexing and you..?!
What: Just a mutant teenage turtle who is also a ninja doing completely normal things that aren't breaking any laws whatsoever
When: Late April through early May
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: N/A
Notes: Will match pose style preferences!


I. One Man's Trash is Another Turtle's Treasure

It's always difficult to start from scratch. Difficult but not impossible. More annoying than anything else, really, but certainly not impossible. Having been at square one before, Donnie at least knows what he's in the market for and has a pretty good idea of where to look.

Well, so to speak. He's still relatively new to Central City but finding a junkyard isn't difficult when you have access to the internet!!!

Dangerous? Maybe. Profitable? Hopefully! Either way, the turtle is not planning to go back to the apartment empty-handed. He heads out early since it's easier looking through things when it's daylight, and in his experience junkyards are usually pretty devoid of visitors. Usually.

Purple may not be the most inconspicuous thing to wear but at least he's pretty good about being quick and quiet as he sneaks in.


II. Location, Location, Location

It may be disgusting but the sewers are nevertheless the perfect place to hide and get around in the city. In this instance Donnie's looking more for a hideaway than means of travel, but either way, it's still very clear to him that these aren't the same sewers as he's familiar with.

Sure, Leo had said he'd help look for places, but with excess free time and a lot of the projects he wants to work on hinging on finding a better place to do so, Donnie figures it can't hurt to do some location scouting too. Anyway, he's a ninja. He can take care of himself..!

The turtle errs on the side of caution for his sewer spelunking activities. The way he enters is never near the area he wants to check out, most of his traversing done underground as he scopes out tunnels branching out from the heart of the city. Of course, he's only one turtle, and while the sewers here probably don't run into abandoned subway stations or a maze of forgotten tunnels like New York, it's still a lot to poke around.

He's also unused to the idea that maybe there are other parties possibly interested in moving unseen in the sewers.


III. Alien Skylines

If someone's keeping an eye out some evenings, it wouldn't be terribly hard to spot the strange neon violet flares as something zips up along the length of one of the taller buildings.

Central City will never be New York. That's been established early on, but it still manages to make Donnie homesick every time he manages to get a good view of the cityscape from above.

The rooftops aren't exactly quiet but they allow just the right amount of ambiance that you can still think about things without a sensory overload. And there are a lot of things to think about. How to sneak into school of all things, how to not potentially short-circuit your own brain by accidentally plugging into computers somehow, how to unravel this Confluence nonsense, how to get your brother home safely... The list just grows and grows.

If Donnie's not leaning against the ledge staring out at the rest of the city or suspiciously eyeing the skies for any signs of raining people, then he's settled against a wall, messing around with his phone or tapping at a projected interface over his left forearm.


IV. Wildcard

((OOC: Got anything specific in mind or wanna bounce of ideas? PM or poke me on plurk or on ye olde Discord!))

Comments

[purplexing]

That's...not exactly reassuring either...

[Random disappearances could account for any number of things around here.]

How do temporary visitations work? Is it a dimensional thing? Are we like...locked in this one and get yanked back like an overstretched rubber-band if we stay too long or something?

[That sounds unpleasant, but then Spider-Man's just dumped even more things to think about. Still, the potential of a way to "visit" home means there's a way to trace and open a way back. If they can just...figure out how to keep it open or something... Well, it would cut a lot of work out over developing something from scratch.

The prospect of having to go on an informational fetch quest is already exhausting to think about. Donnie sighs, sagging back against the wall.]

Gross. I don't suppose you know who to talk to about that.

[nerdylilspidey]

Yeah... It's not great.

[Understatement of the year. But Donnie's new, and Spidey's already in the middle of dumping a lot of info on him. The last thing anyone needs is to hear about his personal issues with everything.]

Lucky for you, the super smart guy I mentioned who was looking into how everything here works? He's done it. So hey, two birds, one stone, and all that jazz!

[purplexing]

Oh, thank Einstein...

[He doesn't sit up right away but Donnie does look at least cautiously relieved at that.]

Okay, I'll bite. Who is this guy anyway?

[nerdylilspidey]

His name's Doctor Otto Octavius. Don't laugh, I know it sounds fake, but he's a genius scientist. And he's been through a lot, not just here, so... play nice.

[purplexing]

Otto Octavius. I mean, it's not the weirdest name I've heard.

[He's otherwise not sure what to make of the warning- does he not seem like a nice person? ...okay don't answer that.]

Uh. Sure, okay. Noted. [Not like this Octavius guy is the only person who's been through a lot. He shoves thoughts of potential alien invasions and Leo alone in some prison dimension to the side.]

Care to introduce us some time?

[nerdylilspidey]

It's not the weirdest I've heard [or come up with] either, but it does totally sound fake.

[He waves a hand though, as though he's dismissing that entire train of thought. It's not important, anyway. The important part was telling Donnie about him, period.]

Well... I probably could, but rooftop playdates are tricky to arrange. It'd probably be easier for you to contact him directly over the network and just let him know that I recommended you talk to him. I'll be sure to give him a heads up, too.

[purplexing]

Oh. I mean, sure, who doesn't do everything over the internet anyway?

Are...we meaning a specific network or am I going to have to do some sleuthing for contact information? -which I can totally do, don't get me wrong, but if I can shave down my list of things to do, I am not above having someone tell me if they know it already, in this particular instance.

[nerdylilspidey]

Oh- Pfff. Right. If you avoided getting picked up during the confluence, I guess you might not have one of their nifty phones. People are generally pretty easy to find on them, otherwise. I can just give you his info, no problem.

[He steps closer, pulling out his phone from wherever the heck he hides it so he can share Otto's details. It doesn't take him long to even pull up, since the good doctor is really one of the only people Spidey regularly needs to talk to. And while he's at it, he may as well send him that text letting him know a humanoid turtle might be contacting him soon.]

[purplexing]

I may not have their "nifty phones" but I do have my phone. I managed to get myself set up with general internet access and all that but I haven't tried messing with any guild-related things.

[There's an unspoken "yet" there, probably.

But he takes this Otto-guy's contact info once Spidey pulls it up.]

Awesome, thanks.

[nerdylilspidey]

Yeah... If I could've gotten away with that when I got here, I probably would have. The guilds can be a real pain in the tuchus when you don't join up like a little soldier.

[He's tapping away at said phone for a second longer before putting the device away with a shrug.]

But hey, you're welcome! I hope he can help you out a little.

[purplexing]

More incentive for me to try staying off their radar. Not sure I like the implied obligation to join up with a guild just because you're new in town. Or on this Earth, anyway.

[Donnie's not immediately going to message Otto just yet, but he finishes adding in that info along with making some quick notes about what Spider-Man had mentioned regarding what all the doctor's studies.]

Should be interesting to be able to talk with someone about that kind of stuff at least.

[nerdylilspidey]

They don't force you, I'll at least give 'em that. No one's gonna chase after you or anything like that. But this place sure does make it harder on those of us who didn't join up. So, y'know. You're probably already prepared for that, so just FYI.

[purplexing]

Not like it's anything I'm not used to. Couldn't exactly go wandering around New York back home like this, after all.

It being harder on those who haven't signed on with any guilds or registered is as good as suggesting people would be better off doing so, so far as I can see. It's as close as they can get to outright forcing anyone.

[Donnie tilts his head then.]

So that mean you've kept out of guild business too?

[nerdylilspidey]

[He winces sympathetically, sucking air in through his teeth.] That does make sense. Humans... kinda suck like that.

[But Spidey does nod along with all of that. Because naturally he agrees.]

Yeah, the whole thing put a bad taste in my mouth. Didn't want either of the guilds having any kind of power over me and what I do. So after their fancy free trial period, I basically ditched them. A lot of people I know did the same.

[purplexing]

Yeah, well at least not every human's like that, but you know...

[He shrugs. It's not particularly that he's bothered by it so much as he's used to it. His circle of those he cares about is small but tight and he's been fine with that. Here the circle's all but broken, a line consisting of two points- himself and his brother.

But there have been people here who haven't looked at them sideways and seem otherwise fine talking to humanoid reptiles. It's been a small upside to everything else.]

Probably for the best, especially with what I heard was going on with the Alliance-side.

[nerdylilspidey]

Thank God we're not all like that, but yeeeesh.

[He just shakes his head a little. For all that they're in the business of saving lives and everything, Spidey's still seen a lot of the worst of humanity in his time as a superhero. And yet here he is, still jumping into the line of fire to protect everyone who's ever called him a menace.]

Honestly? I kinda tune out most of what the Alliance is doing. Maybe I shouldn't, but meh.

[purplexing]

I mean, I would too. Probably wouldn't have heard about it otherwise since I'm not on that particular network, but someone I know mentioned there was some leadership challenge going on there, and it might not have a favorable effect for us on the whole if he manages to secure that position.

[He makes a face, shrugging.]

Politics, am I right?

[nerdylilspidey]

Euuuuuugggh.

[If that sound isn't hint enough, Spidey is definitely also making a face under his mask.]

I really, really hope I don't ever get mixed up in any of that. On top of it being super not my field, I'm definitely not mature enough to know what I'd be jumping into. Yuck.

[purplexing]

I may not have put it so eloquently, but my sentiments, exactly. I haven't been here nearly long enough to want to be stuck in anything like that, no, scratch that- I'm sure I wouldn't want to get caught up in it no matter how long I might be here.

[And he's sure hoping it isn't long, but he won't go anywhere without helping his brother first.]

[nerdylilspidey]

I totally get you. Hopefully you find a proper way home soon enough. I'd offer my help on top of the Doc's but like I said, this timey-wimey magic stuff is way beyond me. I'm more of a tech and chemistry guy.

[purplexing]

Thanks...

[It's almost a surprise to hear someone wishing as much. For the most part it's seemed like people have been resigned to being stuck here.]

Tell me about it. I mean...even time itself isn't difficult to work out but when you throw in magic, all reasoning goes out the window! Definitely on the same page as you for the most part, technology, science, those are my bread and butter.

[nerdylilspidey]

Speaking of!

[He sidles up a little closer, giving off seeeeeeerious excited nerd energy.]

The holographic interface on your arm. Did you make that?

[purplexing]

[And Donnie leans away just a little out of reflex.]

What, this? [Brought back again with a gesture.] Yeah, I make all my tech.

[nerdylilspidey]

That is so cool. Can I see more of how it works? How'd you put it together??

[purplexing]

It's pretty straight forward.

[Says he. But he's more than happy to indulge someone about his tech. He swipes through a couple screens in demonstration.]

Fully connected to the web with syncing capabilities between my goggles and my battle shell. It used to be mounted on a bracer but that kind of clashed with the whole look so I just ditched it.

[That seems a petty reason to somehow create a holographic interface that just seemingly appears out of nowhere considering all he's got wrapped around his forearms are black armwraps. But if anyone would do such a thing, it would be Donatello Hamato.]