I want to be blinded from this dull today​

[levelshift]

Who: Leonardo faceguy, Donatello purplexing, Accelerator levelshift
What: Three children commit light B&E and felony theft.
When: Late May. Probably after that Fantastic announcement, what timing.
Where: An electronics recycling facility in Central.
Content Warnings: Kids committing crimes, body horror, psychological horror, blood, sensory overloading. These kids have trauma, thanks nightmare floor! Will update as necessary.


[With everything going on in Central City - the flooding, the lockdown, Fantastic taking over the Alliance - the smart thing to do would be to delay this whole mission. Or even better - call it off, because even though it should be a (mostly) harmless crime for the benefit of Donnie, stealing equipment meant to be recycled is still illegal. But no, they've made plans, scoped the place out, trained. Dropping things now would be putting all that time and effort to waste, and besides, it should be a simple stealthy in-and-out mission, right? It's a recycling facility, how bad can the security be?

Besides, it'll be fun to stick it to Fantastic. A heist (albeit, a small one) happening right after he becomes head of the Alliance? Now that's fantastic.

Accelerator isn't too sure what to expect. He's been in a recycling facility before, back in Academy City, and the security was incredibly lax. This is a different city - different universe, with different rules. He's a little cautious, since this was originally his idea, and he's the one with only thirty minutes of power to work with. Otherwise he's a weaker-than-normal high school student relying on two very capable ninjas.

It's fucking weird to be relying on other people. He kind of hates it, and he isn't totally sure why, though he can't exactly overthink it right now like he usually would. He's trying to stay focused on breaking into the facility and not fucking anything up for Donnie and Leo. He's even made something of an effort for tonight, with a duffle bag to store equipment (a smaller backpack is inside for stuff he'll grab for the Society's cut) and a black hoodie in case he needs to hide his hair (he isn't sure, white hair just doesn't seem very stealthy).

So far it's going smoothly. With Leo's planning and leadership and Donnie taking care of the security system they're able to sneak in and avoid the paths of the security guards. In fact, it's going so well that it sort of seems like they might be able to get in, grab what they need, and get out with no incidents whatsoever.

Of course, it's absurd to throw all caution out the window simply because things are working out right now. Especially when they run into their first obstacle.

After dodging a few more guards, the trio will come to a long hallway, the only path to their goal without having to pass directly several security stations. Spread through the length of the hall are little red lasers, arranged into one very elaborate grid meant to ward off would-be thieves such as themselves. It's like something out of a spy movie, and it's unclear whether these are the kinds of lasers that will cut a limb off or simply sound an alarm if tripped. Maybe it's both.

Accelerator leans heavily on his crutch, looking thoroughly irritated with this obstacle. His reflection might be actively detrimental here.]

This is fucking ridiculous.

Comments

[faceguy]

[Leo lets go of Donnie and turns around, taking in the scenery again. Every shadow, every shift in the debris, catches his eye, leaves him tense and wary, coiled up and ready to strike.

He unsheathes his katana even though there aren't any visible threats, the bag he brought to carry things out with slung over his shoulder to stay out of the way.]

I think Dee has to be right - the Prison Dimension couldn't be accessed just any old way, you have to have the key and you have to use a gate.

[Actually he's not sure exactly how necessary that second part is, but the key is definitely necessary.

Still, logical reasoning is not helping him much when every fiber of his being is screaming at him to run and hide, when every rock and twisted hunk of metal cuts a menacing figure in his brain and the parts of his shell that cracked under the pressure ache and his breathing is getting too fast again-

Deep breath.

And then:]

But if it is the worst case scenario... I won't let anything happen to you guys.

[Even if something happens to himself, it's fine. (He was always destined to die here anyway.)]

[purplexing]

[Accelerator is given an exasperated look. Not. Helping.

But Donnie's also frustrated with himself in that he can't give a logical explanation for this. He's still opening his mouth to try and speak his thoughts, work it out between them all, although when Leo speaks, he pauses to look back at his brother.

There! he wants to say. That's the reason! But it still doesn't explain anything, and that's what's eating at him.

And then what Leo says forms a knot in his stomach, nearly jumpstarts a fresh panic.]

No! [He almost startles himself with how forcefully he says this as he grabs at Leo's shoulder again.] That's not happening, there is no worse-case scenario, this can't be the same place. There's got to be a reason for it, I'll figure it out and we can all get out of here!

[levelshift]

[Accelerator tries to ignore the look Donnie is giving him, holding back the urge to roll his eyes. It really, really wouldn't help.

The need for both a key and a gate should be encouraging, though he still feels cautious. If this facility is somehow utilizing the Confluence, then....

Then there's a good chance they're all dead. Simple as that.

Sheesh, all this over some thrown out computer parts. He can't believe how stupid of an idea this is winding up to be. He should've kept his mouth shut.

He can do that right now, at least. Arguing won't get them anywhere, even if he doesn't fully agree with them and the situation is tense. Even if his usual detached calmness is settling over him he is a little scared. Here's hoping Donnie isn't just freaking out.

(Though Leo is being kind of cool in a heroic leader-y sort of way, which is an opinion he will take to his grave).]

... Whatever. I'm happy to beat the shit out of anything that's in here with us.

[faceguy]

[How forcefully Donnie says it startles Leo a little bit, and he glances at his brother while his thoughts swirl and reform. Donnie wants to solve the problem, of course he does, because that's his whole thing, and Pizza Supreme Leo wants him to solve it.

He's not sure if he can, but he's not going to say that. Hope is a ninja's greatest weapon, so he shouldn't put it away yet.

And then Accelerator is speaking up, and he can't help but crack a small smile, though it's still thin and wary.]

Trust me, Accy, what may be in here with us is stronger than nukes.

[He reaches up and knocks his knuckles against Donnie's, not relinquishing his hilt to give him a proper touch but hopefully getting his intention across anyway.]

I know you will, Dee. We just need info.

[Speaking of...]

Can you see anything with your goggles?

[purplexing]

[While he doesn't say it, Donnie's kind of glad Accelerator's there, responding in what seems to be typical of the esper by now. An additional factor, a glaringly obvious shift in their usual dynamic that he hopes can keep them grounded, so to speak. ]

I know, I know...

[He is hanging onto his own nerves by a thread and Leo's being on edge hasn't helped him. His thoughts are running circles because of that, but at least Leo's kind of pulling himself together.

It's enough. It has to be.

Donnie's tension breaks with a careful smirk as he shifts his grip to properly return the fistbump offered, nodding.]

Right, let me just...see what we've got here.

[He reaches up to shift his goggles down, nearly breathing out a laugh.]

-hah! I was right! [He never doubted this for a second, what are you talking about?] This... is some sort of... super convincing illusion. But the room is finite in its dimensions- we haven't gone anywhere, somehow it's masked. We just have to keep going straight ahead.

[Simple...right? Never mind that somehow this illusion has pulled something right out of his brother's head...!]

[levelshift]

[In response to Leo's remark, Accelerator makes a face. Inwardly though, he's just thinking that no shit, you know what can survive nukes? Fuckin' kaiju.

Of course, if whatever this thing is is indeed in here with them, he won't let the turtles fight it on their own.

He looks away when they have their little sibling moment, deciding to focus back on their surroundings. It's, you know, less awkward, and he's a bit anxious while Donnie proceeds to do his thing.

But honestly? Thank god he's wrong. He doesn't switch his choker on to doublecheck. It'd be a waste of battery, even if it would only be a few seconds, and he trusts Donnie on this, so it doesn't seem necessary.

Though he does tap his crutch against the ground. The four little legs make thunk noises like they're hitting rock and not the more modern floor of the facility. Definitely a super convincing illusion.]

Great, then let's get out of here.

[faceguy]

[Just an illusion...?

Leo feels a rush of several emotions at once: relief, because he's not really back there, confusion, because how is this illusion using something from his own memories, anger that it's doing exactly that, and determination, because if this place isn't real then he isn't letting himself be stopped.]

Yeah. [He breathes through his nose and lets it out, then takes a step forward.] I'm sick of this place. The vibes are totally off.

[Even though he knows it's not real now, the tension doesn't leave Leo, much as he wants it to. That's probably the trauma response - he can't do anything about it right now, though. Get to wherever the door is, get out, get the computer parts, find a way out by going around this stupid room, hopefully, and then he can curl up in his bed at home and have a breakdown there where no one is looking at him.

A perfect plan.

The shifting shadows and floating debris are still setting off alarm bells, and he's not sure how much of it is just his leftover traumatic stress from last time. If this room can reach into his head, who's to say it can't reach into the other's...?]

[purplexing]

[Donnie makes a face as Accelerator applies his crutch to the ground. While he can still see it plainly, the sound that he hears just jars with the whole thing. His lips press into a very thin frown.

The why's and how's of the place still concern him. But maybe it's because Leo was the first one in, and somehow maybe it imprinted off him because of that? But this is no technological illusion. Technology couldn't affect them in such a way unless it was paired with scientific means- some kind of hallucinogen combined with special effects? Except he's not picking up any installed devices, otherwise that would have been his guess if not for his goggles and their very specific properties.]

Gentlemen, I hate to say it, but we are in some sort of magically induced illusion.

[He glances from Accelerator to Leo then as he starts to step ahead. At least Donnie can see the actual room and being in front will give the other two a better reference point.]

We're not doing ourselves any favors staying in one place, that's for sure.

Just follow me.

[levelshift]

[Fucking magic. Accelerator, despite being on the science side of things, doesn't hate the stuff, but it certainly continues to complicate his life. He doesn't really want to think about how some magic was able to get into Leo's head and replicate the prison dimension, since he still doesn't really understand the stuff....

And he doesn't want to consider this magic source doing the same to Donnie. Or himself. He's had enough people screwing with his head over the years, he doesn't need another. Turning his reflection on to block it out doesn't seem like a good idea, either. What if there's another reaction like with Donnie's mystic tech, but on the entire floor?

He exhales quietly.]

Goddamnit.

[The only good part of this is the possibility that the thing the turtles fought wouldn't be in here. If it is, it'll only be a facsimile.

(And he knows facsimiles are never as strong as the original.)

He clicks his tongue and after throwing Leo an exasperated glance, starts to follow Donnie.]

I can't fucking believe they built all this to protect junk.

[It's so much overkill, especially when it looks like they could be walking forever. Hopefully Donnie is right and that won't be the case.

The start of their walk is, thankfully, without incident. It's deathly silent, only the corpse-like shells of Krang suits floating around to keep them company. That probably won't do wonders for any of their collective anxiety, but at least they aren't getting attacked!

A short ways into the walk, though, there's a slight change. The dusty air remains the same, but Donnie will suddenly be stepping into a puddle that's coloured a deep red. It extends forward, directly in their path.]

[purplexing]

Maybe it's not all junk?

[Donnie's inclined to agree with Accelerator otherwise, but he has to wonder if maybe they've accidentally stumbled across a place merely covering up as a tech recycling center. Just what kind of tech might they be housing?

It's a nice but brief diversion of his thoughts, and with the way before him looking clear, he can almost forget that they'd been meant to believe they were stuck in a prison dimension. Eat that magic! Science -with slight use of magical augmentation- prevails again!

Squelch.

The sensation sends a shiver clear through him as Donnie abruptly freezes in place.]

...what was that.

[Eyew, eyew, what did he step in- He knows nothing's there, at least visually, and that's what's concerning. This place has proven to warp things visually and even in relation to sound, but now this?

Oh no, this is bad, this is really really bad-

But Donnie can't not look, just a quick glance, even when at the back of his mind he's yelling at himself NOT to but he shoves his goggles up and the floating darkness and the funky debris fields return within his vision almost instantly. And then below his feet, the sudden expanse of red.

This creeping sense of dread starts growing as he stares almost uncomprehending at the liquid. It looks like... Maybe it isn't-

The sharp coppery tang in the air quickly dashes that hope.]

...oh no, no no no please someone tell me this is not what I think it is, in this case I am willing to be wrong.

[faceguy]

[Maybe Donnie is right and it's not all junk. Maybe they've got some actually good stuff hidden in here that they really don't want anyone to steal.

Leo can dream!

He's following Donnie close, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of the Krang, one of its mechs, or anything else even remotely pink, and yet he still misses the expanse of dark red until it's too late and Donnie's stepped in it.

He moves so he can see around him, and immediately his face wrinkles in disgust. That is... definitely a big pool of blood. An insanely big pool of blood, like what the heck even bled out here?

He's thinking that, and then Donnie is freaking out which - okay, yeah. Of course Donnie would not be happy to step in blood.]

...I think it is, Dee.

[He doesn't just think that, but he's trying to soften the blow a little. Not that it will help much.

He grabs Donnie's battle shell and gives it a tug to urge him back out of the pool.]

As terrible as this place is, I have to admit I don't remember there being giant pools, uh... like this. The Krang - the aliens - don't bleed.

[They were just kind of... weirdly solid. And gooey when they used those Krang tentacles. But maybe relaying all that right now is not good.]

Can we go around it...? [But it sure is right in their way, huh?]

[levelshift]

[It's the smell that hits Accelerator first. It's familiar, of course, he's shed more blood in his lifetime than most people have even seen, but he isn't expecting to see any of it in a fake dead place like this. And not in this amount.

It kind of reminds him of nightmares he's had, but he doesn't vocalize that. He just stares down at the liquid with a flat expression as Donnie reels and Leo helps him. Then he sighs.

And thinks that hopefully this magic is pulling from Donnie's mind and not his own. He's the one grossed out by it, after all.

(Part of him absently wonders what those things - the Krang, apparently - have in place of blood, but that's something he can ask about later. When they aren't, you know, being faced with a whole lake of it.)]

Doesn't look like it.

[He's muttering that, watching as, as if the blood heard Leo, it starts seeping widthwise, extending so going around isn't an option. It's creepy.]

... I'd offer going over it, but I don't know how my reflection will react with magic involved. I might end up blowing up the room instead.

[When he says that there's a creaking and a groaning, and a scraping noise as the debris floating around them closes in. Apparently the magic doesn't like the idea of any of them going up!]

[purplexing]

[With Leo helping unfreeze him, Donnie dances back from the puddle, shaking out his feet despite knowing it probably isn't real. No, it is not real, none of this is real- oh great the weird teeth things are moving above them.]

Blowing things up is definitely going to be counterproductive.

The room's only about forty-five feet across, thirty from side to side. We're only at the ten foot mark, so...we just...have to somehow ignore that there is nothing actually there to step in and just keep moving forward. Somehow.

[Yes, he is trying to convince himself. No, he has not taken another step but he might try with some coaxing.

Gross, gross, gross....]

[faceguy]

Yeah, I'm also a no vote for blowing things up.

[The debris moving gets Leo tensing again, and he eyes one of the hunks of armor particularly warily. There may be nothing inside it right now, but that doesn't stop its one eye from giving Leo a shiver of fear.

But he has to focus - they have to keep moving forward, which unfortunately means they have to go through the big puddle of blood.

(Has it really only been ten feet? It felt like so much further...)

Donnie is still not moving, so Leo steps up beside him. He doesn't force Donnie to do anything yet, even though he really doesn't want to be here anymore.]

Let's do it together. [He's talking directly to Donnie now, hand still on his battle shell.] It feels gross but it's not real, so just keep stepping.

[If he has to he'll carry Donnie out of here, but he's already had to put one katana away and he'd rather not have to put them both up. If they can feel the blood he doesn't want to know what else they can feel...]

[levelshift]

[Thanks, magic, for making everything complicated!

The shifting of the debris and armour is making Accelerator a little anxious too. It's tempting to switch his choker on anyways and use his ability anyways. Hell, he could try redirecting all the blood so there's a clear path.

It fucking sucks that he's coming up with ideas he can't use. Maybe it's just his brain trying to distract him from remembering his dreams. Who knows, he doesn't want to think about any of that either way.]

Yeah. Plug your nose and count down the distance instead, or something.

[He doesn't know what coping mechanisms would work in a scenario like this, but the counting might be an adequate distraction. It's hard to say, even though he knows it's wrong, he isn't all that disgusted by all the blood.]

[purplexing]

Hrgn.

[Donnie however finally manages a nod, shoulders hiking up beneath his battle shell as he steels himself for the first step.

It...is just as gross as the first time he'd stepped into it, and Leo can feel him shudder. But Donnie swallows, taking another step, slowly lifting his hand to bring his goggles down again at Accelerator's suggestion.

In this case actually seeing that there's nothing there isn't helping when all his other senses are screaming about it, but he can see the distance, keep track of the data. It's a distraction he'll try to employ.]

[faceguy]

[At least Donnie is moving again, much as he clearly hates it. Leo steps with him; it's gross but he's not having the same reaction to it that Donnie is. He keeps his hand where it is, urging Donnie to keep moving forward.

Still keeping an eye on the shifting debris, he speaks up again, though it's directed at Accelerator, this time.]

You know, Accy, I've been doing more thinking about what movies to add to the- [Some of the debris moves a little more quickly than the rest, and Leo winces before forcing himself to keep talking.] -the list. Of movies that you need to see!

[Is the blood getting deeper as they go? Eugh boy...]

What about Legally Blonde? Ever seen that?

[levelshift]

[One step at a time, that's all they need to do.

Accelerator follows behind the two of them, glancing back every so often to make sure nothing is following them. Stepping into the blood isn't great, though that's mostly because he's still used to reflecting away annoyances such as this.

It's slow going, and he's focused on their surroundings and occasionally checking to see if Donnie has stopped or not, so Leo's question completely throws him off.]

What the hell? [Is he seriously asking about stupid movies right now???]

Tche, you can name a hundred American movies and I'll have never even heard of them, dumbass. So no, I haven't.

[There's an echoing drippy noise as the blood seeps into cracks and crevasses in the ground, and the creaking as the armour above them settles, but otherwise it's quiet.]

[purplexing]

[At least Accelerator isn't barefoot - AUGGghhhhh it's to his ankles now.

Donnie almost backs into Leo at that. It wouldn't be nearly as bad if not for the smell. He could have tried to convince himself it was merely muddy water or something.

Distractions, something, anything! Not even at the halfway point yet!]

Whaaaat, there has been movie list-making without me??

[Boy does that come out forced (it really is). Just focus, one foot in front of the other...

Where is all this blood coming from?]

...why all the blood anyway? If this isn't part of the ...ah...present setting, which is already tailored to get reactions, why all this.

[Just gonna gesture frustratedly at it, at least glad he doesn't look like a madman to the two who actually see the blood field.]

[faceguy]

[It was forced, but at least Donnie is still moving.]

You can add to it! We're going to have a big movie marathon and get Accy here cultured.

[When? Where? What will the snacks be? All things they could discuss that would be better than the nightmare hellscape they're currently locked in.

Speaking of...]

If I had to guess... The magic pulled out one of my worst nightmares and that didn't stop us, so now it's adding someone else's. Because this is gross but, gotta admit, never dreamed about a giant pool of blood before.

[He probably will now, thanks, but not before.]

This feels like it would be a little too gothic for you, though, Don-tron.

[Which leaves one other candidate.]

[levelshift]

No.

[That's halfhearted at best, he isn't in the mood to put forward any real argument against a movie night.

Except it'd probably be infinitely better to argue about that than discuss the puzzle pieces the other two are putting together. Let him stay in firm denial please, it's a better than the alternative.

He's keeping his tone flat and offering absolutely nothing in the way of information.]

Maybe this magic shit knew it'd gross him out.

[And then a small, human-looking hand reaches out of the blood and grabs Donnie's ankle. As you do.]

[purplexing]

[Movies had been a good attempt at distraction but unfortunately Donnie's fixated on this conundrum and although he realizes it doesn't distance them any from the problem, it's not something he can easily pull back from either.]

Yeah, gotta say, never really thought about huge pools of blood either...

[Accelerator's suggestion has him frowning in absolute offense.]

Tell me you aren't the least bit grossed out by any of thi--GAHsomethingjustgrabbedme SOMETHING JUST GRABBED ME!

[He's backed into Leo again, looking nearly about ready to climb his brother.]

[faceguy]

Whoa-

[Donnie backs into him so suddenly that Leo just barely manages to catch his weight before they both go toppling. Immediately he's looking for the thing that is grabbing Donnie, ready to fight the threat, and his mind is filled with the Krang, their tentacles, the way they snaked their way around and could lift and throw and pierce and change-

But it doesn't look like a Krang tentacle has Donnie.]

Wha... is that a hand!?

[Admittedly yelling this will probably not calm Donnie down, but Leo is just so shocked.]

[levelshift]

[That hand is pulled along when Donnie backs up, revealing an equally human arm. With it, several more hands follow, reaching, grabbing at both boys with a surprising amount of gentleness. These are not particularly strong hands, and their grip isn't meant to try and crack bone. It's meant to hold on.

Accelerator stops, looks down, sees that slender hand, and recognizes it. Denial is a powerful drug, but he can't really deny this for any longer.

Surrounding the three of them, with those hands, things are starting to bob to the surface of the shallow pool of blood. Bodies. Ones that crack and lug themselves to their feet. Some of the hands gripping the turtles start hauling themselves up through the blood, more bodies, until they can stand.

The Sisters look slightly younger than the trio, with shoulder-length brown hair and upper class school uniforms. There are only two things that stand out: the nightvision-esque goggles adorning all their faces, the lights of which give off a soft red glow, and that they would all look identical if not for the fact that some of them have had limbs, body parts, replaced with pinkish, purplish, abnormal alien appendages.

The Krangified Sisters all have very passive body language. None of them are attacking, none of them look to be smiling or in pain. But their gaze is clearly fixed on the three of them.]

....

[Accelerator is dead silent. Donnie had said none of this was real, so these can't be Sisters 10 032 through 20 000, but even that logic doesn't quell the shock at seeing all of them in this disgusting place. He doesn't understand the parasitic attachments to them, all it does it make the situation more grotesque to him. Still - they aren't attacking, so it's fine, there's a thorny pain in the back of his head that he ignores, they just -

Then, the Sister directly in front of all of them speaks up. She's still covered in blood, and there are rips and tears along her body like her body had been blown open from the inside out, and a bullet wound in her shoulder. Her voice is soft and flat, with no emotion behind it.

"'Anata wa hitori ja nai,' says Misaka #10 031, while considering the philosophical meaning of being truly alone even while standing next to someone."

Ten thousand thirty-one.

It feels like there's a wrenching in his brain as he hears that number, and then he's stumbling backwards, doubling over with a hand to his mouth as he shakes with the effort to not start heaving.]

[purplexing]

Ohhhh this is so much worse now.

[He hadn't wanted to look once Leo had identified what had grabbed him, but Donnie does it anyway. A hand, an arm, a someone attached to him and not letting go in the slightest.

The sight of more shapes in the bloody sea do not help to put him at ease, especially as they stand, and the more hands that reach for them, the further he wants to retreat. They effectively keep him from reaching for his goggles, to try retreating back into blindness of the visual aspect of the situation, but he's not so sure that feeling disembodied hands on him will make things any better.

He also hasn't realized he's gotten a grip around Leo at some point himself, clutching at Leo's arm as the room begins to populate more and more.]

Wh-who...?

[It's not really a question of where they'd originated from, although even though he's never seen these girls before, there's something definitely not right. The weird tendril-like limbs, the coloring... Leo never told him about that aspect of the Krang, the part about their being able to mutate people.

He's not sure what to make of the goggles either. It's all too strange. It's almost too much to puzzle out.

Donnie's eyes finally focus on Accelerator, and if it hadn't been clear whose nightmare this was before, it's hard to miss it now. Even then, he doesn't understand, and he's beginning to think he actually doesn't want to.]