notapancake | Folkmore IC contact

Still beat you here. [If he didn't give Donnie a hard time, who would?? It's necessary. Leonardo at least is wearing nicer pants he picked up at some point, alongside his usual scarf.

He holds open the door for his twin to let him out first.]

Knowing my luck, you're gonna enjoy ice cream out the gate. When I tried it, the sugar gave me a hell of a headache.

You've also been here longer than me, you're used to everything. [Don't give him a hard time, he's still looking like shit.

But yeah he will head out the door as Leo holds it open.]

I don't know, it's been... Who knows how long since I ate processed sugars?

'Used to everything' is a strong phrase that doesn't quite fit. [He bats back as he walks with his twin out of the apartment. The walk down the hall towards the elevator is a easy one.]

A decade? More? I can tell you, ice cream tastes bad when you're not used to it anymore.

Well compared to me... [He trails off, trying to stay calm at the prospect of going outside. He's with Leo, which means he should be fine. He can keep it together.]

... Let me guess, you got some crazy flavor as well.

You'll hopefully get used to stuff in your own time. Maybe with less freak outs than I had. [He's comfortable with his twin enough to admit that much.]

Nope. [He pops the 'p' on the word for emphasis.] I got vanilla. Could not stand how it tasted.

[lol, lmao. Donnie might be awhile before Donnie breaks down, but he will totally have a freak out or two.]

Huh, surprising. Maybe you should have tried for something simpler. [What, what flavor is more basic than vanilla???]

What is simpler than vanilla, Donthan? [He slows as they hit the end of the hall. Casually reaching out to tap the elevator button to take them down.] I tried sprinkles and it sure added to the texture issues going on with ice cream.

Sorbet, my dear twin. [Ah yes, waiting for the elevator now. And he makes a face at Leo saying he added sprinkles.]

... that sounds like literal hell.

If you spot a sorbet place, we'll go there instead. [He bats back idly, glancing over at Donnie.] I kept close to the apartment block when I found that place.

Even the sprinkles are sweet. I didn't even remember they were sweet.

If we don't find one, I'll figure out how to make it myself. [So serious, here. Don't think anyone told him that Mikey is here.]

Leo, they're made out of sugar. Pure sugar.

Say that any louder, and you'll summon Mikey. [He jokes idly back.]

Yeah, but when you used to eat that all the time and come back to it, it's still a surprise, smart ass.

[The elevator dings. Leo steps forward into the elevator itself.]

That would be nice, actually. [He wouldn't say no to having Mikey around.]

Except it's been decades since we ate like that. It's like... a Vegan deciding to start eating meat again. It'll take time to readjust.

[And following him into the elevator.]

You think you can handle Mikey levels of energy right now? [Both of them are a bit slower these days. A mixture of trauma, exhaustion and recovery.]

Yeah, yeah, but- everything is taking time. I'd like to just... feel in control of something, Dee. [Once Donnie is in the elevator, Leonardo reaches out to press the button to take them down to the lobby of the apartment complex.]

It'd be a change of pace, so maybe? [He could not, especially if Mikey felt the need to do what he needed to get some meat back on Donnie's bones.]

... I get it, I do Leo. [Mostly because of how things felt towards the end for him, but he's not saying that.] Just... Sigh, I don't know.

[He tries for a tease as he elevator door closes. It begins moving downwards.] Dangerous, you know, I could just text Mikey to tell him you're an aspiring chef...

[He slumps back against the wall of the elevator wall behind him.] I don't know either, Dee. It's just... a day-to-day process.

Oh no, no, no. I don't think I could deal with that.

[And hey, going to join Leo in leaning against the wall.] So, like back home. Only less war.

Don't tempt me.

[He sighs a little at that.] All the freedom in the world, and... what can we even do with that?

[Silence as he considers Leo's words before saying this;] Eat ice cream?

[It's a stupid answer, but he's trying to lighten the mood here.]

[Leonardo does laugh at that, so, Donnie is winning.]

Okay, okay, you got me there. Guess all we can do is eat ice cream.

[Okay hearing Leonardo laugh is nice, it makes things seem a little less overwhelming.]

I mean, it's probably the best option out of all the options we have here... Except maybe sleeping.

[IT HAS BEEN SO GREAT TO SLEEP A FULL 8 HOURS.]

Honestly? Agreed. I could sleep forever if I could get away with it. [He missed having the option to sleep in. The luxury of it is divine in a way the turtle can't even articulate.

The elevator dings as they reach the bottom floor. Leonardo holds the elevator door open with his metal hand to be sure Donnie steps out easily enough. He follows after his twin.]

Being able to wake up, have a cup of coffee and a real scrambled egg is still the most decadent thing possible. Hell towards the end, I was missing the stupid fake eggs we ate and hated.

[Donnie lets out a soft chuckle at Leo saying that, as he exits the elevator once the door open.

Ah, yeah the breakfasts that have been offered.]

It's so rich, I don't remember eggs being like that? And... that's almost sad that you're admitting that, Leo.

Makes you wonder what they feed the chickens here. [He walks through the lobby of the apartment, leading them to the great big outside world.]

Oh shut up, after needing to eat rats, I would happily take the fake eggs. [Donnie missed the more desperate days.] Mikey's chicken dupe soup ran out so fast, and I missed the fake chicken flavor soooo bad.

Probably better than what we fed ourselves. [Keeping up with Leo, going outside. Don't mind the very subtle shift in his body language, he's still adjusting to an outside that's not a hellscape.]

... Mm, maybe we could somehow copy it here? [He means the chicken dupe soup.] But better, of course.

[Sometimes a turtle wants to eat awful recreations of food.]

These fancy chickens probably get magic grain or magic worms. [He has no idea what chickens eat, obviously.]

Maybe-? Mikey told me how he made it before, but, I don't remember specifics. [He taps his chin absently in thought as he leads the way.] Watered down vegetable stock, some spice combo that made you think of chicken when you ate the soup. Especially since it was just mostly filler meat and veg we had left over.

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